DNR: Don’t Trim Oak Trees until Mid-July

With Spring in the air, it might seem like the perfect time to clean up the trees in your yard. But hold off on trimming oak trees.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says that oak trees shouldn’t be trimmed between April 15th and July 15th because of the risk of spreading “oak wilt”.

Oak wilt is a serious fungal disease that is a microscopic killer of oak trees. The fungus is spread by flying beetles. The disease is especially deadly for red oak trees and can kill them within weeks. It can also weaken white oak trees.

James Wieferich, forest health specialist in the DNR’s Forest Resources Division, said, “The guidelines against pruning oak trees during this time can help prevent the spread of the disease.”

Freshly cut firewood can also spread the disease.

Trees will show symptoms of oak wilt by wilting from the top down and rapidly dropping leaves. The disease usually shows up from late June to September.

The DNR warns that if you have a tree that gets damaged during the risk period from April 15 to July 15, immediately cover all wounds with tree-wound paint or latex-based paint.

Oak wilt outbreaks should be reported to the DNR.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Kanchan Wankhede The Under Ground

Kanchan Wankhede to Lead Entrepreneurs at The Underground

Port Huron, MI — The Underground Business Incubator and Service Center is getting a new Director of Entrepreneurial Services, local human resources professional and advocate for minority and women owned businesses, Kanchan Wankhede.

Dan Casey, CEO of the St. Clair County Economic Development Alliance (EDA), said, “We are excited to welcome Kanchan to our EDA team.  She is a great fit for managing the region’s Smartzone Incubator and Business Center.  She has experience working with businesses and organizations that not only have a local or United States footprint, but that spread well into India, Europe and Asia.  As a small business owner herself, she understands the challenges and obstacles entrepreneurs face on a daily basis.  Area entrepreneurs looking to launch or grow their business will benefit from Kanchan’s knowledge, experience and desire to help them be successful.”

Kanchan is the Principal Consultant for her company Great Workplace LLC, and she has also be working with the Community Foundation of St. Clair County for the last year consulting local Minority and Women Owned businesses. She has helped many people motivate, organize, and bring greater success to their businesses.

In a press release, Wankhede said, “The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.  So, aim high, believe you can and you are halfway there.  I look forward to assisting facilitate new startups and helping entrepreneurs grow though coaching, connections to potential funding sources and more in my new role at The Underground.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

McLaren Port Huron’s Wound Healing Center Receives Award

Port Huron, MI — Healogics is the nation’s wound healing expert, and they just presented McLaren Port Huron’s Wound Healing Center with the Center of Distinction award for their outstanding clinical outcomes and high patient satisfaction rates.

Wound care centers specialize in treating patients with wounds that are not healing as expected. Patients usually suffer from poor circulation, infections, and other health conditions that prevent them from healing in a normal amount of time and can require months of wound care to resolve their issues.

The McLaren Port Huron Wound Healing Center is part of the Healogics network of over 600 wound care centers that offer specialized wound care including hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is commonly used to treat Diabetic foot wounds, chronic bone infections, and radiation tissue damage.

Patients who received care at McLaren Port Huron’s Wound Healing Center gave the center a satisfaction rate higher than 92% and a minimum wound healing rate of at least 92% within 28 median days to heal.

To learn more visit their website <HERE> .

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

I-69/M-19 Road Work Begins

Orange barrels are out as a big road construction project in St. Clair County gets underway. The Michigan Department of Transportation is putting major investment into fixing the pavement on both I-69 and M-19 near the village of Emmett.  

The pavement on I-69 and M-19 has been deteriorating and in need of repair. The state is putting $38 million into the project, which is expected to last until November of 2022.

The roadwork will stretch from Miller Road to I-69, covering six miles, and will also take care of the slice of M-19 from I-69 to Burt Road.

MDOT says there will be single-lane closures and traffic shifts. The ramp at Riley Center Road will be affected intermittently throughout the project and M-19 traffic will be maintained with a temporary signal.

The work is being done to address the impact on commerce, tourism, and commuter traffic on the heavily traveled roads. I-69 is part of the International Trade Corridor.

The road work is part of the Rebuilding Michigan program which uses bond sales to finance the statewide infrastructure initiative.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Michigan Suicide Prevention Commission Addresses Alarming Suicide Rate

Michigan has a lot of problems right now, and one of them is an average of four lives lost each day to suicide. The Michigan Suicide Prevention Commission has made it a priority to address this heart-breaking problem.

The rate of people dying from self-harm has increased steadily over the past decade. The Commission is working to minimize risk by promoting safe environments, resiliency, and connectedness. They are also working to expand access to care for at-risk people, improve prevention and training, and implement best practices in suicide prevention for health care systems. There is also an initiative to enhance data collection specifically pertaining to suicide.

MDHHS Chief Medical Executive, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, said, “Suicide is preventable, and Michigan’s current suicide rates are unacceptable. However, through our plans and intentional actions, we can provide the help and resources necessary to save lives. Together, we can make Michigan a model state for suicide prevention, and a place where everyone gets the help they need, when they need it.”

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/coronavirus/Suicide_Prevention_Commission_Initial_Report_Final_Draft_719896_7.pdf

Anyone who needs help can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 1-800-273-8255 or 1-800-273-TALK. Press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line. Anyone under age 21 can ask to talk to a peer at Teen Link, 1-866-833-6546.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Ferrellgas Enters Settlement with Michigan AG

Lansing, MI — The Michigan Department of Attorney General entered into a settlement agreement with Ferrellgas, LP after an informal investigation into the company’s business practices.

Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office and the Better Business Bureau received numerous complaints about the company from customers in Michigan who use them as a supplier of propane gas.

According to a press release from the Attorney General’s office, customers cited difficulty contacting Ferrellgas representatives by phone, protracted delivery periods following the placement of orders, and inability to secure expedited fills to resolve situations where homes were without heat in January and February.

“Being without heat for even a day during a Michigan winter is emotionally devastating and can be dangerous,” Nessel said. “Ferrellgas and other propane providers are now on notice that this office will not tolerate any company that breaks its commitments to consumers and leaves them sitting in the cold.”

Ferrellgas entered into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance and Discontinuance agreement with the Attorney General’s Office which requires the company to implement a number of reforms, payments, and refunds to the AG’s office and its customers.

Customers can file a complaint against Ferrellgas with the Attorney General’s Office Here:

https://secure.ag.state.mi.us/complaints/consumer.aspx

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand