port huron

Is It Time for a New Pet?

St. Clair County, MI — It’s time for the annual Empty the Shelters event sponsored by the BISSELL Pet Foundation, and those interested in adopting a new pet from the Blue Water Humane Society need to be pre-approved by May 1st.

Empty the Shelters helps reduce the adoption fee of pets from participating shelters. The regular price to adopt a cat from the Blue Water Humane Society is $100 and $150 for a dog. During Empty the Shelters, the cost is reduced to $25 or less.

The Blue Water Humane Society is open by appointment only on Tuesdays – Fridays from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM and Saturdays from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. They are closed to the public on Sundays and Mondays.

Interested new pet parents can view available pets at the Blue Water humane Society by viewing their profile on Pet Finder.com <HERE>, and then call the shelter to get pre-approved by filling out an application.

Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation, said “The national Empty the Shelters event in May will be our largest yet, and as a small foundation, we are incredibly proud to see the growth of this program as we continue to expand its impact. Empty the Shelters not only helps our shelter partners free up space in their facilities, but it places pets in permanent homes. It’s a win-win for everyone involved…our partners, ETS adopters, and most importantly, the pets.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Summer Jobs Still Available with City of Port Huron

Port Huron, MI — As the City of Port Huron endures what it hopes will be the last cold spell of spring, officials are looking forward to a busy summer of outdoor recreation. With city facilities opening back up and recreation programs planned, the need for seasonal workers is pressing.

In a letter to the Mayor and City Council, James Freed Port Huron City Manager, said the need for seasonal workers in the parks, recreation, and cemetery departments was urgent.

The city currently has openings for a variety of positions including pool maintenance, cashiers, and lifeguards, along with lawn maintenance, park rangers, and parking booth attendants. There are several openings for program staff at the Parks and Recreation Department such as Day Camp Leaders and Palmer Play staff. Most jobs are part-time and pay between $9.87 – $15 per hour.

Freed also said in the letter that “often times, when fulltime jobs open up our seasonal workers are at the front of the line. It’s a good foot in the door.”

For a fill list of job openings at the City of Port Huron, visit their website <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

McMorran Boulevard Being Rebuilt

Port Huron, MI — Improvements to a vital downtown street will cause some traffic adjustments for a few months. Road construction on McMorran Boulevard in Downtown Port Huron will bring some temporary changes to parking and traffic patterns for visitors to the Main Branch of the St. Clair County Library, along with the county courthouse and other businesses and offices between Merchant Street and Huron Avenue.

A temporary aggregate surface will be placed across the median on Fort Street to enable access and on-street parking north of McMorran Boulevard. On-street parking south of McMorran Boulevard will be prohibited.

The work is being contracted by the City of Port Huron to Raymond Excavating. The project includes the installation of new water mains and fire hydrants, new catch basins, and new sanitary sewers. It also includes new curbs and gutters with the street reconstruction. Repairs will be made to any sidewalks or drives that are disturbed, as well as any site restoration.

The traffic light at Michigan Street and McMorran Boulevard will be removed during the project. The construction is expected to be completed by July 20th, 2021.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Black River Canal Dredging and Sand Placement

Port Huron, MI — The City of Port Huron’s contractor began dredging sand from the Black River Canal entrance at Lake Huron on Monday, April 19, 2021.

Weather permitting, sand dredged from Black River Canal will be placed in Lake Huron from
Holland Beach to the south beginning on Monday, April 26, 2021. Due to the work, Holland Beach will be closed.

The contractor will be utilizing Gratiot Avenue to Edison Blvd. and Conger Street to Holland Avenue to haul sand from the mouth of the Black River Canal to Holland Beach. There will be intermittent slowed and stop-and-go traffic in these areas. The public is encouraged to refrain from  parking on these streets during that time frame.

Submitted by the City of Port Huron Department of Public Works: 810-984-9730.

Mobile Overdose Response Team to Combat Overdose Crisis

Port Huron, MI — The Port Huron Police Department (PHPD) and Port Huron Odyssey House (PHOH) are collaborating to create the Mobile Overdose Response Team (MORT) to combat the opioid crisis in the City of Port Huron.

Data shows that deaths from opioid overdoses has been increasing since 2011, and St. Clair County was ranked #7 based on the high rate of  opioid overdoses and #8 in the state for the total number of overdose deaths in 2018. 

The Mobile Overdose Response Team will include members from both the Port Huron Police Department and addiction professionals from the Port Huron Odyssey House. Starting today, they will use a Quick Response Team model to care for city residents who experienced a drug overdose event from January 1, 2021 to the present.

The goal of the program is to reduce repeat overdoses and promote recovery.

Ken Heuvelman, Clinical Coordinator and Outpatient Therapist at Port Huron Odyssey House, said, “A new approach to reach people in addiction where they are at, is strongly needed in the Port Huron area. We  are continually looking at programs and opportunities to reduce the number of overdoses in our county, and  we are grateful to have the opportunity to promote recovery and reduce unnecessary death in our county by  working together with the Port Huron Police Department.” 

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Kanchan Wankhede The Under Ground

Kanchan Wankhede to Lead Entrepreneurs at The Underground

Port Huron, MI — The Underground Business Incubator and Service Center is getting a new Director of Entrepreneurial Services, local human resources professional and advocate for minority and women owned businesses, Kanchan Wankhede.

Dan Casey, CEO of the St. Clair County Economic Development Alliance (EDA), said, “We are excited to welcome Kanchan to our EDA team.  She is a great fit for managing the region’s Smartzone Incubator and Business Center.  She has experience working with businesses and organizations that not only have a local or United States footprint, but that spread well into India, Europe and Asia.  As a small business owner herself, she understands the challenges and obstacles entrepreneurs face on a daily basis.  Area entrepreneurs looking to launch or grow their business will benefit from Kanchan’s knowledge, experience and desire to help them be successful.”

Kanchan is the Principal Consultant for her company Great Workplace LLC, and she has also be working with the Community Foundation of St. Clair County for the last year consulting local Minority and Women Owned businesses. She has helped many people motivate, organize, and bring greater success to their businesses.

In a press release, Wankhede said, “The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.  So, aim high, believe you can and you are halfway there.  I look forward to assisting facilitate new startups and helping entrepreneurs grow though coaching, connections to potential funding sources and more in my new role at The Underground.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand