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Local News

Hunter Hospitality House Reaching Out to Community

Port Huron, MI — Hunter Hospitality House is reaching out to the community for help with their endowment fund. The fund helps keep their houses up and running, which provides free lodging to medical patients and their loved ones. They have houses near both hospitals in Port Huron.

After being closed for several weeks due to the pandemic, the non-profit was able to open on June 1st and has since served fifteen guests. According to Executive Director Tracy Willard, “Keeping young parents near their hospitalized babies, cancer patients near their treatment centers, surgical patients near the hospital the night before and then their spouses near them while they’re in the hospital, and families near their hospitalized loved ones…it’s nice to be able to help people again! Restricting the homes to one family at a time gives our guests a lot of peace of mind, too, during the pandemic.”

To keep the endowment going, a raffle is being held, with prizes like a $5000 vacation, jewelry, a technology package, a catered dinner, and a weekend getaway. The tickets cost $100 and only 300 will be sold. The winners are to be drawn August 31st.

 Tickets can be purchased at hunterhospitalityhouse.com.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Drive-up COVID Testing & Immunization Clinics at Schools Throughout August

St. Clair County, MI — The St. Clair County Health Department (SCCHD) in partnership with St. Clair County schools will be offering drive-up COVID-19 community testing clinics throughout August. (These clinics will replace the Tuesday COVID-19 drive-thru clinics held at the health department).

All clinics will be held from 3:00 PM  to 7:00 PM, and all ages are welcome. PCR testing for COVID-19 testing will be provided by St. Clair County Health Department public health nurses, and no antibody testing will be offered.

Walk-up immunizations and immunization waivers will also be available for those 18 years of age and under. This will be helpful for students who need to meet back to school requirements or get caught up on their immunizations.

Pre-registration is strongly encouraged for testing and immunization services! Make an appointment online at stclaircounty.org/Offices/health/Covid19.aspx  and click “Make an Appointment at a Community Testing Location”. Pre-registration can also be done over the phone by calling (810) 987-5300.

No out of pocket expenses for participants, and insurances will be billed.

Dates and locations include:

  • Monday, August 10th: Landmark Academy, 4800 Lapeer Road, Kimball
  • Tuesday, August 11th: Marysville High School, 555 E. Huron Blvd, Marysville
  • Wednesday, August 12th: Capac Jr/Sr High School, 541 N Glassford Street, Capac
  • Thursday, August 13th: Yale High School, 247 School Drive, Yale
  • Monday, August 17th: Algonac Jr/Sr High School, 5200 Taft Road, Algonac
  • Tuesday, August 18th: East China School District Administration Office,1585 Meisner Road, East China
  • Thursday, August 20th: Memphis Jr/Sr High School, 34130 Boardman Road, Memphis
  • Tuesday, August 25th: St. Edward on the Lake, 6945 Lakeshore Road, Lakeport

In addition, for the safety of staff and visitors, we kindly ask that participants do not bring any pets.

For more information about health department services visit www.scchealth.co or follow us on social media @scchdmi.

National Guard Extended Through December 31st

Lansing, MI — President Trump granted a request by Governor Whitmer to extend the use of Michigan National Guard forces for COVID-19 response through December 31, 2020. This Title 32 authority allows Guard members to receive federal pay and benefits until its expiration.

Whitmer said the Michigan National Guard has been a “crucial part of our emergency response, from conducting testing and screening, distributing personal protective equipment, and assisting at food banks across the state.”

Title 32 has been funded at 100% as a federal expense, but Trump imposed a 25% state cost share from August 21st to December 31, 2020. States who use Title 32 will have to fund the other 25% of the cost of the National Guard from their state budgets.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Puppy Scams on the Rise

With people staying home more than usual, the idea of having a cute, cuddly puppy has become popular. But those looking to add a furry member to the family are warned to be on the lookout for puppy scams.

Who would dare? According to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the Humane Society of the United States, plenty of scammers are out there ready to prey on unsuspecting families, and reports of puppy scams are increasing. 

Consumers are sometimes unwittingly supporting criminal and cruel illegal operations. Puppy mill operators can hide behind social distancing and complete all transactions online and deliver the animal offsite.

Molly Tamulevich, Michigan State Director for the Humane Society of the United States, said, “Taking advantage of Michiganders by exploiting our love of animals is as cruel to the people as it is to the dogs.”

Americans spend over $1 billion per year buying puppies. Nessel’s office suggests that consumers research the breed and the breeder, as well as the specific advertised puppy. Do not buy sight-unseen. Buyers should use a credit card and retain all documents and communication from the breeder, or better yet, go puppy shopping at your local shelter.

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Sewer Separation Work to Partially Close Hancock Street

Port Huron, MI — The south lanes of Hancock Street will be closed from the I-94/Pine Grove Connector to Pine Grove Avenue until late September 2020. Traffic shifts will be in place to maintain two-way traffic on the north side of Hancock Street.

Access to local businesses will be maintained, but the public is encouraged to use alternate routes.

This partial closure of Hancock Street is necessary to facilitate work on the City of Port Huron’s Blue Water Bridge Plaza Sewer Separation project, which includes sewer construction in the areas of Scott Avenue to Hancock Street and Riverside Drive to 12th Avenue.

The project is expected to be completed by December of 2020.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

McLaren Port Huron Awarded for Partnership with Port Huron Schools

Port Huron, MI — McLaren Port Huron Hospital recently received the Ludwig Community Benefits Award from the Michigan Health and Hospital Association (MHA). The award recognizes collaborative programs that improve the health and well-being of area residents.

McLaren Port Huron was recognized for their involvement in the Biomedical Science Partnership with Port Huron Schools. The program was praised for “reinforcing the importance of healthy lifestyles and strengthening the potential for high school students to choose healthcare careers”, according to the MHA. The partnership began in 2018 with 128 students and grew to 240 students last year.

Students volunteered with the hospital, along with taking tours of the St. Clair County Community College Health Sciences Building and listening to presentations from health professionals. The MHA said that “short-term results show nearly 72% of the students plan to pursue healthcare careers and more than 92% report an increased interest in the healthcare profession.”

The $5000 award is given in memory of Patric E. Ludwig, a former MHA president who championed investing in the community’s overall health.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland