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Local News

Lake Huron Medical Center August Employee of the Month

Port Huron, MI – Lake Huron Medical Center (LHMC) is pleased to announce its August 2020
Employee of the Month, Stephanie Sider. LHMC is honored to have a strong team of staff and
volunteers working hard to deliver high-quality care to the Blue Water Area.

Stephanie is a Respiratory Therapist and has been with LHMC since December 2018. She was
nominated by a peer who commented, “Stephanie did a remarkable job with a Priority 1 transport out of our ER. She assisted the medic with the vent set up and operation. She went above and beyond to calm the medic down so that together they could provide the best possible quality of care to the patient.”

Lake Huron Medical Center is proud of each of its employees and volunteers; and extends a
special thank you and congratulations to all our team members, especially Stephanie, as we
celebrate her accomplishments.

To learn more about the programs and services offered at Lake Huron Medical Center, visit
www.mylakehuron.com.

“Return to Learn” Law Gives Schools Guidelines for 20-21 Schoolyear

With just a week or two before school starts, the “Return to Learn” bill has been signed into law. The law addresses the challenges facing districts in the 20-21 school year and was drafted in the Michigan House of Representatives in a bipartisan effort.

Last year’s pupil count will now determine the funding levels for this year. With uncertainty as to what days kids will be in school and differences between districts, this takes away the stress of “count days” that are tied to funding.

$65 million in federal funding is being allocated to increase internet connectivity, promote student mental health, address learning loss, and other supports.

The bill also gives flexibility to schools as to instructional days and hours, and asks districts to develop their own plans to meet the needs of students while adapting to COVID-19 mitigation protocols. The law mandates reporting on how districts will instruct in core subject areas and how they will address accommodations for students with disabilities. The law requires two-way communication and grading for all types of education, whether in-person or remote. School should look quite a bit different than it did last spring with the passage of the bills.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Powerful Tools for Caregivers Series Offered by MSU Extension

For those struggling to care for a loved one, a six-week Powerful Tools for Caregivers program will be offered to help caregivers navigate the difficult task.

The program is offered by the Michigan State University Cooperative Extension on the Zoom platform. It runs every Wednesday from September 16 to October 21 from 3:00-4:30 p.m.  

The program is designed for people who are helping a parent, spouse, friend or someone who lives at home, in a nursing home, or across the country.

Topics covered include stress reduction and effective communication. There will also be suggestions on how caregivers can take care of themselves, relax, and reduce guilt anger and depression while making tough decisions, setting goals, and problem-solving.

There will be time during the program to discuss hiring in-home help, understanding depression, helping memory-impaired elders, making decisions about driving, and making legal and financial decisions.

The six-week program is completely free. Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an organization that provides resources to caregivers nationwide. The link to registration is here.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Absent Voter Ballot Application Period Open

The application period to request an absent voter ballot for the November 3rd general election is open. Voters can now sign up to vote absentee and return their ballots as soon as they are ready.

Record-breaking numbers of absentee ballots were submitted in the August primary election, and the numbers are expected to be just as high or higher in November.

All registered voters can apply for an absent voter ballot by filling out an online form at Michigan.gov/vote. They will need to provide their driver’s license or state ID number along with the last four digits of their Social Security Number.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson just  announced that Michigan Secretary of State branch offices will be offering special appointments and extended hours for residents who need to renew their driver’s license or state ID cards that expire between January 1st and September 30th of 2020.

These special appointments will be specifically for IDs that expire between those dates and require in-person renewal, and it should help people get their IDs renewed in preparation for the November election.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

United Way Kicks Off Campaign With Drive-Through Breakfast

September marks the start of the United Way of St. Clair County’s yearly campaign to raise money for the community. They are focusing on raising enough funds through this year’s campaign to help 15,000 St. Clair County residents.

Their 2020 Campaign Kick-off will take place Thursday, September 10th with a drive-through breakfast at their Carriage House on Military Street in Port Huron. The event features a carry out hot breakfast from Chef Shell’s along with an uplifting cruise route where supporters can see the premiere of their 2020 campaign video and enjoy some entertainment.

Everyone is welcome to attend the event, and registration is available online by visiting their website <HERE> before the September 1st deadline.

The United Way of St. Clair County invests their resources into local programs that address the greatest needs our community faces. Their goal is to empower individuals and families through education, health, and financial stability to create an enjoyable quality of life for all.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Michigan Unemployment Office Adds Staff, Increases Hours

FEMA Approves Additional $300 Per Week to Unemployed Michiganders

LANSING, Mich. — Today, the United States Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) approved the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency’s application for funding that would provide an additional $300 per week payment to Michiganders receiving unemployment benefits.

“This is good news for the thousands of Michiganders who are still without work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s still a short term band aid that falls short of what’s needed,” said Governor Whitmer. “We need the president, Mitch McConnell, and Congress to put partisanship aside and pass a bipartisan recovery package that will help us save lives and get people back on their feet. Michigan families, frontline workers, and small business owners are counting on the federal government to do the right thing and work together on their behalf.”

The UIA estimates that under the program, about 910,000 Michiganders would receive at least $300 per week in supplemental benefits. The program allows for existing Unemployment Trust Fund payments delivered by Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency to count as 25% matching funds required for participation. Eligible claimants will be paid benefits retroactive to August 1. It is unclear at this time how long funding for the program will last.

“This additional $300 a week will provide some much needed support to those who are still struggling to make ends meet during this time of extreme need,” said Steve Gray, Director of the Unemployment Insurance Agency. “Our goal now is to work as quickly as possible to implement this new program to get people the benefits they need.”

At this time, claimants do not have to take any action to receive the additional benefit amount provided by the program. The additional benefits will be added automatically for all claimants who are eligible to receive at least $100 in weekly unemployment benefit payments. This includes claimants receiving any type of regular unemployment insurance benefits as well as those receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits.