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Local News

New Photo Stations Coming to River Walk

Port Huron, MI — Starting April 27th, new photo stations will be available throughout the Blue Water River Walk County Park. The stations are part of an Earth Day partnership between the Rotary Club of Port Huron, Friends of the St. Clair River, St. Clair County Parks and Recreation, and Chronolog, an environmental monitoring website.

The photo stations will be along the Blue Water River Walk and other places in the park, and visitors will be able to place their phone in a holder and take a photo from the same vantage point as other participants. The photos can be emailed to Chronolog to create a crowdsourced album of other photos from that station.

Participants will receive and email back from Chronolog with a time-lapse video from the photo station which will show how the area has changed.

Keely Baribeau, former President of the Port Huron Rotary Club, said, “It’s interesting to see how the world changes before our eyes and this is a great opportunity to document that change locally. Our Club thought this would be an impactful Earth Day service project that had never been done before. It encourages people to enjoy our parks, as well as contribute to this community science project.”

The photos collected from the stations will also help the Friends of the St. Clair River measure the health of the park’s ecosystem.

“Friends is excited to provide this opportunity for visitors to get involved and document the St. Clair River shoreline,” said Kirsten Lyons, Stewardship Director for Friends. “It is a fun and easy way to assist our staff in caring for this special place.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Workplace COVID-19 Rules Extended

Emergency rules for Michigan workers, businesses, customers, and communities have been extended to October 14th, 2021. The rules include things like COVID-19 emergency response plans, employee training, workplace infection control practices, proper use of personal protection equipment like masks, and protocol for reporting COVID-19 infections for contact tracing.

Remote work is recommended when possible. The process for reporting unsafe working conditions remains in place as well.

The extension of the emergency rules is a response to the surge in COVID-19 cases. Since then, there have been over 1600 outbreaks reported, with manufacturing and construction reporting the most.

Enforcing the rules falls on the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) within the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO).

MIOSHA COVID-19 Workplace Safety Director Sean Egan said, “As we work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the rules reinforce the importance of keeping workplaces safe for employees from COVID-19 transmission. We want employers to create a safe work environment for their employees, which is why we will continue to work with employees and businesses to help them understand how to safely stay open.”

Reporting for WGRT -Jennie McClelland

Playworks Michigan Wants Kids to Get Recess Time

Kids need recess. That is the message from Playworks Michigan, a coalition of a diverse group of state leaders, athletes, and educators, that advocates for statewide awareness and an increase in playtime and recess in schools.

Even though many students are learning remotely right now, the Playworks Michigan Coalition is working to make recess time happen for all students once school is back to being in-person.

Paul Liabenow, Executive Director of the Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principal’s Association said, “Following the recent online and in-person learning changes throughout the pandemic, curriculum is being reshaped for the fall. As these conversations are happening, we want educators and parents to be aware of the benefits of recess especially after a year of online learning and limited interaction.”

According to Playworks Michigan, Michigan schools have no guidelines for providing recess time nor for removing recess.

Playworks reports that over the past ten years, nearly half of all school districts nationwide have either completely eliminated or reduced recess time and of the few schools that require recess, most kids only get 20 minutes or so per day, far below the recommended minimum of 60 minutes of activity. This is especially alarming as 30.6% of children in Michigan are considered either overweight or obese.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Mobile Overdose Response Team to Combat Overdose Crisis

Port Huron, MI — The Port Huron Police Department (PHPD) and Port Huron Odyssey House (PHOH) are collaborating to create the Mobile Overdose Response Team (MORT) to combat the opioid crisis in the City of Port Huron.

Data shows that deaths from opioid overdoses has been increasing since 2011, and St. Clair County was ranked #7 based on the high rate of  opioid overdoses and #8 in the state for the total number of overdose deaths in 2018. 

The Mobile Overdose Response Team will include members from both the Port Huron Police Department and addiction professionals from the Port Huron Odyssey House. Starting today, they will use a Quick Response Team model to care for city residents who experienced a drug overdose event from January 1, 2021 to the present.

The goal of the program is to reduce repeat overdoses and promote recovery.

Ken Heuvelman, Clinical Coordinator and Outpatient Therapist at Port Huron Odyssey House, said, “A new approach to reach people in addiction where they are at, is strongly needed in the Port Huron area. We  are continually looking at programs and opportunities to reduce the number of overdoses in our county, and  we are grateful to have the opportunity to promote recovery and reduce unnecessary death in our county by  working together with the Port Huron Police Department.” 

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

DNR: Don’t Trim Oak Trees until Mid-July

With Spring in the air, it might seem like the perfect time to clean up the trees in your yard. But hold off on trimming oak trees.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says that oak trees shouldn’t be trimmed between April 15th and July 15th because of the risk of spreading “oak wilt”.

Oak wilt is a serious fungal disease that is a microscopic killer of oak trees. The fungus is spread by flying beetles. The disease is especially deadly for red oak trees and can kill them within weeks. It can also weaken white oak trees.

James Wieferich, forest health specialist in the DNR’s Forest Resources Division, said, “The guidelines against pruning oak trees during this time can help prevent the spread of the disease.”

Freshly cut firewood can also spread the disease.

Trees will show symptoms of oak wilt by wilting from the top down and rapidly dropping leaves. The disease usually shows up from late June to September.

The DNR warns that if you have a tree that gets damaged during the risk period from April 15 to July 15, immediately cover all wounds with tree-wound paint or latex-based paint.

Oak wilt outbreaks should be reported to the DNR.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Kanchan Wankhede The Under Ground

Kanchan Wankhede to Lead Entrepreneurs at The Underground

Port Huron, MI — The Underground Business Incubator and Service Center is getting a new Director of Entrepreneurial Services, local human resources professional and advocate for minority and women owned businesses, Kanchan Wankhede.

Dan Casey, CEO of the St. Clair County Economic Development Alliance (EDA), said, “We are excited to welcome Kanchan to our EDA team.  She is a great fit for managing the region’s Smartzone Incubator and Business Center.  She has experience working with businesses and organizations that not only have a local or United States footprint, but that spread well into India, Europe and Asia.  As a small business owner herself, she understands the challenges and obstacles entrepreneurs face on a daily basis.  Area entrepreneurs looking to launch or grow their business will benefit from Kanchan’s knowledge, experience and desire to help them be successful.”

Kanchan is the Principal Consultant for her company Great Workplace LLC, and she has also be working with the Community Foundation of St. Clair County for the last year consulting local Minority and Women Owned businesses. She has helped many people motivate, organize, and bring greater success to their businesses.

In a press release, Wankhede said, “The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.  So, aim high, believe you can and you are halfway there.  I look forward to assisting facilitate new startups and helping entrepreneurs grow though coaching, connections to potential funding sources and more in my new role at The Underground.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand