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Local News

Art Contest to Bring Awareness to Storm Drains and Waterways

The Friends of the St. Clair River are looking to draw attention to storm drains. Storm drains can have a big impact on water quality. What goes into the drain generally goes right into rivers and streams.

The Thumb Coast Storm Drain Art Project will highlight the storm drains with art. Artists of all ages and abilities can enter the contest to create designs that demonstrate the importance of keeping water clean and thinking twice before pouring something harmful down the storm drain.

Entries need to be submitted by April 30th and the winners will be paid a stipend of $150 per drain to paint their designs. The art will be placed at 24 locations in Port Huron, St. Clair, and Marine City. They will be at highly visible locations like sidewalk intersections and park entrances.

Winners will need their own brushes, but paint and sealer will be provided. The winners of the design contest will be decided in May and the painting will coincide with festivals in respective cities to draw awareness to storm drains and water quality.

www.scriver.org/StormDrainProject

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Have You Seen Booker T Brown

Have You Seen Booker T. Brown?

UPDATE: On Thursday, April 07, 2022 at approximately 5:23 p.m. the suspect, Booker T Brown was located and  arrested inside of a residence in the 800 block of Minnie Street. The suspect was treated for minor  injuries sustained prior to police contact. The suspect has been medical cleared and was lodged at the St.  Clair County Intervention Center on Attempted Murder and Unlawful Imprisonment charges. The  investigation is continuing. 

4/7/2022: On Thursday, April 07, 2022 at 1:57 a.m. the Port Huron Police Department Road Patrol  responded to the 1500 block of 11th Street regarding a female who appeared to have been  assaulted.

When officers arrived in the area, they did speak with the victim, a 49 year old  female resident of Port Huron who indicated that the suspect, a 53 year old male from Port  Huron had assaulted her at a residence in the 1400 block of 13th Street. The victim had been  physically beaten, assaulted with a hammer and knife, held against her will, until she was able  to escape the residence. 

The victim was transported to McLaren Port Huron Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.  

The Port Huron Police Department Major Crimes Unit and Criminal Investigative Division was  called out to assist with the investigation. 

On Thursday, April 07, 2022 at approximately 6:35 a.m. the Port Huron Police Department  Special Response Team, Major Crimes Unit, and the Criminal Investigative Division executed a  search warrant in the 1400 block of 13th Street in an attempt to locate the suspect and recover  evidence from the assault. The suspect was not located at this time. 

The Port Huron Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance with locating the  suspect: Booker T Brown, black male, 53 years old, 5’11 tall and 175 pounds. Last known  address is in the 1000 block of Beard Street in the City of Port Huron. 

The suspect is wanted for Attempted Murder and Unlawful Imprisonment.  

If you know the whereabouts of Booker T Brown or have knowledge of this crime call the Port  Huron Police Department at (810) 984-8415, the Port Huron Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit  at (810) 984-5383, or 911 immediately. 

Anonymous tips can be received through the CAPTURE Hotline at (810) 987-6688, emailed through  www.porthuronpolice.org, or texted by downloading the Port Huron PD app on apple or android  devices. Anonymous texts can also be received by texting the keyword CAPTURE and their  message/tip to 847411.  

Submitted by the Port Huron Police Department

Mecanum Knights Win First Place and Imagery Award at Macomb Tournament

The Mecanum Knights are flying high after a stellar tournament weekend. The Port Huron Schools Robotics Team ended up being on the winning alliance to end last weekend’s Macomb District event with a bang.

Robotic teams form “alliances” in strategic bids to match team strengths and work together to accomplish the game’s tasks.

Kristen McRobie, Enrichment Coordinator for Port Huron Schools, explained, “During alliance selections, The Mecanum Knights were chosen by the 1st seed alliance to compete alongside of Team 1189, The Gearheads, out of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and Team 494, The Martians from Goodrich, Michigan.  The First Seed Alliance dominated the quarterfinal, semifinal, and final matches and won the Macomb District event with a record of 6-0 in the playoff rounds.”

The Team also brought home the Imagery Award, which celebrates attractiveness in engineering and outstanding visual aesthetic integration of machine and team appearance.

The next event is the State Finals at Saginaw Valley State University on April 13-16th.

http://www.team3667.com/

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Urban Pioneer Program Can Help First Time Homebuyers in City of Port Huron with a $10,000 Grant

For first-time homebuyers looking to buy a house in the City of Port Huron, the Urban Pioneer Program could help with a down payment and closing costs. The program, funded by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, is increasing the grants from $5,000 to $10,000 to keep up with rising home prices.

Jazmyn Thomas, Community Development Program Administrator, said that the City has the goal of increasing homeownership in the city. Thomas said that the program has helped over 150 households since 2011 and has funds available, anticipating the housing market heating up in the coming months.

The process of buying and owning a home can be complicated, and the grants are awarded after the future homeowners have worked with both a lender and a realtor and have found a home.

A free class is available through Blue Water Community Action that explains homeownership in great detail and is recommended by the Urban Pioneer Program.

There are income requirements for the program, such as a maximum income of $65,000 for a family of four. Links to details for the Urban Pioneer Program and the Homebuyer Education Class can be found below.

https://www.bwcaa.org/homebuyer-education

https://www.porthuron.org/departments/planning_community_development/community_development_division.php

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

McLaren Looking for Volunteers

McLaren Port Huron will host a Volunteer Recruitment Fair Wednesday, April 20, 3 – 6 p.m. in the McLaren Port Huron Charles Classroom. The event is geared for ages 14 and up.

Representatives from McLaren Port Huron, McLaren Port Huron Foundation, Marwood Nursing & Rehab and McLaren Hospice will be on hand to talk about volunteer opportunities. Volunteer applications can be completed on-site. Prize drawings will take place (need not be present to win) and refreshments will be served. 

The benefits of volunteering can be enormous. Volunteering allows individuals to:

  • Give back to the community
  • Make friends
  • Make professional connections
  • Build a resume
  • Learn new skills
  • Do something just for themselves

This event is free, and no registration is required. For more information, call 810-989-3776.

Submitted by McLaren Port Huron Hospital

Detroit Chosen for 2024 NFL Draft; Free Preview Party April 14th

The National Football League has selected Detroit as the host for the 2024 NFL Draft. The decision is expected to have huge economic impacts on the entire southeastern Michigan region.

Football fans have gotten more and more excited about the draft in recent years, and the event is expected to bring in hundreds of thousands of people. Along with the actual player draft, there will be a “Draft Experience” football theme park.

Who cares about the NFL Draft? A lot of people. Pre-covid, a crowd of over 600,000 attended the 2019 draft in Nashville, Tennessee. The event is televised over three days with 6.1 million viewers in 2021.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, “The draft has become a prominent offseason event across the country, and we are excited to work with the Lions and their partners to bring the 2024 NFL Draft to the Motor City.”

The actual draft will be held in Campus Martius in Downtown Detroit, and the Detroit Sports Commission is hosting a free event on April 14th to give some previews of the Draft that is coming to the city in 2024.

Draft Preview Details

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland