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Local News

Convention of States Holding Town Hall in May

A group of citizens are holding a Town Hall meeting in May to provide information about calling a Convention of States. Their purpose is to debunk myths and answer questions about self governance, the role of state and local government, and the solutions they believe a Convention of States can offer.

The Town Hall event is May 10, 2022 from 7 – 8:30 PM at the St. Clair Lions Club in East China.

A Convention of States provides an alternative to amending the Constitution through proposals by Congress. It can be initiated by two-thirds of the legislatures of several states who would pass a resolution calling for all 50 states to hold a Convention of States. At the Convention of States, the Constitution could be amended by selected delegates.

According to a press release from the Michigan Convention of States Action team, Michigan House of Representatives candidate, Jay DeBoyer, current St. Clair County Clerk, will participate in the town hall. DeBoyer is running for State Representative of the 63rd District which covers Clay, China, Cottrellville, East China, Ira, and part of Casco Townships, as well as the cities of Algonac, Marine City, and St. Clair.

In a list of frequently asked questions provided by the Convention of States Action Project, the reason for calling a Convention of States is because “[t]he federal government is spending this county to the ground, seizing power from the states, and taking liberty from the people.”

More information is available by visiting

https://conventionofstates.com/michigan-home

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Special Open Enrollment Period In Effect for Health Insurance Marketplace

Michigan residents can enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace during a Special Enrollment Period. The enrollment period is in effect from now until November 30th with coverage starting on the first day of the month after enrollment.

Department of Insurance and Financial Director Anita Fox explained, “Many Michiganders now have free or low-cost health insurance thanks to increased enrollment opportunities and the American Rescue Plan, but many thousands more remain uninsured despite being eligible for significant out of pocket savings.” 

The Special Enrollment Period is for those who have a household income that falls below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. The level is around $19,000 for an individual and $40,000 for a family of four. Those who qualify will also be eligible for an Advance Premium Tax Credit that could make the Marketplace plan available at no cost. 

Free local enrollment help is available to help you take advantage of this new opportunity at LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov. You can also contact DIFS, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 877-999-6442 for information about getting started. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Adopt-A-Highway Trash Pickup Scheduled for this Weekend

All that trash along the sides of Michigan’s highways is about to get cleaned up thanks to the Michigan Department of Transportation Adopt-A-Highway program. The first pickups of the year are scheduled for this weekend through May 1st in the Lower Peninsula. The Upper Peninsula has not quite reached spring-like weather and the first pickup in the U.P. is scheduled for early to mid-May.

State Transportation Director Paul C. Ajegba said, “We want to acknowledge the valuable service these thousands of Adopt-A-Highway volunteers provide each year keeping our roadsides clean.”

Ajegba said, “Their commitment to their communities makes a huge difference across Michigan. We also remind motorists to keep an eye out for the volunteers and drive cautiously during the pickup periods.”

Motorists should be aware of the volunteers who will be out keeping the highways and the environment clean. They will be wearing high-visibility vests and working in groups of three.

There are still sections of highways that are available for groups or businesses to adopt. There are three trash pickups throughout the year: this weekend’s pickup, a July pickup, and a September pickup.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

TEC Students win 18 Medals at SkillsUSA

St. Clair TEC students brought home an impressive 18 medals at the state SkillsUSA Leadership Conference held April 8-10 in Grand Rapids. Forty-one TEC students from eight programs competed at the state-level competition. The seven gold medal winners — Jacob McEachin, Emma O’Connell (Model: Skylar Soulliere), Sierra Kelly (Model: Hannah Gombos), William Wideman, and Curtis Dresser — will be advancing to the National SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 20–24. 

SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving more than 310,000 high school and college students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. The SkillsUSA competition is an annual event designed to gauge students’ mastery of various career-oriented skills and showcase the nation’s best career and technical education students. 

Congratulations to our SkillsUSA participants for their hard work during after-school practice sessions with dedicated TEC instructors and paraprofessionals.

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY 

Instructors: Jason Belfinger and Brian Hunter 

Paraprofessionals: Alex Super and Wayne McClelland 

Automotive Service Technology Overall 

  • Gold: Jacob McEachin, Port Huron Northern High School, Senior 

CONSTRUCTION TRADES 

Instructor: Ken Sygit 

Paraprofessional: Caleb Howell 

Electrical Construction Wiring 

  • Silver: CJ Miller, Virtual Learning Academy, Junior 

COSMETOLOGY 

Instructors: Alecia Klein, Beth Koski, and Sue Colman 

Paraprofessionals: Kara Randall and Tina Ponessa 

Cosmetology Overall 

  • Silver: Courtney Barber, Marysville High School, Senior 
  • Bronze: Brianna Snyder, Port Huron Northern High School, Senior 

Cosmetology Mannequin 

  • Gold: Maggie Tanton, Blue Water Middle College, Junior 
  • Bronze: Rebekah Schmaltz, Marysville High School, Junior 

Esthetics 

  • Gold: Emma O’Connell, Yale High School, Senior (Model: Skylar Soulliere, Port Huron Northern, Senior) 
  • Silver: Sienna Guerrero-Brown, East China Virtual, Senior (Model: Lily Ingles, Marysville, High School, Senior) 

Nail Care 

  • Gold: Sierra Kelly, Marysville High School, Senior (Model: Hannah Gombos, Memphis High School, Senior) 
  • Bronze: Taylor Colston, Port Huron High School, Senior (Model: Peyton Rowley, Capac High School, Senior) 

DIGITAL MEDIA TECHNOLOGY 

Instructor: Chad Kubik 

Paraprofessional: Ann Frederick 

Pin Design 

  • Silver: Danielle Liebetreu, St. Clair High School, Senior

METAL MACHINING TECHNOLOGY 

Instructor: Duane Emig 

Paraprofessional: Marv Koob 

CNC Technician 

  • Gold: William Wideman, Memphis High School, Senior 

CNC Turning 

  • Gold: Curtis Dresser, Port Huron Northern High School, Senior 

WELDING 

Instructor: Becca Robertson 

Paraprofessional: James Lay 

Welding Overall 

  • Bronze: Jason Sanday, Yale High School, Senior 

View photographs from the competitions on TEC’s Facebook page at: 

https://www.facebook.com/StClairTEC 

The St. Clair County Technical Education Center (TEC) is operated by the St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency. TEC provides career-oriented programs to high school juniors and seniors. TEC offers programs on- and off-site. Programs provide students the opportunity to earn high school elective and academic credit, college credit, and state certification. 

More information is available on the TEC website at www.sctec.org. 

Submitted by St. Clair TEC

Emmett KOA Holiday Campground Ready for New Season with New Owners

The Emmett KOA Holiday Campground is under new ownership. James and Janet Hull are the new owners of the campground, located on Breen Road in Emmett. The campground is managed by the Hulls’ daughter, Toni Burton.

Burton said, “If they were going to retire my dad wanted something else to retire to. When I graduated high school, I started working at this campground. We’ve always been campers. He thought it would be really cool to retire and own the campground.” 

Burton called the family park a “gem in the middle of Emmett.” Burton said that the previous owners maintained the campground very well and it is a busy destination for campers. The campground is open from April 30th through October 24th.

Kampgrounds of America awarded Emmett KOA Holiday the 2021 KOA Founder’s and President’s awards for achieving world-class scores and meeting exceptional quality standards. The Emmett property is one of 525 KOA campgrounds. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Take Survey to Share Thoughts on Broadband Internet Throughout Downtown Port Huron

The City of Port Huron is taking a survey to gauge the interest in broadband internet service throughout downtown.

Jazmyn Thomas, Community Development Program Administrator, said that Port Huron has Block Grant funding from the federal government that could be used to fund the broadband project.

Thomas explained that eligible projects must have a COVID tieback and benefit low to moderate-income persons. The universal broadband service downtown would allow people to use pocket parks, public meeting areas, or their vehicles to get work done and allow for social distancing.

If the broadband project happens, Thomas said Port Huron would be pioneering the effort as no other community has used the federal block grants in such a way.

Downtown Development Director Natacha Hayden said, “The pandemic compelled a high need for quality broadband services for essential things like work and school in many communities.” Hayden pointed out the challenges with connectivity that can happen with such close proximity to the Canadian border.

City of Port Huron Broadband Internet Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2WQJRBV

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland