Local News

Operation Transformation (OT) hosted a series of events last week including a Friday workshop that included 60 business and community leaders. The purpose of the one-day workshop was to gather community leaders to talk about and improve diversity efforts. Terry Kuhns, Associate Director for OT, said in light of recent events in the community, the group wanted to do something that was positively focused.  

The group invited Anthony Jones, President of RBD Management Consultants, to lead the discussion. Jones, a former Port Huron resident, spoke to the group. He said, “People, both customers and staff, make the bottom line grow [for companies]”.  When describing the program, Jones said, “The ability to gain insight into what is happening in the background of individuals and the context of their lives, and to have a deeper understanding of the people in an organization, or in your client and customer base – that’s powerful information.”  

St. Clair County Medical Health Officer Annette Mercantante said it was a very important training, and she was delighted to see so many community leaders at the event. She also said, “[diversity] is something that does not intuitively come to a conscious discussion, but yet it has a profound impact on our well-being our profitability, our economic well being, and the health of our community.”

Reporting for WGRT – EBWtv

Earlier this summer, Port Huron Schools wanted to give stakeholders in the school system a better communication tool to provide feedback. Students, staff, parents, and community members were introduced to a service called Thoughtexchange. The online forum provides a platform for feedback about Port Huron Area Schools to be shared anonymously. 

In the most recent use of Thoughtexchange, Port Huron Schools asked for feedback about what the district is doing well and what areas of improvement they should consider. Over 500 individuals shared thoughts through the system. The results are enabling the school district to better understand the needs of the community. Eleven different themes surfaced that may require attention including class offerings, support, behavior, teachers and staff, facilities and safety, curriculum, and administrative support. The facilitating team at Thoughtexchange said the Blue Water area outperformed many other communities in terms of participation.

We had a great visit from Andy Bakko, owner of Wolverine Market and chairman of the Port Huron Beer Fest! Listen as Andy shares what you can expect from this year’s Beer Fest which is coming to Keifer Park on Saturday, September 28th. You can find even more information about the event by clicking <HERE>

The Miss Michigan USA and Miss Teen USA Pageants came to Port Huron over the weekend and showcased some of the growth and beauty in the Port Huron Area. The event has made Port Huron home for the past 18 years, and Southfield’s Chanel Johnson was crowned Miss USA Michigan. Aneesa Sheikh of Bloomfield Hills was the Miss Michigan Teen USA winner.

In addition to the show being in town, the area benefits economically. Blue Water Convention and Visitors Bureau’s President, Marci Fogal, said that with practice and interviews, the parents of contestants often head to area restaurants or shopping experiences.  Fogal said she talked to a few of the parents that were in Port Huron last year, and have returned this year. Their feedback was that they were amazed at how different the downtown area is, and how much more there is to do. 

State Executive Director for Miss Michigan USA, Melissa Proctor-Pitchford said, when she went on site visits throughout the entire state for different locations, the Blue Water area was captivating to her. She said the criteria for selecting a location is that it is a tourist destination and a place where contestants and their families will have a good time.

Reporting for WGRT – Karly Hurley

Have you noticed an abundance of spiders lately? Michigan State University Entomologist Howard Russell said, “Rather than an abundance, it really [is] more about the time of year.”  He said, “In the fall, many species are out and about looking for a good spot to spend the winter.” While the majority of spiders in Michigan are not venomous or dangerous, it can still be frightening to encounter those larger-than-normal critters up close. 

Some of the most common spiders found in Michigan are the wolf spider, the orb-Weaver, and the cellar spider. According to Russell,  “There are about 500 species of spiders in Michigan.” He said that 90% of a spider’s diet is made up of insects, and it is estimated that spiders eat as many as 800 million tons of insects every year. The only two spiders that are dangerous are the rare brown recluse and the black widow.  

While it can be tempting to squash the spider or maybe scream for someone else to, you may want to think twice. Spiders prey on other pests like mosquitoes, ants, wasps, and flies. Some spiders will even eat other spiders. The daddy long legs, or cellar spider, will eat a black widow spider. For farmers in the area, an acre of an agricultural field may have tens of thousands to millions of spiders. It is estimated that the benefit of pest control performed by the spider may exceed $100 billion dollars per year. Take your pick!

Reporting for WGRT – Karly Hurley

A Port Huron Township man was killed in a motorcycle crash on Sunday evening in Port Huron Township. The St. Clair County Sheriff’s office responded to the 2700 block of Beach Road. The sheriff’s office released a statement saying the man was traveling northbound on Beach road.  

It is believed the man left the roadway and ran along the shoulder and ditch line of the road before he struck a parked vehicle. The crash occurred just after 8:30 PM Sunday. Port Huron Township Fire and Rescue and Tri-Hospital EMS responded. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. It is unknown why the motorcycle left the road and the crash remains under investigation.

Reporting for WGRT – Karly Hurley