local news

Port Huron Rec Programs are Back for Summer

Port Huron, MI — The Port Huron Parks and Recreation Department has announced sign-up dates for summer programs. Real, in-person programming is back with plans for the pools to be open and the parks to be full of happy children.

Residents of the city of Port Huron get first dibs on the summertime fun with their registration starting May 3rd. Those who live outside of the city can start registering on May 4th. In-city rates are extended to those who live in Burtchville, Clyde, Fort Gratiot, and Port Huron townships, due to a cooperative partnership.

COVID-prevention protocols will be followed as needed, including limiting group sizes, social distancing, and mask-wearing when warranted. Many of the traditional programs, like the Camp Palmer day camp and chess club are back on the calendar, but the popular Junior Recreators program is taking another year off.

Highlights of the summer activities include Hollywood actress and Port Huron native McKale Jude Bingham directing a Theatre Workshop, as well as classes held in collaboration with the Friends of The St. Clair River and The Athletic Factory.  

A link to the Summer Brochure from Port Huron Parks and Recreation:

https://d721f890-20f6-4799-98ef-6e373ba52f19.filesusr.com/ugd/fc6623_4995733de6e3406da6cf1d4e51b56416.pdf

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Is It Time for a New Pet?

St. Clair County, MI — It’s time for the annual Empty the Shelters event sponsored by the BISSELL Pet Foundation, and those interested in adopting a new pet from the Blue Water Humane Society need to be pre-approved by May 1st.

Empty the Shelters helps reduce the adoption fee of pets from participating shelters. The regular price to adopt a cat from the Blue Water Humane Society is $100 and $150 for a dog. During Empty the Shelters, the cost is reduced to $25 or less.

The Blue Water Humane Society is open by appointment only on Tuesdays – Fridays from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM and Saturdays from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. They are closed to the public on Sundays and Mondays.

Interested new pet parents can view available pets at the Blue Water humane Society by viewing their profile on Pet Finder.com <HERE>, and then call the shelter to get pre-approved by filling out an application.

Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation, said “The national Empty the Shelters event in May will be our largest yet, and as a small foundation, we are incredibly proud to see the growth of this program as we continue to expand its impact. Empty the Shelters not only helps our shelter partners free up space in their facilities, but it places pets in permanent homes. It’s a win-win for everyone involved…our partners, ETS adopters, and most importantly, the pets.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Summer Jobs Still Available with City of Port Huron

Port Huron, MI — As the City of Port Huron endures what it hopes will be the last cold spell of spring, officials are looking forward to a busy summer of outdoor recreation. With city facilities opening back up and recreation programs planned, the need for seasonal workers is pressing.

In a letter to the Mayor and City Council, James Freed Port Huron City Manager, said the need for seasonal workers in the parks, recreation, and cemetery departments was urgent.

The city currently has openings for a variety of positions including pool maintenance, cashiers, and lifeguards, along with lawn maintenance, park rangers, and parking booth attendants. There are several openings for program staff at the Parks and Recreation Department such as Day Camp Leaders and Palmer Play staff. Most jobs are part-time and pay between $9.87 – $15 per hour.

Freed also said in the letter that “often times, when fulltime jobs open up our seasonal workers are at the front of the line. It’s a good foot in the door.”

For a fill list of job openings at the City of Port Huron, visit their website <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

McMorran Boulevard Being Rebuilt

Port Huron, MI — Improvements to a vital downtown street will cause some traffic adjustments for a few months. Road construction on McMorran Boulevard in Downtown Port Huron will bring some temporary changes to parking and traffic patterns for visitors to the Main Branch of the St. Clair County Library, along with the county courthouse and other businesses and offices between Merchant Street and Huron Avenue.

A temporary aggregate surface will be placed across the median on Fort Street to enable access and on-street parking north of McMorran Boulevard. On-street parking south of McMorran Boulevard will be prohibited.

The work is being contracted by the City of Port Huron to Raymond Excavating. The project includes the installation of new water mains and fire hydrants, new catch basins, and new sanitary sewers. It also includes new curbs and gutters with the street reconstruction. Repairs will be made to any sidewalks or drives that are disturbed, as well as any site restoration.

The traffic light at Michigan Street and McMorran Boulevard will be removed during the project. The construction is expected to be completed by July 20th, 2021.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Port Huron Schools Will Remain Remote for Now

Port Huron, MI — At a meeting Monday night, the Port Huron Schools Board of Education voted to keep its schools 100% remote for Pre-K – 12. They plan to re-evaluate the situation in a special meeting next week.

School Superintendent Jamie Cain said in a letter to parents that daily Zoom classes will continue and all coursework will be posted in Schoology. Students who are enrolled in the district’s virtual program will be unaffected.

In November of 2020, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) paused in-person learning in high schools because of a spike in COVID-19 cases. They reinstated in-person classes on December 21, 2020, but many school districts chose to continue instruction remotely.

In January, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and her administration set a goal to have all Michigan students transitioned to face-to-face learning by March 1st or earlier. She reported in a February 24, 2021 press release that 85% of Michigan school districts were back to in-person learning and by March 1, 2021 97% of districts would be in-person.

Cases of COVID-19 in Michigan have been increasing since March 1st, partially due to cases among school-aged children and their families. An April 16th extension of the MDHHS Epidemic Order, stated that “as of April 8, local health departments [in Michigan] had reported 312 new and ongoing outbreaks among K-12 schools.”

Each school district in Michigan is responsible for coordinating with their local health departments and officials to determine the safest way to educate their students.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Black River Canal Dredging and Sand Placement

Port Huron, MI — The City of Port Huron’s contractor began dredging sand from the Black River Canal entrance at Lake Huron on Monday, April 19, 2021.

Weather permitting, sand dredged from Black River Canal will be placed in Lake Huron from
Holland Beach to the south beginning on Monday, April 26, 2021. Due to the work, Holland Beach will be closed.

The contractor will be utilizing Gratiot Avenue to Edison Blvd. and Conger Street to Holland Avenue to haul sand from the mouth of the Black River Canal to Holland Beach. There will be intermittent slowed and stop-and-go traffic in these areas. The public is encouraged to refrain from  parking on these streets during that time frame.

Submitted by the City of Port Huron Department of Public Works: 810-984-9730.