Literacy and Beyond, a nonprofit that focuses on improving the education of at-risk children and their families, announced a new scholarship that will help graduates of its 2GEN GED program have a greater chance for success in college.

The 2GEN GED program provides tutoring, childcare, and support services to women who are pursuing a GED credential as a means of high school completion. The new 2GEN G.R.A.D.S. (Graduates Receiving Associate Degree Support) Scholarship is a competitive scholarship that will be awarded to up to 10 2GEN graduates this year, with a future goal of 30 scholarships per year by the fall of 2022.

The scholarship was made possible through a partnership with St. Clair County Community College (SC4) and the Stebbins Family Fund of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM). It will provide each student with a yearly stipend of $500 for books and $1200 for transportation needs or childcare expenses incurred while attending classes, and it is renewable for three years.

Students at the 2GEN learning center will benefit from having a college and career advisor from SC4, Kim Foxwell, both at the 2GEN Learning Center and on campus at SC4. Foxwell currently works in a similar capacity serving SC4 students in the Foster Connect and Work Study programs.

“I’m honored to join the Literacy and Beyond team and their visionary 2GEN program because I’m committed to helping students achieve their educational and vocational dreams,” Foxwell said.

Mike Hinkley, Executive Director of Literacy and Beyond, said, “We are extremely grateful to SC4 and the Stebbins Family Fund for partnering with us in this innovative project to support our amazing 2GEN graduates.”

Women interested in enrolling in the 2GEN GED program can learn more at LiteracyAndBeyond.org.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Owosso barber Karl Manke’s professional license as well as the license for his barbershop were summarily suspended and an administrative licensing complaint was issued, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced today in coordination with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

The Attorney General’s office issued an administrative licensing complaint on Tuesday, alleging several violations of the Michigan Occupational Code and administrative rules, including gross negligence and willful violations of the health and safety rules of a political subdivision.

Licensing actions follow Manke’s statements that he will continue to operate his barbershop despite Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive orders requiring closure of facilities offering non-essential personal care services. Local police recently cited Manke for violations of such orders.  Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon issued an Imminent Danger and Abatement Order, requiring Manke to close his barbershop. He did not comply with that health order either.

“Mr. Manke’s actions in violating Gov. Whitmer’s executive orders as well as other health orders put the public at risk for contracting COVID-19,” Nessel said. “Anytime you have a barber or other professional providing services to numerous citizens in close proximity to each other and those citizens are then returning to their various residences, there is a risk of contracting and spreading the virus. It is paramount that we take action to protect the public and do our part to help save lives.”

The Occupational Code allows LARA to summarily suspend a professional license if there is an imminent threat to the public health, safety and welfare. An order of summary suspension is a temporary measure to protect the public and not a final determination that a licensee has violated the Occupational Code.

You can read the 31 page order <HERE>

Submitted by A.G. Nessel’s Office

Three suspects believed to be involved in the May 11th armed robbery at the Mobil gas station in Port Huron Township have been arrested.

According to St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon, an investigation into the robbery led to a search warrant being executed in the 5500 block of Beard Road in Clyde Township shortly before 7:00 last night.

Two 20 year old men, from Kimball and Port Huron and a 21 year old man from Fort Gratiot were arrested.  The pickup truck and weapon used in the holdup were seized, along with a stolen pickup truck and trailer.

A tip to the CAPTURE hotline assisted in locating the suspects in the robbery, which remains under investigation.

Also assisting in the investigation were the St. Clair County Drug Task Force, the Port Huron Police Major Crimes Unit, Michigan State Police and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations.

There are now five COVID-19 testing locations throughout St. Clair County. Every testing site requires patients to have a prescription for a test from their doctor, and their physician must determine they they are symptomatic or have been exposed to COVID-19.

Port Huron:

Lake Huron Medical Center (810-216-1580) which is open 24 hours/7 days a week. Doctors can fax orders for testing to the hospital, and patients will be registered online and scheduled for a drive-up test.

McLaren Port Huron (810-987-5000) which is open Monday – Friday from 8 AM – 12 PM. Doctors can fax orders to the hospital. Once the order is received, the hospital will contact the patient to schedule an appointment for testing. On the day of the test, patients will wait in their vehicles, and an RN will collect their specimen from the car.

MedExpress (810-989-2530) which is open from 8 AM – 8 PM Monday – Sunday. Anyone who has symptoms will be tested and receive an assessment. Patients are treated and charged as walk-ins at their urgent care.

Marysville:

Physician Health Care Network (810-364-4000) is scheduling tele-health appointments or in-office appointments for those who are experiencing symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19. All testing is done by appointment, and they are doing nasal swab testing and antibody blood draw testing.

Algonac:

Community First Health Centers (586-270-8055 ext. 118) is open Monday – Friday from 9 AM – 3 PM. Physician orders should be faxed to the health center, and patients can then call to set up an appointment for a drive-up test.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

In a press conference  Monday, Governor Whitmer signed executive orders to simplify the application process for work permits, extend the ability of the state to hold administrative hearings by phone or video conference, and lift weight and other delivery restrictions on PPE and medical supplies.

Youth can now obtain work permits without having to submit them in person at their local school administration building. Permits can now be mailed, emailed, faxed or sent via the web until June 8th so the youth workforce, a valuable component during the pandemic, can be mobilized more quickly.

Executive Order 2020-80, which continues to allow certain state administrative hearings to be held by video conference or phone in place of in-person hearings, is also in effect through June 8th. The order allows Michigan Employment Relations Commission, Unemployment Insurance Agency, and other administrative hearings to take place remotely. It also temporarily allows e-signatures on documents.