St. Clair County

Get Your Tickets for Hunter Hospitality House’s Raffle

Hunter Hospitality House has an annual raffle to raise money for its endowment fund, and this year’s prizes include a diamond ring and earrings donated by Lawrence Jewelers and up to $5,000 in cash.

There are only 300 tickets available for the raffle, and tickets are $100.00 each. The drawing will be held on September 30th, but tickets usually sell out before the raffle.

Hunter Hospitality House has three homes located near Mclaren Port Huron Hospital and Lake Huron Medical Center that enable families whose loved ones are sick a place to stay.

The nonprofit was founded by Jeff & Tracy Willard who dedicate their work in memory of their late son, Hunter. Families who stay at Hunter Hospitality House enjoy a home-like atmosphere while their loved one is hospitalized or being cared for in nearby medical facilities like Blue Water Hospice Home.

For more information and to get raffle tickets, visit

https://www.hunterhospitalityhouse.com

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Two Drug Busts in Port Huron Last Week

On August 2, 2022, the St. Clair County Drug Task Force concluded an investigation into the sale of  methamphetamine in the Port Huron area.

The investigation involved an address in  the 1600 Blk of Wells St and the 34 year old male resident that resided there. A search warrant  was obtained by DTF for the address and was executed.

During the search of the address  methamphetamine, suboxone, packaging materials, and a scale were located. Criminal charges  on both residents are filed with the St. Clair county prosecutors’ office.

On August 3, 2022, the St. Clair County Drug Task force concluded an investigation into the sales of heroin in the 600 block Taylor Street in Port Huron. A search warrant was obtained for the suspect’s apartment.

The suspect was located and arrested while exiting a local gas station. The
search warrant was then executed at the apartment and a prepackaged dealer amount of heroin was located. The suspect is currently lodged at the St. Clair County jail awaiting arraignment.

Submitted by St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office

Looking for a Preschool? Check out Art in the Park

Art in the Park is coming to Grieg Park in St. Clair on August 10th from 6:00-7:00 p.m. The event is for young children and their families to both relax with some crafts in the fresh air and learn about preschool options.

Art in the Park is sponsored by St. Clair County RESA and is planning to have activities for children along with free books. The activities are targeted at kids aged zero to five.

Shannon Baker, the Help Me Grow Care Coordinator and Early Childhood Specialist with St. Clair County RESA said that the event is a simple, fun, and low-key way to reach more families in the community.

Baker said, with the start of school quickly approaching, RESA is seeking out four-year-olds who could benefit from the free preschool programs like Great Start Readiness Program and Headstart, or tuition programs in local school districts.

To find out more about Art in the Park on August 10th, or about the preschool programs available in the area, see the link and contact information below.

greatstart@sccresa.org

810-455-4009

https://www.sccresa.org/services-a-z/early-childhood-services/free-preschool-gsrp

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Sheriff’s Department Nabs Dangerous Drivers in M-25 Sting

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department targeted dangerous drivers on M-25 in Burtchville Township throughout the month of July. They definitely found many drivers making poor choices, with one driver traveling at an unbelievable 131 miles per hour in a 55-mile-per-hour zone.

On July 28th, Lieutenant Scott Jones stopped the vehicle that was traveling 76 miles per hour over the speed limit. The driver, a 25-year-old from Hazel Park, Michigan, was arrested and sent to the St. Clair County Intervention and Detention Center with a reckless driving charge.

In addition to the arrest of the reckless driver, 59 speeding tickets were issued, along with 18 other moving violations, one non-moving violation, and six misdemeanor arrests.

The stretch of M-25 that runs through Burtchville is known as a deadly stretch, with 109 accidents counted between 2017 and 2021. Thirteen of those accidents caused incapacitating injuries, and seven people lost their lives in five separate accidents.

St. Clair County Sheriff Lieutenant Scott Baldwin said the enforcement campaign was in response to recent tragic crashes, but no changes to the road structure are planned at this time and there is no news of an official road study. 

Lieutenant Baldwin said, “We will continue to enforce traffic laws in this stretch of road to reduce the amount of crashes and hopefully the severity of them as well as well. In the future, we’ll continue to monitor crash data and enforce traffic laws, specifically speeding, improper passing, seatbelt usage, and distracted  driving amongst others.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Help Babies by Donating Diapers and More to Maternal and Infant Health Program Diaper Drive

If you’re looking for a way to help babies and their families, there’s an easy way being offered by the St. Clair County Health Department’s Maternal and Infant Health Program. The Diaper Drive is being offered to individuals as well as any interested organization that wants to make sure local families have what they need to nurture their babies.

Starting July 8th, the Health Department will begin taking donations of new packages of baby diapers in all sizes, baby wipes, rash creams, and baby hygiene items.

Who gets the items? All of the items will go to participants in the Maternal and Infant Health Program. The program is a benefit for Medicaid recipients and Medicaid-eligible pregnant women and babies up to 18 months old. The program helps babies meet growth and developmental milestones.

Donations can be taken to the St. Clair County Health Department on 28th Street in Port Huron during normal business hours. Pickup of donations can also be arranged.

Businesses and organizations are encouraged to help the cause. Monetary donations can be made at the St. Clair County Treasurer’s Paypal account.

Drop off donations at the St. Clair County Health Department, 3415 28th Street in Port Huron during regular business hours: Monday 10:00am – 6:30pm or Tuesday through Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm.  MIHP is also providing donation pick-ups by calling (810) 987-4903.  Monetary donations can also be made via St. Clair County Treasurer’s PayPal at: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/sccmitreasurer. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Wilton Receives United Way Campaign Champion Award

The United Way of St. Clair County has chosen Sharon Wilton as the 2021 Campaign Champion. She was recognized for her many years of volunteering and positive attitude.

Wilton told us that she has been a contributor to the United Way since 1987. She said, “While working at AT&T, I led our employee giving campaign and served on the Citizen’s Review Committee at United Way.  Being a part of the Citizen’s Review Committee really opened our eyes as to the need in our community, for many human services.”

Wilton said that in 2015 she became a recipient of services when she suffered a serious medical condition and missed several weeks of work, without pay. She said she was so appreciative, as she was a single mom and struggled to get back on her feet. 

Wilton said, “I have gone full circle and I am proud to co-chair the upcoming campaign for a non-profit that is so important to our community and to me!”

The United Way of St. Clair County reached 16,000 St. Clair County residents in 2021.

For more information about the United Way, go to uwstclair.org.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland