Send new stories and press releases to JP at news@wgrt.com.

Local News

Port Huron is a Symbol for Happiness

Did you know that Port Huron is part of the story of a well- known couple that, when married, decided to spend some of their honeymoon in town and would remember the city as being a symbol for happiness? On this date in 1950, President Harry S. Truman ordered U.S. air and naval forces to South Korea to aid the democratic nation in repulsing an invasion by communist North Korea. In May 1919, Harry S Truman returned from duty in World War I, and in June he married Beth Wallace. The couple spent part of their honeymoon in Port Huron at the Hotel Harrington. The Truman’s daughter Margaret wrote in her biography of Bess, “For the rest of his life, whenever Harry Truman wanted to regain the radiance of those first days with Bess, he simply wrote ‘Port Huron.’ For him, it was a code word for happiness.”

Win a Vacation Worth $6,000

Imagine winning an exotic vacation to somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit, or, perhaps, a long weekend in Las Vegas!

Not much of a traveler?   How about a big dinner with your friends and family, without all of the cooking and food clean-up? Hunter Hospitality House is pleased to announce our first, ever, Endowment Fund Awareness Raffle, and you could win one of those fabulous prizes!

  • First prize is a Delta Vacations Package of your choice, worth $6,000 through St. Clair Travel.
  • Second prize is also through St. Clair Travel—airfare and 3 nights stay in a superior hotel in Las Vegas, worth $1,500.
  • Third prize is a delicious catered meal worth $500 from Vintage House Banquets & Catering, a preferred catering choice of the Blue Water Convention Center.

Only 300 tickets are being sold for $100 each for a chance to win these incredible prizes! Get your ticket at hunterhospitalityhouse.com/raffle, or mail a check to Hunter Hospitality House at 1010 Lincoln Avenue, Port Huron, Michigan, 48060.

Hunter Hospitality House (HHH) is a local nonprofit, providing free lodging and abundant amenities in two homes near both hospitals in Port Huron.  Guests are adults with hospitalized loved ones or treatment of their own.  People needing a place to stay in town before a medical procedure or surgery are also welcome at HHH, as are those with loved ones in local medical facilities, such as Marwood Nursing and Rehab and the Blue Water Hospice Home.

“Proceeds from this raffle will help the HHH endowment fund continue to build to a level that can hopefully one day sustain the needs of the guests and these homes. We are truly blessed to have two hospitality homes in our community,” said Jackie Hanton, vice president of the Community Foundation.

For more information please visit hunterhospitalityhouse.com, or call 810-824-3679.

The Runaway Bride Has Her Gym Shoes On

A Beautiful Me is kicking off The Runaway Bride 5K Run & 2 Mile Walk FUNdraiser at the Blue Water Convention Center on Saturday, August 3 at 8:00 am. Participants can dress in their best wedding themed attire, be it gowns, tuxes or that awful bridesmaid dress they never got rid of! All proceeds benefit the non-profit organization, A Beautiful Me.

As A Beautiful Me approaches its 12th year empowering girls in local communities, this
inaugural event gives runners and walkers a chance to support its mission to raise up the next generation of confident women. Sign up by July 9th and tickets are only $30. From July 10th to the day of the run, tickets can be purchased for $40. For those interested in the exclusive NON-RUNNER observation deck, the cost is $10.

A Beautiful Me’s newest intern, Nicole Wright, states, “I wanted to be part of an influential cause, an organization teaching, improving and empowering girls for their futures. I love the creativity that goes into growing the organization. Fundraisers like The Runaway Bride raise awareness, and they are super-fun and original!”

Registration can be completed at RunSignUp.com/TheRunawayBride2019 or at ABeautifulMe.com. There will be prizes for best-dressed bride, couple, and wedding party. Participants registered by July 18th will receive a t-shirt with their race packet and a fun “wedding” gift at the finish line.

International Powerboat Races Set for July

This year marks the 25th annual St. Clair River Classic TM Offshore Race. The celebration of 25 years also marks the first year of a new name the St. Clair River Classic presented by the St. Clair Inn. Two of the world’s largest offshore boat organizers, Powerboat P1 out of London and the Offshore Powerboat Association (OPA) have come together jointly promoting the American Power Boat Association (APBA) Offshore Championship. The Powerboat P1 is the largest international powerboat racing promoter and OPA is one of the largest promoters in the United States. The St. Clair race is part of the APBA championship circuit, meaning that the world’s largest, fastest and most powerful racing boats will converge on St. Clair to deliver an adrenaline-fueled, action-packed weekend. There is expected to be over 60 boats at this year’s race with boats traveling from Australia, New Zealand, the U.K, Italy and the United Arab Emirates. This year the St. Clair Inn will not only be the presenting sponsor but will also sponsor a boat call Broadco, a 2014 World Champion in the Supercat Class. The St. Clair River Classic presented by the St. Clair Inn will be held the last weekend of July. 

Michigan Improves Drinking Water Safety

Michigan now has the strongest protections in the United States when it comes to lead in drinking water. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has announced a public awareness campaign surrounding new water sampling rules for lead under the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will work to implement new water sampling rules for lead while increasing communication to Michigan residents about how and why these testing changes are occurring to their drinking water. The testing changes now require that lead samples must be taken from both the first- and fifth-liter water draw. By testing that fifth liter of water, it shows lead results that might be farther upstream in the water supply that is coming into homes. In an effort to increase transparency and communication, EGLE and MDHHS have launched a new website, which provides up-to-date information on how Michiganders can protect themselves from lead. 

Cruise Weekend Returns

Traffic can certainly be a headache any time of the year. One sort of pleasant traffic backup you should expect this weekend is from BlueWater Cruise Weekend which runs through Sunday. If cars aren’t your thing, and your heading into the thumb to relax, you may want to avoid the area. Cruise night is on Friday, June 28th from 6-10 PM and WGRT will be bringing you a live broadcast during the event. You can catch Cruise Night Oldies but Goodies on 102.3 with D.J. Corey Moretz from Ultimate Sounds. On Saturday, the Keith Peterson Memorial Car Show will be held at Birchwood Mall from 10 am to 3 pm. They are offering goody bags and dash plaques to the first 200 entrants. There will be trophies, raffles, and music. Car registration begins at 8:30 am on Saturday. Later that night, be sure to enjoy the fireworks show, and check out the carnival which is now located at the mall.