Local News

The St. Clair County Community Mental Health (CMH) Board of Directors has made the decision to close the Sail In Café and Convenience Store in downtown Port Huron. Located at 722 McMorran Boulevard, adjacent to the Blue Water Bus Depot Station, the Sail In opened in July 2016 as an extension of CMH’s existing Galley program. The convenience store served as a training site for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and/or mental illness who wanted to gain employment skills in the foodservice and retail service industries.

According to a recent press release, the decision to close this location was made by the Board after much sincere thought and consideration. Citing limited resources to provide vitally needed training to individuals the agency serves, the decision was made that training at the original Galley location at CMH’s Port Huron headquarters will prove to be more cost-effective, expanding the number of individuals to whom the agency can provide training.

Deb Johnson, Executive Director of St. Clair County Community Mental Health, said individuals who currently participate in the work program at the Sail In will have access to other similar programs.

At this time, there are no current plans to fill the space the Sail In will be vacating. It is owned by Blue Water Area Transit. The last day of operation for the cafe will be March 27.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Customers can help out families in need when grabbing lunch through a grassroots partnership between Moe’s Corner Deli and Blue Water Safe Horizons. The restaurant is taking collections of toiletries, diaper wipes, and personal care items. 

Brandon Lordy, a partner at Moe’s Corner Deli in Downtown Port Huron, said that a customer came in with an idea to collect items for women and children who are clients of Blue Water Safe Horizons and he said yes. The customer, Heather Marie Fagan, set up the station and Lordy has worked to generate awareness. Lordy said that opportunities like this give everyone a chance to get educated about the non-profits in the area and the needs of the community.

Lordy himself was not aware of Blue Water Safe Horizons until this project happened. The agency provides emergency shelter along with counseling services. Lordy said the donation bag has been filled and refilled. The effort will continue for at least a few weeks. Moe’s is located at 902 Military Street in Downtown Port Huron.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Following nearly four months of renovation, the Kroger store in Algonac is set to unveil its $1.2 million renovations. The newly remodeled store features updated produce, floral, deli, bakery, dairy and pharmacy departments, as well as the addition of self-scan equipment and more in the more than 48,000 square foot space.

The Algonac Kroger store will hold a ribbon-cutting on Wednesday, March 4 at 9 a.m. to celebrate the reopening. Kroger executives and store employees will be in attendance. 

Kroger began in 1883 when Barney Kroger invested his life savings of $372 to open a grocery store in downtown Cincinnati. The chain has grown to nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states under two dozen banners and annual sales of more than $121 billion. Today, Kroger ranks as one of the world’s largest retailers.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

A global logistics company is expanding its facility in Port Huron. Buckland Port Huron, which currently has a location on 24th street, has announced that the company will be moving its facility to a new 20,000 sq. foot office and warehouse space that is centrally located in proximity to I-94 and I-69 with close access to the Blue Water Bridge.

According to a recent press release, the move comes as a result of strong growth and a dedication to improving service offerings for its customers. Construction on the new facility is nearing completion and operations from this new site are scheduled to begin on Monday, March 2. The new address for Buckland Port Huron will be 1915 Dove Street.

Port Huron Northern senior student Ava Stoneberg has won the prestigious Michigan Technological University (MTU) Impact Scholarship. According to Stoneberg, there were only 25 students invited to compete for the scholarship and only one got the full award. 

Stoneberg said she was “incredibly surprised” when she got the call saying she was the winner and thought maybe they were calling the wrong person. They weren’t. Stoneberg said she is “extremely thankful for the opportunity” that she has been given and for “all the help from her supportive parents, family, and friends”. 

MTU released a statement crediting Stoneberg’s involvement in student leadership and the FIRST Robotics Team Mecanum Knights as part of the reason she was chosen. She said that she is looking forward to the full college experience and the outdoor activities that are available in the Upper Peninsula. Stoneberg will be enrolling in the College of Business at MTU and intends to major in engineering management. She also plans to take advantage of the “study abroad” program and do some traveling.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is warning Michigan residents to watch for scams related to the coronavirus disease. These scams include websites selling fake products, and fabricated emails, texts and social media posts used to steal money and personal information.

The emails and posts may be promoting awareness and prevention tips along with phony information about cases in residents’ neighborhoods. They may also ask for donations to victims, provide advice on unproven treatments or contain damaging attachments.

Nessel says, “While the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 is real, there have been no confirmed cases in Michigan.” 

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at MDHHS says, “While the current risk of COVID-19 in the United States is low,” the state agency is “working with local and federal partners to make sure our public health system is prepared.”  

Khaldun says, “The best way Michiganders can stay healthy is to wash their hands often with soap and water, cover their coughs and sneezes, stay away from people who are sick and stay home if they are not feeling well. For accurate, up-to-date information, visit the CDC’s website or the MDHHS’ webpage.”

Consumers who suspect scams are encouraged to file consumer complaints online with the Michigan Department of the Attorney General or call 877-765-8388.