Local News

Operation Transformation is a local, faith-based organization that works together with civic and service organizations to develop ways to meet the needs of our community. OT is hosting an Open House on  Thursday, March 21st from 9am – 3pm at their office building located at 1904 Poplar Street, in Port Huron. Everyone is welcome to come meet the staff, learn more about OT’s major projects and enjoy some light refreshments.  Operation Transformation is also launching a 1-day campaign of concentrated giving called “Spring Ahead” on the same day. According to Terry Kuhns, OT Associate,  they are asking friends and supporters to help OT “Spring Ahead” financially (during the leaner winter months) by making a donation by check or cash; giving can also be done by credit card online at www.optrans.org/support or by calling the OT office at 810-966-8660.  He says their goal this year is to raise $20,000! We have $10,000 in matching funds, so donations up to that amount will be doubled! Kuhns said, If you believe in the mission of Operation Transformation, please consider making a contribution and help us take advantage of this very generous opportunity on March 21st!  

Today is the first day of Spring which means it is time for the Annual Dinner For Kids’ Sake.  The dinner will be held at the Blue Water Convention Center at 800 Harker Street in Port Huron on Thursday, April 11 from 6 to 10 p.m.  This year’s theme is “Denim and Diamonds”.  Attendees are welcome to wear your denim, a gown, or anything in between, but, they say definitely your diamonds.  According to Sherri Archibald of the St. Clair County Child Abuse/Neglect Council,  this will be a fantastic evening with lots of great silent auction items and one lucky guest will walk away with a one carat diamond.  All proceeds will go to benefit the St. Clair County Child Abuse/Neglect Council.  If you have any questions, please call 810-966-9911- Registration at $50 per person may be made on line at sccstopchildabuse.org

McLaren Port Huron will offer a four-week program to help individuals quit smoking. Fresh Start to Quit Smoking takes place Mondays, April 8, 15, 22 and 29, 2:30- 3:30 p.m., in the McLaren Port Huron Jefferson Building. The Jefferson Building is located at 1320 Washington Avenue, Port Huron.  Are you ready to make a fresh start and quit smoking? This program will provide you the tools to help you quit. You will select your quit day during the third class. This is a four-session program. Participants must attend all four sessions and new participants cannot join after the first class.  This program is free, but registration is required.  To register or for more information call HealthAccess at 1-800-228-1484 or visit www.mclaren.org/phevents.

More than 100 volunteers, hospital employees and local emergency responders will took part in a mock disaster drill on Friday, March 15, 2019 at Lake Huron Medical Center. The drill tested the preparedness and response of local, regional and state agencies should a real crisis occur. The event staged by Lake Huron Medical Center’s Trauma Services, Betty Falecki, focused on response plans for an actual disaster which would trigger a sudden surge of patients, media, concerned community members and the “worried well” to the hospital.  The full-scale mass-casualty drill was conducted in collaboration with multiple partner agencies including Lake Huron Medical Center, Port Huron Police and Fire Departments, Tri Hospital EMS, and St. Clair County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.  “The goal of this exercise is to enhance working relationships and collaboration between the agencies and organizations involved,” Falecki said. “It’s a mock exercise, but it’s also a very real test of our ability to respond to an actual disaster. We appreciate the cooperation of everyone involved.”  The scenario for the practice event is a simulated active shooter, who has targeted administration.  Normal hospital Emergency Department operations and patient care was not affected by the drill in any way.  While hospitals are required by the Joint Commission to have disaster response plans in place and conduct periodic drills for improvement and training purposes, Lake Huron Medical Center takes the healthcare safety of the community very seriously and is devoted to providing the highest quality care available in the Blue Water Area.

For more information on the programs and events at Lake Huron Medical Center, please visit  www.mylakehuron.com.

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office hosted an open house on Monday which served as the grand opening of a permanent history exhibit. The exhibit is lodged at the Sheriff’s Office, at 1170 Michigan Road in Port Huron.   There are pictures and items on display from as far back as the turn of the 20^th century.  Also on display are items from the shootout with Herbert Youngblood in 1934 that ended with the death of Youngblood and Undersheriff Charles Cavanaugh.  Sheriff William Van Antwerp was wounded in the exchange of gunfire.   Youngblood and then Public Enemy number one John Dillinger had earlier escaped from an Indiana jail.   The exhibit includes bullets from the exchange of gunfire as well as the shirt Cavanaugh wore during the shoot out and the notebook that saved his life.   According to Sheriff Tim Donnellon, the history exhibit will be available to the public free of charge during normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

After a two-year hiatus due to hospital construction, McLaren Port Huron will host its popular Children’s Fun & Fitness Festival Saturday, April 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the hospital. This free event gives children the opportunity to become familiar with the hospital environment in a way that is fun, active, and geared to them.   Several interactive stations will be set up throughout the first floor lobby areas, including a chance to test drive a daVinci surgical robot, a mock operating room tour, pet therapy, and a challenging obstacle course. Other stations include health screenings, educational materials, and other fun activities for children. Each child present can enter to win one of two bicycles donated by the Noon Optimist Club of Port Huron. Children must be accompanied by an adult.  This event is free, and registration is at the door only. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 12:30 p.m. Please enter through the Wismer Main Entrance. Free valet parking is available.  For more information about the Children’s Fun & Fitness Festival, call HealthAccess at 1-800-228-1484, or visit www.mclaren.org/phevents.