Local News

The Spero Center on Griswold Street in Port Huron is inviting the community to tour its offices. Spero will be holding an open house this Thursday from 4-7 p.m. where staff will be on hand to answer questions and offer tours of the building. Spero will also be showing some of the equipment used at the center, like the ultrasound system. The center is funded entirely through donations, and is a  non-profit, faith-based, medical clinic. Spero says they provide pregnancy tests, accurate medical information, prenatal and parenting education, and more for clients and their babies. They also provide referrals for community resources that are available in St. Clair County. The center has been in existence for 33 years and has offered free care for women who have an unplanned pregnancy. In a typical year, they assist over 700 clients.

Reporting for WGRT, ebw.tv

The United States Navy commissioned a new vessel on October 27th in Burns Harbor, Indiana at the southern end of Lake Michigan. The state of the art combat ship headed down the St. Clair River recently enroute to its final destination near Jacksonville, Florida. The USS Indianapolis is the fourth such Navy ship that bears that name. Many may remember the story of the U.S.S. Indianapolis that was sunk in July of 1945. The ship was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine after returning from delivering components for the first atomic bomb ever used in combat. Only 317 of the Indianapolis’s 1200 crewman survived the sinking after spending well over three days in shark infested waters. Four survivors of that event attended the commissioning. The new ship was designed with maneuverability in mind. It is anticipated that the Navy will use her for mine-clearing and anti-submarine warfare.

Reporting for WGRT, ebw.tv

After much anticipation the new Marysville City Hall is now open. Marysville Mayor Dan Damman said the new city hall was built at a cost of two million dollars and the project came in on time and under budget. Marysville’s City Council evaluated it’s infrastructure, and plans to build a new city hall were formulated in late 2017 and early 2018. To rehabilitate the old city hall and bring it up to current standards would have cost 1.4 million. Damman said the old city hall property was valued at around $500,000. After selling the old city hall, it brought the cost to build a new city hall down to an amount that was close to rehabbing the old one. 

One of the design features that Damman spoke about was the new city hall’s vestibule. The vestibule, said Damman was specifically designed to display Marysville’s history. Several different historical artifacts are on display, including a full size Wills Sainte Claire automobile. The Wills Sainte Claire was a luxury car that was built in Marysville in the late 1920’s. Residents of Marysville can now expect to be able to handle all business with the city under one roof in a building that is designed to allow for future expansion as well.

Reporting for WGRT, ebw.tv

Flu season is here and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging residents to get vaccinated. The 2018-2019 flu season saw an estimated 647,000 hospitalizations and nearly 61,000 deaths from influenza nationwide. Currently, there are only sporadic reports of the flu in the state of Michigan, but officials warn that could change quickly.  Once a person receives a flu shot, it takes up to two weeks for the body to build up enough immunity to prevent the flu. The flu shot is made with inactivated or killed viruses and cannot give you influenza. 

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS Chief Medical Executive and Chief Deputy for Health said, “Residents should receive their flu vaccine today to have optimal protection throughout the flu season.” The MDHHS says that everyone six months of age and older should receive a flu vaccine every year. They also say that getting a flu vaccine protects not only you but those around you who may have serious complications if they get the flu. Officials say currently there are ample supplies of supplies of flu vaccine at several locations in Michigan.  The vaccines can be found at doctors offices, pharmacies, and local health departments.

Reporting for WGRT, Mike Smith.

This Saturday November 2, the St. Clair County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will be conducting a hostile event exercise at the Marysville United Methodist Church in Marysville. St. Clair County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director, Justin Westmiller said they “are looking to actively exercise response plans regarding an active threat in a public venue.” In doing so,  the group hopes to accomplish two things with the exercise. First, they want to practice the Active Shooter Hostile Event (ASHE) plan with first responders. A public venue, like the church they are using, will help in that effort, by giving a public venue scenario. Along with the ASHE plan, area hospitals are required to participate annually in a mass trauma situation. 

The community-based exercise ensures area hospitals retain their Hospital Trauma Designation as outlined by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Residents should be aware that there will be an increased presence of emergency vehicles and personnel at the Marysville United Methodist Church tomorrow morning beginning at 7 a.m., but that there is no reason to be alarmed. Westmiller said, “St Johns River District, Lake Huron Medical Center, and McLaren Port Huron will also be involved, and Marysville Public Safety will be the Incident Commander for the event.” Normal business at the hospitals are not expected to be interrupted.

Reporting for WGRT, Mike Smith.

With hunting season gearing up and firearm deer season just around the corner, there’s a local meat market that helps the hungry in our area by processing donated deer. Jimmy Rankin Meats has participated in the Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger program for the past eight years and will continue to do so this year. Jim Rankin, owner of Jimmy Rankin Meats said his “store processed nearly 1,000 pounds of deer meat last year as part of the program.”  He also said “the processed meat is donated locally to Mid-City Nutrition.” Rankin also spoke highly about DTE employees at the Greenwood Power Plant, saying, “they continue to provide deer for the program. According to Rankin, “last year alone the employees dropped off over 50 deer.” Rankin finished by saying that, “the program has been working really well.” 

Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger was established in 1991. They are an all volunteer non-profit organization that coordinates with participating licensed game processors throughout the state as drop off locations for whitetail deer harvested by hunters during the hunting season.  Jimmy Rankin Meats is the only drop off location for the program in St. Clair County. The group estimates that since the inception of the program, nearly 640,000 pound of venison has been collected providing over 3 million meals.

Reporting for WGRT, Mike Smith.