Local News

When most people visit a doctor’s office or a hospital, it is expected that a nurse or aide might enter the room and take a blood pressure reading, or use a thermometer to take a temperature reading.  For most children and adults, this is not a painful or difficult experience. It is, in fact, routine.  Not so for someone with autism or other special needs. McLaren Port Huron recently began implementing, hospital-wide, its new Levi’s Link program to improve the hospital experience for those patients by addressing how care is delivered to adults and children with special needs.  McLaren Port Huron is the first hospital in the state of Michigan to develop such a full-scale program.  The roll out of the program is timely, as McLaren Port Huron and its Levi’s Link program recognize the month of April as World Autism Month, and, specifically, recognize April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day.  “What is ‘normal’ or ‘routine’ to most people, can cause great stress in someone with autism or other special needs,” said Kathleen McKenna, director of surgical services at McLaren Port Huron.  “But the more people are aware of that fact, the more comfortable the world can become for those who are challenged by autism or other special needs.”  The Levi’s Link program promotes individualized patient care for both adults and children with special needs. This begins during the pre-admission process. Special intake forms ask specific questions that will help hospital staff understand how to communicate with and care for the patient.  Education and information about the hospital visit will be available to the patient and their family beforehand, including a social story that illustrates the hospital visit, from arriving at the hospital through discharge.  Levi’s Link was developed at the request of Megan Wilson, the mother of a child with autism spectrum disorder, who wanted to improve the hospital experience for her son, Levi, and others with special needs. Wilson conducted some research and recommended that McLaren Port Huron model its program after a similar program in California.  To help fund the program, Wilson established a fund within the McLaren Port Huron Foundation, and she conducts a fun run each year to help grow the fund.  The 2019 Levi’s Link 10K, 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk will take place at Mid Michigan Materials gravel pit in Jeddo, Michigan. The gravel pit area will offer a challenging terrain and an exciting run.  For more information regarding the Levi’s Link program and resources at McLaren Port Huron, please visit: www.mclaren.org/phlevi  

For more information regarding World Autism Month or World Autism Awareness Day, visit: https://www.autismspeaks.org/world-autism-awareness-day

For more information regarding the Levi’s Link 10K, 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk, visit: https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Jeddo/LevisLink5K10KandFunRun

The State of St. Clair County Address Luncheon was held last Friday in Marysville.  There was a a host of speakers and the annual update by St. Clair County Administrator Karry Hepting, Marysville Mayor Dan Damman made the announcement that the developer of the St. Clair Inn and Hotel Harrington will be purchasing the property on the waterfront, of the former home of DTE Power Plant or otherwise called the Mighty Marysville.  The plant was imploded in 2015.  Jeff Katofsky said he plans to revitalize the now vacant site to construct the mixed-use, retail options he thinks the region is missing.  The property is located at 301 Gratiot Blvd, where the road merges with M-29 on the St. Clair River.   Katofsky stated he will be looking at several ideas, not so much as another hotel, but, maybe a marina, a boardwalk and walk around, waterfront restaurants and stores, along with residential living, possibly condos.  Those who would like to follow the projects Katofsky and his partners have in the area can text “BLUEWATER” to 484848 for regular updates.

The Mid City Nutrition Program has announced the last of three winter mobile food pantries, to be held at their facility will take place Tuesday, March 26.  The trucks will deliver fresh produce, pantry staples, and protein at Mid City, at St. Martin Lutheran Church at 805 Chestnut (at 8^th Street) from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., or until the food is gone.  Attendees are asked to bring ID, carry bags and to dress appropriately for the weather.  The event is being held outside.  All are welcome and no one will be turned away unless the food runs out.  According to Susan Bennett Executive Director of Mid City Nutrition, this food pantry is made possible through the Stebbins Family Fund, the St. Clair County AFL CIO, and the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan.

Beginning Wednesday, WGRT is rolling out a new podcast by Stacy DeShon of DeShon Law Office.  Stacy will be sharing her knowledge of wills and trusts and the questions people have about such legal documents.     DeShon is a dedicated Attorney who focuses on Elder Law, Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, Estate Administration, and Probate.  In the podcasts entitled “Where There’s A Will There’s A Way,  she will explain why it is important to have a will or trust and what should be included.  The podcast will air on WGRT Wednesdays and Fridays at 8:20 a.m. and 5:20 p.m.  Podcasts can also be heard at WGRT.com by clicking on podcasts and then clicking on Stacy’s picture.  DeShon Law Office is located in the Sperry’s building in downtown Port Huron.

A sure sign of spring is the arrival of chicks and ducklings in local feed and agriculture supply stores. Health experts at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) want people to know about the potential for baby poultry to carry Salmonellabacteria which can make people sick. If proper precautions are not taken, even handling baby birds displayed in stores can cause a Salmonella infection.  “Raising birds for eggs and meat can be fun and educational, but all poultry, even those that appear healthy and clean, have the potential to carry the Salmonella bacteria,” said MDHHS Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Mary Grace Stobierski. “Washing your hands thoroughly before and after handling chicks and other poultry protects both you and your family from the risk of Salmonella, and also helps keep the birds healthy.” Salmonella usually does not make the birds sick but can cause illness in people. Salmonella can cause diarrhea, vomiting, fever and/or abdominal cramps lasting four to seven days or more. Certain groups have a greater chance of illness from handling live poultry or contact with areas where the birds live. Children younger than 5 years old, older adults or people with weak immune systems should not handle or touch live poultry because they are more likely to become severely ill.  In 2018, 334 people from 47 states were sickened by Salmonella after having contact with live poultry in backyard flocks, including 18 people from Michigan. Of the 334 illnesses, 21 percent were children younger than 5 years.

Follow these simple steps to help protect your family and others:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching birds or anything in their environment. Adults should supervise hand washing for young children.
• Use hand sanitizer after touching birds or their environment until you can wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
• Do not kiss or snuggle birds, touch your mouth or eat or drink around live poultry.
• Don’t let children younger than 5 years, adults older than 65 or people with weakened immune systems from conditions such as cancer treatment, HIV/AIDS or organ transplants, handle or touch chicks, ducklings or other live poultry.
• Do not keep live poultry inside the house where people live, eat or sleep.                        
• Keep live poultry away from areas where food or drink is prepared, served or stored, such as kitchens or outdoor patios.
• Frequently clean all equipment such as cages, feed, water containers and other materials associated with raising or caring for poultry. Always clean equipment outdoors.
• Set aside a pair of shoes to wear while caring for poultry and keep those shoes outside the home.

For more information, visit Cdc.gov/features/salmonellapoultry/index.html.

State Rep. Gary Eisen this week voted to approve a bipartisan plan to make state government more accountable to the people of Michigan.  Eisen, of St. Clair Township, said the governor and legislators should be held to the same standards of transparency as local and state governments. “As a legislator, we need to be accountable to the people we represent. Supporting this plan is giving Michigan residents the transparency they deserve,” Eisen said.  Michigan is one of just two states that still exempts its governor and the Legislature from open records laws. The bipartisan solution approved today would end these exemptions and increase transparency in state government.  The proposal will subject the governor and lieutenant governor to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and hold state representatives and senators to the same high standard by creating the Legislative Open Records Act (LORA).  While LORA mirrors FOIA in many ways, there are exemptions for constituent inquiries to ensure that personal information is protected and kept private. Other types of communications – including those lawmakers have with state departments and lobbyists – would not be exempt.  The LORA plan also ensures residents have access to a fair and effective way to appeal improper denials and excessive fees.    House Bills 4007-13 and 4015-16 now advance to the Senate for consideration.