Local News

Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) President Carl Bednarski sent a formal request to Governor Whitmer on April 3rd to “ask for a reconsideration of retail garden centers to be included as essential infrastructure workers.” The original Stay Home, Stay Safe order deemed retail garden centers as non-essential though much of the food and agriculture sector was considered essential.

Retail garden centers and greenhouses around the state are brimming with stock including vegetable plants, and they are ready to begin selling them to customers. MFB’s horticulture specialist, Audrey Sebolt, said, “For many growers, if they’re not allowed to sell the plants already growing in greenhouses, it will mean a complete loss and an entire year without income for both the owners and their employees.” Ohio’s Governor, Mike DeWine, designated retail garden centers as essential on April 2nd.

Luke Marion, owner of MIgardener in Port Huron, agrees that retail garden centers should be considered essential. He is also a proponent of gardening from seed as much as possible. The biggest benefit of planting from seed is the cost. “Two to three plants from a garden center will cost $7 – $8,” said Marion. “You can purchase around 400 seeds for that price.” You can plant seeds in Michigan up to Labor Day, so there is still time to do some research and plan for a backyard garden. When asked about the easiest seeds to start with, Marion suggested, “Lettuce, spinach, and leafy greens are great! You can harvest them sooner, they are nutrient-dense, and they are more forgiving of soil deficiencies.”

Farm Bureau is asking members and agricultural stakeholders to contact Gov. Whitmer, urging her to issue a clarification to include the retail sale of plants as essential infrastructure. To contribute, click <HERE>

To learn more about starting a backyard gardening from MIgardener, click <HERE>

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Several inmates at the St. Clair County Intervention and Detention Center have tested positive for the Coronavirus. As of today, a total of 6 inmates have tested positive and have been isolated from the general population in the facility.

Sheriff Tim Donnellon said, “We continue to monitor inmates and staff for Coronavirus symptoms per the guidelines laid out by the CDC and the St. Clair County Emergency Operations Center. Unfortunately, no location is immune from this virus. Our medical staff, which is on hand 24/7, will continue to work to ensure the safety of our employees and inmates.”

As of today, none of those infected have needed hospitalization. Updates on the number of infected inmates will be provided in a press release from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office every Thursday until further notice.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of April 9th at 5:00 PM are as follows:

• State of Michigan: 21,504 confirmed cases; 1,076 deaths
• St. Clair County: 162 confirmed cases; 4 county resident deaths (There was also 1 death in a county hospital of an out-of-county resident)
• Ontario: 5,759 confirmed cases; 200 deaths
• Sarnia-Lambton: 98 confirmed cases; 9 deaths

Governor Whitmer extended the Stay Home, Stay Safe Executive Order through April 30th and made a few changes.  To enable critical workers to get to their workplaces, automobile dealerships will now be allowed to open for remote sales, though showrooms must remain closed. 

Under the new order, all public and private gatherings among persons outside a single household remain temporarily prohibited. Though Michiganders may leave the house to get groceries or needed supplies, the new order encourages people to limit the number of household members running errands to the maximum extent possible. As before, people may engage in outdoor activities like walking, hiking, running, cycling, kayaking, canoeing, or any other recreational activity, consistent with remaining at least six feet from people from outside a person’s household and with other restrictions imposed by prior executive orders. The order clarifies, however, that travel for vacations or for any other purpose is prohibited.

A new section of the order imposes restrictions on stores in an effort to reduce crowds. Large stores must limit the number of people in the store at one time to no more than 4 customers for every 1,000 square feet of customer floor space; small stores must limit capacity to 25% of the total occupancy limits (including employees) under the fire codes. To regulate entry, stores must establish lines with markings for patrons to enable them to stand at least six feet apart from one another while waiting. Large stores must also close areas of the store that are dedicated to carpeting, flooring, furniture, garden centers, plant nurseries, or paint. 

The City of Sarnia encourages families to stick to the directives on social distancing even through this holiday weekend. They acknowledge that these are difficult and unusual times, but they urge everyone to continue observing proper hygiene practices and physical distancing.

The Joint Information Center offers these tips for practicing preventive measures such as household cleaning. Simple steps, such as cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces (e.g. tables, doorknobs, light switches, faucets, countertops, and electronics) on a daily basis. Use soap and water, followed by a disinfectant, using the directions on the label. Many disinfectants need to be left on the surface for a few minutes before being wiped dry. Diluted bleach water (five tablespoons of bleach per gallon of water) is effective against coronaviruses if left on the surface for more than one minute. For more information visit: www.cdc.gov

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

• Centers for Disease Control:  cdc.gov/coronavirus
• State of Michigan: Michigan.gov/coronavirus  or Info Hotline  1-888-535-6136 Daily 8:00 am – 5:00 pm or email questions to COVID19@michigan.gov
• St. Clair County Health Department: COVID-19 Info Hotline (810) 966-4163 Mon – Fri, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm or email questions to covid19@stclaircounty.org
• St. Clair County Community Mental Health COVID-19 Support Line (810) 985-8900, available Monday-Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm
• Lambton Public Health: https://lambtonpublichealth.ca/2019-novel-coronavirus/
• City of Sarnia COVID-19 Hotline: 1-877-4-SARNIA (1-877-472-7642)

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Michiganders who lose a job, resulting in a loss of their healthcare coverage or a change in income, may have low or no-cost healthcare options available through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  Consumers in these situations are not required to wait for the yearly Open Enrollment Period and should act now.

“Michiganders who lose employer-based health insurance may have options to continue or replace their coverage,” said DIFS Director Anita G. Fox. “If consumers have questions about enrolling, DIFS is available to assist.”

Consumers have 60 days after losing essential health coverage, such as through a job loss, or experienced a change in income to take advantage of a Special Enrollment Period. To determine eligibility, consumers should visit www.healthcare.gov. Depending on income and their situation, consumers may qualify for cost sharing reductions, premium tax credits, coverage for their children (CHIP), or Medicaid. Consumers should contact DIFS toll free at 877-999-6442 if they need assistance.

Act now and apply

• When a consumer loses essential health coverage, they may be eligible to enroll in an individual health plan during a Special Enrollment Period.
• If consumers are new to www.healthcare.gov, they can create an account. If they already have one, they may log in to start or update an application.

Enrollment help is available 

• DIFS can help.  The Michigan Health Insurance Consumer Assistance Program (HICAP) can provide shopping tips and help answer questions about health insurance or Special Enrollment Periods.
• Contact DIFS at 877-999-6442 or email at DIFS-HICAP@michigan.gov

Submitted by the State of Michigan Emergency Operations Center

Nonprofits, school districts, churches, restaurants, and government agencies are working together to make sure no area resident goes without food during this pandemic. There are a variety of opportunities to find relief for your grocery budget: food pantries inside schools and churches, mobile pantries offering drive-thru service, school lunch programs, and generous restaurant owners handing out free lunches.

Several local organizations are providing maps and listings of food giveaways to help connect residents with resources. It is recommended that you check with the organization before showing up for clarification of hours and processes by visiting their website, Facebook page, or phone.

Here is a list of local resources for food distributions:

Council on Aging Serving St. Clair County: http://www.thecouncilonaging.org/

Food Bank of Eastern Michigan: https://www.fbem.org/where-to-get-food/find-a-food-pantry/

Operation Transformation: https://www.optrans.org/fooddistribution

Port Huron Area Schools Meet Up & Eat Up Lunch Program: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wv1ZXfAQlgbFtepoWS_3Quhi2s8G_VA5/view

The Inn of the Good Shepherd Sarnia: https://www.theinnsarnia.ca/programs/#foodbank

United Way of St. Clair County and Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, in partnership with Blue Water Community Action and Port Huron Schools, are bringing three food trucks to St. Clair County.  Pop Up Pantries will provide free cartons of food with drive-thru service. 

• April 14th @ noon 
• April 28th @ noon
• May 5th @ noon

United Way of St. Clair County: https://www.uwstclair.org/HelpMe

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Nonprofits are deeply concerned about the impact of their ability to carry out their mission and raise money during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is some help for the nonprofit community in the new CARES Act.

Nonprofits can apply for payroll protection loans of up to 2 1/2 times their average month payroll expenses. These loans can be forgiven if certain criteria is met. The CARES Act also lifts certain limitations on charitable contributions by individuals who itemize and by corporations. The CARES Act includes a specific section allowing nonprofits to be reimbursed for half of the costs incurred through paying unemployment benefits, including self-funded unemployment benefits.

If all this is a bit complicated, Randy Maiers, CEO of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, told WGRT that he encourages our nonprofit partners “to take advantage of our small town relationships, and reach out to local CPA firms, financial planners, or even larger nonprofit organizations that may have the internal capacity to offer advice and input.”  He also expressed, “These are incredibly challenging times for everyone, but our region has a spirit of helping each other out.”

Reporting for WGRT – Marty Doorn