Local News

With 2018 in the books, and the first week of 2019 underway, St. Clair County Administrator Karry Hepting says the County Commissioners got into the swing of it at last night’s organizational meeting, where the chair and vice-chair were appointed as well as appointing members to committees.  Hepting stated that as the County looks at the new year, they will continue to look at a partnership between the Planning Department, Parks and Recreation and the Community Foundation on updating our trails.  She says they are looking at how we can connect our St. Clair County Trail System to the Great Lake to Lake Trail with the two ends points, Port Huron and South Haven.  This would allow avid bikers to bike from Port Huron to South Haven.  She says trails and recreation play such a huge part in tourism and even attracting people to live in our community because people want those amenities.  The tie in would be at the Macomb Orchard Trail, and how we would bring it back through our county, hoping that it would ending at the Fort Gratiot Light Station.

Retired St. Clair County District Judge, John G. Cummings passed away at the age of 88.  Cummings resided in St. Clair and served as district judge for more than 20 years, retiring in 2002 due to a state law prohibiting judges from seeking re-election after the age of 70.  Cummings moved to the area in 1964 when he open a law office.  He was appointed to serve as judge in the 72^nd District Court in 1983.  In 2012 the St. Clair County Mock Trial Competition recognized Cummings with the Judge John G. Cummings Professional Award, which is presented annually to the team judged most professional by its peers.   Following each round of the competition, each team completes an evaluation form which rates the opposing team in the areas of appearance, proficiency in addressing the judge and jury, compliance with Mock Trial rules, attitude and persuasion.  Once all the rounds are completed, the scores are tabulated to determine the winner.

Bedrooms are an extension of daily life. With stacks of magazines, bills to pay and cords for various electronics, it’s no wonder so many people have trouble sleeping. Now it’s time to reclaim your space and turn your bedroom into a relaxing place to escape the chaos.  Double up window treatments – Outdoor Roman shades plus thick drapes is the perfect combination to block light and – insulate. Use blackout curtains to reduce noise from the outdoors. – Pick peaceful colors – Along with paint, choose linens, pillows and throws in these restful shades. Think grays, paleblues, aquas and greens. Personalize your bed — Mattresses are a personal decision, so opt for one that feels most comfortable to you. For sheets, the higher the thread count, the silkier they feel but also the more wrinkled they can – get. Perfect your pillows  – Like mattresses, pillow style is a personal choice. It’s all about what you like and what will improve your sleep (cooling, memory foam, anti-allergy, balusters, down, body pillows, or others). One exception: If you have sleep apnea, look for pillows that keep your head elevated.
Decorate to inspire Hang items on walls that inspire you and bring you to a calm place. Try a collage frame of
family photos or a piece of framed art. Whatever you choose, looking at it should help you feel at ease and content.
Declutter your space Clutter is stress-inducing, but when everything is in its proper place, a room feels more
restful. Invest in organizing baskets (and other space-saving tools) and spend a few minutes tidying up and you’ll find it easier to relax in the evening.  Evict tech toys Noise and light are the biggest disruptors of sleep. So, while you’ve heard it before, it bears repeating: Keep electronics like TVs, tablets, laptops and smartphones out of the bedroom.