Local News

The “National Memorial-Day Concert” returns, this year, for a special 30th-anniversary broadcast—hosted by Joe Mantegna and Mary McCormack.  Live from the West Lawn of the U-S Capitol, the annual concert honors America’s men and women in uniform, their families at
home, and all those who’ve given their lives for our country.  Co-host Joe Mantegna says…“You know, we’re given this three-day holiday-weekend, on ‘Memorial Day’.  And, I think [that], if every American would take 90 minutes—and just watch the show—they would come away knowing that it’s [about] a lot more than barbecues and car-races.  It’s to honor those who gave us that ability to enjoy the freedoms [that] we do, in this country.  And, it’s a show that’s entertaining, touching, enlightening, [and] moving.  If you can come away from this show without a smile and a tear, something’s wrong.  I’d really encourage anyone to just give it a chance, give it a shot—because I’m positive [that], once you watch it, you’ll make it an annual event.”  This year’s lineup also includes: General Colin Powell; Sam Elliott; Patti LaBelle; Gavin DeGraw; Dennis Haysbert; Alison Krauss; Christopher Jackson; Amber Riley; Justin Moore; Jaina Lee Ortiz; and “Patrick Lundy and ‘The Ministers of Music’”—in performance with the
“National Symphony Orchestra”.  The 30th-anniversary “National Memorial-Day Concert” airs live, on P-B-S, Sunday, May 26th, at eight p-m, Eastern; check local listings, for the time in your area.  To learn more, visit “p-b-s”-dot-org-slash-“memorial-day-concert”.

Lake Huron Medical Center congratulates DAISY Award Recipient Amanda Pigg, RN. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses is recognized in 2,800 healthcare facilities in the United States and 17 different countries.  Amanda works as a Registered Nurse in the Definitive Observation Unit and was nominated by peers for her professionalism, positive attitude and her attention to patient care. She is also known for being a continuous learner, always eager to learn new regulatory requirements and sharing her knowledge with others.  Beyond her remarkable clinical skills, Amanda is known for her dedication to nursing. She takes pride in not only her work but that of her entire unit. She works hard and is an advocate for her patients, often going above and beyond to provide exceptional care.  “Through her leadership, Amanda provides a nurturing environment for nurses. She embodies Lake Huron Medical Center’s commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate care,” comments Pat Roberts, RN, MS, Chief Nursing Officer, Lake Huron Medical Center.  “The DAISY Award is the perfect way to recognize our nurses because it reflects a nursing mindset which fosters care, trust, and compassion with her patients and peers.”  The DAISY Award was created 1999 by members of the family of Patrick Barnes who died of complications of the auto-immune disease ITP. The Barnes’ wanted to do something special to honor their son and came up with the name DAISY-an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. What continually resonated for them was the extraordinary care, kindness and compassion Patrick and the family received from her nurses during her illness.  Lake Huron Medical Center thanks Amanda for everything he does each and every day to provide our patients and their families with high-quality, compassionate care.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) urges Michigan residents to know the warning signs and resources available to prevent suicide. In 2017, suicide was the second leading cause of death in Michigan for ages 15-34.  “Learning the warning signs of suicide can help raise awareness about suicide prevention and provide loved ones with the proper help,” said Robert Gordon, MDHHS director. “Talking with family, friends and neighbors about this important topic is essential as we try to get help to those who need it.”

Warning signs for those at risk of suicide include:

• Feelings of hopelessness.
• Threatening to or talking about wanting to hurt oneself.
• Loss of interest in activities.
• Withdrawal from friends and family.
• Change in eating and sleeping habits.
• Talking about being a burden to others.
• Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
• Displaying extreme mood swings.
• Looking for a way to kill oneself.

The recently updated MDHHS Suicide Prevention website has a variety of resources and information for individuals who are having thoughts of suicide or know a loved one who is in crisis. These resources include a communications toolkit, a county map of coalitions and crisis lines, fact sheets, trainings and information about the Suicide Prevention Lifeline.  If you are in a crisis, or know someone who needs help, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255). If you are interested in getting involved in suicide prevention, visitMichigan.gov/suicideprevention to find out more about local suicide prevention coalitions across the state.

Due to ongoing and predicted water level increases in the Great Lakes basin, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has authorized an accelerated approval program for installation of seawalls or other regulated flood control measures. According to Port Huron City Manager, James Freed, interested City of Port Huron residents should contact Don Reinke at (313) 226-6812 or donald.t.reinke@usace.army.mil.  Additionally, City residents suffering property damage related to rising water levels  should notify the St. Clair County Homeland Security and Emergency Management via email at damage@stclaircounty.org. SCCEM  will dispatch a damage assessment team for documentation purposes.  Boaters are strongly encouraged to reduce wakes as much as possible to prevent property damage. No wake zone maps can be downloaded at:
http://www.bluewaysofstclair.org/nowakezone.asp.  City of Port Huron residents in areas likely to be affected should take action now. This includes maintenance, installation, and/or upgrades of sump pump systems, protection of HVAC units and appliances in below grade spaces, and removal of items in flood prone or wave washed areas. While predicted water level rises on the Black River do not appear to impact inhabited dwellings at this time, a precipitation event may cause flooding issues in combination with increased base levels. Residents in low lying areas adjacent to the Black River should consider the possibility of flooding and plan accordingly.

The following locations are providing sandbags to their residents:
–  Clay Township Water Department on Muskrat Run between 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
–  Ira Township Office 7085 Meldrum Rd. Monday through Thursday 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
–  Algonac DPW by calling (810) 794-9361
–  East China Township located west of the waste water treatment plant at 1244 Recor Road

Hearing and vision screenings are a requirement for children newly enrolled in school and those entering kindergarten. St. Clair County Health Department offers free hearing and vision screenings to county residents.   Hearing loss can have an effect on a child’s development, including; vocabulary, speech, sentence structure and social functioning. If hearing loss is identified early, family-centered interventions are promoted to improve language and cognitive development.  Early detection of hearing loss or vision problems can have a positive impact on a child’s learning experience. Make sure your child has a vision and hearing screen on record before they start school.

Why should you get your child screened?

• All children must have a hearing and vision screen before entering kindergarten.
• More than one million children in Michigan will need eye care by the time they reach high school graduation age.
• Approximately 10,000 Michigan children begin each school year without adequate vision.
• Screening can help your child succeed in school. An undiagnosed hearing and vision problem can interfere with your child’s development.
• 5 percent of children screened for hearing are referred to a specialist. 10 percent of children screened for vision are referred to a specialist. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent temporary difficulties from becoming permanent problems.

(Source for statistics: National Institutes of Health, 2017)

To schedule an appointment call (810) 987-5300. For more information on the Hearing and Vision program visit www.scchealth.co (under Programs and Services tab). Follow us on social media @scchdmi.