Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith has been charged with 10 criminal counts including running a criminal enterprise in connection with the alleged misuse of county forfeiture funds.  He was arraigned on Friday March 27th in District Court. A not guilty plea was entered on Smith’s behalf, and a probable cause conference has been set for 8:30 a.m. on April 3rd.

Judge Cynthia Arvant set his personal bond at $100,000, ordered his passport surrendered, and ordered that he is not not have contact with his co-defendants or any witnesses.  Smith was charged with conducting a criminal enterprise, five counts of embezzlement by a public official, misconduct in office, tampering with evidence, accessory after the fact, and conspiracy to commit forgery.

State officials also allege that the current Prosecutor’s Office operations manager and former Macomb County state representative and county treasurer, Derek Miller, committed misconduct in office and conspiracy to commit a legal act in an illegal manner with Smith. Retired Prosecutor’s Office employee Benjamin Liston is also charged, as is William Weber Jr. who owns a security company.

Reporting for WGRT – Marty Doorn

As test back-logs are being cleared, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 jumped in both St. Clair County and the Sarnia-Lambton area. St. Clair County is reporting 27 confirmed cases. Lambton Public Health is reporting 28. Four patients in Sarnia have died as a result of the disease. The death reported in St. Clair County over the weekend at Lake Huron Medical Center was attributed to the patient’s home county, Wayne County, so St. Clair County is yet to experience a casualty from the virus.

The State of Michigan has 6,498 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 184 deaths.  Ontario confirms 1,706 cases with 33 deaths. 

The message remains the same from public health officials on both sides of the border: stay at home except for essential tasks, keep a 6 foot or 2 meter distance between yourself and others if you are out, wash your hands often, avoid touching your face, and check in on loved ones and neighbors who are at high risk.

Dr. Annette Mercatante, Medical Health Officer at the St. Clair County Health Department, said today that, “Some people in other parts of the country have taken Non-Pharmaceutical Chloroquine Phosphate, a chemical used in home aquariums, to prevent infection of the COVID virus. This is very dangerous and can cause serious health consequences, including death. Following the recommended guidance of staying at home, social distancing and proper handwashing are the best things you can do to prevent infection.”

Continue to go to reputable sources for information:

• Centers for Disease Control:  cdc.gov/coronavirus
• State of Michigan: Michigan.gov/coronavirus  or Info Hotline  1-888-535-6136 Daily 8:00 am – 5:00 pm or email questions to COVID19@michigan.gov
• St. Clair County Health Department: COVID-19 Info Hotline (810) 966-4163 Mon – Fri, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm or email questions to covid19@stclaircounty.org
• Lambton Public Health: https://lambtonpublichealth.ca/2019-novel-coronavirus/

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

The City of Port Huron and the Downtown Development Authority have decided to cancel Blue Water Fest 2020.  All city resources are being dedicated to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic recovery that will be necessary in its wake.

DDA Director Cynthia Cutright explained, “Blue Water Fest is planned almost a year in advance, and we fundraise about $130,000 from private donors and companies to support this event. We cannot, during this difficult time, ask for funds for a festival when we know they are needed elsewhere. Our priority remains the economic recovery of Downtown Port Huron and the greater Bluewater Area.”

This decision does not affect the  annual Bayview to Mackinac Race. The City and the DDA will reevaluate in early summer to decide if any other type of celebration can be planned around that event if it proceeds.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Two Michigan based 501c3 nonprofits, A Beautiful Me and Blue Water Recovery and Outreach Center, have a personal challenge for you. Their executive directors, Karen Palka and Patrick Patterson are asking the community to examine their everyday experiences, even in the midst of the challenges presented by COVID-19, and think about what they’re grateful for.

“An attitude of gratitude is a big part of one’s healing process for those trying to restore their life,” states BWROC Center Manager, Patrick Patterson. “When we focus on what we have versus what we don’t have, we gain positive emotions, think about good experiences and deal with adversity. Gratitude is not only important to those who battle addiction, this attitude is important for us all as we come together to overcome the coronavirus.” 

Studies on the subject support an association between gratitude and an individual’s well-being. A Beautiful Me and BWROC are asking you to join them in the 2020 Gratitude Challenge and unite to overcome the obstacles we’re all facing. Take a picture of something you’re grateful for, and share it on social media with the hashtag #gratitudechallenge. You can also follow the hashtag on your social media accounts to join others in focusing on the positive.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Two former Art Van employees have filed a federal lawsuit after losing their healthcare in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Todd Stewart, a former manager at the Lakeside location, and Jennifer Sawle, filed for class action status on behalf of themselves and others who are adversely impacted. They alleged that Art Van violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN Act) which requires companies to provide at least 60 calendar days advance written notice of a plant closing or mass layoff that affects 50 or more people.

Art Van shut down stores on March 19th, just two weeks after the company announced it was closing all stores. In Warren, where the headquarters are located, more than 260 people were employed. More than 3,000 employees worked for the company.  According to the complaint, about 700 employees  “were terminated without cause as part of, or as the result of, mass layoffs or plant closings” ordered by Art Van beginning March 4th.

Archie “Art” Van Elslander founded Art Van in 1959, opening his first store in East Detroit. Van Elslander’s furniture first business was a 4,000 square-foot space on Gratiot Avenue and 10 Mile Road. He expanded to three stores in that same year, and a fourth store opened in 1960.  When they closed, the now bankrupt business had 169 locations in 9 states, including the store in Port Huron that opened in 2002.

Reporting for WGRT – Marty Doorn