Local News

On Tuesday of last week St. Clair County Community Mental Health had their annual awards banquet, and according to St. Clair County Administrator Controller Karry Hepting, the St. Clair County Sheriff Department was honored with the art of caring award.  This award is given to different organizations or businesses that make a significant impact on the programs and individuals supported by CMH.  The Sheriff Department had been working with CMH to have a more collaborative relationship to provide training for officers when they are responding to calls where individuals might be exhibiting symptoms of mental illness.  Hepting says that it involved Sheriff Department Staff and CMH Staff, working together, job shadowing to understand each other’s roles and how to better help those individuals.

Monday, May 27th, Memorial Day, the public is invited to the annual Port Huron Memorial Day Parade. Line up for the parade will be held on the west side of Military Street near Zebra Lounge at 10:00am. Parade starts at 11:00am heading north on Huron to Pine Grove Park for a short Memorial Day program.  This year’s Memorial Day program will recognize 21-local fallen heroes from World War I and II, Korean and Vietnam Wars who were forgotten but now will be forever remembered by our community for their actions and devotions from this day forward. The St. Clair County Allied Veteran Council and Memorial Tablet Committee determined these local military service members who died in service have met the criteria to be added to the monument in Pine Grove Park. This is the largest number of names to be added to the monument since the Vietnam War. “This is historical moment for our community. We will collectively remember all 21-fallen heroes who have been forgotten for over 100 years,” said Daniel J. Crocker, retired State Director of Veterans Services, Department of Michigan of Veterans of Foreign Wars. Crocker’s involvement with the Memorial Tablet Committee dates back to the early 1980’s. Since his retirement as Director, he has been actively involved in researching and identifying war dead from St. Clair County, Michigan and documenting those findings.  The following service members will be remembered and honored:

World War I

John W. Ashford, Port Huron

Harris Christenson, Port Huron

Don M. Dickinson, Marine City

Floyd Pemberton, Algonac

William E. Regan, Marine City

Grover G. Wegg, Port Huron

World War II

Fred Jones, Burton

William W.L. Mitchell, Port Huron

Oswald A. Powers, Marine City

Richard Regan, Yale

Clarence Sanders, Port Huron

Benjamin Scoggan, Port Huron

William J. Woolley, Goodells

Korean

Howard J. Ahles, St. Clair

Frederick D. Ballantine, Port Huron

Bill E. Buck, Yale and St. Clair

Oliver B. Crain, Jr, Goodells

William A. MacKean, Avoca

William Poole, Emmett

Willie L. Thomas, Port Huron

Vietnam

Clarence W. Howard, Port Huron

In addition to being on the Pine Grove Tablet, these fallen heroes will be included in the Blue Water Fallen Heroes Community Banner Program. These beautiful, patriotic banners honoring those who died while serving their country, will be displayed yearly for one week prior to and one week after Memorial Day across St. Clair County starting in 2021.  The community’s help is needed to obtain photographs for over 560 service members who died while serving their country.   Service members from World War I to the current Gulf War who resided in cities/townships across St. Clair County will be included. If you are a family member or know of a friend or a neighbor who died while serving their country, call the banner message line at (810) 985-2007 to schedule an appointment to have a photograph scanned.  Everyone is invited to be a part of this historical Memorial Day Parade and Program on May 27th. For more information, contact Nancy Deising, BS, CHES®, Outreach Coordinator, at (810) 989-6945 or by e-mail at ndeising@stclaircounty.org .

Lake Huron Medical Center (LHMC) is pleased to announce its May 2019 Employee of the Month, Dawn Rybinski, and its May 2019 Volunteer of the Month, Kathy Norton. LHMC is honored to have a strong team of staff and volunteers working hard to deliver high-quality care to the Blue Water Area.  Dawn works in the Dietary Department and has been with LHMC since 2011. She was nominated by a visitor who commented, “Dawn treats the Lighthouse café employees and visitors with respect.  She carries out her responsibilities accurately and efficiently.  She also checks and replenishes the supplies and keeps the cafeteria clean and tidy.  I always enjoy seeing her.  The hospital is fortunate to have her as an employee.” Kathy volunteers in the Radiation Therapy Department and has been volunteering at LHMC since 2018.  She was nominated by an employee who wrote, “Kathy was witnessed on the 4^th floor giving a listening ear to a bossy patient.  Her caring calmness was evident from the hallway.  Her love for what she does was very clear.  She offered support to the patient and the nursing team.  Kathy was heard saying “If I can make on person smile, I’ve done my job.”  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 Dawn and Kathy as we celebrate their accomplishments.  To learn more about the programs and services offered at Lake Huron Medical Center, visit www.mylakehuron.com.

The Michigan House this week approved a landmark plan to fix our state’s much-maligned car insurance system and reduce rates for all Michigan drivers, state Rep. Gary Eisen announced.  Rep. Eisen voted in favor of the plan to offer drivers personal injury coverage options, rein in medical costs and fight fraud – features designed to end Michigan’s long-standing tenure as the state with the costliest car insurance rates in the nation.  “It’s been a priority to give drivers relief and by working together we can reform the highest average auto insurance premiums in the nation,” Eisen, of St. Clair Township, said after the vote. “This plan better serves the interests of Michigan drivers.”  Michigan’s costs are high largely because it’s the only state mandating unlimited lifetime health care coverage through car insurance. The plan allows those currently using the coverage to keep it, and those who want it in the future to continue buying it – while providing more affordable options.

The plan:

• Guarantees lower rates for all Michigan drivers.
• Gives drivers a choice on car insurance policies.
• Stops price gouging on medical services for car accident victims.
• Combats fraudulent claims to help lower costs.

The sweeping legislation now advances to the Senate for consideration.

On April 27, Hunter Hospitality House held their 7^th annual fundraising banquet, Hope Blooms, at the Blue Water Convention Center.  Over 650 people attended the event, supporting free healthcare lodging in two bed-and-breakfast style homes located across the street from each hospital in Port Huron.   Fifty-nine sponsors, four Woman’s Life chapters, and hundreds of individuals generously contributed, netting over $45,000 for the everyday operations at Hunter Hospitality House.  “Forty-five thousand dollars is huge to a small nonprofit organization like ours,” explained Executive Director, Tracy Willard.  “We’re immensely grateful to have a community that embraces our mission, making sure we have the funding necessary to accommodate the families of hospitalized loved ones, as well as those with medical treatment of their own.”  “Every year I am blown away at how much this event grows,” said HHH Board Member and former guest, Andrea Nunn-Mencavage, of Lexington.  “It was a fantastic evening.  I am so blessed to be part of this organization.” Shelley Dompierre, of Applegate, won the Hunter Hospitality House Volunteer of the Year Award during the banquet.  Angie Twichell, of Port Huron, won the Paula Flynn Godwin Spirit of Hunter Hospitality House Award.  Hope Blooms 2020 will be held April 18 at the Blue Water Convention Center.  To learn more about Hunter Hospitality House, visit their website at hunterhospitalityhouse.com.