local news

St. Clair County Sherriff Awards Wade and Krzywiecki as Employees of the Year

And the Employee of the Year awards go to…Detective Kelsey Wade and Corrections Deputy Keith Krzywiecki.

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office presented its inaugural Employee of the Year Awards last week during a ceremony at the Sheriff’s Office.

St. Clair County Sheriff Mat King said, “I am extremely proud to be able to recognize Kelsey and Keith as our first recipients of the Employee of the Year Award. They were both nominated by several of their peers and have exemplified what it means to be an outstanding employee.”

The award recognizes Detective Kelsey Wade and Corrections Deputy Keith Krzywiecki for their daily commitment to quality work, willingness to carry out additional responsibilities beyond regular job assignments, and encouraging attitudes that contribute to positive morale.

Wade has been working at the Sheriff’s Department since 2006 and Krzywiecki has been with the department since 2007.

Both deputies received a certificate and a voucher for a night at a hotel and a gift card for dinner.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Lake Huron Medical Center Earns “A” in Patient Safety

Lake Huron Medical Center has once again been nationally recognized for hospital safety. The Port Huron hospital, a member of Prime Healthcare, has received an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade.

Leah Binder, President and CEO of the Leapfrog Group said, “As our health care system continues to feel the strain of the pandemic, I thank the workforce and leadership of Lake Huron Medical Center for sustained commitment to patient safety, day in and day out.”

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harm to patients. The grading results are free for the public to view and are peer-reviewed.

Katie Cox, Director of Nursing for LHMC said, “We are honored to be recognized for this distinguished award at Lake Huron Medical Center for the eighth time in a row. Our team works hard every day to ensure that our patients receive top-notch, safe, quality, and compassionate care.

Cox said that having a five-star rated hospital in the community means that patients have access to the highest quality care available in St. Clair County.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

ISO Features “Our Immortal Stars” Photography Exhibit

The International Symphony Orchestra’s ISObar Gallery in Sarnia will be opening the “Our Immortal Stars” exhibition on June 3rd. The highly anticipated local gallery showing features the work of Bright’s Grove’s Richard Beland.

Beland said, “Because I primarily work in the music industry, I find myself drawing parallels between my vocation and that of a career-minded musician. A collection of photographs equates to a band’s latest album and an exhibition is the live performance.”

The International Symphony Orchestra said that this is the first solo gallery show at the ISObar, located at 143 Christina Street in Sarnia, and is meant to feature a hometown success story as they kick off their first solo gallery show.

The ISO Nexus Players will provide musical accompaniment featuring selections from David Bowie, The Tragically Hip, and other artists featured in Beland’s photography, as well as an onstage interview with the artist, and special musical guests at the June 3rd opening.

The art installation is open through September 5th.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Free Exercise Classes At the McMorran Plaza This Summer

The McMorran Plaza in downtown Port Huron is the place to be this summer. Along with evening entertainment, a beer garden, a splash pad, and more, there will be free exercise classes offered by the City of Port Huron through a collaboration with the YMCA of the Blue Water Area. 

The wellness classes include Ultimate Cardio Jam, Kickboxing, Boot Camp, Yoga, and Yo “Latte”, which is a Yoga and Pilates hybrid. 

There are also classes for those aged 60 and up and Qi Gong, which is a Chinese exercise that is designed to improve overall mental & physical health. 

Burn and Brew is held at the end of the workday and could end with a visit to the beer garden on the plaza. There are several other classes, including YMCA standards like Butts and Guts, Dance Aerobics, and Cardio and Core classes. The class times range from early morning to early evening. 

The classes start May 31st and run through September 2nd. Signup is requested. A link to the full schedule and signup can be found below. 

https://www.mcmorran.com/plaza

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Lesser, Marsh, Smith Chosen as Advocator, Innovator, and Educator of the Year

Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week and Port Huron Schools singled out three employees who have excelled in their professions with the Advocator, Innovator, and Educator of the Year Awards.

This year’s winners are Chuck Lesser, Tammy Marsh, and Susie Smith.

Chuck Lesser is the Principal of Keewahdin Elementary. He was chosen as the Advocator of the year for his work as principal at the district elementary school since 2016.

Tammy Marsh has worked for Port Huron Schools for 44 years. She serves as Executive Secretary at Port Huron High School. Marsh received the Innovator of the Year Award.

Susie Smith is a Kindergarten Teacher at Garfield Elementary. She has been a teacher in the district for fifteen years and has been at Garfield for twelve years.

The trio was presented with prizes from local businesses that were delivered by Superintendent Theo Kerhoulas, who said, “This is an exciting way for our district to celebrate our exceptional staff and show our commitment to their success. Making this announcement in the midst of national Teacher Appreciation Week makes this tradition even more special for Port Huron Schools.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

As Picnic Season Arrives, Be Mindful of Food Safety

Spring brings celebrations and gatherings, many of which include serving food. Keeping food safe and preventing food born illnesses is easy if a few precautions are taken.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is reminding consumers to be careful with food as warm weather makes its way to the state.

Tim Slawinski, MDARD’s Food and Dairy Division Director, said, “Whether you’re packing a picnic, for a sporting event or outdoor recreation, or planning a backyard barbecue, it’s crucial to follow simple food safety tips to protect your family and friends from foodborne illness.”

Those steps include frequent handwashing, preparing as much at home as possible as opposed to at the destination, and making sure the cooler has plenty of ice. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.

If foodborne illness is suspected, MDARD wants to know. Local health departments should be contacted first. They will report to MDARD, which will investigate to determine if it is an isolated incident, or if a common food source is a culprit.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland