Local News

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) will unveil the new health sciences building to the public this week. Construction on the $9.8 million Capital Outlay project began last summer and was finalized to open for students in August. The building features an innovative hospital simulation wing, ambulance bay, home setting, and more highly-developed manikins.

 The building, along with the state-of-the-art equipment, will mainly function to help prepare students with realistic scenarios and training. According to SC4, the renovated facility will accelerate the expansion of programs while also allowing for a more interdisciplinary approach to patient care, and serving more students through advanced teaching systems. The community is invited to the Grand Opening Celebration beginning at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 27. For the public opening, visitors will be able to see health care simulations in action, learn about college programs offered and get an up-close look at new training equipment.

Reporting for WGRT – EBWtv

First Aid is typically associated with physical pain or emergency, but St. Clair County Community Mental Health (SCCCMH) wants to remind residents that first aid for a mental health issue should be treated just as seriously. A mental health first aid program being is being offered locally, and it will prepare and train people to interact with a person in a mental health crisis. 

The program teaches the common signs of mental illness, signs of substance abuse, knowing how to talk to a person in crisis, and connecting that person with help. While the program is designed for anyone over 18, the agency suggests that employers, law enforcement, health care workers, first responders, and faith leaders take part in the program. The next training at Community Mental Health will be held at the end of October. To register for the 2-day program contact CMH. Trainings can also be held at an offsite location at no cost. 

Reporting for WGRT – EBWtv

The Blue Water Bridges that connect Port Huron and Sarnia continue to stand the test of time due, in part, to how well they are maintained. The painting of span 2, which is the youngest of the two bridges, is currently underway. Blue Water Bridge Administrator  Amy Winn-VanHoeck said this is the first time span 2 has been painted in its entirety on the U.S. side since it was put into service in 1997. 

The Michigan-based company Atsalis Brothers Painting is the contractor painting the U.S. half of the bridge. The aim of the paint is to seal the steel structure from the elements. Winn-VanHoeck said span 1 saw its first crossing in 1938. She also said that both bridges are painted every 20 to 30 years depending on need.  In between those times, the Michigan Department of Transportation crews paint localized areas of each bridge as needed. According to the Bridge Administrator, both spans are in “incredibly good shape,” and the structures are inspected every year. 

Reporting for WGRT – EBWtv

The Great Lake to Lake trail opened this week and now connects the city of South Haven on Lake Michigan to Port Huron. 18 separate trails are connected and the route travels through 9 counties. A large group of riders left on September 12th from South Haven and arrived in Port Huron this past week.  When the group arrived in Port Huron they were greeted by a newly finished area marking one end of the trail.  

The City of Port Huron set a large Red buoy to mark the end, and in South Haven, a Green buoy is positioned there.  Port Huron City Manager James Freed said the city is excited about the new Great Lake to Lake Trail. He went on to say that there will be many enhancements in coming years to increase bike lanes and trails in Port Huron. Freed said the goal is to create a more bike-friendly community.

St. Clair County Substance Prevention through Early Action and Knowledge (SPEAK) is a new initiative by the St. Clair County Health Department. The program is designed to address substance abuse among area youth. This past summer several different agencies in St. Clair County came together through the program to talk about a plan to combat the problem. Many different groups were represented including law enforcement, schools, faith-based groups, and human service agencies. The group identified areas that needed attention, and they came up with some strategies for going forward.  

On September 26th, the group will be sharing that plan. It is a five-year strategic plan that will address underage drinking, vaping, marijuana, and opioid use. Dr. Annette Mercatante, Medical Health Officer for St. Clair County, said, “The health and wellbeing of youth is a strategic priority in the St. Clair County Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), so the timing of SPEAK is excellent.” She went on to say, “The single most important predictor of a healthy future is healthy children and adolescents. Good health and a prosperous economic future go hand in hand.” The kick-off meeting will be at Central Middle School beginning at 6:30 PM on the 26th. 

Rail Safety Week begins next week and runs from September 22nd to the 28th. Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), whose mission is to end collisions, deaths, and injuries on the rail system, started observing Rail Safety Week in 2017. That year also marked the organizations 45th year in operation. OLI points out that 2100 people annually are killed or seriously injured because of unsafe behavior around tracks and trains. Rachel Maleh, Executive Director of OLI, said,“[the] goal is to get to zero incidents – zero fatalities and zero injuries. The driving force for this organization is saving lives.” According to OLI’s website, Rail Safety Week is a way to raise awareness about rail safety education and help citizens keep themselves safe near highway-rail crossings and railroad rights-of-way. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, Michigan has had 45 casualties from January through June with 8 resulting in a fatality. In St. Clair County, there was just one injury as of the end of June.