Voting Absentee? It’s Time to Request Your Ballot for the August 2nd Primary

Michigan’s primary election is on August 2nd. and it’s a critical one, with many ballot proposals and state legislature elections on the ballot.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said, “Voters have options in Michigan and, however you cast your ballot, you can have confidence that every vote will be counted securely and your voice will be heard in your community.”

Voters may choose to use absentee ballots instead of voting in person on election day. The options for absentee voting include voting from home or voting early in person at a local clerk’s office.

Registering to vote can be done until July 18th online, or up until 8:00 p.m. on election day at the local clerk’s office.

Those who are already registered can vote from home by requesting an absentee ballot. The request should be made by July 18th to ensure getting it in time. The request can be made in person at their clerk’s office or online at Michigan.gov/vote.

Voters can be sure that their vote is being counted by checking the status of the ballot online or by contacting their clerk’s office.

Over 875,000 Michigan voters have already requested ballots.

In-person voting at polling places is from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on August 2nd.

A link to a sample ballot can be found below.

https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/PublicBallot/Index

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Help Babies by Donating Diapers and More to Maternal and Infant Health Program Diaper Drive

If you’re looking for a way to help babies and their families, there’s an easy way being offered by the St. Clair County Health Department’s Maternal and Infant Health Program. The Diaper Drive is being offered to individuals as well as any interested organization that wants to make sure local families have what they need to nurture their babies.

Starting July 8th, the Health Department will begin taking donations of new packages of baby diapers in all sizes, baby wipes, rash creams, and baby hygiene items.

Who gets the items? All of the items will go to participants in the Maternal and Infant Health Program. The program is a benefit for Medicaid recipients and Medicaid-eligible pregnant women and babies up to 18 months old. The program helps babies meet growth and developmental milestones.

Donations can be taken to the St. Clair County Health Department on 28th Street in Port Huron during normal business hours. Pickup of donations can also be arranged.

Businesses and organizations are encouraged to help the cause. Monetary donations can be made at the St. Clair County Treasurer’s Paypal account.

Drop off donations at the St. Clair County Health Department, 3415 28th Street in Port Huron during regular business hours: Monday 10:00am – 6:30pm or Tuesday through Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm.  MIHP is also providing donation pick-ups by calling (810) 987-4903.  Monetary donations can also be made via St. Clair County Treasurer’s PayPal at: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/sccmitreasurer. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Giant Sale at Woman’s Life Insurance Society July 30th

Woman’s Life Club 11 is preparing for their Giant Sale behind the Woman’s Life Insurance Society building in downtown Port Huron. The Giant Sale is a major fundraiser for the club that helps raise money for local organizations, and this year’s proceeds will benefit the Blue Water YMCA.

The Giant Sale will take place on Saturday, July 30th from 10 AM – 4 PM during the Main Street Memories Car Show. The car show will be at Vantage Point directly behind Woman’s Life Insurance Society, and it draws a huge crowd of car enthusiasts.

The sale offers shoppers a fun twist on a traditional yard sale because none of the items are priced. You can find what you like from the many household items, clothes, sporting goods, and more, and simply offer a cash donation of your choice for your purchases.

Woman’s Life Club 11 is taking donations for the sale, and those who wish to help can contact Vickie Fournier at  810-985-5191 extension 169. The club will receive a match from Woman’s Life Insurance Society on up to $500 of the amount they raise from the sale.

Parking for the event is directly behind the Woman’s Life Insurance Society building off 4th Street.

For more information visit their website here:

https://www.loc8nearme.com/michigan/port-huron/womans-life-insurance-society/6759488/

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Plan Now for Parking at Blue Water Fest

Blue Water Fest is coming up next week, and residents and visitors should plan now for parking in Downtown Port Huron.

The footprint of the event will be a little different this year, with most large events happening around the Blue Water Transit Center and McMorran Plaza. Main Street will be closed from Superior to the Military Street bridge and portions of McMorran Blvd., Grand River Avenue, and Quay Street will also be closed. There are short sections of Superior Street and Michigan that will be closed as well.

Also new this year, a Street Fair is planned for the stretch of Main Street between Superior and Grand River on Thursday and Friday (July 14th & 15th) with food trucks and over 50 art vendors from all over Michigan. On Saturday, festival goers can get a Taste of Port Huron from noon – 2 PM during this bite-sized sampling tour of Port Huron Restaurants while also enjoying outdoor entertainment from Cirque Amongus.

In addition to the new elements, Blue Water Fest will bring back favorites like Operation Transformation’s Family Night activities near the 10th Street bridge on Thursday, Mannequins Making a Difference in front of PH Country Style Market, and all the elements of the Bayview Mackinac Race.

Construction is still going on in the Quay Street parking lot near the Zebra Bar, but it is available for parking during the festival. Free parking is also available in the lot between Quay and Grand River, which will only be accessible by entering on Quay. Parking will also be available in the north McMorran Lot and for a donation at St. Clair County Community College.

 

For a full schedule of Blue Water Fest events, visit their website here:

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Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Invasive Beech Leaf Disease Detected in St. Clair County

Invasive beech leaf disease has been confirmed in southern St. Clair County. That’s not great news, as the disease was not previously known to be in Michigan, the home of around 37 million American beech trees.

The disease is associated with a microscopic worm that damages leaves of American, European, and Asian beech species. Infected trees die within six to ten years of initial symptoms.

The disease was detected thanks to landowners who reported the suspected outbreak to the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network.

Simeon Wright, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Forest Health Specialist said, “Though beech leaf disease was detected this spring, the condition of the leaves and number of trees affected at this location suggests the disease has been there for more than a year. Because symptoms are slow to emerge, it is difficult to detect the disease before it is established.”

Symptoms of beech leaf disease are dead buds and darkened, thick tissue bands between leaf veins that make leaves look striped.

See below for instructions on reporting suspected cases and more information about the invasive disease.

DNR and MDARD encourage monitoring for any signs of the disease. If you suspect you have found a symptomatic tree, take one or more photos of the infested tree, including close-ups of affected leaves; note the location, date and time; and report it in one of the following ways:

DNR Forest Health Division: Email DNR-FRD-Forest-Health@Michigan.gov or call 517-284-5895.

Use the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN) online reporting tool.

Download the MISIN smartphone app and report from your phone – MISIN.MSU.edu/apps/.

For more information on beech leaf disease and other species on Michigan’s watch list, visit Michigan.gov/Invasives.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Be Aware of Dive Flags When Boating; Give Scuba Divers Space

What should you do if you see a red and white flag floating on the surface of a body of water? You should be aware that the flag means that a scuba diver is beneath the water and you need to give them some space.

Boaters need to be especially cautious and stay at least 100 feet away from the dive flag when boating in a river, channel, or inlet. Stay at least 300 feet away from the dive flag if boating in open water.

Divers could be doing anything from repairing underwater structures, to recovering lost items, to exploring the underwater world recreationally. Divers are trained to surface within 100 feet of the flag. The dive flag is placed in the water before scuba divers go under the water and removed once they get out.

Scuba divers can often be found near break walls in the St. Clair River, but they could also be in open water. Bubbling at the water’s surface is another clue, besides the flag, that there is a scuba diver at work or play beneath the water.

First responders also have teams that are trained for underwater operations.

Be aware of Dive Flags, keep your watercraft away from the area, and enjoy the water.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland