Local News

The United Way of St. Clair County granted funds to the Blue Water Area Rescue Mission (BWARM) through their Emergency Services fund.  BWARM is a full-service overnight men’s emergency shelter that provides life skills training and emergency shelter in a safe, clean, and warm environment.

Before the pandemic, BWARM opened daily at 4 PM and closed in the morning. Today, BWARM is practicing social distancing and remains open 24/7 for their residents. The grant from the United Way of St. Clair County will provide for the cost of utilities, food, and necessary products to keep BWARM open 24/7 for its residents, so they can safely comply with the governor’s executive order.

Thanks to additional support from Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and other groups, the United Way is able to address unforeseeable, unique needs in the community that are rooted in the COVID-19 pandemic. Campaign Director Brent Gillette explained, “Being part of the community solution by partnering with other community leaders has been both educational and rewarding.”

Reporting for WGRT – Marty Doorn

The Department of Health and Human Services is distributing $12 billion allocated for distributions to hospitals in areas that have been particularly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, including more than $900,000,000 to hospitals in Michigan. McLaren Flint and Macomb will receive a combined total of  $35,000,000.

President Trump is providing support to healthcare providers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic through the $175 billion in relief funding to hospitals and other healthcare providers through the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.

$12 billion is going to 395 hospitals around the country who provided inpatient care for 100 or more COVID-19 patients through April 10, 2020. The funds will be used to support healthcare-related expenses or lost revenue attributable to COVID-19. It also provides for low income and uninsured Americans so they have access to testing and treatment for COVID-19.

The 395 hospitals receiving this funding accounted for approximately 71% of COVID-19 inpatient admissions through April 10, 2020.

Reporting for WGRT – Marty Doorn

Literacy and Beyond, a nonprofit that focuses on improving the education of at-risk children and their families, announced a new scholarship that will help graduates of its 2GEN GED program have a greater chance for success in college.

The 2GEN GED program provides tutoring, childcare, and support services to women who are pursuing a GED credential as a means of high school completion. The new 2GEN G.R.A.D.S. (Graduates Receiving Associate Degree Support) Scholarship is a competitive scholarship that will be awarded to up to 10 2GEN graduates this year, with a future goal of 30 scholarships per year by the fall of 2022.

The scholarship was made possible through a partnership with St. Clair County Community College (SC4) and the Stebbins Family Fund of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM). It will provide each student with a yearly stipend of $500 for books and $1200 for transportation needs or childcare expenses incurred while attending classes, and it is renewable for three years.

Students at the 2GEN learning center will benefit from having a college and career advisor from SC4, Kim Foxwell, both at the 2GEN Learning Center and on campus at SC4. Foxwell currently works in a similar capacity serving SC4 students in the Foster Connect and Work Study programs.

“I’m honored to join the Literacy and Beyond team and their visionary 2GEN program because I’m committed to helping students achieve their educational and vocational dreams,” Foxwell said.

Mike Hinkley, Executive Director of Literacy and Beyond, said, “We are extremely grateful to SC4 and the Stebbins Family Fund for partnering with us in this innovative project to support our amazing 2GEN graduates.”

Women interested in enrolling in the 2GEN GED program can learn more at LiteracyAndBeyond.org.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Owosso barber Karl Manke’s professional license as well as the license for his barbershop were summarily suspended and an administrative licensing complaint was issued, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced today in coordination with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

The Attorney General’s office issued an administrative licensing complaint on Tuesday, alleging several violations of the Michigan Occupational Code and administrative rules, including gross negligence and willful violations of the health and safety rules of a political subdivision.

Licensing actions follow Manke’s statements that he will continue to operate his barbershop despite Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive orders requiring closure of facilities offering non-essential personal care services. Local police recently cited Manke for violations of such orders.  Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon issued an Imminent Danger and Abatement Order, requiring Manke to close his barbershop. He did not comply with that health order either.

“Mr. Manke’s actions in violating Gov. Whitmer’s executive orders as well as other health orders put the public at risk for contracting COVID-19,” Nessel said. “Anytime you have a barber or other professional providing services to numerous citizens in close proximity to each other and those citizens are then returning to their various residences, there is a risk of contracting and spreading the virus. It is paramount that we take action to protect the public and do our part to help save lives.”

The Occupational Code allows LARA to summarily suspend a professional license if there is an imminent threat to the public health, safety and welfare. An order of summary suspension is a temporary measure to protect the public and not a final determination that a licensee has violated the Occupational Code.

You can read the 31 page order <HERE>

Submitted by A.G. Nessel’s Office

Three suspects believed to be involved in the May 11th armed robbery at the Mobil gas station in Port Huron Township have been arrested.

According to St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon, an investigation into the robbery led to a search warrant being executed in the 5500 block of Beard Road in Clyde Township shortly before 7:00 last night.

Two 20 year old men, from Kimball and Port Huron and a 21 year old man from Fort Gratiot were arrested.  The pickup truck and weapon used in the holdup were seized, along with a stolen pickup truck and trailer.

A tip to the CAPTURE hotline assisted in locating the suspects in the robbery, which remains under investigation.

Also assisting in the investigation were the St. Clair County Drug Task Force, the Port Huron Police Major Crimes Unit, Michigan State Police and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations.