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Local News

Police Looking for Two More suspects in Armed Robbery

On November 5, 2020 at approximately 1 p.m., a 17 year old male Port Huron resident was on 14th Street & Bancroft Street awaiting a ride from an acquaintance. The victim entered a vehicle occupied by four individuals. The victim was then assaulted and robbed of cash on his person. One of the suspects did have a handgun. 

Later that day, a 17 year old male Port Huron resident who was a suspect in this armed robbery turned himself in at the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office. The Major Crimes Unit interviewed him and he was lodged in the St. Clair County Intervention Center. The Major Crimes Unit arrested a 21 year old female Port Huron resident who was also involved. She was also lodged in the St. Clair County Intervention Center. 

On Sunday, November 8, 2020 an arraignment was held for Vohnda Love Edwards, a 21 year old female Port Huron resident, on the charge of Aiding and Abetting – Robbery Armed. Her bond was set at $20,000 cash/surety. On Monday, November 9, 2020 an arraignment was held for Damarion Lucious Taylor, a 17 year old male Port Huron resident, on the charge of Robbery Armed. His bond was set at $100,000 cash/surety. 

They both have a probable cause conference scheduled for November 17, 2020 at 9 a.m. 

The Port Huron Police Department are still looking for two other Port Huron residents, a 17 year male and an 18 year old male, who were involved in this incident. If you have any information on this armed robbery call CAPTURE at (810) 987-6688 or the Major Crimes Unit at (810) 984-5383. 

Submitted by the Port Huron Police Department

Two Killed in Separate Crashes

Kimball Twp., MI – Two people were killed in separate crashes last night and this morning.

At about 10:30 Monday night, deputies were dispatched to the area of Dunlap Road and Flinchbaugh Road in Kimball Township for a crash.  When they arrived, they found a wrecked Harley Davidson motorcycle and the driver of the motorcycle.  Further investigation led to finding a 2005 GMC Envoy that had gone off the road into a wooded area.

Preliminary investigation into the crash found that the Envoy, driven by a 31 year old Port Huron woman was heading southbound on Dunlap, crossed the centerline and struck the motorcycle, driven by a 55 year old man from Greenwood Township.  The man was pronounced dead at the scene.  The woman was arrested for suspicion of operating while intoxicated causing death.

The crash remains under investigation.  Kimball Township Fire and Rescue and Tri-Hospital EMS assisted at the scene.

Shortly before 5:30 this morning, deputies were called to Lapeer Road and Wales Center Road in Wales Township for a one vehicle crash.  When they got to the scene, they discovered a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche had been traveling eastbound on Lapeer, went off the road into the ditch and rolled several times, ending up on its wheels.  The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, a 26 year old man from Melvin, Michigan had been ejected from the truck.  He was transported by Tri-Hospital EMS to McLaren Port Huron Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries.

Emmett Fire and Rescue assisted at the scene of the crash, which remains under investigation.

Submitted by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office

Blue Water Area COVID-19 Update Wednesday, November 10

St. Clair County, MI — Lambton County, Ontario

Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of November 10, 2020 at  9:00 AM are as follows:

  • State of Michigan: 216, 804 confirmed cases; 7,640 deaths
  • St. Clair County: 1,664 confirmed cases; 66 deaths
  • Ontario: 85,395 confirmed cases;  3,245 deaths
  • Sarnia-Lambton: 380 confirmed cases; 25 deaths

St. Clair County has 1,125 active cases of the virus, an increase of over 300 cases since last week, and 9% of hospital beds in the county are being used for COVID-19 patients.

According to a press release from the St. Clair County Health Department, they are limited in their ability to investigate cases at this time, and there is a growing number of workplace and school related cases.

Dr. Annette Mercatante, Medical Health Officer explained, “In these weeks or months between high transmission rates and the release of a vaccine, we simply have to deal with this reality.  Remember what is making you mildly ill can be life threatening to someone else. These difficult times will get better, but we have to work together to minimize the impact of this on our community and economy. And we have to act now.”

Lambton County currently has 9 active cases. Health officials recommend good hygiene, sanitization of frequently touched surfaces, and mask wearing for individuals who are caring for a COVID-19 infected person in their household.

Please continue to rely on reputable sources for information on COVID-19:

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Local Couple Starts “Inspire” Gift Basket Program to Thank Essential Workers

Port Huron, MI — A local outreach program, “Inspire”, is providing baskets of snacks to essential workers while also providing some inspiration to the organizers.

Joe and Jean Sabo, new to Port Huron, spearheaded a mission to recognize and thank those who are keeping things going in their new community in the midst of the pandemic. Jean Sabo said the idea started with her granddaughters suggesting they take donuts to the fire station. The idea grew into the Blessing Baskets, a collaboration with their pastor and fellow members of The Cornerstone Church in Clyde.

The Sabos have taken the baskets to eight local fire stations as well as several public schools. The idea has become so popular and well-supported that they are expanding to local high schools this month and to EMS and Dispatch stations in December.

Sabo said that “2020 can be a discouraging, chaotic time and we could all use some encouragement”. As often happens, the blessing was returned to the organizers. Sabo was herself inspired when “something so small turned into something so exciting.”

Donations of pre-packaged single serving non-perishable snacks, as well as cash donations are being accepted to help the “Inspire” team expand their work. Contact The Cornerstone Church at (810) 982-8720 to donate.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

NACW Boosts Career Development for Women

The National Association of Career Women (NACW) started in 1979 with a group of women in Lansing, MI. The founding members of the group would meet once a month for lunch to discuss professional opportunities open to them and their female peers. The Port Huron chapter joined in 1985, and the group is active and looking for new members.

The NACW is dedicated to creating a welcoming, supportive, engaging, and empowering environment for women to develop both personally and professionally. Membership is $150 for new members and $100 each year for a renewal. The group normally meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month for lunch and a speaker at the Culinary Institute of Michigan, but during this season, they have been meeting virtually over Zoom.

Samantha Cuppen, President of the Port Huron Chapter of NACW, said, “For me, its a low pressure situation to get involved in a group. Everybody is busy, but this is a good group of super-friendly people to get involved with. You can have lunch, learn something new, and just enjoy yourself.”

The group doesn’t fundraise, and it focuses on socialization and education for its members. Meeting topics are chosen based on relevancy to current events and have included human trafficking and stress management.

Each year, the local and National chapters select a Woman of the Year from their membership. An award is presented at their Annual Meetings to the woman whose conduct exemplifies the highest standards personally and professional while active in a full time career. This year’s winner for both the Port Huron Chapter and the National Chapter was Cathy Martinek, from WGRT.

To learn more about the Port Huron Chapter of the NACW, visit their website <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Additional Food Assistance Extended

Approximately 350,000 Michigan families will continue to have access to additional food assistance benefits during the month of November as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michigan previously approved the additional food assistance for March through June – and now that is being extended for the month of November with approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service.

Eligible clients will see additional food assistance benefits on their Bridge Card by Nov. 30, with payments beginning for some households on Nov. 21. Additional benefits will be loaded onto Bridge Cards as a separate payment from the assistance that is provided earlier in the month.

Households eligible for Food Assistance Program benefits will receive additional benefits in November to bring all current SNAP cases to the maximum monthly allowance for that group size. This change only applies to customers not currently receiving the maximum benefit amount. The 350,000 households that receive increased benefits represent more than 50 percent of the more than 682,000 Michigan households that received food assistance in September.

Eligible families do not need to re-apply to receive the additional benefits. People who receive food assistance can check their benefits balance on their Michigan Bridge Card by going online to www.michigan.gov/MIBridges a consumer service representative toll-free at 888-678-8914. They can ask questions about the additional benefits by calling or emailing their caseworker.