Croswell Received Clean Water Grant

Governor Gretchen Whitmer awarded more than $14 million in grants under the umbrella of the MI Clean Water plan to help 28 Michigan cities, villages and townships better ensure safe, clean tap water for residents.

“By making critical investments in our water infrastructure, we can create thousands of good-paying jobs and protect access to safe drinking water and drive down costs for families and communities,” said Governor Whitmer. “The MI Clean Water plan is a game-changer for Michigan and we should continue building on it to replace all lead service lines statewide, tackle toxic contaminants, and lower utility bills for families.”

The grants, issued through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) support work including replacing lead service lines, enhancing water affordability plans, and connecting homes with contaminated drinking water wells to safe community water supplies.

In our area, the City of Croswell received a $323,756  Drinking Water Asset Management (DWAM) grant.

Submitted by Governor Whitmer’s Office

Voter Fraud Charges Announced by AG

Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel commented on the charges, saying, “These cases highlight the scrutiny applications and ballots undergo throughout the election process, as well as the thorough investigative process that ensues when instances of attempted fraud are suspected. 

The three people charged included a Macomb County nursing home employee who filled out voter applications without consent of the voters, a Wayne County grandmother who filled out an absentee ballot for her grandson who also voted in person, and a legal guardian who fraudulently obtained ballots for legally incapacitated individuals in both Wayne and Oakland counties.

Signature matching and security checks revealed the fraudulent applications or ballots. If found guilty, the penalties range from 90-day misdemeanors to five-year felonies for each charge.

Nessel said, “I appreciate our partners at the Department of State and Michigan State Police who brought these cases to us. These collaborative investigations assist in maintaining the integrity of our elections. We will not hesitate to prosecute anyone who attempts to undermine our elections.” 

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Marysville Gets Law Enforcement Grant

The City of Marysville will be getting $75,000 as part of a larger $1 million program to support officers and public safety across Michigan. The grants are part of a plan to increase public safety. Marysville was one of eleven municipalities that received grants, in addition to a grant to the Michigan State Police.

The City of Marysville’s grant is for supporting law enforcement in seeking accreditation, as are the grants given to several other cities.

The Michigan State Police received a grant of over $182,000 to support de-escalation training.

De-escalation programs improve communication when police and civilians have an encounter. The strategy helps officers maintain security, prevent crime, and advance community policing.

Colonel Joe Gasper, director of the Michigan State Police said, “At the core of de-escalation is communication. Our troopers and the communities we serve benefit when we improve how we approach and treat each other. “

The grants are awarded through the United States Department of Justice’s Community Development De-Escalation program.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Learn How to Adult in New 4-H Program

The 4-H Future Squad is a new program being offered by the MSU Extension, and its goal is to teach 12-19 year-olds how to “adult”.

“Adulting” is a fairly new verb being used to describe normal tasks of independent living such as paying bills, taking care of a home, and being a contributing member of a community.

The 4-H Future Squad consists of 30 virtual sessions along with an in-person session and a community service day. Youth must be enrolled in Michigan 4-H to participate, but registration is easy and available online.

Youth can attend as many sessions as they’d like to, and they will earn t-shirts and other incentives if they participate in 6 or more sessions. The program begins now (October 2021) and runs through June of 2022.

Some examples of topics include handling stress, preparing for work, communicating with others, and preparing food.

To learn more, visit the website here:

https://www.canr.msu.edu/career_preparation/4-hfuturesquad/

Both Agritourism and Farm-to-Table-Month Observed in October

October is both Agritourism Month and Farm-to-Table Month. The designations are meant to draw attention to Michigan’s family farms, processors, wholesalers, and retailers who rely on local customers especially during harvest time, and the connection between Michigan agriculture and school lunches.

Agritourism includes things like apple orchards and pumpkin patches, where agriculture and tourism connect by the public being invited on to the farm to enjoy their products and services.

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Gary McDowell said, “Agritourism opportunities are available in every county in our state, providing loads of family friendly fun.”

The National Farm to School program helps connect local dairy, fruits, vegetables, eggs, honey, meat, and beans with schools to get the products on the menus in school cafeterias. There is also a component of a nutrition-based curriculum and exposure to food growing.

State School Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice said that over a quarter of a billion meals have been served to school children and their younger siblings throughout Michigan since March 2020.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Federal Money to Go Toward Clearing Up Court Backlog

Courts have been backlogged for over 18 months since COVID slowed things down. A plan is in the works to take one aspect of the backlog, firearms-related cases, and speed up their processing with an increased number of visiting judges and increased funding for prosecution and defense.

The MI Safe Communities framework would use federal American Rescue Plan money to put $75 million into safety programs to help the justice system operate more efficiently.

Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget M. McCormack said, “Courts pivoted quickly to remote proceedings to keep our justice system running, and trial courts statewide have held nearly four million hours of remote hearings since April of 2020. To protect the rights of defendants, however, many criminal proceedings must be in person, creating a substantial backlog in many courts. Additional visiting judges will help tackle that backlog, resolve cases more quickly, and help keep our communities safe.” 

Part of the plan also calls for investment in Collaborative Community Violence Intervention Programs and an array of prevention and treatment services. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland