Send new stories and press releases to JP at news@wgrt.com.

Local News

Blue Water Area COVID-19 Update August 21, 2020

St. Clair County, MI — Lambton County, Ontario

Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 21, 2020 at  9:00 AM are as follows:

  • State of Michigan: 94,697 confirmed cases; 6,368 deaths
  • St. Clair County: 733 confirmed cases; 52 deaths
  • Ontario: 41,048  confirmed cases;  2,793 deaths
  • Sarnia-Lambton: 336 confirmed cases; 25 deaths

St. Clair County currently has 66 active cases of the virus, down 23 cases from last week, and 3% of hospital beds in the county are being used for COVID-19 patients.

In a press conference on Facebook yesterday, Dr. Mercatante, Medical Health Officer at the St. Clair County Health Department, said cases of COVID-19 in the county are stable, and the data shows a lower rate of transmission in our community.

She reinforced precautions for people who are traveling. Even though there are no requirements for quarantining after you travel, she recommended that anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 after travelling should be tested and limit exposure to other people for 14 days.

She also addressed the issue of children wearing masks in school. If students have a note from a medical doctor saying they cannot medically tolerate a mask, it will be up to each individual school whether that student will be allowed to attend in-person classes. From a public health perspective, virtual learning is likely the best option for any student who cannot tolerate wearing a mask to school.

Lambton County currently has 11 active cases, and is still experiencing a low rate of hospitalizations and deaths related to COVID-19.

The Lambton Kent District School Board released their plan for reopening schools this fall, and the plan includes safety measures to return to full-time in-class learning in September. The safety measures include cohorting, masking, and screening for COVID-19. Families can also sign up for the virtual option by August 28th. Learn more <HERE>

 

Please continue to rely on reputable sources for information on COVID-19:

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

After a Season of Cancellations, McMorran Looks Forward to the Prowlers Hitting the Ice

Port Huron, MI — McMorran Place Sports and Entertainment Center has announced that while several events have been cancelled and postponed, there is still hope for hockey season.

The tribute shows, “Old Friends, A tribute to Simon & Garfunkel” and “Rumours, The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute” have been pushed to March and May. Ticket holders can use their existing tickets for the new shows.

The Port Huron Prowlers, a minor professional ice hockey team in the Federal Prospects Hockey League, plan to hit the ice at some point in the near future. The arena has been completely renovated, but the question remains as to how many fans can be in attendance. 

McMorran is operated by the Recreation Department under the direction of the McMorran Civic Center Authority. They are hopeful that they can start scheduling events in early 2021.

For now, entertainment is available outside of McMorran with the construction of “McMorran Beach”, where sand has been spread out and there are beach chairs and corn hole games for those who want to get out of the house and be social while following safety protocols.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Colleges Take Measures to Prevent Virus Outbreaks

Statewide, colleges are struggling with the decision to either keep students learning from home or give them the full experience of in-person class and campus life. This week, Michigan State University announced that they are transitioning from in-person to remote classes and that students will not be moving into the dorms, with few exceptions.

So far, the dorms are open at Saginaw Valley, Central, U of M, and other public universities in the state. Private colleges like Alma and Albion are planning in-person classes while practicing health precautions.

St. Clair County Community College has moved many classes online, but they are also planning to hold in-person classes in health services, engineering technology, graphic design, and lab components of certain classes.

For MSU, being the largest university in the state, the risk of having a virus outbreak outweighed the huge economic, social, and educational impacts of having an empty campus. In a letter to students, Samuel L. Stanley, Jr., MD, President of MSU, said that there will be refunds and credits for those who had already paid housing and food service bills.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Two Stores Cited for Selling Alcohol to Minors

On August 17, 2020, the Port Huron Police Department send underage decoys into 29 Port Huron retail stores licensed by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission to sell alcohol.

Two establishments were not in compliance, and were cited for selling alcohol to a minor:

  • Joe’s Party Shop on Hancock St.
  • Speedway on Ravenswood Rd.

The Police Department would like to thank all of the stores who were found to be in compliance and encourages all licensed establishments to check ID to prevent the use of alcohol by minors.

 

Michigan Renaissance Festival Cancelled

The organizers of the Michigan Renaissance Festival have announced the cancellation of the 2020 Festival. Although they worked hard to develop a plan over the last five months that they believed would have resulted in a safe and healthy festival, the regulations imposed by the state regarding COVID-19 make the cancellation necessary.

In a letter on their website, the team notes that they “disagree with the current State directives that prevent a spacious outdoor venue from opening,” but, they “recognize the difficulty of the State government’s task.”

The Renaissance Festival team plans on producing events that will adhere to state guidelines, and they are working on a Renfest Food and Entertainment Parade along with a reimagined Feast of Fantasy.

The Festival will return in 2021 from August 21st – October 3rd, and all 2020 tickets will be honored in 2021.

Learn more on their website <HERE> 

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Michiganders Urged to Complete Census as it Becomes Latest Political Pawn

The national census is underway as it has been every decade since 1790. The Census Bureau has shortened the collection period by one month and a coalition of states are pushing back, asking for the October 31st deadline to be restored.

Michigan and seven other states have sent a letter to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Commerce expressing their displeasure with the moved-up date to end the data collection period.

In a press release, Governor Gretchen Whitmer said, “It is more important than ever that we be able to reach and account for every Michigander to ensure we receive funding for essential programs to help Michiganders recover from the COVID-19 crisis and be successful over the next decade – services like child care, education, foster care, and special education.” She went on to urge residents to complete the census immediately.  

The deadline was actually extended by Congress in April as the COVID-19 crisis was just getting started. The fear is that populations that are harder to count will be passed over and the funding that is tied to population counts will not be available to states. It is estimated that Michigan has 3.3 million residents who are considered “hard to count”.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland