local news

City Council Members Could Decide Who Takes Seat

Port Huron, MI — At Monday night’s Port Huron City Council meeting, the second and final reading was given to two ordinances related to buildings on 7th Street. That means that rezoning is final, and the new owners of the Smith Family Funeral Home and the First Congregational Church can move forward with their plans to redevelop those properties.

Plans for the Smith Family Funeral home involve a multi-unit housing development, and the First Congregational Church will be transformed into a state-of-the-art medical facility.

There was a presentation for Council Members Worden and Harris to thank them for their time on City Council. Monday’s meeting was the last for both of them as they are not seeking re-election.

There has been some confusion about candidates running for Port Huron City Council who have verbally withdrawn from the race but are still  listed on the ballot, and the situation that would arise if Lisa Beedon wins her race for St. Clair County Board of Commissioners and resigns from the council. This situation assumes four open seats and four remaining candidates, therefore everyone left on the ballot would get a council seat.

This is untrue however, and Mayor Pauline Repp clarified, “The fourth person is not an automatic. By charter, they have to have received at least 25% of the total votes cast at the election. If they did not, then it is opened up to process applications from the community.” If that happens, the City Council will decide who takes the open seat.

“Only three people will be seated at the next Council meeting because Lisa does not have to resign until after that,” said Mayor Repp.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand.

 

Grants Available for Eligible Teachers and Support Staff

Governor Whitmer and State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks Announced a grant program for Michigan teachers and support staff who worked additional hours during the 2019-20 school year due to COVID-19.

The Teacher COVID-19 Grant and the Support Staff COVID-19 Grant programs recognize the time and additional costs classroom teachers and support staff dedicated to their students when schools closed for in-person learning last spring.

Classroom teachers who taught full and part-time in a school district or nonprofit nonpublic school during the 2019-20 school year prior to the shutdown are eligible to receive up to $500. Paraprofessionals, aids, and other support staff can receive up to $250.

Grant funding will be implemented through the Michigan Department of Treasury and the Michigan Department of Education and checks will be sent to teachers and support staff in February 2021.

For more information on eligibility and program details visit their website <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

“Five Days of Action” at YMCA to Protect Children

Port Huron, MI — The YMCA of the Blue Water Area is participating in Five Days of Action, which is a weeklong campaign designed to raise awareness and protect children from sexual abuse. The YMCA is offering tips, tools, activities, and resources that are geared toward the current climate of dealing with the pandemic.

The theme of the campaign is “One Day at a Time”. Parents are encouraged to have a conversation with their kids by playing the “What If?” game to see how they would respond to situations and teach them how to get out of bad situations. 

The campaign addresses online safety, keeping kids safe and busy during social distancing, and creating a family code of conduct.Adults are also given tips on responding to abuse and knowing where to go for help.

Last year, 428 YMCAs participated in the week-long campaign. With things being quite a bit different this year and isolation being the norm, the program is adapting with an online format at fivedaysofaction.org. Anyone can access the website to learn the valuable information about protecting our children.

Reporting for WGRT -Jennie McClelland

Man With Airsoft Gun Scares Couple in Port Huron

Port Huron, MI — The Port Huron Police Department is seeking charges against a man walking with an airsoft gun in the area of Riverside Drive and Garfield Street on October 24, 2020 around 7:30 PM.

An 18 year-old woman and a 17 year-old male were driving in the area when a man with a black handgun in his waistband appeared in the roadway. The couple sped off and contacted police.

Residents from the area said a similar incident happened in July 2020, and someone provided video footage that led police to the suspect’s house. The suspect is a 33 year-old Port Huron resident. He stated that he was carrying the airsoft gun in an attempt to slow down people who driving too fast through the area.

The airsoft gun was confiscated, and a request to charge the suspect with Disorderly Conduct was forwarded to the St. Clair County Prosecutors Office for review.

Port Huron School District Adjusts Instructional Schedule

Port Huron, MI — In a letter to parents, Port Huron School District announced some changes to the instructional schedule. Currently, students are receiving instruction either completely virtually or with a hybrid schedule with some in-person days and some virtual days.

The new schedule was approved by the Board of Education at a meeting on October 23rd. The new schedule has Tuesday, November 3rd as a Remote Learning Day for all students with Learning Labs open. Wednesday, November 25th is a Remote Learning Day with buildings closed. Friday, December 11th is a Remote Learning Day with Buildings and Learning Labs open, and both Friday, February 12th and Monday, February 15th are Remote Learning Days with buildings closed. Parents who may have scheduled a mid-winter break vacation during February are reassured that the instruction is “any place, any pace”, so they can still take their trips.

Learning Labs will be available by appointment at Crull Elementary, Holland Woods Middle School and Port Huron High School. More information will be sent to families.

The updated schedule allows for school to end on June 11th, 2021, and meets the requirement to offer 180 instructional days.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Whitmer Signs Bills Protecting Employers and Nursing Home Residents

Governor Whitmer signed several House and Senate bills into law last week. Several of them addressed concerns resulting from COVID-19 for employers and nursing home residents.

House Bills 6030-6032 protect Michigan businesses that comply with relevant COVID-19-related laws, including epidemic orders and rules. HB 6030 make clears that when a business complies with all relevant COVID-19 related statutes, orders, and rules issued by federal, state, and local authorities, they cannot be held liable for a person becoming sick at the business.

HB 6031 makes clear that when an employer complies with all relevant COVID-19 related statutes, orders, and rules issued by federal, state, and local authorities, they cannot be held liable under the Michigan Occupational Health and Safety Act for a worker becoming sick at work.

House Bill 6030 was sponsored by Rep. Tom Albert (R-Lowell). House Bill 6031 was sponsored by Rep. Tommy Brann (R-Wyoming) and Rep. Wendell Byrd (D-Detroit). House Bill 6032 was sponsored by Rep. Graham Filler (R-DeWitt).

Senate Bill 1094 requires the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to evaluate the operation, efficacy, clinical outcomes, and performance of nursing homes throughout the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill also creates a series of requirements surround the state’s COVID-19 nursing home policy.

DHHS, in consultation with LARA, will work to provide a statewide visitation policy, implement plans concerning COVID-19 laboratory testing, a process to approve care and recovery facilities among other key goals before November 15, 2020. The bill was sponsored by Senator Peter Lucido (R-Shelby Township).