Stay Road-Ready: Essential Winter Car Safety Kit Checklist For Every Driver

As winter takes its icy grip on the roads, ensuring your vehicle is equipped with a comprehensive emergency supply kit is a must for safe travels. Regularly checking and updating your kit every six months can make a significant difference in handling unexpected situations. Here’s a checklist courtesy of the National Safety Council to keep your winter car safety kit in top shape:

  • Tire Care: Properly inflated spare tire, wheel wrench, and tripod jack.
  • Power Up: Jumper cables and a car charger for your cell phone are essential.
  • Tools of the Trade: Carry a tool kit, multipurpose utility tool, duct tape, and a shovel.
  • Visibility Matters: Include a flashlight, extra batteries, reflective triangles, and a reflective vest.
  • Navigational Aid: Add a compass to your kit for directional assistance.
  • First Aid Essentials: Ensure your first aid kit includes medical supplies, a blanket, and nonperishable, high-energy foods.
  • Hydration: Pack drinking water for emergencies.
  • Extra Comfort: Include warm clothing, blankets, rain poncho, and cat litter for traction.
  • Safety Gear: Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.
  • Winter Cleanup: Snow brush, windshield washer fluid, and gloves complete your winter car safety arsenal.

Additionally, store family and emergency contact numbers in your phone, including your auto insurance provider and a towing company. Stay prepared, stay safe on the winter roads.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

5 Tips For Safeguarding Your Home During Winter

As winter settles in, protecting your new home becomes paramount. Here are five essential tips to keep your home in pristine condition during the winter months.

  • Prevent Bursting Pipes: Drain outdoor hoses and faucets to avoid freezing, which could lead to burst pipes and potential damage to your new home. Don’t forget to enlist professional help for draining in-ground irrigation systems.
  • Maintain Efficient Heating: Guard against frozen pipes by ensuring your thermostat is running, even at 55 degrees. Insulate exposed pipes in unfinished basements and open cabinets during cold spells. Proactively maintain your furnace to avoid increased winter HVAC service costs.
  • Sump Pump Check: Protect your home by regularly testing your sump pump, especially in winter. Ensure the pump’s pipe is exposed at the end to prevent freezing, which can lead to basement damage during rainy or snowy weather.
  • Gutter and Extension Maintenance: Confirm that your gutters are clear and pointing water three to four feet away from your home’s foundation. Add extensions to downspouts for added protection against potential water damage.
  • Safe De-Icing: If your home is two years old or newer, opt for safe de-icing agents like sand instead of salt to protect your outdoor concrete and asphalt from damage.

Winter-proofing your home is an investment in its longevity, ensuring a cozy and damage-free season ahead.

Source: homes.com

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

School Closings for January 17th, 2024

Due to dangerously cold temperatures, the following schools will be closed on January 17th, 2024:

St. Clair County:

  • Algonac County
  • Blue Water Choices
  • Capac Community Schools
  • Cardinal Mooney Catholic High
  • Creative Employment Anchorville
  • East China School District
  • East Shore Leadership Academy
  • Harper Woods CCI Center
  • Immaculate Conception Elem. – Ira
  • Landmark Academy
  • Life Skills Bright Futures
  • Life Skills Opportunities
  • Marysville Public Schools
  • Memphis Community Schools
  • Port Huron Area School District
  • St. Clair TECH
  • St. Mary/McCormick Catholic Academy
  • Westfield Charter Academy
  • Woodland Development Center
  • Yale School District

Macomb County:

  • Academy of Dreams – OPEN (NO BUSES)
  • Academy of Warren
  • Anchor Bay School District
  • Angels Corner Center
  • Aramda Area Schools
  • Assumption Center
  • Assumption Nursery
  • Bethlehem Lutheran Early Learning
  • CSDD New Haven
  • CSDD Warren
  • Centerline Prep Academy
  • Centerline Public Schools
  • Chippewa Valley School District
  • Clintondale Community Schools
  • Creative Employment Clinton Township
  • Creative Employment Washington Township
  • Cross of Glory Lutheran
  • Crown of Life Lutheran
  • Delasalle Collegiate High
  • East Pointe Community Schools
  • Eaton Academy
  • First Friends Montessori
  • Fitzgerald Public Schools
  • Fraisure Public Schools
  • Frontière International Academy K-5
  • Great Oaks Academy Warren
  • Harper Woods CCI Center
  • Huron Academy
  • Immaculate Cncptn Catholic Warren
  • Immanual Lutheran Macomb
  • International Academy of Macomb
  • L’anse Cruese Public Schools
  • Lake Shore Public Schools
  • Lakeview Public Schools Macomb
  • Little Turtle Preschool
  • Lutheran High North
  • Macomb Academy
  • Macomb ISD Special Ed Programs
  • Macomb Montessori
  • Merritt Academy
  • Michigan Collegiate
  • Michigan Math and Science Academy
  • Michigan Montessori Children’s Academy
  • Montessori of Children’s Academy Clinton
  • Mount Clemens Community Schools
  • Mount Clemens Montessori Academy
  • New Dawn Academy
  • New Haven Community Schools
  • Poor National Academy
  • Parkway Christian
  • Peace Lutheran County Township
  • Prevail Academy
  • Reach Charter Academy
  • Regina High
  • Richmond Community Schools
  • Rising Starts Academy
  • Romeo Community Schools
  • Roseville Community Schools
  • Second Home Children Center
  • Social Resources Fraisure
  • Social Resources Macomb
  • South Lake Schools
  • Sparks Little Learner Academy
  • St. Ann Catholic
  • St. Isaac Jogues Catholic
  • St. Joan of Arc Catholic
  • St. Joseph’s Academy Ray Township
  • St. Lawrence Catholic School
  • St. Peter Lutheran East Pointe
  • St. Peter Lutheran Macomb
  • St. Peter Lutheran Richmond
  • St. Thecla Catholic Elem.
  • Trinity Lutheran Clinton Township
  • Trinity Lutheran Utica
  • Utica Community Schools
  • Van Dyke Public Schools
  • Warren Consolidated Schools
  • Warren Woods Public Schools
  • Westfield Charter Academy

Sanilac County:

  • Croswell-Lexington Comm. Schools
  • Deckerville School District
  • Harper Woods CCI Center
  • Sandusky School District
  • Westfield Charter Academy

Embrace Winter Fun: McMorran Plaza Opens Ice Skating With Free Rentals

This weekend marks the exciting launch of ice skating at McMorran Plaza, bringing a frosty delight to Port Huron residents. 

Starting Friday, January 19th, and continuing as weather permits, the rink welcomes enthusiasts to bring their own skates (BYOSkates) or enjoy free rentals. The Pro Shop, conveniently located by the SC4 fieldhouse entrance (farthest west doors), will be open for rentals on Fridays from 6-9p.m., Saturdays from 12-9p.m., and Sundays from 12-6p.m. 

Gather your friends and family for a delightful experience in Downtown Port Huron at 701 McMorran Blvd. Don’t miss out on the winter magic, lace up and glide into the season’s festivities! With the weather predicted to be a chilly 20 degrees on Friday, make sure you bundle up and stay safe.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

JARS Cannabis Elevates Port Huron’s Cannabis Scene With Grand Opening Of Recreational Dispensary

In a groundbreaking move, JARS Cannabis, a prominent cannabis retailer, has unveiled Port Huron’s inaugural recreational cannabis dispensary at 404 Quay St. This momentous occasion marks JARS’ 19th retail location in Michigan and its 38th nationwide, solidifying its prowess in the state’s rapidly growing cannabis market. 

Conveniently situated in downtown Port Huron, the 3,500 sq. ft. dispensary operates seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., offering a diverse selection of over 100 brands across various categories. From flower to edibles, vapes, concentrates, and more, JARS ensures a seamless integration of cannabis into any lifestyle. 

Whether opting for in-store shopping, pre-order pickup, or delivery, JARS’ staff is dedicated to providing personalized and approachable experiences.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Coretta Scott King Calls For Justice Department Review Following Verdict On Martin Luther King Jr.’s Assassination Conspiracy

In a historic revelation, Coretta Scott King, widow of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., feels vindicated by a Memphis jury’s 1999 finding that her husband was a victim of conspiracy, not a lone assassin. King urges the Justice Department to examine the evidence presented in the Memphis case, according to CBSNewscom.

The jury, comprising six blacks and six whites, deliberated briefly before ruling in favor of the King family in a civil lawsuit against Lloyd Jowers, a retired Memphis businessman. Awarded $100 in damages, the Kings sought validation for their call for a new investigation into King’s assassination. 

Attorney William Pepper alleged a vast conspiracy involving the Mafia, federal government agents, and a cover-up by the FBI, CIA, media, and Army intelligence. With a sense of closure, King’s son, Dexter, sees the verdict as liberating, rewriting history and sending a message to those in power.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell