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Local News

Virtual Recovery Summit Will Share Effects of Substance Use

St. Clair County Community Mental Health will provide a virtual summit focused on how substance use affects individuals, families, and the whole community. Registration is now open for the month-long summit made up of  hour-long virtual workshops taught by a variety of experts and professionals.

Workshops are free, and they are scheduled for a variety of weekdays and daytime hours from September 1st – 30th. Social workers, medical professionals, addiction professionals, and others can receive Continuing Education Credits for attending the webinars.

Debra Johnson, Chief Executive officer for St. Clair County CMH said, ““Recovery is most sustainable and successful when we uplift individuals and strengthen our community supports. Because of the accessible format of this series, we hope to include many professionals working in the health and human service fields as well as other interested community members.”

Speakers include Dr. Janis Romanik from Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center, St. Clair County Sheriff Mat King, and Patrick Patterson from Blue Water Recovery and Outreach Center. There will also be presentations from medical doctors, university professors, and law professionals.

To learn more, and register for the Virtual Recovery Summit, visit scccmh.org. https://www.scccmh.org/events/recovery-summit/

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

WGRT Welcomes Choze Powell to WGRT Local News Team

If you keep up with local news sources like EBW.tv and The Keel Port Huron, you may know WGRT’s newest local news team member. Choze (Harold) Powell joined existing team members George James and me (Jessie Wiegand) this week, and you’ll be hearing his voice reporting on our airwaves soon.

Choze Powell is the Community Correspondent for The Keel, an online magazine focused on telling stories of talent and transformation in Port Huron and St. Clair County, and he’s the owner of Phantom Pen Media, a multimedia services company best known for its photography and video productions.

As an active member of the community, Choze volunteers for the YMCA of the Blue Water Area and Bridge Builders Counseling services, two key organizations that support youth and families.

Choze currently serves on the board of the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce, and he received the Chamber Choice award at the 2022 Eddy Awards ceremony in May.

The WGRT Local News team seeks to inform listeners about issues affecting the local community, connect them to people, businesses, and organizations who provide community services, and share news and announcements from credible sources.

We’re excited to have Choze on our team!

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Safety Training Event at SC4 Thursday

Protecting the lives and safety of students and staff at our educational facilities is extremely important. In 2021 the office of Community Policing Services or (COPS) approved an almost $28,000 grant under the 2021 COPS STOP School Violence: School Violence Prevention Program to the Port Huron Police Department. The funds are used to enhance school safety for Port Huron area schools and the community college. 

The grant provides funding for local departments to train for events in which the students or staff are met with a dangerous assailant. Training will provide first responders with information on how to respond, quickly engage the assailant, and stop the threat. It will also provide training in tactical first aid, coordinating with Fire and EMS, securing the scene, and more.

Training began on Tuesday, August 9th, and a larger event is planned for Thursday, August 11th at St Clair County Community College located at 323 Erie Street, in Port Huron. During the training event, there will be a large number of first responder vehicles and personnel on campus, so don’t be alarmed. 

Recent improvements such as the implementation of the School and College Resource Officer program and the police department’s Active Assailant Response Training (A.A.R.T.) initiative are examples of showing concern for, and making safety a priority for our local school district.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Runaway Bride Headed to the Waterfront Saturday

This Saturday, you may see a variety of people dressed in wedding attire running through Pine Grove park and along the waterfront near the Blue Water Bridge. Why will they be running? To raise money for A Beautiful Me.

The Runaway Bride 5K run and 2 mile walk starts at 8 AM on Saturday, August 13, 2022, and includes a mini-reception with raffle prizes and awards for 5-K timed-winners of the race.

You can register for the run/walk and buy raffle tickets online at ABeautifulMe.com. The raffle is for a unique experience to board the Lakes Pilot boat and touch a freighter out on Lake Huron. Raffle tickets are $10 each, and the winner will be drawn after the run.

Karen Palka, Founder and Executive Director of A Beautiful Me said, “Our beloved mascot ‘Ruby the Runner’ has been seen around Michigan recruiting runners and walkers to say ‘I DO’ if they are willing to start the race. We are grateful for our many sponsors, including our lead sponsor, Beacon Wealth Group. ”

A Beautiful Me provides confidence-building programs and workshops for girls in 3rd – 12th grade, and all proceeds raised from The Runaway Bride will support their work in the community.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Get Your Tickets for Hunter Hospitality House’s Raffle

Hunter Hospitality House has an annual raffle to raise money for its endowment fund, and this year’s prizes include a diamond ring and earrings donated by Lawrence Jewelers and up to $5,000 in cash.

There are only 300 tickets available for the raffle, and tickets are $100.00 each. The drawing will be held on September 30th, but tickets usually sell out before the raffle.

Hunter Hospitality House has three homes located near Mclaren Port Huron Hospital and Lake Huron Medical Center that enable families whose loved ones are sick a place to stay.

The nonprofit was founded by Jeff & Tracy Willard who dedicate their work in memory of their late son, Hunter. Families who stay at Hunter Hospitality House enjoy a home-like atmosphere while their loved one is hospitalized or being cared for in nearby medical facilities like Blue Water Hospice Home.

For more information and to get raffle tickets, visit

https://www.hunterhospitalityhouse.com

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Two Drug Busts in Port Huron Last Week

On August 2, 2022, the St. Clair County Drug Task Force concluded an investigation into the sale of  methamphetamine in the Port Huron area.

The investigation involved an address in  the 1600 Blk of Wells St and the 34 year old male resident that resided there. A search warrant  was obtained by DTF for the address and was executed.

During the search of the address  methamphetamine, suboxone, packaging materials, and a scale were located. Criminal charges  on both residents are filed with the St. Clair county prosecutors’ office.

On August 3, 2022, the St. Clair County Drug Task force concluded an investigation into the sales of heroin in the 600 block Taylor Street in Port Huron. A search warrant was obtained for the suspect’s apartment.

The suspect was located and arrested while exiting a local gas station. The
search warrant was then executed at the apartment and a prepackaged dealer amount of heroin was located. The suspect is currently lodged at the St. Clair County jail awaiting arraignment.

Submitted by St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office