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Local News

HURON Lightship Back Open for Visitors

The HURON Lightship is back in business after the unplanned shutdown due to a rare weather-related issue. The damage from last summer’s rapid rise in water levels on the St. Clair River has been repaired and Port Huron’s crown jewel, the museum in a boat, is ready to greet guests.

The location at Pine Grove Park in Port Huron near the Thomas Edison parkway makes the HURON one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city.

The HURON Lightship was the last operating lightship and along with many maritime artifacts also displays live footage from a camera located on the river bottom.

Port Huron Museums’ Andrew Kercher told us that the Museum is very excited to have the HURON Lightship reopened to the public. Kercher said, “The HURON Lightship is marking its centennial this year, and we are very grateful to our partners at the City of Port Huron that we can help share this National Historic Landmark with thousands of visitors each year.”

From now until September 19th, the HURON is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. After that, it will be open on a weekend schedule. Ticket information can be found at phmuseum.org.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Range Road Overpass Closing for Construction

Range Road from Griswold to Lapeer Roads in Port Huron Township is scheduled for reconstruction. The project will close Range Road temporarily.

The work is scheduled to begin on September 8th and is planned to wrap up by October 22nd if the weather cooperates. The work is being done by M.L. Chartier Excavating, Inc. The project has a $939,000 price tag, paid for by the St. Clair County Road Commission, the State of Michigan, and the Federal Highway Administration.

The reconstruction of Range Road includes crushing and shaping the existing asphalt, paving a portion of the road shoulder, cleaning up the ditches and replacing culverts, as well as making new pavement markings, and restoring the site.

About two weeks after the start of the project, the Range Road overpass at I-69 will close to traffic. The closure is allowed for up to 35 days. The detour involves Griswold, Michigan, and Lapeer Roads.

Local traffic access to homes and businesses will be allowed, along with access for emergency vehicles, but local residents should plan for delays during construction.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Why Are There So Many Yellowjackets?

Do you feel like there are more yellowjackets than usual this year? Commonly referred to as “garbage bees” or “ground bees”, yellowjackets are at the peak of their activity right now, and they may be invading your summer picnics and disrupting your afternoon strolls.

Yellowjackets are attracted to sweets and proteins, so your summer BBQ menus is right up their alley. Even though the insects seem to be crazy about you, they are really only trying to get to your food. Yellowjackets don’t tend to be aggressive unless their nest is being threatened, but they can sting repeatedly if they are provoked.

Kristin Lyons, Stewardship Director for Friends of the St. Clair River, said while yellowjackets feel like a nuisance, they are also considered beneficial. “They can take out a lot of crop pests like caterpillars that might feed on some of our crops, and they’re also pollinators so they help pollinate our fruits and vegetables.”

To avoid being stung, Lyons recommends never wearing fragrances or perfumed lotions, soaps, cosmetics, or deodorants while exploring nature. If yellowjackets are bothering you, simply move out of their space and try to avoid aggravating them. If they do sting, they will release a pheromone that will attract other yellowjackets.

You should also stay on trails and notify the park management if you notice a ground nest of stinging insects.  Park rangers can remove the nests or at least make them more noticeable with cones or caution tape to alert park goers of their presence.

Yellowjackets will continue their frenzy for food until they die off in the fall, usually after about 5-7 days in a row at an outdoor temperature of 45 degrees or lower.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

 

 

Marysville High School Teacher Facing Criminal Charges

Marysville School district parents and staff received a letter from Superintendent Shawn Wightman this afternoon informing them that criminal charges were filed against one of their high school teachers.

Wightman has placed the teacher on administrative leave “pending full review of the situation and conclusion of the criminal process.” The teacher will not be allowed on school premises or allowed to participate in activities with students or staff during this time.

According to the St. Clair County website, the St. Clair County Prosecutors office has charged Marysville High School teacher, Steven M. Rogers, with multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct, distributing obscene matter to children, and assault with intent to commit sexual penetration. Rogers plead not guilty.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact the St. Clair County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office at (810) 985-2400 or the Marysville Police Department at (810) 364-6300.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

McClain Introduces Bill to Award Gold Medal to Fallen Heroes

Congresswoman Lisa McClain (R-MI), alongside 158 cosponsors, introduced legislation to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 U.S. military servicemembers who were killed in Afghanistan last week.

The legislation will award the Congressional Gold Medal to:

  • Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover
  • Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo
  • Sgt. Nicole Gee
  • Cpl. Hunter Lopez
  • Cpl. Daegan Page
  • Cpl. Humberto Sanchez
  • Cpl. David Lee Espinoza
  • Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz
  • Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum
  • Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola
  • Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui
  • Hospitalman Maxton Soviak
  • Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss

“These heroic men and women are gone far too soon, and we must honor them for their bravery in helping U.S. citizens and Afghan allies safely evacuate Afghanistan,” said Rep. McClain. “My heart aches for the families and loved ones of our servicemembers. We will always remember their service and pay tribute to their sacrifice.”

Submitted by Congresswoman McClain’s Office

Make a Will for Free

August was Make-A-Will month, but if you missed the reminder, it’s not too late. FreeWill is an online service that helps people write or update a legal will for free.

FreeWill is able to provide their service through the support of hundreds of nonprofit organizations. Simply visit the website, fill out the online questionnaire in about 20 minutes, and print your documents.

Once documents are printed, follow the directions to sign them and make them official. FreeWill also offers the opportunity for users to designate donations to nonprofit organizations as a part of their estate plan. In addition, there are articles about types of wills, planning documents, and you can update or edit your will at any time in the future.

FreeWill can also determine if your situation is too complex for their format, and the system will direct you to an attorney an provide a summary of your situation to print and share with a professional.

To learn more, visit freewill.com.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand