local news

Can You Bake Cookies for a Cause? SOS Marysville Needs Christmas Cookies for Christmas Dinners

What is your favorite Christmas Cookie? Peanut Butter Blossom? Iced Sugar Cookie? Gingerbread? 

The SOS Marysville Food Pantry needs homemade cookies. They are delivering over 2,000 Christmas Dinners on Christmas Day and they need cookies to go along with the meals.

Heidi Richards from the Food Pantry said that they are getting help from a lot of local organizations and businesses who are hosting “Baking Cookies for a Cause” events, but they still need more.

Each dinner will include three cookies. Donors are asked to package the cookies in groups of three in small zip-lock bags. The cookies can be dropped off at the Marysville Methodist Church at 712 Huron Avenue in Marysville by 9:00 a.m. on Christmas morning.

Richards said, “We live in an amazing community. So many have volunteered to provide cookies for the shut-ins, homeless, and elderly. Over sixty individuals have committed to making from two dozen up to 15 dozen totaling 218 dozen.”

Richards said 282 dozen more cookies are needed. If you have questions, or can help, call Heidi at 810-650-6174.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Wyatt Walker Friendship Fund Helps Enrich the Lives of Local Youth

The Wyatt Walker Friendship Fund is enriching the lives of young people throughout the area. Recent donations to both Port Huron Northern High School and Discovery City at Port Huron Museums’ Carnegie Center are continuing the legacy of the late Wyatt Walker.

Gayle Walker said that she and her husband, Mark, truly believe that programs involving young people are the best investment of their time and money. The Wyatt Walker Friendship Fund was started in 1999 to honor the memory of the Walkers’ son, Wyatt. Walker said that the projects they fund are things that Wyatt would have loved.

Through the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, the Fund awarded grants to enrichment programs at Port Huron Northern High School this year. There was money left over and they decided to gift it to the Museums to help pay for Wednesday Mornings with Miss Michelle at Discovery City.

Mrs. Walker said that the fund looks for things that “build kindness, doing for others, and reaching out and helping”. 

https://www.phmuseum.org/discovery-city-childrens-exhibit/

https://www.stclairfoundation.org/wyatt-walker-friendship-fund-grants/

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Repp Warns Against “One Size Fits All” Short-Term Rental Bill 

State legislation has been written that would provide for the regulation of short-term rental properties at a statewide level, stripping zoning power from municipalities. Short-term rentals are made when homeowners rent out their homes with services like Airbnb, VRBO, HomeAway, and others. 

 House Bill 4722 is sponsored by several lawmakers including State Representative Andrew Beeler of Port Huron. The bill has passed the House. A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate. 

There is fear that this could dramatically transform both neighborhoods and housing markets for both buyers and long-term renters. The Michigan Association of Townships says the bill would take zoning authority away from local governments.

Port Huron Mayor Pauline Repp is not a fan of the legislation, saying, “Anyone should be able to rent their home from time-to-time. That’s not what this bill is about. This bill opens up family homes in our community to be commercialized at a rate we never would allow locally. We need to determine for ourselves what’s best for our neighborhoods.”

A link to both bills can be found below. 

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(j3uxlwy530utr15knchy4lvk))/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=2021-SB-0446

https://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(ywbjpifzsfuumq35250aqulv))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectname=2021-HB-4722

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Health Department Needs Help with Monoclonal Antibody Clinic

The St. Clair County Health Department is putting out a call for volunteers to staff its Monoclonal Antibody Treatment Center.

Medical staff that are trained and experienced with intravenous infusion are needed as well as medical support staff. The support staff will assist with patient monitoring and vitals.

The dramatic uptick in Covid Cases in the area has caused the treatment center to be activated in the county. Volunteer medical staff are needed on Tuesdays and Fridays in December from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The monoclonal antibody infusion therapy is considered to be highly effective as it reduces viral loads and can consequently lessen symptom severity. The lessened symptoms can prevent hospitalizations by 70%, according to a memo published by the health department.

Patients are referred to the clinic by their health care provider and are generally considered to be at high risk of requiring hospitalization if symptoms progress.

Volunteers need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and will be provided with personal protection equipment and on-site training.

Visit mivolunteerregistry.org or email: dlois@stclaircounty.org

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

DTF Seizes Large Amount of Meth

Port Huron Twp., MI — The St. Clair County Drug Task Force seized a large amount of crystal methamphetamine and arrested one man during a raid on December 1st.

According to Sheriff Mat King, The DTF conducted an investigation into the sales of meth in the Port Huron area.  That investigation led to the execution of a search warrant at a home in the 2900 block of West Water Woods at about 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.  Once inside, members of the Drug Task Force located and seized about $45,000 worth of crystal methamphetamine and smaller amounts of fentanyl and cocaine.  Also seized during the raid were digital scales, cash and drug packaging materials.

A 35 year old Port Huron man was arrested at the residence and lodged at the St. Clair County Intervention and Detention Center.  He is expected to face charges including possession with intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine, possession of cocaine, possession of fentanyl and maintaining a drug house.

Submitted by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force

When it Comes to Mental Health, No One Stands Alone

No One Stands Alone. That is the message that visitors to popular gathering places in Ontario’s Lambton County and the Chatham-Kent community will see on free brochures placed throughout the region.

The booklets are provided by the No One Stands Alone organization whose mission is to connect people to resources for Mental Health care and support.

The group has placed over 35,000 copies of the booklet at places like arenas, skating and hockey clubs, restaurants, libraries, and more, since May of 2021.

The publication of the booklet is made possible by fundraising and sponsors as well as partnerships with municipalities and service groups.

The booklets are meant to be referenced in emergencies or when help is needed. Referrals for mental health situations like grief, depression, anxiety, and others are provided in the No One Stands Alone booklet. The idea for the booklet came in part from Debb Pitel, who has been working through the loss of a child and struggled to find mental health resources.

The organization’s website noonestandsalone.ca has information on the locations of the booklets and ways to help, as well as personal stories about mental health journeys.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland