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Local News

Wozniak Seeks Funds to Protect Lake St. Clair

Lansing, MI– On April 22, 2021, Rep. Doug Wozniak  introduced a resolution calling on Congress to allow infrastructure funding being proposed by Congress to be used for combined sewer system separation to prevent overflows into Lake St. Clair and other surface waters and tributaries. Congress is currently considering a $2.3 trillion plan to repair and improve the nation’s infrastructure in areas such as roads, bridges and public transportation, and Wozniak believes that the benefit derived from improving our basic sewer and water infrastructure to our economy, communities and natural assets are of equal weight and importance.

Sewer overflows due to aging and outdated wastewater systems occur hundreds of times annually. In 2019, Michigan saw more than 750 sewer overflows that discharged more than 3 billion gallons of raw untreated sewage into Michigan’s lakes, rivers and streams. Exposure to this type of overflow endangers the public by putting them at risk of illness as well as the environment by depleting oxygen and feeding harmful algae blooms that negatively affect wildlife.

“As a state that prides itself on its great lakes, we are certainly failing Michiganders the longer we allow this issue to go unaddressed,” said Rep. Wozniak. “Michigan’s Lake St. Clair is our region’s largest source of drinking water, as well as a great recreational asset and tourism draw, but it has seen its water polluted with more than 60 million gallons of sewage overflow in just one weekend. We need to protect the lake, its visitors, and wildlife inhabitants by funding solutions that have already been identified.”

Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller has been seeking additional funding from the State, for years to address some of these issues, but has been largely rebuffed. She has also sought to have other upstream communities and counties to make improvements to their systems to prevent overflows that impact downstream Macomb County and the lake, but has met with resistance that is largely based on the significant cost of such infrastructure improvements. Now that there is a very large amount of one-time proposed infrastructure funding from the federal government, Michigan and other states should be allowed to take advantage of it to make these expensive changes to improve our waters for everyone.

Wozniak has written to Michigan Speaker of the House Jason Wentworth and Appropriations Chair Thomas Albert asking the state also consider incentivizing the use of such federal funding for use by local and county governments for this purpose.

Submitted by Re. Douglas Wozniak

Sarnia Police and Fire Address Enforcing COVID Restrictions

Ontario’s strict lock-down continues in response to stress on hospitals from an influx of patients sick with COVID-19. The City of Sarnia has addressed how they will be enforcing the new restrictions within the city. 

The Sarnia Police Service said they will focus on educating and warning the public about the Provincial Government’s restrictions and will resort to enforcement when other measures have failed and if violations under the Re-Opening Act of Ontario and the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act persist. 

The Police will not be randomly stopping pedestrians or vehicles to enforce the travel restrictions but will enforce based on observed violations or public complaints. The Police addressed this concern out of recognition of residents’ frustration with the virus and the measures taken by the Provincial Government. 

The Sarnia Fire Service reported that there is no ban on backyard recreational burning, but campfires can be burned only while following the guidelines on acceptable numbers of people and number of households. 

Ontario has imposed a ban on travel for reasons other than health care, essential shopping, and work that can not be done from home, as well as most travel between provinces. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

No Waiting Period to Give Blood After COVID Vaccine

Port Huron, MI — The American Red Cross has still been experiencing a shortage of blood donations, and they want to inform the public that there is no waiting period to give blood after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

Those who receive a vaccine and want to donate blood can do so immediately as long as they are symptom-free, feeling well, and can provide the Red Cross with the vaccine manufacturer’s name.

When you become a blood, platelet, or plasma donor with the American Red Cross, your donation will automatically be tested for COVID-19 antibodies. If the test discovers high levels of antibodies present, your donation could be used to help COVID-19 patients who are actively fighting the virus recover more quickly.

They are also screening donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait which provides donors with valuable health information and helps the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease who require blood transfusions for treatment.

For more information about donating blood and to find a blood drive near you, visit Red CrossBlood.org.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Drug Take Back Day is Saturday

St. Clair County, MI — It’s time to clean out those medicine cabinets and prepare to safely dispose of unwanted and expired pills. The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office will be participating in National Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, April 24th.

The Sheriff’s office is located at 1170 Michigan Road, and the public can drop off unwanted pills in the lobby between 10 AM and 2 PM. Simply enter the Sheriff’s office lobby and empty your pills into the designated container.

According to a 2019 survey on Drug Use and Health, millions of people misused prescription pain relievers, stimulants, and tranquilizers, and the majority of those drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

Sheriff Mat King said, “This event has been great for our community. It allows citizens to get rid of expired and unwanted medication, keeping it from being used improperly and keeping it out of our water supply.”

Residents who can’t make it to the Drug Take Back event on Saturday can turn their pills in at the Sheriff’s Office during normal business hours, Monday – Friday from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

Republicans: Biden Tax Plan Could Doom Family Farms

Local legislators are rallying against the Biden tax plan that they say could be the end of family farms.

The Biden administration’s proposed tax hikes, and particularly changes in the death tax and capital gains taxes, have the potential to put local farms out of business.

State Senator Dan Lauwers, himself a family farmer, said, “This is the kind of policy that eliminates family farms. Families can’t afford to tie up that kind of money. It’s going to be corporations that run farms as a business, not as a family.”

Referring to the changes proposed to the capital gains tax, Michigan Farm Bureau President Carl Bednarski said, “With the loss of that stepped-up basis, the next generation may be forced to sell off large portions of the vital farm assets just to pay that capital gains tax. As a result, economic viability of our farms would be severely impacted, in fact, we may see farms discontinue and go out of business.”

Congresswoman Lisa McLain, a Republican from Michigan’s 10th District, authored a letter to President Biden explaining the need to rethink the policy proposals. A link to the letter:

https://mcclain.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/mcclain.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/Ag%20letter.pdf

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Port Huron Rec Programs are Back for Summer

Port Huron, MI — The Port Huron Parks and Recreation Department has announced sign-up dates for summer programs. Real, in-person programming is back with plans for the pools to be open and the parks to be full of happy children.

Residents of the city of Port Huron get first dibs on the summertime fun with their registration starting May 3rd. Those who live outside of the city can start registering on May 4th. In-city rates are extended to those who live in Burtchville, Clyde, Fort Gratiot, and Port Huron townships, due to a cooperative partnership.

COVID-prevention protocols will be followed as needed, including limiting group sizes, social distancing, and mask-wearing when warranted. Many of the traditional programs, like the Camp Palmer day camp and chess club are back on the calendar, but the popular Junior Recreators program is taking another year off.

Highlights of the summer activities include Hollywood actress and Port Huron native McKale Jude Bingham directing a Theatre Workshop, as well as classes held in collaboration with the Friends of The St. Clair River and The Athletic Factory.  

A link to the Summer Brochure from Port Huron Parks and Recreation:

https://d721f890-20f6-4799-98ef-6e373ba52f19.filesusr.com/ugd/fc6623_4995733de6e3406da6cf1d4e51b56416.pdf

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland