local news

Warning to Float Down Participants: Stay Out of Canada

The  Royal Canadian Mounted Police have a serious warning for those who plan to participate in the unsanctioned Float Down this Sunday: stay out of Canada.

A warning from the Mounties said, “U.S. citizens that land in Canada unintentionally will be arrested pursuant to IRPA Section 55(2) and transported back to the United States.”

U.S. citizens that land in Canada are subject to immigration laws as well as restrictions regarding controlled substances and alcohol. They will also be subject to COVID-19 screening. Wayward floaters will likely lose their coolers, flotation devices, and other property.

Fines of up to $750,000 and six months of jail time are mentioned in the warning. The border is currently closed to non-essential travel, and that includes any type of recreational boating and floating.

Over 1500 floaters landed in Canada in 2016 and were transported across the bridge back to Port Huron. The winds can be unpredictable and difficult to manage in a floating raft or inflatable. Without a paddle, floaters are at the mercy of the winds. The Ontario Royal Mounted Police have made it clear that they will be less accommodating this year than they were in 2016.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

The Secret to Getting a Secretary of State Appointment

Navigating the Michigan Secretary of State online appointment system has been frustrating for many people since the offices closed for walk-ins. Although it is possible to book an advance appointment for Secretary of State services on the State’s website, the earliest dates that are currently available are in the middle of November.

However, waiting three months to register a new vehicle may not be acceptable to your car insurance company, so here is a little trick for securing a “Same-Day” appointment on the Secretary of State’s website:

Same-Day appointments become available 24 hours in advance. They are also scheduled on the hour and in 10 minute increments throughout the hour. For example, if you log on to the Secretary of State’s website on a Monday at 10:00 AM, you will be able to make an appointment for the next day, Tuesday, at 10:00 AM.

The trick is, if there are no appointments available, keep refreshing the page every 10 minutes, or at the top of every hour, until you secure one. You can also book an appointment and repeat the process throughout the day to get a later time slot–just cancel the earlier appointment once you book a new one.

Although this system may be time-consuming for a user who needs a specific appointment time, it is the only way to prevent the consequences of driving without a license plate or getting a new driver their first license.

There are many transactions that don’t require going to a branch office, so check the Secretary of State’s website <HERE> to see if you can complete your transactions online, via mail, or at a self-service station.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Diane Lofquist Elected as Woman’s Life Board Chair

Port Huron, MI — Janice Whipple has retired as the chair of the board of Woman’s Life Insurance Society, and Diane Lofquist was elected to assume the role at their July meeting.

Whipple served Woman’s Life as national president for 22 years, and for 30 years as chair of the board.

“It has been a great honor to have served as Chair of the Woman’s Life Insurance Society Board of Directors, and I’m proud of our many accomplishments,” said Whipple. “Diane brings tremendous knowledge of our organization and of the industry, and I am confident that with her leadership, Woman’s Life will grow and, most importantly, continue to serve the needs of our members.”

Lofquist has been a benefit member of Woman’s Life since childhood. She was employed by Woman’s Life for 38 years, serving in a variety of functions and retiring as National Secretary-Treasurer in 2008. She has been a member of the board of directors for the past six years and is an active member of Woman’s Life Club 11 in Port Huron.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Great Lakes & Fresh Water Week Aug. 8-16th

The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) and the Southeast Michigan Partners for Clean Water along with Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) want to encourage Michigan residents to participate in Great Lakes And Fresh Water week from now until August 16th.

There is a lot to celebrate when it comes to Southeast Michigan’s abundant water resources, and there are several things we can all do to keep our waterways healthy and clean.

The One Water campaign sponsored by SEMCOG encourages public awareness of how cleaning up after your pet, properly disposing of fats, oils, and greases, and refraining from flushing disposable wipes can positively affect our water and sewer systems.

More information is available <HERE>

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

McLaren Port Huron Awards Scholarships

Port Huron, MI – McLaren Port Huron and its health care partners have awarded $28,000 in scholarships to 23 students pursuing degrees in professions represented in the hospital and the community. Since 1988, 501 recipients have received $587,750 through the scholarship program.

Scholarships are funded by the Carter family, Demashkieh family, McLaren Port Huron Auxiliary, McLaren Port Huron employees, McLaren Port Huron Employees That Care Club, and McLaren Port Huron Foundation.

The 2020 scholarship recipients are:

Demashkieh Family Scholarships: Morgan Alexis of Port Huron, Noel Cosby of Port Huron, and Daniele Soper of Lexington.

McLaren Port Huron Auxiliary Scholarship:  Danyel Bullock of Brown City and Andrew Wetter of Emmett.

McLaren Port Huron Auxiliary Seminar/Conference Scholarship:  Sharon Kortas of East China and Patricia St. Louis of Port Huron.

McLaren Port Huron Employees That Care Scholarships:  Courtney Lundy and Nicole Young of Port Huron.

McLaren Port Huron Employee Scholarships:  Andrew Chandler of Port Huron, Jennifer Guertin of Port Huron, and Lawren Ruiz of Fort Gratiot.

McLaren Port Huron Foundation Nursing Scholarship:  Melissa Davey of Marysville, Cassidy Ferranti of Jeddo, and Tiffany Steele of Burtchville.

Shirley Jardine Carter Memorial Scholarship for Rehab Services:  Katlynn Ahearn of Fort Gratiot, Nicole Booms of Harbor Beach, Miranda Coombs of Lexington, Emily DiNardo of St. Clair, Tyler Drabant of Lexington, Mary Kaitlyn Healey of Ferndale, Courtney Ingles of Columbus, and Madison O’Neill of Clyde.

To learn more about scholarship opportunities at McLaren Port Huron, visit www.mclaren.org/phscholarship.

Bluewater Area COVID-19 Update for August 7, 2020

St. Clair County, MI — Lambton County, Ontario

Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 7, 2020 at  9:00 AM are as follows:

  • State of Michigan: 85,429  confirmed cases; 6,247 deaths
  • St. Clair County: 674 confirmed cases; 52 deaths
  • Ontario: 39,809  confirmed cases;  2,783 deaths
  • Sarnia-Lambton: 319 confirmed cases; 25 deaths

St. Clair County currently has 101 active cases of the virus, down 18 cases from last week, and 6% of hospital beds in the county are being used for COVID-19 patients.

Governor Whitmer signed an Executive Order yesterday requiring face coverings in childcare centers and  camps for children. Staff and children 2 years old and up must wear them on school buses, and staff and children 4 and up must wear them in all indoor common spaces.

Lambton County currently has 17 active cases. Dr. Ranade, Medical Health Officer of Health for Lambton County, wants to remind residents to keep their social circles small. “The virus can quickly spread among close contacts so keep your social circle small – limit is 10, and be very diligent if you choose to attend a larger gathering.”

 

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

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand