local news

The Athletic Factory Moves into Trinity Lutheran Church Space

Port Huron, MI — The Athletic Factory, a Port Huron non-profit, is on the move. They will soon be calling the gym at Trinity Lutheran Church home.

Executive Director of the Athletic Factory, Cliff Thomason, said, “This move allows us to have more space for our program. We will have a full-size gym, storage area for our equipment, and a room for tutoring services. With this additional space, we will be able to run our own biddy ball leagues, basketball leagues for middle school and high school, training camps, volleyball leagues, and provide a closer tutoring service location for the south end student-athletes.”

The Athletic Factory was able to run an ACT/SAT test course for 32 students over the summer and continues to train college-bound athletes for success after graduation.

The organization won a $20,000 grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation earlier this year and is looking forward to a successful year in their new headquarters.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Today is Greatest Generation Day

Lansing, MI — Governor Whitmer proclaimed September 2, 2020 as Greatest Generation Day in Michigan to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II and encourage Michiganders across the state to honor members of the Greatest Generation for their sacrifices during World War II.  

“From the founding of the nation to our current crisis, Michiganders have always shown a willingness to sacrifice for the common good,” said Governor Whitmer. “We are grateful for members of the Greatest Generation who set the example of sacrifice by serving in uniform, working in fields and factories to produce materials for victory, and supporting war efforts at home. Their work is an inspiration to our collective efforts in the fight against COVID-19. We can honor the Greatest Generation’s sacrifices by doing our part by wearing a mask and staying socially distant to protect ourselves and others from the virus.”

The Greatest Generation Day honors the sacrifices of those born between 1901 – 1927, a generation that came of age during the Great Depression, and later supported the United States during World War II. The Greatest Generation faced hardships and sacrifices, but never faltered in their loyalty to the nation. September 2, 2020 commemorates the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Loonies for Lunches Supports Sarnia Students

Sarnia, Ontario, CA — From now until September 13th, Sarnia area McDonald’s franchises owned by Colleen and Peter Buckley will be collecting $1 donations at their drive thru windows.

The 15th annual  Loonies for Lunches program is a fundraiser that supports The Inn of the Good Shepherd and helps them provide food for children.

The Inn of the Good Shepherd Executive Director Myles Vanni says, “Our Community and McDonald’s continue to care about the children who may go without food. Loonies for Lunches is a vital fundraiser to keep the food bank at The Inn stocked with children’s lunch and snack items. The numbers tell the story, over 800 children are provided with food monthly.”

Donations can also be placed online through The Inn of the Good Shepherd’s website at theinnsarnia.ca.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Local Entrepreneur Has Big Dreams for 1219 Military Street

Carol Hall is best known for using her creative skills and fun personality to entertain guests at The Hallway Entertainment. The escape rooms, game show nights, and escape dinners are immersive and unique entertainment experiences for groups looking for a fun activity.

Now she’s focusing on a new project in The Hallway Entertainment’s backyard: the property at 1219 Military Street. Formerly known as Studio 1219, the building was used as an art studio and gallery and run by a nonprofit organization for 15 years.

Carol has been hired by the Community Foundation of St. Clair County to re-imagine the space, and she has big plans. She still wants 1219 Military Street to be a gathering place for local artists, but her dream is to expand the offerings to include music and performing arts, and possibly some digital media arts as well.

The south side of downtown Port Huron has been slower to receive the revitalization efforts seen north of the Black River, but this project hopes to add to the foot traffic and entertainment offerings already happening there.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

“Return to School” Planned for Port Huron Schools

Port Huron, MI — Port Huron Area School District has published a “Return to School Plan” and has emailed it to all parents in the district.

The Port Huron School Board approved the offering of both virtual school and a hybrid option where students alternate between in-person instruction and virtual instruction, which is online at home.

For those attending in-person classes, students are divided into two groups. Group A consists of those with last names A-K. Group A will attend in-person classes on Mondays and Wednesdays and every other Friday starting September 11. Group B consists of students with last names L-Z. They will attend in-person classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays and every other Friday starting September 18. On the “off” days, students will attend classes online from home.

Families choosing all-virtual instruction can pick up a week’s worth of breakfasts and lunches on Mondays at the high schools. For those attending in-person, face coverings will be worn at school and many measures are in place to keep students safe, including adjustments to furniture in classrooms, procedures for lunchrooms, and minimized congregating of students.

The first day of school is Tuesday, September 8th. The full plan can be read here.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

MDHHS & EMS Will Provide Overdose Survivors Extra Naloxone Kits

In honor of Overdose Awareness Day, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is launching a new program with emergency medical services (EMS) providers to further prevent opioid overdose deaths. EMS providers will give overdose survivors extra naloxone kits – the medication that reverses opioid overdoses.

In 2018, overdoses killed 2,599 Michiganders. Nearly 80 percent of those deaths involved opioids, continuing an epidemic that has devastated countless families. Overdose Awareness Day memorializes the individuals whose lives have been lost to an overdose, and marks an occasion to offer support to the family, friends and communities impacted by this epidemic.

MDHHS encourages Michiganders to help prevent overdose deaths by carrying naloxone; offering support to family and friends who use substances; and ending the stigma that surrounds substance use disorders.

Overdoses have surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, and MDHHS data shows that EMS responses for opioid overdose increased by 33 percent from April to May 2020, and still remain elevated. From April through July 2020, EMS responses for opioid overdose were 22 percent higher than the same period last year.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of EMS-treated overdose patients that have declined transport to an emergency department. This indicates that EMS staff may be the only healthcare providers many individuals interact with following an overdose and underscores the urgency of this new naloxone leave behind program.