A former Vassar truck stop on West Saginaw Road is getting a $1 million boost from the state to clean up contamination and make way for new jobs. The 1.9-acre site, vacant since ’22, has metals and petroleum in the soil from old underground tanks. Developer Cook Chevrolet plans a $4 million expansion, including a used car lot and service center, creating up to 20 local jobs. State funding will cover soil removal, demolition, and environmental safety measures. Work is expected to wrap by summer of ’28.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

A Huron County jury found 77-year-old Russell Alexander Kopah of Pigeon guilty of fourth-degree child abuse for putting floor cleaner in a three-year-old’s mouth and on the face at the Bad Axe Walmart last July. The jury cleared him of threatening the eyewitness. Video and testimony showed the act in the store’s photo department, witnessed by a Walmart employee who called police. Kopah denied the abuse but admitted threatening the witness outside the store. He faces up to a year in jail, with sentencing set for late October. He remains free on bond.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Back-to-school season is here across St. Clair and Sanilac counties, with students returning on staggered dates from mid-August through early September. Blue Water Middle College kicks off first today, while most Sanilac County schools start next Monday. Anchor Bay and Yale open the next day, and many St. Clair County schools, including Port Huron, Marysville, and East China, begin September 2nd. Several districts are easing in with half days, giving families time to adjust. Parents are urged to review orientation schedules, supply lists, and bus routes ahead of the first day.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

McKenzie Health System in Sandusky will host a free session on Alzheimer’s disease Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. at 120 Delaware St. Lunch is $5, and virtual attendance via Zoom is available. Licensed social worker Douglas Lobdell from the Alzheimer’s Association will explain the signs, stages, risk factors, and care strategies for the disease. Part of the Healthy Living Together series, the event aims to give Sanilac County families tools and resources to better understand and manage Alzheimer’s. Registration is online or by calling 810-648-6127.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet