Local News

Environmentalists and lawmakers alike are celebrating the decision not to store nuclear waste near the shores of Lake Huron. After years of planning and lobbying, Ontario Power Generation has apparently scrapped the plan and is making good on a promise to a Canadian First Nation. 

The Saugeen Ojibway Nation had the final say in whether or not to bury low and intermediate-level nuclear waste on the shores of Lake Huron. They voted 1058-170 against storing the hazardous material in their territory, which encompasses the proposed storage site. 

Ontario Power Generation had insisted the permanent storage site would be safe, but they will have to come up with something else as the planned location is now off the table. The Saugeen Ojibway Nation called the vote a “historic milestone and momentous victory”. State Representative Shane Hernandez, whose 83rd District borders Lake Huron, said, “This decision is a victory for the Great Lakes and all Michigan residents, especially those who live in the Thumb… This site never should have been given serious consideration. It was too close to drinking water intakes for southeast Michigan, and it put the entire Great Lakes ecosystem at risk.”

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

In 2002, the abduction of Elizabeth Smart was one of the most followed child abduction cases of our time. Ms. Smart’s story gripped the nation after she was held captive for nine months as a young teen. Through this traumatic experience, Smart has become a strong advocate for the recovery programs and legislation related to child abductions. 

Next Monday, February 10, a local audience will have the chance to hear her story during the monthly town hall series. Smart is set to deliver a captivating message of hope not only about her personal story but also about overcoming adversity, the process of recovery and not allowing one’s past to dictate life’s future.

The program begins at 10:30 a.m. at the McMorran Theatre in downtown Port Huron. Limited tickets are still available for the presentation through the McMorran box office.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

A $9,000 donation to 16 schools in seven St. Clair County school districts has covered pay to play athletic fees for numerous students thanks to the Lelito’s Legacy Foundation. 

Districts require a $50-$175 payment for sports participation and for some families, that fee can be a barrier to a child joining a team. That barrier, for many, has been removed. The Lelito’s Legacy Foundation “exists to function exclusively for charitable purposes providing financial assistance to deserving youth programs that promote skill development, sportsmanship, and positive self-growth” and was started by Tim Lelito, a St. Clair High School grad who played in the NFL. 

Kelly Klemmer, Development Director for the Foundation, said, “Lelito’s Legacy Foundation envisions a safe and inclusive athletic community for all, and breaking down those financial barriers for those in need can create amazing opportunities for kids.” She went on to also say that “Sports is a gateway to keeping kids excited and attending school, better grades, and a healthier lifestyle – we don’t want anyone to miss out on that!” Klemmer credited the Community Foundation of St. Clair County and the St. Clair Inn’s Donor Advised Fund for assisting in the donation.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Lake Huron Medical Center has earned a five-star overall hospital rating by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), placing Lake Huron Medical Center among the top nine percent of hospitals nationwide. 

Lake Huron Medical Center becomes one of only 20 hospitals in Michigan to receive an overall five-star rating by CMS which rose from four stars in the previous annual CMS report.

Jose Kottoor, Chief Executive Officer, Lake Huron Medical Center said, “These ratings reflect the sincere commitment of the doctors, nurses, staff, and hospital to the communities” that the hospital serves.

The overall hospital rating from CMS is based on measured data publicly reported on CMS’ Hospital Compare tool including up to 51 measures across seven aspects of quality, including patient experience and effectiveness of care into a single star rating for each hospital. Participating hospitals reported data to CMS, the federal agency that runs the Medicare program through the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program. Those hospitals were given an overall rating ranging from one to five stars, with five as the highest and four the most common score.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

St. Clair County Health Department has announced it is working on Preparedness and Response Planning for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. The department reports to be “diligently working on preparedness and response planning against the Coronavirus and is carefully monitoring the situation at a local level.”

The Health Department is assuring the public that officials have been communicating with “partners such as border officials, Canadian counterparts, healthcare providers, emergency management, as well as frequent meetings and calls with other state and national officials.”

At this time, Michigan, including St. Clair County, has no reported cases. At the end of January, the CDC reported six confirmed cases nationwide, with the immediate health risk to the American public low. According to the St. Clair County Health Department information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

To prevent the spread of viruses such as the flu, common cold and coronavirus:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If not available, use hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing
• Avoid contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, stay home; avoid contact with others

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Two area high-school students will be Michigan delegates at the fifth Annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGS) Forum at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

The Girls in Science International Platform aims to open dialogue with a variety of individuals on issues relevant to science, technology, and innovation while engaging a global audience in a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the world.

Lauren Clemens, a 12th-grade student at Armada High School in Armada and Naomi Elliot, a tenth-grade student at Merritt Academy in New Haven were accepted to attend the 3rd Annual Girls in Science Panel, held at the UN Headquarters during the forum. The pair will have an opportunity to share their vision on how to achieve Sustainable Development Goals using science, technology, and innovation, and discuss issues pertaining to renewable energy, science education, and agri-tech.

Elliot, who is also an alumnus of local non-profit A Beautiful Me’s self-esteem workshops feels the organization, which she was first introduced to in elementary school, is a contributing factor to the opportunity. In middle school, Naomi became active in FIRST Robotics and was driven to build more girls’ self-esteem while she observed gender imparity in the sciences. Elliot said “It’s important for girls to have confidence and make decisions to follow their passion. She also said, “Healthy self-worth allows women to follow their interests, be it science, technology, engineering, arts, or mathematics.”

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.