Part of the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to engage with local, state, and federal officials and help connect them to its members. At the 8th Annual Eggs & Issues Legislative Breakfast on August 23rd, chamber members had a chance to hear from local representatives to the Michigan State Senate and House, U.S. Congress, and St. Clair County Board of Commissioners.

The panel of legislators included Congresswoman Lisa McClain, Senator Dan Lauwers, State Representative Andrew Beeler, and S.C.C.C. Chair Jeff Bohm. The event was moderated by Scott Shigley, Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Committee Chair.

Congresswoman Lisa McClain talked about the Inflation Reduction Act that was recently signed by President Biden, and she expressed concern that incentives for renewable energy included in the bill may not be helpful for medium to small businesses.

McClain also noted she felt there was a disconnect in Washington between what high-level government officials believed was happening in communities like St. Clair County and what she hears from her constituents.

“I think the biggest problem [is that] you have all these government officials in D.C., you have all these administrative departments in government, that have no clue of what’s happening in our district,” said McClain.

McClain is hosting the Secretary of Labor on October 4th so she can connect him with business leaders to talk about the seriousness of the labor shortage and other issues affecting Michigan’s 10th District.

Senator Lauwers shared his observations that many businesses are struggling to get back on track since the COVID-19 pandemic. He has seen a pattern in the number of businesses coming to him with problems dealing with the State over matters of permits.

Both Senator Lauwers and Representative Beeler shared their frustration over government regulations that they believe may be prohibiting businesses from growing in our area. They cited several examples of business owners seeking licenses or permits who faced multiple barriers to expanding their businesses or opening a new one.

Representative Beeler also addressed a question about what can be done to solve the child care shortage in St. Clair County.

“The child care issue is a basic supply and demand problem,” said Beeler. “We have extremely low supply, and there is high demand for people who need it.”

Beeler went on to say, “To me, what can I do, Dan, Lisa, Jeff, what can we all do? We can create a better environment for people to compete in the market of child care, and the marketplace will solve this problem.”

When the panel was asked how they felt about Shane Hernandez running for Lt. Governor alongside Tudor Dixon and what that would mean for St. Clair County, Senator Lauwers replied, “It’s a big deal for us if he gets elected.”

He went on to express Hernadez’s commitment to the community,  “I think it would be fantastic for our area. How long has it been since we had someone at top-level in the administration that knew us , that understood us?”

Rep. Beeler said, “I think it’s a continuation of a wave of normal people getting involved in government.”

Shane is one of us. He’s a business owner, he’s a dad, he lives…in Port Huron, he goes to church here.  Beeler also said, “There is not some sort of ruling class in this country of people who are smart enough to make decisions and those who aren’t. There are just Americans, and Michiganders who should step up, and the difference between those who are doing it and those who aren’t is that those who are doing it raise their hands. I’m encouraged to see a guy like Shane on the ticket, potentially the number two guy in the state. That’s really inspiring. I think it should be inspiring to all of us.”

The panel also discussed access to elections and student loan debt along with the expansion of the IRS through the Inflation Reduction Act.

For more information about the legislators present at this event, contact them here:

Senator Dan Lauwers: https://www.senatordanlauwers.com/

Rep. Andrew Beeler: https://gophouse.org/member/repandrewbeeler/posts

Congresswoman Lisa McClain: https://mcclain.house.gov/

Commissioner Jeff Bohm: https://www.stclaircounty.org/offices/boc/DistrictInfo.aspx?district=5

To learn more about the advocacy aspects the the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce, visit their website here:

https://www.bluewaterchamber.com/about-us.html

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

Four men were arrested and are facing drug-related charges after a lengthy investigation by the St. Clair County Drug Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations Border Enforcement Security Team.

On August 18, 2022, law enforcement arrested the men after they crossed the Blue Water Bridge into the U.S. in a semi truck and made their way to a business parking lot in Columbus Township to transfer drugs from the semi to a van.

Officers seized 348 pounds of marijuana and 24 pounds of Ecstasy from the transaction. After another suspect arrived at the scene, officers obtained a search warrant for a home in Detroit where they seized a firearm, ammunition, and over $36,000 in U.S. currency.

Three of the men arrested were from Detroit and the semi-truck driver was Canadian. As a result of this narcotics bust, officers seized drugs with a street value of over 1,000,000.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Yvonne Markel, President of the St. Clair County Farm Museum, shares the details on the 38th Annual Fall Harvest Days.

Learn more about the St. Clair County Farm Museum here:

St Clair County Farm Museum

The Boil Water Advisory for all communities affected by the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) water main break has been lifted, and workers anticipate the arrival of the replacement pipe today.

Crews worked over the weekend to remove the damaged section of the 120-inch water pipe and prep for the new piece. Shortly after the initial break, GLWA ordered all available pipe to complete the repair, but more pipe needed to be manufactured to complete the project.

The additional 48-feet of pipe is expected today, and if all goes well, the project will stay on track and be completed by September 3, 2022.

Only one area, a business in Greenwood, is still under a Boil Water Advisory, and GLWA cautions that another advisory could be issued before the repairs are complete. They are asking all 23 communities who were initially affected by the break to limit their outdoor water usage until repairs are complete.

If there is any significant drop in water pressure during the repair process, the Boil Water Advisory will be reissued.

For more information about what do do after a Boil Water Advisory, visit St. Clair County’s website here:

https://stclaircounty.org/Main/ViewPR.aspx?id=2521

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Losing a loved one is never easy. The laughter and good times linger in our minds as we grieve and cope in the best way we can. Port Huron lost one of its most influential community leaders last week. Marguerite Stanley was 98 at the time of her passing, living a full life that touched numerous individuals and influenced others to find greatness inside of themselves.

A brief history of Ms. Stanley’s accomplishments include being a contributing columnist for the Michigan Chronicle in Detroit as well as a community columnist for the Times Herald in Port Huron. In 1968 she became the first African American from the area to host Across the Tracks, a regularly scheduled TV show which addressed local minority issues. Stanley also hosted a radio talk show titled “Come Ride With Me.”

The list of her contributions goes on, acquiring many awards and accolades over the years. One of her most recent contributions can be found in the Port Huron Museum. “From Whence We Came: Black History in the Blue Water Area” is an exhibit that showcases the contributions of African Americans from past to present. The Stanley Legacy Wall showcases the names of those who have made contributions in the Port Huron community in areas such as business, education, entertainment, and more. 

Survived by more than 120 plus family members, the Stanley legacy will continue going strong and inspiring others for years to come. The family will gather to honor and say their final goodbyes today, and we here at WGRT send our condolences as well in honor of Ms. Marguerite Stanley. 

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

The annual “Yard of the Year” contest put on by the Beautification Commission in Port Huron, has selected this year’s winners. The contest awards residential and commercial participants for maintaining beautiful homes and yards. Residential winners receive the coveted wooden yellow tulip, and business owners receive a plaque that they can display. 

This year’s commercial winner was 2401 North Blvd. in Port Huron, home of the community garden put into place by Seed & Soul Society, the Southside Initiative, and the landowner. Seed and Soul Society is a nonprofit that empowers local communities towards sustainable agriculture and mutual growth, and the Southside Initiative is a community group committed to social and economic issues in the South End of the City of Port Huron.

“We are grateful to all who have supported us and we thank you for the opportunity to grow in this neighborhood,” says Heather Fagan, President and Co-Founder of Seed and Soul.

Categories are broken into central, north, and south. The residential winners of the central category are: Micheal and Melanie Belleman, Douglas Bishop, and Michaelene Dye.

Winners of the north category are Paul and LuAnn Carpo, George and Deborah Moss, and Scott and Nancy Nelson.

Winners of the south category include Scott and Karen Harris, Catherine Lammertz, and Noel Suarez.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell