Local News

If you have followed Detroit area news, you have likely heard about the “green ooze” that was seeping onto I-696 in Oakland County. There is a twist to the story that hits a little closer to the Blue Water Area and has caused great concern for local officials and environmentalists, including State Representative Shane Hernandez. 

The ooze was traced to a manufacturing facility in Madison Heights. It has since been brought to light that the owner of the Metro-Detroit facility has property in Marion Township, near Deckerville, and a container with the potentially hazardous material was noticed on that property, along with extensive debris.

According to the Sanilac County Emergency Management Office, officials have visited the site and contacted the EGLE concerning this property. The representative of EGLE informed Emergency Management that the site was inspected in 2017 and no hazardous materials were found on the site at that time. A copy of that report has been requested and Emergency Management has also requested a re-inspection of the property to ensure there is no hazardous material or other public health issues at this location.

Michigan State Representative Shane Hernandez, whose district covers the area in question, says he is “outraged by the situation” and vows to get to the bottom of it. According to Hernanez, “as part of the process, the state House Appropriations Committee will schedule hearings into this issue.” According to Hernandez, the hearings will focus on what, when and how officials responded with the information they knew.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

January is the time of year when people often make resolutions to get in shape or increase their fitness levels. Running is often part of those fitness resolutions. 

The Blue Water Race Series has been announced as a fun and competitive way to help area runners meet their goals while helping some good causes along the way. The Blue Water Race series encourages runners to “Make 2020 a year of good- doing good things for your body and mind and doing good things for the community.” 

There are six races on the schedule starting with the YMCA’s Leprechaun Loop in March. The other races include the Run for Recovery with St. Clair County Community Mental Health, the Artful Dodger raising funds for the St. Clair Art Association, the Algonac Pickerel Run benefitting the Lions Club, P.S. You’re My Hero Run which raises funds for victim’s rights, and the Tyler Kreitler Memorial Fund Friendsgiving Race. 

Participants who register for all six races receive a commemorative jacket. There are also prizes for the top finishers in the races. Find out more at the Blue Water Race Series website, bwrs.enmotive.com.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Lake Huron Medical Center (LHMC) welcomes a new Chief Executive Officer today. Jose Kottoor has been named to the position following Jay de los Reyes’s resignation late last summer. According to Lake Huron Medical Center, Kottoor is bringing with him more than 20 years of administrative experience and extensive leadership capacities. Prior to joining the hospital, Jose served as Vice President of Operations/Chief Operations Officer for Beaumont Hospital in Wayne, Michigan. In that role, Jose was responsible for the oversight of a 185-bed full-service acute care hospital.

Jeff Smith, Chairman of the Lake Huron Medical Center Governing Board, said Jose’s experience and proven track record will ensure the hospital continues to meet the organization’s standards for delivering high-quality patient care.” Kottoor holds a master’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. His role at Lake Huron Medical Center begins January 6, 2020. 

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Mr. James Kneebone, the Industrial Arts and STEM teacher at the Brown City Junior/Senior High in Southern Sanilac County is trying to purchase an American-made metal brake. In this instance, a brake is a metalworking machine that allows the bending of sheet metal. On his “Donors Choose” page, Mr. Kneebone says his “students are anxious to learn hands-on problem-solving skills.” For many of his students, this is their first experience with building. With the equipment, Kneebone feels it  “will ultimately help these same students become better problem solvers, to learn about process, order of operations and gain an appreciation for the metal forming craft.” 

He also said, “Utilizing the metal brake, student’s paper drawings will be transferred to sheet metal, cut out, bent and realized in three-dimensional objects.” As of the weekend, several hundred dollars had been raised toward the $2,700 goal which was launched on January 1. 

Michigan has several MiSTEM regions with oversight and funding by various state agencies, but funding specific equipment often falls on the community districts. The link to the page is https://www.donorschoose.org/project/metal-fab-problem-solving-lab/4706930/.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

A St. Clair County Sheriff’s Deputy has graduated from the FBI National Academy. This prestigious honor is reserved for a select few in the law enforcement community. The officer is Road Patrol Captain Mat King. 

A 21-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department, Captain King supervises the Special Response Team and has been a supervisor for the Drug Task Force as well as a detective lieutenant. In a recent press release, Sheriff Donnellon, who also graduated from the academy in 2005, said he is “extremely proud of Captain King’s accomplishment. Only a very select few law enforcement members nationally and internationally are selected and complete the FBINA.” 

The training is held at the FBI Headquarters in Quantico, Virginia and is internationally known for its academic excellence. Officers participate in ten weeks of advanced investigative, management and fitness training. Participants often return to their agencies to serve in executive-level positions. Captain King is the seventh member of the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department to graduate from the FBI National Academy in the Department’s history.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Enrollment for the tenth cohort of the Blue Water Middle College Academy (BWMCA) is now open to local students. The Academy provides St. Clair County students the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and a college associate degree at no cost by attending school for an extra year.

The BWMCA is chartered by the St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency with partnerships between St. Clair County Community College and five county school districts including Algonac, Capac, Memphis, Port Huron and Yale. Students enrolling in the Blue Water Middle College Academy become students of the middle college but are allowed to play sports and participate in extracurricular activities at their local high school through agreements between the middle college and local districts. 

The application window is open for current 10th grade students in participating districts. There are no specific requirements to apply. Visit bluewatermiddlecollege.org for more information.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.