Local News

Manufacturing Day is an annual event celebrated nationally on the first Friday in October. The event is designed to encourage companies to open their doors to students, teachers, and others to show them the realities of a modern manufacturing plant, and the careers associated with that business. 

St. Clair County RESA is in its fifth year of sponsoring the national event in St. Clair County. RESA will be bussing 1800 sophomores from the seven St. Clair County school districts to 15 local manufacturers over a six-day period. The students will learn about the company they visit and watch some of the work as it takes place. They will also have a chance to talk with employees at the companies about their careers. Associate Director of Education Services at RESA, Rachel Verschaeve said, “[it’s] a chance to break down some of the stereotypes that people may have about today’s manufacturers.” Manufacturing Day is part of RESA’s “Design 4 the Future” initiative which looks to make sure every high school senior has a plan for life after high school is complete.

Reporting for WGRT – EBWtv

Are you looking for an artful way to spend your Friday? This Friday, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) in Port Huron will host the annual fall Art Hop. The event, which takes place twice a year, was originally a creation of the Blue Water Young Professionals. The DDA is now responsible for Art Hop which is a celebration of the arts. It will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in downtown Port Huron. 

Art Hop is a night of art, music, food, fun, and community. As participants walk along the sidewalks in downtown Port Huron various art will be displayed in and around the local businesses. Spa 223 owner Christina Ward said, “Art Hop is a lot of fun and creates a nice synergy with businesses and the art community.” Her business will be featuring Dan Barthel this year. Ward said “Barthel is a photography artist, who also happens to be Spa 223’s UPS driver. 

Reporting for WGRT – EBWtv

St. Edwards on the Lake school in Lakeport is receiving a $25,000 technology donation of Dell computers on behalf of Intel and the Staples store in Fort Gratiot. Staples stores across the country were part of the contest. 

Five employees at the Fort Gratiot store formed a team and competed in the competition which was named, “Score with Intel Core.”  They ended up having the highest score in the country and won first prize in the contest. With the win, the team had the opportunity to select a school that would receive the technology donation. St. Edward’s was selected because one of the team members has a relative that works at the school. The school’s principal, Nancy Appel said she, “was very excited when [she] heard the news.” She also said there will be a presentation at the school on October 11th.  Staples Fort Gratiot Sales Manager, William Ruprecht said they were “happy to win the contest.”  

Reporting for WGRT – EBWtv

Vested Interest in K9s, a national company,  is giving away a Chevy Tahoe K9 vehicle to one law enforcement agency and the Marysville Police Department is in the running. 30 different K9 teams throughout the country were selected as finalists in the contest. Officer Justin Reeves and K9 Heiko from the Marysville Police Department are among the finalists. On the Marysville Police Department’s Facebook page it says their K9 team is donation based and a new vehicle would make a difference in the department. 

To vote for Heiko and Reeves, anyone can go to the Vested Interest in K9’s website and click on Reeves and Heiko’s picture, then cast a vote.  The site allows one vote per day from now until October 31st.

Vested Interest in K9s is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests to dogs of law enforcement, and related agencies throughout the United States. In addition to the 3,500 vests they have provided since 2009, they also have helped fund K9 medical insurance premiums, K9 medical first-aid kits, and K9 opioid reversal NARCAN kits.  

Reporting for WGRT – EBWtv

Stephanie Sobolewski has been named the Employee of the Month for August. She has worked at McLaren Port Huron for three years and currently works as a nurse aide on 4 North.

Sobolewski was nominated by her coworkers because she is an asset to their unit. She is dedicated to her work and her patients, is kind-hearted, compassionate and caring. Her patients often recognize her for going above and beyond for them. Sobolewski is a team player. She will do whatever is asked of her and always produces great results. She comes to work with a smile, always sees the bright side of things, and is an overall wonderful person.

This employee recognition is given to individuals who consistently live the values, mission and performance standards of McLaren Port Huron. Honorees are nominated by a co-worker, physician, volunteer, and/or customer.

To learn more about McLaren Port Huron, visit www.mclaren.org/porthuron.

The crowd hanging around Keifer Park in Port Huron Saturday afternoon was full of happy chatter and friendly inquiry. The main question, “What are you drinking?” Port Huron Beer Fest, an annual event sponsored by Citizens for a Vibrant Community and Wolverine Market, gave attendees a chance to celebrate their love of craft brews and sample some new things. Representatives from several Michigan breweries were on hand to offer suggestions and share a little about their brewing process and what’s new in the craft beer world.

Visitors to the event received fifteen tickets to use on samples of beer, mead, cider, seltzers, and wine. Members of the Pod’ems UP! podcast circulated the crowd interviewing people about how their palates were faring. There were many interesting comments about sour and wild ferment beers which are becoming more popular. The reviews ranged from various descriptions of repulsion to delight at the new and complex flavors. Some noted changes in what they liked this year expressing a preference for stronger flavors and more potent brews–proof that beer tasting is an important component of becoming a craft beer connoisseur.

Port Huron Beer Fest held its inaugural event in 2013 and has been going strong ever since. The event happens annually on the 4th Saturday in September, and it is the only beer festival of its kind in the area. If you’re up for trying new brews and hanging out with an enthusiastic group of fellow beer-lovers, you won’t want to miss next year’s event.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand