St. Clair County

Robinson Tennis Tournament Returns

Port Huron, MI — The Port Huron Tennis House is gearing up for the return of the Francis J. Robinson Tennis Tournament. The tournament will take place at the tennis house from July 28th – August 1st, 2021.

This year’s event will be a round robin format where players of like ability will be matched up. The round robin format will enable players of all skills levels to participate and enjoy playing several matches against players of similar skill.

The entry fee for the tournament is $40 per player and includes one singles, one doubles, and one mixed doubles match. It also includes an event t-shirt.

The deadline to enter the 2021 Robinson is July 23rd at 5 PM, and registration details and entry forms are available at phtennishouse.com.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Leadership Change for County Parks

St. Clair County Parks Department has had a change of leadership. Mark Brochu has retired after 26 years as Director of County Parks. Nancy Winzer has stepped in as the new Director.

Brochu is credited with developing the Wadhams to Avoca Trail. He also oversaw $13 million in improvements to the county parks system. Over his tenure, the county parks system grew to seven unique parks.

Winzer already has a job as Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Port Huron. She will be keeping that job while also directing the County Parks. Winzer has been the Port Huron Parks and Recreation Director since 2010 and has earned a slew of regional and state awards for her many accomplishments in providing a variety of recreational opportunities for all abilities and age groups in the Blue Water area.

The St. Clair County Parks department has a few projects lined up for the near future. They are developing a six-acre parcel on the North Channel of the St. Clair River near Algonac. There is also a disc golf course going in at Columbus County Park, along with several other enhancements throughout the park system.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

St Clair and Lambton County COVID Update

St Clair County, Lambton County — Many people were concerned about the spike in COVID-19 cases that coincided with the ramping of vaccines for the majority of Michigan’s population this spring, but recent data shows a sharp decline in new cases of the virus.

Numbers reported by the State of Michigan show an average number of new confirmed cases of 107 per day. much lower than the 7,372 confirmed cases on April 5, 2021.

As of July 7th, St. Clair County had 31 active cases of COVID-19 a remarkable decrease over the last month, down from a high of just over 7,600 in May. The St. Clair County Health Department recently reported a 7 day average of only 1.1 new cases in the county.

There have been over 15,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in St. Clair County since the pandemic began, and 405 deaths were attributed to the virus.

Lambton County has 14 active cases of the virus, and the province of Ontario is in Step 2 of its Roadmap to Reopen.  which includes rules and regulations for working from home, capacity limits on businesses and public facilities, and mask orders.  The full order is available here: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r21488

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

VA Adds Flag Retirement Box

Port Huron, MI — The St. Clair County Department of Veterans Affairs office, located in the County Administration Building, has installed a flag retirement box for proper disposal of United States flags.

The County Administration Building is located at 200 Grand River Avenue in Suite 104.

County residents can retire flags that are no longer fit to fly because of tearing, fraying, or worn condition by folding them respectfully and dropping them off at Veterans Affairs.

According to the The United States Flag Code, the “flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.” Therefore it should be destroyed in a dignified way when it is no longer a “fitting emblem of display”.

The Department of VA will take flags from the retirement box to the American Legion post 8 to be properly disposed of in their annual ceremony.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Beeler Introduces Plan to Prohibit Critical Race Theory

On June 23, 2021, State Rep. Andrew Beeler introduced a plan to prevent a state or local K-12 curriculum from including race or gender stereotyping.

“Students go to school to learn, and our curriculum should not be teaching students to stereotype each other based on race or gender or to view themselves or their country poorly as a result,” said Beeler, of Port Huron. “My plan will promote respect among Michigan students and patriotism for the United States and the opportunity it provides to all, regardless of one’s background.”

Beeler’s House Bill 5097 would prohibit the state Board of Education and local school boards from explicitly or implicitly including a set of statements, beliefs or ideas related to race and gender stereotyping in core academic curriculum for public elementary, middle and secondary schools. Content to be excluded from curriculum would include, among others, the ideas that:

  • Individuals of a particular racial group, ethnic group or gender possess a collective quality or hold collective beliefs;
  • Individuals act in certain ways, including racism and sexism, because of their skin color or gender;
  • Cultural norms and practices of one group should be eliminated to conform to those of another group;
  • Individuals bear collective guilt for historical wrongs committed by others of a shared racial group or gender; and
  • Actions of individuals serve as an indictment of others in a racial group or gender.

HB 5097 has been referred to the Committee on Education for review.

Submitted by Rep. Beeler’s Office

Veteran Food Assistance Available

St. Clair County, MI — Veteran Food Assistance vouchers are back, and they are available through the St. Clair County Department of Veterans Affairs.

The County Veterans Service Fund Grant grocery voucher program helps veterans who are experiencing an emergent need for food assistance.

The program offers $50 and $100 vouchers redeemable at Meijer stores for food, paper, laundry and household cleaning products. They can also be used for health and beauty care products and pet food.

Wartime and peacetime veterans, service members, dependents, or survivors who need assistance may apply by completing a short application on the St. Clair County Department of Veterans Affairs’ website at www.sccvet.us and clicking on the Emergency Grants tab.

The application can also be mailed by calling the VA Office  (810) 989-6945.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand