The Sherman Woods Homeowners Association in Port Huron is reporting its Red Kettle bell ringing program raised $3,077 to assist the St. Clair County Salvation Army’s annual fund raising campaign.  The funds were raised by volunteer residents of the association managing a Red Kettle drop off during four weekend evenings recently.  Visitors made donations while touring the Sherman Woods location to view the Christmas light displays the neighborhood presents each year.  “With the interest in our residents’ Christmas lights, this is a unique opportunity to help the Salvation Army each year,” said Fred Kemp, president of the Sherman Woods Homeowners Association.  “This is a wonderful display of Christmas giving and we appreciate residents volunteering and everyone who contributed.  The funds will help to provide gifts and food for families in need at this holiday time.  It was especially heartwarming to hear so many people tell us ‘Thank you for doing this’ as they contributed to the kettle.”  This was the third year the neighborhood has operated a Red Kettle drop off campaign.

On Thursday, December 20, the Port Huron Police Department Criminal Investigative Division conducted a sting operation focusing on underage sales of alcohol to minors.  During the operation, police sent underage decoys into 33 Port Huron establishments that were licensed by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.  Of the 33 checked, 27 were found in compliance by refusing to sell alcohol to the underage decoys.  Six establishments were cited for selling alcohol to a minor:  Rite Aid and the Eggairy on Pine Grove Avenue.  Lynch’s Irish Tavern on Huron, the Speedy Qu on 10th Street, the 20th Street Grocery on Griswold Street and Teds Coney Island on 24th Street.  The Port Huron Police Department stated that encourage all licensed establishments to check ID’s to help prevent underage drinking.  More sting operations will be conducted in the future, according to Chief Joseph Platzer.

All parents want to know their child’s school is a safe place to learn and grow. The Senate recently finalized a sweeping plan to strengthen safety in our schools. The plan will:

• Create the Office of School Safety within the State Police to offer staff training and update school safety practices;
• Develop training standards for anti-violence situations;
• Ensure schools work with law enforcement to conduct regular safety assessments;
• Create the School Safety Commission to establish school safety metrics and require schools to assign a liaison to work with the commission;
• Require schools to consult with law enforcement on new builds or school upgrades;
• Require schools to report attempted acts of violence;
• Allow school boards to discuss safety plans in closed door meetings;
• Permanently extend the OK2SAY tip program; and
• Make sure schools provide emergency contact information to the State Police.

Senate Bills 882, 982-983 and 990-991 and House Bills 5828-5829 and 5850-5852 now head to the governor to be signed..

The “hunt of a lifetime” offers three lucky winners the opportunity to obtain licenses for spring and fall turkey, antlerless deer, bear, elk and first pick at a managed waterfowl hunt area, along with a prize package valued at more than $4,000. Applications for the 2019 drawing are $5 each and available at license agent locations and online at www.mdnr-elicense.com until Dec. 31.  The 2018 Pure Michigan Hunt generated more than $176,000 to help fund wildlife habitat restoration and improvements in Michigan. Find more information at www.michigan.gov/pmh.

The staff at WGRT wishes you a very Merry Christmas.  We hope you enjoy our Christmas Day programming.  It is our wish that you and your family have a wonderful Christmas celebration, and that the New Year brings you health and happiness.  Thank you for listening!

Best Wishes From The Office and On-air Staff at WGRT 102.3

In an executive order signed Tuesday night, President Trump announced that all federal employees will get the day off.  In the past, federal workers have been given Monday off whenever Christmas Day falls on a Tuesday.  In 2014, President Obama excused federal employees from work on Dec. 26, which fell on a Friday.  The executive order states that some employees may be required to report to work “for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need.”  Agency heads also have been allowed the discretion to determine whether certain offices need to remain open on the holiday.