Plenty of Winter Fun Planned by Port Huron Recreation

Port Huron’s Recreation Department has a winter full of fun on tap for all ages. The 2022 Winter Events and Programs publication has been released and there is a lot going on.

Lunches for senior citizens are back at Palmer Park. The site is a congregate meal site for the St. Clair County Council on Aging. Lunches are served at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

There is also the “Oldies Get Goodies” program that delivers “Goodie Bags” to local seniors.

The Recreation Department is hoping for snow and cold with Sledfest on the calendar for January 22nd and the ice rinks at Lincoln and Palmer Parks are open for skaters once the ice freezes.

There are also the usual sports offerings like dance, fencing, drums alive, and karate. Tennis is also offered this year.

Registration begins December 16th for Port Huron residents and December 17th for non-residents. There are scholarship opportunities available.

Looking ahead to summer, registration for Camp Palmer, the summer day camp, begins February 28th for returning families.

A link to the full brochure can be found below.

https://www.porthuronrec.com/_files/ugd/fc6623_35d656b5e3d34091a236a61cec431e18.pdf

Historic Michigan License Plate Now Available

The “Water-Winter Wonderland” license plate is the newest addition to the Michigan Secretary of State’s License Plate Store.

Listed under the “Standard Plates” section of the online store, the “Water-Winter Wonderland” plate is here to bring back an old favorite.

According to the website, the plate was first issued in 1965 and was among the first license plates made of galvanized steel. The current version of the plate is a dark, navy blue with yellow lettering, and it’s made of rust-resistant aluminum.

The cost of ordering the new plate is $5, and you can have it personalized for an additional $15 on top of regular renewal or new license plate fees.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson remarked on the historical significance of the plate that was used in the year the National Voting Rights Act became law. She said, “I am proud to give Michiganders back a longtime favorite license plate that also marks a critical moment in the history of our nation’s democracy. In 1965, we worked together as a nation to protect and advance voting rights in pursuit of a more perfect union, just as today we must come together as a nonpartisan, pro-democracy coalition to protect and advance our elections.”

To learn more, visit the SOS website <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Port Huron Double Shooting Suspect Arraigned

Port Huron, MI — The suspect of the November 2021 shooting in the East Quay Street parking lot was arraigned on multiple charges December 1, 2021. Marcel Lamar Woods, a 30 year old Clinton Township man, faces eight counts total including two counts of Assault with Intent to Murder.

The shooting took place in the area around the East Quay Street parking lot which is between Fort Street and Michigan Street in Port Huron. The lot provides parking for those attending popular downtown restaurants such as Wings Etc., The Vintage, The Roach Bar, and Lynch’s Irish Tavern.

According to a press release from the Port Huron Police Department, Woods is accused of shooting from a vehicle at cars, building, and people on the evening of November 14, 2021.

During the incident, police say both Woods and an innocent bystander were injured, and “[T]he person who fired at Marcel Woods was identified as a 23 year old make Port Huron resident who was legally armed and appears to have acted in self-defense when he was shot at by Woods.”

The innocent bystander was a 23 year old Clyde Township resident who was treated and released from McLaren Port Huron Huron for a gunshot wound to his legs.

Marcel Lamar Woods was arraigned in 72nd District Court by the Honorable Judge Mona Armstrong on two counts each of Assault with Intent to Murder and Felony Firearm, and once count each of Discharging a Firearm at a Building, Discharging a Firearm from a Vehicle, and Possession of a Weapon by a Felon, and Possession of Ammunition by a Felon. His bond was set at $1 million, and his Probable Cause Conference is set for December 14, 2021.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

Vaccinated Canadians Don’t Need COVID Test for Short Trips

Sarnia, Ontario — This week marked the start of new travel guidelines for Canadians or those who have right of entry who make a short trip to the U.S. by land or air.

Canadian citizens, permanent residents, those registered under the Indian Act, and their children under 12 who are fully vaccinated, can travel to the U.S. and forgo the pre-entry COVID-19 test if they return to Canada within 72 hours.

Canadians are considered fully vaccinated if they are 14 days out from completing a series of an accepted vaccine. They must also be symptom free.

This opens the possibility for trips to the states to shop, dine, or fuel up their vehicles.

While COVID cases remain relatively low in Sarnia with Lambton Public Health reporting 40 active cases as of December 1st, the active case count in St. Clair County was 4,143 cases.

The St. Clair County Health Department is currently recommending masking in public along with all other safety measures encouraged during the pandemic.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

Program to Treat Opioid Use and Mental Health Disorders Expanded to Include St. Clair County

People who are struggling with an opioid use disorder and other health problems and who receive Medicaid benefits will now be able to have their healthcare needs met by a coordinated team of healthcare providers.

The plan is called the Opioid Health Home Initiative. The area of service has been expanded to include PIHP Region 10, which includes Genesee, Lapeer, Sanilac, and St. Clair counties.

It is possible that the Opioid Health Home could reach thousands of Medicaid beneficiaries with intensive care management and care coordination.

MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said, “The expansion of Opioid Health Home program will help address the complexity of physical and behavioral health conditions in Michigan and improve access to essential services. For enrolled beneficiaries, the Health Home will function as the central point of contact for directing patient-centered care across the broader health care system.”

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says that half of Medicaid recipients have an untreated mental health disorder. Two-thirds have an untreated substance abuse disorder. Participation in the Opioid Health Initiative is voluntary.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Local Quilters Donate 700 Quilts to Salvation Army

Every holiday season, the Salvation Army delivers gifts to over a thousand kids in the community. This year, many of those kids will be receiving an extra special gift.

Over 700 quilts have been donated by a network of quilters throughout the area. They will be given to children along with the usual donated toys and clothing and food.

Jacki Bennett, who co-owns RMC Quilts in Port Huron, said that the quilts were constructed by quilters from St. Clair, Macomb, and Lapeer counties and that while some people constructed entire quilts from beginning to end, some worked on just the tops, and others took home kits to work on. They got started at the end of June and just sent in the final quilts this week.

Bennett said that there was collaboration from Port Huron’s Sew Elegant store as well as quilting groups in the area. The quilt batting was donated by a supplier. All of the efforts are meant to “wrap the families in love”.

Kelley Herber, the Christmas Angel and Toy Warehouse coordinator for the Port Huron Citadel said the quilt donation has been a true blessing.

For more information about helping the Salvation Army with this year’s Christmas project:

https://www.walmart.com/registry/RR/db6ec80e-aa1f-4cb6-8f51-ad11e02b03bc?fbclid=IwAR3wo-b_fR47IamwEPAbvYNq6EUG98PBpaitA3mzXeTPf4HRgb1kx0KSjRE

https://www.amazon.com/registries/holiday/QO2NR2DLVFL/guest-view?ref=gr_search_page_result&fbclid=IwAR1axuvQWTKmWvNQoSRFojWznfJ_rQXFZ-ndQUryH8kQdyk2L-LVPdszj0w

Call the Salvation Army at 810 984-2679

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland