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Local News

Pack Your Patience When Returning Cans and Bottles

Port Huron, MI — For those frustrated with long lines to return cans and bottles to get the 10-cent deposit back, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has some advice: be patient. Summer holidays, warm weather, and the lingering stockpiles of cans and bottles in garages and basements statewide have created the perfect storm for a major strain on the bottle return system.

Michigan residents have paid deposits on about $80 million worth of returnable beverage cans and bottles since the COVID-19 crisis began. The eleven-week shutdown of deposit redemption facilities set the stage for a major headache for retailers forced to redeem the deposits.

The Michigan Department of Treasury set up limits to avoid a breakdown of the processing infrastructure and the reverse logistics of deposit returns. Individuals are allowed to return no more than $25 worth of returns per day. Retailers are only allowed to accept up to 140% of their 2019 sales volume of cans and bottles with a deposit.

EGLE warns that some facilities are at maximum capacity and may have to periodically close their redemption centers  due to mandatory limits. According to EGLE, masks and social distancing are a must when making those can and bottle returns.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Political Battle Over School CARES Money Ends Up in Court

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and  five other Attorneys General are challenging U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in U.S. District Court over the allocation of CARES Act money for schools. The complaint claims that a rule issued by DeVos “would unfairly limit the ability of public schools to use federal funds provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.”

Private school funding is at the core of the differing interpretations between DeVos, a Republican appointee, and the Democratic Attorneys General. DeVos has directed funds to be allocated to all schools, regardless of perceived need, including private schools. Nessel and her colleagues contend that the money is to be spent based on Title I eligibility and that DeVos’ plan will rob the poorest schools of the money and send it to neighboring affluent private schools.

State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice joined in the outrage, saying that Devos “manufactured” formula will divert $16 million from public to nonpublic schools.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Stay Safe as Summer Temps Remain High

With temperatures across the state expected to remain in the 80s and above through next week, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is reminding all residents to stay cool to beat the heat.

MDHHS routinely reviews emergency department (ED) data for heat-related illness. During this past July 4 weekend, July 2 to July 5, 120 ED visits due to complaints that include heat exhaustion and heatstroke, sunburn and sun poisoning were reported. Daily temperatures this week are anticipated to again rise above 80 degrees, which generally correlates with an increase in ED visits for heat-related illness.

“It’s important Michiganders stay hydrated and out of the sun as much possible to avoid serious health complications during this hot weather,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical executive and chief deputy director for health. “Young children, older adults and those who are have medical conditions are at increased risk for heat-related illness, so be sure to check frequently on them and others in your community who may need additional assistance.”

To prevent complications from the heat, residents are encouraged to:

  • Drink more fluids and avoid liquids with large amounts of sugar or alcohol.
  • Limit outdoor activities to when it is coolest in the morning and evening.
  • Spend time indoors in air conditioning.
  • Wear lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing.
  • Wear sunscreen, as sunburn affects a body’s ability to cool down.
  • Check on elderly neighbors and relatives to determine if they need assistance.

For those without access to air conditioning, text or call Michigan 211 or contact your local health department to find out if there is a cooling center nearby. You can also spend some time at an air-conditioned store, shopping mall or other public building – even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help. Remember to follow guidance regarding COVID-19 precautions including wearing a mask or other face covering and practicing social distancing (keeping a distance of at least 6 feet from others).

In addition to staying hydrated and out of the sun, residents are reminded to never leave children or pets alone in a car even with the windows cracked. Temperatures inside a car can easily be double the temperature outside, and because a child’s body heats up three to five times faster than an adult’s they are more susceptible to heatstroke.

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are both forms of heat-related illness. Signs of heat-related illness vary but may include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, fainting, an extremely high body temperature (above 103°F) and tiredness. Heatstroke occurs when the body is unable to regulate its temperature and can result in death if not treated promptly.

The heat can also combine with air pollutants to cause high ozone levels, triggering Air Quality Alerts. People who have asthma or other breathing problems should avoid outdoor activities if an Air Quality Alert is triggered in their area.

For more information about how to protect yourself and your loved ones from heat-related illness, see the MDHHS Heat Awareness and Safety Fact Sheet, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.

To learn more about Air Quality Alerts, visit AirNow.gov.

Port Huron Man Arraigned on Weapons Charges

Port Huron, MI — On Sunday, July 5, 2020 at 6:18 PM, Port Huron Police responded to a call of a large fight and a man shooting a handgun out of a car at Knox Field in the 2400 block of Cleveland. Police learned the incident stemmed from two females who have had on going issues with each other. One female is a 20 year old Port Huron resident and the other is a 32 year old Port Huron resident. 

The 20 year old female saw the 32 year old with three friends at Knox Field and initiated an argument. When the 20 year old and occupants of her vehicle learned the police were being called they proceeded to leave the area. However, a 24 year old male passenger from Port Huron pointed a handgun at the 32 year old and her friends. He then fired the handgun in the air as they drove away. A description of the vehicle was given over the police radio. 

A St. Clair County Sheriff Deputy spotted the vehicle westbound on I-94 and pulled it over. The 20 year old female and a passenger, a 32 year old male Warren resident, were taken into custody and later released. The 32 year old male shooter turned himself into police custody in the 2000 block of Stone Street. The Major Crimes Unit responded to assist road patrol and the handgun used was recovered. He was lodged in the St. Clair County Intervention Center for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Discharge of a Firearm from a Vehicle, and Felony Firearms. 

On July 7, 2020, Jesse Tyrelle Stevenson, a 24 year old Port Huron resident, was arraigned on the above charges. A $10,000 cash/surety bond was set. He is scheduled for a probable cause conference hearing on July 21, 2020 at 9 a.m. in front of the Honorable Judge Monaghan. 

 

Sarnia Experiencing Drought Conditions

Sarnia, ON — The City of Sarnia and the Parks and Recreation Department are encouraging residents to water their trees to prevent them from dying. The recent lack of rain, accompanied by Sarnia’s sandy soil, has left the area in drought conditions.

Trees located along the city’s boulevards, the municipal portion of land between resident’s property and the road, are particularly vulnerable.

“Young, smaller trees (approximately three years and younger), are highly susceptible to drought because of their shallow, undeveloped root systems,” explains Chuck Toth, Supervisor, Horticulture & Arboriculture.

The best way to water trees is to allow water to trickle at a slower rate for a longer period of time. That allows water to penetrate deeper into the roots and avoids water runoff on the dry surfaces of the ground.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Shop & Dine in St. Clair County and Win $500 in Cash

St. Clair County, MI — DTE Energy and the AT&T Foundation have teamed up with the St. Clair County EDA’s COVID-19 Business Recovery Committee to promote safe shopping and dining in our area. The Shop.Dine.Win promotion encourages the community to support countywide businesses and will give away $1,000 worth of prizes every week starting July 10th through August 21st.

“As we progress through the phases of reopening, we want people to stay healthy and safe while enjoying shopping and dining experiences,” said Dan Casey, CEO of the Economic Development Alliance. “Local businesses need our help. They’ve been badly harmed by closure and, in order to survive, they need their customers to come back. We want people to know that, if they follow the protocols, they can stay as healthy as possible while helping to save their neighborhood businesses.”

The Shop.Dine.Win promotion encourages people to support local businesses, wear masks whenever they are in a public setting, utilize social-distancing and hand sanitizer stations, and celebrate safely supporting the local economy.

To enter to win the weekly prizes of $100 in gift cards or $500 cash, participants can snap a selfie while shopping, dining, or receiving services at a local business and share it on the Support St. Clair County Facebook page <HERE>. Photos can also be uploaded to www.supportstclaircounty.com. Winners will be selected by the St. Clair County Business Recovery Committee each week.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand