A private ceremony is being held at Garfield Elementary school today to honor the memory of Captain Roy Swanson.

Captain Swanson was a teacher at Garfield Elementary in the 1940s when it was called Garfield Junior High School.  He began teaching there after serving honorably in World War II, but he was recalled to duty in November of 1950 and tragically killed in action while serving in Korea.

A group of former students, veterans, and citizens requested the Board of Education plan a memorial to Captain Swanson, and the board agreed in February 2020.

The playground at Garfield Elementary will be dedicated to Captain Sawnson, and the students at the school will learn about him as part of their history lesson on Veterans Day.

The funds for this project were raised by local Veteran groups, and Theo Kerhoulas, Acting Superintendent of Port Huron Schools, said, “This will be a special day for the district and we look forward to sharing it with the generous Veterans who have made it possible and Captain Swanson’s family.” 

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

The recent Michigan Supreme Court Ruling striking down the State of Emergency and Emergency Orders from Governor Whitmer has had many people in an uproar.  It clearly brings on a considerable amount of questions regarding authority, funding and responsibility.  However one thing is fundamentally unchanged, we have a novel virus circulating that is highly contagious, causing significant illness and death.  It has the potential, if not controlled, of destroying our economy, crippling our healthcare system, and directly causing untold pain and suffering to a large portion of our society. Are you with me here? If you don’t believe me, spend a little time with the REAL medical and epidemiological literature. This is not a joke nor a hoax.

Assuming we acknowledge the real and immediate threat of this virus, what can we do?  We can’t run, it is everywhere. We can’t hide, unless you are willing to live in a bubble with ZERO social interactions.  What we CAN do is keep the spread of the virus to a level at which we can reasonably live our lives until a better therapeutic or vaccine is available. The good news is we know how to do that; social distancing and masks, as well as aggressive disease identification and disease transmission management (isolation and quarantine). People, this strategy works! St. Clair County has enjoyed a relatively low rate of spread for over 10 weeks as we (sometimes begrudgingly) complied with the Executive Orders. It’s not the Orders that worked, it is our behavior! We can still do that regardless of what the Governor, Supreme Court, or your neighbor says! When something is going well we do not purposely upend that and go in a different direction. That is irrational and reckless.

What we CAN do is the right thing. The things that will protect your family, friends and neighbors from COVID-19.  Follow the science, the evidence.  Wear your mask and make sure your children and family does as well. Don’t gather in large groups and keep meeting remotely or outdoors whenever possible. If you’re sick, evenly mildly ill, get tested for COVID-19. Don’t go to work or play with other people while you are ill. Wash your hands. Follow public health guidance; if you are told to quarantine please do so. Answer our phone calls and help us identify potential sources of further diseases spread.  All of these things work! The only reason laws are put in place is because people don’t follow these solid and effective suggestions.  If you do the right thing, we don’t need to argue about who has the authority to make the rules. The St. Clair County Health Department will follow the data. If the virus is spreading more rapidly and threatening our schools, healthcare systems, businesses, and communities, we will utilize whatever powers and resources we can to try and stop it.  Don’t let that happen.

Yours in Health,

Annette Mercatante, MD, MPH
Medical Health Officer
St. Clair County Health Department

Citing the potential loss of unemployment benefits for 830,000 residents, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has asked the Michigan Supreme Court to clarify the ruling that struck down the numerous 2020 Executive Orders issued after April 30. Politics are at play as the Governor blames the Republicans in the legislature for not doing their job, while the Republicans accuse Whitmer of abuse of power and spent over half a million public dollars to prove it in court.

This week, Whitmer said, “The Supreme Court has spoken, and while I vehemently disagree with their ruling, I’m ready to work across the aisle with Republicans in the legislature where we can find common ground to slow the spread of the virus and rebuild our economy. It’s time for Republicans in the Legislature to get to work and start showing that they are taking this crisis seriously. They can start by canceling their October recess and getting back to work. Let’s work together and get this done.” 

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is picking up the slack in reinstating the mask, crowd size, social distancing, and other mandates. Director Robert Gordon said, “We will use every statutory tool available to protect our state employees and the residents we serve. We also need Michiganders to do their part by wearing a mask, maintaining six feet of physical distancing, washing hands frequently, and getting their flu vaccine. We will get through this together.” 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

The quest to get a Trader Joe’s in the Blue Water Area may be coming to an end. Organizer Carolyn Middleton spearheaded the effort back in 2014 and is ready to call it quits.

The emergence of new loft housing and the renaissance of the downtown commercial and cultural scene, along with the proximity to the bus station and boaters, prompted Middleton, a real estate agent, to try to persuade Trader Joe’s, a neighborhood grocery store chain that is known for affordable gourmet and unique offerings to come to Port Huron.

For six years, Middleton recruited fellow community members to join her in petitioning the franchise, but never got more than an automated response from Trader Joe’s. Middleton has over 4000 people still following her Facebook page, “Bring Trader Joe’s to the Blue Water Area”, but thinks it’s time to accept that it isn’t happening.

In 2018, the owners of Countrystyle Marketplace in Fort Gratiot announced their intention to create a downtown grocery store, and their plans for the location are in progress. Meanwhile, the newly renovated Aldi in Fort Gratiot does offer some products similar to Trader Joe’s. The nearest Trader Joe’s stores are in Rochester Hills, Grosse Pointe, and Royal Oak.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland