MDARD Lifts Ban on Bird Exhibits Just in Time for Fair Season

There’s good news for those who love looking at the poultry and waterfowl exhibits at county fairs. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has lifted the statewide temporary ban that was imposed to limit the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The goal of going thirty days without a new breakout of the virus has been met, so the ban has been lifted, but that does not mean that the highly contagious virus is completely gone.

State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland said, “Even though the state has been able to reach this incredibly important benchmark, this does not mean the virus has left Michigan. HPAI continues to be detected in wild birds throughout the state, which is not unexpected as the virus is known to be carried by wild birds. Since the virus is still present in the environment, it is still crucial for owners and caretakers of domestic birds to take every step possible to protect their flocks.”

There isn’t believed to be a risk to humans from bird flu, but poultry and egg products should always be fully cooked and precautions should be taken when dealing with live birds, including poultry and waterfowl.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

St. Clair County Wins Grant to Expand Internet Access

Michigan is investing in bringing high-speed internet to more consumers than ever. The latest round of investments has granted over $3 million to Michigan communities with a significant portion going to Duke Broadband in St. Clair County.

The Ira Expansion project has a total price tag of over $1.3 million. The Connecting Michigan Communities Grant will award over $858,000 toward the project.

The proposed fiber project will connect 367 locations with high-speed internet access.

This is the fourth round of awards as part of an initiative to expand broadband service to underserved areas in Michigan.

The Michigan High-Speed Internet Office is working to drive down costs and boost digital literacy along with expanding service. Training materials will be provided to residents in the expanded service area, along with collaboration with community groups to host events to promote e-learning, job, and workforce training.

Funding also went to projects in Menominee and Manistee counties.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Volunteers Needed for OT’s Family Night

Operation Transformation is gearing up for their annual Family Night during Blue Water Fest or Boat Week. The event is planned for Thursday, July 14th from 5 – 9 PM.

Family Night takes over the lawn area near the northeast corner of the 10th Street bridge in Port Huron where vendors set up kid-friendly activities and provide resources for families. This year’s planned activities are pony rides, a petting zoo, live music, carnival games, and more. There will be plenty of fund for kids and all activities are free.

Operation Transformation is also looking for sponsors for the event to join with their main sponsors: Blue Water Area Churches, James C. Acheson Foundation, Kiwanis Club of Port Huron, Power 88.3/90.7 Hope FM, and Woman’s Life Chapters 800 & 808.

Volunteers can help set up the event, direct vendors to their places, and clean up when the event ends. To volunteer, contact Renee Hernandez at 810-966-8660.

More information is available at www.optrans.org.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

New Laws Allow for Swim-up Bars, 17-year-old Bar Servers

Several bills were signed into law this week, with two expanding how alcohol can be sold to consumers.

House Bill 4232 lowers the legal age for those who can serve alcohol in restaurants to seventeen. Lawmakers say the new law is meant to “expand the workforce” for restaurants and other businesses that serve alcohol and are having trouble finding workers.

Michigan Licensed Beverage Association Executive Director Scott Ellis said, “While this is a big win for our entire industry, I know our businesses in northern Michigan and other tourist areas will benefit tremendously from the signing of this bill.” 

House Bills 5983 and 5984 allow for eating and drinking in public swimming pools and for swim-up bars. According to the Office of Gretchen Governor Whitmer, the bills are meant to “maximize business heading into a Pure Michigan summer”.

The swim-up bar legislation was applauded by the Zehnder family of Frankenmuth who owns the Bavarian Inn Lodge, which has a large water park onsite. State Representative Rodney Wakeman of Frankenmuth introduced Bill 5984.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Terra Damchuk of Blue Water Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Wins Statewide Award

The Blue Water Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has announced that Terra Damchuk, the Director of Sales, has won the “Most Innovative Planner of the Year Award”.

The award was given out at the Annual Meeting Professionals International 50-Year Celebration held at the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City earlier this month. Meeting Professionals International serves the meetings and event industry.

Damchuk was selected out of 200 possible candidates. She was recognized for bringing the chapter its first hybrid event involving five different in-person watch parties across the state as well as a virtual component. The innovative format was replicated across MPI Global to engage members while offering education and professional development on a regional level.

Terra Damchuk is the Vice President of Education for the Michigan Chapter of the Meeting Professionals International, as well as the Director of Sales for the Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Bureau promotes the Blue Water region as a desirable convention and tourism location.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Dedication Ceremony Planned for Seven Grandfathers Sculpture

The Blue Water River Walk has a new sculpture honoring the area’s Native American past and looking toward the future with hope. A ceremony to dedicate the Seven Grandfathers sculpture will be on June 21st at 10 AM.

Friends of the St. Clair River is celebrating Indigeneous culture and art at the dedication of the Seven Grandfathers sculpture and the River Walk Garden or Giitigan. The ceremony includes drumming and dancers from the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, a smudging ceremony, and a planting project.

The Seven Grandfathers sculpture was carved by Garret Nahdee of the Ojibway Tribe of Walpole Island, and it stands overlooking the St. Clair River at about the middle of the River Walk trail.

Friends Restoration Coordinator Brooke Hiller said, “We want people to come celebrate indigenous culture, learn about native plants, and help us celebrate this project for healing the past and giving hope for the future. We are thrilled to have been awarded a Wildflower Association of Michigan grant to complete the new River Walk Giitigan with plants of Native American significance. Giitigan is the Anishinaabe word for garden. Anishinaabe people are Native Americans and First Nations (Canadian) members of local tribes in the Blue Water Area.”

The ceremony is open to the public and all tools for planting will be provided.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand