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Local News

This Year’s “One in Christ” MLK Day Event Goes Virtual

Port Huron, MI — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is approaching on the third Monday of January and plans are in the works to continue with the annual community event despite the inability to have an actual gathering.

This year’s “One in Christ” Community Service will be held via Facebook Live, following the lead of many other community traditions. The service will be livestreamed at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 17th from the Operation Transformation Facebook page.

The presentation is planned to feature music, scripture, and dance. There will also be a dramatic portion that features important figures in the civil rights struggle. The dramatization will highlight the “Mantle of Love, Freedom, Equity, and Justice”.

This is the fifteenth year that the community service has been held. It is traditionally a cooperative event led by Operation Transformation and Blue Water Area Churches. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day has been a national holiday since 1983.

A link to the Facebook Live event page:

https://www.facebook.com/events/432827714536937/

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Winter Wonderland Coming to Downtown Port Huron January 23rd

On January 23rd, Downtown Port Huron will be transformed into this year’s version of ChillyFest: Winter Wonderland. This one-day, family-friendly event will feature some elements of previous ChillyFests along with some brand new ways to enjoy a winter day downtown.

Those who loved searching downtown shops for penguins will still have the opportunity to participate in the Penguin Hunt, and a scavenger hunt will lead to small treasures scattered throughout downtown. Individual businesses will be celebrating in their own ways, making for a fun shopping day as well.

The ice sculptures won’t be present this year, but 5-foot tall foam snowmen will be in front of the businesses on Main Street, and each one will be dressed uniquely. Snowmen in the City will be created by the Foam All company and sponsored by local businesses. Visitors may miss the ice-sculptures, but business owners are excited about this new, non-melting way to create a Winter Wonderland downtown.

Visit the ChillyFest Facebook page for updates and more details: https://www.facebook.com/chillyfestporthuron/

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

January Human Trafficking Awareness Month

In 2019 alone, the state of Michigan reported 22,326 victims and survivors of human trafficking. This includes sex trafficking, forced labor, and other forms of modern-day slavery. The human trafficking industry is a worldwide criminal enterprise that victimizes men, women, and children.

Governor Whitmer proclaimed January 2021 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Michigan and urges people to educate themselves on how they can identify and report this crime. There are several red flags or warning signs of human trafficking that may be revealed to the general public, first responders, health care professionals, and workers in the hospitality industry.  Knowing these signs can help people report the abuse.

Victims may show signs of physical or psychological abuse, be deprived of basic life necessities, be in a constant state of fear, or not have simple forms of personal identification like a driver’s license, passport, or photo I.D. They may not admit that they are victims or ask for help.

Reports of suspected human trafficking can be made to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center on their toll-free hotline  which is available 24-7, every day of the year. All calls to the hotline are confidential. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center can be reached at 888-3737-888.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Survey Helps Determine Eligibility for Vaccine

The St. Clair County Health Department has published a survey to determine which St. Clair County residents are eligible for the current supply of Covid-19 vaccines. Members of the Phase 1A priority group are currently able to be vaccinated immediately.

The first phase of the process includes health care personnel and residents of long-term care facilities. Long term care includes nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

According to the Health Department’s survey, Phase 1A eligibility also includes those with direct patient contact while conducting high risk procedures such as dentistry, endoscopy, dialysis, respiratory therapy, as well as those working in public health, pharmacy, and mortuary services.

According to MDHHS, Phase 1B includes frontline essential workers and individuals 75 years of age and older. Phase 1C includes other essential workers, persons 65 to 74 years of age, and individuals 16 to 64 years of age with underlying medical conditions. Phase 2 is a mass vaccination campaign for all persons age 16 years or older.

A link to the survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6NGRVPC?fbclid=IwAR07YdsjXey1BjeKELI2MhqEFEJl31hGkiHq4luFM8FCXPx2dASLrWVsldQ

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Holiday Visits Were Complicated Thanks to Closed Border

As the U.S.- Canadian border remains closed to non-essential travel, families with relatives in both countries have to make significant sacrifices to see loved ones. The Canadian regulations require a fourteen-day quarantine for those returning to the country after a trip to the U.S.

Port Huron Township resident Debbie Peloso went to great lengths to work with the Canadian Border Patrol to set up a holiday visit with her daughter, who lives and studies in Ontario. Picking up her daughter and bringing her back to St. Clair County was a carefully orchestrated process with a lot of supervision from authorities.

Peloso said that the Christmas visit was really a sacrifice on her daughter’s part. Once she got back to Ontario, her daughter had to subscribe to the ArriveCAN mobile app, which monitors her quarantine compliance. The rules turned a two week visit into a month-long commitment with the quarantine requirement. Peloso said she understands why the Canadian government is continuing the restrictions and felt it was a fair process.

The border has been closed since March 2020 and the current order extends to January 21, 2021, and is expected to be extended.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Little Black Dress Event Moves to Facebook Live for 2021

Port Huron, MI — The 15th Annual Betty Kearns Little Black Dress Event is moving to Facebook live for 2021. On  Friday, March 5th at 6 PM,  the committee will be streaming live from Kate’s Downtown Café. They have lots of fun planned for the event including raffles, memories, and support.

Raffle tickets can be purchased online at bluewaterlittleblackdress.org and sponsorships can be purchased in amounts from $500 to $3,000. There are no tickets needed for the event, simply visit the Facebook page <HERE> to view.

The Betty Kearns Little Black Dress Event was established in 2007 to raise money for local Breast Cancer Programs. The Betty Kearns Cancer Fund was established in 2016 to help all people fighting cancer. In 2020, the fund helped McLaren Port Huron purchase new equipment to help diagnose and treat prostate cancer. It also established a donor advised fund at the Ct. Clair County Community foundation to help St. Clair and Sanilac County residents who may need cancer treatment outside the Blue Water Area.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand