port huron

Port Huron Police Academy Citizens’ Police Academy to Start September 16

Port Huron, MI — The Citizens’ Police Academy, sponsored by the Port Huron Police Department, has rescheduled the start date for the 2020 session, and there is still room for more applicants.

The Department has announced that they are accepting applications until September 2nd. The postponed session, originally scheduled to begin in April, now starts on September 16th.

Classes will be held on Wednesday nights from 6-9 p.m. at the Municipal Office Center in Downtown Port Huron, until September 28. There is no cost to participate in the Academy. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Both new applicants and those who already applied for the Academy will be contacted by the Police Department.

Those attending the Citizens’ Police Academy will learn about a variety of topics, including criminal law, arrests, the major crimes unit, investigations and many others. Applications can be picked up at the police department or at porthuronpolice.org.

Social distancing, masks, and temperature checks will be required for those participating in the Citizens’ Police Academy.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Local Company Creates Web App to Help Businesses With COVID Compliance

St. Clair County, MI — Business owners have had to adjust and readjust their practices since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Executive Orders from Governor Whitmer require employers to provide safeguards for their workers to mitigate the spread of the virus in workplaces.

One of the requirements businesses must implement if they ask their employees to report to work is a daily health screening questionnaire. The information must be stored for later reference because the record offers proof that employees were’t sick  which could provide a legal defense in a potential lawsuit from a customer or employee.

Daniel Squires, President of Vincent’s Heating & Plumbing, said, “Until Congress provides liability release for COVID related lawsuits, every entity is at risk of being sued by customers or employees.”

He also noted that the daily record keeping “ puts a real burden on all Michigan businesses. Not only do we have to deal with daily screening and record keeping, but also potentially thorny privacy questions. Unfortunately, it’s what we have to do to stay open.”

Squires is addressing these problems with a new app created by Online Access, a locally based internet marketing and development company run by his brother David Squires. The app, called CertiClear, is an online service that simplifies COVID compliance and bolsters employee privacy.

Vincent’s Heating & Plumbing has partnered with Online Access to provide the service to St. Clair County businesses at half-price: only $1 per employee per month plus a $25 sign-up fee.

Daniel Squires explains, “David and I are lifelong residents of the community, and we want to give-back.  It is critical that we get our local economy going again as soon and as safe as possible.  Vincent’s Heating & Plumbing is sponsoring CertiClear to help local businesses and organizations overcome the hurdles of COVID compliance in a cost-effective way.”

More information about CertiClear is available at CertiClear.net

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

New Cancer-fighting Equipment Donated to McLaren Port Huron

Port Huron, MI — Men battling prostate cancer have a new weapon for fighting the disease, thanks to the generosity of the community. A new BK 3000 Ultrasound machine has been purchased for McLaren Port Huron Hospital by the Betty Kearns Cancer Foundation, the Thomson Family, and the Tee It Up to Beat Cancer charity.

The innovative new equipment allows for safer treatment of prostate cancer using the SpaceOAR procedure. This new machine enables brachytherapy, a type of cancer-fighting radiation therapy, while protecting other organs which were susceptible to damage without the BK 3000.  

The Betty Kearns Cancer Fund helps men and women in the community who are fighting cancer. Their major fundraiser is the “Little Black Dress” fundraiser which hosted over 850 guests and raised $55,000 in March of this year. Tee It Up to Beat Cancer is a grassroots charity that raises money through golf outings at Lakeview Hills Golf Resort in Lexington. Both charities are committed to assisting all types of cancer patients in the Blue Water area.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

SC4 and Health Department Create Health Clinic on Campus

Port Huron, MI — The creation of a health clinic on the campus of St. Clair County Community College was approved by the St. Clair County Board of Commissioners. The clinic is designed to be a bridge between pediatric and adult care.

The new clinic will have a full-time nurse on staff and will be linked to the St. Clair County Health Department’s Teen Health and Personal Health clinics.

Students are often in class during traditional office hours. The SC4 clinic idea hopes to increase accessibility for busy students while providing preventative services to the college-age population.

Dr. Annette Mercatante, Medical Health Officer of the St. Clair County Health Department, said, “This type of community collaboration is a win-win for everyone. Health is a team effort, and we are delighted to have this opportunity to work with our local college and this population.”

The clinic is expected to open this fall. The location is still being determined. SC4 has agreed to reimburse the Health Department in the amount of $90,000 for staffing the clinic.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Back to School Plans Released by Port Huron Schools

Port Huron, MI — Port Huron Schools’ “Return to School Advisory Committee” has released three plans. The use of each plan depends on which economic reopening phase the region is in, as determined by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Right now, the region is in Phase Four. If that remains, school buildings will be open and students will have face-to-face instruction with maximum precautions taken. Those precautions include spacing, restrictions on visitors to the school, and face coverings required for all staff and for students in grades 6-12. Specials and electives will be offered.

If the region moves into Phase Five, precautionary safety practices will be used, but face coverings will not be required.

If the region slips back into Phase Three, buildings will be closed and virtual instruction will be implemented. The meal distribution program will be restarted while extracurriculars and athletics will be suspended.

In all three phases, each student will receive a Chromebook and all students will use the Learning Management System to access course material. Families may choose free online instruction no matter what Plan is in effect for grades pre-K through grade 12. The first day of school is scheduled for August 24th.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Bridge to Bay Trail Gets a $1.9 Million Boost

A $1.55 million dollar grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Fund along with funding for renovations to Lighthouse Park and a trails maintenance grant from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan will boost efforts to complete the Bridge to Bay (B2B) Trail system in St. Clair County.

A coalition of local stakeholders including the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, St. Clair County Parks & Recreation, St. Clair County Metropolitan Planning Commission, Friends of the St. Clair River and several local municipalities have been working together since 2018 to address the major remaining gaps in the B2B Trail.   

Randy Maiers, president & CEO of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, which is the fiduciary of the grant funding, said, “This is a tremendous boost to our regional efforts. Both our Blue Meets Green coalition and our Community Foundation recognize the Bridge to Bay Trail system as one of the critical projects our region needs to complete.”

The funding will activate Phase One of the project which includes closing key trail gaps in St. Clair, Marysville, and Port Huron. A new pedestrian bridge over the Black River Canal is an exciting feature of Phase One which will connect Port Huron Northern High School and Holland Woods Middle School. New trails in St. Clair and Marysville will connect existing trails to commercial areas in those cities and to trails in other communities.

The Bridge to Bay Trail project has been a key initiative for the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation because it encourages recreation and increases  the walk-ability and bike-ability of local communities.

J.J. Tighe, Director of Parks & Trails Initiative for the Foundation said, “Parks and trails add greatly to the quality of life in a community.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand