Four bills have been signed into law to rename portions of Michigan highways after fallen military and police officers.

A portion of I-75 is now named the Corporal DeAngelo Snow Memorial Highway. Snow died in 2010 in Afghanistan at the young age of 22. He received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his bravery.

Another portion of I-75 will be named after Officer Jessica Nagle-Wilson, who was killed in the line of duty while working for the Hazel Park Police Department in 2002.

A portion of M-85 will be named the Sergeant Craig S. Frank Memorial Highway. Army Specialist Craig S. Frank was killed in Iraq in 2004.

Part of US-131 has been named the Sergeant Ryan J. Proxmire Memorial Highway. The Kalamazoo County Sheriff Sergeant was killed in the line of duty last August during a high-speed chase.  

Roanna Proxmire said, “Ryan always made it a point to look up the names on those signs in our travels. Their lives matter and are remembered, and now his name on this sign will serve as a reminder of his dedication to his job and community, his belief in justice, and his sacrifice will never be forgotten.”  

Reporting for WGRT  – Jennie McClelland

Butterflies, the pretty pollinators, are very busy during this part of the summer. Now is the perfect time to take a good look at the natural works of art and maybe learn something new about beautiful butterflies.

The Friends of the St. Clair River in partnership with the Port Huron Recreation Department are inviting those who want to learn a little more about butterflies to join them at the Blue Water Butterflies event on Friday, August 5 from 3:00-4:30 p.m.. at the Blue Water River Walk.

Butterflies like to hang out in the Vantage Point Gardens, so there should be ample opportunity to find caterpillars and eggs along with the fluttering butterflies.

Participants will learn the differences in food choices over the lifespan of a butterfly and will also take home a potted pollinator plant.

Kids need to have an adult with them. The guided hike starts at the Great Lakes Maritime Center at 51 Court Street in Port Huron.

The cost is $10 per family for residents and $20 per family for non-residents.

Registration information can be found at WGRT.com.

https://www.porthuronrec.com/nature-programs/Blue-Water-Butterflies

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

The Biggest Snack Competition in America is happening right here in the Blue Water Area. The August 1st deadline for registering to compete in the MI New Favorite Snack contest is coming up quickly, and the excitement is building.

The winner will be announced on September 17th at the Vantage Point Farmer’s Market by longtime Detroit area television broadcaster Chuck Gaidica. So far, 26 snack makers have registered. Entrepreneurs must be from Michigan.

Anyone can check out the current registrants by going to the @MINewFavoriteSnack page on Facebook. Some of the contestants tell their stories and introduce their products. There is a wide variety of snack foods already entered into the contest.

Thelma Castillo, CEO and President of the Blue Water Area Chamber, which is one of the hosting organizations for MI New Favorite Snack said, “We wanted to give these small business entrepreneurs some promotional opportunity to tell their unique stories. These individuals all have compelling products that are truly a passion for them. It’s been fun to ‘meet’ them virtually.”

There is $50,000 in prize money for the top snack makers and a distribution agreement with All-Star Services for the winner.

https://www.facebook.com/MINewFavoriteSnack

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

The Thumb Land Conservancy opted out of having their lands sprayed for spongy moths yet they had very few of the invasive species on their property this year. All of the credit seems to go to birds for keeping the spongy moth population under control this year. 

The nature conservation group had concerns about the effects that the natural bacterium BTK, used to kill spongy moth caterpillars, might have on other caterpillars of native moths and butterflies, so they chose not to be part of the county-wide spraying initiative. 

There were very few spongy moth caterpillars at the Thumb Land Conservancy property in Fort Gratiot, presumably because they were all being eaten by birds. 

The newsletter stated that a single pair of Black-capped Chickadees may forage several thousand caterpillars to raise a single brood of young. 

In their most recent newsletter, the Conservancy pointed out that having a healthy native bird population is a very effective way to control spongy moths. 

The Thumb Land Conservancy provides a wealth of information about maintaining healthy habitats in Michigan’s Thumb region. Contact information can be found at WGRT.com. 

Thumbland.org 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

The Blue Water Area Chamber’s mission is to support our business community through various means. One of those means is to advocate and support ballot millage/proposals that will have an impact on St. Clair County’s residents and businesses. On behalf of the Blue Water Area Chamber, its Board of Directors, has voted to fully support the following proposed millages:

• St. Clair County Senior Citizens millage
• St. Clair County Ambulance Services millage
• St. Clair County Library System millage
• St. Clair County Community College millage
• St. Clair County Parks and Recreation millage

We believe strongly that these millage proposals are critical to the success of our region and building strong, sustainable communities for our membership. We want to be known as the county that our residents and business community are proud to call home. The Chamber is asking the voters of St. Clair County to approve these millage requests.

“The chamber has had a significant role in business advocacy for St. Clair County since 1917, said Thelma Castillo, President & CEO of Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce has been supporting its members by fostering economic prosperity and promoting Blue Water area businesses through regional collaboration, advocacy, and member development since 1917.

Submitted by the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce

The Michigan Task Force on Juvenile Justice has approved recommendations to transform the state’s juvenile justice system.

The task force recommendations include expanding diversion opportunities for youth who are not a public safety risk. They also plan to create a uniform statewide juvenile public defense system and increase funding for community-based programs.

The task force recommended relying on data-driven tools and best practices to guide the future of the system, and improving things like probation and residential programs for juveniles who are in the justice system.

There will also be a statewide advisory board of youth and families who have experience with the juvenile justice system.

Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Clement said, “We are providing local courts with more tools to guide diversion and disposition decisions, more resources to keep young people in their homes and communities and effectively meet their needs, and more training and technical assistance through the State Court Administrator’s Office to help local courts to implement new policies and programs effectively.” 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland