Four Michigan cities have been named among the best beach towns near lakes to live in, and of all the locations in the United States, Port Huron was among the top 50. WalletHub.com put together a study of the beach towns in the U.S. that best fit everyday life in terms of living standards, not tourism. The study was based on many factors that included education, housing costs, economy, weather, and health, as well as quality of life. While there were nearly 150 ocean-side towns studied, only 46 lakeshore beach towns made it on WalletHub’s list; only four of them were in the Great Lakes State – Traverse City, Holland, Alpena, and Port Huron. While Traverse City took the number one spot thanks to a high quality of life ranking and a relatively affordable cost of living, Port Huron made the list at number 31 overall. It was the closest city to the metro Detroit area to appear on the list, and its benefits included a favorable weather ranking. 

With all of the talk about rain, rising rivers, and flooding, sandbags have now entered into the conversation. It seems simple enough, but there are definitely some guidelines on using sandbags. St. Clair County Homeland Security and Emergency Management has listed some helpful tips. For instance, bags should only be filled with sand, and not dirt, and then fill only 2⁄3 of the way. When laying the bags, first put down plastic sheeting then lay them like brickwork starting at one end working to the other end. You can also use them to cover drainage holes such as bath and floor drains. Sandbags that have been exposed to floodwater need to be thrown away. To obtain sandbags, check with your local township or city office. Retailers also have sandbags for purchase. 

Rising water levels are a major concern, and we all know the water levels are high along the St. Clair and Black Rivers. This has some residents calling for a no wake zone, especially on the Black River. However, City Manager James Freed is reminding residents that the Black River falls under the jurisdiction of the DNR, not the Coast Guard when it comes to no wake zones. The DNR can issue an emergency order for a no wake zone only if a state of emergency is declared by the State and, currently, a state of emergency has only been declared by St Clair County. Again, this is a developing situation and likely will be throughout the summer. We’ll keep you updated as the story develops. 

Every day first responders put their lives on the line and even more so when on a call. Recently, a St. Clair County Sheriff’s Deputy was presented with a department Lifesaving Award. Deputy Stacie Miller was called to the scene of a house fire in Fort Gratiot Township shortly after 10:00 p.m. on May 9th . When she arrived, flames were coming out of the windows of the residence. According to St. Clair County Central Dispatch, there was a 70 year old woman in the residence who was handicapped and unable to exit. Deputy Miller went to the entrance of the fully engulfed home and assisted Norma down the ramp. She was then transported by Tri-Hospital EMS to McLaren Port Huron. Sheriff Tim Donnellon states that he is proud of Deputy Miller’s quick actions at the scene. Without regard for her personal safety, she went in and got the homeowner out. Without Deputy Miller’s fast response, the woman likely would have died in the fire.” Congratulations to Deputy Stacie Miller for protecting the lives of St. Clair County citizens. 

Due to ongoing high water levels on the Great Lakes and adjoining waterways, the City of Port Huron will be providing sandbags on an as-needed basis to City residents. If you are a resident of the City of Port Huron in need of sandbags, you do not need to request or make an appointment. Residents can pick up the sandbags any time of day at the Department of Public Works Warehouse located at 1812 Bancroft Street. The sandbags will be outside of the facility. For more information about the sandbags and high water levels, you can call the City of Port Huon at 810-984-9770.

Throughout Michigan and the Midwest, prolonged wet weather and flooding have put farmers in a difficult position as the spring planting season is coming to a close. With unprecedented rainfall, farmers have had to delay planting and adjust management practices. MSU Extension has a statewide network of agricultural educators tracking growing conditions, speaking with farmers and writing educational articles about how farmers can adjust to these inhospitable conditions and difficult choices. Jeff Dwyer director of MSU Extension said “The crisis facing Michigan agriculture right now is acute, and we hear heartbreaking stories every day from our educators who work with farmers. These families need support now more than ever.” For more information about the MSU Extension Managing Farm Stress program, visit extension.msu.edu/farmstress/. To access the suite of resources and information available from MSU Extension, visit extension.msu.edu