Local News

Construction on McKenzie Health System’s new hospital in Sandusky is moving full speed ahead. Crews are setting steel beams, pouring concrete for foundations, and installing underground water and power lines. The first steel post is now in place — a major step toward the new facility. The project also includes a wider entrance off M-46, a second access point on Gates Road, and expanded parking. Work began last fall and is on track to wrap up by spring of ’27, bringing modern healthcare closer to home.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Michigan’s sailing season is gearing up as Detroit’s Bayview Yacht Club names Mica Reardon as race chair and Peter Gerard as principal race officer for this year’s 102nd Bayview Mackinac Race. The Port Huron-to-Mackinac Island event launches July 18th, drawing hundreds of boats and sailors from across the country. Reardon, a Detroit River racer and marketing manager for the Pistons, calls it the club’s flagship event. Organizers say strong early registration shows the Thumb Coast is ready for another big summer on Lake Huron.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A man accused of pepper-spraying a butcher in Marine City will face trial in circuit court. Police say 47-year-old Ian Pfister sprayed Zimmerman’s Meat Market owner Richard Hobig during a January confrontation caught on camera. Pfister and others claimed they were filming a First Amendment audit when the argument turned heated. Video played in court showed Hobig being sprayed in the face while not appearing to threaten Pfister. The judge ruled the case should go before a jury. Pfister could face up to two years in jail.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

The fight over Sarnia’s police headquarters took a sharp turn this week. On Monday, the Police Services Board sent the city a legal demand, claiming Mayor Mike Bradley’s budget veto over a $5-million new facility was improper. But two engineering reports say the current building is sound, needing $4.4 million in essential repairs, not replacement. The project, first floated in November after budget deadlines, may fall outside the mayor’s veto protections. Residents are left questioning whether the costly new build is a necessity—or a choice.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Authorities in Sandusky arrested a 33-year-old local man after finding more than 113 grams of meth during a traffic stop last Friday evening. The Sanilac County Drug Task Force says the stop was part of a broader investigation into meth sales across the county. The suspect was taken to the Sanilac County Jail and faces multiple drug-related charges. The Lapeer County Sheriff’s K9 team and Sandusky Police helped on scene. Officials are urging residents to report drug activity through the Sheriff’s Office tip line or mobile app.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

St. Clair County is challenging a federal judge’s ruling that lets part of a former sheriff’s lieutenant’s lawsuit move forward. The county argues Scott Jones wasn’t forced into retirement after a ’22 drunk-driving arrest involving Sheriff Mat King’s brother. Jones claimed he faced retaliation for questioning how that arrest was handled and took his concerns to Human Resources. A judge dismissed most of his claims but said one retaliation claim could proceed. The county has now appealed, seeking to have the case thrown out entirely.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet