Local News

On Monday, Capital One Financial announced a data breach where an individual outside the company obtained personal information of customers who applied for a credit card and current credit card customers. 140,000 social security numbers were compromised along with 80,000 linked bank account numbers.  Canadian credit card customers had 1 million social insurance numbers compromised. In the breach, credit scores, credit limits, balances, payment history, and contact information was obtained. The unauthorized access occurred on July 19th and the perpetrator was apprehended by the FBI. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said, “This data breach is yet another example of how fragile our information infrastructure is and how vulnerable all of us are to cyber hacking.” 

The Water Warriors are men and women from all walks of life who share their love of water sports and their desire to help people. Since 1991, they have combined those passions in the form of jet skiing to benefit the Special Olympics through a 5-day, 450-mile endurance ride. The group begins their journey in Mackinaw City and travels the entire length of Lake Huron. Then, they head down the St. Clair River and finish their ride in Algonac. Their goal is to raise money for the athletes of Special Olympics Michigan.

This is the 29th annual ride for the group, and it all started when a member of the Wertz Warrior Snowmobile Endurance Ride believed overcoming the obstacles of Michigan’s vast waterways and weather conditions could be achieved. According to their press release, over 25 personal watercraft riders, three support boats with spotters aboard, and a fleet of land support vehicles will make up the 75 members participating in this year’s ride. Throughout the journey, they have planned food and fuel stops, rest stops, and many fundraising dinners. They will also have the opportunity to meet Special Olympic athletes along the way.  There are overnight stops in Mackinaw City, Alpena, Tawas, Port Austin, and Port Huron.

If you’d like to see the Water Warriors pass through our area, they are set to cruise under the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron Thursday around 3:00 p.m. They also have a planned pig roast fundraiser and informational meeting for local residents at the Bridge Street Marina at 6 p.m. Those interested in attending the fundraiser can call 586-850-3187 for more information.

Work has been completed on the reconstruction of the railroad track crossing in Kimball Township. Wadhams Road between Ravenswood and I-69 is now open to all traffic. In addition to the railroad crossing, a new asphalt surface and shoulder gravel were added. Motorists should be aware that temporary pavement markings are there, and the permanent markings will be placed later.  Ace-Saginaw Paving was responsible for the $460,000 construction project.

The City of Port Huron announced last week that crews are working to clear the sand from the entrance to the canal connecting Lake Huron with the Black River.  The sand will be placed at Holland Beach and to the south along the Lake today, July 31st, and on Thursday, August 1st.

Holland Beach will be closed Wednesday and Thursday this week during the project.  The contractor will use Gratiot to LaSalle and Conger to Holland to transport the sand. Traffic in these areas will be slowed, and it may be stopped at times. Residents are encouraged to refrain from parking on those streets on Wednesday and Thursday.

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office is advising local residents that a new scam is being attempted in our area. Residents and businesses are receiving calls from individuals claiming to be from DTE customer service collecting payments, but police are saying it’s a scam. The Sheriff’s Office reported that last weekend a Port Huron Township business was contacted by phone. The owner of the business was told she was behind on payments, and if she didn’t pay up, the power would be shut off. She was given an 833 phone number to verify the information. She told deputies that when she called the number, it sounded very similar to the message she received when she called an actual DTE customer service number. Fortunately, she did not give the caller any credit card information. In light of this event, a spokesperson for DTE Energy’s Corporate Security is reminding people that DTE never collects payments by contacting the customer over the phone or in person. 

Since January 1st, the U.S. Coast Guard reports that there have been 64 drownings on the Great Lakes. This is a tragic statistic that has affected many communities across the state, including St. Clair County. The Coast Guard is using this as an opportunity to bring awareness to the potential dangers of the lakes. According to the organization’s reports, cold water, rip currents, boating under the influence, boating without a lifejacket, not filing a float plan with someone on shore, and not having proper communication devices such as a working radio were contributing factors in these deaths.

Last Monday morning, the Coast Guard says, a 57-year-old woman was rescued after spending more than 14 hours in the water after falling off her jet ski the night before. She likely survived because she was wearing a lifejacket. Friday morning, two men were rescued from their capsized boat after being stranded for nearly 16 hours. Luckily, they were both wearing lifejackets and had a flashlight to signal the helicopter crew.

Unfortunately, not all rescue situations have turned out favorably. It’s a reminder that we need to be aware of the danger and know what we can do to prevent or lessen it. The Coast Guard is advising individuals to know the conditions of the lake. People need to be aware of the water temperature, what the wind is like, how high water levels are, and what kind of weather is in the forecast. They also suggest sharing what you learn with others. The Coast Guard reminds Michigan residents that we can all contribute to saving lives by spreading information about water conditions and strongly encouraging others to practice water safety. This information is critical even for those who are familiar with the Great Lakes.