Local News

If you have a passion for animals and are looking to make a difference, the St. Clair County Animal Control could use your help!  According to St. Clair County Administrator Controller Karry Hepting, there are a number of volunteer opportunities.  Those include:  Dog Walking,  Socializing Cats, Helping with the Adoption Process,  Coordinating and Assisting with Adoption and Fundraising Events, and much more.  Hepting says a volunteer orientation will be held at the Animal Control office at  3378 Griswold Street, on Tuesday, April 23 from 6 to 7 p.m.  All volunteers are required to submit to a background check, so you are asked to bring a copy of your driver’s license, or valid id, and you must be 18 year of age or older.  If you have questions, you may call Human Resources at 989-6910

Lake Huron Medical Center (LHMC) has announced its April 2019 Employee of the Month, Tammy Matich, RN, and its April 2019 Volunteer of the Month, Bernadine (Bernie) Lee. LHMC is honored to have a strong team of staff and volunteers working hard to deliver high-quality care to the Blue Water Area.  Tammy is a Registered Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit and has been with LHMC since 1992. She was nominated by a patient’s family member who commented, “Best nurse ever – on her “A” game all day.  My son is usually crabby while in the hospital, but she was there and on top of everything.  Tammy does her job every well. As an LPN for 10 years and mother, I appreciate the level of care she provided to my family member.”  Bernie is a Courier and has been volunteering at LHMC since 1998.  She was nominated by a colleague who wrote, “Bernie is a great help in the Admitting Department as a courier.  We would pass in the hall where she is helping someone or just in the mail room taking care of the mail.  She is always pleasant and smiling.  Great to have her as a volunteer.”  Lake Huron Medical Center is proud of each of its employees and volunteers; and extends a special thank you and congratulations to all our team members, especially Tammy and Bernie as we celebrate their accomplishments.  To learn more about the programs and services offered at Lake Huron Medical Center, visit www.mylakehuron.com.

A 40-year-old woman who plead guilty to poisoning and conspiracy to poison will be spending at least four years in prison.  Shanna Kota was sentenced to four to twenty-two and a half years in prison on Monday of this week.  Another woman, 22-year-old Sarah Prange will go to jury trial  May 21, on the same charges, as well as a charge of delivery of heroin.  The two were accused of spiking their recovery home manager’s macaroni and cheese with heroin.  Investigation began after the 38-year-old house manager from the recovery home heard rumors that the women were trying to get rid of her.  The victim thought her macaroni and cheese tasted off, and eventually discarded it.  She was treated at McLaren Port Huron Hospital where police collected evidence showing the woman had been poisoned.   Vision Quest Recovery operates the home where the alleged poisoning took place.  It is located in the 1200 block of Lapeer Avenue.  Prange is currently being held on a $100,000 bond.

The United States is experiencing an epidemic of prescription drug misuse and abuse, including in our own local community. Opioid overdose deaths in Michigan have almost tripled in five years. To help turn the tide on this epidemic, St. Clair County Community Mental Health is partnering with the Port Huron Police Department and the Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (Michigan OPEN) to host a medication take-back event on Saturday, April 27, 2019 from 10:00am – 2:00pm at the Sail In Café & Convenience Store located at 722 McMorran Boulevard in Port Huron.  Did you know? Every 10 minutes a child visits the emergency room for medication poisoning; 12.5 million people age 12 and older misused opioids in the last year; Three in five teens say prescription pain medication is easy to get from their parents’ medicine cabinet.  Community opioid and medication take-back events provide a safe process for disposing of unused medications while protecting our communities, children and environment. Please, remove the risk from your home and bring your unused opioids to the Sail In Café & Convenience Store medication take-back event on Saturday, April 27^th between 10am and 2pm at: 722 McMorran Boulevard in Port Huron. For more information or to find other take back event locations throughout Michigan, please visit http://michigan-open.org/.

In the Blue Water Area, we know Spring is here when dredging of the Black River Canal begins.  According to the Department of Public works, dredging began Wednesday, April 17, and will continue, weather permitting through the end of the month.  The dredged sand has been permitted to be placed in Lake Huron from Holland Beach South. The placing of the sand will take place approximately April 22, 2019 to April 30, according to the department.  The contractor will be utilizing Gratiot to LaSalle, Conger to Holland. There will be intermittent slowed, and stop and go traffic in these areas.  Authorities are encouraging the public to not park on those streets during this time frame.  They say if you have any questions regarding the dredging you may contact the Department of Public Works 810 984-9730.