Submitted by the St. Clair County Health Department:

Dr. Annette Mercatante, Medical Health Officer of the St. Clair County Health Department has determined the Public Health Order requiring that masks be worn in K-12 educational settings will not be extended and, therefore, will expire upon the completion of classes on Friday, January 28, 2022.

This decision was made after careful consideration and is based on the following factors.  COVID-19 case counts in the schools have leveled out in such a way that they are manageable by the schools.  Absences in the schools are down and the schools have been able to maintain the staffing levels sufficient to operate. Fortunately, the schools were able to remain open and the mitigation provided by masking met its intended purpose.  Also, although local hospitals are challenged, the number of cases in our local hospitals are decreasing.  All of this supports Dr. Mercatante’s decision to allow the order to expire.  At this point the mitigation measures to be used will be left to the local Schools as they had previously requested.

With the Order expiring, the St. Clair County Health Department strongly recommends masks continue to be worn in K-12 setting as well as all public and crowded spaces until viral transmission rates are below 10%.  Applying preventive measures that include physical distancing, mask wearing, hand hygiene, and cleaning of high-touch surfaces does reduce the spread and impact of COVID-19.

Email COVID-19 questions to covid19@stclaircounty.org or call (810) 966-4163. For more COVID-19 information visit the health department website www.scchealth.co and social media @scchdmi.                                                  

Dr. Annette Barnes is the most recent recipient of the Dr. Bassam Nasr Community Service Leader Award. The award is issued by the St. Clair County Medical Society, a community of Blue Water Area physicians.

Dr. Barnes is a Board-Certified Pediatrician who has been practicing in Por Huron since 1997. Her office is located on Electric Avenue in Port Huron.

The Nasr award is named after the late Dr. Bassam Nasr, a local gastroenterologist, philanthropist, and one of the co-founders of Physician Healthcare Network.

According to a press release from the St. Clair County Medical Society, “Dr. Barnes has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to the pediatric population of our  community, both within and beyond the walls of her practice. She has been a mentor to  many area youth and she has provided guidance to several local groups and  organizations.”

Dr. Barnes was also complimented on the way she served her patients during the Covid pandemic by continuing to keep her office open and maintaining a high vaccination rate for her pediatric patients.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

There’s a new plan for trails in the state of Michigan. The Department of Natural Resources has announced the creation of the 2022-2032 Michigan DNR Trails Plan.

The DNR has determined that 79% of Michiganders enjoy some sort of outdoor recreation and that outdoor recreation contributes an estimated $9.5 billion to the state’s economy.

The plan calls for an updated framework implemented over the next decade to manage the state’s 13,400 miles of trails. The trails are used for hiking, horseback riding, biking, snowmobiling, off-roading, and other recreational pursuits year-round.

The motto “explore, connect, sustain” is the foundation of the plan. Key points in the plan include analyzing the connections between existing trails and communities, recognizing funding sources for trails, and creating a strategy for trail use through online resources and other DNR channels.

2022-2032 Michigan DNR Trails Plan

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

The Friends of the St. Clair River are hosting a unique series of Game Nights with a twist. The Wild Green Winter Game Nights will be held at Border Keep Games in Downtown Port Huron and will feature games highlighting nature.

The Friends of the St. Clair River work to be good stewards of the St. Clair River and to provide educational opportunities to the community about the important ecosystem. Staff from Friends of the St. Clair River will be on hand to help with the games.

The tabletop games will simulate hiking, building food webs, and adapting to the ecosystems. Game players will also explore birding and other outdoor pursuits while staying warm and cozy during the coldest time of the year.

The game nights will be held on January 28th, February 25th, and March 25th at 7:00 p.m.  A $5 per person donation to Friends of the St. Clair River is suggested. A donation includes a beverage voucher. Refreshments will be available from Border Keep Games.

Border Keep Games is located at 942 Military Street in Downtown Port Huron.

Registration information can be found at the following link.

https://www.facebook.com/events/901116207262410/

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland