Local News

LANSING, Mich. – The first West Nile virus activity for Michigan in 2019 has been confirmed in mosquitoes recently collected in Saginaw and Oakland counties and a Canada goose in Kalamazoo County. Residents are reminded that the best way to protect against West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses is to prevent mosquito bites.

People who work in outdoor occupations or like to spend time outdoors are at increased risk for West Nile virus infection from mosquito bites. Adults 60 years old and older have the highest risk of severe illness caused by West Nile virus.

Symptoms of West Nile virus include a high fever, confusion, muscles weakness and a severe headache. More serious complications include neurological illnesses, such as meningitis and encephalitis. Last year, there were 104 serious illnesses and nine deaths related to West Nile virus in Michigan. Nationally, there were 2,544 human cases of the virus and 137 deaths reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2018.

“It only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to cause a severe illness, so take extra care during peak mosquito-biting hours, which are dusk and dawn,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical executive and chief deputy director for health. “We urge Michiganders to take precautions such as using insect repellant wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors during those time periods.”

West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Most people who contract the virus have no clinical symptoms of illness, but some may become ill three to 15 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. As summer temperatures rise, mosquitoes and the virus develop more quickly so it is important to protect yourself from mosquito bites as the weather warms.

Mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus may breed near people’s homes in storm drains, shallow ditches, retention ponds, and unused pools. They will readily come indoors to bite if window and door screens are not maintained.

The best way to prevent West Nile disease or any other mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Precautions include:

• Using EPA registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol, and 2-undecanone; follow the product label instructions and reapply as directed.
  • Don’t use repellent on children under 2 months old. Instead dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs and cover crib, stroller and baby carrier with mosquito netting.
• Wearing shoes and socks, light-colored long pants and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors.
• Making sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings.
• Using bed nets when sleeping outdoors or in conditions with no window screens.
• Eliminating all sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding around your home, including water in bird baths, abandoned swimming pools, wading pools, old tires and any other object holding water once a week.

For more information, visit Michigan.gov/westnilevirus or Cdc.gov/westnile.

In Michigan, more than 1 million people are struggling with hunger – and of them, more than 345,000 are children according to Feeding America. Locally, the St. Clair County MSU Extension and the Thumb Food Policy Council are addressing the issue on Tuesday, July 9, by hosting a food summit designed to scan the community for assets and needs in the food system from a food security and food insecurity perspective. The morning session starts with breakfast that will be part of participant learning for the day. Then the afternoon session will highlight the MSU AgBioResearch unit of the College and Agriculture and Natural Resources “Our Table” live stream panel discussion including local experts, focused on The Future of Our Food System. This event is free but you must pre register. For more information about this event contact the MSU Extension Office.

Friends of the St. Clair River is hosting a series of “Wetland Wanderings” summer programs for hands-on, family-friendly fun at the Wetlands County Park on Wednesday, June 26, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. The program will be repeated July 24, August 28 and September 25. Amy Meeker-Taylor, Friends’ Environmental Educator, will lead an introduction to wetland ecology and a macroinvertebrate collection and identification lesson. Participants will collect and identify macroinvertebrates – insects, mollusks and crustaceans – living in the wetlands. Since the wetlands are a new urban park created from an industrial brownfield, these scores are important for helping track the wetland’s health over time. For more information visit Friends of the St. Clair River’s website.

Lake Huron Medical Center (LHMC) is pleased to announce its June 2019 Employee of the Month, Steve Riehl, and its June 2019 Volunteer of the Month, Jo Crimmins. LHMC is honored to have a strong team of staff and volunteers working hard to deliver high-quality care to the Blue Water Area.

Steve is a Public Safety Officer and has been with LHMC since 1997. He was nominated by a colleague who commented, “Steve does extra things for our patients no one knows about.  Recently, he bought himself dinner in the cafeteria and purchased an extra sandwich to have on hand should he encounter someone in the ER who might need it. He represents the spirit of our hospital”

Jo volunteers at the People’s Clinic for Better Health and has been volunteering at LHMC since 1991.  She was nominated by another volunteer who wrote, “She is very caring and gentle with all her patients.  She takes time with every individual. Anyone who has spent this much time and so many years to help others needs to be recognized.”

Lake Huron Medical Center is proud of each of its employees and volunteers; and extends a special thank you and congratulations to all our team members, especially Steve and Jo as we celebrate their accomplishments.

To learn more about the programs and services offered at Lake Huron Medical Center, visit www.mylakehuron.com.

“There’s an old saying: ‘The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,’” says Dr. David H. Sturtz, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and St. Clair County Community College alumnus. “My mother was an avid reader and believer in higher education, though neither of my parents attended college. St. Clair County Community College was there for me. It’s where I got my start.”

Dr. Sturtz’s love and admiration for his parents, appreciation of his community college, and passion for improving the health and wellness of his patients inspired him to establish the David and Anne Sturtz Endowed Scholarship in memory of his parents to support SC4 students pursuing health care and STEM programs. The scholarship will help new generations of SC4 students positively impact quality of life in the Blue Water Area and far beyond for years to come.

With vast professional experiences and credentials earned from serving in the United States Navy and attending a wide variety of prestigious institutions, Dr. Sturtz’s belief in SC4 holds strong.

“My mom always said the best investment you can make is in yourself,” says Dr. Sturtz, who resides in Northville with his wife and two daughters. “The quality of education and the support and services I found at SC4 were on par with anywhere else I went. I feel very fortunate to have started at SC4. It provided me with a solid foundation, great experience and a seamless transition.”

United Way of St. Clair County, as board chairperson for the Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), has received notification of the release of $82,214 by the federal government to provide grants for eligible agencies for St. Clair County.  These funds are to be used to provide for homeless shelters, soup kitchens, food pantries and organizations helping individuals with emergency utility and mortgage assistance.

This category of funding (EFSP) is provided annually through a provision in the federal budget, which is targeted to address the needs of families impacted by unemployment and emergency medical events.  The funds are determined for each County through a formula based on the number of funds allocated by congress and the rate of unemployment within that particular County.

Agencies previously receiving funding through EFSP dollars are: Blue Water Safe Horizons, The Harbor, Salvation Army, Downriver Helping Hands, Downriver Bread of Life Nutrition Center, Blue Water Community Food Depot (Port Huron), Harbor Impact Ministries, Trinity United Methodist Food Pantry (Algonac), SOS Marysville Food Pantry, Blue Water Area Rescue Mission, Detroit Rescue Mission, Mid City Nutrition Program, and the C3 Connection.  All organizations are required to apply using the application process available online, uwstclair.org/EFSP; instructions are provided.  All applications must be submitted to United Way of St. Clair County by 4:30 p.m. on June 25, 2019 for consideration