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Local News

Improvements Being Made to Maternal and Infant Health Programs

The health of mothers and babies in Michigan could be getting a boost thanks to a grant from Arnold Ventures and a collaboration between the University of Michigan Youth Policy Lab and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The grant will fund a full review of the Maternal Infant Health Program, the state’s largest evidence-based home visiting program. Michigan’s infant and maternal mortality rates are higher than the national average, with worse outcomes for racial minorities. The evaluation will investigate those disparities. The grant will also direct $350,000 to hiring community workers to do intensive community outreach.

The current Maternal Infant Health program partners moms and babies with nurses, social workers, dietitians, lactation consultants, and mental health specialists. Over 15,000 moms and 20,000 infants are served each year statewide. St. Clair County offers the program to Medicare and Medicaid eligible mothers and infants up to age one.

According to Robert Gordon, MDHHS Director, “Careful program evaluation can help us to make our home visiting programs more effective.”

The program continues through 2025.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Micro-Grants Available for St. Clair County Entrepreneurs

Port Huron, MI — Blue Water Startups & Entrepreneurs is offering micro-grants to St. Clair County entrepreneurs who need a boost to their businesses.

Micro-grants are small, one-time cash awards that can help a small business fund an innovative idea or project they are working on. Grants can help with marketing efforts, educational training, or memberships to professional organizations.

Matt Brooks, Founder of Blue Water Startups & Entrepreneurs said, “When I started my first business, a micro-grant could have helped in many different areas. Now as the founder of over five different businesses, I want to help others fulfill their dreams through our nonprofit Blue Water Startups & Entrepreneurs. A big business starts small. Micro-grants are opportunities to grow your success.”

The grant process begins with filling out a short survey at Blue Water Startups’ website <HERE> , and it only takes about 15 minutes to apply. Applications are due by Friday August 28, 2020.

Funding was provided through the generosity of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Port Huron Museum Asks for Community Input for Black History Exhibit

Port Huron, MI — The Port Huron Museum is reaching out to the community to help them get started on a new permanent exhibit on local Black History.

The new project will showcase the history of the African-American population of the Blue Water Area and will be displayed in the renovated area under the mezzanine. The new exhibit is expected to contain both permanent collection items along with rotating items.

For those who are interested in the exhibit, have a story to tell, or have an artifact that could be part of the collection or loaned out, the museum has created a survey. While any feedback or information is welcome, the survey seeks specific details about notable civic leaders, public servants, educators, as well as the South Park Neighborhood and many other aspects of life in the Blue Water area. The focus is on the past as well as the present and future.

The Port Huron Museum is in the midst of the Carnegie Re-Imagined project that is overhauling the way the entire collection is shared with the community after a massive inventory cataloging project that took place over the winter.

The Black History exhibit will tell the most important stories, as determined by the community. The link to the survey can be found <HERE>. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Port Huron Town Hall 2020-21 Season Cancelled

Port Huron, MI — The Port Huron Town Hall Board of Directors announced that they are calling an “intermission” in their speaker series. The Town Hall series planned for the 2020-21 season has been shifted forward to 2021-2022.

Speakers were already lined up to begin appearing at McMoran Auditorium in October, but the healthy and safety of ticket holders, speakers, volunteers, and community has to take precedence over holding the events.

They will kick off next year’s season on October 4, 2021 with Derek Hough, best known for his amazing performances on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. Derek is a professional dancer, choreographer, actor, and singer.

Port Huron Town Hall has been bringing entertaining and informative guests to the area since 1955. They are working hard to secure seating for their current and future season ticket holders, and the application deadline has been extended to Friday, September 18, 2020. Without an application and payment, they cannot guarantee seating requests or pricing for future presentations.

More information is available on their website www.porthurontownhall.com.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Numerous Road Repairs, Including Bumpy Stretch on I-69, Are Underway

The St. Clair County Road Commission has been busy this summer with some of the projects wrapping up this month and some just getting started.

In Port Huron Township, the roundabout construction at the Dove Road and Eastbound I-94 intersection is ongoing and is expected to be completed in about a month.

Another big project has just been announced by the Road Commission. Starville Road over the Beaubien Creek in Cottrelville Township is closed for two weeks for culvert replacement. The $225,000 project, financed and performed by the Road Commission, is completely closing the road between Markel and Shortcut Roads.

The North Road and Krafft Road intersection in Clyde Township is getting an improved right turn lane at Krafft Road. Drivers are asked to be aware of daily lane closures.

Finally, those who drive on Westbound I-69 through Riley Township will be happy to hear that concrete patching is underway. The road has a long stretch of uneven pavement that is finally getting repaired. Lane closures on the expressway are expected until the end of the week.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Sprout City at Palmer Park in Port Huron Is Back Open

Port Huron, MI — Great news for little kids and their parents: Sprout City is back open.

The popular playground located in Palmer Park in Port Huron is back in business after an extended closure. The park has opportunities for children to use their imaginations within a safe tot-sized city. New to the park this year are a school, a fire station, and a police station, which are still under construction. A tiny store, bank, repair shop, vet clinic, and more are already on the property.

In years past, kids could borrow tricycles and toys, but this year, they will have to bring their own to minimize sharing of germs. There is a track on which kids can safely ride their bikes brought from home and work on their gross motor skills, along with spaces for moms and dads to sit and watch.

Sprout City is fully enclosed by a fence for added safety for the youngest patrons. The park is open from dawn to dusk. Children and their caregivers are asked to maintain social distancing while enjoying the park. 

Sprout City was built and opened in 2018 with grants from various national and local agencies and volunteer efforts.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland