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Local News

Community Opens Up Wallets for Sanborn Gratiot Memorial Home Fundraiser

Port Huron, MI — The Sanborn Gratiot Memorial Home in Port Huron exceeded their 2020 spring fundraising goal in a big way. The goal of $20,000 was quickly met and the campaign went on to bring in over $32,000.

Part of the success of the campaign was a matching fund challenge that doubled donations up to $8000 and a Diamond-level donation of $5000 from Laura Newsome, a member of the Home’s Board of Directors.

The virtual fundraiser started in May, in place of the cancelled in-person luncheon that is usually held. Executive Director of Blue Water Developmental Housing, Kathy Swantek, said, “Our luncheon typically raises $20,000 each year, and we were confident we had good community support. However, the community far exceeded our expectations, and we are thankful and grateful to all who recognize the need for Sanborn Gratiot Memorial Home, and to all who chose to support it even during the midst of this pandemic.”

Sanborn Gratiot Memorial Home has been providing assisted living to area senior citizens since 1944. The home provides lodging for seniors who have lower incomes and may have nowhere else to go.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

New CEO Appointed at McLaren Port Huron

Port Huron, MI — The McLaren Port Huron Board of Trustees has appointed Eric Cecava, MBA, as President and CEO of McLaren Port Huron effective Monday, Aug. 3.  Cecava succeeds Jennifer Montgomery, who accepted a new position at St. Luke’s Hospital in Maumee, Ohio.

Cecava has served as Chief Operating Officer at McLaren Port Huron since December 2018. In that role, he was responsible for overseeing the $40 million construction project of the North Tower, which included renovating inpatient units and the lab as well as building a new cardiovascular lab and office space for nursing administration and hospitalists.  He also led several hospital-wide process improvement initiatives to enhance service and quality.

“I am delighted that Eric has accepted the position, and I am confident he will continue to serve the hospital and the Blue Water community with the excellent leadership he has demonstrated over the past 18 months,” says Mona Armstrong, McLaren Port Huron’s chairwoman of the McLaren Port Huron Board of Trustees.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to continue to deliver on the promise of providing high-quality, accessible health care close to home,” Cecava said.  “I was drawn to McLaren Port Huron in 2018 because of McLaren’s great reputation across the state of Michigan, and I was attracted to the beauty of the Thumb region and the friendliness of people in the community. That feeling became even more evident as I interacted with the Board of Trustees, leadership, employees and the medical staff.”

Prior to joining McLaren Port Huron, Cecava served as Chief Operating Officer at Adena Health System in south central Ohio.  He holds an MBA from the Ohio State University.  A student of the renowned Lean Six Sigma process improvement methodology, he is a certified Black Belt.  He and his wife, Pam, have one son and live in Fort Gratiot.

DTF Arrests Man on Counterfeiting and Meth Charges

Port Huron, MI — The St. Clair County Drug Task Force arrested Benigno Santana, a 47 year old Port Huron man, on July 27th on a pair of warrants. The warrants included a circuit court bench warrant for failing to appear for sentencing on a conviction for delivery of methamphetamine along with a federal warrant regarding counterfeiting operations.

The suspect was arrested after being pulled over for a traffic stop and bailing out of his vehicle to hide in a residence in the 1100 block of Gillett Street in Port Huron. After the Drug Task Force received permission from the homeowner to enter the residence, the man was located and arrested without incident. 

Following the arrest, the DTF located about $23,000 worth of crystal methamphetamine along with several computers, printers, and storage devices believed to be used in the suspect’s counterfeiting operation the DTF and Secret Service had been investigating earlier this year.

Sheriff Tim Donnellon said, “I am extremely please and proud of our cooperative effort with the United States Secret Service. This investigation not only led to getting a drug dealer off the streets, but also a person ripping off business owners by passing counterfeit money.”

The suspect was arraigned on July 29th in 72nd District Court in Port Huron, and he is charged with delivery/manufacture of methamphetamine, resisting and obstructing police, use of police radio receivers/scanners in commission of a felony, and being a habitual 4th offender.

His bond has been set at $250,000 cash/surety, and he is scheduled for a probably cause hearing before Judge Mona Armstrong on August 4th. He is also expected to be arraigned on the Secret Service warrant at a later date.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Majority of Survey Respondents Want Legal Pot Shops in Port Huron

Port Huron, MI — The City of Port Huron conducted a survey asking community members for their opinions on allowing marijuana dispensaries in the city. Over 1100 responses were gathered.

Over 70% of respondents were in favor of allowing marijuana dispensaries, and 17% wanted restrictions, while just over 10% of respondents said no to pot shops in the city.

There were a variety of comments. Many showed an impatience with the delays in allowing legal shops. Several comments stated that alcohol poses a greater risk than pot and that it is illogical to restrict a less harmful substance. Other commenters pointed out that legal dispensaries can offer a regulated and safer product than the marijuana people are buying from street dealers, which can be of questionable quality with suspicious ingredients. Still others said that they have a medical marijuana card and have to travel to other cities to get their legal products. The economic benefits of a new revenue source in the city were widely touted by the respondents.

There were also plenty of comments that expressed strong opposition to freely selling a substance that has long been classified as an illegal drug and concern was expressed for the odor caused by smoking marijuana.

The city’s current ban on marijuana dispensaries ends on September 30.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Return Your Absentee Ballots Before August 4th

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.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

Don’t Open Bags of Seeds from China

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. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland