port huron

Federal Government Allocates $25 Million for Customs Plaza

port Huron, MI — The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $25 million for the building of the Blue Water Customs Plaza in Port Huron.

The area has waited for over a decade for the federal government to hold up their end of the deal. In the meantime, over 100 properties were demolished to prepare for the plaza, and the City of Port Huron’s $1 million mitigation deal has run out.

The project was originally planned to be a 60/40 split with the Michigan Department of Transportation picking up 40% of the cost. While the Blue Water Bridge is currently closed to non-essential traffic until July 21 due to the COVID-19 virus, it is still one of the busiest border crossings in the nation. Around 5 million vehicles go through Customs to cross the bridge between Port Huron and Sarnia yearly.

U.S. Congressman Paul Mitchell, representing Michigan’s 10th District, said, “With this announcement from the Trump Administration I am hopeful that after waiting more than 10 years this project can finally be built to benefit our economy, transportation systems, and national security.” The funding is part of the Infrastructure For Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

All Four Port Huron Museums Open for Tours

Port Huron, MI — The Carnegie Center, the Fort Gratiot Light Station, the HURON Lightship, and the Thomas Edison Depot Museum each feature unique aspects of the Port Huron area’s history, and make up the four locations of the Port Huron Museums. After months of being closed, all four sites re-opened to the public for tours on Wednesday, June 17th.

Museum staff have made some adjustments to adhere to CDC regulations, so visitors will see some changes that help facilitate social distancing in exhibit areas and the museum store. The museum staff and volunteers are also wearing masks, and visitors are required to wear them as well.

Only 10 people are allowed to be in each museum building at a time, and tours may be adjusted to keep visitors spaced out. Hands on exhibits have been temporarily removed or made inaccessible, and the museums sites will be cleaned and sanitized often to keep visitors safe.

New operating hours are Wednesdays – Sundays from 12 PM – 4 PM. and visitors can call the Museums  at 810-982-0891 to schedule a private tour.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Yard of the Year Contest Open for Nominations

Port Huron, MI — The City of Port Huron’s Beautification Commission is accepting nominations for its Yard of the Year contest. If you know of a yard around the city that stands out for its beautiful flowers and lovely landscaping, you’ll need to nominate them by the July 15th deadline.

Nomination forms are available on the city’s website and can be submitted to the Beautification Commission by mail or email.

Lucky winners will be notified at the end of July. Residential winners will be awarded the wooden yellow tulip for display in their yard, and business winners will we awarded a plaque. The City Council will recognize the winners at their regular meeting on August 10th.

Nomination forms are available at www.porthuron.org

Beautification Commission Email: beautifyph@porthuron.org

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Juneteenth Goes Virtual to Celebrate Liberation

Port Huron, MI — Kevin Watkins, President of the Port Huron Chapter of the N.A.A.C.P., understands that many people aren’t aware of the significance of June 19, 1865. He’d love to see this date, also called Juneteenth, transition from a little known day of recognition to an official national holiday.

Juneteenth commemorates the day that Union General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston Texas and read the federal order that proclaimed the freedom of the last remaining enslaved African Americans in the Confederacy. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was formally issued on January 1, 1863, it took some time for its effects to ripple throughout the United States.

This Saturday, June 20th, the Port Huron Branch of the N.A.A.C.P. Youth Council will celebrate Juneteenth with a virtual conversation focused on “Rebuilding the Black Community” The event is open to the community and includes seminars and a Q&A session led by Lavaughn Price and Alphonso Amos of the PH N.A.A.C.P. Youth Council and other leaders from community groups, business, and government.

More information is available on the Port Huron N.A.A.C.P.’s Facebook page <HERE>

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Free “Rec on the Go” Bags Ready for Local Families

Port Huron, MI — Kids bored? How about a new bag of games, crafts, and sports equipment every week to keep them busy? That is exactly what local recreation departments are doing for children in the community.

“Rec on the Go” bags are stocked with materials to keep kids active and are available for free at various locations. Children need not be present to get the bags. One bag is available per family.

In Port Huron, the bags can be picked up at the McMorran Pro Shop on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Mondays at 10:30 a.m. at Optimist Park and 2:00 p.m. at Garfield Elementary School. On Tuesdays, the bags can be picked up at 10:30 a.m. at Knox Field and at 2:30 p.m. at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School.

The Marysville Community Center will be handing out the bags on Mondays from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. They can also be picked up at Greig Park in St. Clair from 10-11 a.m. on Tuesdays.

The bags are limited in quantity and are given out on a first-come, first-serve basis. The bags have been made available to area families through a partnership between Sport Port Huron, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, and the Community Foundation of St. Clair County.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Two Arraigned Following Drug Raid

Port Huron Twp, MI — Two people are lodged at the St. Clair County Intervention and Detention Center following an investigation by the St. Clair County Drug Task Force.

According to Sheriff Tim Donnellon, the DTF conducted an investigation into the sales of methamphetamine in the county.  That investigation ended with the execution of a search warrant at the Quality Inn Hotel on Yeager Street in Port Huron Township shortly before midnight on June 10th.

Members of the Drug Task Force entered a hotel room, where they located and seized about $1100 worth of methamphetamine, analogue drugs, a large amount of cash and drug paraphernalia.

The two subjects arrested, 36 year old Megan Green of Sterling Heights and 34 year old Brandon Burck of Fort Gratiot were arraigned Friday in 72nd District Court.

Green is charged with delivery/manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of analogues, maintaining a drug house and being a habitual 4th offender.  Burck is charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of analogues, maintaining a drug house and being a habitual 4th offender.  Both Green and Burck are also on parole.  They are both being held at the IDC on $50,000 cash/surety bonds, along with the parole holds.

Both are next scheduled to appear in 72nd District Court for probable cause hearings before Judge John Monaghan on June 23rd at 9:00 a.m.