St. Clair County

Black River Canal Dredging and Sand Placement

Port Huron, MI — The City of Port Huron’s contractor began dredging sand from the Black River Canal entrance at Lake Huron on Monday, April 19, 2021.

Weather permitting, sand dredged from Black River Canal will be placed in Lake Huron from
Holland Beach to the south beginning on Monday, April 26, 2021. Due to the work, Holland Beach will be closed.

The contractor will be utilizing Gratiot Avenue to Edison Blvd. and Conger Street to Holland Avenue to haul sand from the mouth of the Black River Canal to Holland Beach. There will be intermittent slowed and stop-and-go traffic in these areas. The public is encouraged to refrain from  parking on these streets during that time frame.

Submitted by the City of Port Huron Department of Public Works: 810-984-9730.

Mobile Overdose Response Team to Combat Overdose Crisis

Port Huron, MI — The Port Huron Police Department (PHPD) and Port Huron Odyssey House (PHOH) are collaborating to create the Mobile Overdose Response Team (MORT) to combat the opioid crisis in the City of Port Huron.

Data shows that deaths from opioid overdoses has been increasing since 2011, and St. Clair County was ranked #7 based on the high rate of  opioid overdoses and #8 in the state for the total number of overdose deaths in 2018. 

The Mobile Overdose Response Team will include members from both the Port Huron Police Department and addiction professionals from the Port Huron Odyssey House. Starting today, they will use a Quick Response Team model to care for city residents who experienced a drug overdose event from January 1, 2021 to the present.

The goal of the program is to reduce repeat overdoses and promote recovery.

Ken Heuvelman, Clinical Coordinator and Outpatient Therapist at Port Huron Odyssey House, said, “A new approach to reach people in addiction where they are at, is strongly needed in the Port Huron area. We  are continually looking at programs and opportunities to reduce the number of overdoses in our county, and  we are grateful to have the opportunity to promote recovery and reduce unnecessary death in our county by  working together with the Port Huron Police Department.” 

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Kanchan Wankhede The Under Ground

Kanchan Wankhede to Lead Entrepreneurs at The Underground

Port Huron, MI — The Underground Business Incubator and Service Center is getting a new Director of Entrepreneurial Services, local human resources professional and advocate for minority and women owned businesses, Kanchan Wankhede.

Dan Casey, CEO of the St. Clair County Economic Development Alliance (EDA), said, “We are excited to welcome Kanchan to our EDA team.  She is a great fit for managing the region’s Smartzone Incubator and Business Center.  She has experience working with businesses and organizations that not only have a local or United States footprint, but that spread well into India, Europe and Asia.  As a small business owner herself, she understands the challenges and obstacles entrepreneurs face on a daily basis.  Area entrepreneurs looking to launch or grow their business will benefit from Kanchan’s knowledge, experience and desire to help them be successful.”

Kanchan is the Principal Consultant for her company Great Workplace LLC, and she has also be working with the Community Foundation of St. Clair County for the last year consulting local Minority and Women Owned businesses. She has helped many people motivate, organize, and bring greater success to their businesses.

In a press release, Wankhede said, “The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.  So, aim high, believe you can and you are halfway there.  I look forward to assisting facilitate new startups and helping entrepreneurs grow though coaching, connections to potential funding sources and more in my new role at The Underground.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Ferrellgas Enters Settlement with Michigan AG

Lansing, MI — The Michigan Department of Attorney General entered into a settlement agreement with Ferrellgas, LP after an informal investigation into the company’s business practices.

Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office and the Better Business Bureau received numerous complaints about the company from customers in Michigan who use them as a supplier of propane gas.

According to a press release from the Attorney General’s office, customers cited difficulty contacting Ferrellgas representatives by phone, protracted delivery periods following the placement of orders, and inability to secure expedited fills to resolve situations where homes were without heat in January and February.

“Being without heat for even a day during a Michigan winter is emotionally devastating and can be dangerous,” Nessel said. “Ferrellgas and other propane providers are now on notice that this office will not tolerate any company that breaks its commitments to consumers and leaves them sitting in the cold.”

Ferrellgas entered into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance and Discontinuance agreement with the Attorney General’s Office which requires the company to implement a number of reforms, payments, and refunds to the AG’s office and its customers.

Customers can file a complaint against Ferrellgas with the Attorney General’s Office Here:

https://secure.ag.state.mi.us/complaints/consumer.aspx

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

DB Delivery Solutions Wins Small Business Award

St. Clair County, MI — DB Delivery Solutions, an East China small business, has been presented an award by the Michigan Economic Corporation as one of the 2021 SmartZone Best Small Businesses.

As part of the Underground’s Incubator Program, DB Delivery Solutions has been supported and counseled by local business leaders, entrepreneurs, and representatives from the St. Clair County Economic Development Alliance (EDA).

DB Delivery Solutions created a secure way for homeowners and businesses to receive packages with their Receptor. The Receptor can be installed in the exterior wall of a garage, home, or business, and includes a weatherproof and secure place for delivery companies to place packages.

Mike Jans, President of DB Delivery Solutions said in a press release, “We don’t just get mail anymore, and our product, the Receptor, is the answer to everyone’s concerns about how to safely and securely get all of their deliveries, which includes packages, groceries, and prepared food. We can install the Receptor in any existing home or business, and we can install the Receptor in any new construction project.”

To learn more visit www.dbdeliverysolutions.com

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Walk-in COVID-19 Vaccine Wednesday – Moderna & Pfizer

The St. Clair County Health Department is offering a “walk-in” opportunity to receive a COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, April 14, from 9:00am to 2:00pm at the Knight Club, 1195 Gratiot Blvd, Marysville.

Please note the following:

  • If you already have an appointment, keep that time. This does not apply to you.
  • Do not come to the clinic if sick or not feeling well; or are in isolation or quarantine.
  • Open only to those who live and/or work in St. Clair County.
  • Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will be administered.
  • Open to age 16 and older.
  • 1,600 doses available during walk-in hours.
  • Forms will be handed out in the parking lot and will need to be completed before entering.
  • Masking is required.
  • No out of pocket costs, however bring your insurance cards. Some administrative fees can be recouped, but you will never receive a bill.
  • Plan for atleast 1 hour and dress accordingly.
  • Lines will be socially distanced, however, there may be a wait time depending on volume.
  • If the parking lot is full, please come back later. Or pre-register for a future appointment at www.scchealth.co

Dr. Annette Mercatante, Medical Health Officer, St. Clair County Health Department stated; “We are offering another walk-in clinic utilizing Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. With the CDC/FDA announcement regarding the J&J vaccine, out of an abundance of caution, we will pause use until more is known. The concerning, yet extremely rare event following J&J has occurred in 6 people out of 6.8 million doses, a rate of .00008%.  That suggests a very low risk to anyone who has received, if in fact it is determined to be related to the vaccine.”

Mercatante emphasized, “This is an example of the success of our post-approval surveillance systems in place for vaccines. The ability to detect such rare events is quick. This surveillance certainly should provide even more confidence in our vaccines.  In comparison, the US has administered over 180 million doses of the Moderna and Pfizer products, a different kind of vaccine, and have not triggered any similar warnings or adverse effects. With our county case and hospitalization rates remaining high, we encourage everyone to continue to get vaccinated with available Moderna or Pfizer products.”

This is a rapidly evolving situation. Email COVID-19 questions to covid19@stclaircounty.org or call the informational hotline (810) 966-4163. Visit the website www.scchealth.co and follow us on social media @scchdmi.

Submitted by the St. Clair County Health Department