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Local News

Time Running Out to Complete 2020 Census

The final push by the U.S. Census Bureau to count the last of uncounted Americans is underway. The Bureau estimates that 91.8% of the population has been counted for the 2020 Census. 

According to statistics from the Census Bureau, Michigan has a 97% response rate at this point. Over 70% of those responses were considered “self responses”, with the remainder being contacted by the Census Bureau. Nationally, 65.8% of Americans are considered to be “self-responders”. 

In St. Clair County, the self-response rate is estimated to be around 76% so far, with 52.4% of respondents using the online option to complete the census.

According to the Census Bureau, “The results of the 2020 Census will help determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding flow into communities every year for the next decade.”

The census collection period is set to end on September 20 with reports being generated as soon as December 2020 and legislative redistricting counts done by March 31, 2021. Full reports can be found at https://2020census.gov/en/response-rates. 

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Virtual “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” This Weekend

This year’s “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” is going on as planned this Saturday, September 19, but with a socially distant twist. Participants are asked to walk in their own neighborhoods or favorite park and take a picture of themselves while walking.

MaryBeth Fleury, President of the Dementia & Alzheimer’s Resource Committee, said that walkers can post their walk pictures on the Committee’s Facebook page and share who they are walking for or why they are walking.

Fleury said that the committee is not seeking donations from the walk this year due to the community’s financial strain under COVID-19 restrictions, but general donations are always accepted. The annual goal of raising awareness of Alzheimer’s continues this year even without the large fundraising gathering. 

The Dementia & Alzheimer’s Resource Committee was organized in 2014 by a local caregiver and advocate, Marcia Haynes, who realized that St. Clair County had some wonderful dementia care resources, but that collaboration was needed to get them together in one place to better serve the dementia caregiver.

 More information about the Dementia & Alzheimer’s Resource Committee can be found at www.darcscc.org. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

U.S. – Canada Border Closed Until October 21st

The Canada-U.S. border will remain closed to non-essential travel for another 30 days until October 21st. With the restrictions in place, all travel related to tourism, recreation, and entertainments is prohibited by land, water, air, and rail. This includes opening or checking on a cottage or seasonal home.

The restriction on discretionary travel was put in place on March 21st in an effort to mitigate COVID-19 transmission. According to the Canada Border Services Agency, during the week of August 31st to September 6, 2020, travel volumes were down 85% for those crossing via land, and 91% at airports compared to the same time a year ago. There are no restrictions on commercial traffic, but it was around 18% lower.

An online survey of 1,000 Canadians done by Research Co. found that 90% agreed with the closure, though the tourism industry has been negatively affected in both countries.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

New Grant Program for Small Businesses in Port Huron

Port Huron, MI — Small businesses are still being affected by the COVID-19 shutdowns and changes in consumer spending habits. A new grant program for small businesses in the City of Port Huron will provide short-term working capital to fifteen eligible businesses with the hope of improving the business’s viability and retaining jobs.

The City of Port Huron Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program will help for-profit businesses with a $5,000 grant. The goal of the program, funded by Community Development Block Grant funds the City received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is to retain jobs for low to moderate income people and stabilize local businesses.

The City of Port Huron designated $75,000 of its $462,000 in CDBG funding to the St. Clair County EDA for Small Business Assistance in April. The EDA is accepting applications from eligible businesses located inside the boundaries of the City of Port Huron from now until Friday, October 2, 2020.

For eligibility information, visit the online application <HERE> .

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

“A Beautiful Me” Turns to Pen and Paper to Reach Out to Local Youth

A Beautiful Me has launched a new Pen Pal Program to reach out to local girls who may be feeling isolated and alone in the era of social distancing.

When everything seems to be online and virtual, A Beautiful Me, a local non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of girls in the community, has turned to old-fashioned snail mail. Twenty-five volunteers have written letters, filled envelopes, and provided an opportunity to keep the “Pen Pal” relationship going.  

Jenna Hayre, a young adult volunteer and alumna of the program, said, “I wish I could see the expression on the faces of the girls who receive these cards — as they open up the envelopes and are spontaneously encouraged.”

The volunteers are background checked and the messages in the letters adhere to the driving philosophy of A Beautiful Me, to develop confidence and empowerment for girls in grades 3-12.

The recipients of the letters are the 375 girls who participated in the “be-YOU-tiful” workshop series from 2018-2020 in Macomb, St. Clair, Oakland, Genesee, Livingston, Wayne, and Lapeer counties.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Parents Concerned About Youth Vaping Can Learn More at Summit

Parents and caregivers who are concerned about vaping can learn more at the Virtual Vaping Summit on September 23rd from 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM. The St. Clair County Substance Prevention through Early Action and Knowledge (SPEAK) Coalition is hosting the event through live stream on their Facebook page.

A survey completed by the Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth (MiPHY) in 2017-18 reported that 10% of St. Clair County 7th graders used vaping products, and 38% of 11th graders acknowledged regular use.

The SPEAK Coalition focuses on many areas of substance abuse and addiction, and addressing the youth vaping crisis is one of their primary goals.

Vaping is unhealthy for kids, teens, and young adults because it contains high amounts of addictive nicotine and many other harmful substances. Use can adversely affect brain development and contribute to future cigarette use.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand