local news

Sanborn Multi-Use Trail Ready for Walkers, Joggers, and Bikers with June 28th Ribbon Cutting

The Sanborn Park Multi-Use Trail is getting officially launched on June 28th at 4:00 p.m. The community is invited to celebrate the opening of the new trail.

The trail is notable as it is natural and unpaved and suitable for walkers, joggers, and bike riders. There is an outside loop for beginning riders and two inner BMX lines for experienced riders.

Melanie Chandler, co-supervisor of the Port Huron Recreation Department, said that the Department saw a resurgence of outside play, particularly outside city parks, and they wanted to create more interesting opportunities for that.

Chandler said, “After visiting other communities with similar bike trails, we were excited to offer this to our own community. With help from the City of Lapeer, we completed the trail in April. We hope everyone enjoys it.”

Care was taken to preserve the environment at the park, which is heavily wooded, with cooperation from the Friends of the St. Clair River. Funding for the trail was provided by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund.

The trail entrance is east of the playground at Sanborn Park on the north side of the City of Port Huron.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Bill to Pay Student Teachers Passes State House

A bill has passed the Michigan House of Representatives that would allow for both student teachers and teacher mentors to be compensated.

House Bill 6013 was introduced by State Representative Pamela Hornberger, a Republican from Chesterfield Township. The bill creates a grant program for school districts, intermediate school districts, and public school academies to apply for and to use to pay the student educators and their mentors.

Student teachers currently pay tuition to student teach, which is usually an uncompensated full-time internship. If passed by the Senate and signed into law by the governor, the bill would allow for student teachers to be paid $90 per day, and for mentors to be paid a stipend of $1000.

Hornberger said, “Student teachers are apprentices in the education field and should be compensated just as apprentices in other fields are. Providing this stipend to them will ensure our students continue to receive a quality education from good teachers.”

The legislature will have to appropriate funding if signed into law, and it is not currently tied to a funding bill. The bill is supported by several education industry boards and associations

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Financial Literacy to Be Part of Required High School Curriculum Starting in 2024

A bipartisan bill was signed into law requiring high school curriculums to include a financial literacy course. The bill is meant to prepare high school students for the future and empower them to handle their finances prudently.

The bill’s sponsor, State Representative Diana Farrington, a Utica Republican, said, “Personal finance education will serve as a launchpad for Michigan graduates lifting off into adulthood, so they won’t be caught off guard by the financial decisions that await them.”

Farrington said, “The course will teach students how to manage their finances. They’ll be prepared to make smart, everyday budget choices — and equipped to handle the challenges that come their way. Establishing a core class dedicated to financial literacy has been a years-long labor of love for me, and I’m truly excited for the students who will fly to new heights through a fuller, richer education.” 

High schools will need to figure out how to meet the requirement of a half-credit of personal finance education by 2024, starting with that year’s ninth graders.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

MDARD Lifts Ban on Bird Exhibits Just in Time for Fair Season

There’s good news for those who love looking at the poultry and waterfowl exhibits at county fairs. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has lifted the statewide temporary ban that was imposed to limit the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The goal of going thirty days without a new breakout of the virus has been met, so the ban has been lifted, but that does not mean that the highly contagious virus is completely gone.

State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland said, “Even though the state has been able to reach this incredibly important benchmark, this does not mean the virus has left Michigan. HPAI continues to be detected in wild birds throughout the state, which is not unexpected as the virus is known to be carried by wild birds. Since the virus is still present in the environment, it is still crucial for owners and caretakers of domestic birds to take every step possible to protect their flocks.”

There isn’t believed to be a risk to humans from bird flu, but poultry and egg products should always be fully cooked and precautions should be taken when dealing with live birds, including poultry and waterfowl.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

St. Clair County Wins Grant to Expand Internet Access

Michigan is investing in bringing high-speed internet to more consumers than ever. The latest round of investments has granted over $3 million to Michigan communities with a significant portion going to Duke Broadband in St. Clair County.

The Ira Expansion project has a total price tag of over $1.3 million. The Connecting Michigan Communities Grant will award over $858,000 toward the project.

The proposed fiber project will connect 367 locations with high-speed internet access.

This is the fourth round of awards as part of an initiative to expand broadband service to underserved areas in Michigan.

The Michigan High-Speed Internet Office is working to drive down costs and boost digital literacy along with expanding service. Training materials will be provided to residents in the expanded service area, along with collaboration with community groups to host events to promote e-learning, job, and workforce training.

Funding also went to projects in Menominee and Manistee counties.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Terra Damchuk of Blue Water Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Wins Statewide Award

The Blue Water Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has announced that Terra Damchuk, the Director of Sales, has won the “Most Innovative Planner of the Year Award”.

The award was given out at the Annual Meeting Professionals International 50-Year Celebration held at the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City earlier this month. Meeting Professionals International serves the meetings and event industry.

Damchuk was selected out of 200 possible candidates. She was recognized for bringing the chapter its first hybrid event involving five different in-person watch parties across the state as well as a virtual component. The innovative format was replicated across MPI Global to engage members while offering education and professional development on a regional level.

Terra Damchuk is the Vice President of Education for the Michigan Chapter of the Meeting Professionals International, as well as the Director of Sales for the Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Bureau promotes the Blue Water region as a desirable convention and tourism location.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland