port huron

St. Clair Tec Students Heading To SkillsUSA State Competition

Students from the St. Clair County TEC program will be heading to the SkillsUSA state competition held in Grand Rapids next month, after a successful showing in the regionals which took place in January and February.

The students are competing in five different programs which include: Automotive Technology, Collision Repair, Construction Trades, Culinary Arts, and Welding Technology. The SkillsUSA state competition will take place April 14 – 16. 

SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving more than 310,000 high school and college students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. 

The competition is an annual event designed to gauge a student’s mastery of various career-oriented skills and showcase the nation’s best career and technical education students.

For more information about the St. Clair TEC program, visit: sctec.org. 

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Port Huron Loses Pillar Of The Community, Ila Shoulders At Age 103

The City of Port Huron mourns the loss of one of its most influential and caring members of the community.

Ila Estelle Hazely Shoulders was born January 10, 1920 in the state of Alabama. She moved to Port Huron at the age of six, and had been a huge part of the community ever since.

Shoulders volunteered for many organizations, and received many awards for her service. In 2020 she received the Blue Water Woman Civic Leadership Award. She organized and supervised the first daycare center in St. Clair County for the Economic Opportunity Committee (EOC), as well as helping to establish the People’s Clinic in Port Huron.

Her list of contributions are too numerous to detail, but she was a wonderful woman and will be greatly missed by her family and friends, as well the community she cared so deeply for. Ms. Shoulders passed away Sunday, February 26.

Photo: Patti Samar

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

The City Of Port Huron Ranked 37th Most Expensive In Michigan

If you are familiar with the Blue Water Area, you are well aware of the beautiful beaches, parks, and attractions the region has to offer. Here is some information that you may not know about the Maritime Capital of the Great Lakes, Port Huron.

According to LivingCost.org the average cost of living is in the top 21% of the most expensive cities in the world, and is ranked 37th out of 59 most expensive cities in Michigan.

With a population of 29,000 individuals, Port Huron is the 1550th largest city in the U.S. 

It is ranked 5130th (Top 55%) in the list of best places to live in the world, 1924th in the U.S., and the 54th most livable city in Michigan, which puts it near the bottom in the state with only five other cities in a lower position.  

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

2023 State Of The County Address Held In Port Huron

St. Clair County has a total population of approximately 160,000 people. An annual conference is held to give a review of how the county performed the year before, as well as what the future has in store for the area and it’s residents.

The 2023 State of the County Address was hosted by the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce and held at the beautiful Blue Water Convention Center. It featured guest speakers such as County Administrator/Controller, Karry Hepting and St. Clair County Board of Commissioner Chair, Jeff Bohm.

The speakers presented information to a crowd of over 400 individuals, with topics ranging from finances to future plans for the region.

New programs for the St. Clair County Sheriff Department and Health Department were discussed, as well as updates from the Economic Development Alliance (EDA).  There are also new jobs and businesses coming to the area that residents and tourists can look forward to. 

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Port Huron Township Fire Department Welcomes New Staff

When it comes to civil service jobs, being a firefighter or a police officer are two of the most noble and dangerous jobs one can take on to serve their community. 

The Port Huron Township Fire Department has recently hired new staff and promoted another to Sergeant within the department. 

Firefighters Martin, Jones, and Moran were sworn in on January 1st, for the full-time firefighter role, and Sergeant Vincent for the full-time officer role. 

Firefighter Moran was promoted to the rank of Sergeant to fill the vacant full-time officer role. Firefighter Ebejer was sworn in for the firefighter role on February 20th. 

Port Huron Township and the entire Blue Water Area would like to thank these brave men for their service to our community, as we wish you well in your new endeavors.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell

Honoring And Remembering A Community Leader In The City Of Port Huron

The City of Port Huron has had a number of individuals step into the role of being a community leader over the years. From business, to the religious sectors of the community, African Americans have had a major contribution in the Blue Water Area.

Rev. John L. Portis, born October 25, 1931 was an ordained minister who served his community in numerous ways. 

One of his most notable contributions is being the pastor for the historic Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Port Huron where he served for over 40 years. Nern street, located at the corner of 28th Street was renamed in his honor to John L. Portis Drive.   

He also served on numerous boards and committees over the years such as the South Park Ministerial Alliance which he founded in 1980 and served as its President for over 20 years.

He received a variety of awards such as the NAACP Community Service Award, and the Brotherhood Award from the City of Port Huron. 

Rev. Portis passed away in 2008, leaving behind an exceptional legacy in the Blue Water Area.

Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell