Michigan Works! Macomb/St. Clair Awarded Young Professionals Grant

The Young Professionals Initiative is a grant program that is meant to reduce youth unemployment and put young people aged 14 to 24 on the path to self-sufficiency.

The local Michigan Works! Macomb/St. Clair branch has been granted $184,996. Statewide, $4 million were granted to sixteen agencies that assist with employment.   

Stephanie Beckhorn, Director of LEO’s Office of Employment and Training said, “This funding allows our Michigan Works! partners to take a localized approach to support young adults, helping us close equity gaps, address talent shortages, and remove barriers to employment.” 

Participants in the programs will be provided with career preparation for high-demand industries like construction, healthcare, information technology, and manufacturing.

The program aligns with Michigan’s “Sixty by 30” goal of having at least 60% of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree by 2030 and to have long-term sustainable employment.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Project Blue Light to Deter Crime, Build Relationships

Blue lights are going to be going up around town, and there’s a good reason. The Port Huron Police Department is partnering with local businesses to deter crime with Project Blue Light.

The lights signal a relationship between law enforcement and Port Huron bars, restaurants, entertainment venues, stores, and gas stations that have surveillance equipment that meets the standards required by the project.

Lieutenant Jeremy Young said that the point of the Project is to deter crime and build relationships with local businesses. The businesses that agree to have the lights installed agree to partner with police to use their existing surveillance equipment to help the police increase response time and solve crimes if they occur in the vicinity.

Lieutenant Young said, “Ultimately, this program uses advanced surveillance as a deterrent.” Young emphasized that the police are not able to watch live footage, and they only have access to the private property of the businesses with the permission of the business.

So far, many businesses have signed on to the program and residents should start seeing the blue lights in the coming weeks.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Westphal Commended for Bravery

A St. Clair County Sheriff’s Deputy was recently recognized for extreme bravery and for carrying out a successful apprehension to get a dangerous felon into custody.

Deputy Mike Westphal, a nineteen-year veteran, was presented with a St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office Department Citation last week for his apprehension of an armed suspect who had multiple felony warrants outstanding.

The incident for which Westphal was recognized occurred in December of 2021. Deputy Westphal set up surveillance and ended up pursuing the subject on foot. The subject pulled a gun on Deputy Westphal, at which point, Westphal requested backup and switched from taser to gun. Westphal continued to pursue the subject on foot and eventually from his patrol vehicle. He was able to apprehend the subject and remove the gun, and eventually place the subject under arrest.

St. Clair County Sherriff Mat King said, “I am very proud of Mike and his decision making in an extremely stressful situation. After reviewing the bodycam footage, I found Mike’s actions to be very brave and professional with a suspect who pointed a handgun at him.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Construction on I-94 Bridge Starts Saturday

Starting Saturday, April 2, 2022, westbound I-94 will be detoured to create an alternate route around the bridge near the Blue Water Bridge Plaza. Throughout the weekend, a maintenance crew will be working on the westbound I-94 bridge, which runs over the abandoned eastbound I-94 bridge.

Construction on the westbound I-94 bridge will begin at 6 AM Saturday and should be complete by 7 AM on Monday, April 4, 2022.

Detours will be posted to direct traffic around the area via the I-94 Business Loop, Hancock Street, Pine Grove Avenue/Huron Avenue/Military Street, and westbound Griswold Street. Travelers headed west out of the Port Huron Area should enter I-94 at Water Street or farther west to avoid construction.

Work on the bridge will improve the driving surface and extend the life of the bridge.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Exciting New Developments in City of Port Huron wsg. Sherry Archibald

 

City of Port Huron Mayor Pro-Tem Sherry Archibald shares updates from this week’s City Council meeting.

In this episode, Sherry and Jessie chat about where to hang out in downtown Port Huron this summer, the actual name of the giant round bank, and whose job it is to fix the sidewalks in front of your house.

They also discuss:

  • Workforce housing and affordable housing developments in the city of Port Huron
  • Conner Street Corridor improvements
  • McMorran Plaza
  • Grocery store on the Southside of Port Huron
  • Ice skating at McMorran Plaza
  • Concerts at McMorran Plaza
  • Pocket parks and entertainment around Port Huron in the summer
  • Improving neighborhoods
  • What will the city do with their Central Fire Station?
  • Is there help for homeowners who can’t afford to repair or replace their broken sidewalks?

Connect with the Port Huron City Council here:

https://porthuron.org/government/city_council/index.php

Connect with the Planning Department about sidewalk issues here:

https://porthuron.org/departments/planning_community_development/index.php

Follow Downtown Port Huron’s Facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/downtownporthuron

 

The WGRT Local News Podcast is part of the WGRT 102.3 FM Podcast Network. For the latest episodes of all of our featured podcasts, visit our website here:

https://wgrt-1023-fm-podcast-network.captivate.fm

The WGRT Local News Podcast is produced by the following team members:

Executive Producer: Jessie Wiegand

Audio Engineer: George James

Administrator: Jessie Wiegand

Marketing: Jessie Wiegand

Follow WGRT Local News on Facebook here:

https://www.facebook.com/WGRTlocalnews

 

Friends of the St. Clair River, Thumb Land Conservancy Win Grants from Bioregion Reparation Fund

The Port Huron-based Bioregion Reparation Fund is funding two projects in St. Clair County. Grants are going to the Thumb Land Conservancy and the Friends of the St Clair River.

The Bioregion Reparation Fund is managed by the Community Foundation of St. Clair County. Founded in 2018, the fund was started by the Sisters of Mary Reparatrix, whose goal is to respond to issues of justice, peace, and integrity of creation.  Port Huron’s Full Circle Eco-House of Prayer is operated by local Sisters Veronica Blake and Conception Gonzalez, who are part of the international congregation.

Sister Veronica Blake said, “We partnered with the Community Foundation of St. Clair County to manage our fund to help continue the legacy of this important work of raising awareness for the beauty of Earth and its present crises.”

One grant will go toward the construction of a kiosk at the Bidwell Sanctuary in Burtchville where the Thumb Land Conservancy is preserving the rare, ancient beach ridge ecosystem. The other grant will be used to support a summer intern with the Friends of the St. Clair River.

More information can be found at WGRT.com.

For more information, call Full Circle at 810-364-3326 or visit www.fullcircleretreat.org.

To learn how to make a donation to Bioregion Reparation Fund, visit www.fullcircleretreat.org/bioregion-reparation-fund.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland