Local News

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.

Did you know that it is actually more beneficial to not rinse your dishes before placing them in the dishwasher? Many people rinse off their plates before washing them in the dishwasher but as it turns out, what could simply be routine for many, is actually the completely wrong way to do it. 

Most modern dishwashers, according to Morgan Brashear, Cascade scientist with Procter & Gamble, have sensors inside to figure out how long to run a cycle even if “normal” wash is pressed. The length and temperature of the cycle can still vary depending on how dirty the dishes are detected to be. The pre-wash water will remove those loose soils the same way you are removing them by washing them in the sink. However, the machine recognizes that there is food present and will actually run a more thorough cycle. By removing those crumbs and soils, you are telling your dishwasher that no food is present which leads to a less thorough clean or even some food still left on the dishes. 

Newer dishwasher models will likely have an internal disposal or filter that will need to be cleaned regularly in order to function and remove waste properly. One thing to keep in mind though, a dishwasher is not the same as a garbage disposal. Scrape off larger leftover food and place it right in the dishwasher. 

Adapted from the Today Show’s “You shouldn’t rinse dishes before you put them in the dishwasher (seriously)” by Zoe Weiner.

After taking down Christmas ornaments, many people kick their tree to the curb as the holiday season wraps up. However, If you’re unsure of what to do with your Christmas tree or don’t want to send it to the landfill, Centennial Pines has some options to consider. 

Owner and Operator of Centennial Pines Tree Farm, Michael Wendling, told ebw.tv in an interview that he first started growing trees in high school and his parents started years before. The property has been owned by the family since 1854 where trees are cut and trimmed in the summer and then ready to go for residents in the winter months. Wendling explained to ebw.tv that people are welcome to bring them back to Centennial Pines to get piled up and burned. Although they do not take in a lot of trees as they do not have a chipper, Wendling mentions that there are other ways of disposing of your Christmas tree. 

In the past, some people have placed the tree in their ponds to protect small fish or even outside for protection for other animals such as rabbits. Some individuals will come and pick up the needles that begin piling up at the farm to use for planting. Be sure to also check with your local municipalities if you are interested in putting your tree through a chipper. 

Check with your city about how your Christmas tree should be disposed of if you still decide to kick it to the curb. Learn more in this feature.

Sherman Woods is a popular destination around the holidays as the neighborhood comes together to put on an enchanting lights display that is a sight to behold. For the fourth year, the Sherman Woods Homeowners Association in Port Huron decided to use the attraction as a means of helping the community. The Association is reporting its Red Kettle holiday bell-ringing program raised $4,031 to assist the St. Clair County Salvation Army’s annual fundraising campaign.

The funds were raised by volunteer residents of the association managing a Red Kettle drop off during six weekend evenings recently. Visitors made donations while touring the Sherman Woods location to view the Christmas light displays the neighborhood presents each year.

Fred Kemp, President of the Sherman Woods Homeowners Association, said it was the fourth year they “have helped the Red Kettle drive and for the first time it was expanded to six weekend nights.” As a result, the donations collected exceeded last year’s by about $1,000. Kemp believes the act was truly a great display of “Christmas giving by residents volunteering and every visitor to the neighborhood who contributed.” 

The funds helped to provide gifts and food for families in need during the holiday season. The neighborhood is located off of Gratiot Avenue, just south of Holland Avenue in Port Huron.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.