local news

Lightship To Get Much-Needed Repairs

Port Huron, MI — The Huron Lightship needs some serious repair after last summer’s damage. City Manager James Freed has recommended that the City of Port Huron award a contract to Martin Construction to repair the structure.

A rare meteotsunami caused water levels in the St. Clair River to quickly raise and then recede, resulting in significant damage to the Huron Lightship. The boat, which had been permanently grounded at Pine Grove Park for decades, actually floated up and destroyed much of the mechanical structures.

Some work has already been done to repair the Lightship, which is a working Museum, under the management of Port Huron Museums. It is not currently open to visitors due to the damage.

The final restoration involves replacing the damaged walkway to the Lightship and backfilling around the ship to maintain stability. After soliciting bids from several contractors, Martin Construction was the only contractor willing to take on the project. The cost is $62,400 for the complete project.

According to Freed, the backfilling needs to take place quickly to ensure the stability of the vessel.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Bridge Traffic Backup Causing Traffic Jams

Backups on the Blue Water Bridge are causing serious delays and traffic jams on eastbound I-94 and M-25/Pine Grove (in both the North and Southbound lanes).

Avoid the area if possible and seek an alternate route into Port Huron if you are travelling on the expressway. As of 2 PM on Friday, Eastbound traffic is backed up just after the Dove Road exit on eastbound I-94.

Festival of Trees Staying at the Hospital for 2021

McLaren Port Huron has decided to host their popular Festival of Trees event at the hospital again this year and forgo the pre-pandemic gala at the Blue Water Convention Center.

Festival of Trees is held from Thanksgiving through the New Year, and last year’s event transformed the South Tower lobby into a winter wonderland. Spectators could drive by and see the beautifully decorated trees through the windows.

The 2021 event raised more than $65,000 to support new technology for early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.

This year, McLaren Port Huron will transform all main floor public areas into winter wonderlands viewable to the public throughout the South, Main, North, and Karmonos lobbies.

All funds raised from this year’s Festival of Trees will support the purchase of equipment to enhance breast imaging services at the Demashkieh Women’s Wellness Place.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

New Blue Water Bridge Commuter Pass Offers Lower Toll

Crossing the Blue Water Bridge has been restricted since the start of the pandemic. There are some updates to the crossing restrictions and a new program for international commuters.

The Michigan Department of Transportation advises that travelers always check with either U.S. Customs and Border Patrol or Canada Border Services to get the latest travel rules. They should also start expecting longer wait times and congestion at the border.

Some of the changes instituted during COVID-19 restrictions have become permanent. Cash is no longer accepted for eastbound travelers. Only commercial cards, debit or credit cards, and the new Edge Commuter Pass are accepted.  

In explaining the commuter pass, Blue Water Bridge Administrator Amy Winn-VanHoeck said, “Our commuter pass program is a newer addition and one we are thrilled to now be offering our customers. The reduced toll rate using this commuter pass makes it very reasonable for customers, and the ease of using the pre-paid pass automated toll lane will help to streamline processes and offers a different method of payment now that we have opted to continue to forgo the use of cash.”

The commuter pass rate is $2.50 per non-commercial vehicle.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Sarnia Police: Stop Calling 911 for Coyote Sightings

The Sarnia Police are asking residents to deal with wildlife without calling 911. There has been an increase in calls to the 911 dispatch service regarding the spotting of coyotes, deer, and raccoons.

The Sarnia Police remind residents that raccoons in the trash can or coyotes in the street do not constitute an emergency. Police will not respond to sightings of wildlife.

Police may respond if an animal is injured or acting aggressively toward humans. Sarnia Animal Control may then get involved as well.

If a wild animal is making a home in a yard or in the neighborhood, residents will need to contact a pest control company to trap and deal with the animals in an appropriate manner.

Coyotes have been of particular concern in the area, but they generally try to avoid human contact. The Sarnia Police suggest driving the coyotes away by yelling “go away” in a firm voice, banging pots, spraying a water hose, or throwing objects toward the coyote. Flashlights and motion-activated lights can also scare off coyotes.

Bears are a different story, and have been spotted in Lambton County. Bear sightings can be reported to the BearWise reporting line at 1-866-514-2327.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Museums for All Offers Reduced Admission Fees to Port Huron Museums

The Port Huron Museums are part of the Museums for All program. The program supports lowered admission rates for low-income families.

What does Museums for All mean? The initiative “encourages individuals of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum habits.” All kinds of cultural institutions are included in Museums for All, including the Thomas Edison Museum, Carnegie Center, and the Huron Lightship.

Admission to the Port Huron Museums is generally $10 per person per site or $28 for a multi-site pass. With Museums for All, tickets are just $3 per person for those who present a Bridge Card or prove eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Museums for All allows for free or reduced admission to over 700 museums nationwide. Over 3 million visits have been facilitated by Museums for All since 2014. Museums for All was started by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a federal agency based in Washington, DC. It is administered by the Association of Children’s Museums through a cooperative agreement with IMLS.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland