Local News

(BPT) – If emergency officials in your community issued a mandatory evacuation order to get out of the path of a wildfire, hurricane or other natural disaster, would you know what to take with you, the evacuation route you would take and where you would go until it was safe to return home?

Do you have a personal evacuation plan in place?

If you answered “yes,” you’re like 49% of the 1,795 respondents Mercury Insurance recently surveyed for its emergency preparedness quiz. However, if the question was rephrased to inquire about “having an evacuation plan and practicing it at least once a year,” the results show only 23% meet this criteria.

“Safety should be your first priority in any situation involving a possible disaster or emergency event, and you should respond to mandatory evacuation orders immediately,” said Christopher O’Rourke, vice president of property claims at Mercury Insurance. “Your first instinct might be to panic, so having an evacuation plan in place and practicing it regularly will help ensure you and your family are ready to go at a moment’s notice. And it will also help alleviate some of the stress and anxiety that will undoubtedly be a part of such a nerve-wracking situation.”

The survey also revealed that 39% of homeowners were unsure if they have enough coverage to rebuild if their home is damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster, and 34% don’t have a home inventory they could provide to their insurance company to help get these items replaced. “Homeowners and renters should make a point of touching base with their insurance agents at least once a year to reassess coverage needs,” said O’Rourke. “It’s a good idea to make sure you have enough coverage as you accumulate more belongings, make changes to your home or your family expands – these details may affect your policy limits, as well as create a need for endorsements you might want to consider adding to your policy.”

There is some good news, however, as 88% of respondents said they have an in-home emergency kit stocked with essential items they will need if disaster strikes. If you don’t have a kit, here is a list of the items you may want to include in your kit:

• A three-day supply of water (one gallon per person), non-perishable food items and pet food, if applicable
• A battery-powered or hand-crank radio (and extra batteries)
• A flashlight
• A first aid kit
• A whistle to signal for help
• A can opener
• Blankets
• Tools to turn off utilities
• $200 in cash in small bills, as power may be out, making ATMs, debit and credit cards unusable
• Fully charged battery packs so you can recharge your cell phone
• Prescriptions for you and your pets.

The bottom line is that extreme weather events are anticipated to increase, and you can never be too cautious or over-prepared to protect against Mother Nature. “It’s a bit alarming to discover that, although natural disasters are in the news on a seemingly regular basis, many Americans still aren’t properly preparing themselves if one happens in their neighborhood or city,” said O’Rourke. “These events can have serious repercussions and adopting a wait-and-see attitude is not an option.”

(BPT) – Teenagers love to read comic books, and many even have the desire to write stories, draw comics and create their own books someday. Nineteen-year-old Bo is one of those teens. He loves everything about comic books and drawing – but juvenile Huntington’s disease (jHD) has made it increasingly difficult for him to express his creativity the way he wants. There was a point he didn’t think he would ever see his comic book ideas become reality.

To help Bo create a comic book of his own, Make-A-Wish Oregon and sponsor Genentech partnered with Portland-based Dark Horse Comics, the third-largest comics publisher in the U.S. After working together with Bo on his ideas through many drafts and extensive creative collaboration, the team of artists and writers from Dark Horse Comics helped bring to life Bo’s creation, “The Adventures of Backpack Boy,” and grant his one true wish.

The celebration of Bo’s creative venture was also a team effort, bringing together Bo’s family and friends, Make-A-Wish volunteers, the creative team from Dark Horse Comics and a group of Genentech employees who all helped plan the special event.

Bo and his family were picked up in a limo to be taken to his book-signing event, where Dark Horse Comics presented Bo with special copies of the original art cells used in creating his comic book.

The party featured a spread of Bo’s favorite foods – including pizza, cheese puffs, cheese crackers, Skittles and M&M’s – for 75 guests. Every attendee received a signed copy of Bo’s comic book, and they could also write Bo messages of good will around a special framed copy of his comic book’s cover art. Bo was able to sit and chat with guests at the event, who came to admire his work and support his family. He even had his picture taken with many of them.

“Bodean has a difficult time communicating and showing emotion,” said Bo’s mother, Cara Jacobsen. “It was very sweet to see him make a big effort to tell people about his comic book, and his face lights up. There are so many people very excited for Bo, who love asking him about the progress of his comic. The process is such a positive aspect of his life right now and helps him connect to people who care about him and reach out to him.”

Unfortunately, Bo’s father passed away from Huntington’s disease a couple of years ago, and Bo has both a younger brother and older sister who are also living with the disease. Huntington’s disease is a hereditary, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that makes it increasingly difficult for a person to think, behave and move. Juvenile Huntington’s disease is a less common, early onset form of Huntington’s disease.

There is no cure today, but there are disease management strategies that can help provide some symptom relief. Biotechnology corporation Genentech is currently investigating a number of approaches to help people with rare diseases.

Support from corporate partners such as Genentech is crucial to making wishes come true for children like Bo. “Make-A-Wish could not grant wishes without the generous support of our partners. Working together to positively impact wish kids and their families through the science of good has created a strong win-win partnership,” said Laila Cook, CEO of Make-A-Wish Oregon.

Learn more about how you can help grant the wishes of children with critical illnesses at wish.org.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has appointed Mona S. Armstrong to the 72nd District Court of St. Clair County. The seat became available after former Judge Cynthia Platzer announced her retirement in December after 17 years. 

Armstrong is currently a senior assistant prosecuting attorney with the St. Clair County Prosecutor’s Office and has been with the office for nearly 25 years, primarily responsible for homicide and other high-profile cases. Amrstrong also previously Armstrong served as adjunct faculty at St. Clair County Community College and as a research attorney for the 31st Circuit Court.  

Amstrong said in a press release from the governor that she is eager to continue her commitment to “public service in this incredibly important position in the District Court.” She also said she pledges “to administrate the principles of justice fairly, with uncompromising integrity, and to serve in a manner consistent with the trust placed” in her.  

This appointment was made to fill a partial term, which expires on January 1, 2021, after Judge Cynthia S. Platzer stepped down. If Armstrong wishes to seek a full six-year term, she would be required to run for reelection in November of 2020. Her term commences March 13, and Armstrong has indicated she does intend to run for reelection. 

Ms. Armstrong lives in Fort Gratiot Township with her husband Todd and their two children.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

After 114 years, St. Mary School in St. Clair is closing at the end of this school year. The school will not be enrolling students for the 2020-2021 school year, but current students will finish out the year. 

The Archdiocese of Detroit announced the closing this week and said St. Mary church members were told of the closing in late February and Father Michael Zuelch called it a “deeply difficult decision” that was made in consultation with many stakeholders, including both local and regional leadership. 

According to the  Archdiocese, the reason for the closing was a combination of rising costs and declining enrollment. The school currently has 48 students. In recent years, the school has changed from a traditional preschool through eighth-grade school to a Montessori-style school with grades pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. St. Mary Catholic Parish in St. Clair has had a school on its grounds since 1906. Other Catholic elementary and middle schools in the geographic region, the Blue Water Vicariate, are enrolling for the 2020-2021 school year. Those include St. Edward in Lakeport, St. Mary/McCormick in Port Huron, Holy Cross in Marine City, Immaculate Conception in Ira Township, and St. Augustine in Richmond. Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

State Representative Gary Eisen, who represents the 81st District covering much of St. Clair County, introduced a bill in January that would allow the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) or county sheriff to set temporary motorboat speed limits during high water conditions and to establish fines for violations. Currently under existing legislation, the DNR establishes boating speed limits for Michigan waters. Any area of water that does not have a speed limit established by the DNR has a default speed limit of 55 miles per hour. 

The bill has been moving through approvals and is being supported heavily by Clay Township Supervisor Artie Bryson who sees the direct impact of the rising water levels on St. Clair County’s southern end. Bryson, now, is asking for the community to speak up to make the bill pass in an effective manner. In a recent public post on Facebook, Bryson said he is “Calling on no-wake warriors.” 

The most recent changes that happened to House Bill 5401 after leaving the House Ways and Means Committee, Bryson feels, need to be changed to be effective, before it is voted on next week.

In the current form, Bryson points out that the bill has date restrictions, renewal restrictions and more that could prevent real changes for St. Clair County residents. The bill can be read at legislature.mi.gov by searching Bill 5401. Bryson is encouraging residents to contact representatives on the Senate Committee on Natural Resources to express concerns about the current format.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Cecelia Shuler, a licensed massage therapist in St. Clair County, is raising funds and community support to represent the USA in world massage competitions this upcoming spring. Schuler graduated as a therapist from Lakewood School of Therapeutic Massage in 2017, and then in the spring of 2019, finished a degree at St. Clair County Community College on a full scholarship through the Complete Your Degree program from the Community Foundation of St. Clair County.

In June 2020, Schuler plans to fly to Copenhagen, Denmark to compete at the International Massage Association’s fourth official World Championship. She will represent not only the community of Port Huron, but also the state of Michigan and the USA. While there are a couple of other participants from the United States traveling to compete, Schuler believes she is the only one from the state of Michigan to ever compete at this level. 

Schuler is hoping to raise the needed funds to travel and compete through a raffle that grants the winner with a years worth of free massages (One hour massage a month equaling an $850 value). She is also raising money through a GoFundMe page. You can find more on her Facebook page at Cecilia_LMT.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.