Local News

FEMA spokesperson Michael Hart told the media on Wednesday that Governor Whitmer has not yet asked the federal government for a disaster declaration.  WGRT spoke with Michigan House member and Appropriations Chair, Shane Hernandez, who confirmed that governor Whitmer has not signed the $125 million coronavirus spending bill that’s been sitting on her desk since last week.  

Shane Hernandez issue the following statement, “This is exactly why you don’t play politics during a pandemic. Priorities get muddled and mistakes get made. Michigan’s hospitals are filling, doctors and nurses can’t find medical equipment and our local residents are going without crucial tests. But in all the time Gov. Whitmer was on national television over the past week attacking President Trump for not sending funding, she apparently never found a few minutes to actually put in the request or sign the bill. We have to do better than this. People are counting on us.  Gov. Whitmer needs to get her priorities in line and take care of our sick people here at home before she tries to capitalize on this virus for national attention. Mistakes like this cost lives. Her entire political future isn’t worth a single one of them.”

Media reports further indicate that Governor Whitmer’s staff is is now working on the declaration.

This week is National Agriculture Week. Now, more than ever, the importance of local farmers as essential workers is highlighted as many are hard at work feeding the world. According to Croswell area farmer, Dennis Gardner, it looks like an early spring. Gardner, the Treasurer of the East District Sugar Beet Board and Director of the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee, said that there are about 6,000 acres of sugar beets planted in the Thumb area. He said farmers are hoping for a better year this year than last, as weather conditions had a major impact. Gardner said crop yields last year were about 25-40% less than normal. However, Gardner also said most farmers are optimistic about this year, but a concern is the availability of truckers to get seed and fertilizer delivered. 

National Agriculture Week is intended to bring together all of the stakeholders in the industry to recognize the contributions of agriculture and the American farmer. Ag Day is usually celebrated on March 24 at schools around the country. The event didn’t happen this year, but according to the Agriculture Council of America, the hope is to continue reminding people that “Agriculture provides almost everything we eat, use and wear on a daily basis…Each American farmer feeds more than 165 people.”

Returning cans and bottles to the store to get your deposit back is on hold for now, as everyone tries to avoid the COVID-19 virus. According to a statement from several beverage retailer associations, the ban on returns is in effect to protect workers. In a recent statement, the organizations explained,“the health, safety and well-being of employees and their families is top priority.” 

The associations are advising “retailers to no longer accept empty containers of beer, wine and soda and distributors of those beverages to no longer accept or collect the containers.” The COVID-19 virus can live on surfaces for several days, putting “employees and their loved ones at risk each time they collect empty beverage containers.” 

Food and beverage retailers are considered essential services and staff are still expected to work in the midst of Michigan’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” mandate.  In the meantime, residents will have to let those empties pile up in the garage and take them back when COVID -19 is under control and things are back to normal.

Mid City Nutrition in Port Huron is reminding those in need, that they are still continuing their mission to “serve the hungry of St. Clair County.” Mid City is continuing to serve meals at 805 Chestnut Street in the basement of St. Martin Lutheran Church Monday through Saturday from 11a.m. until noon and Sunday through Friday 4-5 p.m.

Mid City says the meals being passed out are hot and healthy, prepared individuals donating their time to make sure that no one in the community goes hungry. In a recent statement Mid City said they “are doing everything” in their power to make sure that volunteers and staff are provided a safe environment to continue to serve those in need. After being prepared, the meals are being handed out through a pickup style at the double doors of the center.

Mid City is also thanking all the volunteers and organizations who have pitched in to donate, prepare, pack up and pass out meals, along with those giving monetarily. Anyone with questions can call the kitchen at (810) 982-9261.

The St. Clair County Economic Development Alliance (EDA) has announced that the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has approved a regional grant for the I-69 Thumb Region.

Approval of this grant in the amount of $850,000 allows the I-69 Thumb Region, consisting of seven counties, to issue prompt Small Business Relief funding. St. Clair County’s portion of the grant is approximately $142,000. On Wednesday, March 26th, applications will open to St. Clair County small businesses who are encouraged to apply online via the Economic Development Alliance’s website, if they meet certain criteria.

The EDA is coordinating the submissions and processing of all St. Clair County applications. Local chambers have been invited to assist the EDA with reviewing applications and making recommendations for awards. It is anticipated that 14-20 businesses will be awarded grants averaging $8,000 with maximum grants of $10,000. Grant applications selected from St. Clair County will then move forward to be approved by a regional panel. Dan Casey will be sitting on the regional Review Panel as the economic development representative for St. Clair County. The goal of the MEDC and the EDA is to get funds disbursed to businesses quickly. The application period opens on March 26th and closes on March 30th.  

Michigan is reporting 2,295 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 43 deaths.  St. Clair County has ten (10) confirmed COVID-19 cases, an increase of two since yesterday’s report:

·         52 year old female, no travel history, recovering at home

·         39 year old male, no travel history, hospitalized

St. Clair County Health Department is currently monitoring 36 people who are awaiting COVID-19 test results.

The St. Clair County Health Department receives information about confirmed COVID-19 cases from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The number of COVID-19 tests are reported to the St. Clair County Health Department by hospital systems, however, may not be a complete report of all tests conducted.

According to Dr. Annette Mercatante, Medical Director at the St. Clair County Health Department, “There are several reasons we are seeing more COVID-19 patients being hospitalized. Hospitalized patients are prioritized for testing, so we will detect those patients more often. Additionally, complications due to COVID-19 typically occur after the first week of symptoms. Since we identified our first cases two weeks ago, it makes sense that we would see more cases that need advanced health care as this pandemic plays out. The most critical response to this event is that we slow transmission down by social distancing and quarantine efforts as needed so that our healthcare system can keep up with those that need the care. It is too early in this event to fully compare severity and other epidemiological factors with other locations, but we still have an opportunity to protect those people around us by following all the recommendations provided.”

The St. Clair County Emergency Operations Center functions as a centralized coordination of emergency resources to provide overall policy and guidance for strategic objectives related to the COVID-19 situation. For further information visit: cdc.gov/coronavirus; Michigan.gov/coronavirus; or scchealth.co.  A general St. Clair County COVID-19 Informational Hotline is available Monday through Friday, (810) 966-4163, 8:00am-4:30pm or email questions to covid19@stclaircounty.org. The State of Michigan hotline is 1-888-535-6136 and is operational daily 8:00am – 5:00pm or email questions to COVID19@michigan.gov.

This information was submitted by the Joint Information Center at 4:33 PM on 3/25/2020