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Local News

EGLE Publishes “State of the Great Lakes” Report

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has released the 2020 State of the Great Lakes Report. Some of the topics covered include Asian Carp, high water, algal blooms, and climate change.

EGLE Director Liesl Clark said, “While 2020 had its many challenges, our team didn’t lose its focus on the important work they do related to the health of our Great Lakes. From high water levels to coastal resiliency to testing wastewater for clues to COVID outbreaks to stopping Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes, EGLE and its partners went to great lengths to protect our valuable water resources under trying circumstances.”

The St. Clair River is still listed as an area of concern due to “legacy contamination”, but is also listed as a reef-building success story as the sturgeon habitat has been restored after years of destruction from dredging.

Clark said that “EGLE remains committed to partnering on efforts that include protecting the Great Lakes, promoting equity for all residents and planning for the impacts of climate change.”

A link to the full report:

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/ogl/2020-State-of-the-Great-Lakes-Report_723597_7.pdf

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

CAER Donates to City of Sarnia

Sarnia, Ontario — Mobile Command Vehicles are used by police and other first responders to serve as a portable office space and equipment storage unit, and the Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER) organization has just committed $200,000 toward new vehicles to the City of Sarnia.

CAER assisted the city with the purchase of their current Mobile Command Vehicle several decades ago, and this new investment ensures that first responders will be able to provide a coordinated response in the event of a future emergency.

The City of Sarnia has several unique public safety challenges due to the close proximity of many industrial facilities. CAER works together with the city and other organizations such as the Bluewater Association for Safety, Environment & Sustainability (BASES) to protect the area’s people and environment.

BASES provides information for the community about local safety issues on its website: lambtonbases.ca

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Imagination Library Receives Large Donation

Having books in the home has been proven to be an indicator of future educational success for children. The Imagination Library Fund of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County is the recipient of a major gift that will keep new books in the hands of young children in St. Clair County for years to come. The estate of Angelina O’Bar has donated $55,000 to the Imagination Library.

O’Bar was an educator who dedicated her career to early childhood education and a creator of the Growing Up Strong curriculum. She had ties to the Blue Water Area as a result of her extensive travels.

Jackie Hanton, Vice President of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County said, “When the Imagination Library Fund was created in 2018 it was for building long-term sustainability of the program. The endowment can be thought of as the gift that keeps on giving to allow local children the opportunity to receive one free book each month up until they turn 5 years old.”

The Imagination Library was founded by the entertainer, Dolly Parton and is administered locally by the St. Clair County RESA. Families who sign up for the Imagination Library will receive a free book for a child every month until the age of five.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Why Don’t You Want the COVID-19 Vaccine?

As leadership both federally and at the state level push for a vaccination rate of 70%, St. Clair County hovers around 44% with many walk-in vaccine clinics experiencing lower turnout than anticipated.

As your local news source, WGRT wants to hear from our listeners who may be reluctant or opposed to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. We are asking listeners to submit their vaccine questions and concerns by email to jessie@wgrt.com from now until May 24th.

We will address your concerns in special editions of LIMElight with Jessie over several weeks in interviews with Dr. Annette Mercatante, Medical Health Officer of the St. Clair County Health Department.

The interviews will be broadcast during the regular LIMElight showtimes of 12:20 & 6:20 PM, and they will also be available on our podcast platform and in video form through GBS Media.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

Redistricting Effort Asking for Public Comment

The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) is looking for feedback and public comments on the re-drawing of district lines. District lines are the geographical boundaries that make up the legislative and congressional districts in the state.

The Citizens Redistricting Commission was set up after voters amended the Michigan Constitution in 2018 with Proposal 18-2 or the “Voters Not Politicians” ballot proposal. That amendment established “a commission of citizens with exclusive authority to adopt district boundaries for the Michigan Senate, Michigan House of Representatives and U.S. Congress, every 10 years.”

The Commission wants to hear from the public so they can engage in the redistricting process, so they’ve created an online form that accepts written testimony or a public comment, a drawn district plan that shows the borders of a suggested district, or submission of a community of interest map which identifies specific communities that share cultural or historical characteristics or economic interests.

The Michigan Redistricting Public Comment Portal is available <HERE>

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Scammers Using FEMA Funeral Reimbursements as Way to Get Personal Information

Federal money means potential for scam, and if you thought funeral expenses for COVID victims were off-limits, think again. Scammers are going after grieving families of COVID-19 victims, trying to get personal information in order to steal money.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, is offering help with final expenses for those who have died from COVID since January 20, 2020. According to Michigan’s Office of Attorney General, fraudulent calls are being made to people who lost a loved one to COVID, asking them for personal information. FEMA does not initiate the reimbursement, and they never make unsolicited calls.

Attorney General Dana Nessel said, “I’ll say it again: bad actors will do whatever it takes to make a quick buck or steal your personal information and that includes taking advantage of your grief. FEMA will not contact you until you have called their agency or applied for assistance. Anyone who contacts you unsolicited and claims to be a government employee or from FEMA is a scammer.” 

Nessel advises to hang up on the callers. If the callers did get personal information, it should be reported to the Office of the Michigan Attorney General. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland