Local News

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is investigating reports of e-cigarette and vaping-associated respiratory illnesses. Between June 28th and August 27th this summer, there were six cases reported to MDHHS, which the organization is now investigating. All of the cases have been reported in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, and most of the individuals, whose average age is 19-39, have been hospitalized for severe respiratory illness. Sarah Lyon-Callo, MDHHS state epidemiologist said, “The severity of illness people are experiencing is alarming.” She said Michiganders should be aware that using e-cigarettes and vaping can be dangerous because the products in vaping and e-cigarettes contain harmful chemicals that can result in damage to a user’s lungs, heart, or other body systems.

As of August 23rd, 203 possible cases of severe respiratory disease associated with e-cigarette use have been reported in 23 states. So far, the Michigan investigation has not identified a specific brand of device or e-liquid that is causing these illnesses. Similar to reports across the nation, there does not appear to be an infectious cause of the illnesses. MDHHS is working closely with state and federal partners during this national outbreak investigation. If an individual vaping or using e-cigarettes develops symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, fever and/or nausea and vomiting, he or she should contact a health provider immediately and know that symptoms may occur long after use of a device.

Jay de los Reyes, CEO of Lake Huron Medical Center, submitted a letter of resignation to the healthcare provider last week. de Los Reyes has served as CEO since June 2017 and, according to a hospital spokesperson, has been an integral part of the hospital’s growth and development. During his tenure, Lake Huron Medical Center has earned a three-year, level III trauma center designation from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, received an “A” in hospital safety from the Leapfrog Group in the Fall of 2018 and Spring 2019, received the Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award, and obtained a four-star rating by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Patricia Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer at Lake Huron Medical Center is serving as the interim Administrator during the transition.

Roadway construction continues around St. Clair County. Here is your report for the week of September 2nd. Good news to start, the roundabout at Wadhams and Fred Moore Highway is now open. In Berlin Township, Capac Road between Hough and Tubspring will be closed for 30 days. Up in Burtchville, Metcalf between North and State will be closed for several days this week for ditching, and State Road between Myron and Burtch will be having a bridge replaced causing closures until approximately September 13th. 

There will be intermittent lane closures in Casco Township on County Line Road from I-94 to Gratiot this week. China Township will see Belle River Road between Indian Trail and Marsh closed for a day for crossroad culvert replacement. In Kimball Township, an ongoing paving project continues along Mayer Road, Yager Road, and Main Street. Also in Kimball, the left lane of westbound I-69 between Taylor and Wales Center will be closed for patching this week. Finally, Wales Township will see Wales Center Road closed for more than two months for bridge replacement between Morriss and Lapeer.

The Labor Day weekend brings good times with family and friends for the last unofficial days of summer. While out having fun, it’s important to remember to be safe. Safer America is reminding people of the top essential Labor Day safety tips. First, it’s important to remember to drive safely by wearing a seatbelt and checking your car’s vitals like the oil and transmission. The National Safety Council estimates 400 people are involved in fatal accidents each year over the Labor Day weekend. Second, wear sun protection.  Did you know skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S.? Next, grill responsibly. Remember that a grill, both propane and charcoal, is for the outdoors only and should never be left unattended when in use. An average of 19,000 people went to the emergency room each year from 2013 to 2017 due to injuries involving grills. Number 5 on the safety list is fireworks. There are an estimated 9,100 injuries treated in U.S. emergency rooms, and children under 15 accounted for 36% of those estimated injuries from fireworks. Whatever you’re doing, have fun, be safe and enjoy the holiday weekend with your family and friends.

On September 1st, 1985, American oceanographer Robert Ballard with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts discovered the wreck of the Titanic. The Titanic sank 73 years earlier in 1912. She was found 400 miles east of Newfoundland in the North Atlantic and some 13,000 feet below the surface. Ballard first searched for the Titanic in 1977 and was unsuccessful. In 1985, along with French oceanographer Jean-Louis Michel, Ballard and his team began to use an unmanned submersible called the Argo which was developed by the U.S. Navy. In the early morning hours of September 1st, the Argo was investigating debris on the ocean floor when it suddenly passed over one of the Titanic’s boilers.  The next day the ship was discovered nearby. It had split in two, but many of its features were preserved. The wreck has been explored since then by manned and unmanned submersibles which have shed new light on the 1912 sinking.

Twenty-two years ago on August 31, 1997, Princess Diana died tragically in a car crash in Paris. She was just 36 years old. She was known as the People’s Princess, and, at the time, was one of the most popular public figures in the world. Her boyfriend, Dodi Fayed, and the driver of the vehicle, Henri Paul, also died in the accident. Like much of her life, her death was a full-blown media sensation, and it was also the subject of many conspiracy theories. At first, the paparazzi hounding the car was blamed for the crash, but later it was revealed that the driver was under the influence of alcohol and prescription drugs. A formal investigation concluded that the paparazzi did not cause the collision. The funeral for Diana was held days later in London, and it is estimated that over 2 billion people watched the event. Her sons, Prince William, age 15, and Prince Harry, age 12, walked with Prince Charles and her brother Charles Spencer in the funeral cortege.

Many take the time to remember Princess Diana on this day, and there are several memorials in her honor. One memorial is called the Princess Diana Memorial Walk which is part of the Royal Parks in the United Kingdom. The walk takes visitors past several buildings, landmarks, and locations that played a significant role in Diana’s life such as St James’s Park, Green Park, Hyde Park, and Kensington Gardens. It also passes by three palaces and two mansions including Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace. The walk opened on June 30th, 2000, the day before the Princess’s 39th birthday.