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Local News

No Bologna Festival This Year; Organizers Look to September Event

The Yale Bologna Festival is on hiatus for another year. The Yale Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Festival Board made the announcement expressing regret over the difficult decision.

The Yale Bologna Festival had been going strong since 1989 until the pandemic shut it down in 2020. This year’s cancellation is blamed on a lack of sponsorship and volunteers, as well as health and safety concerns for both attendees and volunteers as the pandemic lingers on.

The Bologna Festival is not just a celebration of processed meat. It has a loyal following of festival-goers who enjoy small-town offerings like a parade and fireworks, as well a street dance and the very unique outhouse races. The Bologna Festival relies on volunteers to pull off the event, but they were scarce this year.

The Festival Board said in a public statement that they had put seven months into planning, but the Bologna Festival just wasn’t meant to happen in 2021. Instead, they are looking forward to a Hometown event on September 11th featuring a concert and fireworks. They are looking for community support to continue the events that bring the community together.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Education Advisory Council

Local Leaders Added to Education Advisory Council

Several leaders in education and economic development were added to the newly created Education Advisory Council by Congresswoman Lisa McClain. They will serve as trusted advisors to McClain on education issues that affect Michigan’s 10th Congressional District.

From St. Clair County, Dan Casey, CEO of the St. Clair County Economic Development Alliance (EDA), and St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) Superintendent Kevin Miller were added to the council to contribute knowledge of the county’s workforce, businesses, and education system.

McClain said the council will focus on all areas of education, but primarily deal with alternatives to post-secondary education like programs that develop the skilled labor force and offer training for skilled trades.

“Manufacturing companies are among the largest employers in Michigan’s 10th Congressional District, and our manufacturers are struggling to find skilled labor to fill open positions due to a skills gap and lack of information on trade and apprenticeship programs,” said Rep. McClain. “I look forward to working with my Education Advisory Council on finding ways to bolster our apprenticeship and trade programs in the district and provide resources to students on the benefits of these programs.”

The Education Advisory Council also includes: Romeo High School Academy Coach Rich Boggio, Southeast Michigan Construction Academy Director of Education DeAnna Morley, Macomb County Planning and Economic Development Director Vicky Rowinski, Macomb Community College President Jim Sawyer, Dakota High School Career and Technical Education Teacher Adam Carr, and State Representative Gary Howell.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Bridge Back Open – Suspicious Container NOT Explosive Device

Port Huron, MI — On June 10, 2021 at 7:36 a.m. a suspicious container was observed near the train tracks and the scenic turnout north of the Blue Water Bridge by a U.S. Border Patrol Agent who happen to come across it. The Port Huron Police and Fire Department arrived.

The Michigan State Police Bomb Squad was called to the scene to examine it. At 9:24 a.m. the container was found to be a mechanical/electrical device in a cylinder shape
similar in size of a two liter bottle. It was not an explosive device.

Tri- Hospital EMS, Lake State Railway, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection as well as St. Clair County Homeland Security Emergency Management assisted at the scene.

Port Huron Police Officers and the Department of Public Works had blocked off street access. International traffic was stopped at the Blue Water Bridge for under 90 minutes. The United States Coast Guard and the Port Huron Fire Department stopped boat traffic in the area as a precaution. Everything has been re-opened. We would like to thank all agencies for their cooperation and response to this incident.

Submitted by the Port Huron Police Department

Bridge Closed – Police Investigating Suspicious Container

Port Huron, MI — Early this morning a suspicious container was observed near the train tracks and  the scenic turnout north of the Blue Water Bridge. The Michigan State Police Bomb Squad  has been called to the scene to examine it. The Port Huron Fire Department and U.S. Border Patrol are assisting.

Please refrain from entering the area around Wright and Elmwood. Port  Huron Police Officers and the Department of Public Works have blocked off access at this  time. The United States Coast Guard has blocked off boat traffic as a precaution. We will  notify you when it is safe to return.  

If you have knowledge of this suspicious package call the Port Huron Police Department at  (810) 984-8415.

Anonymous tips can be received through the CAPTURE Hotline at (810)  987-6688, emailed through www.porthuronpolice.org, or texted by downloading the Port  Huron PD app on apple or android devices.

Anonymous texts can also be received by texting  the keyword CAPTURE and their message/tip to 847411.  

Submitted by the Port Huron Police Department 

 

Health Department Moves COVID Services to Offices

St. Clair County, MI — The St. Clair County Health Department has moved the bulk of its COVID-19 testing and vaccine services to their main building on 28th Street in Port Huron and to the Teen Health center behind Port Huron High School on Court Street.

Appointments for testing and vaccines can still be done online at the Health Department’s website <HERE> or by calling the Health Department at (810)987-5300. All three vaccines, Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson are available.

COVID-19 Vaccine appointments are available for all people 12 years old and older at the Main Office Monday – Thursday, and for those 12 – 21 at Teen Health Monday – Thursday during normal business hours.

COVID-19 testing appointments are available Monday – Friday at both locations.

According to Dr. Annette Mercatante, Medical Health Officer for the St. Clair County Health Department, pop-up vaccine clinics will continue to be held throughout the county for the convenience of the public. Those clinics can be found at scchealth.co.

As of yesterday, there were 4,903 active cases of COVID-19 in St. Clair County.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

State GSRP Preschool Could Get Major Funding Increase

The Great Start Readiness Program, a publicly funded preschool, is getting money to expand. Publicly funded early childhood programs are only able to reach 66% of eligible four-year-olds due to funding and availability limitations.

State Budget Director David Massaron said, “There is bipartisan support to expand preschool access for kids across Michigan and I am pleased we can make this investment.

The plan to expand funding, announced by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on June 8th, proposes the allocation of $255 million in federal money and $150 million in state money. The total $405 million would be spent over the next three years.

While preschool has been shown to have both short-term and long-term benefits, the half and full-day programs also serve as free daycares, allowing parents to work. Jeff Donofrio, President and CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan said, “Investments in programs like GSRP not only will improve the lives of thousands of Michigan kids, it also will help many parents return to the workforce to build family-sustaining careers.”    

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland