local news

Legislation Removes Barrier for Military Members and Families

Many military members who hold state licenses for their jobs face complications when they move or are stationed in a new state. Licenses are state specific, so they need to be applied for in the state the holder resides in, and many come with associated fees and testing.

Governor Whitmer announced bipartisan legislation that supports military personnel, veterans, and their families by reducing barriers to professional licensure. The legislation allows for license reciprocity in Michigan, meaning that if certain criteria established by LARA is satisfied, the licensing process will be streamlined and fees could be waived.

“This program will remove significant barriers of employment and economic hurdles for our military members and their families and is an added benefit to serving in Michigan. As the state continues to invest in programs like this, we collectively show that Michigan as a great place for military and veterans to live, work, raise a family and retire,” said adjutant general and director of Michigan’s Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Major General Paul Rogers.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Veterans Supported with State Programs

As Veteran’s Day was celebrated this week, the Michigan Legislature and several state agencies rolled out new efforts to support veterans. Bi-partisan legislation was introduced that reduces barriers to professional licensure to military personnel, veterans, and their families.

Major General Paul Rogers, the adjutant general and director of Michigan’s Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, said, “This program will remove significant barriers of employment and economic hurdles for our military members and their families and is an added benefit to serving in Michigan. As the state continues to invest in programs like this, we collectively show that Michigan is a great place for military and veterans to live, work, raise a family and retire.”

The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency has certified ten state agencies as being “Veteran-Friendly Employers”. The Michigan Department of Transportation and the Michigan State Police have reached Gold-Level Veteran-Friendly Employer Status.

Additionally, the State Treasury reminds veterans that they are eligible for tax exemptions, tax deferments, and tuition grants. 

MichiganVeterans.com. 

To learn more about tax relief and other benefits for current and past military members, go to www.michigan.gov/taxes. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

SC4 Offers Futures for Frontliners Presentation

Port Huron, MI — Frontline workers who are interested in taking advantage of the Futures for Frontliners state scholarship program can get started by signing up for a Zoom presentation offered by St. Clair County Community College.

The Zoom presentation is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 18th. The deadline for signup is November 17th. Attendees will hear from SC4 admissions and financial aid staff, and will get an overview of the application qualifications and process. Certificate and degree programs are available.
The scholarship program is intended for frontline workers who were employed in essential industries at least part-time for eleven of the thirteen weeks between April 1st and June 30th 2020.

Eligible students are those who currently do not have a degree. Essential workers are defined as those who worked in a job outside of the home that required putting themselves at risk of exposure to Covid-19, in sectors such as critical manufacturing, food service, health care, and others.

To reserve your spot and receive Zoom login information, email recruitment@sc4.edu by Tuesday, Nov. 17.
For eligibility information, go to https://www.michigan.gov/frontliners/

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

 

 

Port Huron City Council Will Decide Who Takes 4th Seat

At a Port Huron City Council meeting Monday night, the council swore in its new and returning members. Three council seats were filled by Council Members Sherry Archibald, Teri Lamb, and Robert Mozurak with Archibald named Mayor Pro-Tem. Pauline Repp was sworn in as well to continue serving as the City of Port Huron’s mayor for another two years.

Since Lisa Beedon won a seat on the St. Clair County Board of Commissioners and will take that position in January, she will vacate her seat on the Council.  None of the other candidates running for Port Huron City Council received 25% of the vote; therefore, the City Council will be accepting Letters of Interest from the community when Beedon resigns.

According to its Charter, the Port Huron City Council must consist of the mayor and six Council Members. If a vacancy occurs, and no candidate from the preceding election received at least 25% of the total ballots cast in that election, the City Council “shall solicit and consider letters of interest from qualified and registered City electors who are qualified to fill the vacancy.”

After the letters have been received, the Council has 45 days to vote on a new member, and the candidate must receive at least 4 votes to win the seat.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Two Killed in Separate Crashes

Kimball Twp., MI – Two people were killed in separate crashes last night and this morning.

At about 10:30 Monday night, deputies were dispatched to the area of Dunlap Road and Flinchbaugh Road in Kimball Township for a crash.  When they arrived, they found a wrecked Harley Davidson motorcycle and the driver of the motorcycle.  Further investigation led to finding a 2005 GMC Envoy that had gone off the road into a wooded area.

Preliminary investigation into the crash found that the Envoy, driven by a 31 year old Port Huron woman was heading southbound on Dunlap, crossed the centerline and struck the motorcycle, driven by a 55 year old man from Greenwood Township.  The man was pronounced dead at the scene.  The woman was arrested for suspicion of operating while intoxicated causing death.

The crash remains under investigation.  Kimball Township Fire and Rescue and Tri-Hospital EMS assisted at the scene.

Shortly before 5:30 this morning, deputies were called to Lapeer Road and Wales Center Road in Wales Township for a one vehicle crash.  When they got to the scene, they discovered a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche had been traveling eastbound on Lapeer, went off the road into the ditch and rolled several times, ending up on its wheels.  The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, a 26 year old man from Melvin, Michigan had been ejected from the truck.  He was transported by Tri-Hospital EMS to McLaren Port Huron Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries.

Emmett Fire and Rescue assisted at the scene of the crash, which remains under investigation.

Submitted by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office

Blue Water Area COVID-19 Update Wednesday, November 10

St. Clair County, MI — Lambton County, Ontario

Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of November 10, 2020 at  9:00 AM are as follows:

  • State of Michigan: 216, 804 confirmed cases; 7,640 deaths
  • St. Clair County: 1,664 confirmed cases; 66 deaths
  • Ontario: 85,395 confirmed cases;  3,245 deaths
  • Sarnia-Lambton: 380 confirmed cases; 25 deaths

St. Clair County has 1,125 active cases of the virus, an increase of over 300 cases since last week, and 9% of hospital beds in the county are being used for COVID-19 patients.

According to a press release from the St. Clair County Health Department, they are limited in their ability to investigate cases at this time, and there is a growing number of workplace and school related cases.

Dr. Annette Mercatante, Medical Health Officer explained, “In these weeks or months between high transmission rates and the release of a vaccine, we simply have to deal with this reality.  Remember what is making you mildly ill can be life threatening to someone else. These difficult times will get better, but we have to work together to minimize the impact of this on our community and economy. And we have to act now.”

Lambton County currently has 9 active cases. Health officials recommend good hygiene, sanitization of frequently touched surfaces, and mask wearing for individuals who are caring for a COVID-19 infected person in their household.

Please continue to rely on reputable sources for information on COVID-19:

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand