Bridge Back Open – Suspicious Container NOT Explosive Device

Port Huron, MI — On June 10, 2021 at 7:36 a.m. a suspicious container was observed near the train tracks and the scenic turnout north of the Blue Water Bridge by a U.S. Border Patrol Agent who happen to come across it. The Port Huron Police and Fire Department arrived.

The Michigan State Police Bomb Squad was called to the scene to examine it. At 9:24 a.m. the container was found to be a mechanical/electrical device in a cylinder shape
similar in size of a two liter bottle. It was not an explosive device.

Tri- Hospital EMS, Lake State Railway, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection as well as St. Clair County Homeland Security Emergency Management assisted at the scene.

Port Huron Police Officers and the Department of Public Works had blocked off street access. International traffic was stopped at the Blue Water Bridge for under 90 minutes. The United States Coast Guard and the Port Huron Fire Department stopped boat traffic in the area as a precaution. Everything has been re-opened. We would like to thank all agencies for their cooperation and response to this incident.

Submitted by the Port Huron Police Department

Bridge Closed – Police Investigating Suspicious Container

Port Huron, MI — Early this morning a suspicious container was observed near the train tracks and  the scenic turnout north of the Blue Water Bridge. The Michigan State Police Bomb Squad  has been called to the scene to examine it. The Port Huron Fire Department and U.S. Border Patrol are assisting.

Please refrain from entering the area around Wright and Elmwood. Port  Huron Police Officers and the Department of Public Works have blocked off access at this  time. The United States Coast Guard has blocked off boat traffic as a precaution. We will  notify you when it is safe to return.  

If you have knowledge of this suspicious package call the Port Huron Police Department at  (810) 984-8415.

Anonymous tips can be received through the CAPTURE Hotline at (810)  987-6688, emailed through www.porthuronpolice.org, or texted by downloading the Port  Huron PD app on apple or android devices.

Anonymous texts can also be received by texting  the keyword CAPTURE and their message/tip to 847411.  

Submitted by the Port Huron Police Department 

 

Health Department Moves COVID Services to Offices

St. Clair County, MI — The St. Clair County Health Department has moved the bulk of its COVID-19 testing and vaccine services to their main building on 28th Street in Port Huron and to the Teen Health center behind Port Huron High School on Court Street.

Appointments for testing and vaccines can still be done online at the Health Department’s website <HERE> or by calling the Health Department at (810)987-5300. All three vaccines, Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson are available.

COVID-19 Vaccine appointments are available for all people 12 years old and older at the Main Office Monday – Thursday, and for those 12 – 21 at Teen Health Monday – Thursday during normal business hours.

COVID-19 testing appointments are available Monday – Friday at both locations.

According to Dr. Annette Mercatante, Medical Health Officer for the St. Clair County Health Department, pop-up vaccine clinics will continue to be held throughout the county for the convenience of the public. Those clinics can be found at scchealth.co.

As of yesterday, there were 4,903 active cases of COVID-19 in St. Clair County.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

State GSRP Preschool Could Get Major Funding Increase

The Great Start Readiness Program, a publicly funded preschool, is getting money to expand. Publicly funded early childhood programs are only able to reach 66% of eligible four-year-olds due to funding and availability limitations.

State Budget Director David Massaron said, “There is bipartisan support to expand preschool access for kids across Michigan and I am pleased we can make this investment.

The plan to expand funding, announced by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on June 8th, proposes the allocation of $255 million in federal money and $150 million in state money. The total $405 million would be spent over the next three years.

While preschool has been shown to have both short-term and long-term benefits, the half and full-day programs also serve as free daycares, allowing parents to work. Jeff Donofrio, President and CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan said, “Investments in programs like GSRP not only will improve the lives of thousands of Michigan kids, it also will help many parents return to the workforce to build family-sustaining careers.”    

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Nominate an Outstanding Sarnia Lambton Business

Sarnia, Ontario — Nominations are now open for the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce’s Outstanding Business Achievement Awards. Nominations close at 11:59 PM on July 11th.

The Outstanding Business Achievement Awards enable the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the innovation and achievement of local businesses. This year’s spotlight will be on entrepreneurs and organizations that have gone above and beyond to support their staff, customers, and clients during the last year.

The added stress and creativity required to adapt to the pandemic were unprecedented challenges for Sarnia Lambton’s business leaders, and the Chamber wants to recognize the unsung heroes in the broad range of industry sectors it represents.

A gala to celebrate the award winners will be held virtually on Friday, October 22, 2021 from 6 – 8 PM.

To nominate a business, visit their website: https://slcc.awardify.io/

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Michigan Crisis and Access Line Created to Streamline Access to Mental Health Care

The Michigan Crisis and Access Line, or MiCAL, has been established to bridge the gap between need and access regarding psychiatric care.

Access to mental health services in Michigan has been difficult to navigate, particularly for health care providers and loved ones of patients needing in-patient care. Legislation was recently passed with the purpose of increasing the efficiency of finding available “psychiatric beds”, which refers to inpatient mental health care.

MiCAL will offer assistance 24 hours per day, seven days per week providing crisis and non-crisis services as well as informational resources and coordination with local health care systems. MiCAL will coordinate with treatment registries to find those scarce psychiatric beds along with substance abuse and crisis residential services.

The legislation compels MDHHS to maintain a registry of services to MiCAL and to coordinate sharing of data. The legislation was introduced by State Representative Mary Whiteford, a Casco Township Republican.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland