Local News

The federal government shut down has affected many in St. Clair County, especially our military families. Local agencies have partnered to put together emergency food bags to cover the basic needs of these families by “Looking out for those who look out for us!”  How Can You Help? By donating food items to help feed affected families, or by making an online donation at midcitynutrition.org and they can do the shopping for you!
Shopping List – Feeds a family of 4 for a few days:
• Box of cereal
• Jar of peanut butter
• Box/bag of stuffing mix
• Box of mashed potatoes
• Box of macaroni and cheese
• Canned fruit
• Canned tomatoes
• Can of tuna
• Box of Jell-O or pudding
• Jar of applesauce
• Package of rice
• Package of oatmeal
• Box/bag of pasta
• Jar of spaghetti sauce
• Can of chicken noodle soup
• Can of tomato soup
• Can of mixed vegetables
• Can of green beans
• Can of corn
• Canned sweet potatoes
• Can of cranberry sauce
• Can of beans
• Box of crackers
• Toilet paper
*Please no out-of-date or expired items! Thank you!  Each bag will cost between $40 – $50. You may purchase all or some of the items on the list.  All goods may be dropped off at St. Martin Lutheran/Mid City Nutrition Program at 805 Chestnut, (at 8th and Chestnut) between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM., Monday – Friday.  You may also drop off your donations at the YMCA of the Blue Water Area at 1525 3rd St. from 5:00 AM – 9:00 PM Monday – Friday, 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM on Saturday, and from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM on Sunday. The YMCA will have drop boxes inside the facility.  For more information about the “Looking Out” Food Bag Project, contact Mid City Nutrition at
810-982-9261.

Registration is open for late-start winter semester classes at St. Clair County Community College. Seats are still available in 12-week classes starting the week of Feb. 4, and eight-week classes starting the week of March 11. Classes are available in Port Huron and online.  Late-start classes allow students to earn credits at a faster pace. Class topics may include biology, business, computers, English, math, political science, psychology and speech. Examples of specific courses offered this winter include:

• Art Appreciation, ART 120 64 (online)
• Microcomputer Applications, CIS 115 64 (online)
• History Western Civilization to 1715, HIS 101 60 (online)
• Weight Training 01, PE 128 01 (Port Huron)

Students can search for courses and sections here, and they can register and pay for classes online in the SC4 Portal at portal.sc4.edu. Registration services also are available at SC4’s One-stop Student Services Center located in the Dr. James C. Acheson Welcome Center on the corner of Erie Street and Glenwood Avenue on the Port Huron campus. Hours of service are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday.  For more information, contact SC4 Enrollment Services at enrollment@sc4.edu or 810-989-5500.

All dog licenses for 2019 will expire on the month and day of your rabies vaccine date regardless of whether or not the rabies certification expires in 2019, that is according to the St. Clair County Treasurer.  Notices for renewals will be sent by January 28, 2019 for any dog that is currently expired. Future renewal notifications will be mailed within 35 days of the expiration date of the license.   Cost for licenses are $22 for a one year licence for none-sterilized male and female dogs…spayed or neutered dogs are $12 per year.  Three year licenses may be obtained with a small discount.  There is a late fee of $25 in  addition to annual license fee if license is not purchased within thirty (30) days of the expiration date.  For additional information on licensing requirements please visit http://stclaircounty.org/Offices/animal_control

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team was called out in frigid temperatures to recover a snowmobile that went through the ice on Black River Sunday afternoon.  According to Sheriff Tim Donnellon, the call came in about 4:15 p.m. Sunday that a snowmobile went through the ice near the I-94 overpass.  The owner of the snowmobile was not injured. Members of the Dive Team went to the area, where temperatures were near zero and wind chill was well below zero.  A dive tender was sent out onto the river on an ice sled to examine the hole where the snowmobile broke through.  It was determined at that time that the ice was too thin to safely allow divers and tenders to work.  A decision was made to cut a hole at the edge of the river and send divers out to retrieve the snowmobile, which was in about 14 feet of water, 130 feet from shore.  A diver went out and attached a cable from a tow truck to the snowmobile, which was then pulled out of the water.  This was a dangerous recovery for the Dive Team.  The diver’s regulator started to freeze in the open position and had to have warm water poured over it to get it working again.   Diver’s safety lines were freezing stiff when they exited the water.  Chain saws used to cut the ice were also freezing when the tenders stopped cutting.  The snowmobile was recovered about 2 ½ hours after it broke through. The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind everyone to be practice ice safety this winter.  The general rule for clear ice is at least 4 inches to walk on the ice or to ice fish and 5-6 inches of ice for a snowmobile.

Congressman Paul Mitchell released the following statement after being selected by the Republican Steering Committee to serve on the House Armed Services Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the 116^thCongress. Congressman Mitchell served on both committees in the 115^th Congress. The Republican Conference must now ratify the Steering Committee’s decision.  Mithchell says he is “excited to return to work on the House Armed Services Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the 116^th Congress because of their importance to our district. “One of our government’s most important functions is to provide for the common defense and the 10^th District of Michigan, home to Selfridge Air National Guard Base and many members of the national security and defense industries, plays a huge role in our nation’s defense. Last Congress, we were able to work in a bipartisan manner to ensure readiness, maintain equipment, and restore our military’s capabilities. As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I worked hard to pass an FAA reauthorization and a Water Resources and Development bill, upgrade the Soo Locks, protect our Great Lakes from Asian Carp and other invasive species, and more. I look forward to serving on both committees these next two years, and working with my colleagues to secure our nation and continue improving life for all Americans.”  “I am glad Congressman Mitchell is returning to the House Armed Services Committee,” said House Armed Services Ranking Member Mac Thornberry (TX-13). “Paul is a strong advocate for the military needs of his district including Selfridge Air National Guard Base, and our brave servicemembers in uniform serving across the world. I look forward to continuing our work together to ensure our military remains on the cutting edge of our fight against all threats with the resources, training, and equipment they need to succeed.”  “I’m pleased to welcome Congressman Mitchell back to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Sam Graves (MO-06). “He is a strong advocate for transportation and infrastructure improvements in his district, in Michigan, and across our nation. With his business background, he brings great experience and a keen understanding of the issues to the table, and I look forward to working with him.”