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Local News

Three Probable Cases Of Mumps In St. Clair County

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and St. Clair County Health Department have confirmed two probable cases of mumps in adults who traveled internationally to India and became ill after their return in early March. The third probable case is a student at Fort Gratiot Middle School in Port Huron.  Mumps is a vaccine-preventable disease that is spread through saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose or throat, usually when the person coughs, sneezes or talks. Symptoms of mumps usually begin 16-18 days after exposure, but can appear up to 25 days after exposure and may include:

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches
  • Tiredness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears on one or both sides

Mumps can occasionally cause complications, especially in adults. Complications may include:

  • Inflammation of the testicles
  • Inflammation of the brain
  • Inflammation of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)
  • Inflammation of the ovaries and/or breast tissue
  • Deafness

Dr. Annette Mercatante, St. Clair County Health Department’s Medical Health Officer stated “The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is the best protection from mumps. It is important to make sure you and your children’s vaccines, including MMR, are up to date now and before any international travel.” Mercatante also reiterated the importance of overall vaccination, “Vaccines save lives, and a fully vaccinated community protects each other.”  The St. Clair County Health Department offers the MMR vaccine and travel consultations. Walk-in vaccine clinics are available on Mondays from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, at the main office located at 3415 28th Street in Port Huron. Vaccination and travel consultations are available by appointment Tuesday through Friday. Call (810) 987-5300 to schedule.  For more information, visit www.scchealth.co or call (810) 987-5300. Follow us on social media @scchdmi.

EMCF Awards $43,000 In Grants To Local Non-Profits

At a lunch meeting Thursday, March 21, the Eastern Michigan Christian Foundation awarded $43,000 in grants to sixteen different local non-profit organizations thanks to the generosity of Sanctum Contracting.   Mid-City Nutrition, SONS, New Life Christian Academy, Score, Operation Transformation, Youth For Christ, Wonderful News Radio, The Blue Water Feed The World Project, Bridge Builders, Hunter Hospitality House, the Spero Center, A Beautiful Me, The Industry, the Blue Water Area Rescue Mission, The Difference Makers, and the Blue Water Recovery and Outreach Center all received grant money toward individual specific projects.  Projects ranged from marketing, in the case of the Spero Center (which is the new name of the Blue Water Pregnancy Care Center), to materials and equipment for the school and funds for providing food for the Feed The World Project.  Mid-City Nutrition requested funds to repair the van in which they pick up food from local grocers and Hunter Hospitality House used theirs toward the remodeling of a bathroom to make it handicapped accessible.   Brian Smith, Chairman of the Eastern Michigan Christian Foundation stated that he was excited to announce the wide variety of grants, which is poured right back into the community as an investment in our local people.

You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown

New Life Christian Academy will be presenting “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown at the Port Huron High School Performing Arts Center at 2215 Court Street in Port Huron. You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a 1967 musical comedy with music and lyrics by Clark Gesner, based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in his comic strip Peanuts. The musical is being directed by Aaron Smith, Drama Director, at the Riverbank Youth Theatre . According to Wesley Whetstone, who plays the part of Charlie Brown, performances will be held Friday, March 22, at 7:00 pm, Saturday Matinee, March 23, at 3:00 pm and Saturday, March 23, 2019 – 7:00 pm.  Emmaline Davey plays the part of Lucy and she says, ticket Prices are: $10 plus $3 service charge each for General Seating and are available at www.NLCAschool.com There is reserved seating available for groups of 20 more. If you would like to make those arrangements, or if you have questions, please call the school at 810.367.3770 ext. 100.

 

SC4 Student Kristyn Franzel Named Michigan’s 2019 New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar

St. Clair County Community College student Kristyn Franzel has been named Michigan’s 2019 New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar and will receive a $2,250 scholarship.  New Century Transfer Pathway Scholars are selected based on their academic accomplishments, leadership, activities, and how they extend their intellectual talents beyond the classroom. Over 2,000 students were nominated from more than 1,200 college campuses across the country. Only one New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar is selected from each state.  The program is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Foundation, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Phi Theta Kappa and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).  “We congratulate Kristyn Franzel for receiving this prestigious scholarship, and we are honored to partner with the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, The Coca-Cola Foundation and the AACC to recognize her outstanding achievements,” said Phi Theta Kappa’s President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner. “Scholarship programs like this are integral for creating opportunities for two-year college students to succeed and for putting college completion within reach.”  The New Century Transfer Pathway Scholars will be recognized at Phi Theta Kappa’s Presidents Breakfast in Orlando, Florida, on April 15 during the AACC Convention.  “I am beyond blessed for this opportunity and to be bestowed the honor of New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar,” Franzel said. “St. Clair County Community College and Phi Theta Kappa have held such an important place in my life and being affiliated with them will be crucial to my success in the future.”  A Sandusky High School graduate and Clyde, Michigan, resident, Franzel will soon graduate from SC4 with an Associate of Science degree and has plans to transfer to Oakland University to pursue a mathematics degree with a specialization in secondary education.  Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of community college students to grow as scholars and leaders. The society is made up of more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 10 nations. Learn more at ptk.org.

Learn How To Prevent Brain Injuries During Brain Injury Awareness Month

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and acquired brain injury (ABI) are the leading cause of injury-related deaths and disability in the United States. To bring awareness to this often-preventable injury, March has been declared Brain Injury Awareness Month.  Falls, motor vehicle accidents and sports-related trauma are leading causes of TBIs and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging residents to learn about injury prevention strategies to keep themselves and their families safe.  An ABI is a form of brain injury that an individual sustains, or acquires, after birth. This includes TBIs and medical issues as a stroke. A TBI is any injury that occurs to the brain. It is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. TBIs may affect cognitive function, motor function, sensation and emotional function.  “Prevention strategies can greatly reduce the risk for traumatic brain injuries and death,” said Robert Gordon, MDHHS director. “This can include removing hazards in and around the home such as rugs and clutter in walkways, keeping sports safe by wearing protective gear including helmets and always wearing a seatbelt while in a vehicle.”  Nationally, the total cost of emergency department visits, hospitalizations and deaths related to traumatic brain injuries, either alone or in combination with other injuries, exceeds $76.5 billion annually.  In 2017, 11,585 people in Michigan were hospitalized for a TBI. Among Michigan residents who died of an injury, 1,748 had a TBI listed as an underlying or contributing cause of death on the death certificate.  Observable signs of traumatic brain injury may include appearing dazed or stunned, forgetting an instruction, moving clumsily, answering questions slowly, losing consciousness, showing mood, behavior or personality changes and being unable to recall events prior to and/or after a hit or fall.  For more information on TBIs, visit Cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury.  For more tips to keep your home safe, visit Cpsc.gov, and Safekids.org.  More information about sports concussions is available at Michigan.gov/sportsconcussion. Additional resources for seniors for classes to prevent falls and improve mobility and independence may be found at Greatatanyagemi.com.    

Operation Transformation – Hosting Open House