It’s Time to Nominate the Yard of the Year

Does your neighbor deserve the coveted yellow tulip for their stunning landscaping skills? It’s time to nominate your favorite homeowner or business for the City of Port Huron Beautification Commission’s Yard of the Year contest.

Nominations can be submitted to the Port Huron City Clerk through mail by writing the nominee’s name and address on a sheet of paper or by filling out the nomination form available <HERE>. You can also email nominations to beautifyph@porthuron.org.

The Beautification Commission selects members from the local Master Gardeners group to judge the nominees. Residential winners are recognized with a wooden yellow tulip to place in front of their homes. Business owners or nonprofit winners receive a plaque.

Nominations must be submitted by July 15, 2021 and judging takes place from the street at the end of July.

For more information, visit PortHuron.org

 

Whitmer, Legislature Could Pay People to Get Back to Work

Time to get to work, Michigan. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has asked the legislature to ramp up incentives for people to get off of unemployment and get back to earning a paycheck.

The “Back-to-Work Incentive” could expand to give a $300 per week bonus to those who were laid off and are now returning to work. The incentive could last through September 4th of this year. The federal subsidy that adds another $300 per week to unemployment checks is being used as an incentive to fill the jobs that employers are scrambling to fill.

Susan Corbin, Acting Director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, said, “Expanding the incentive would allow Michigan to take advantage of even more federal dollars flowing into our state to support local businesses and grow our economy.”

Corbin went on to say, “The program offers employers of all shapes and sizes the flexibility to address their specific business needs and an expansion would provide even greater work schedule flexibility for everyone as we work to defeat COVID-19 together.”  

The Back-to-Work Incentive could apply to new hires as well as former workers who have been collecting unemployment during the pandemic. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Students Win Tuskegee Airmen Essay Contest

Port Huron, MI — Three middle school students in the Port Huron Schools earned awards for their essays about the Tuskegee Airmen.

First place went to Michael Decker from Fort Gratiot Middle School, second place went to Ashton Richards from Central Middle School, and third place went to Lauryn Warner also from Central Middle School.

Port Huron School District middle schoolers had the opportunity to learn about the Tuskegee Airmen in class, and the essay contest was hosted in partnership with the committee for the Memorial for the Tuskegee Airmen, which is led by Port Huron City Councilwoman Anita Ashford and the group Diving with a Purpose.

The essay contest winners won awards ranging from $100 – $250 and will be officially recognized at the dedication ceremony for the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial on August 28th.

The goal of the memorial is to bring national attention to the accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen of WWII and to memorialize the pilots who perished in accidents in the Port Huron area. The memorial will be placed next to the International Flag Plaza along the St. Clair River near the Blue Water Bridge.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

International Organization Chooses Michigan Law Enforcement Officer for Bravery Award

Michigan State Police Trooper Mark Fletcher was selected as the 2020 International Association of Chiefs of Police/Motorola Solutions Trooper of the Year for the North Central Region. The Michigan State Police just released the details of the recognition.

The incident for which Fletcher was recognized was a hostage situation in Comstock Township, near Kalamazoo. A family was confronted by an armed intruder and a resident of the home was taken hostage. A shot was fired and troopers entered the home only to be shot at through the floor and walls. Three officers were shot, including Fletcher.

Fletcher administered first aid to an injured officer while injured himself and applied a tourniquet to his own leg. The gunman was captured by police.

Colonel Joe Gasper, director of the Michigan State Police said, “Trooper Fletcher’s bravery while under fire and his concern for others over himself is admirable and in keeping with the highest standards of our profession. His selfless and courageous actions are what we hope to instill in our troopers when they find themselves in such harrowing circumstances.”

A virtual ceremony was held this year to honor the finalists.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Whitmer Dropping All COVID Restrictions June 22

As of June 22, 2021, all capacity limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings and face mask requirements will end. Governor Whitmer announced today that she is accelerating the end of most COVID-19 epidemic orders.

In response to an increase in vaccinations and plummeting COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks, Whitmer said these changes are coming ahead of schedule.

Michigan is currently experiencing a case rate of 24.3 cases per million people and has a 1.9% positivity rate over the last seven days. Along with the decrease in cases, nearly 5 million Michiganders aged 16 and older have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, or 60% of those eligible.

St. Clair County currently has 3,081 active cases of COVID-19.

“Today is a day that we have all been looking forward to, as we can safely get back to normal day-to-day activities and put this pandemic behind us,” said Governor Whitmer. “We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the medical experts and health professionals who stood on the front lines to keep us all safe. And we are incredibly thankful to all of the essential workers who kept our state moving.”

Some epidemic orders pertaining to vulnerable populations in corrections and long-term care facilities and agriculture workers will remain in effect, and public health measures will continue for reporting requirements and testing to identify any instances of increased community spread.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Recovery High School Opening Fall 2021

Port Huron, MI — A new charter school is coming to the Port Huron area which will focus on youth who are recovering from substance use disorders. The Recovery High School Program at the St. Clair County Intervention Academy will offer a holistic education for 7th – 12th grade students, and enrollment is now open for the fall of 2021.

John Romine, Chairman of the Board for the Romine Group, believes the need for a school that supports youth in recovery is critical. Enrollment is voluntary, and students have to consent to join the program.

“They have to want it themselves, they have to say yes, I want to be in recovery. I no longer want to struggle with the addiction,” said Romine.

In response to statistics showing that youth were being admitted to the hospital for overdoses and concern from community service organizations that youth substance abuse was a pressing issue in the community, Romine began gathering support to create a recovery school over two years ago.

The Recovery High School Program will operate under the umbrella of the St. Clair County Intervention Academy and will be directed by Scott Steenbergh. Steenburgh has a background in social work and 12 years experience as a licensed and certified addictions counselor .

“The school provides a therapeutic community; mentors and peers that are helping kids get through things on a day-to-day basis.” said Steenbergh.

Students will be offered an initial assessment, given a specialized treatment plan which will include individual and group therapy, peer recovery support, and an individualized online curriculum with teacher support.

Tuition is free for families, and all students will be equipped with the technology required to be successful in the program.

For more information, connect with Scott Steenbergh at (586) 215-6534 or ScottSteenbergh@gmail.com

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand