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Local News

Businesses Looking for Relief in New State Budget

There’s no question that small businesses took a hit during the past 18 months, but there is some light at the end of the tunnel, according to the National Federation of Independent Business, NFIB.

The NFIB is endorsing a few items, including the deposit of $150 million to reimburse the Unemployment Trust Fund that was used to pay out fraudulent claims. Lack of agency oversight is blamed for the proliferation of bogus checks handed out.

They are also pleased with Governor Gretchen Whitmer agreeing to sign a bill that would allow small businesses to take the same deduction on state and local taxes as large corporations. Whitmer vetoed the bill in July but is expected to sign it when presented again.

There is also optimism on the part of the National Federation that emergency orders will be under local oversight with the new legislation.

Amanda Fisher, assistant state director of NFIB Michigan said, “We appreciate the efforts of the Legislature as they continue to pass legislation to help those businesses most affected by government shut-downs and restrictions, but there is much more to be done, and time is running out for small businesses that are hanging on by a thread.” 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Closings and Cancellations for Sept. 23, 2021

Charging Stations:

Due to the widespread power outages throughout St. Clair County, the following locations are available for residents to charge personal wireless devices and medical  devices. These locations are available during normal business hours only:  

  • Algonac City Hall  
  • Burtchville Township Offices  
  • Home Depot – Fort Gratiot  
  • Lowes – Fort Gratiot  
  • Grant Township Offices  
  • Ira Township Fire Station  
  • Kimball Fire Department – Station 1 – Allen Road  
  • Kenockee Township Fire Station  
  • Memphis Fire Station  
  • Mussy (Capac) Fire Station  
  • City of Port Huron Municipal Office Center  
  • Port Huron Township Offices  
  • Port Huron Masonic Temple (927 6th Street)

Resources:

  • DTE Community Ambassadors will be handing out free ice and water at the McMorran Place Sports & Entertainment Center parking lot (north parking lot) located at 701 McMorran Boulevard in Port Huron from 1 until 6 p m.

Closed due to power outage:

  • Marysville Schools
  • Port Huron Schools
  • New Life Christian Academy
  • East Shore Leadership Academy
  • St. Clair County Community College
  • Algonac Community Schools
  • Carsonville-Port Sanilac
  • St. Clair County RESA – TEC
  • Woodland Development Center
  • Yale Public Schools

Businesses Closed:

  • No transportation to St. Clair County CMH today and the CIS program is closed

Check with your office or school before heading out as there are many areas without power and/or internet.

Get Your Tickets to Port Huron Town Hall

Port Huron Town Hall is kicking off its 2021-22 speaker series on October 4th with Newspaper Columnist and Author, Rochelle Pennington.

This is the 67th season of Port Huron Town Hall which took a break last year due to gathering restrictions for large events. The purpose of the events are to present lectures and entertainment for cultural, educational, and charitable purposes.

The five lecture series takes place at McMorran Place Theater on Monday mornings at 10:30 AM. Tickets can be purchased for the entire series or for individual lectures.

This year’s speaker luncheons are already sold out, but tickets are available in persona at the McMorran box office, by phone, or by printing and mailing a form. They are not currently available online.

Future speakers for this year are Spencer Stone, Former Air Force Staff SGT; Derek Hough from Dancing With the Stars; Amy Dickinson, Syndicated Advice Columnist; and Lara Logan, Former CBS Chief News Correspondent.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Stars of Life 2021 - Photo courtesy of Michigan Association of Ambulance Services

Local EMS Heroes Recognized in Lansing

The Michigan Association of Ambulance Services honored several area first responders at at the Stars of Life ceremony in Lansing. The ceremony celebrates “ambulance professionals who go above and beyond the call of duty in service to their communities or the EMS profession.”

Angela Madden, Michigan Association of Ambulance Services Executive Director, said, “After serving on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic for more than a year, Michigan’s EMS professionals deserve our utmost appreciation. Stars of Life is about honoring the unsung EMS heroes who work day in and day out to protect their communities and provide life-saving care to Michigan residents.”

Honorees from our area were Kathryn Fanson, Paramedic at Tri-Hospital EMS; Chloe Messinger, EMT at Tri-Hospital EMS; and Kellon Rickert, Paramedic/Deputy Chief of Richmond Lenox EMS.

Kathryn Fanson and Chloe Messinger were recognized for resuscitating a patient who lost his pulse during transport, and Kellon Rickert was honored for his hard work and dedication to his career at Richmond Lenox EMS.

Stars of Life 2021 - Photo courtesy of Michigan Association of Ambulance Services
Stars of Life 2021 – Photo courtesy of Michigan Association of Ambulance Services

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

S.O.N.S. Offers “Your Future Now” Career Program

S.O.N.S. Outreach is planning a “Your Future Now” Career exploration program to be held at Port Huron’s Harrison School. The program was created with input from students coordinated by Generation Z and the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation.

The program will expose students in grades 7-12 to career opportunities in the trades. Careers in HVAC, computer programing, welding, masonry, plumbing, electrical work, and carpentry will be featured, along with robotics. There are opportunities for paid internships.

The program will be held after school on Mondays through Thursdays from 2:45-6:00 p.m. with tutoring, meals, and occasional field trips. There will also be time for kids to just unwind with games and activities.

An Open House will be held on Thursday, October 7th from 4-6 p.m. at Harrison School located at 55 15th Street. The program begins on October 11th. 

To sign up or to get more information, parents can go to sonsoutreach.org or call S.O.N.S. at 810-334-6710.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Update Your iPhone ASAP

Phones get viruses, too. If you have an Apple iPhone, you will definitely want to install the latest update as soon as possible. Spyware called “Pegasus” has been discovered to be able to infect iPhones without even a click, leaving the user totally unaware and vulnerable to unwanted surveillance. iPads, Apple Watches, and Mac computers are also at risk.

Journalists have been targeted specifically, but anyone is vulnerable. The virus was first detected when a Saudi Arabian activist was hacked and investigators traced the Pegasus virus back to an Israeli firm. The spyware is called “zero-click” because of its ability to infect invisibly. It uses the iMessage app to get in and can access camera, microphone, and messages.

Apple has developed a patch to fix the problem. To safeguard your device from this hacking attack, plug it in, go to Settings, click “general”, then click “software update” and click “install now” to update to iOS 14.8.

If you’re concerned, you’re not alone. The vulnerability could have affected 1.65 billion Apple products.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland