Local News

Port Huron City Manager James Freed reported on Friday that his office received news of a train derailment within the international train tunnel. CN crews responded to the incident where approximately 30 cars were derailed in various positions, and at least one car was carrying dangerous goods.  After further investigation by EBW.TV, officials confirmed 40+ cars were involved, and a car carrying sulfuric acid spilled some of its cargo. CN deployed its team of dangerous goods experts and third-party contractors to assist in the clean-up efforts. It’s an ongoing process, and city officials tell us that there is no danger to the public, air quality, or waterways.

City officials advised residents to avoid the area while officials in Sarnia and Port Huron worked together to mitigate any further damage. Homeland Security, Emergency Management, and regional stakeholders were briefed.  The Port Huron Fire Department was in command on the U.S. side of the tunnel and collaborated with CN and the municipalities of Sarnia and St. Clair Counties. The cause of the derailment is still under investigation. No injuries were reported.

UPDATE:  7/1/2019 1:47 p.m.

City Manager James Freed expressed confidence in the response by CN Railway and Unified Command to the train derailment incident on Friday, June 28, 2019. “CN, PHFD and all the stakeholders have done a tremendous job responding to this incident and ensuring public safety was protected. I applaud their efforts and remarkable abilities to tackle such a large challenge in a collaborative and coordinated effort. Public Health and Safety was never at risk because of their work.” 

However, City Manager Freed believes more transparency is needed from CN, the EPA and Unified Command on the processes for cleanup efforts. “We have a lot of local residents who are literally watching this unfold in their backyards. They deserve to know what exactly is taking place. I have been asking for a press conference for three days so that local media can ask questions and get a clearer picture of what is going on. This has not happened.” 

“I encourage CN and the EPA to stand before the press and take questions, as they serve the residents of this community,” voiced Freed. 

What is Canada Day, and why all the celebration? On July 1, 1867, with passage of the British North America Act, the Dominion of Canada was officially established as a self-governing entity within the British Empire. The autonomous Dominion of Canada was a confederation of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and provinces of Ontario and Quebec.  Two years after the passing of the British North America Act, Canada acquired the vast possessions of the Hudson’s Bay Company, and within a decade, the provinces of Manitoba and Prince Edward Island had joined the Canadian federation. In 1885, the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed, making mass settlement across the vast territory of Canada possible. 

As we are now in the midst of summer, many will be traveling by air for their summer trip. If you have been flying, you may have noticed that it’s been quite busy at the airport. TSA reports that the upcoming July 4th holiday is expected to continue that trend. It’s estimated that 12.1 million people will be traveling through checkpoints from July 3-7 with the peak travel day on Sunday, July 7. The summer travel season kicked off on May 23, and since then, the Transportation Security Administration experienced six of the top 10 busiest days in the history of the agency. TSA expects a record-setting summer overall with 263 million passengers and crew members projected to pass through TSA checkpoints nationwide between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend. 

With the 4th of July holiday coming up, many of us think of holiday gatherings and fireworks, but the question of when they can legally be used often comes up.  Michiganders who plan on setting off fireworks need to make sure they know which days are legal to do so in their local community. State Fire Marshall Kevin Sehlmeyer said, “if you do plan to shoot your own fireworks, remember these are explosives and that if used incorrectly, can cause irreparable injury and harm.”  Even if a local government chooses to restrict fireworks in their municipality by passing a local ordinance, state law requires that fireworks must be allowed on specific days.  If you’re not sure of the rules, or would rather not shoot off your own fireworks, remember that there are plenty of fireworks shows in and around St. Clair and Sanilac Counties.  For more information on specific information in regard to firework rules in the state of Michigan visit Michigan.gov and search fireworks, or check out your city or township’s ordinance online. 

Did you know that Port Huron is part of the story of a well- known couple that, when married, decided to spend some of their honeymoon in town and would remember the city as being a symbol for happiness? On this date in 1950, President Harry S. Truman ordered U.S. air and naval forces to South Korea to aid the democratic nation in repulsing an invasion by communist North Korea. In May 1919, Harry S Truman returned from duty in World War I, and in June he married Beth Wallace. The couple spent part of their honeymoon in Port Huron at the Hotel Harrington. The Truman’s daughter Margaret wrote in her biography of Bess, “For the rest of his life, whenever Harry Truman wanted to regain the radiance of those first days with Bess, he simply wrote ‘Port Huron.’ For him, it was a code word for happiness.”

Imagine winning an exotic vacation to somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit, or, perhaps, a long weekend in Las Vegas!

Not much of a traveler?   How about a big dinner with your friends and family, without all of the cooking and food clean-up? Hunter Hospitality House is pleased to announce our first, ever, Endowment Fund Awareness Raffle, and you could win one of those fabulous prizes!

• First prize is a Delta Vacations Package of your choice, worth $6,000 through St. Clair Travel.
• Second prize is also through St. Clair Travel—airfare and 3 nights stay in a superior hotel in Las Vegas, worth $1,500.
• Third prize is a delicious catered meal worth $500 from Vintage House Banquets & Catering, a preferred catering choice of the Blue Water Convention Center.

Only 300 tickets are being sold for $100 each for a chance to win these incredible prizes! Get your ticket at hunterhospitalityhouse.com/raffle, or mail a check to Hunter Hospitality House at 1010 Lincoln Avenue, Port Huron, Michigan, 48060.

Hunter Hospitality House (HHH) is a local nonprofit, providing free lodging and abundant amenities in two homes near both hospitals in Port Huron.  Guests are adults with hospitalized loved ones or treatment of their own.  People needing a place to stay in town before a medical procedure or surgery are also welcome at HHH, as are those with loved ones in local medical facilities, such as Marwood Nursing and Rehab and the Blue Water Hospice Home.

“Proceeds from this raffle will help the HHH endowment fund continue to build to a level that can hopefully one day sustain the needs of the guests and these homes. We are truly blessed to have two hospitality homes in our community,” said Jackie Hanton, vice president of the Community Foundation.

For more information please visit hunterhospitalityhouse.com, or call 810-824-3679.