With the August 4th primary election just around the corner, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson wants to remind absentee voters to get their ballots turned in on time.
Voters can still request an absentee ballot if they appear in person at their local clerk’s office. Because of the potential for postal delays, voters should both request their ballot and vote their ballot in the same visit.
More than 900,000 absentee ballots have already been returned, but more than 1.9 million were issued.
Michigan law states all ballots must be received by the clerk by 8 PM on August 4th in order to be counted. The fastest way to submit your ballot is to use the drop box at a city or township office, and voters may only return their ballot to the drop box of their own city or township.
If you get a mysterious bag of seeds in the mail, don’t plant them. It worked out well for Jack in the fairy tale, but it won’t be so great for you. Instead of discovering a golden egg, you could end up introducing an invasive species to the ecosystem.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has sent out an unprecedented warning asking people who receive mysterious seeds in the mail to leave them unopened. Mike Philip, Director of MDARD’s Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division warns, “These unsolicited seeds could be invasive, introduce diseases to local plants, or be harmful to livestock.”
The seeds are sent from China and are thought to be part of a “brushing” scam where fake product reviews are generated by “verified owners” to give credibility to online retailers.
The United States Department of Agriculture is currently investigating this situation across the nation. Residents who receive the seeds are asked to call MDARD at 800-292-3939 or go to MDA-Info@michigan.gov.
Port Huron, MI – Stacy Britz has been named the Employee of the Month for June. She has worked at McLaren Port Huron for 18 years, and currently works in Wismer Procedures.
Stacy was nominated by her peers because she lives the hospital values every day. She goes above and beyond to do what’s best for patients, consistently putting them at ease and making them comfortable. Stacy is a team player and a great resource for coworkers. Her strong work ethic is uplifting, making her coworkers want to be better nurses. She is kind, well-rounded, diligent, and trustworthy, and always has a smile for everyone.
This employee recognition is given to individuals who consistently live the values, mission and performance standards of McLaren Port Huron. Honorees are nominated by a co-worker, physician, volunteer, and/or customer.
Sarnia, ON — Starting August 4th, a new transit service will connect the Southwestern Ontario communities of Sarnia, Strathroy-Caradoc, and London. The service, operated by the Voyago transportation company, will offer three round trips daily and two weekend round trips.
The busses will have a maximum seating capacity of 10 to 12 passengers, which may increase as needed. Frequent cleaning, exact cash payment, and other precautionary measures will be taken. Masks are required for all passengers.
Mayor Mike Bradley, of Sarnia, praised the new service, saying, “The wheels on the bus go round and round starting August 4th, providing long needed intercity bus service to South Western Ontario to bring us together.” Bradley’s sentiments were echoed by London Mayor, Ed Holder, who said, “A critical piece of our economic recovery depends on our ability to get people to and from work in a convenient and affordable manner. This need is not only local, it is also regional.”
The inter-community transit service is funded through the year 2023. Fares range between $5 and $20 and need to be reserved by phone at 519-787-1055.
Burtchville Twp. — MI If you grew up living near the shores of Lake Huron, you may have experienced the fascinating aspects that make up the region’s coastal forests. The large sand ridges and wetland swales along with diverse forests support many uncommon species and migratory birds which are a delight to nature enthusiasts.
Bill Collins, Ft. Gratiot native and Executive Director of the Thumb Land Conservancy, wants the public to have access to these unique coastal wildernesses, and the Conservancy’s newly acquired piece of property in Burtchville Twp. is a major step toward making that a reality.
“The coastal forest is a big part of what makes the Blue Water Area a beautiful place to visit, yet few understand its character and significance because there is so little public access,” said Collins.
The Thumb Land Conservancy and its partners just purchased a 42-Acre parcel of land on the north side of Metcalf Road. This parcel will become the Bidwell Preserve, and there are plans to create a trail system within the preserve that will eventually become part of a larger proposed park, the Southern Lake Huron Coastal Park, which hopes to connect other preserves in the area with the Ft. Gratiot County Park and Lakeport State Park.
The Southern Lake Huron Coastal Park will allow the public to experience all the wonders of the coastal forest from the inside.
“Imagine walking or biking for 4.5 miles through the forest, hearing the waves on the shore of Lake Huron, feeling the cool lake air, stopping to observe or read about the unique plants and animals, and ending your journey at Lakeport State Park or someday, continuing into Sanilac County and around the Thumb. This is what the Thumb Land Conservancy and its partners want to give the public,” said Collins.
The Bidwell Sanctuary acquisition was made possible by a $150,000 match grant from The Carls Foundation of Bloomfield Hills along with grants from The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Consumers Energy Foundation, Cargill Inc. and Cargill Salt of St. Clair, the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, The Franklin H. and Nancy S. Moore Donor Advised Fund, SEMCO Energy Gas Company, and several individual donors.
The Conservancy is planning to hold a public dedication ceremony on October 3rd along with the Blue Water Indigenous Alliance of Port Huron (BWIAPH.org) during which the preserve will be given an Anishinaabe name to honor the original Native American inhabitants of our region.
The conservancy is seeking further assistance through volunteer labor and donation of materials to develop the park entrance and trail on the Bidwell Sanctuary. They also need individuals to help with long-term up-keep and planning. If you are interested, please contact them at 810-346-2584 or mail@ThumbLand.org.
Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand
Aerial Map of Preserved Land in northern St. Clair County
Michigan has joined a lawsuit that challenges the Trump Administration in regard to the Clean Water Act and states’ rights. Opposition has been building since April of 2019, but when a final ruling from the Environmental Protection Agency was issued on July 13th of this year, states wasted no time in fighting back.
The Clean Water Act had given states the authority to halt federal projects, but a Trump administration order changed the states’ right to act in their own best interest, according to the Democratic Attorneys General filing the lawsuit. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said, “Decisions about the well-being of Michigan’s residents shouldn’t be made behind closed doors in Washington D.C.”
The multi-state lawsuit says that the order makes it harder to protect waters and wetlands nationwide. The federal projects called into question include hydropower and pipeline construction, along with housing and commercial land development. The regulations that were changed have been in effect for decades and across multiple administrations.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in the Northern district of California and asks for the EPA ruling to be declared unlawful.
