Local News

The Historic Marine City Hall is an architectural treasure that was built in the late 1880s. Like any other historic building, it is in need of extensive repairs and maintenance. A recent $50,000 grant from an anonymous donor will go a long way toward getting this local building back to its former glory. 

The Friends of City Hall received the money earlier this month on December 6 and it is the largest grant they have received thus far. According to a statement on the official website for the Friends of City Hall, the funds will be dedicated to a fire suppression system.

The building was abandoned by Marine City in 2005 according to the Friends website, but the group has been working since 2011 to save the building from crumbling. The community has rallied to save the building, getting organized, and working ever since to bring the structure, listed on the National Register of Historic Places to life again.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Whether you are a pro gift wrapper or simply just try to cover the present as best as possible, we have all experienced that painstaking moment when wrapping a Christmas present and… there is not enough paper. Thankfully, a trick that is not only going to save paper but help solve this moment of defeat, is going viral on Twitter. 

Wrapping presents is not always easy, especially when items are odd shapes, and sometimes the best bet is to throw it in a bag and call it a day. With Christmas quickly approaching, some people have called this trick “life changing” and it is as simple as turning the gift diagonally. 

Many people took to Twitter and saw this amazing life hack and could not believe they did not know about it. There were a few that have seen the trick before, but it is pretty clear that plenty of people could have used this information years ago. If you’re struggling to wrap presents this year, do not worry, this trick will change the way you wrap gifts forever! 

Adapted from the Today Show’s “This easy gift wrapping hack is life changing — and saves paper!” by Lindsay Lowe.

Walmart in Fort Gratiot hosted Shop with A Hero this past weekend where first responders helped children shop for Christmas. Walmart’s Store Manager, Nicole, is new to the area and contacted Fire Chief, Patrick Smith, to partner and make the event happen as she has done it before. 

Sharon Wilton, Community Development Director, gave ebw.tv behind the scenes information in an interview about how Shop with A Hero was able to come to action in our community. A grant enabled Wilton to contact both Elementary Schools in the Township where each provided 20 names of students “that could use a helping hand this Christmas.” 

The Fire Departments in Fort Gratiot, Port Huron Township, Kimball Township, and Burtchville helped the children pick out gifts and enjoyed sharing quality time with them. Lt. Travis Woolman told ebw.tv that, “It was a great experience, especially seeing the smile on the kids faces when they picked out their own toys.” 

All of the kids were excited to be able to shop and a majority had friends and family in mind as they were picking out presents. Learn more about our very own Shop with A Hero in this feature.

There have been recent reports and social media posts circulating in St. Clair County and the surrounding areas that there is a new number for the national suicide prevention hotline. While there are plans in the works to establish the three-digit 988 number, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) just voted December 12 to approve the proposal which is now open for public comment and the start of the rulemaking process before the hotline is accessible at 988. 

Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado applauded the FCC’s actions, but acknowledges there is still more work to be done. Gardner said last week’s action, “by the FCC is a historic step toward making the 988 suicide hotline a reality, but it doesn’t mean the work is over. Congress still has a major role to play in creating and supporting this hotline and ensuring that states have the flexibility to make it work.”

So, if you see these posts circulating, inform others that the hotline is currently only accessible by the 10-digit number, 1-800-273-8255 (TALK). Through the hotline last year, counselors answered more than 2.2 million calls and more than 100,000 online chats, according to the FCC.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Clay Township officials and residents had a lot to talk about at a Wednesday meeting at Clay Township Hall. The three hour long special meeting was organized by State Senator Dan Lauwers, the Director of St. Clair County Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Justin Westmiller, and Clay Township Supervisor, Artie Bryson. Other elected officials were in attendance also.

The meeting drew a crowd of concerned residents who are all dealing with rising water levels and increasing prices for the Harsens Island ferry. Among the many topics of discussion included the possibility of a bridge connecting the island with the mainland was brought up by Supervisor Artie Bryson, shipping traffic and help from the Coast Guard (which is anticipated to break up the ice to avoid damage from the winter and spring ice floes). The Army Corps of Engineers also gave a report on the water levels which are continuing to rise. It was also confirmed that the governor has rejected the request for a state of emergency that is needed to enforce a no-wake zone to protect homes on the water. 

At the meeting, citizens spoke out and had signs made to express their frustration with the ferry rates and reliability. The dock repair is ongoing from recent extensive damage. The owner spoke at the meeting about his attempts to find an equitable solution. Rates for the ferry are actually under the jurisdiction of the State Police and they have not been open to a change, according to ferry operator, Dave Bryson.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Once again, it is paying for college graduates to move to the area. The Community Foundation of St. Clair County announced this week, the latest award recipients for the Come Home Reverse Scholarship Program. Financial advisor Will Metzner and chiropractor Courtney Pesta join the ranks of Come Home award recipients with a combined $20,000 awarded.

Metzner and his fiancée, who moved to the area from Georgia, recently bought a home in St. Clair, where they have both previously lived, although Metzner is originally from the south. He was offered a $15,000 Come Home Award this summer courtesy of a grant from the foundation’s St. Clair based funds. 

Pesta  was offered $5,000 from the Come Home Award. A former long-time area resident, she is back in Port Huron and works at Lakeview Chiropractic. Pesta said the area is where she “grew up surrounded by family, where [she] fell in love, and where found a lifelong passion for gymnastics…”

The Come Home Award is a talent retention program that pays students on the back-end of their college career, after they have completed a degree in a STEAM related field, but only if they agree to move back home and work within the St. Clair County. Since 2016, the program has helped 16 college graduates pay off $123,000 in student debt as they pursue local careers in the county. The program is currently seeking applicants interested in living in the City of Port Huron, the City of St. Clair or surrounding area, or working as non-physician staff at McLaren Port Huron Hospital.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.