Local News

You may have heard of the Runaway Bride, but, this week, WGRT spoke with the Rebel Bride.  Michelle Eberle is an author and speaker and will be presenting a Wedding Game Plan Party for brides.  The event will be held, Friday, June 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Joy’s Bridal Boutique at 829 Superior Street In Port Huron.  There will be refreshments and desserts, special discounts at Joy’s Bridal Boutique, fabulous prizes, and giveaways.  Cost is $8 per person and will be limited to the first 20 brides and friends who register.

Michelle Eberle is also the author of the Rebel Bride 31-day Wedding Prayer Journal which may be purchased at the event.  Michelle says it is her goal to help brides find peace in the planning of their most special day and help them arrive at the altar anxiety-free, peaceful and radiant. Registration for the Wedding Game Plan Party and more information can be found at https://www.therebelbride.com/

Luke Murphy is the International bestselling author of Dead Man’s Hand, Kiss & Tell, Wild Card and now hitting bookstands on Saturday, June 15, Rock A Bye Baby.  Murphy played six years of professional hockey before retiring in 2006. Part of his hockey career was played right here in Port Huron as a Port Huron Border Cat.  Murphy has fond memories of his time in Port Huron and keeps in touch with members of the Booster Club and former teammates.  His sports column, “Overtime”, was nominated for the 2007 Best Sports Page in Quebec, and won the award in 2009. He has also worked as a radio journalist.

Murphy told WGRT Rock A Bye Baby concerns a series of baby kidnappings that have the town devastated. With no ransom demands and no contact from the perpetrators, local law enforcement is at a dead end. No motive equals no answers.  Charlene Taylor’s niece becomes a victim, and the LAPD detective is thrown headfirst into a whirlwind case with similarities to one from seven years earlier. Out of her jurisdiction, and with no friends or leads, Charlene must walk-the-line between cop and sister.

(Clay Township)  Seven Clay Township police officers were recently deputized by Sheriff Tim Donnellon to work as Marine Patrol Deputies.

Because of the high water levels on waterways in the county, Sheriff Donnellon is working to increase the Marine Division presence, especially to enforce no wake laws.  Without being deputized, the officers would have no jurisdiction on the water.  The Clay Township officers will use a 23 foot Boston Whaler, already in use by Clay Township Police.

“I am extremely pleased to be able to add these officers as a force multiplier,” said Sheriff Donnellon.  “Thanks to Chief Mike Coach for recognizing the need and offering his staff to assist in keeping damage along the shoreline to a minimum.”

The Clay Township Officers will be working on the water in addition to their normal road patrol duties.  Though they are deputized to work anywhere on the water in St. Clair County, their role will be in the southern end of the county.

“We are pleased to be able to assist the Marine Division,” said Clay Township Police Chief Mike Koach.  “We have a great working relationship with Sheriff Donnellon and his department.  This is another avenue to do what’s right for the citizens of our community.”

In the first two weeks since boating season kicked off, 19 no wake violation citations have been issued, along with 4 warnings.

Pictured below at the swearing in ceremony are (left to right): Marine Division Lt. Paul Reid, Clay Township Officers James Pelletier, William Cope, David Fajardo, Sheriff Donnellon, and Clay Township Chief Michael Koach, and Clay Township Officers Stephen Stockwell and Paul Smith.

Kimball Appliance is celebrating Junior Norton, who has been an employee for over 67 years.  Junior, or better known as Junebug Norton started working for what was then Kimball’s Feed Store in 1952.  At the age of 13, he got a special permit to drive a truck for delivery purposes, and moved appliances from the train yard to the appliance store.

Norton kept working for the Kimball family at Midwest foundry, which eventually closed.  He then went back to his first love – appliances, and has been at Kimball Appliance ever since.  In his spare time, he owned a fireplace wood business until 1977, and then opened World of C.B. which is still in business on 24^th Street in Port Huron.  Junebug has an old C.B. Radio in the Kimball’s delivery truck which he still uses today.  He served in the U.S. National Guard for five years and the Army for two.  He loves classic cars and the Detroit Tigers.  This Saturday, June 15, a celebration is being held at Kimball Appliance at 945 Lapeer Avenue in Port Huron and the public is invited to come out, shake Junebug’s hand and offer congratulations!

With spring came milder weather and the start of an important construction project along Harper Avenue just north of 12 Mile Road. Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan broke ground on a new 4,600 square foot facility that will serve as a “forever home” for the program.

Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan is a local, grassroots 501©3 nonprofit organization that provides wigs & support services to children ages 3 to 18 at no charge throughout the state of Michigan.   Founded in 2003 by licensed cosmetologist Maggie Varney, the charity has served over 4,600 local children in need.  While construction has begun, the nonprofit is still raising funds in a capital campaign to complete the building project. Through a generous grant of $21,260 awarded by the Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation, W4K will be able to provide expanded programming focused on health, wellness & nutrition activities in the new facility.  The Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation provides support and relief to Brother Masons and their families in need, as well as supporting and building the communities in which Masons live and raise their families.

“The Masons have supported us for years,” said Maggie Varney, Founder & CEO of W4K. “They invite our wig recipients to spring & fall country breakfasts, they attend our annual gala in September and last year they provided us with a $50,000 grant toward our capital campaign so we can achieve our dream of building a permanent brick-and-mortar where the children will always be helped. We offer them heartfelt thanks for their generosity.”   For more information on the Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation and its B.E.S.T. grant, please visit: https://www.michiganmasonsfoundation.org/

To learn more about Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan, go online to: www.wigs4kids.org. If you know of a child in need of the organization’s services, please contact Maggie Varney, Founder & CEO at: 586-772-6656 or maggie@wigs4kids.org. You can also contribute to their capital campaign online.

State Rep. Gary Eisen recently presented an innovative idea before the Michigan House Transportation Committee to help local communities save money and time on road construction projects.  Eisen said borrowing a concept used in many different types of large construction designs could assist with road construction projects. The concept involves the use of footings to help solve the weight, water and aggregate issues.  “Results have shown that footings are used successfully in bridges, houses and skyscrapers. By testing an innovation that works on other construction projects, taxpayers would be saving money for better roads in Michigan,” said Eisen, of St. Clair Township. “You only learn by moving forward, and by implementing this new and innovative idea for our infrastructure can help us solve current road challenges.”  The purpose of a footing is to support the foundation and prevent movement from occurring. It is permanently placed below the water and frost level and structured to build up from there.  Eisen wants to develop a pilot program to determine if footings could help. The legislator has worked with engineers with 30 years of experience on this innovative design to build better roads.  The St. Clair County Road Commission is interested in pilot-testing the design to see how well the design works for their roads.