Local News

In Blair Township, a community just south of Traverse City, a family exited their home safely this month after recently installing carbon monoxide detectors. The family was at home one evening when one of the detectors indicated high levels of carbon monoxide. At that point, they left the home and avoided the escalating buildup of carbon monoxide from a faulty stove. The carbon monoxide detector was one of the thousands installed by local fire departments over the last several months through a grant coordinated by MI Prevention. NI Prevention is a statewide fire safety campaign organized by the State Fire Marshal, the Bureau of Fire Services and Michigan’s fire safety organizations. 

The effort to install detectors has resulted in more than 21,000 smoke alarms and­­­­ almost 6,500 carbon monoxide detectors added to homes throughout the state. Funding for the initiative came from a competitive, one-year, $525,000 Fire Prevention and Safety grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security along with a five percent match from the state of Michigan. If local residents need updated carbon monoxide or smoke detectors, they can check with their local Fire Department to see if they are eligible to participate in the program. As a reminder, carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that causes “flu-like” symptoms in low amounts and can kill people and animals who breathe it in large amounts. 

Unwanted robocalls have become a common occurrence for many Michigan residents and beyond. This week, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel recently entered into an agreement with twelve major telecom providers to fight illegal robocalls.  Nessel said Verizon Wireless immediately began automatic protections for eligible users through its free robocall-blocking software. Nessel explained that “Verizon’s swift action is a step in the right direction.” She encourages the company to further its commitment by automatically enrolling all of its customers in the already-available technology to help further efforts to end to the public nuisance of robocalls once and for all. She also stated that protecting consumers from robocalls shouldn’t have to be an opt-in benefit, it should be an automatic service. The same group also sent a letter to the FCC urging the agency to encourage telecom providers to implement anti-robocall technologies including default robocall blocking. 

The Michigan Legislature created The Library of Michigan to guarantee the people of Michigan and their government one perpetual institution to collect and preserve Michigan publications, conduct reference, and research and support libraries statewide. Through the organization, the St. Clair County Library System will soon receive assistance from the Improving Access to Information grant. The fund supports public and academic library programs designed to increase access by improving literacy. The program also hopes to provide broader access to special or historic collections or improve digital access and inclusion. The St. Clair County Library system will be receiving just over $22,000 which will be used to integrate technology into the countywide services for blind and physically handicapped patrons, allowing real-time descriptions of written and digital text.  

Port Huron schools will have 18 new employees this school year including classroom teachers, social workers, and special education providers to serve across the district in their new roles.   One of the new hires now joining the district is Raynard Caldwell, who will be the Principal at the Literacy Academy at Cleveland. After spending his career, to this point, in Indiana, Mr. Caldwell is returning home to Port Huron. He is a former Port Huron Northern graduate who also attended Fort Gratiot, Thomas Edison, and Garfield schools. His teaching experience includes 11 years as a third-grade teacher in Elkhart, Indiana, as well as brief periods of time teaching first and sixth grade. Administratively, he has worked in an urban high school in South Bend and as an elementary assistant principal in Goshen, Indiana.  Earlier this month, Mr. Caldwell participated in the district’s annual administrator retreat to prepare for the upcoming school year. 

Mosquitoes are still an issue this time of year in Michigan. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is reminding residents to protect themselves. There has been one confirmed case of California encephalitis, and three suspected cases of EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis) on the west side of the state of Michigan in Kalamazoo and Berrien counties. As of August 26th, six cases of Equine Encephalitis have been confirmed in horses in Barry, Kalamazoo, and St. Joseph counties. None of the horses were vaccinated, and all animals have died.

There is an Equine Encephalitis vaccine available for horses, but there is not a vaccine for people. Dr. Mary Grace Stobierski of the MDHHS said, “Mosquito-borne diseases can cause long-term health effects in people and even death.” Residents should apply insect repellent that contains DEET, wear long sleeves, and apply insect repellent to clothing when working outdoors. Also, it’s important to empty water from mosquito breeding sites around the home such as buckets, unused kiddie pools, old tires, or similar sites where mosquitoes may lay eggs.

A timely training will be coming to the area soon as Operation Transformation and St. Clair County Community Mental Health welcomes Anthony Jones. Anthony comes to the area offering training to generate healthy and positive conversation around important issues that impact everyone. He will lead a conversation in hopes of creating a comprehensive strategy to move toward unity in addressing ethnic and socioeconomic barriers. Mr. Jones provides knowledge and skill development in intercultural competency to help community leaders make a better real-time impact when attempting to bridge people groups. The program is called “Next Step to Reconciliation”. Anthony will be in the area September 19th through the 21st with events each day.  He will concentrate on youth, community leaders, and the faith community. More information on the training can be found on the Operation Transformation website.