Downtown Port Huron

Diane Bedore Receives Award from Woman’s Life Insurance Society

St. Clair, Michigan resident, Diane Bedore, was recognized at Woman’s Life Insurance Society’s 2021 Individual Producer of the Year.

Bedore has won the award several years in a row due to her success as an Individual Producer, or sales person of Woman’s Life Insurance Society life insurance plans and annuities.

Woman’s Life Insurance Society was founded in Port Huron in 1892 by Bina M. West, a school teacher from Capac who wanted to help women achieve financial security for themselves and their families. Woman’s Life was one of the first organizations in the U.S. to offer life insurance to women.

After receiving the award, Bedore said, “When I began working for Woman’s Life, I believed strongly in Bina’s vision, and have promoted her beliefs throughout my career. I also believe in continued education in order to present current knowledge in an ever-changing environment. I am committed to providing Woman’s Life members the very best service – because our members deserve the very best.”

Woman’s Life National President Christopher J. Martin said, “I congratulate Diane Bedore on this well-deserved award. Throughout her long-term relationship with Woman’s Life, Diane has consistently achieved high production levels because she is committed to helping Woman’s Life members build and enjoy financial security.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Discovery City Sticking Around for Another Year

Just after the City of Port Huron City Council voted to make Port Huron Museums free for everyone, the museum announced that Discovery City will be here for at least another year.

The popularity of the exhibit, which is an indoor play experience for kids, motivated the museum to extend the exhibit until March 31, 2023. Families with Bridge Cards can access Discovery City for free due to a partnership with the James C. Acheson Foundation, and visitors without Bridge cards pay $5 per child for a 1 hour and 15 minute session.

Andrew Kercher, Community Engagement Manager for Port Huron Museums said Discovery City has welcomed over 6,00 visitors since it opened. He said, “Between the regular sessions, the scheduled birthday parties, and our popular Wednesday morning  face painting and activity days with Miss Michelle of Wonderwolf Entertainment, there are very few  times that the Carnegie Museum doesn’t echo with the sounds of children getting to experience a true  hands-on museum, many for the first time! Everything about it has been wonderful, and we are very  thankful to our partners at the City of Port Huron.”

With the new grant from the City of Port Huron, all Port Huron Museum sites will offer free admission for city residents and the many visitors to the community. There will still be a $5 charge for admission to Discovery City, but families will now be able to explore the rest of the museum during their visit free of charge.

Details about the start date for free admission will be announced soon. In the meantime, families can stay connected with Discovery City activities by following Port Huron Museums on Facebook and checking their website: https://www.phmuseum.org/

*An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that admission to Discovery City would be free as well as admission to museum sites. The free admission only applies to general admission to the museum sites, not special exhibits such as Discovery City.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

Fire Departments Enter into Mutual Aid Agreement

When there’s a fire on your property, you don’t really care who comes to put out the fire, just how fast they can get there. A new mutual aid agreement between local fire departments has been drafted to increase response time to structure fires and to improve firefighter and civilian safety.

The agreement is between the City of Port Huron, City of Marysville, Port Huron Township, and Fort Gratiot Township. The departments will automatically respond to structure fires in any of the jurisdictions.

To facilitate the mutual aid agreement, St. Clair County Dispatch has adjusted its procedures and modified shared communications, equipment, and tactical responsibilities.

The goal is to get a minimum of fifteen firefighters on the scene of a structure fire in the fastest time possible. The mutual aid agreement will be re-evaluated for effectiveness and efficiency in six months.

The mutual aid agreement was put into practice on Thursday, February 17th, when the departments responded to a fire at the Dunn Paper plant in the City of Port Huron. The agreement went into effect on February 16th.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Winter Storm Coming to Blue Water Area

A winter storm watch goes into effect Wednesday morning and is predicted to affect our area until Thursday evening. According to the National Weather Service, total snow accumulation could reach between 8 to 14 inches.

The winter storm is expected to cover most of the central United States, and it will bring a variety of wintery weather hazards such as snow, sleet, and freezing rain. The winter storm watch in our area affects the counties of Sanilac, Shiawassee, Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Livingston, Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, Lenawee, and Monroe.

Temperatures will actually be warmer today through Thursday with a projected high of 39 degrees today and 34 degrees on Wednesday, before dropping back into the teens on Friday and reaching single digits in the evenings over the weekend.

Last year, winter storms in February resulted in more school and business closures than any other calendar month. For information on closings and delays, visit WGRT’s website and click on news <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Sheriff’s Office Raises Money for YMCA during “No-Shave November”

No-shave November has come and gone, but the money raised from the event will last for a long time. The Office of the St. Clair County Sheriff challenged its staff to give their razors the month off and raise money for charity.

The hairier than usual employees of the Sheriff’s Office dedicated their fundraising to men’s health awareness. The YMCA of the Blue Water Area was this year’s beneficiary of the fundraiser.

Sheriff Mat King presented a total of $2495 to Josh Chapman, President and CEO of the YMCA of the Blue Water Area.

The YMCA was chosen because of its commitment to men’s health and its wide range of programming, including fitness classes, lifestyle classes, and programs for those living with chronic diseases, like cancer.

No-Shave November started as a national movement to draw attention to cancer prevention. Cancer patients often lose their hair during treatment, and the obvious signs of ungroomed facial hair are meant to spark conversations about cancer screenings and prevention like exercise and lifestyle changes.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Port Huron Double Shooting Suspect Arraigned

Port Huron, MI — The suspect of the November 2021 shooting in the East Quay Street parking lot was arraigned on multiple charges December 1, 2021. Marcel Lamar Woods, a 30 year old Clinton Township man, faces eight counts total including two counts of Assault with Intent to Murder.

The shooting took place in the area around the East Quay Street parking lot which is between Fort Street and Michigan Street in Port Huron. The lot provides parking for those attending popular downtown restaurants such as Wings Etc., The Vintage, The Roach Bar, and Lynch’s Irish Tavern.

According to a press release from the Port Huron Police Department, Woods is accused of shooting from a vehicle at cars, building, and people on the evening of November 14, 2021.

During the incident, police say both Woods and an innocent bystander were injured, and “[T]he person who fired at Marcel Woods was identified as a 23 year old make Port Huron resident who was legally armed and appears to have acted in self-defense when he was shot at by Woods.”

The innocent bystander was a 23 year old Clyde Township resident who was treated and released from McLaren Port Huron Huron for a gunshot wound to his legs.

Marcel Lamar Woods was arraigned in 72nd District Court by the Honorable Judge Mona Armstrong on two counts each of Assault with Intent to Murder and Felony Firearm, and once count each of Discharging a Firearm at a Building, Discharging a Firearm from a Vehicle, and Possession of a Weapon by a Felon, and Possession of Ammunition by a Felon. His bond was set at $1 million, and his Probable Cause Conference is set for December 14, 2021.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand