local news

Friends of the St. Clair River to Present Improvements in Drinking Water Source

The community is invited to a presentation by the Friends of the St. Clair River on the health of the water used for the area’s drinking water supply.

Chemical spills in the 1980s sparked a “Drinking Water Impairment for the St. Clair River Area of Concern”. There are misconceptions about what that designation means and the presentation is a chance to clear things up. It will be held on Tuesday, October 19th, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. via Zoom. It is free to attend.

A survey was done by the Friends of the St. Clair River this spring to gather residents’ perceptions of the quality of their drinking water and to gauge the understanding of where municipal water comes from and the safety of that supply.

Results of the survey will be shared at the presentation. Water professionals will share information about the treatment process and industry partners on both the U.S. and Canadian sides of the St. Clair River will be on hand to share the progress made over the last three decades.

Sheri Faust of the Friends of the St. Clair River said, “Protecting drinking water is a complex responsibility, and in the case of the St. Clair River, it’s an international responsibility.”

Registration is required at www.scriver.org.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Marysville Gets Law Enforcement Grant

The City of Marysville will be getting $75,000 as part of a larger $1 million program to support officers and public safety across Michigan. The grants are part of a plan to increase public safety. Marysville was one of eleven municipalities that received grants, in addition to a grant to the Michigan State Police.

The City of Marysville’s grant is for supporting law enforcement in seeking accreditation, as are the grants given to several other cities.

The Michigan State Police received a grant of over $182,000 to support de-escalation training.

De-escalation programs improve communication when police and civilians have an encounter. The strategy helps officers maintain security, prevent crime, and advance community policing.

Colonel Joe Gasper, director of the Michigan State Police said, “At the core of de-escalation is communication. Our troopers and the communities we serve benefit when we improve how we approach and treat each other. “

The grants are awarded through the United States Department of Justice’s Community Development De-Escalation program.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Port Huron Water Filtration Plant Tour Wows Community Members

Water is a pretty big deal around here and Port Huron’s water filtration plant is a very big deal.  A tour of the plant brought the inner workings of the massive plant, located near Pine Grove Park, to local officials and interested citizens.

The water filtration plant takes water right out of the St. Clair River and turns it into clean drinking water that goes to up to 60,000 customers, including homes, businesses, and industries. Right now, the plant treats around 8 million gallons of water per day, but it has the capacity to treat 30 million gallons if needed.

The plant, built in 1966, is in a constant state of maintenance and monitoring to continue to treat and pump fresh, clean water to Port Huron and the surrounding townships 24 hours a day. Steps have been taken recently to increase security at the plant.

The operators of the facility hold high-skill jobs and the City of Port Huron is actively recruiting to fill future vacancies at the plant. The jobs are high-paying and require extensive certification and training.

Port Huron City Council Member Anita Ashford remarked on the complexity of the water plant, saying, “We want the best with no shortcuts. We are stewards of the water for a lot of people.”

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland

Port Huron’s Wastewater Treatment Plant Provides Critical Infrastructure for Region

Along with a tour of the water filtration plant, community members were given a look at Port Huron’s Wastewater Treatment Plant last week. It is safe to say that those in attendance were in awe of the extensive effort that goes into taking wastewater from the City and surrounding townships and making it clean enough to safely send back into the St. Clair River.

Dianna Siefert, Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent, has worked at the plant for over 21 years and gave a fascinating presentation to community members who have a stake in the stewardship of the river as well as the local economy that depends on the vital service.

Siefert explained the innovative process that Port Huron uses to collect biosolids from the wastewater and send them out to over 150 farmers to fertilize their fields. It is the biggest recycling program in St. Clair County. She also gave a tour of the facility, which is getting some expensive, yet vital, upgrades.

The plant is massive and can handle up to 20 million gallons of wastewater per day. It usually handles 9.5 million gallons. The plant operates 24 hours per day, 365 days a year with an operating budget of approximately $5 million each year.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Community Baby Shower Goes Virtual Starting October 11th

This year’s Community Baby Shower is adapting for the times. The event will be held online, using the Facebook Group platform. The Community Baby Shower is for St. Clair County’s expectant families and new parents with babies under three months old.

The Community Baby Shower is sponsored by St. Clair County RESA’s Early Childhood Department. The event starts on October 11th. Participants will earn chances for prizes with each presentation that they attend. The topics include growth and development, nutrition, preterm labor, safety, and the importance of play.

Participants will have until October 14th to watch the presentations and will be eligible for door prizes with each presentation.

The Community Baby Shower is an annual tradition in St. Clair County, where local businesses and agencies partner to shower families with the things they need to get their new babies off to a great start.

Interested families will need to fill out a registration form online. After registering, expectant and new parents will get an email link to the Community Baby Shower.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfsHfpNg-TC2xmYQmF3tYAENhiV2FW-0cjZYnjBsX7Vb4OWQA/viewform?fbclid=IwAR3VACyD9KRytPXKICSBV5q_uf0p9dte5YH1194yIpVDgAwwsKci2okok4Y

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Blue Water Safe Horizons Raising Awareness at Oct. 9 Event

Blue Water Safe Horizons is hosting the first ever Domestic Violence Awareness Resource Event for St. Clair County. It will be held at Pine Grove Park in Port Huron from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 9th. 

Blue Water Safe Horizons will have information available to help the community recognize the warning signs of domestic violence. There will also be activity tables where the community can earn SURVIVOR, ADVOCATE, or ALLY t-shirts. 

Elizabeth Sawielski, Blue Water Safe Horizons Executive Director, says, “The event is designed to increase awareness of intimate-partner domestic violence in our community and help others understand the resources that are available in St. Clair County. One in three women and one in four men in the U.S. have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner and the work that we do is so important to our community.” 

Blue Water Safe Horizons operates Carolyn’s Place, a 26-bed facility for time-limited emergency needs for women and children. Just last year, Blue Water Safe Horizons provided more than 5,000 nights of stay to victims, answered 500 crisis hotline calls, and served more than 500 women and children. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland