$250K Grants for Major Upgrades

Marine City and Memphis are set for big upgrades to their community spaces after each received $250,000 grants from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation. In Marine City, the funding will enhance the new Guy Center in South Park with a pavilion, splash pad, farmers market, and flexible event areas, and connecting to the Bridge to Bay Trail. Memphis will renovate the Lions Club, adding indoor event space, kitchen and concession updates, parking improvements, and new outdoor amenities. Both projects are supported by the Community Foundation of St. Clair County.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Marine City Woman Arraigned

Marine City authorities have arraigned 55-year-old Christine Hurley-Arnold following a domestic shooting that injured one person last week on South Elizabeth Street. Hurley-Arnold faces four felony charges, including assault with intent to cause serious harm and discharging a weapon in a building, along with a misdemeanor domestic violence charge. She remains in custody on a $50,000 bond and is scheduled for a probable cause hearing on November 26. Police continue to investigate the incident.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Students Honored as DAR Good Citizens

The Ottawa Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution has recognized outstanding high school seniors. The DAR Good Citizen Program honors Carley Barlass of Port Huron Northern High School, who earned the Good Citizen Award and the DAR Essay Scholarship. Other winners include Mackenzie Adamson of Algonac, Layney Frizzle of Carsonville-Port Sanilac, Lauren Muscat of Marine City, Cietera Wilson of Marysville, Isabelle Treutle of Memphis, Maxwell Durham of New Haven, Andrea Eldred of New Life Christian Academy, and Colin Boullard of St. Clair High School.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Community Pay It Forward Day

Port Huron residents will get a chance to spark a wave of goodwill today, as the community marks Community Pay It Forward Day. The event encourages simple acts of kindness, from buying someone’s coffee to thanking a teacher or lending time at a shelter. Organizers say these small gestures can strengthen the entire Blue Water Area as the holiday season begins. Schools, businesses, and nonprofits have their own challenges to keep kindness spreading. Blue Water Recovery and Outreach Center is leading the push.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Sanilac Leads Michigan Deer Harvest

Sanilac County hunters led the way during Michigan’s firearm deer season opener, contributing to more than 41,000 deer taken statewide over opening weekend. The Michigan DNR says weather and disease have affected numbers this year, including last winter’s heavy snow in the Upper Peninsula, a spring ice storm in northern Lower Michigan, and ongoing EHD outbreak in the south. So far this season, hunters have taken 139,345 deer, a bit higher than all of last year. Sanilac County alone tops the state with 1,497 deer harvested as of Monday.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet

Biggby Coffee Makes a Comeback

Biggby Coffee returned to Port Huron with a new shop on Pine Grove Ave., which opened last week. This marked the brand’s return to St. Clair County after previous locations had closed. The shop became the second in the area for local owner Nick Wurmlinger, who also runs a Richmond location that opened earlier this year. Staff training finished just before the launch, and early customer response was strong, with many stopping by for their favorite drinks. Other Biggby options are now in Sandusky and New Baltimore.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet