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Local News

Numerous Road Repairs, Including Bumpy Stretch on I-69, Are Underway

The St. Clair County Road Commission has been busy this summer with some of the projects wrapping up this month and some just getting started.

In Port Huron Township, the roundabout construction at the Dove Road and Eastbound I-94 intersection is ongoing and is expected to be completed in about a month.

Another big project has just been announced by the Road Commission. Starville Road over the Beaubien Creek in Cottrelville Township is closed for two weeks for culvert replacement. The $225,000 project, financed and performed by the Road Commission, is completely closing the road between Markel and Shortcut Roads.

The North Road and Krafft Road intersection in Clyde Township is getting an improved right turn lane at Krafft Road. Drivers are asked to be aware of daily lane closures.

Finally, those who drive on Westbound I-69 through Riley Township will be happy to hear that concrete patching is underway. The road has a long stretch of uneven pavement that is finally getting repaired. Lane closures on the expressway are expected until the end of the week.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Sprout City at Palmer Park in Port Huron Is Back Open

Port Huron, MI — Great news for little kids and their parents: Sprout City is back open.

The popular playground located in Palmer Park in Port Huron is back in business after an extended closure. The park has opportunities for children to use their imaginations within a safe tot-sized city. New to the park this year are a school, a fire station, and a police station, which are still under construction. A tiny store, bank, repair shop, vet clinic, and more are already on the property.

In years past, kids could borrow tricycles and toys, but this year, they will have to bring their own to minimize sharing of germs. There is a track on which kids can safely ride their bikes brought from home and work on their gross motor skills, along with spaces for moms and dads to sit and watch.

Sprout City is fully enclosed by a fence for added safety for the youngest patrons. The park is open from dawn to dusk. Children and their caregivers are asked to maintain social distancing while enjoying the park. 

Sprout City was built and opened in 2018 with grants from various national and local agencies and volunteer efforts.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Effort Underway to Put U.S. Space Force Headquarters in Michigan

Those that were once thought to be storylines in science fiction novels continue to be real headlines in the year 2020. The United States has developed a “Space Force” and there’s a chance it could be headquartered in the Southeastern Michigan region.

A resolution has been introduced in the Michigan Senate urging the United States Congress, Trump Administration, and the U.S. Air Force to locate the headquarters of the new U.S. Space Force in Macomb County’s Sterling Heights.

The Space Force is a newly created branch of the armed services that is affiliated with the Air Force. Plans are underway for it to secure its own headquarters and local proponents argue that Southeastern Michigan is a natural fit.

The sponsor of the bill, Senator Michael D. MacDonald of Macomb Township said, “Space is the final frontier, and Macomb County is uniquely positioned to lead the way in developing and protecting our national interests in space. It would boost our economy, offer exciting new opportunities for Michigan and provide the Space Force with everything it needs to be successful in accomplishing their mission.”

The Bill has been referred to committee for consideration.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Pure Michigan Pledge Gives Peace of Mind to Tourists

Port Huron, MI — Tourism is a vital industry in the Blue Water area and throughout the state of Michigan. COVID-19 fears can lead to cancelled travel plans which then lead to lost revenue. The Pure Michigan Pledge has been developed to give tourists peace of mind while keeping revenue flowing into Michigan destinations.

The guidelines of the pledge are safety measures thought to mitigate transmission of COVID-19. Businesses who take the pledge promise to have their staff wear face masks, practice social distancing, clean high traffic areas regularly, keep sick employees home, wash hands frequently, and encourage use of cards instead of cash. Businesses that make the pledge can receive an official logo to display on their property and can be added to the map of locations that have made the promise.

The program was just rolled out and so far, major attractions like The Henry Ford, The Bavarian Inn, and others have gotten on board. No Blue Water area businesses are on the list yet. Businesses can sign up to take the pledge, request the logo, and get on the map at https://www.michigan.org/puremichiganpledge.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Lapeer Woman Loses $17,000 in Scam

Lapeer, MI — A 60-year-old Lapeer woman received phone calls and texts that convinced her to provide $17,000 in gift card codes to a scammer. The calls came from three different phone numbers with the area codes 810, 202, and 210.

When the woman answered the calls, she was addressed by an unidentified male individual who claimed to be with the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigations) and threatened to have her arrested if she did not provide him with $17,000 in gift card codes.  The caller claimed that he had already arrested her ex-husband and ex-uncle.

The victim also received a text message from the 210 area code phone number with a picture of an FBI identification card and badge.  She was convinced to purchase gift cards from various stores in multiple different towns, photograph the codes, and send them to the caller.

Lapeer County Sheriff’s Deputies are actively investigating this case, and want to remind the public that law enforcement will never contact individuals demanding money or payment in the form of gift cards.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

HUD Awards Housing Commission Funds to Help Low-Income Families

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development just announced $472 million dollars of funding will be distributed nationally to help low-income families during the coronavirus pandemic.

Michigan public housing authorities will receive $8.1 million to help families assisted by Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) and Mainstream Vouchers, two tenant-based voucher programs that serve low-income residents. Housing Choice Vouchers are commonly referred to as Section 8 vouchers and the program helps very low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities afford rental housing in the private market.

This new funding will pay for eligible coronavirus related activities such as procuring cleaning supplies and maintaining sanitation in housing units, relocating families to health units if they become sick, and paying for the cost of childcare for Public Housing Authority staff who have incurred extra expenses due to COVID-19.

As part of this initiative, the Port Huron Housing Commission is expected to receive $85,849 of funding.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand