local news

Golf Carts Donated by Bowlers to Michigan Veterans Homes

There are many ways to thank a vet, but the Metro Detroit United States Bowling Congress and the Bowlers to Veterans Link have found an especially unique way to help out those who served their country through military service.

Two golf carts were donated to the Michigan Veteran Homes at Chesterfield Township by the non-profit. The bowling groups support veterans and active-duty service members through recreation therapy programs.

Tiffany Carr, community engagement coordinator for Michigan Veteran Homes said, “These golf carts will provide transportation for veteran members to enjoy the natural surroundings and observe a wide range of wildlife across 30 acres.”

Carr said, “We are so grateful for the BVL and Metro Detroit USBC as their generous donation enables our members to spend more time outdoors while celebrating camaraderie.”

The bowling charity started its work with veterans in 1942 when a women’s bowling association raised money to pay for medical transport planes that brought wounded soldiers from battlefields to American hospitals. They have been working with veterans for eighty years.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

The Athletic Factory Recreational Survey Needs Community Response

The Athletic Factory, a Port Huron non-profit that assists student-athletes in preparing for college, is asking for the community to take a few minutes to complete an online survey.

The Athletic Factory’s Executive Director, Cliff Thomason, said that the organization provides summer youth recreational programs where they provide open gym runs for middle school and high school kids at the James R. Leonard Center. Thomason said that during a planning meeting, they were discussing what other activities they might want to provide this summer and the survey was created.

The Athletic Factory is working to find out what the community feels is needed for the youth in our community and to eventually fill the voids.

The survey asks what activities participants would be interested in, from sports to crafts to dance. It also asks about the need for a community center, and where it should be located, along with questions about social media use and availability for programming. The short survey takes just a few minutes to complete. A link to the survey can be found below.

The Athletic Factory Recreational Survey

Reporting for WGRT  – Jennie McClelland

Thumb Land Conservancy Announces New Projects

The Thumb Land Conservancy has several projects underway, all made possible with volunteers and community collaboration across several counties in Michigan’s Thumb.

The Thumb Land Conservancy is constructing an informational kiosk at the Bidwell Sanctuary in northern St. Clair County. The kiosk is funded by a grant from the Bioregion Reparation Fund.

The Conservancy is also working on the Duthler Ridge Sanctuary in Lapeer County, which was acquired last year. The Sanctuary is located in Dryden Township. It is named after Surveyor Rick Duthler, who was instrumental in the property acquisition. The Duthler Ridge Sanctuary is described as located on a narrow ridge on the east edge of a huge forested valley, nearly one mile across and two miles long, with a series of lakes and wetlands at the bottom.

The Conservancy is also working to protect 40 acres in Huron County. The land is a mix of swamp and forest and its conservation will protect pollinators that are vital to the ecosystem.

Go to WGRT.com for a link to more information about the Thumb Land Conservancy and how you can help preserve the natural wonders in Michigan’s Thumb.

http://www.thumbland.org/

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Michigan Working with National Park Service to Pilot Accessibility Innovations

The State of Michigan and the National Park Service are working together to increase the accessibility of electric vehicles in Michigan’s five national parks as well as find innovative ways to make parks available to everyone, from families with babies to elderly visitors. Michigan will pilot emerging mobility technology as well as innovative accessibility measures.

The collaboration includes a commitment to research and implement environmental sustainability and visitor access projects, identify potential electric vehicle charging infrastructure projects, advance innovative mobility and electrification initiatives, engage the community in pilot projects, and share knowledge leading toward the Lake Michigan Circuit to enable electric vehicle tourism at state and national parks around the Great Lakes.

Michigan’s five National Parks are Rocks National Lakeshore, Isle Royale National Park, Keweenaw National Historical Park, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and River Raisin National Battlefield Park.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Adopt-A-Highway Trash Pickup Scheduled for this Weekend

All that trash along the sides of Michigan’s highways is about to get cleaned up thanks to the Michigan Department of Transportation Adopt-A-Highway program. The first pickups of the year are scheduled for this weekend through May 1st in the Lower Peninsula. The Upper Peninsula has not quite reached spring-like weather and the first pickup in the U.P. is scheduled for early to mid-May.

State Transportation Director Paul C. Ajegba said, “We want to acknowledge the valuable service these thousands of Adopt-A-Highway volunteers provide each year keeping our roadsides clean.”

Ajegba said, “Their commitment to their communities makes a huge difference across Michigan. We also remind motorists to keep an eye out for the volunteers and drive cautiously during the pickup periods.”

Motorists should be aware of the volunteers who will be out keeping the highways and the environment clean. They will be wearing high-visibility vests and working in groups of three.

There are still sections of highways that are available for groups or businesses to adopt. There are three trash pickups throughout the year: this weekend’s pickup, a July pickup, and a September pickup.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

TEC Students win 18 Medals at SkillsUSA

St. Clair TEC students brought home an impressive 18 medals at the state SkillsUSA Leadership Conference held April 8-10 in Grand Rapids. Forty-one TEC students from eight programs competed at the state-level competition. The seven gold medal winners — Jacob McEachin, Emma O’Connell (Model: Skylar Soulliere), Sierra Kelly (Model: Hannah Gombos), William Wideman, and Curtis Dresser — will be advancing to the National SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 20–24. 

SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving more than 310,000 high school and college students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. The SkillsUSA competition is an annual event designed to gauge students’ mastery of various career-oriented skills and showcase the nation’s best career and technical education students. 

Congratulations to our SkillsUSA participants for their hard work during after-school practice sessions with dedicated TEC instructors and paraprofessionals.

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY 

Instructors: Jason Belfinger and Brian Hunter 

Paraprofessionals: Alex Super and Wayne McClelland 

Automotive Service Technology Overall 

  • Gold: Jacob McEachin, Port Huron Northern High School, Senior 

CONSTRUCTION TRADES 

Instructor: Ken Sygit 

Paraprofessional: Caleb Howell 

Electrical Construction Wiring 

  • Silver: CJ Miller, Virtual Learning Academy, Junior 

COSMETOLOGY 

Instructors: Alecia Klein, Beth Koski, and Sue Colman 

Paraprofessionals: Kara Randall and Tina Ponessa 

Cosmetology Overall 

  • Silver: Courtney Barber, Marysville High School, Senior 
  • Bronze: Brianna Snyder, Port Huron Northern High School, Senior 

Cosmetology Mannequin 

  • Gold: Maggie Tanton, Blue Water Middle College, Junior 
  • Bronze: Rebekah Schmaltz, Marysville High School, Junior 

Esthetics 

  • Gold: Emma O’Connell, Yale High School, Senior (Model: Skylar Soulliere, Port Huron Northern, Senior) 
  • Silver: Sienna Guerrero-Brown, East China Virtual, Senior (Model: Lily Ingles, Marysville, High School, Senior) 

Nail Care 

  • Gold: Sierra Kelly, Marysville High School, Senior (Model: Hannah Gombos, Memphis High School, Senior) 
  • Bronze: Taylor Colston, Port Huron High School, Senior (Model: Peyton Rowley, Capac High School, Senior) 

DIGITAL MEDIA TECHNOLOGY 

Instructor: Chad Kubik 

Paraprofessional: Ann Frederick 

Pin Design 

  • Silver: Danielle Liebetreu, St. Clair High School, Senior

METAL MACHINING TECHNOLOGY 

Instructor: Duane Emig 

Paraprofessional: Marv Koob 

CNC Technician 

  • Gold: William Wideman, Memphis High School, Senior 

CNC Turning 

  • Gold: Curtis Dresser, Port Huron Northern High School, Senior 

WELDING 

Instructor: Becca Robertson 

Paraprofessional: James Lay 

Welding Overall 

  • Bronze: Jason Sanday, Yale High School, Senior 

View photographs from the competitions on TEC’s Facebook page at: 

https://www.facebook.com/StClairTEC 

The St. Clair County Technical Education Center (TEC) is operated by the St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency. TEC provides career-oriented programs to high school juniors and seniors. TEC offers programs on- and off-site. Programs provide students the opportunity to earn high school elective and academic credit, college credit, and state certification. 

More information is available on the TEC website at www.sctec.org. 

Submitted by St. Clair TEC