Owosso Barber’s License Suspended

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

Robbery Suspects Arrested

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.

 

State Will Use Partial Layoffs to Reduce Wage Costs

Today the state of Michigan announced that it would participate in the federal Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) Work Share program to help offset budget implications as a result of the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this program, impacted state employees will take two temporary layoff days per pay period beginning Sunday, May 17th until July 25th resulting in up to $80 million in decreased wage costs.

“As we continue to combat COVID-19, it’s clear that we’re facing unprecedented challenges that will lead to serious budget implications for the state of Michigan,” said Governor Whitmer. “Utilizing this federal program keeps state employees working so they can continue to provide critical services to Michiganders and protects their paychecks so they can continue to support their families.”

This federal program allows the state to keep employees working with reduced hours, while employees collect partial unemployment benefits to make up a portion of the lost wages. State managers at the 17 level and above will not participate in Work Share but will take one layoff day every other pay period resulting in an approximate 5 percent reduction in gross pay. Over 31,000 state employees will be impacted.

Impacted employees will retain their health insurance and other benefits and will be automatically enrolled into the unemployment process to help ensure they have the support they need during this challenging time.

Last month, Governor Whitmer announced she was taking a 10 percent pay cut and directed her executive team and cabinet appointees to take a 5 percent pay cut for the remainder of the fiscal year. Additionally, the Executive Office of the Governor will participate in the Work Share program.

Today’s layoffs do not impact anybody working on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Law enforcement, the prison system, veterans’ homes, and other key health and human services all remain fully staffed with on-site employees.

Submitted by the office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer

COVID-19 Testing Locations for St. Clair County

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

 

 

 

 

Youth Work Permit Forms Can Be Submitted By Mail or Web

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.

Executive Order 2020-81 extends provisions lifting state and local non-seasonal load restrictions, as well as other restrictions on the timing and loading of deliveries, for deliveries that meet immediate needs for medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19, as well as other critical supplies, equipment, and personnel until May 25th.  
Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

A Beautiful Me Joins Eastern Michigan Christian Foundation

A Beautiful Me (ABMe) has joined the Eastern Michigan Christian Foundation. ABMe joins 7 other faith based non-profits, including SONS, New Life Christian Academy, Youth for Christ, Hope FM, Spero, Operation Transformation, and Bridge Builders.

The Eastern Michigan Foundation is a member of the Community Foundation of St Clair County and provides opportunities for individuals to leave legacy gifts to any or all of the EMCF member organizations.

A legacy gift is a planned future gift that designates some part of an individual’s estate as a donation to a nonprofit. Legacy gifts enable individuals to have an impact on causes that are important to them long after the individual passes.

“After establishing a healthy reserve fund, A Beautiful Me Board of Directors made it a goal to prioritize focus on starting an endowment fund this year as the next step for a healthy nonprofit.” said Karen Palka, Executive Director of A Beautiful Me. “Our fund development team set aside two different unplanned fundraising efforts in 2019 to support this goal. This is an investment in the lifetime of A Beautiful Me through legacy gifts that can now be donor directed through the Eastern Michigan Christian Foundation.”

For more information or how to leave a Legacy Gift to A Beautiful Me, contact the Eastern Michigan Christian Foundation at: info@ALastingGift.org or call 810-294-0285.

A Beautiful Me is a 501c3 charitable organization that develops and trains girls in 3rd-12th grades through confidence-building workshops and programs since 2008. For more information visit www.abeautifulme.com

Reporting for WGRT – Marty Doorn