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Local News

Senate Bills to Address Use of Emergency Alert System and Clarify Mask Exemptions

The use of the emergency alert system and mask exemption have both been called into question. 

New legislation is being introduced in the Michigan State Senate to prohibit the use of the state’s emergency alert system for anything other than imminent emergencies and to clarify mask exemptions. If you have a smartphone, you probably got an emergency alert on Monday afternoon telling you to fight COVID by wearing a mask in public, emphasizing the word “required” and mentioning “limited exemptions”.

Shelby Township Senator Peter J. Lucido, sponsor of the legislation, said, “Throughout this pandemic, Governor Whitmer has overwhelmed the public with emergency broadcast alerts to instill fear and intimidate people into complying with her declarations and executive orders. This is an overt abuse of a service designed to alert people of legitimate emergencies — the governor has gone beyond the scope and intent of the law and is now somewhere over the rainbow and approaching Oz.”

A second piece of legislation is meant to clarify the exemptions to the face mask requirement, especially when a business is confronted with a customer who claims exemption. Lucido said his bill will fix vagueness in the bill and prevent misunderstandings. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

NJCAA Adjusts Sports Seasons

Sports are going to look a little different at St. Clair County Community College and all other colleges that are members of the National Junior College Athletic Association. The NJCAA has announced an adjusted plan of action for the 2020-21 academic year.

According to NJCAA President and CEO, Dr. Christopher Parker, “Through a unified effort from our Presidential Advisory Council, the Board of Regents, and leadership staff, our most recent plan of action provides a path that keeps our student-athletes competing at the highest level with proper safety measures in place. As we move forward as an association, we will continue to provide opportunities for our student-athletes, coaches, and all those involved with the NJCAA to be safe and successful.”

Close-contact fall sports, like soccer and volleyball will move to spring semester. Cross Country will still compete in the fall. Winter sports are expected to begin in January with the Championship seasons moved to March or April. This includes men’s and women’s basketball and bowling. Baseball and softball seasons are expected to remain intact.

SC4 also has affiliation with the Michigan Community College Athletic Association, which supports the move by the NJCAA.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

“Boat the Blue” Antique & Classic Boat Show looking for Teen Digital Artists

Port Huron, MI — Local teens are asked to participate in a digital art contest with cash prizes. The Port Huron “Boat the Blue” Antique & Classic Boat Show is looking for digital artwork to be used in their promotions for the 2020 Annual Boat Show.

The submissions should be in digital format and must be original. Ipad painting, mixed media, photography and other digital forms from applications like Adobe and others are recommended. The work should feature the words “Boat the Blue” and promote the Blue Water area and the boating heritage in the region.

The contest is open to artists between the ages of 13 and 19. There are cash prizes for the winning submissions. First place is $300; second place is $200; and third place gets $100.

Artwork needs to be submitted by August 1st to atorello@mimutual.com. Winning designs will be selected by a Board of Judges and will be displayed in Downtown Port Huron businesses before and during the Boat Show.

This year’s antique boat show will be held September 12. In 2018, the biennial show offered over 700 free boat rides. The 2020 show will have judging based on restoration of the antique boats.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

“Face Mask Exempt” Cards are Fake

“Face Mask Exempt” cards from the Freedom to Breathe Agency are not authorized and considered “fake”, according to Michigan’s Attorney General, Dana Nessel, and the Better Business Bureau. The cards contain an illegitimate seal from the U.S. Department of Justice. 

Referring to the Freedom to Breathe Agency, Melanie Duquesnel, President and CEO of Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern Michigan & the Upper Peninsula, said, “This group, along with others, are attempting to pass themselves off as government agencies and are using fear as their tactic to get businesses to comply with their demands. We all need to be doing our part by wearing a mask in public unless one is, truthfully, medically unable to do so.” 

Face mask wearing is now required by executive order with fines and misdemeanor charges levied against those who willfully refuse. Masks are thought to reduce the likelihood of transmitting COVID-19 to another person in close proximity from 17% without a mask to 3% with a mask, according to the medical journal, The Lancet. Children under the age of five and those who are unable to tolerate a mask for medical reasons are exempt from the order.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Masks Not Mandated in Lambton County

Lambton County, Ontario, has released its recommendations and supporting data regarding mask wearing. According to Lambton Public Health, “Face coverings will not protect you from getting COVID-19. Your best protection is to maintain physical distancing and wash your hands.” They went on to say, “At this time in Lambton County, evidence and local context does not support the mandatory public use of masks in a community setting.”

Across the border in St Clair County, Michigan, masks are mandatory in all public settings and businesses can deny entry to individuals not wearing them. Mask wearing is a precaution to prevent infected people from transmitting the virus, according to MDHHS. Carriers can be asymptomatic.

Lambton County, with a population of 123,000 reports 286 overall cases of COVID-19 with 25 deaths. St. Clair County, with a population of 159,000 has 602 cases reported with 52 deaths since tracking began.

The U.S.-Canada border remains closed to non-essential travel until at least July 21. The Lambton County report can be found at:

https://lambtonpublichealth.ca/2019-novel-coronavirus/protect-yourself/#face-coverings.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

“Social District” Plans in the Works for Downtown Port Huron

Port Huron, MI — Port Huron City Council will be presented with a plan to create new outdoor gathering spaces and social districts. The areas are meant to be gathering places that are less risky for virus transmission than traditional indoor bars, restaurants, and event centers.

The plan would also give downtown businesses a boost by giving consumers an option for staying and consuming food and beverages, particularly adult beverages, downtown. Municipalities are now lawfully able to designate particular areas where open intoxicants, clearly marked as such by the seller, can be consumed offsite.

The outdoor spaces, if approved, will be at McMorran Plaza and the pocket park by the Military Street Bridge. Both are planned to be quickly renovated into areas where people would naturally gather.

Port Huron City Manager James Freed described the project, saying, “You could buy a drink at one place and go to another place that doesn’t have a (liquor) license like Chef Shells and Maria’s and consume a drink. You can also take drinks to the two gathering places we are creating. Hence, these two projects would work together.”

All plans are subject to review by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland