Now that spring is finally here, Sheriff Donnellon is again reminding everyone who is out walking and picking up discarded plastic bottles to be careful. That bottle you are picking up may contain methamphetamine residue and could be dangerous.  Methamphetamine is an incredibly dangerous drug. It is certainly dangerous to ingest. It is dangerous when it is being made, with the risk of explosion and fire. It is also dangerous when the waste product is discarded.
Meth is made using the drug pseudoephedrine and common household chemicals, such as lye and Coleman gas. The chemicals are mixed in a two liter pop bottle. Once the chemicals begin reacting, there is danger of an explosion and fire. The danger doesn’t end there. Once the user gets the drug out of the bottle, it is discarded. Sometimes the bottles are thrown in ditches or yards. If a person picks up a bottle containing meth waste, the chemicals inside can re-activate, causing an explosion and fire. Also found at meth dump sites may be gas generators. These are containers with holes in the top with hoses coming out, which may be dangerous as well.
If you see a two liter pop bottle with a milky substance in the bottom, don’t touch it. Immediately
leave the area and contact the Sheriff’s Office or your local police agency. We have deputies specially trained to dispose of these dangerous chemicals. We have had no reports of meth lab waste so far this year, but want everyone to stay alert, so we don’t have any injuries.

St. Clair County Community College will host an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, in the SC4 Welcome Center, Room 150.  Degrees and Donuts will provide an opportunity for prospective students to take a campus tour and learn about in-demand careers, SC4 programs, transfer opportunities and support services. The event also will feature donuts from Chef Shell’s Restaurant and Catering and coffee from the Exquisite Corpse Coffee House.
“We are excited to offer this unique open house opportunity,” said Admissions Director Tom Kephart. “With our commitment to maximizing student success combined with top programs in high-demand fields, expert faculty, small class sizes and affordability, an SC4 education just makes sense.”  He added, “We look forward to assisting anyone with questions on April 27, and we are grateful to Chef Shell’s and the Exquisite Corpse Coffee House for their support.”  Faculty members from various program areas, as well as representatives from Admissions, Advising, SC4 TRIO, the Achievement Center, Walsh College, Ferris State University and UM-Flint, will be in attendance at the event.  SC4 offers students a wide array of degree and certificate programs taught by faculty members that have spent time in both the classroom and the workforce. Students also have the option of completing the 30-credit Michigan Transfer Agreement, which allows them to easily transfer a block of general education courses to any participating four-year college or university in Michigan.  Degrees and Donuts is free and open to all prospective students and their families. Learn more about SC4 programs and how to apply at sc4.edu/programs

When most people visit a doctor’s office or a hospital, it is expected that a nurse or aide might enter the room and take a blood pressure reading, or use a thermometer to take a temperature reading.  For most children and adults, this is not a painful or difficult experience. It is, in fact, routine.  Not so for someone with autism or other special needs. McLaren Port Huron recently began implementing, hospital-wide, its new Levi’s Link program to improve the hospital experience for those patients by addressing how care is delivered to adults and children with special needs.  McLaren Port Huron is the first hospital in the state of Michigan to develop such a full-scale program.  The roll out of the program is timely, as McLaren Port Huron and its Levi’s Link program recognize the month of April as World Autism Month, and, specifically, recognize April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day.  “What is ‘normal’ or ‘routine’ to most people, can cause great stress in someone with autism or other special needs,” said Kathleen McKenna, director of surgical services at McLaren Port Huron.  “But the more people are aware of that fact, the more comfortable the world can become for those who are challenged by autism or other special needs.”  The Levi’s Link program promotes individualized patient care for both adults and children with special needs. This begins during the pre-admission process. Special intake forms ask specific questions that will help hospital staff understand how to communicate with and care for the patient.  Education and information about the hospital visit will be available to the patient and their family beforehand, including a social story that illustrates the hospital visit, from arriving at the hospital through discharge.  Levi’s Link was developed at the request of Megan Wilson, the mother of a child with autism spectrum disorder, who wanted to improve the hospital experience for her son, Levi, and others with special needs. Wilson conducted some research and recommended that McLaren Port Huron model its program after a similar program in California.  To help fund the program, Wilson established a fund within the McLaren Port Huron Foundation, and she conducts a fun run each year to help grow the fund.  The 2019 Levi’s Link 10K, 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk will take place at Mid Michigan Materials gravel pit in Jeddo, Michigan. The gravel pit area will offer a challenging terrain and an exciting run.  For more information regarding the Levi’s Link program and resources at McLaren Port Huron, please visit: www.mclaren.org/phlevi  

For more information regarding World Autism Month or World Autism Awareness Day, visit: https://www.autismspeaks.org/world-autism-awareness-day

For more information regarding the Levi’s Link 10K, 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk, visit: https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Jeddo/LevisLink5K10KandFunRun

The State of St. Clair County Address Luncheon was held last Friday in Marysville.  There was a a host of speakers and the annual update by St. Clair County Administrator Karry Hepting, Marysville Mayor Dan Damman made the announcement that the developer of the St. Clair Inn and Hotel Harrington will be purchasing the property on the waterfront, of the former home of DTE Power Plant or otherwise called the Mighty Marysville.  The plant was imploded in 2015.  Jeff Katofsky said he plans to revitalize the now vacant site to construct the mixed-use, retail options he thinks the region is missing.  The property is located at 301 Gratiot Blvd, where the road merges with M-29 on the St. Clair River.   Katofsky stated he will be looking at several ideas, not so much as another hotel, but, maybe a marina, a boardwalk and walk around, waterfront restaurants and stores, along with residential living, possibly condos.  Those who would like to follow the projects Katofsky and his partners have in the area can text “BLUEWATER” to 484848 for regular updates.

The Mid City Nutrition Program has announced the last of three winter mobile food pantries, to be held at their facility will take place Tuesday, March 26.  The trucks will deliver fresh produce, pantry staples, and protein at Mid City, at St. Martin Lutheran Church at 805 Chestnut (at 8^th Street) from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., or until the food is gone.  Attendees are asked to bring ID, carry bags and to dress appropriately for the weather.  The event is being held outside.  All are welcome and no one will be turned away unless the food runs out.  According to Susan Bennett Executive Director of Mid City Nutrition, this food pantry is made possible through the Stebbins Family Fund, the St. Clair County AFL CIO, and the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan.