Local News

After years of anticipation, the St. Clair Inn will finally open its doors for the public to see this weekend. The first event will take place Friday evening with an exclusive charity preview of the renovated space to benefit local veterans and children. Then on Saturday, it’s the general public’s turn as the Inn plans to host public walkthroughs. The St. Clair Inn was closed in 2014 and has undergone a four-year restoration and expansion since the purchase of the property in late 2015. According to developers, “since starting the renovation, $40 million has been invested in the restoration of the Inn ensuring that the historic portion closely reflects the Inn as it appeared at the time of its original opening in 1926.” Anyone interested in touring the Inn this weekend can visit the St. Clair Inn Facebook and sign up for a time to walk-through.

Reporting for WGRT, I’m Karly Hurley.

If you look out onto Lake Huron or the deep blue waters of the St. Clair River this time of year, it may seem strange to think the waters are a superhighway for a sizable amount of the world’s goods and raw materials. With colder weather settling in, though, many ships are making headway before the roadway freezes up. President of the Great Lakes Pilots Dan Gallagher said, “Freighter traffic on the Great Lakes is still going strong this time of year.” Normally the freighter season begins around the third week in March and ends the first week in January. Gallagher, who is also the Vice-President of the American Pilots Association, said his office is busy this time of year with outbound vessels carrying grain harvested around the region. 

According to Captain Gallagher, not as much steel came through the area this year, but there was a rise in the amount of petroleum that was transported. His office is contacted to guide any foreign vessel that plans to make port in a U.S. location in the Great Lakes region. He said it was an unusual season due to the higher than normal number of cruise ships that passed through the area. Looking forward, Gallagher said some of the cruise companies have spoken of plans for expansion in the Great Lakes Region, though he couldn’t relay specifics.

Reporting for WGRT, I’m Karly Hurley.

National Drug Take Back Day is this Saturday, and the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office will once again participate in the semi-annual event. Residents that would like to dispose of unused or unwanted medication can stop by the office on Michigan Road from 10 to 2 on Saturday. Unwanted, expired, or unused pills will be accepted. The department is not accepting liquids syringes, patches, inhalers, or creams.  St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon said, “We want to ensure that these pills don’t end up in the wrong hands or in our drinking water.”  

Residents who are unable to make the event on Saturday are welcome to turn in pills during the normal weekday business hours at the Sheriff’s office.The event is sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). When the event ends, law enforcement agencies turn over the pills to the DEA for incineration. This is the 18th year that the event has been held, and 2100 pounds of pills have been collected by the department thus far. Reporting for WGRT, I’m Karly Hurley.

The Blue Water Area will soon be welcoming a new business that wants to help update your kitchen or bathroom. Kitchen Tune Up is a franchise that Cheryl and Terry Wojcickij decided to pursue after retiring. They plan to have a ribbon cutting for their business in December. Cheryl Wojcickij said the new business offers five different services: restoring the wood on cabinetry, redooring cabinets, refacing cabinets, painting cabinets, and full custom kitchen designs. Cheryl also said they appreciate the trust factor that the Kitchen Tune Up name brings as she says trust points are important to the couple.

Although the company is based out of the couple’s home, they are looking to expand next year. They will serve St. Clair County, as well as the north eastern part of Macomb County. Currently, they can be reached through their Facebook page or the Kitchen Tune Up company website. The company was founded in Aberdeen, South Dakota in 1988 by Dave and Cindy Haglund, and has several locations throughout the United States.

Reporting for WGRT, Mike Smith.

Bats make us think of a few different things this time of year.  Whether it’s the bats of baseball’s World Series, or a scary Halloween display. However, a real bat does not “bat” a ball, and is less scary than you might think. Bat week runs from October 24th through the 31st and is an international celebration with a goal to raise awareness about the plight of the bat, and its benefits. Michigan has nine different bat species and did you know bats eat several different pests, including beetles, moths, and flies? They are a non-toxic pest control for crops, but the population has declined in recent years. 

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), believes the decline is due to a disease called white-nose syndrome. The disease causes bats to wake early from hibernation causing them to deplete fat reserves quicker, thus making them more vulnerable in the winter months. The DNR has been working to lessen the effects of the disease, and protect the areas where bats hibernate. Residents are being encouraged by the DNR to erect bat houses, and respect natural areas where bats hibernate. The DNR says bats should be treated with respect and left alone. 

Reporting for WGRT, Mike Smith.

A new business has opened along I-94 in St. Clair County. Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores recently opened the doors in St. Clair Township. The store has a national presence, and is the company’s 499th location. Location 500 is being opened simultaneously in Edon, Ohio. The 8,000 square foot St. Clair location will add 50 jobs to the area. The building will also include a McDonald’s and Subway restaurant.  Love’s offers several different amenities at the location including RV parking, showers, diesel fuel, laundry facilities, a weigh scale, and a dog park just to name a few. 

Founder and executive chairman of Love’s, Tom Love said, “The locations will become an important part of the [Love’s] story.” He said, “When they opened their first store in 1964, they couldn’t have imagined how the company would grow.” He finished by saying they “wouldn’t be here today without loyal customers and employees.” Both of the new Love’s locations will operate 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The company also plans to donate $2,000 to St. Clair County RESA in honor of their Grand Opening.

Reporting for WGRT, Mike Smith.