local news

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

“Empty the Shelters” Event Reduces Adoption Fee to $25 at SCC Animal Control

A national campaign to move animals out of shelters and into loving homes coincides with a local shelter being at capacity. The BISSELL Pet Foundation is sponsoring the “Empty the Shelters” initiative that reduces adoption fees to $25.

St. Clair County Animal Control Director Melissa Miller said, “This event is coming at a great time. St. Clair County Animal Control is at critical capacity for dogs and cats.”

Miller said that adoptable animals can be viewed online at their website, on PetFinder, or on their Facebook page.

The “Empty the Shelters” event goes from now until May 7th and again from May 9th to 13th. St. Clair County Animal Control will be open for reduced-fee adoptions May 5th through 6th from 10:30 to 3:30 p.m., May 7th from noon to 3:30, and May 9th through May 13th from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Animal Control prefers appointments, but they are not required. Appointments can be scheduled at animalcontrol@stcalircounty.org.

https://www.petfinder.com/search/dogs-for-adoption/us/mi/48060/?distance=10

https://stclairmi.animalservices.website/shelterpronet/spn_page_as_main.spn

https://www.facebook.com/adoptsccac

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Port Huron Schools Kicks Off Strategic Planning with Community Survey

It’s time to have your voice heard by Port Huron Schools. The district has crafted a short four-question survey to help them in moving forward with their strategic planning process.

In a communication with parents and community members, Superintendent Theo A. Kerhoulas invited stakeholders to fill out the survey.

The survey asks four questions: What are you proud of in the Port Huron Area School District? What challenges do you feel the district is facing? What should our schools provide for students? What does success look like for our students in the future?

Kerhoulas reported that the strategic planning process began with a meeting of community stakeholders who came up with several “actionable items and an aggressive timeline”. The survey is the first of the action items.

The survey window is open from now until May 13th, 2022. It is open to staff, students, parents, and community members.

A link to the Port Huron School Community Survey can be found below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXLJjSBw0-cYJcaza6EHGMTaTmuAubmYYa47eeIiA_as8Afg/viewform?usp=send_form

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Ducks Unlimited, DNR, Audubon Work to Enhance St. Clair Flats

The St. Clair Flats area, located in the southern tip of St. Clair County, is home to a diverse bird species and is a destination for kayakers and canoers who want to view the interesting wildlife. The area is getting revitalized with the cooperation of Ducks Unlimited, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and Audubon Great Lakes.

Kali Rush, Michigan Regional Biologist for Ducks Unlimited said, “As society develops more and more of our landscape, natural areas such as St. Clair Flats take on an even greater importance for people and wildlife. We are proud to work with the DNR and Audubon on public lands that are so close to Metro Detroit and in the middle of a major bird migratory route.”

The wetlands not only serve as a habitat for birds but prevent flooding and filter water. Agencies have already been working on improving the 2600 acres of wetlands, but the next phase includes replacing water-management infrastructure to better control water levels and improve habitat on 1500 acres of wetlands on Harsens Island.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Local Mom Looking for Players for Kicking Out Stigma Kickball League

Jessica Franz, a Port Huron area mom, is committed to finding recreational opportunities for her 20-year-old special needs son. Team sports are hard to find for older kids who still need that team experience and organized physical activity.

Franz is spearheading an effort to organize a kickball league that includes young adults living on the autism spectrum, or with other special needs. It will be called KOS, Kicking Out Stigma.

Franz said that it has been harder to find recreational sports for her son, Gabe, as he has gotten older. Gabe is an active young man who is interested in trains, fishing, and bowling, but what he really wants is to join a sports team, just like his younger siblings.

When she couldn’t find what she was looking for, Jessica Franz decided to start a league of her own and to put out the call for interested players. There is a possibility of future collaboration with Community Mental Health. The league would get started in mid-June.

Kicking Out Stigma Kickball League: Jessica Franz, jahgm@hotmail.com, 810-990-5118

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

SC4 and Wayne State Partner for Engineering Degree Program

St. Clair County Community College and Wayne State University are partners in a program to make it easier to launch a STEM career with an Engineering Degree.

Students will be able to earn most of their general education credits at SC4 and then to transfer “seamlessly” to Wayne State for a bachelor’s degree. They will be able to earn their Associate of Science degree while working toward the Wayne State transfer.

SC4 President Dr. Deborah A. Snyder said, “We know many SC4 students transfer on to earn four-year degrees and have gone on to lead in cutting-edge industries, but too many others lose interest in crucial STEM subjects or encounter barriers along the way.”

Snyder said that the community college can do more to inspire, educate and prepare students and cited the Challenger Learning Center and the Wayne State partnership as ways to “help students save on tuition costs and time as they pursue a bachelor’s degree from one of Michigan’s most innovative four-year institutions.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland