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Local News

Sperry’s Santa Spectacle Kicks Off Holiday Season

Port Huron, MI — There’s no Santa Parade this year, but that doesn’t mean kids won’t get a chance to see Santa and feel the magic of the holiday season. Port Huron Recreation Department will be organizing Sperry’s Drive-Thru Santa Spectacle on Friday, November 27th from 6 -8 p.m.

The Rec Department is not letting COVID take away the annual holiday kick-off. The drive-thru event is hoped to bring all of the lights and beauty of the season without the worries of maintaining social distance at a crowded public event.

Spectacle participants will be driving through Pine Grove Park, which will be donning the lights of the season. Typical parade attractions will be positioned along the route with Jolly old Saint Nick himself stationed at the end of the route.

The route starts at the south entrance of Pine Grove Park and ends at the north end of the park. Side streets will be closed. 

 To keep things running smoothly on the night of the drive-thru event, the Rec Department asks that you sign up for a time slot. The event is free to attend.

Light displays are sponsored by local businesses. The displays will be up from November 25th until January 2nd. 

https://rec.porthuron.org/ViewCourseActivityDetails.aspx… 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

VNA & Blue Water Hospice Kick Off Light Up a Life Campaign

Visiting Nurse Association & Blue Water Hospice just kicked-off their annual fundraising campaign, Light up a Life. From now until the end of December, you can support the organization by donating to their campaign and honoring a loved on on their Tree of Remembrance.

The Tree of Remembrance will be lit with a shining light for each donation, symbolizing the life, hope, and dreams of loved ones who have passed as well as those who cared for them. The tree is open for viewing in the Tom Lock Memorial Observatory on the grounds of the Blue Water Hospice Home in Marysville. It is lit daily between 5 – 7 PM from now until December 31st.

Donations to the campaign ensure that the VNA & Blue Water Hospice can continue to care for the community’s needs by providing charity nursing care and room & board at the hospice home.

To donate to the Light Up a Life campaign and honor a loved one, visit vnabwh.org/donate or call (810) 984-4131.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Rash of Break-ins in St. Clair Area

Deputies from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office responded to calls of numerous break-ins that occurred in the overnight hours of Sunday.

According to Sheriff Mat King, items were taken from vehicles on River Road in China Township, Hathaway Street in East China Township and South River Pointe Lane and Scott B Drive in St. Clair Township.  A home invasion was also reported on St. Clair Highway in China Township.  Numerous items were stolen, including at least two handguns.

Sheriff King reminds all citizens to ensure your vehicles are locked at all times when not in use, even while in your driveway.

Anyone with information regarding the thefts are asked to contact the road patrol supervisor’s office at (810) 987-1733.

Submitted by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office

20 in 2020 Project Seeks Families for Michigan Teens

The 20 in 2020 project is an initiative by the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange and MDHHS whose goal is to produce video stories for 20 Michigan teenagers in foster care who are waiting for adoptive families.  The youth work with the 20 in 2020 team to create a unique profile page with the hope of matching them with adoptive families.

The 20 in 2020 project’s website currently features 18 profiles of teenagers in foster care who want to be adopted. Profiles include descriptions, photos, quotes, and personal videos of the youth sharing their personalities with prospective families.

Teens share that they are looking for a family that will accept them, love them, and “be in [their] corner no matter what”.

Interested potential adoptive families can reach out to Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange staff members directly from one of the teens profiles on the 20 in 2020 page <HERE> or by visiting MARE’s website and clicking on “For Families” <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

United Way of St. Clair County Needs Help with Community Campaign

The 2020 Community Campaign of the United Way is seeking help to reach its goals this year, like every year. The campaign’s goal is to reach 15,000 St. Clair County residents. So far, they are able to help around 5,622, according to their most recent estimates.

The United Way says, “Each of us has the ability to make a difference in someone’s life.  When we band together, we amplify that effect and make a significant impact on our entire community; creating lasting change for the common good.  An enjoyable quality of life for all; that is the goal.”

The United Way funds 39 essential health and human service endeavors countywide. They have adapted to the unique needs brought on by the sudden change to the workplace and life in general while we all live with Covid-19.

Payroll deduction pledging is still an option, as are single contributions that can be made anytime throughout the year.

According to the United Way, “This is your opportunity to leave your fingerprints on a legacy of change that will resonate for generations to come.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

www.uwstclair.org/Contribute

UWSCC’s Finance Director at (810) 985-8169

Macomb “Closes the Book” on the Massive Sinkhole Saga

You may recall the memorable story from Christmas Eve 2016 when a massive sinkhole developed in Macomb County causing houses to actually start collapsing into the ground. After massive repairs to what was called the worst infrastructure disaster in Macomb County history, the whole ordeal has finally been settled with a $12.5 million payout.

The contractors who made the mistakes that led to the disaster were taken to court, and their insurance companies finally made the payment.

Former Congresswomen turned Macomb Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller said that the money will be used to continue improvements in the area so that something like that never happens again. Miller said that the payment “closes the book” on the whole ordeal.

Four modern homes in the affected subdivision were condemned in the process and many businesses suffered as the area was closed to traffic for a year. The eleven-foot-wide pipe that was 55 feet underground had to be completely rebuilt. The whole emergency repair project cost around $75 million and was a warning to the whole region to be vigilant about infrastructure integrity.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland