Local News

With the annual Float Down only a week and a half away, there is a local group that is reminding participants to keep it clean.  The Friends of the St. Clair River have started a campaign called A Fun River is a Clean River. They are asking the thousands of people who will be participating in the Float Down to focus on keeping the river and surrounding areas clean and trash free.  Sheri Faust, President of the “Friends” group said, “This campaign is centered on raising awareness of personal stewardship of the river. We’re educating floaters and spectators and mobilizing volunteers to help keep the river, its shoreline and beaches clean.”

Members of the Friends group will be at Lighthouse Beach asking floaters to sign a pledge not to litter as a symbolic gesture of stewardship for the river. In exchange for signing the pledge, participants will receive a free mesh trash bag to clip to their float.  Volunteers are welcome to help the group in their efforts. The Float Down traditionally begins at Lighthouse Beach and runs 8 miles to Chrysler Beach in Marysville. 

Clay township recently sent a letter to their sewer customers highlighting illegal flows into the sanitary sewer system.  The wastewater treatment plant in Algonac treats the sanitary sewer system for Clay, Ira, and the City of Algonac. In their letter to residents, Clay township officials point out that the plant is designed to only handle waste water from the sanitary system.  It is not designed to help drain property due to flooding.

Recently, sewer pump stations were overwhelmed with infiltrating water. The township points out that illegal activities include connecting sump pumps to the sanitary system, lifting manhole covers to allow surface water to enter the system, or using any method to pump storm or river water into the sanitary system.  Residents will face fines for any illegal discharge into the system, and they may face permanent disconnection.

On Monday it was announced that Gannett Inc., the parent company of the Times Herald in Port Huron, has entered into a definitive merger agreement with New Media Investment Group Inc. According to Gannett’s website, in the merger “New Media” will acquire Gannett through their subsidiary, Gate-House Media.   Paul Bascobert, a Michigan native, has been named CEO of the new subsidiary company. In addition to the Times Herald, Gannett also owned several other newspaper and media outlets locally and nationwide including the Detroit Free Press, the Lansing State Journal, and USA Today.

The Great Lake-to-Lake Trail offers Michigan’s trail users a unique opportunity to experience quiet rural pathways and urban excursions as it winds its way across the southern lower portion of Michigan from shore to shore.  The inaugural ride of the trail is ending right here in Port Huron. 

According to their website, the Great Lake-to-Lake Trails Route Inaugural Ride will bring together cycling enthusiasts for the first time on a 275-mile sightseeing trails adventure from South Haven to Port Huron. The ride celebrates the opening of the trail that culminates the unification of 9 counties, 34 municipalities, and 42 townships in the state’s first fully-marked destination trail. The seven-day, 6-night ride begins in the Lake Michigan beach town, South Haven, and connects to 17 individual trails. These trails go through many popular Michigan destinations including Kalamazoo, Jackson, Brighton, and Rochester Hills before the ride ends in the historic town of Port Huron. The ride is set to take place September 13-18th and is limited to the first 150 participants.

The St. Clair County Community College radiologic technology program is making quite an impressive impact on the field. For the sixth year, the program continued its impressive 100 percent first-time passage rate on the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, a national registry exam that grants certification in the field. Recently, eleven SC4 graduates passed the 2019 exam, bringing the total number of SC4 graduates passing on their first try to 61 since the program began at the college in 2012.

According to SC4 Dean of Health Sciences Jenny Giles-Voss, the excellent training and preparation provided to students ar credited to the expertise and dedication of Professor of Radiologic Technology Sandra Geliske and Program Director Monica Rowling. Voss added, “A perfect record like this is incredibly rare.” SC4’s radiologic technology associate degree program – which received an impressive maximum eight-year accreditation award from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology in 2016 – prepares students to become radiologic technologists by combining imaging technology with patient care skills to create quality radiography images. The program has a 24-month, competency-based curriculum that includes practical experience degree programs, two bachelor’s degree programs, and four hospital-based programs with experiences in hospitals and imaging centers. 

August 6th marks a good day for local residents and A&W establishments alike. It all started with a tiny root beer stand. Entrepreneur Roy W. Allen set up shop on the streets of Lodi, California offering a brand new creamy and refreshing drink served in a frosty mug. It was a hot June day, and Allen thought his concoction would be the perfect accompaniment for the parade honoring the return of World War I veterans. His Root Beer was a hit — a unique and tasty, fresh-made blend of herbs, spices, barks, and berries that has now turned into the signature product for A&W establishments across the country.

According to the company’s website, a lot has happened and changed since those early days, but much remains the same. They continue to serve signature, made- fresh Root Beer in a frosty mug, and today happens to be the day the founding roots are celebrating. On August 6, National Root Beer Float Day, A&W is giving away free floats to honor the company’s roots by continuing to provide support in the homecoming of U.S. service members. Residents are invited to stop by a local A&W August 6th to celebrate National Root Beer Float Day. Free, small root beer floats will be available from 2 p.m. – 8 p.m. As part of the celebration, the restaurant will be collecting donations for DAV (Disabled American Veterans).