port huron

Grand Opening of McMorran Plaza May 26, 2022

McMorran Place Plaza is almost ready to host multiple gatherings this summer, and the City of Port Huron is kicking off the season with a grand opening of the space to celebrate with the community.

On Thursday, May 26th at 1 PM, there is a grand opening celebration at McMorran Place Plaza , and the first 250 people to arrive will receive a commemorative coin to remember the event.

Nancy Winzer, Director of Port Huron Parks and Recreation, said, “McMorran Place is the Blue Water Area’s community civic center and one of the most iconic landmarks in our downtown. We’re excited to activate the front plaza area as the center of our vibrant downtown and allow it to serve as the town square area it was originally designed for.”

McMorran Place was built in the 1960’s, and the opening of the plaza marks a new era of excitement with the addition of an outdoor stage, a beer garden, and a splash pad for cooling off on hot summer days.

There will be live concerts at the plaza every weekend throughout the summer along with outdoor fitness classes provided by the Blue Water Area YMCA.

Learn more at Mcmorran.com/plaza

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Police Asking for Help from Military Street Residents

On Thursday May 12, 2022 at approximately 1030 a.m. an aircraft with Customs and Border Protection noticed a submerged vehicle in the St. Clair River just off the 3400 block of Military Street.

Port Huron Police and Fire departments responded, along with Tri – Hospital EMS and the St. Clair County Dive Team. Divers entered the water and found the vehicle to have one occupant. They were able to pull him from the vehicle, but he was already deceased.

Northbound Military Street is currently closed to Conner Street with a detour around the scene. The Port Huron Police Department is continuing to investigate this incident with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department. The body of the deceased was removed from the scene by the St. Clair County Medical Examiner.

Further information identifying the victim in this incident will come from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office once proper identification and Next of Kin notifications have been made.

Investigators are still on scene with the dive team working to salvage the vehicle from the river bottom. This vehicle may have entered the river several days ago.

Investigators are asking any residents with outdoor cameras in the area to contact them to assist with the investigation. As always, if you have any information please contact Detective Lieutenant Chris Frazier at (810) 984-9711. Anonymous tips can
be received through the CAPTURE Hotline at (810) 987-6688 or emailed through www.porthuronpolice.org

Submitted by the Port Huron Police Department

Lake Huron Medical Center Earns “A” in Patient Safety

Lake Huron Medical Center has once again been nationally recognized for hospital safety. The Port Huron hospital, a member of Prime Healthcare, has received an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade.

Leah Binder, President and CEO of the Leapfrog Group said, “As our health care system continues to feel the strain of the pandemic, I thank the workforce and leadership of Lake Huron Medical Center for sustained commitment to patient safety, day in and day out.”

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harm to patients. The grading results are free for the public to view and are peer-reviewed.

Katie Cox, Director of Nursing for LHMC said, “We are honored to be recognized for this distinguished award at Lake Huron Medical Center for the eighth time in a row. Our team works hard every day to ensure that our patients receive top-notch, safe, quality, and compassionate care.

Cox said that having a five-star rated hospital in the community means that patients have access to the highest quality care available in St. Clair County.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Free Exercise Classes At the McMorran Plaza This Summer

The McMorran Plaza in downtown Port Huron is the place to be this summer. Along with evening entertainment, a beer garden, a splash pad, and more, there will be free exercise classes offered by the City of Port Huron through a collaboration with the YMCA of the Blue Water Area. 

The wellness classes include Ultimate Cardio Jam, Kickboxing, Boot Camp, Yoga, and Yo “Latte”, which is a Yoga and Pilates hybrid. 

There are also classes for those aged 60 and up and Qi Gong, which is a Chinese exercise that is designed to improve overall mental & physical health. 

Burn and Brew is held at the end of the workday and could end with a visit to the beer garden on the plaza. There are several other classes, including YMCA standards like Butts and Guts, Dance Aerobics, and Cardio and Core classes. The class times range from early morning to early evening. 

The classes start May 31st and run through September 2nd. Signup is requested. A link to the full schedule and signup can be found below. 

https://www.mcmorran.com/plaza

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Lesser, Marsh, Smith Chosen as Advocator, Innovator, and Educator of the Year

Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week and Port Huron Schools singled out three employees who have excelled in their professions with the Advocator, Innovator, and Educator of the Year Awards.

This year’s winners are Chuck Lesser, Tammy Marsh, and Susie Smith.

Chuck Lesser is the Principal of Keewahdin Elementary. He was chosen as the Advocator of the year for his work as principal at the district elementary school since 2016.

Tammy Marsh has worked for Port Huron Schools for 44 years. She serves as Executive Secretary at Port Huron High School. Marsh received the Innovator of the Year Award.

Susie Smith is a Kindergarten Teacher at Garfield Elementary. She has been a teacher in the district for fifteen years and has been at Garfield for twelve years.

The trio was presented with prizes from local businesses that were delivered by Superintendent Theo Kerhoulas, who said, “This is an exciting way for our district to celebrate our exceptional staff and show our commitment to their success. Making this announcement in the midst of national Teacher Appreciation Week makes this tradition even more special for Port Huron Schools.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Port Huron Schools Kicks Off Strategic Planning with Community Survey

It’s time to have your voice heard by Port Huron Schools. The district has crafted a short four-question survey to help them in moving forward with their strategic planning process.

In a communication with parents and community members, Superintendent Theo A. Kerhoulas invited stakeholders to fill out the survey.

The survey asks four questions: What are you proud of in the Port Huron Area School District? What challenges do you feel the district is facing? What should our schools provide for students? What does success look like for our students in the future?

Kerhoulas reported that the strategic planning process began with a meeting of community stakeholders who came up with several “actionable items and an aggressive timeline”. The survey is the first of the action items.

The survey window is open from now until May 13th, 2022. It is open to staff, students, parents, and community members.

A link to the Port Huron School Community Survey can be found below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXLJjSBw0-cYJcaza6EHGMTaTmuAubmYYa47eeIiA_as8Afg/viewform?usp=send_form

Reporting for WGRT- Jennie McClelland