Local News

This Saturday, October 27, tomorrow, from 3 to 5 p.m. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be hosting their fourth annual “Trunk or Treat” event in coordination with local, county and federal first responders.  Law Enforcement officers and agents from around the area will pitch in for this yearly event by donating candy and decorating their vehicles for children to go around to each station and collect treats in a safe and secure environment.  Last year, the event drew in more than 1,500 participants from across the Port Huron Area.   This year’s event will be held in the vacant field located at the corner of Elmwood Street and 10 Avenue, just north of the Blue Water Bridge inspection plaza in Port Huron.  Children of all ages and their parents are encouraged to wear a costume.  Participating agencies include U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Port Huron Police Department, St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office, Port Huron Twp. Fire Department, Port Huron Fire Department and Tri-County EMS

At 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, St. Clair County Community College will debut its production of HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical.  SC4’s production honors the 50th anniversary of the classic countercultural musical, which made its Broadway debut in April 1968. Telling the story of the “tribe,” a group of politically active hippies living a bohemian life in New York City and fighting against conscription into the Vietnam War, HAIR’s debut is widely considered a groundbreaking moment in American theatre.  “HAIR is such an important piece,” says Scott Dambacher, SC4 theatre instructor and director of the college’s production. “It was the first true rock musical, the first nonlinear storyline conceived out of experimental acting techniques, and the first to feature drug use and sexual freedom — what was happening on stage was happening in the streets and parks of New York City right outside the theatre.”  The play made waves for directly addressing the issues of its time, drawing striking attention to the country’s divisions amidst the Civil Rights Movement, the anti-war movement, and the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy.  “In many ways, the piece is still relevant and extremely important for us today, 50 years later,” says Dambacher.  As with all SC4 arts events, the college’s production of HAIR is a true community effort. Many of the play’s band members also belong to The Poltroons, who run the open mic night at Lynch’s Irish Tavern in downtown Port Huron. Lynch’s, along with The Raven Café, Main Street Garage and other local organizations, sponsor arts programming at the college throughout the year.   “I think our production is unique in that our cast is the same age range (18-21) as the characters being portrayed, so it’s unique to have such a young cast involved,” says Dambacher. “I think the audience can expect a great performance of an important piece of theatre and hopefully take something away from it.”  Tickets for SC4’s production of HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical are still available. The show runs Nov. 1 through 3 and Nov. 8 through 10 in the college’s Fine Arts Theatre, starting at 8 p.m. each night. Please note: This show contains adult situations and language. Parental guidance is recommended.

Next week is one widely anticipated by children and adults! Halloween has become 2^nd only to Christmas as the holiday the most money is spent on. Between candy, costumes, and parties, people are buying things and planning events to enjoy this unique day. While Halloween has become quite Americanized over the years, it started as a religious night to keep evil spirits away before the remembrance of those who died on November 1^st – All Saints’ Day.   To keep the fun in the day, and ensure a safe celebration for little ones, many churches are offering an alternative to traditional trick-or-treating door-to-door. Some are billed as Trunk or Treat, and some as an indoor family party. Check out area churches who are offering such events. Blue Water Free Methodist, Port Huron First United Methodist, Griswold Street Baptist, and Faith Lutheran are just a few. If you don’t want to take the chance of exposing your children to something too scary, trust area churches to keep the “treat” and eliminate the “trick” in the evening and provide a safe alternative!

A boy, believed to be about ten years old, was hit by a car and injured while waiting for the school bus yesterday morning.  The accident occurred just before 8 a.m. Wednesday on Parker between Oakleaf and Krafft roads.  The boy was transported to the hospital with what appeared to be a broken femur. According to reports no one else was injured in the accident.  Fort Gratiot firefighters, St. Clair County deputies, Michigan State Police and Tri-Hospital EMS responded to the scene.  The boy was a student at Thomas Edison Elementary and Principal Chris Collins noted on the school’s Facebook page, that the child was struck by a bus and he wanted families to be aware as students may have questions when they got home, however Mr. Collins had talked with the students on the bus, and social workers were in place if needed.  It stated it was an opportunity to remind all students that they should stay at least 12 feet back from the road until the driver comes to a full stop, the bus doors open and they receive the “one hand wave”.

The 2018 Annual Port Huron First United Methodist Coats For Kids Collection Drive will begin October 26th to November 30th.  Area residents are being asked to bring gently used or new coats, gloves, mittens, scarves and hats.  A number of businesses have boxes placed around the city of Port Huron and the surrounding area for you to drop off your donations.  After the items are collected, they will be given to local schools and other places of need.  If you cannot find a box you may bring the items to the First United Methodist Church at 828 Lapeer Avenue in Port Huron, next to Pollock Randall Funeral Home.  Some of the locations with boxes, include the YMCA, Kerr Albert, Wally’s Market, and the 4-Star Restaurant in Marysville.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrested a truck driver on the Blue Water Bridge Sunday who officials say was transporting a berry shipment that also contained some 280 pounds of cocaine.  Officials say that members of the CBP Port Huron Anti-Terrorism and Contraband Enforcement Team were performing  routine outbound inspections on the bridge at the time of the arrest.The commercial truck shipping blackberries to Canada was selected for the inspection, and during the interview, four boxes containing plastic wrapped packages of suspected narcotics were found in the truck’s tractor.  The packages tested positive for the properties of cocaine in a field test according to a statement by the the CBP.   The U. S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan has accepted prosecution for the case.