St. Clair County

Water Warriors Hit the Lake This Week for Special Olympics

Port Huron, MI — The Water Warriors are gearing up for their 30th annual personal watercraft endurance ride along Michigan’s Thumb Coast to benefit Special Olympics of Michigan.

This year’s ride is scaled down from their usual Port Huron to Mackinaw ride, which is typically a 5-day, 450-mile endurance ride on personal watercraft. They have adapted the ride this year due to challenges presented by the pandemic, and they are taking a 2-day ride from Port Huron to Port Austin and back.

The Water Warriors ride will take place on July 28 – 29th, and 75 people plan to participate with over 30 personal watercraft riders, support boats, and a fleet of land support vehicles.

Donna, a past participant, said, “Riding the waves is a physical challenge, certainly, but nothing in comparison to the every day survival of a Special Olympic athlete. To come into port and see that appreciation for our efforts, to give a ride to an athlete on my machine, and to watch the smiling faces and listening to the cheers of the athletes on the support boats makes every muscle ache I experience, every drop of water that I swallow, and all the time I spend raising funds worth it.”

The 2021 Summer Games for Special Olympics concluded on July 17, 2021, but Special Olympics Michigan provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Holland Road Beach Closed for E. coli

At the present time, the St. Clair County Health Department (SCCHD) has issued a swimming advisory for Holland Road Beach in Port Huron. Water samples will be collected at the beach until E. coli test results are within the acceptable water quality range.

The SCCHD Environmental Health Division conducts environmental monitoring at eight public beaches in St. Clair County for the presence of E. coli bacteria from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Water samples must be below 300 E. coli per 100 milliliters for the water to be considered safe for swimming. E. coli bacteria is a common microbe found in the digestive systems of warm-blooded animals, including humans, and can indicate the presence of fecal contamination. There are a variety of sources that contribute bacteria and other pathogens to surface water, including septic systems, combined and sanitary sewer overflows, storm (rain) runoff, wild and domestic animal waste, and agriculture runoff. Elevated E.coli levels are possible after a storm or strong winds because bacteria are carried in storm runoff or stirred up from waves. If there has been a recent heavy rainfall or high winds, or if the water appears cloudy or turbid, individuals should choose not to swim that day.

Advisories for St. Clair County’s public beaches are shared on the SCCHD’s 24-hour Water Quality Hotline at 877-504-SWIM, “St. Clair County Beaches” Facebook page, and Michigan BeachGuard website at www.egle.state.mi.us/beach/.

Submitted by the St. Clair County Health Department

People’s Clinic Golf Outing Coming up In August

The People’s Clinic in Port Huron provides quality medical care for Medicaid patients and those who are uninsured.  This year’s golf outing hopes to raise awareness of the clinic while also raising funds for operational expenses, medical supplies, and pharmacy needs.

The 41st People’s Clinic Golf Outing will be held Thursday, August 12th at Solitude Links Golf Course. Fun events are planned along with a buffet-style lunch and raffles.

Registration is available at EventBrite <HERE> for individual golfers, teams, and corporate sponsorships.

Proceeds from the golf outing along with other fundraisers and help from the United Way of St. Clair County and Blue Cross Blue Shield ensure that the People’s Clinic will continue to support the healthcare needs of some of the most vulnerable residents of our community.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Marysville’s Jasen Hrisca Honored by Air Force

The Distinguished Flying Cross Medal is the United States Air Force’s highest honor for heroism in aerial flight, and a Marysville native just received the award.

Captain Jasen Hrisca received the award after his contribution to a flight that saved the lives of 88 American and Afghan service members. Hrisca and his crew from the 73rd Special Operations Squadron provided protective air cover which facilitated a safe evacuation for troops on the ground.

Hrisca said, “We were just doing our primary job. For gunship crews, this is keeping the ground force safe. The most rewarding part is knowing that we were able to get them all out alive. This isn’t always the case, and I’m thankful we were able to go to work and get them out.”

Captain Hrisca was honored in a letter from Embry-Riddle President P. Barry Butler who said, “While the meritorious achievement the Air Medal represents was a heroic and harrowing experience, I also want to commend you for what you have contributed through almost ten years of U.S. Air Force service. Through your role as an instructor, combat systems officer, navigator and AC-130J weapons and tactics officer, you undoubtedly save the lives of fellow fliers and protect us all.”

 

Donate Those Returnables Cluttering Up Your Garage

Life Skills Centers – Bright Futures is a community-based program for adults with disabilities, and they are happy to take those returnable cans and bottles off your hands.

The Bright Futures bottle drive one of the ongoing fundraisers that helps the program raise money for classes and outings for their clients and also for fun activities clients can do at the center located on 17th Street in Port Huron. They also sell handmade fire starters that start bonfires and fireplaces with ease.

Bottles and cans can be dropped off at their location at 716 17th Street in Port Huron between 8 AM – 4 PM, or they will gladly pick them up if you live within reasonable distance and make arrangements with their staff. You can also purchase fire starters at their location for $2.00 per bag.

Life Skills Centers – Bright Futures can be reached at 810-385-3710.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Golf Outing Raises $48,862 for Karmanos Cancer Institute

The Tee It Up To Beat Cancer fundraiser raised a record-high $48,862 for the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Port Huron Hospital.

The annual golf outing is in its 8th year, and has raised more than $220,000 since it’s inception, and those donations have supported cancer patients in the community by providing  state-of-the-art equipment, private bays for chemotherapy, and heated massage chairs at the hospital.

Dana Fabbri started the fundraiser in 2014, and proceeds originally went to the American Cancer Society. In 2016, she connected with the McLaren Port Huron Foundation and saw the positive impact she could have in her own community.

“It was really neat to realize that we could take the money and purchase something tangible that would help cancer patients in general, but really have an impact in our community,” she said. “It still gives me goosebumps to think about that moment when I realized that we didn’t have to just hope that the money would be used in the way we intended. We could give the money to someone and know that they’d use it for cancer patients’ needs.”

This year’s donation will help purchase an updated Vision RT computer and software for the hospital which will help improve treatment outcomes for patients undergoing radiation.

To learn more, visit

https://www.facebook.com/TeeItUpToBeatCancer

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand