Local News

Amid continued uncertainty for the country, many big name businesses are stepping up services or suspending shutoffs for the near future. Among the latest announcements include DTE Energy and Comcast.

DTE announced that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, they “are suspending shutoffs for non-payment for those customers who are low income eligible, effective immediately through April 5. This timing could be extended depending on the impact that the virus has on communities.” DTE also said that, “Those customers enrolled in the Senior Winter Protection Program have had their end dates automatically extended through May 3 without additional actions required on their part.”

Customers who are impacted by COVID-19 — those with a sudden loss of income or medical condition — as well as vulnerable senior citizens, are encouraged to contact DTE to determine eligibility for the payment assistance program.

Comcast has also announced several initiatives aimed at helping Americans in this unprecedented time. Xfinity WiFi hotspots across the country will be available to anyone who needs them for free – including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers. The internet provider has also promised not to disconnect a customer’s internet service or assess late fees if they contact the company to notify Comcast that they can’t pay their bills during this period.

St. Clair County Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mona Armstrong became 72nd District Court Judge Mona Armstrong on Friday morning. She was sworn in by St. Clair County Chief Judge Pro-Tem John Monaghan. Tradition holds that judges host formal community-based investitures, but traditions have been set aside in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic. 

Judge Armstrong’s husband, Todd, was there for the scaled-back ceremony. Judge Monaghan said, “The timing was based upon the fact our Courts have been down two judges.” Monaghan said that he requested Judge Armstrong get to work right away, and also said, “Fortunately Mona and her long-time boss, Prosecutor Mike Wendling, agreed.” 

Armstrong was appointed to the bench by Governor Whitmer. She is filling the seat that was vacated by the early retirement of Judge Cynthia Platzer after 17 years of holding the seat. The 72nd District Court judge position will be on the November ballot and Armstrong plans to run to keep the seat.

With your help, The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island could become a LEGO set. LEGO Ideas is a website where inventors and LEGO enthusiasts can submit proposals for new LEGO sets and vote for “awesome models dreamed up by your fellow fan designers”, according to its website.

David Lorch, an engineer and LEGO enthusiast, first built a nine-foot replica of the Grand Hotel with LEGOS, then worked on a scaled down version that would be a more practical scale. The Grand Hotel LEGO set prototype has 710 pieces and would definitely keep a kid busy for a while. The LEGO Ideas contest accepts votes for the concepts and the more votes a project gets, the longer it stays in the contest. As of Monday, the Grand Hotel prototype had almost 4,000 supporters and 64 days left in the contest. You can find out more at ideas.lego.com. 

With kids off of school for an extended period of time, Legos are a popular toy to pass the time and build those STEM skills. Maybe a local LEGO crafter will submit a proposal for the Blue Water Bridge?

With Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s order to shutdown all schools in the state of Michigan beginning Monday, many local districts have sprung into action to provide meals for students and families during the closure.

Port Huron schools has set up food distribution at eight locations throughout the district offering meals for the student population within the district boundaries, regardless of what school they are currently enrolled in on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. until school resumes. Breakfast and lunch meals will be provided for each day of the week in take-home bags. 

East China School District is also offering meals during the closure with specific dates and distribution locations. The meals are being provided for any student/child under the age of 18 years old starting today. The distribution will be pick-up and go meal service with both breakfast and lunch items for the week.

For Cros-Lex families, the district will provide cold breakfasts and sack lunches at no charge for all students. Food pickup will take place at various locations throughout the closures. 

To find specific details on locations for the distributions, visit the schools’ website or social media pages where all information is listed.

The St. Clair County Health Department has been notified of a second presumptive positive case of COVID-19. The case is a female household contact of the first identified case. The individual did take appropriate precautions and had minimal interaction with the community. The case is continuing to be investigated by the Health Department.

Dr. Annette Mercatante states, “If you feel well, you do not need to be tested. Mildly ill people should be encouraged to stay home and contact their healthcare provider by phone for clinical guidance. Testing will be determined based on risk assessment. I encourage our community to remain calm, be educated, and practice prevention strategies. Working together will help slow down the spread in our community.”

A local COVID-19 informational hotline has been set up at (810) 966-4163. The Michigan Department of Heath and Human Services established a statewide hotline for those who want answers to health related questions. The hotline is available 7 days a week from 8 AM to 5 PM at 1-888-535-6136.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Brain Awareness Week is March 16-22, and the Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Michigan Chapter (GMC) is raising awareness of its programs and offerings to support St. Clair County residents living with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, their caregivers and Communities. More than 5 million Americans – including more than 190,000 in Michigan – are living with Alzheimer’s disease, a number that is projected to nearly triple by 2050 to nearly 14 million.

St. Clair County residents can take advantage of a number of programs and opportunities offered throughout the year by the Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Michigan Chapter. These resources include educational programs offered for families and individuals facing Alzheimer’s, as well as community members and health care professionals throughout the year. Support groups are regularly scheduled in-person or over the phone meetings of people with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, family, friends or caregivers who interact around issues relating to dementia. Some groups meet monthly, others weekly, and they are free and open to anyone.

Events such as The Longest Day or the 2020 Walk to End Alzheimer’s are great ways to show support and raise funds to help work toward the Association’s vision of a world without Alzheimer’s or other dementia.

Upcoming St. Clair County support group dates include the fourth Tuesday of the month from 2-3:30 p.m. at Marwood Nursing and Rehab and First Congregational Church St. Clair.

For more information, visit alz.org/gmc.