Local News

A new business has opened its doors in Marysville at the Market Square shopping center. True Balance Chiropractic and Wellness is now ready to serve customers in the area.  Several were there to welcome the new business at the grand opening event Wednesday evening including Marysville Mayor, Dan Damman. 

The primary chiropractor at True Balance is Dr. Ramika Ford. She’s new to the area, hailing originally from Aurora, Illinois. Dr. Ford said her office will take a little different approach in terms of where the chiropractic adjustments take place. She described a semi-open setting, with no rooms or closed doors.  She also said there is a therapy room so she and her staff can show a patient how to stretch or use certain chiropractic devices. 

The buildout for the new office was completed by her father who is a contractor. Dr. Ford named the business True Balance Chiropractic and Wellness because, as she puts it, “People need balance in almost all aspects of life.” She is accepting new clients and is open Monday through Friday, and by appointment on the weekend.

Reporting for WGRT, Mike Smith.

For more than 15 years, the Enriching Community Lives program through Community Enterprises of St. Clair County has helped adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities experience many different activities, and the group is now enrolling for the fall semester. The semester runs from October through the end of March. Services are offered Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. According to the Community Enterprises website, the program encourages community inclusion, greater independence, and increased self-esteem. 

Associate Director of the Community Enterprises Carrie Kerbrat said the program has evolved over the years. Around 200 people per week participate in the program activities. Kerbrat said the most popular activity by far is bowling at the Zebra Lounge in Port Huron. Using the organization’s staff and 20 vehicles, the program also takes participants to the YMCA for swimming or fitness. Other opportunities include art, pottery, theatre, sign language, and more. The program is funded through St. Clair County Community Mental Health (CMH).  

Phragmites are a harmful wetland grass that has been causing problems for many residents in southern St. Clair County. According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the aggressively growing and invasive grass outcompetes and blocks a marsh’s native vegetation and provides little or no food for wildlife that live there. Phragmites can grow up to eighteen feet tall causing a visual obstruction. The vegetation is sharp and has been known to cut skin. When the plant material dies, the remaining shoots become a fire hazard as well.  

 Cindy Babisz, Building Department Clerk for Clay Township, said that St. Johns Marsh was almost completely choked out by the Phragmites a few years ago.  Three different chemicals, which are now applied regularly to the invasive vegetation, seem to be solving the problem. Babisz said the chemicals used are approved by the state of Michigan. She said they don’t pose a health risk to wildlife or the residents. Now, according to Babisz, the St. Johns Marsh area has almost returned to the way it used to be before the infestation.

Reporting for WGRT, Mike Smith.

The former White Oaks Golf Course in Wales Township may soon become a training facility for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 17. The 53-acre former golf course was located near the corner of Goodells and Sparling Roads.  

The Wales Township Planning Commission met on Tuesday at the township hall to hear plans from the IBEW for their new training facility. According to Wales Township Deputy Clerk Linda Waddy, Dean Bradley of the IBEW put on a presentation to the board, and many residents were in attendance. Waddy said, “Overall the response from residents was positive.”  

IBEW was granted a special land use permit by the commission. The next step for the group is to have its site plan approved. That approval is expected to take place at the township’s October 15th meeting. 

Reporting for WGRT, Mike Smith.

Residents in Algonac may soon have 5G wireless coming to the city. At the Algonac City Council meeting on September 17th, the council gave the approval to the City Manager, Denice A. Gerstenberg to enter into a contract with AT&T Wireless. The company wants to place 5G wireless installations on public structures. 

It was explained at the meeting that the structures could be buildings or simply a pole placed by the company. The city would retain control over what structure the devices could be placed on. The company is required to submit a plan for each of the installations, and a permit will be issued for each installation as well. The agreement is a non-exclusive licensing agreement, meaning that other companies could compete for the same wireless business.  

Reporting for WGRT – EBWtv

There was an unsubstantiated claim recently of bed bugs at the Harrison Center in Port Huron. Keely Baribeau, Director of Community Relations and Marketing for Port Huron Schools, released a statement saying, “The original claim at Harrison Center was found to be falsified after further investigation that included a certified pest control company inspecting the entire building.”   

Baribeau also said that, “Although bed bugs are an occasional occurrence as they are in any district, similar to head lice, [the district] has a set procedure that [they] follow. Once something of this nature is confirmed, [they] communicate with families, either to a classroom, or the entire school if it is a building-wide issue. [They] then follow the St. Clair County Health Department’s procedures and use pest cleaning services as needed.”

 The National Pest Management Association offers some tips on keeping bed bugs away including knowing the signs of an infestation- which look like pepper-like spots on bedding. Inspecting hotel rooms and suitcases, examining used furniture and washing new clothes when bringing them home for the first time are all good ways to protect yourself.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.