Local News

With the approach of September 11th, Americans are reminded of security, especially when it comes to air travel. The Transportation Security Administration just wrapped up their busiest summer ever. The agency screened more than 250 million travelers. TSA marks the summer travel season as the Wednesday before Memorial Day all the way to the Tuesday after Labor Day. The screenings were a 3.4% increase over last year during the same time period. In addition to passenger screenings, 162 million pieces of checked baggage were screened as well. The TSA says that they experienced nine of the top 10 busiest weeks in its history. The agency notes that even with the surge of travelers this season, 99.7% of passengers waited less than 30 minutes in standard lanes, and 98.9% of TSA PreCheck lane passengers waited less than 10 minutes. Acting Deputy Administrator for the TSA Patricia Cogswell said that the anniversary of the September 11th attacks is a regular reminder of the importance of the TSA’s mission to protect the traveling public.

Guns have been a topic of discussion for many years now, and recently some businesses are taking steps to keep them off their property. The Kroger Company has many stores in southeast Michigan and several in St. Clair County. When asked about carrying guns into Kroger stores, a spokesperson for Kroger said the grocery chain recognizes the growing chorus of Americans who are no longer comfortable with the status quo and are advocating for concrete and common-sense gun reforms. The Kroger spokesperson said they are respectfully asking customers to no longer openly carry firearms into Kroger stores unless they are authorized law enforcement officers. Kroger is encouraging elected leaders to pass laws that will strengthen background checks and restrict the sale of guns to people who pose a risk for violence. The spokesperson went on to say that Kroger’s purpose is to provide associates and customers with a safe place to work and shop.

Soccer has been growing in popularity over the past several years nationally and regionally. St. Clair County Community College will be adding women’s soccer to their athletic offerings. They become the sixth community college in Michigan to offer the sport. With the addition of soccer, there are now 13 collegiate sports teams at SC4 including cross country, basketball, bowling, baseball, softball, volleyball, golf, and wrestling. SC4 plans to recruit players over the next year so they can begin competing in the 2020-2021 season. SC4 athletic Director Dale Vos said that women’s soccer is a huge sport in the region and across the world. Vos believes that adding soccer to the offerings at SC4 will help increase opportunities for women athletes and add to the overall collegiate experience at the college. He added that the Skippers Athletics program continues to grow and flourish.

Lake Huron Medical Center is offering a 3-part program series, “Until There’s a Cure, There’s Care,” based on Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care (PAC) beginning Wednesday, Oct 2, 2019. Teepa Snow is a nationally recognized dementia educator who has helped thousands of people by sharing her dementia care philosophy and caregiving techniques.

Lake Huron Medical Center’s Senior Services Coordinator, Rosemary Hunger, a Positive Approach to Care (PAC) Certified Trainer will provide caregivers with Dementia Awareness, knowledge and skills to better understand how it feels to be living with dementia and related changes. 

The “Until There’s a Cure, There’s Care” programs will be held in the first-floor conference room at Lake Huron Medical Center, 2601 Electric Avenue, in Port Huron. The program times are 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm.  Program dates and topics are listed below:

Thursday, October 2, 2019 – Dementia Awareness – the Changing Brain 

Thursday, October 9, 2019 – Building Positive Skills

Thursday, October 16, 2019 – Teepa’s Gems: The Stages of Dementia

While attending all three seminars is not a requirement, it is encouraged because the topics build on each other. To register for the “Until There’s a Cure, There’s Care” program, please contact Rosemary Hunger at (810) 216-1035.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the Maternal Infant Strategy Group are partnering in a Mother-Infant Health and Equity Plan. The improvement plan includes comprehensive statewide strategies that will align stakeholders around key goals to improve the health of mothers and babies. The plan was developed through public comment, continued engagement, and discussion with maternal-infant health stakeholders and advisement of the Maternal Infant Strategy Group. Michigan has a higher infant mortality rate than the national rate, with 6.8 deaths per 1,000 live births. There are also significant disparities that exist across race. The plan emphasizes addressing both clinical and non-clinical factors, such as housing, racial biases, access to family planning and promoting safe sleep practices. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun chief medical executive for MDHHS said, “while many people are doing great work to improve the lives of mothers, infants, and families, the data shows there is much more we need to do.”  The plan will be released in 2020 and run through 2023.

Recycling programs in the state of Michigan are getting some help through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The infrastructure grants totaling $1.23 million hope to improve and expand recycling programs in eight Lower Peninsula counties. Locally, Sanilac County is one of the eight that will be receiving funding. The county will receive $129,000. The funding will be used to expand the county’s recycling collection program by adding storage, thereby enabling staff to accept recyclable materials that are currently not being collected. Recycling locations will also be increased throughout the county. The grants will also support the new “Know It Before You Throw It” campaign, EGLE’s first-ever statewide effort to better inform Michiganders of what can – and cannot – be recycled and how to recycle correctly. EGLE Director Liesl Clark said the state of Michigan wants to inspire and inform more people than ever before about how to recycle better and more frequently.