A scholarship fund has been started in honor of the memory of Riley Gleason, who passed away last summer in a tragic boating accident, devastating communities with the loss of the 21-year-old young man who had deep roots in St. Clair and the surrounding areas. 

Kim Dubay, Treasurer of Woman’s Life Group 814, said that the group wanted to “honor Riley while giving back to the community” that mourns his loss. The Riley Gleason Memorial Scholarship will be given to a graduate of St. Clair High School. 

The Woman’s Life group hopes to get the scholarship started this year and continue it on a yearly basis. To begin, Murphy Inn, a restaurant in St. Clair, will be donating a percentage of its profits on February 9 from 3-6 p.m.  

The Woman’s Life group is also planning to auction raffle baskets to raise additional funds. Donations of raffle items can be dropped at the Chocolate Harbor in St. Clair. The Woman’s Life 814 Group will be matching the first $500 raised. The group will be working with St. Clair High School staff to select the scholarship winner, with the hopes of turning the community’s heartbreak into a lasting legacy that honors Riley, a beloved son, brother, and friend.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

With the Australian wildfires making headlines over the last few weeks, people across the world have been inspired to reach out and help in any way they can. A local group of crafters set out to join the efforts by making small pouches to keep animals safe. Upon the news of the need, Susan Wilson reached out to find fellow crafters in the community through Facebook and received many inquiries of interest. However, due to overwhelming supplies already being sent, Wilson quickly found that maybe there was a need a little closer to home. 

Due to their efforts, the Crafting for Critters group was able to create over 50 dog and cat toys and more than a dozen fleece blankets and heat packs to keep local animals safe and warm. The donations will be given to both the Blue Water Area Humane Society as well as the Humane Society of St. Clair County.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

A Speedy Q store, located at 2020 Water Street in Port Huron Township, was robbed at gunpoint early Sunday morning and the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to identify the suspect. Deputies were dispatched to a hold-up alarm at the store shortly before 5:00 a.m. January 26. While officers were en route, St. Clair County Central Dispatch confirmed with the manager at the SpeedyQ, the store had been robbed.

Upon arrival, deputies spoke with employees at the store and learned the suspect had come into the store carrying a handgun. The suspected ordered the cash register to be opened, took the money from the register and ran out of the store. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 5’8”, with a thin build. At the time of the robbery, he was wearing a black hoodie sweatshirt and a blue bandana.

Anyone who has any information regarding this crime is asked to contact the Port Huron Police Major Crimes Unit at (810) 984-5383.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

Lawrence Jewelers’ location in Birchwood Mall has closed. According to owners Dion Schlager and Jon Askew, the closure is strategic. After opening a brand new 6,000 square foot facility in the Fort Gratiot Flag Plaza last March, the Birchwood location’s closure, says Askew, is “in preparation for the future as we continue to grow and expand.” The former Lawrence storefront, which closed after business Saturday, had been in the mall for 15 years. 

Since opening in March 2019 at 4023 24th Avenue, Lawrence had shifted sales in the Birchwood location to an outlet format. Askew said the outlet process will now be continued through the company’s website and social media platforms. 

In the new space, Lawrence has expanded its offerings to include bigger brands such as Shinola and Hearts on Fire while also hiring a second jeweler for custom design work.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

MIPassion, a women’s clothing and gift shop in downtown Port Huron, is moving down the block to a bigger storefront. Anita Varty, owner of MIPassion, currently at 217 Huron Street, said that since opening in June of 2019, she has outgrown her small storefront. The boutique will be moving down the street to the former Port Huron Chiropractic space at 229 Huron. The chiropractic office is moving to Marysville.

MIPassion’s new location is in a large historic space that is connected to Kate’s Downtown, a popular café. Varty said that she didn’t want her store to start looking cluttered, with her growing inventory, and jumped at the chance to expand into a bigger space on the “perfect block” downtown with the opportunity to collaborate with Kate’s- an added bonus.

Varty has started the renovation and hopes to be into the new space by March 1. She is looking forward to adding more accessories to her current stock of women’s clothing in sizes small to 3X and her Michigan-made home goods and gifts. Michigan artists are also a prominent feature in the store. The possibility of offering classes such as necklace making in the future also comes with the larger space, according to Varty.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.

A group of volunteers who call themselves the “Friends of the Fort Gratiot Light” started work this weekend to restore and renovate the retired United States Coast Guard Station Building to its original 1930’s state. It is estimated that the effort will cost approximately $500,000 and take several years to complete.

The group originally gathered to get a scope of the project earlier in January where they unveiled a mural that was discovered as paneling was taken down in what will be restored as a radio room. It is intended that the mural, a 44-foot motor lifeboat 44330 on a rescue mission in rough seas on the lake, will be preserved. One of the participants in the evening, Rudy Sloup, retired from the Coast Guard, and actually served on the boat when stationed in Port Huron.

The restoration group championing the project first assembled with a focus to financially support restoration on the oldest lighthouse in Michigan, the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse. Once that goal was met, the focus shifted to the other historic buildings and the grounds of the park. This created a growing opportunity for volunteers to fulfill their passion by continuing fundraising along with supplying physical labor and guidance in the restoration effort.

The Friends of the Fort Gratiot Light will be holding work parties at the building on Saturdays to complete the work on the former Coast Guard building. More information can be found on the Friends website at Fortgratiotlight.org.

Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.