port huron

Community Foundation Acquires Knowlton Ice Museum

Port Huron, MI — Operation of the Knowlton Ice Museum is about to be turned over to the Community Foundation of St. Clair County. If the plans are approved, a new nonprofit entity will be created, and assets and care of the museum will be transferred to the Foundation. 

Chuck Knowlton, Trustee of the Knowlton Family Private Foundation, said, “The Community Foundation is the right fit for our family’s charitable legacy. We have grown an endowment fund to be available to care for the Ice Museum collection in perpetuity, and the Foundation has the expertise, dedication and transparency we wanted as a family to be able to feel good about the transfer of not only millions in charitable assets, but the museum collections as well.” 

Mickey and Agnes Knowlton, founders of Party Time Ice, created the Knowlton Foundation and the Knowlton Ice Museum in 2000. The museum’s extensive collection of ice-making equipment and memorabilia have been open to the public since 1987.

The current location of the artifacts in Downtown Port Huron has been open since 2009. The museum will continue to be open to the public as usual.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Mannequins Will Still Be a Part of Summer 2020

Port Huron, MI — Kelly Strilcov, owner of Salon Pizazz in Downtown Port Huron, has mobilized her stylists and volunteer mannequins every summer for the last  10 years to produce Mannequins Making a Difference. The event has become one of the most popular components of Boat Week and the Blue Water Fest with crowds spending hours watching models in creative costumes stand perfectly still for hours in the July sun.

This year, with the cancellation of Blue Water Fest, many locals and visitors have been wondering what summer traditions will continue despite the pandemic. Kelly and a group of Downtown Port Huron business sponsors and supporters decided to find a way to safely get Mannequins Making a Difference back to Downtown.

Organizers compiled photos of past mannequins, and Sir Speedy is creating 4′ by 8′ foot replicas to place in Downtown businesses. Beginning July 9th through July 31st, spectators can stop by the business with a square Mannequins Making a Difference sticker on the ground by their door. They can find the mannequin replica in the store, take a photo with it, and share it on social media with #PortHuronStrong. Submissions are eligible to win a prize from Salon Pizazz.

“Adaptability is the name of the game for all of us this year. We look forward to resuming to life as it was during boat week in 2021,” said Kelly Strilcov.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Hunter Hospitality House Recognizes Volunteers, Cancels Fundraiser

Port Huron, MI — Due to COVID-19 concerns, Hunter Hospitality House cancelled their Hope Blooms Fundraiser that was planned for August 26 at the Blue Water Convention Center. The event is a major fundraiser for the non-profit that provides free lodging to those with loved ones in local hospitals.

Several awards are usually given out at Hope Blooms, and the cancellation of the event didn’t stop Hunter Hospitality House from recognizing their volunteers.

The M. Martha Koerber Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Barbara Teller in recognition of her six years of dependable house cleaning work. Executive Director of Hunter Hospitality House, Tracy Willard, said, “When we need something done thoroughly and with exceptional excellence, like training new volunteers, ‘Barb’ is our go-to gal!”

The other award is the Paula Flynn Godwin Spirit of Hunter Hospitality House Award. The award was given to Hannah Yurgens. According to Willard, “Anyone who knows Hannah knows that when she finds a cause she’s passionate about, nothing will stop her from helping them. She literally bubbles over with enthusiasm, as does her son, Adam Watson, who also volunteers for HHH.”

The 2021 Hope Blooms event is being planned. Tickets for the 2020 event will be honored at the 2021 fundraiser.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Lake Huron Foundation Volunteer Organization Awards Scholarships

PORT HURON, MI – Lake Huron Foundation’s Volunteer Organization (LHFVO) is pleased to announce ten (10) scholarships have been awarded to students enrolled in a community college or university who are studying for a career in the health care field.

Because of COVID-19 pandemic and the financial difficulty it has placed on many students, LHFVO increased the number of scholarships awarded in 2020 from six to ten. The hope is to provide additional relief to students during this unprecedented and uncertain time. Each recipient will be awarded $1,200. The 2020 Healthcare Scholarship recipients are:

  • Megan Carnaghi – Franciscan University
  • Lindsay Carter – Grand Valley State University
  • Kaitlyn Fletcher – Michigan Technological University
  • Sydney Kenaya – Michigan State University
  • Serenity Lademer – Michigan State University
  • Courtney Lundy – St. Clair County Community College
  • Christene Marcum – St. Clair County Community College
  • Jamison Nightingale – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Olivia Poelker – University of Detroit Mercy
  • Heather Porter – St. Clair County Community College

The eligibility requirements and considerations included: students enrolled in a community college or university who are studying for a career in the field of health care, are currently enrolled, carrying a minimum of six (6) credits per semester and demonstrating satisfactory progress.

Bluewater Area COVID-19 Update for July 3, 2020

St. Clair County, MI — Lambton County, Ontario

Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of July 2nd, 2020 at  10:00 AM are as follows:

  • State of Michigan: 64,132   confirmed cases; 6,198 deaths
  • St. Clair County: 496 confirmed cases; 49 deaths
  • Ontario: 35,068  confirmed cases;  2,672 deaths
  • Sarnia-Lambton: 285 confirmed cases; 25 deaths

St. Clair County currently has 50 active cases of the virus, and 1% of hospital beds in the county are being used for COVID-19 patients.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Chief Medical Executive and Chief Deputy for Health Dr. Joneigh Khaldun is urging residents not to avoid seeking help in a medical emergency.

Data from Michigan EMS agencies from March 15 to May 23rd, compared to the same period in 2019, show a 43.3% increase in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and out-of-hospital deaths increased 62%.

Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported emergency depart­ment visits declined by 42% during the early months of the pandemic with a 23% decrease in emergency visits for heart attacks and a 20% decrease for stroke in the 10 weeks following the declaration of a national emergency due to COVID-19.

“Medical emergencies have not gone away during the pandemic and Michigan EMS providers are standing by to help Michiganders safely get the lifesaving help they need,” said Jack Fisher, MAAS president and executive director of Medic 1 Ambulance in Berrien County. “Every minute counts in a medical emergency, and we hope this alarming trend of people avoiding care and dying needlessly doesn’t continue.”

“It is incredibly important that people not delay care, especially if they are having concerning symptoms like chest pain, difficulty breathing or dizziness,” Khaldun said.

There has been no increase in cases of COVID-19 cases or deaths in Sarnia since our last report. The outbreak declared at Bluewater Health is now over and there is only one active outbreak at Afton Place in Sarnia.

The City of Sarnia’s ability to reopen, maintain, and provide Parks & Recreation services and programs has been affected by the COVID-19 Mitigation Strategy. Although green spaces and sports fields are open for limited use, pools, day camps, and bookings for sports fields are not available for the month of July.

Regular city recycling and waste collection started back up on July 1st, and the City wants to remind residents that all personal protective equipment  such as gloves and masks, and personal hygiene and sanitary products including wipes and tissues, should be thrown away in the trash and not in the blue recycling bins.

*** It is important to note that WGRT is continuing to report confirmed cases from each area, not total cases which are a combination of confirmed and probable cases. We have chosen to approach the data this way to simplify our reports and to create uniformity in the numbers we are reporting for each region, St.Clair County, Lambton County, Michigan, and Ontario.

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

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Four Arraigned in Port Huron Twp. Stabbing Case

Port Huron, MI — Four people have been arraigned on multiple charges following an incident on June 24th in Port Huron Township which left one dead and another injured.

In 72nd District Court in Port Huron Friday, 19 year old Brandon Williams of Roseville was charged with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, assault with intent to commit great bodily harm or attempted murder, felony firearm with a pneumatic gun and habitual 2nd offender.  Joseph Gigliotti, a 21 year old man from Macomb County’s Washington Township was charged with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, assault with intent to commit great bodily harm, and felony firearm with a pneumatic gun.  Eighteen year old Joseph Smith of Burtchville Township was charged with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, felony firearm with a pneumatic gun, resist and obstruct and being a habitual 4th offender.  Alexandra Dillon, an 18 year old woman from Warren was charged with armed robbery.

Deputies from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office were called to the area of 25th Street and Dixon Street about 4:15 a.m. on June 24th for a felonious assault complaint.  They located 21 year old Nathan Chavarria of Port Huron Township lying on the ground with several stab wounds.  He was able to give information on his attackers prior to being transported to the hospital.

Officers from the Port Huron Police Department were able to locate the suspects a short time later in a red Cadillac.  Upon making contact with the subjects in the vehicle, it was discovered that 19 year old Jovonte Thurman of Mt. Clemens was deceased inside.  Gigliotti had also suffered stab wounds and was transported to a local hospital.

Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office investigated the crime and determined that the four who were charged and Thurman had made plans to rob Chavarria, who had agreed to sell them narcotics that morning.

Williams, Gigliotti and Smith had their bonds set at $250,000, while Dillon’s bond was set at $25,000.  All four are next expected in 72nd District Court for a probable cause hearing on July 14th at 9:00 a.m.

The incident remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau.  If anyone has any information regarding this case, please contact Detective Kelsey Wade at (810) 987-1738.