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Local News

Sanilac County Survey Could Lead to Better Broadband Service

Sanilac County is looking for citizen feedback on their initiative to bring high-speed internet to the entire county. The initiative includes homes, businesses, schools, healthcare facilities, and community organizations. The venture is being managed by the Sanilac County Broadband Committee.

Joel Wyatt, Vice Chairman of the Sanilac County Board of Commissioners, said, “For the last year, the Sanilac Board of Commissioners have discussed a county-driven initiative for reliable internet in Sanilac. This last eight months have revealed that objective being more needed than ever.  Businesses, families, churches and especially school children have a tremendous need for solid, fast internet.  It is truly becoming a critical infrastructure service.”  

All Sanilac County residents are asked to fill out the survey. The results will help with identifying areas with poor access to broadband services, as well as help determine the best places to locate equipment. The survey is part of a partnership with the national non-profit, Connected Nation, which works to “to improve lives by identifying innovative solutions for expanding access, adoption, and use of broadband and its related technologies to all people.”

The survey can be found at https://myconnectedcommunity.org/sanilac-county.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Grants Available for Eligible Teachers and Support Staff

Governor Whitmer and State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks Announced a grant program for Michigan teachers and support staff who worked additional hours during the 2019-20 school year due to COVID-19.

The Teacher COVID-19 Grant and the Support Staff COVID-19 Grant programs recognize the time and additional costs classroom teachers and support staff dedicated to their students when schools closed for in-person learning last spring.

Classroom teachers who taught full and part-time in a school district or nonprofit nonpublic school during the 2019-20 school year prior to the shutdown are eligible to receive up to $500. Paraprofessionals, aids, and other support staff can receive up to $250.

Grant funding will be implemented through the Michigan Department of Treasury and the Michigan Department of Education and checks will be sent to teachers and support staff in February 2021.

For more information on eligibility and program details visit their website <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

“Five Days of Action” at YMCA to Protect Children

Port Huron, MI — The YMCA of the Blue Water Area is participating in Five Days of Action, which is a weeklong campaign designed to raise awareness and protect children from sexual abuse. The YMCA is offering tips, tools, activities, and resources that are geared toward the current climate of dealing with the pandemic.

The theme of the campaign is “One Day at a Time”. Parents are encouraged to have a conversation with their kids by playing the “What If?” game to see how they would respond to situations and teach them how to get out of bad situations. 

The campaign addresses online safety, keeping kids safe and busy during social distancing, and creating a family code of conduct.Adults are also given tips on responding to abuse and knowing where to go for help.

Last year, 428 YMCAs participated in the week-long campaign. With things being quite a bit different this year and isolation being the norm, the program is adapting with an online format at fivedaysofaction.org. Anyone can access the website to learn the valuable information about protecting our children.

Reporting for WGRT -Jennie McClelland

Man With Airsoft Gun Scares Couple in Port Huron

Port Huron, MI — The Port Huron Police Department is seeking charges against a man walking with an airsoft gun in the area of Riverside Drive and Garfield Street on October 24, 2020 around 7:30 PM.

An 18 year-old woman and a 17 year-old male were driving in the area when a man with a black handgun in his waistband appeared in the roadway. The couple sped off and contacted police.

Residents from the area said a similar incident happened in July 2020, and someone provided video footage that led police to the suspect’s house. The suspect is a 33 year-old Port Huron resident. He stated that he was carrying the airsoft gun in an attempt to slow down people who driving too fast through the area.

The airsoft gun was confiscated, and a request to charge the suspect with Disorderly Conduct was forwarded to the St. Clair County Prosecutors Office for review.

Smartphone Tracking Alert Issued by AG

A Consumer Alert has been issued by Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel regarding Smartphone tracking. The alert gives information on disabling tracking activity but also mentions that some tracking can be useful, such as COVID-19 monitoring.

Nessel said, “Our cell phones have become an essential communication tool. Because of that, I am committed to ensuring that Michigan consumers know the facts behind digital tracking and information-sharing. These technological advances may cause some to feel their privacy is being compromised, but those same advances are also providing us with unique opportunities like contact tracing to combat COVID-19. I want every Michigander to know how to ensure their smartphones are helping combat this pandemic without invading our privacy.”   

The full Alert explains how your phone and social media platforms are not really “listening”, but they are definitely tracking you. Instructions for limiting the tracking are given for both Android and Apple devices.

The complete Consumer Alert can be found at https://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,4534,7-359-81903_20942-542694–,00.html.

Reporting for WGRT -Jennie McClelland

Port Huron School District Adjusts Instructional Schedule

Port Huron, MI — In a letter to parents, Port Huron School District announced some changes to the instructional schedule. Currently, students are receiving instruction either completely virtually or with a hybrid schedule with some in-person days and some virtual days.

The new schedule was approved by the Board of Education at a meeting on October 23rd. The new schedule has Tuesday, November 3rd as a Remote Learning Day for all students with Learning Labs open. Wednesday, November 25th is a Remote Learning Day with buildings closed. Friday, December 11th is a Remote Learning Day with Buildings and Learning Labs open, and both Friday, February 12th and Monday, February 15th are Remote Learning Days with buildings closed. Parents who may have scheduled a mid-winter break vacation during February are reassured that the instruction is “any place, any pace”, so they can still take their trips.

Learning Labs will be available by appointment at Crull Elementary, Holland Woods Middle School and Port Huron High School. More information will be sent to families.

The updated schedule allows for school to end on June 11th, 2021, and meets the requirement to offer 180 instructional days.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland