2023 State Of The County Address Held In Port Huron

St. Clair County has a total population of approximately 160,000 people. An annual conference is held to give a review of how the county performed the year before, as well as what the future has in store for the area and it’s residents.

The 2023 State of the County Address was hosted by the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce and held at the beautiful Blue Water Convention Center. It featured guest speakers such as County Administrator/Controller, Karry Hepting and St. Clair County Board of Commissioner Chair, Jeff Bohm.

The speakers presented information to a crowd of over 400 individuals, with topics ranging from finances to future plans for the region.

New programs for the St. Clair County Sheriff Department and Health Department were discussed, as well as updates from the Economic Development Alliance (EDA).  There are also new jobs and businesses coming to the area that residents and tourists can look forward to. 

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Contaminated Water And Soil Dumped In Michigan Without Notice

On February 3, 2023 a major U.S. environmental catastrophe occurred in East Palestine, Ohio. A train derailment involving 38 train cars caused approximately 120,000 gallons of hazardous chemicals to spill onto the landscape. 

Cleanup crews then set fire to the spill, which released tons of toxic clouds into the atmosphere. The effects of the spill are still unknown, but the waterways connected to the Ohio River are potentially polluted and unsafe for many. 

The cleanup from the accident has left the state of Ohio with tons of contaminated soil and water, which was then shipped to Michigan and Texas without their knowledge or consent. 

US Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan says, “ I immediately called the governor’s office…none of the elected officials, none of the local officials, knew that this material was on its way.”

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Port Huron Township Fire Department Welcomes New Staff

When it comes to civil service jobs, being a firefighter or a police officer are two of the most noble and dangerous jobs one can take on to serve their community. 

The Port Huron Township Fire Department has recently hired new staff and promoted another to Sergeant within the department. 

Firefighters Martin, Jones, and Moran were sworn in on January 1st, for the full-time firefighter role, and Sergeant Vincent for the full-time officer role. 

Firefighter Moran was promoted to the rank of Sergeant to fill the vacant full-time officer role. Firefighter Ebejer was sworn in for the firefighter role on February 20th. 

Port Huron Township and the entire Blue Water Area would like to thank these brave men for their service to our community, as we wish you well in your new endeavors.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

The Lawrence House To Hold 2nd Annual Carmen Ziolkowski Poetry Prize

If you live in or near the City of Sarnia, and have an interest in poetry and the arts, you can register to enter the 2nd Annual Carmen Ziolkowski Poetry Prize. 

Carmen Ziolkowski was a member of the Sarnia-Lambton writing community. She studied journalism at Port Huron Junior College and taught creative writing at Lambton College. She also wrote three poetry books. Ziolkowski passed away in 2018 at the age of 94 years old.

The deadline for the poetry event is April 15th. All are welcome to participate, with an entry fee of $10 Canadian, or $5 if you are a member of The Lawrence House Centre for the Arts. Participants can submit up to three poems in English of up to 40 lines each. 

Winners can win up to $500, as well as having their works featured in a special issue of the Uproar Literary Blog. 

For more information, visit: lawrencehouse.ca.    

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

The Detroit Institute of Arts Named Best Art Museum In The Country

Detroit is known as the “Motor City” due to its history involving the automotive industry, but they have more recently been recognized for having the number one art museum in the country. 

The Detroit Institute of Arts has been ranked number one by the editors from 10Best and USA Today. The results are based on reader votes which included 10 museum destinations in the U.S.  

The museum has approximately 65,000 works housed in its location, which makes it one of the largest collections in the country. It also contains over 100 galleries, a 1,150-seat auditorium, an art reference library, and a state-of-the-art conservation services laboratory. The DIA also boasts diverse collections highlighting Islamic, Oceanic, Native American, and African art. The General Motors Center for African American Art which was established in the year 2000 boasts a wide collection of art as well. 

To find out more information, visit: dia.org.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Honoring And Remembering A Community Leader In The City Of Port Huron

The City of Port Huron has had a number of individuals step into the role of being a community leader over the years. From business, to the religious sectors of the community, African Americans have had a major contribution in the Blue Water Area.

Rev. John L. Portis, born October 25, 1931 was an ordained minister who served his community in numerous ways. 

One of his most notable contributions is being the pastor for the historic Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Port Huron where he served for over 40 years. Nern street, located at the corner of 28th Street was renamed in his honor to John L. Portis Drive.   

He also served on numerous boards and committees over the years such as the South Park Ministerial Alliance which he founded in 1980 and served as its President for over 20 years.

He received a variety of awards such as the NAACP Community Service Award, and the Brotherhood Award from the City of Port Huron. 

Rev. Portis passed away in 2008, leaving behind an exceptional legacy in the Blue Water Area.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell