Local News

The Port Huron Police Department is starting a new collaboration with St. Clair County Community College. The two organizations are teaming up with college resource officers to enhance security. As part of the partnership, Port Huron Police are sending a four-legged officer to college this year.  Blaze, a one-and-a-half-year-old German Shepherd, was born in the Czech Republic and began his career with the department in October of 2016. Officer Chad Smith is Blaze’s handler.  Canine Blaze and Officer Smith are certified in narcotics detection, tracking, and handler protection through the United States Police Canine Association. Officer Chad Smith and Canine Blaze work as a team within the City Of Port Huron, throughout St. Clair County, and now at SC4.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with local agencies including the St. Clair County Health Department and others around the Thumb Area, are inviting the community to participate in a town hall forum in September. The purpose of this meeting will be creating strong partnerships to better support Michigan families with a focus on helping mothers and babies have the best possible outcomes. The forum is being held at 7 locations around the thumb of Michigan, including the St. Clair County Health Department, where participants will be asked to give input and support for the Mother Infant Health & Equity Improvement Plan. The presenters will use data and storytelling, they say, to create strong partnerships that support Michigan families and lead to the best possible outcomes for moms and babies. Registration is requested and can be found on the St. Clair County Health Department page.

Wales Center Road over the south branch of the Pine River, between Morriss Road and Lapeer Road in Wales Township, will be closed to traffic starting on August 26th.  Work will include removing the existing bridge, installing a new 3-sided concrete culvert, new asphalt pavement, aggregate shoulders, pavement markings and restoration.  Wales Center Road will be closed for 65 days and Through traffic will not be allowed on Wales Center during construction. Local residents and emergency vehicles will have access up to the bridge from either Lapeer Road or Morriss Road.  The detour will be Morriss Road, Goodells Road and Lapeer Road.  Officials say that access will be maintained to local traffic within the construction zone, including homes and businesses, during the closure. Local residents are encouraged to plan for delays due to construction.

Plans for the Hotel Harrington were shared with the Historic District Commission in Port Huron at their regular monthly meeting yesterday.  The commission is responsible for reviewing all plans for structures in the Historic District.  At their meeting yesterday, they reviewed a request from Vince Cataldo a principal and architect at Virtuoso Design and Build and founding Owner of Infuz Ltd.  Mr. Cataldo’s company was hired by the owners of the historic hotel as it’s architect in the Hotel Harrington process. Cataldo described plans to perform a complete exterior rehabilitation of the Hotel Harrington.  Cataldo said that because the project received a federal tax credit hotel plans had been previously reviewed by the federal park service.  Those same plans were presented and approved by the commission. Local developer and commercial realtor Gerry Kramer said projects like the Hotel Harrington have to follow a strict set of rehabilitation guidelines or else some funding may be in jeopardy.

Local leaders and residents took to the waters on Monday for a legislative kayak on the Belle River and the St. Clair River.  Hosted by Michigan Trails and Greenways, the route took the kayakers south on the Belle River to the St. Clair River, then back north to the Marine City Beach.  It was the fourth time that the group has put on the event, but the first time for our area.  The Community Foundation of St. Clair County sponsored the cost of renting the Kayaks.  Lori Eschenburg of the St. Clair County Planning Commission and Blueways of St. Clair said the event was attended by local officials and departments such as the DNR.  She went on to say that State Senator Dan Lauwers presented Blueways of St. Clair with a proclamation making August 19th Michigan Water Trail Day.  Ms. Eschenburg noted that there is also a Legislative Bike Day, and Hike Day as well.  The aim of each day is to promote through lawmakers and officials the beauty of Michigan’s natural resources in different parts of the state.

Kevin Watkins, president of the Port Huron Chapter of the NAACP, is looking forward to kicking back at an outdoor movie on Saturday night, but he has a lot of work to do before that happens. The NAACP Field Day and Southside Music Fest is one of Port Huron’s favorite events, and it takes a lot of hands to get the work done. This year’s event starts with a parade at Knox Field that winds through southside neighborhoods and ends in Lincoln Park where volunteers, vendors, and community groups will be entertaining, feeding, and educating the community. A 5-on-5 basketball tournament run by The Athletic Factory will keep participants moving and award winners with prizes and, most importantly according to Kevin, “pride.”

This event combines the NAACP Field Day with the Southside Music Festival which used to be called the Southside Alliance Jazz Festival. The events have been combined for the last three years. This year’s featured bands will cover a wider variety of music including jazz, Motown, and pop. Bands will play from 2-8 p.m. with the backdrop of the beautiful Lincoln Park. The event is free to the community because of sponsors like The Community Foundation of St. Clair County, Industrial Park Party Store, Meijer Ft. Gratiot, Michigan Petroleum Technologies, McLaren Port Huron, and City Limits.

Click on the audio track below to hear Kevin on this edition of Locals in the Limelight with Jessie Wiegand.