Local News

There aren’t many who can say they have had a 173rd birthday, but today is that day for The Smithsonian Institute.  Established on August 10, 1846, and named after its founding donor, British scientist, James Smithson, it was originally organized as the United States National Museum. That name, however, was no longer used after 1967.  Currently, the Smithsonian has 19 museums, nine research centers, a zoo, and it includes historical and architectural landmarks, mostly located in the District of Columbia. The museum boasts 30 million annual visitors and has been termed “the nation’s attic”.  Its annual budget is $1.2 billion with two-thirds coming from the federal government. Happy birthday to the Smithsonian!

This week, claims have been made by area residents that they suspect the Algonac City pool is unsafe for swimming. The claim was made after four children allegedly contracted infections, some as severe as MRSA. The common denominator one parent said: swimming in the city pool. Algonac City Manager Denise Gerstenburg said in a recent Facebook comment in response to the claims that, at this time, the claims are unsubstantiated. Her comment said,  “…all public pools, including the Algonac Lions Field pool, are regulated by the Michigan DEQ Public Swimming Pool Monitoring program. The St. Clair County Health Department inspects the pool every year before opening. Chlorine and PH levels are tested every four hours. Once a week the water is tested for coliform bacteria and E. coli. Reports are sent to the St. Clair County Health Department weekly and monthly.”  She also said that “all testing samples have indicated the Algonac Lions Field pool water is safe for swimming.” A representative from the Health Department confirmed that there have been no reports made to their office as of Thursday afternoon of MRSA spreading through contact with recreational water. They also emphasized that MRSA does not survive long in pools or other treated swimming places. 

Women’s golf is being added to the athletic offerings at SC4.  The college announced today that they will become one of a handful of colleges in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association with a women’s golf team.  Dale Vos, SC4 Athletic Director, said, “A women’s golf team will contribute greatly to the college’s growing reputation as a leader in community college athletics”.  The college named Celina Grondin the head coach. Grondin, a former college athlete herself, said, “I’m thrilled to play a role in launching a women’s golf program in our region.”  She went on to say, “I look forward to working with athletes to enhance their skills and confidence both on and off the course.” The team will begin its play in 2020-21 season and will be recruiting players over the coming year.  Those interested can call the athletic department at the college or visit their website.

The Lexington Fire Department recently received a departmental award as the 2019 Sanilac County Firefighter of the Year for their performance during the winter rescue of a man on the ice in Lake Huron. The man was walking on the ice far from shore when he fell and suffered a head injury. He was too weak to get up, and a concerned neighbor, Mark Hertzfeld, noticed him and called 911. The Lexington Fire Department responded in their special ice rescue suits with an inflatable ice rescue boat.  Many department members took various positions on the ice, and they were able to get the man into the rescue boat and safely take him to the shore where he was treated and then transported to the hospital by Croswell EMS.  Several agencies around the area responded to assist in the effort. Mark Hertzfeld also received a meritorious service award for his role in the rescue.

August is Tree Check Month, and the Michigan DNR is asking residents to take 10 minutes to check their trees this month. This is the best time of the year to spot the round, drill-like holes made by the Asian longhorned beetle.  Jeff Zimmer, acting Director of MDARD’s Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division, said, “These destructive pests have invaded areas of Ohio, New York, and Massachusetts, causing the removal of over 180,000 trees. In order to prevent this in Michigan, the department is asking everyone to look for and report signs of the Asian longhorned beetle.” 

The DNR also said to be aware of look-alikes. There is a similar beetle native to Michigan which is often mistaken for the Asian longhorned beetle. The white-spotted pine sawyer has a distinctive white spot below the base of its head – between the tops of its wing covers. This and its brown or dull black color distinguish the sawyer from the Asian longhorned beetle.  If you find evidence of one, you can notify either the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the MDARD by calling or going online.  

The Port Huron Police Department is hoping to make their way to Little Ceasar’s Arena. It all started two years ago after a challenge from Tri-Hospital EMS to do “dashcam karaoke.” After the video of three officers lip-syncing to the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” was posted, it amassed over one million views and was featured on national TV programs, such as Fox News and TMZ . It even resulted in an invitation to recreate the video on Good Morning America in New York City.

Recently, one of the officers, Sam Baker (seen on the left in the video), heard that the Backstreet Boys were coming to Little Caesars Arena. He suggested that the officers challenge them to a lip-sync battle on stage, so Public Information Officer Pat Eash re-posted the video to hopefully get the boy band’s attention. Officer Eash said the goal they “had in mind when creating this video was to engage and have a little fun with the community. The response was overwhelmingly positive! The people who commented loved that the video humanized the officers and showed off their lighter side.” The new video post had over 10,000 views in a matter of minutes. To see the video and spread the word, visit the Port Huron Police Department’s Facebook page.