Marysville officials will be conducting interviews with three city manager candidates at 6 p.m current City Manager Randy Fernandez plans to retire in July More: Port Huron Deputy City Manager Nancy Winzer steps down after 31 years with the city More: St. Clair council taps former EDA official as next city superintendent The Port Huron Civic Theater is putting together its second annual production of the musical "Rock of Ages." The show is set to appear on May 16 and 17 at the McMorran Theater in downtown Port Huron to the gritty glamour and rough energy of the Sunset Strip," Thomas Sudia The musical follows a young woman from a small town and a wannabe rockstar in Los Angeles who meet amid a community conflict over plans to demolish the Sunset Strip to give the city a "clean" image The show will be Port Huron Civic Theater's second major performance for 2025 after debuting "Mary Poppins Jr." in March More news: A new splash pad is under construction in St. Clair County Port Huron Civic Theater originally performed "Rock of Ages" in 2024 and chose to bring it back this year due to the success and popularity of their previous performances "Rock of Ages" is a tribute to 1980s Rock-and-roll Classic songs performed by the theater group with a live band include "We Built this City," "The Final Countdown" and "Don't Stop Believin." The original play debuted in Los Angeles in 2005 A movie based on the play was released in 2012 produced by Warner Bros What's happening in Port Huron? Guarantee quick access to local news with the Times Herald app Prices range from $18 to $20 for seats in the back half of the theater and $24 for seats in the front half The play features some adult themes and language and may not be appropriate for young children Contact Johnathan Hogan at jhogan@gannett.com which means it's time for the latest Blue Water Area Athlete of the Week poll Last week's winner was Port Huron Northern softball's Charley Betts who threw 20 strikeouts and picked up two victories in 12 innings on the mound She allowed just nine hits and didn't surrender an earned run Want to nominate an athlete for a future poll? Email Times Herald sports reporter Brenden Welper (bwelper@gannett.com) and let him know who had a stellar week Listed below are this week’s candidates in alphabetical order please use the poll at the bottom of this page MORE: Top high school sports performers of the past week Kayla Faust — Port Huron Northern girls track & field: During a meet against Sterling Heights Stevenson on April 29 Faust won both the 100 meters and 200 meters at 13.72 seconds and 27.63 seconds She was also part of the Huskies' 4x200 relay team that placed first at 1:51.9 Cooper Letson — Marine City baseball: Letson batted 4-for-4 with one RBI and scored two runs in the Mariners' 7-6 victory over Warren Cousino on May 3 Keira Miller — Croswell-Lexington girls track & field: In a meet against Imlay City on April 29 Miller won the 100 meters and set a personal record with a time of 13.28 seconds She was also part of the Pioneers' 4x200 relay team that placed first at 1:51.92 Clara Moore — Marysville softball: Moore pitched a complete game and threw 12 strikeouts in the Vikings' 14-3 triumph over Marine City on May 2 TJ Seiler — Armada boys track & field: During a meet against Richmond and Yale on April 29 Seiler won the 200 meters with a time of 23.64 seconds He was also part of the Tigers' 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams both of which took their respective events Contact Brenden Welper at bwelper@gannett.com. Follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @BrendenWelper Three Michigan rest areas were recognized as having some the best public restrooms in the U.S, according to a survey of more than 3,000 drivers and truckers The New Buffalo Welcome Center ranked 41st among best public restrooms in America In addition to New Buffalo, the Port Huron Welcome Center on I-94 near the Blue Water Bridge and Canada "We often think of rest stops as mere necessities but they’re powerful reflections of a community’s values," Sargent said To see the top public facilities in each state, visit American River Wellness' website Here's everything to know about the survey: New Buffalo Welcome Center called 'legendary'The center just north of the Michigan border with Indiana, along northbound I-94 is "legendary," according to American River Wellness it’s one of the best-rated rest stops in the Midwest The rest area near mile marker 0 includes: The center, on westbound I-94 near Port Huron and the international border with Canada offers a first stop upon your entry into the U.S "This rest area is the perfect last hurrah," Sargent said and a well-kept facility make it a solid stop before the bridge-or a welcome sight when you’re back on U.S "This scenic stop is a favorite for anyone heading up toward the Mackinac Bridge," Sargent said The rest area is surrounded by pine forest it’s the kind of place where even your car seems to sigh with relief The rest area near mile marker 317 includes: How did American River Wellness rank public restrooms?The survey included an online panel of 3,017 drivers based on age "We used a two-step process to ensure representativeness through stratified sampling and post-stratification weighting," the website said Respondents were chosen from a geographically representative online panel of double-opt-in members To ensure the integrity of our data collection American River Wellness used an array of data quality methods: digital fingerprinting response review by a team member to ensure quality and contextual accuracy An official website of the United States government Longhorn beetle discovered during examination of cargo from Romania — One unlucky--and highly invasive—wood boring bug was intercepted by CBP agriculture specialists at a Port Huron railyard [Cerambycidae]) was discovered during an inspection of cargo from Romania and the presence of frass—solid insect waste—was a telltale sign of more robust insect activity The Monochramus has not been encountered in the Port Huron area since 2021 making more than three years without detection of the destructive invasive species. “Our nation's agriculture industry is constantly at risk from pests and disease not known to occur in the U.S.,” said Area Port Director Jeffrey Wilson “This interception by our highly skilled agriculture specialists showcase our continued commitment to safeguarding American agriculture and protecting public health.” most commonly referred to as longhorn beetles is a large family which includes both species native to North America and non-native invasive species that can cause significant damage to both hardwood and softwood trees. It is a major concern in North America due to its potential to disrupt forest and urban ecosystems. It can cause significant economic damage by killing valuable shade and park trees as well as injuring or killing forest trees of economic value “This discovery underscores the vital role our agriculture specialists play in protecting the nation’s natural resources and economy The longhorn beetle is a destructive invasive species that threatens our forests and urban landscapes,” said Director of Field Operations Marty Raybon prevents potential devastation to our hardwood trees and reinforces our commitment to keeping invasive pests from harming our environment and economy.” The invasive specimens were found amid wood pallets that were stamped in a manner consistent with heat treatment. Because untreated wood packaging material (WPM) poses a significant risk of introducing non-native pest and pathogens to new environments as outlined by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures of the International Plant Protection Convention is the international standard for the safe use and reuse of WPM While the marking on the WPM appeared to be legitimate it is suspected that the actual heat treatment process may not have been executed properly Follow us on 𝕏: @DFODetroit and @CBPGreatLakes A previous version of this release mentioned the discovery of an Asian Longhorn beetle After further review the pest was later confirmed as Longhorn beetle Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency The 65,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity We enhance the nation's security through innovation View a complete list of local and regional CBP social media accounts PORT HURON – A second person has been arrested in connection with a Port Huron murder case from January tampering with evidence and receiving and concealing a stolen vehicle was denied bond and was remanded back to jail The charges stem from the death of Vincent Buckles 28 by first responders dispatched to a vehicle fire Police believe the fire was an arson and connected to the murder The Port Huron Police Department said Drake also has an outstanding felony warrant for a double homicide out of Detroit in December 2023. Drake’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 22. A 36-year-old woman was arrested at the time, but she was released. Authorities said new evidence has further linked her to the crime and she was taken into custody again. Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Dane Kelly is an Oreo enthusiast and producer who has spent the last seven years covering Michigan news and stories. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WDIV Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group The city of Port Huron will hold a public meeting on May 13 to discuss the city's proposed budget for 2025-26 and its Capital Improvement Plan Port Huron City Manager James Freed discussed the budget during Monday's city council meeting giving a presentation that set the proposed operating budget at $143,870,505 Freed said he had to cut $2.4 million in additional funding requested by city departments Those cuts are not from the departments' previous year budgets Freed's presentation broke down the budget by category with the biggest costs being the wastewater fund at $38,729,322 followed by the general fund at $34,839,960 Many of the economic pressures affecting city residents have also affected the city budget noting both fire trucks and the fuel needed to run them have become more expensive From earlier this month: Superintendent: Port Huron Schools not out $497K in federal funding Financial impact story from March: Port Huron City Council requests grants to fund Black River Canal repairs, parks and more which went up 17% in the past year and are expected to continue to rise "We are forced to deliver services within these realities of the economy and the budget constraints," Freed said Freed also said the general fund may be affected by ongoing salary negotiations He said the city has had to increase pay for police officers and firefighters to remain competitive and that the city is still negotiating salaries with six employee unions Mayor Anita Ashford asked Freed about the cuts he made to balance the budget Fred said he had to deny an extra $400,000 in spending to the police budget and $300,000 to the fire department as part of his efforts to balance the city budget Freed said he chose the cuts strategically with the intention that most residents wouldn't feel the effects in their daily lives "The thing about government is government continuously grows so you're trying to cut the growth of government the rate at which government grows," Freed said "A lot of (those cuts) were restructuring of administrative and command staff." The public meeting on the budget will begin at 6 p.m in Conference Room 408 of the Municipal Office Center Contact Johnathan Hogan at jhogan@gannett.com Hundreds of people lined up under the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron Saturday as part of the "Bridge of Friendship" events held throughout the state Some who showed up wanted to show their support for Canada amid fraying relations with the United States due to tariffs while others were there to protest the rhetoric from President Donald Trump including his discussions on making the U.S.'s northern neighbor a state And some just wanted to protest the president in general after more than three months in office The event was one of three held across Michigan at bridges connecting the state to Canada The other events were held at the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit and the International Bridge in Sault Ste an organization of Upper Peninsula residents worked with the Lake Superior branch to arrange the gathering The United States has placed a 10% tariff on goods from Canada since the beginning of April President Trump announced a 25% tariff on Canada but later walked back tariffs on some items coming from Canada a Marquette native who was born in Port Huron said the organization decided to act because they felt Canada had been unfairly targeted by tariffs and Trump's insistence the country become the 51st U.S when the rhetoric was so severe regarding their sovereignty saying everything from "Hands off Canada" to "Down with tariffs." A few had American and Canadian flags and flags that combined both country's flags as one who joined the protest with his mother Geri said he felt it was important to support Canada due to the years of friendship between the two countries "I think we have to look out for our neighbors," Marcello Asaro said "We need to remember who helped us in our times of need." Several of those present at the Bridge of Friendship gathering said they had friends and family who live in Canada and that the tariffs have affected those relationships was born to Canadian parents and has dual citizenship Chrysler and GM on both sides of the border and said the tariffs against Canada were unfair More: Sarnia mayor wants American flags removed due to Trump's 'economic terrorism' Thomas said he also wanted to speak up over concerns about the current administration has ignored the constitution in its efforts to deport foreign residents "You are not the ones who have the almighty power," Thomas said soil the constitution should still apply to them." said her niece is married to a Canadian citizen and that her friends and family used to regularly cross the border without incident and she said she's heard from family that entering the U.S "You don't treat friends and family this way," Havlicek said who herself has 18 cousins living in Canada said it was important for both Canadians and other Americans to see there were people willing to speak out against the president's statements it doesn't help anything," Fitzgerald said "When we get together and share our beliefs marching together is good for our physical and mental health Boaters shouldn't be planning to navigate through the Black River Canal anytime soon — even when it is warm and sunny Port Huron City Manager James Freed said work has halted after cost estimates to shore up the canal and replace the gate came to about $4.5 million Flood waters from an ice dam on the Black River damaged the Tainter gate structure at the east end of the canal by Lake Huron in late January 2024 Freed said additional challenges to the project include neighboring Port Huron and Fort Gratiot townships declining to help fund the project and lead time and fabrication of the gate taking 20 months More: Why is the Great Lakes Maritime Center being demolished? their residents don’t seem to be concerned about the canal," Freed said He said the city is working with state legislatures on securing state funding for the project "So we are actively pursuing an appropriation application with the state of Michigan with (Rep Joe) Pavlov's office and (Sen.) Dan Lauwers…we're very confident we’ll get funded." The project was originally planned over three phases The installation of a cofferdam to prevent sand from moving downstream and filling the canal has been completed at a cost of $255,000 "We’ve cauterized the damage…while we reach for our funding solution," he said which would have included design and fabrication of a new gate and lifting mechanism Phase three would have included repairs to both sides of the canal banks as flood waters have caused severe erosion creating the probability of catastrophic bank collapse That cost would also includes seawall installation and armoring of the banks the city has spent $437,738 so far on the project Freed said the city can't cover the total cost while there are firetrucks to buy patrol vehicles to replace and roads to repair While it is sad news for the boating community he said he is optimistic funding will be secured later this year Port Huron's City Council voted unanimously Monday to pass a new ordinance requiring security personnel in the city to undergo training regarding positional asphyxiation Known as "The Joshua Conant Ordinance," the new rule was met with cheers and applause by those in attendance at the city council meeting The ordinance came about after the family of Joshua Conant who was killed during an altercation with bouncers outside the Roche Bar in November 2023 lobbied the city council for the rule change she just didn't give up," Port Huron Mayor Anita Ashford said of Sandy Schultz The ordinance was drafted by Port Huron city attorney Todd Shoudy Conant's family also had their lawyer review the language according to Port Huron City Manager James Freed Conant's death caused controversy and outrage as residents of Port Huron have posted "Justice for Josh" posters on lawn signs More: Death certificate states Joshua Conant's death was a homicide Witnesses said they saw the bar bouncers lying on Conant's back when he was restrained outside the bar The bouncers told Port Huron police Conant was responsive until a police officer arrived said they saw Conant struggling to breathe and tried to warn the bouncers Roche Bar has remained closed since Conant's death The Michigan Department of Attorney General investigated Conant's death deciding after 10 months to not press charges in the case Schultz spoke at Monday's city council meeting expressing her grief not only for Conant's death but for his twin brother who died from leukemia "No mother should have to live through two deaths of her children," Schultz said I will never be able to accept the way my son Joshua passed on to heaven." spoke at the meeting to say he intended to introduce a version of The Joshua Conant Ordinance to the state legislature to make it a law citing his own experience losing his daughter and I know it never goes away," Pavlov said Freed said he would work with the Michigan legislature to have a statewide bill drafted and with Conant's family to get a hearing for the law Details of the first major event of the 2025 Boat Week in Port Huron have been announced The Rotary International Day Parade will kick off at 6:30 p.m The theme for this year’s parade is "Color Our World," according to the Port Huron Rotary Club The club has returned to reflecting the theme of the national library summer reading The “Color Our World” message encourages readers to “engage with art and creativity” during the summer months The grand marshals for the parade are to be determined Those planning to participate in the parade can register at paradeday.net The parade route will start at Huron and Glenwood avenues in downtown Port Huron and be slightly shorter than past parades McLaren Port Huron hospital is the parade’s annual Presenting sponsor The parade kicks off festivities leading to the 101st running of the Port Huron-to-Mackinac Island Sailboat Race July 12 More: 100th Port Huron-to Mackinac Island Sailboat Race draws large crowds Clair County and green grass becomes visible once more Port Huron will be hosting its annual Pub Crawl on Saturday The event sees city residents and visitors celebrating the holiday visiting bars and pubs in and around the city Buses are available to transport people between the city's participating bars ensuring guests can enjoy the celebrations without the risk of drinking and driving said they'll be opening the outdoor patio during the pub crawl Clair County has a lot of people whose ancestors originally came from Ireland so it's a big celebration every year," Scott Scandalito said "From a business perspective it's always good for the community so we're always glad to see so many people out here." Other downtown bars participating in the festivities include The Brass Rail Participating bars not in Port Huron's downtown include The Office The Outpost and Captain Skrip's Office Bar & Grill This year the city will be hosting a new event this event will include Irish music and dancing performed by Shannon Irish Dance Academy The Port Huron Police Department will also be present Courthouse may be up for sale soon as the U.S General Services Administration seeks to offload federal buildings nationwide the Federal Building was one of 440 properties the GSA announced it wanted to sell as part of a plan to reduce federal spending The building was built in 1877 and is the oldest building managed by the GSA in the Great Lakes region It was originally constructed to be used by the U.S It was constructed at a cost of just $200,000 and covers 44,400 square feet In addition to its use as a federal courthouse and office building the building also houses the Blue Water Area Credit Union on its first floor Related: Multiple Michigan federal buildings could be sold. Where the GSA plans to cut City and county officials said they were surprised to hear of the building's potential sale and are open to considering local uses for it Port Huron City Manager James Freed notified Mayor Anita Ashford and the Port Huron City Council of the potential sale but said he did not have direct information and that what he knew came from the GSA's posts and news reports "It would make a lovely City Hall," Freed wrote at the end of the email In a phone call he said that any use of the building by the city would focus on preserving its history Because the building does not see much use he said repurposing it could be a positive for downtown Ashford said she had not had the chance to discuss the matter with the city council or Freed but said the sale was a "welcome surprise" and that the city would consider how the building could be put to use if sold "We would be open to anything in the best interest of our city," Ashford said Clair County Board of Commission Chairman Steven Simasko said he had just heard about the possible sale Thursday morning and declined to comment on whether the county might be interested without discussing it first with the other commissioners he said the county would be open to considering several uses for the building See us in the app: Guarantee quick access to local news with the Times Herald app Michigan State Police shot and killed an armed man Wednesday night while responding to a call in Port Huron Township The MSP Third District posted on social media that the officer shot the 52-year-old man after he exited a house with a gun and allegedly made threats, according to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter The man reportedly refused to drop the weapon Clair County Sheriff's Office were responding to a call at the 4000 block of Dove Street at 7:50 p.m The man had reportedly been involved in a domestic violence incident with family members Police attempted to provide first-aid to the man after the shooting He was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead Michigan State Police have not identified the officer involved in the shooting only saying he was placed on paid administrative leave as is standard practice after an officer-involved shooting Police have also not identified the man who was killed The Michigan State Police Second District Special Investigation Section and Northville MSP Crime Lab responded to the scene after the shooting to begin an investigation Once the investigation is complete the Michigan Department of Attorney General will review the incident Port Huron City Manager James Freed walked out of a city council meeting Monday after a discussion with the mayor ended with a confrontation The argument began after Mayor Anita Ashford attempted to walk back resolution items on the consent agenda after voting to approve them The city council voted unanimously to pass the consent agenda Monday Ashford asked for the removal of two items: the appointment of James Soto and Jacob Orr to the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and the reappointment of Kurt Eppley and Casey Harris to the Downtown Development Authority Ashford asked City Clerk Cyndee Jonseck to remove the two items Both Jonseck and Freed informed her it was too late because the council "Before we voted you should have removed it," Jonseck told Ashford at the meeting I'll make an exception," Ashford responded Read us online: The Times Herald covers the latest local news and sports. Ashford said she wanted the Downtown Development Authority appointments removed because she had not been involved in in picking Eppley or Harris Both appointees were already on the board of the Downtown Development Authority for terms that expired Sunday In regard to the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority the city appointed Soto for a term ending April 14 Ashford told the Times Herald she was involved in choosing both appointees but she intended for the appointments to be reversed Jonseck said she assigned the two appointees to the only terms open Ashford accused Jonseck of making a "typo" with the dates but Jonseck responded that when Ashford emailed her the names no dates were included The meeting began to become confrontational shortly after Freed told the mayor she had several days before the meeting to remove the items from the agenda but had not done so “There’s a reason why we send the agenda out the Thursday before "Historically if reappointments are up it automatically goes back up for renewal unless you say otherwise “You wouldn’t have heard a thing about it because if I trusted you in such a manner I wouldn’t – I promised the public I would be transparent and that’s what I’m doing," Ashford said in response In an interview with the Times Herald on Tuesday Ashford said she saw both resolutions when she received the meeting agenda on Thursday but did not contact the city manager because she was "uncomfortable" speaking to Freed saying she had brought issues to him before and not seen results The mayor said she also did not contact the city clerk or any other city council members and that she intended to address the agenda resolutions at the meeting because she wanted to live up to her campaign promise of transparency and honesty Ashford said that she "missed the queue," however to bring up the resolutions before she voted in support of them She argued the council should have rescinded its vote so she could take time to review the Downtown Development Authority and consider other candidates rather than automatically reappointing Eppley and Harris "I just want to point out for the public's perception Cyndee did everything she was supposed to do properly and correctly," Freed said More: James Freed staying in Port Huron, declines moving forward with Ottawa County position Freed walked out of the meeting after Ashford made a comment about some people who are not fully grown feeling they need an answer to everything Freed expanded on his statements in an email Tuesday morning regarding the meeting having worked for more than 35 elected officials I have never heard a Mayor speak so unfairly and derogatory towards City Staff," Freed wrote "The Mayor made a simple mistake and tried to blame It on staff City Councilmember Jeffrey Pemberton concurred with Freed during the meeting telling Ashford she had been taking an inappropriate tone with Freed and city staff in meetings He said he understood she made a mistake on when to bring up the resolution but that she was unfair to suggest something untrustworthy happening with the agenda reiterating that she could have brought her concerns up any time after receiving the agenda Thursday More: Anita Ashford wins Port Huron mayor race, ending Pauline Repp's 15-year run "I just wanted to voice that I'm uncomfortable with the turn the meetings have taken," Pemberton said "It doesn't seem to line up with what you just said about wanting to be transparent Both Freed and Ashford said they believe they can move forward working together despite Monday's confrontation "I have a good working relationship with the mayor and the city council and this is just a blip on the radar," Freed said The Port Huron City Council approved applications for several grants during its regular meeting Monday that would go toward repairing or replacing city parks and infrastructure Each of the grants required a match from Port Huron which City Manager James Freed said had already been accounted for in the budget The proposed renovations would reduce the risk of the canal being damaged by natural disasters according to the grant proposal in the agenda minutes Related news: Black River Canal work paused due to funding issues a local resident who has previously organized efforts to clean the river and who jokingly calls himself the self-appointed mayor of the Black River encouraged the council to vote yes on the grant "I know one of you for sure lives on Black River but we all see Black River and the debacle that has happened with the canal and what it's done to Black River The Tainter gate structure of the Black River Canal was damaged in January 2024 by flood waters Freed announced in February that plans to repair the canal were being paused due to the high cost and the lack of assistance from neighboring communities Freed said the city may not know if the federal funds will be granted until October He said he has put in an identical application for state funding hopefully one of them gives it to us," Freed said More area news: Detours ahead: Portion of Allen Road to be closed for bridge work The city also approved an application for $2.25 million from the federal government to cover a new fire truck equipped with an extendable ladder Freed said a new fire truck with an aerial ladder was a necessity with or without the grant and that the price could significantly increase if the city waits to purchase a replacement "A fire engine was about $400,000 a couple of years ago Now you're approaching almost $1 million," Freed said "The latest fire truck we bought was in the $600,000 range An aerial ladder truck about 10 years ago was about $1.5-$1.7 million The remaining six grant applications were to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Recreation Passport Fund and Trust Fund each for either $150,000 or $250,000 to pay for repairs and upgrades to Port Huron's parks Each of the grant applications was approved though City Councilmember Barbara Payton voted no on two of the applications for upgrades to Sanborn Park Payton expressed concern that Sanborn Park would be getting funds for a permanent restroom when similar proposals for a restroom in parks on the southern side of the city had been rejected "I'm wondering how it is that this is going to be implemented in Sanborn Park when the south side has been neglected for many years," Payton said Freed said SC4 would be assisting in maintaining the Sanborn Park facilities City Councilmember Sherri Archibald noted two of the other proposals were for upgrades to Knox Field on the south side of Port Huron PORT HURON — Rosters change rapidly in professional hockey the 25-year-old is already playing for his fourth team Millette already knows what it's like to relocate having been on the move for most of his adult life Because he's found something special with the Port Huron Prowlers "This season has been awesome," Millette said they had played a few games and I was a late add (The transition) was very welcoming from the boys and family-like it was easy to have someone come in who's ready to work and provide something to the team." The forward has provided Port Huron with the best season of his young career Entering the semifinals of the Federal Prospects Hockey League playoffs which begin Friday at home against Binghamton 37 assists and 59 points in 46 games for the Prowlers this year dynamic hockey player," said Prowlers forward Matt Graham adding someone like that was a huge get .. his vision is probably the best thing he has He sees the game at a higher level than most." "Reggie really raises the players around him," said defenseman Alex Johnson "He's helped guys see the ice better and see the plays that he was seeing in his head He's just allowed us to become a better hockey team." Millette has become a favorite among Prowlers fans Reggie" broke out in McMorran Arena after his shootout goal gave Port Huron a 2-1 win over the Motor City Rockers "He's played a few different places," Graham said "But I think becoming a fan favorite has really made him feel like this is home It's allowed him to be more comfortable and get acclimated better." Millette hasn't always had those luxuries — be it in hockey or in life His journey to the professional rank is as remarkable as it is rare there aren't many Black hockey players in the sport hockey might've been the last thing on Millette's mind while growing up in Jacksonville His early years were marked by constant upheaval and uncertainty "You saw some things that you shouldn't see as a kid," Millette said "Some experiences that make you into an adult pretty quick I was sheltered from what (my family) could shelter me from I was able to play with my friends outside and things like that I just moved from house to house trying to be a kid." MORE: 'Here for us': Fans cherish Port Huron Prowlers amidst 10th anniversary season He spent the next three years shifting back and forth between Indiana and Florida It was there where a 9-year-old Millette — while searching for something to do — found his love for hockey "My grandma took me skating with my sister because (my sister) was a figure skater," Millette said "I used to just watch her practices and stuff "I played my first hockey game with speed skates," Millette said "I remember being the only guy with really long blades But I'm still out here playing and I'm enjoying it.' But what happened a year later captured his imagination there was a Black (professional) hockey player," Millette said Thomas played center for the Fort Wayne Komets during their days in the International Hockey League Millette had seen Black players on television before But watching Thomas live at a Komets game — and meeting him afterward — was something totally different "That was the first Black player in person that I met," Millette said as he gradually forged his own path through the sport after committing to play at American International College (AIC) Millette realized something — he might be the Leo Thomas for the next generation of Black hockey players "It brought light to the fact that there are other people it's been more of a thing (that I've thought about)." He joined AIC in time for the 2021-22 season as a 21-year-old freshman "I aged out of (junior hockey)," Millette said I was 21 and a couple seniors were like 25 it was very hard to make the lineup my freshman year Because we had an overlay of guys from the year before that took a COVID year." When the pandemic shuttered the sports world the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to the athletes who were affected "The biggest challenge was just the age gap (between the upperclassmen and I)," Millette said They've been playing college hockey for four or five years It was like getting knocked off of the 'big dog' hill But then I come to a new spot and it's a 'get in where I fit in' type of deal." Millette made his professional debut on Oct with the Tulsa Oilers of the East Coast Hockey League His rookie year was split between stints the Oilers (34 games) and the Southern Professional Hockey League's Pensacola Ice Flyers (19 games) it's just a faster game," Millette said of the adjustment from college to pro a lot of players are feeding themselves off the game It's a little bit more of a care out there He began the 2024-25 season with another SPHL team, the Fayetteville Marksmen. But after his fourth game with the club, an altercation occurred between him and a fan. Two days later, on Oct. 28, 2024, he was suspended. "It's just very unfortunate that a lot of people weren't protected in that situation," Millette said "It's kind of a domino effect and — with me being a professional player — there's some things that I'm still learning as a second-year player." Millette learned he was getting a second chance "After conducting our due diligence, we are very comfortable with bringing him in," Graham said in press release at the time "We have spoken with a number of his previous coaches and they all had nothing but positive things to say about Reggie We look forward to him joining us and adding to our group.” scoring two goals in his Prowlers debut on Nov (we realized) he expects a lot of the guys," Johnson said He brings energy for our bench and brings energy for the fans." the Port Huron faithful have rallied around Millette "I think it's just his magnetic persona that really draws people to him and I think that really helps form a personal bond there." "(This fan base) is very passionate," Millette said People are getting up and going to work every day if they're going to come to a Prowler game they want to see some hard-working people out there that care about winning games." Last Sunday saw the Prowlers win their first postseason series since 2018 in the deciding third game of the quarterfinals Port Huron will begin another best-of-3 series Friday when it welcomes the Black Bears for Game 1 of the semifinals at 7:05 p.m "The love and appreciation that (the fans) have for our team that allows us to go out there and play our hardest," Millette said (This story has been updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.) PORT HURON — A new organization in the Blue Water Area has announced plans to protest President Donald Trump's administration as part of the nationwide "Hands Off" protest on Saturday Blue Water Indivisible previously said it would be joining Blue Water Allies to arrange a local protest Blue Water Allies is no longer involved with the event "There is a new movement afoot in the Blue Water Area and several local residents are inviting others to join them in their effort to start making a difference in the fight for Democracy," the group announced in a news release RELATED: Sarnia mayor wants American flags removed due to Trump's 'economic terrorism' The Indivisible movement started in 2016 after President Donald Trump won his first term of office The Hands Off march is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m beginning at the Huron Lightship in Pine Grove Park and going to Thomas Edison Parkway A "pre-march" protest is planned from noon to 1 p.m we are taking to the streets to fight back with a clear message: Hands Off!,” said Ann Austin “This mass mobilization day is our message to the world that we do not consent to the destruction of our government or our relationships across the world for the benefit of Donald Trump and his billionaire allies.” Hands Off protests are planned nationwide on Saturday by organizations and others in response to the first few months of Trump's second term has laid off thousands of federal employees in an effort to reduce the size of the federal government an effort that has faced multiple legal challenges in court its goals and its methods to the community and more importantly We’re looking for people of all ages to join us,” Austin said This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Port Huron's first responders are preparing to face off in the Battle of the Badges to raise money for the Arc of St McMorran Place Arena will be hosting the hockey game that will pit Port Huron's Finest (the Port Huron Police Department) against Port Huron's Bravest (the Port Huron Fire Department) on March 14 The game will begin at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $12 and can be purchased at the door or online at www.mcmorran.com The departments used to host Battle of the Badges every year before it ended more than a decade again The police and fire departments decided to bring it back in 2024 Last year the police department won the game earning the right to keep the Battle of the Badges trophy This year the police will be competing to keep the trophy while the fire department will be playing to take it from them "Our fire hockey team hasn’t stopped practicing since last year’s game and they’re ready to out skate the cops," Maddy O'Farrell the administrative assistant for the Port Huron Fire Department "I’m confident that my guys are going to pull a win for the fire dept this year Don’t be surprised if the arena smells like bacon after the cops are cooked." More: Here's how you can help the St. Clair Police Department buy supplies More sports: MHSAA girls basketball: District pairings, results for Blue Water Area teams Port Huron Assistant Police Chief Jeremy Young said the police team was ready to keep the trophy "They should look at the score from last year," Young said "We’ll make sure to wrap it up so they get to bed at a reasonable time." The game will raise funds for The ARC of St a non-profit organization that advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities health care and housing options are available to them During the first break 10 children will be invited to shoot toward center ice for the chance to win a custom-made jersey A raffle will be held to win a jersey and a hockey stick from Red Wings player Tyler Motte There will also be a 50/50 raffle with proceeds from the raffle will go toward the Blue Water Clubhouse The event will also feature the Chuck-a-Puck challenge during the second break which attendees can pay $5 for five foam pucks to toss at targets Attendees can also buy merchandise including shirts hockey pucks and thundersticks to help raise money for The Arc of St "It's not just about the goals scored or the saves made but about coming together for a cause that touches all our hearts," an event description announcing the game stated A Port Huron man has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for reportedly suffocating his infant daughter while sleeping with her in bed was charged for the death of Taytum Manns in July and was released from jail on a $10,000 bond A probable cause affidavit stated that on Sept Manns took his 7-month-old daughter to bed with him The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against infants sharing a bed, be it with an adult, another child or a pet, stating it puts the child at risk of sudden infant death syndrome. The Center for Disease Control estimates 3,700 infants died from sleep-related incidents in 2022 including accidental suffocation and strangulation More local news: Former Yale Chamber of Commerce treasurer sued for embezzlement Manns had been warned about the risk of co-sleeping with infants multiple times before his daughter's death He reportedly participated in educational programs that warned against co-sleeping Four months before her death the victim was hospitalized after a previous incident of co-sleeping Manns accepted a plea deal Monday to the involuntary manslaughter charge one week before he was scheduled to go to trial a judge will consider sentencing Manns under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act a law which allows a defendant's record to be sealed after they complete their sentence and probation Manns is scheduled to be sentenced at 1:35 p.m March 31 by Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Lane Port Huron is planning to invest $20,645,330 over the next year to help develop and repair the area between McLaren Port Huron hospital and St The money will go toward developing affordable housing and repairing roads and sidewalks between the college and the hospital City Manager James Freed explained at a city council meeting on March 10 The Healthcare and College District Project would address two of Freed's stated goals for improving the city over the next decade: increasing the available housing for workers and making Port Huron a more pedestrian-friendly city The project will include a previously announced housing project to develop an apartment complex across from McLaren that will include 40 new units Port Huron received a $16.5 million tax credit for the Lincoln Lofts Project More: Port Huron receives $16.5 million tax credit for workforce housing Freed said 14 of those units would be reserved for individuals or families struggling with housing insecurity He said there was a growing need to find housing for kids "One-hundred and forty-seven students (in Port Huron schools) have housing insecurity," Freed said "Fourteen children that we know of are living in hotels today." Road repair in the area would focus on Kearney Street Willow Street and Elk Street Freed said the sidewalks need to be repaired and waterlines need replacing having not been replaced since the 1890s when they were first installed was nearly unusable it its current state and no longer served a purpose since the fire station was shut down The road repairs are estimated to cost $4,145,330 in 2025 The cost would also cover the replacement of lead sewer lines in the area for any home at no cost to the homeowner council approved a bid from Raymond Excavating Inc to handle the road repair during the meeting Freed told the city council he wanted SC4 students to be able to walk from SC4 to McLaren as SC4 graduates make up nearly 80% of McLaren's nursing staff repairs on the roads are expected to start this spring Customs and Border Protection officials recently found an invasive insect in St A live Asian Long Horn beetle was intercepted by its agriculture specialists at a railyard in Port Huron on March 17 The wood boring bug was found on wood pallets during an inspection of cargo from Romania which led to further examination that uncovered live ALB larvae "ALB is an invasive species that can cause significant damage to various hardwood trees It is a major concern in North America due to its potential to disrupt forest and urban ecosystems It can cause significant economic damage by killing valuable shade and park trees as well as injuring or killing forest trees of economic value," officials said Monday The insect is not known to have been encountered in the Port Huron area since November 2021 “Our nation's agriculture industry is constantly at risk from pests and disease not known to occur in the U.S.,” said Jeffrey Wilson A heat treatment is performed to safely package wood used or reused for pallets it can pose a risk of "introducing non-native pest and pathogens to new environments," CBP officials said Officials believe the heat treatment process was not done properly even though the wood was marked to have been treated The Asian Long Horned Beetle is a destructive invasive species that threatens our forests and urban landscapes,” said Marty Raybon Invasive insects can pose problems because their pest potential is often underestimated based on circumstances in their native environments This year, at Detroit Metro Airport, agriculture specialists found rare spore spreading seed bugs headed to Ohio on fresh cypress cones brought over for medicinal purposes from Jordan In 2024, 90 Giant African Land snails were seized from a traveler at the airport The traveler brought them from Ghana for consumption but agriculture officials said if released A Lincoln Park woman is facing an open murder charge in connection to the fatal shooting of Vincent Buckles on Jan appeared in court Friday for her arraignment Her bond was set at $2 million and a probable cause conference was scheduled for 9 a.m Florence was previously arrested and released before being arrested again on Wednesday according to the Port Huron Police Department Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force He is also wanted in connection to a 2023 double homicide in Detroit and is facing extradition More news: Michigan State police shoot, kill man during domestic violence call in Port Huron Twp. Port Huron Assistant Police Chief Jeremy Young declined to state details on Florence's alleged role in Buckles death saying he was waiting for the other defendant to be extradited Buckles was found dead on the 2500 block of Vanness Street just after 12:30 a.m A car fire that was reported minutes before he was found is believed to be connected to his death Open murder is punishable with up to life in prison McLaren Port Huron hospital has launched online scheduling for patients seeking non-life-threatening emergency care in the hospital’s ER Patients looking to minimize their wait time in the ER can visit mclaren.org/porthuron to view all available upcoming treatment times and register for a time that fits their schedule “Online registration provides patients with a great option for patients to plan and organize their care for less severe conditions such as intense coughs or acute orthopedic injuries,” said Dr “This is certainly not a replacement for calling 911 and the timely potentially lifesaving care provide by EMTs though making this capability available to our patients can give them more control in their care and support a more comfortable and convenient experience enhancing the likelihood they will seek the care they need when they need it.” More news: Port Huron to spend $20 million on housing, roads between McLaren and SC4 Online check-ins are not a replacement for calling 911 in a life-threatening medical emergency All online check-ins are evaluated by staff for symptoms that may indicate a severe condition Patients experiencing a potentially serious emergency are contacted directly and advised to call 911 or to go to their nearest emergency department a major injury or a trauma associated with loss of consciousness The McLaren Port Huron emergency department is the only nationally verified trauma center in St The hospital has further earned advanced accreditations certifying that its providers can care for patients experiencing the most serious of medical emergencies This includes its designation as the area’s only primary stroke center and operating an advanced To view the current waiting time for the emergency department at McLaren Port Huron or to check-in online, visit mclaren.org/porthuron After 31 years working for the city of Port Huron Deputy City Manager Nancy Winzer announced she was ready to move on "Today is bittersweet to stand here before you guys for my last time at the podium the conclusion of 31 years with this great city of Port Huron," Winzer said at Monday's city council meeting Winzer graduated from Central Michigan University in 1992 with a degree in recreation administration She briefly worked for the YMCA before being hired by the city In 2004 she obtained her master's degree in public administration Winzer has spent her career working for Port Huron's Parks and Recreation Department During her three decades with the department Winzer oversaw the revitalization of Port Huron's parks She was promoted to deputy city manager in 2023 Winzer took time to celebrate the city's employees both those she oversaw and those outside her department More: New children's museum provides year-round play space for children in downtown Port Huron "These people love this city," Winzer said they're trying to deal with people's problems all the time and they do it with a smile." who helped over the years with everything from picking up trash in parks to cleaning public pools who was the city's special projects coordinator succeeded Winzer as deputy city manager upon her retirement City Manager James Freed thanked Winzer for her years of service to the city nobody would miss me because I knew I had Nancy and Cynthia there to run the city," Freed said Mayor Anita Ashford also expressed her appreciation for Winzer at Monday's city council meeting "We'd like to thank you for all your 31 years of what you've given to the city," Ashford said and we all just appreciate everything you did to help make Port Huron what it is today," A public reception for Winzer will be held from 5 to 7 p.m The city of Port Huron is informing residents of a clerical error found in the recent assessment notices mailed out assessed and State Equalized Values on the notices are correct there is an error in the sentence that describes the estimated impact on the 2025 tax bill The city will be sending new assessment notices to all affected residents The notice currently states: “The change in taxable value will increase/decrease your tax bill for the 2025 year by approximately __.” While the exact tax impact varies for each resident the decimal placement in the current notice is incorrect according to a press release from the city The intended message should reflect a much smaller change If a resident’s estimated increase was listed as $1,500 "We apologize for the confusion and appreciate residents’ patience as we address this issue," the city said "We understand this error has caused concern and we sincerely apologize for any confusion." Residents with questions can contact the City Assessor’s Office at 810-984-9742 Port Huron's City Council arrived at Monday's meeting with competing resolutions that would have asked councilors to pick a side in a recent conflict between the city's mayor and the city manager would have censured City Manager James Freed for walking out of the city council meeting on Feb 10 after criticizing Ashford for her treatment of a city employee The second resolution was brought by Councilman Jeffrey Pemberton and would have expressed the council's support for Freed and the improvements to the city in his 10 years as city manager After nearly two hours of public comment and discussion amongst the council itself the council voted unanimously to withdraw both motions "One of the things that's most disheartening to me tonight is the notion that somehow Mayor Ashford and I don't get along or that I don't respect Mayor Ashford," Freed said "I've worked with Mayor Ashford now for almost 11 years I've found Mayor Ashford to be a good person She has picked me up at my office and taken me around the city to show me stuff before." Ashford attempted to walk back a vote on two items on the list but was told by both the city clerk and Freed it was too late At the end of the meeting Freed defended City Clerk Cyndee Jonseck accusing Ashford of blaming Jonseck to cover up her own lack of preparation about how some people feel they need to answer everything because they're not fully grown Ashford said Freed displayed "unprofessional and disrespectful behavior" toward her and accused him of violating meeting rules by repeatedly interrupting her and leaving the council meeting before it was adjourned Pemberton introduced his own resolution expressing the city council's support for Freed In the resolution Pemberton said that in Freed's time as city manager Port Huron had seen a decrease in unemployment and crime and that Freed had received positive marks during his reviews by the city council that's implying one thing," Pemberton said "It's implying what is a resolution of support and so I think it's important that we not just take a vote to censure Mr During public comment multiple speakers expressed frustration with the conflict between Freed and Ashford saying it was distracting from more important issues Vicki Blackburn said she did not like public speaking as she stood before the council but she wanted the council to know the conflict was difficult because she supported both Ashford and Freed "I don't know what's going on behind the scenes but I would like it to please stop," Blackburn said Several attendees to the meeting responded to her statements with applause Some speakers also criticized Freed for interrupting Ashford during the previous meeting "I'm speaking up for our mayor who was elected by the city and because I think she was disrespected by being overspoken when she was asking Mr He began to speak anyway," Cynthia Bankston said After public comment Councilwoman Sherry Archibald said she would not vote for either resolution I do not believe that is the appropriate action," Archibald said to those in the audience "I also believe it opens all of us up to a lawsuit I also don't believe we need a resolution to say we support James Freed as the city manager he will know it and eventually so will you." Archibald said she was concerned the resolution could lead to a lawsuit because it accuses Freed of breaching his contract with the city without offering any proof you’re opening yourself up to a lawsuit by asserting wrongdoing without any evidence," Archibald said Councilwoman Barbara Payton suggested withdrawing both resolutions from the agenda In a statement to the Times Herald she said the conflict was "embarrassing." Ashford said at the meeting she wasn't trying to express support or opposition to Freed but instead was responding to Freed's behavior and that she had a duty to take corrective action "You don't walk out on your public or your council," Ashford said The last thing I want to do is divide our city." Pemberton said he was glad the censure of Freed did not go forward and said he decided to withdraw his own resolution after hearing his fellow city council member's concerns but was concerned that she introduced the resolution to censure Freed knowing it was unlikely to pass that's public humiliation," Pemberton said Archibald and Freed said there had been a lack of communication between Ashford and the rest of the city council Payton said she had spoken to Ashford three times outside of meetings since taking office but felt recent events showed a greater need for communication "I've reached out to both the city manager and the mayor more professional communication moving forward," Payton said Pemberton said he was also reaching out to Ashford to set up a meeting Ashford was unavailable for additional comment stating her schedule Tuesday was too busy for an interview A woman charged with murder in the death of Vincent Buckles at his home on Jan 28 in Port Huron was bound over to circuit court Thursday after a two-day preliminary examination is not accused of firing the gun that killed Buckles District Court Judge Mona Armstrong ruled there was sufficient evidence to show she knew the likely outcome when she allegedly led her co-defendant "It's very clearly reasonably inferred from these facts that there was a conspiracy," Armstrong said Testimony from the officers who investigated Florence and Drake revealed new details about the investigation Police were called to Buckles' home on Vanness Street at around 12:30 a.m shortly after a car fire a few blocks away had been reported Buckles had been shot and killed after someone had attempted to force entry into his home An autopsy report confirmed he was shot seven times Related: Port Huron Police identify second suspect in January fatal shooting Related: GoFundMe page set up for family of victim in Vanness Street shooting Members of Port Huron Police Department's Major Crimes Unit testified that during the investigation they learned Florence and Buckles had a child together and she had filed a complaint against Buckles on Jan No court records exist indicating Buckles was charged in connection to the complaint Florence reportedly went to the police department to get a copy of the police report on Jan according to testimony from Border Patrol Special Investigator Anthony Clyne a Port Huron resident who was driving on Vanness Street the night of the shooting Police obtained security footage from local residents and businesses that show Buckles was at a party store near the intersection of 24th and Dove streets an hour before the 911 call reporting the shooting Buckles was seen leaving in a silver car with a woman who appeared to be in her 70s pulled into the store parking lot with a black Ford Explorer Police later confirmed the Explorer was the car burnt in a fire near Buckles' residence The investigation determined the fire was set intentionally The car had been reported stolen weeks earlier in Detroit Security footage also caught a woman later identified as Florence with Drake Drake was seen in video to have two handguns in his possession in a video presented during the second day of the hearing by the prosecution Florence and Drake reportedly drove to a marijuana shop in Mt Drake called a Lyft driver who came to pick him up He was later found to have travelled to Georgia More news: Son arraigned in father's fatal shooting in St. Clair Township A search warrant was issued for Florence's home and she was arrested on Feb Police found a coat matching the one she was seen wearing in security video Wilczak also said the red Jeep Patriot was also parked at her residence Port Huron Officer Kevin Dombek testified that he found bleach one of which had a stain he said he suspected was blood The boots were sent to Michigan State Police for testing Detective James Campbell with the Port Huron Police Department said Florence appeared to be afraid of Drake when he questioned her telling the court he told her "Now you see how dangerous he is." He said she seemed wary that anything she said could become public record and be discovered by Drake Florence reportedly admitted to meeting with Drake at a church a few blocks from Buckles' home she requested to speak with Campbell again and was brought back to the Port Huron Police Department after making clear she understood she did not have to speak to police and was doing so willingly Campbell testified that Florence admitted to setting up the confrontation but told him Drake alone had killed Buckles She reportedly said the plan was only to scare him and that she had not expected for Buckles to die Florence reportedly met Drake through mutual contacts she had made while working to help reform former gang members Clair County Senior Assistant Prosecutor Amy Goodrich asked to add two additional charges against Florence: fourth-degree arson and felony firearm use Goodrich said that while there was no indication Florence shot Buckles she knew Drake had guns and that the incident could result in his death More area news: Richmond man sentenced after pleading no contest to cruelty to an animal Clair County public defender Joseph Kanan argued the evidence was insufficient to bind Florence over He said there was no indication she was present when Buckles died He also said the prosecution had found no evidence showing the bullets that killed Buckles came from a gun belonging to either Florence or Drake and that there was no evidence showing she had used the bleach or other supplies found in her car except maybe her presence (in the area)," Kanan said saying the evidence showed Florence and Drake had meticulously planned the incident including having a stolen car ready they hoped couldn't be traced to them and supplies to burn it Armstrong also revoked bond as an option in the case Her bond had previously been set at $2 million No date has been set for Florence's first appearance in circuit court Crews will be out filling potholes today in Port Huron City Manager James Freed said several teams will be out today on approved overtime "We honestly can’t wait for weekday traffic flows," he said in a message to council and I want to make sure we make every effort to protects residents’ vehicles we ask residents to slow down to protect our hard working folks in the roadways It’s one of the most dangerous jobs in Michigan so together let’s make sure they make it home safely to their families." 1/25Protesters support US - Canada relations, decry Trump administration at Hart Plaza in Detroit .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Justin Engel | jengel@mlive.com Jacob Hamilton | jhamilt3@mlive.comPORT HURON hundreds of Michiganders gathered at the lakeside with hopes to warm up a cooling friendship with neighboring Canada Americans and Canadians alike stood along lakeside parks holding protest signs and flags from both countries while cheering on each other from across the water Some Michigan-based participants arrived after hours-long drives to join the rallies and express their deepening displeasure with the president’s policies a Marquette resident and a member of the group that helped coordinate the three-pronged demonstration she was born in Port Huron but spent plenty of her 67 years in Canada She spent Saturday in the U.S.; in her hometown where she gathered with other like-minded protesters in Port Huron’s International Flag Plaza “When you want to do something like this and you get support for those ideas “You come together out of frustration and angst and shame when you sit in that circle with people who feel the same way you end up building a positive force that really It allows you to have some joy amongst the angst.” The source of that “angst” began to brew earlier this year when Trump first threatened to impose tariffs on Canada one of the U.S.’s primary international trade allies particularly for Michigan-based industries Fitzgerald said her discomfort with Trump’s rhetoric grew as the president made good on some of his trade threats while suggesting Canada should serve as the 51st state of the U.S Some of those same actions spurred earlier protests across the nation in recent weeks including in late March at the Ambassador Bridge Fitzgerald said a Marquette-based group that began organizing via the Facebook group were inspired by the showing and decided to coordinate a super-sized version this weekend The result: The three-tiered protest that included the Ambassador Bridge the International Bridge that connects the twin cities of Sault Ste and the Blue Water Bridge between Port Huron and Sarnia The effort involved Fitzgerald and her friends coordinating with other groups and trade unions to rally participants beginning at 1 p.m about 300 people gathered beneath the Blue Water Bridge and that’s going to kill our jobs,” Chadwick said Another Greenville resident at the Port Huron rally was Susan Hansen aiming their voices in the direction of the Canadian protesters across the bridge “It’s very disturbing to see how our government is treating our Canadian friends,” Hansen said “I felt very strongly that I needed to be here today.” Protesters gather beneath Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron on Saturday The group opposed policies from President Donald Trump's administration.The Saginaw News/MLive.com The protests came three days before the Canadian elections, which experts said could be significantly influenced by the trade dispute with the U.S Trump’s trade war and attacks led Canadians to cancel trips to the U.S And it might have contributed to record early voting with 7.3 million Canadians casting ballots before election day on Monday Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney last month said Canada’s “old relationship” with the United States “is over.” “It is clear that the United States is no longer a reliable partner,” Carney said last month We will need to dramatically reduce our reliance on the United States We will need to pivot our trade relationships elsewhere.” The significance of the bridges extends beyond the trade dispute brewing between the U.S The crossings also have served as a setting for Trump’s policies cracking down on immigration laws At the Detroit rally in Hart Plaza on Saturday about 200 people gathered as the protests began at 1 p.m a United Auto Workers member in attendance there a former chapter vice president of the Canadian trade union The letter expressed concern over the effect of broad tariffs on Ontario’s auto industry “Tariffs intrinsically pit workers in one country against workers in another country,” Jones said “If Trump’s auto tariffs were to end the sale of vehicles built in Canada in the U.S. every Canadian auto assembly plant will be closed … much of southern Ontario will become an economic wasteland.” “We need strike actions to fight back against Trump’s attack on public sector unions abductions of campus union activists and budget cuts,” Prozinski added said she made the trip down to the Detroit riverfront to speak out against “fascism” while supporting her friends across the river in Windsor “I have a lot of Canadian friends; if (Trump) tries to break us up so they already hated him before they went over there They’re pretty happy to be there and not here right now.” who Dereski and other activists have argued were carelessly and mistakenly deported by U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement under orders from the Trump administration “I think it’s probably one of the most heinous things we could be doing,” Dereski said “People have come to America for protection They’ve been just snatched and taken away.” Other participants in the Detroit crowd were city council candidate Chantel Watkins and a member of the Ojibwe tribe from Sault Ste He performed a traditional Ojibwe dance for the crowd A Port Huron sign informs motorists about their proximity to Blue Water Bridge a crossing into Canada.The Saginaw News/MLive.com Click here to follow MLive’s complete coverage of President Trump’s impact on Michigan Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices Port Huron has received a $16.5 million tax credit to fund a new housing development from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority City Manager James Freed announced the award in an email Friday saying it would go toward the Lincoln Avenue Loft Project across from Port Huron McLaren The project will develop 40 housing units designed to be affordable to individuals who are employed but have struggled to save enough to buy a house in the current market Related: Michigan State Housing Development Authority OKs $19M loan for affordable housing in Port Huron "Adding more workforce housing in Port Huron is a strategic investment that will yield significant benefits for our community," Freed said The property for the project includes land owned by McLaren and land the city bought with funds frim the American Rescue Plan Act has the parcels under an agreement with the city and McLaren Freed has made developing workforce housing a priority for the city as rising home prices have made it harder to find affordable housing in the city Freed said the project is also intended to revitalize the area near the corner of Erie and Rawlins Street "Community Revitalization: By investing in workforce housing we can revitalize underutilized properties and transform them into productive spaces," Freed said More news: Shelter sets out extra beds for Port Huron's homeless facing frigid temperatures Port Huron has made arrangements to break the ice on the Black River in the upcoming week Beginning 9 a.m. Monday, Purdy Fisheries, a commercial fishing company in Sarnia, will be using its vessel to break the ice in the river from the mouth of Black River to the I-94 Bridge. The Port Huron Fire Department announced the icebreaking in a news release Friday Drivers should expect the bridges on Military Street Seventh Street and 10th Street to be raised multiple times throughout the week The duration of icebreaking activities is currently undetermined due to ice thickness More news: Black River Canal work paused due to funding issues The news release states the city is breaking the ice to reduce the risk of a flood in the spring Residents are asked to not engage in any recreational activities on the river during the week either on the ice or water once the ice is broken "Property owners in low-lying or flood prone areas should use this opportunity to removevaluables from vulnerable areas," the news release states The Great Lakes Maritime Center along the St vice president of operations at Acheson Ventures which owns the property Wednesday and is expected to be completed Thursday "We made a company decision to bring down the maritime center its been closed for more than a year now," he said had also been broken into and had fallen into disrepair More: Take a peek at the Maritime Center artifacts finding a new home at the Port Huron Museum "We just made a decision it will be safer for everyone to bring it down," he added It is also on a 3-acre parcel that has been listed for sale by Acheson Venture for several years DeLong said clearing the parcel of a dilapidated building may also make it more appealing to developers He said there are no pending sales of the about 14 total acres of property along the St Port Huron City Manager James Freed said the city does not own the property and was not involved with the decision to raze the maritime center The center was a longtime spot for freighter watchers to stop by grab a bite to eat and take in the scenic view “The Maritime Center will be closed and not reopening in the spring. We always closed for the winter, but we have made another decision. Out attendance is way down," DeLong said in October 2023 The Saturday market was a feeder into the Maritime Center it’s hard to keep the Maritime Center open.” (WXYZ) — Two suspects have been arrested in connection to the homicide of a Port Huron man Vincent "Vinny" Buckles, 35, was shot multiple times on Jan. 28. Family previously told 7 News Detroit that Buckles' oldest daughter was hiding as he was being attacked Watch our January story when we spoke with Vinny Buckles' family below: they said she hid in the closet," Buckles' aunt Karen Mitchell previously told us Port Huron police say just after midnight on Jan. 28, they responded to a vehicle on fire that they suspect was arson. Then about 20 minutes later just down the block, they were dispatched to Buckles' shooting on Vanness Street Police believe the two incidents are connected Watch our previous coverage about the two incidents in the video player below: A 22-year-old man was arrested Wednesday near Atlanta Police said an extensive investigation involving the Port Huron Major Crimes Unit led to the arrest Authorities are working to extradite him to Michigan Police also said he has an outstanding felony warrant for a double homicide that happened in December 2023 Port Huron's Major Crimes Unit also arrested a 36-year-old woman who they say was previously questioned and released during the beginning of the investigation New evidence further linked her to the homicide Both suspects' name and a motive have not yet been released Several law enforcement agencies have been involved with the investigation Mitchell described her nephew as a dedicated father of three who was excited about recently getting custody of the daughter who had to hide for her life that night There’s so many things I could say to describe him Family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses and support his daughters "He was almost like a father figure to me," Buckles' cousin Rashan said "For somebody to do that in front of his daughter is crazy." Port Huron's City Council will look mostly familiar to voters for the next few years Voters reelected two of the three incumbent candidates who ran for city council during Tuesday's election City Council members Sherry Archibald and Teri Lamb will return for another four years Archibald took first place in a crowded field of nine candidates with 4,552 votes Clair County Child Abuse and Neglect Council a non-profit organization which provides services to victims of child abuse who was the second place candidate with 3,701 votes More: How many Port Huron City Council seats are up for grabs in November? Payton has worked as a musician in the Blue Water Area and is executive director of Blue Water Allies Payton has previously said she believes she is one of if not the first openly LGBTQ individual elected to the city council Archibald thanked everyone who supported her on election night She congratulated fellow city council member Anita Ashford on her mayoral victory though she said she would miss working with Pauline Repp "I look forward to working with her and I think she will be a great addition to the city council," Archibald said was not able to make it into the top three to win another four-year term on the city council Mosurak came in fifth place with 2,736 votes just behind fourth place winner Brian Farquhar who garnered 2,940 votes More election: Anita Ashford wins Port Huron mayor race, ending Pauline Repp's 15-year run City Manager James Freed said the city council would be mostly familiar faces He said he knows Payton and looks forward to working with her Ashford's victory in the mayoral race means one city council seat remains open if a seat is vacant the fourth place winner can take it but only if they won at least 25% of the city's vote which no candidate achieved due to the large candidate pool Freed said it will be up to the city council to appoint someone to replace Ashford in the city council Lamb and Mosurak did not respond to a request for comment (WXYZ) — A Port Huron father of three was shot and killed in the early hours of Tuesday morning His family says the act comes as a complete shock and Port Huron police are expected to update the public on this case Thursday Thirty-five-year-old Vincent "Vinny" Buckles was shot multiple times in what police are calling an isolated incident Full story: 'Devastating': Family of Vinny Buckles speaks out after his murder in Port Huron they said she hid in the closet," Buckles' aunt Karen Mitchell said Port Huron police say just after midnight Tuesday they responded to a vehicle on fire that they suspect was arson Then about 20 minutes later just down the block they were dispatched to Buckles' shooting on Vanness Street Police now told 7 News Detroit that they believe the two incidents are connected Buckles' cousin Rashan spoke to 7 News Detroit from Chicago about just how much his cousin meant to him "He was almost like a father figure to me," Rashan said Family from Chicago to metro Detroit feel like they have more questions than answers and their shock as to who could do something so cold and calculated keeps them up at night You can help the family with funeral and burial costs on their fundraiser page police are continuing to investigate and ask anyone with information to call the Port Huron Police Department at 810-984-8415 or the Port Huron Police Department's Major Crimes Unit at 810-984-5383 Anonymous tips can be received by the CAPTURE Hotline 810-987-6688 A 36-year-old woman was taken into custody and later released in connection to a fatal shooting on Vanness Street the Port Huron Police Department said Friday assisted by the DownRiver SWAT and MSP 2nd District Fugitive Apprehension Team executed a search warrant in the Metro Detroit area about 9 p.m Clair County jail before being released pending further investigation When she was released and why was not immediately answered in a follow-up email to the police department found dead of multiple gunshot wounds about 12:31 a.m Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Port Huron Police Department at (810)984-8415 or the Port Huron Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit at (810)984-5383 "Investigators are actively pursuing multiple leads and utilizing every resource available to bring justice to this horrible murder of one of our residents," the department said in an earlier news release "We urge anyone with information to come forward and assist in this investigation." Police have confirmed a juvenile living in the homes with the victim called 911 A GoFundMe has been set up for Buckles' family More than $8,700 had been raised as of Friday afternoon More: GoFundMe page set up for family of victim in Vanness Street shooting held without bond after authorities said they killed her 3-year-old son in 2018 the suspects are the victim's mother and her boyfriend “I could not be prouder of the detectives and prosecutor's office’s hard work and perseverance to get the case to this point,” St Three-year-old Matthew Maison was found dead in his bed on Feb Houle and Houle's parents were immediately interviewed by detectives Maison and Maurice Houle were not arrested until Friday following "significant recent developments," in the case A spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office didn't immediately respond to a message seeking information The child's grandfather and step-grandmother have been pushing local authorities to bring charges in the case according to information posted on the Justice for Matthew Maison Facebook page "If at all possible, we’re asking for just a little grace as we take some time to process and acclimate to the recent developments," Amy Maison posted on the Facebook page "The fight is far from over — this is just the beginning We deeply appreciate each and every one of you in Matthew’s Army Words cannot fully express the enormous support we feel from all of you." Clair County Detention and Intervention Center the suspects' next hearing is slated for 9 a.m First-degree murder is punishable by life in prison without the possibility of parole Court records do not list an attorney for either suspect Matthew's death isn't the first time a Maison family member has been accused of killing a child The Times Herald reported that David's son were convicted in 2018 for the death of Andrew's 5-year-old daughter who weighed just 25 pounds at the time of her death @max_detroitnews CBP initially identified the beetle as an "Asian Longhorn beetle" and have since stated that it has been confirmed to be a "Longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae)." – A highly-invasive wood boring bug was intercepted by U.S Customs and Border Protection in Port Huron It was discovered March 17 by CBP agriculture specialists at a Port Huron railyard According to authorities a live Asian Long Horn beetle was discovered during an inspection of cargo from Romania It’s the first time in three years that the Asian Long Horn beetle has been found in Port Huron Read: Why the Michigan DNR wants you to start checking trees for this invasive beetle The Asian Long Horn beetle is an invasive wood-boring beetle that attacks 12 types of hardwood trees, including maples, elms, horse chestnuts, birches and willows. It doesn’t have any predators or diseases to keep the population down. When it’s in its larval stage, it feeds inside tree trunks and branches during the colder months. It creates tunnels as it feeds and then chews its way out as an adult in the warmer months. Trees that have been infested will not survive. The beetle and larvae were found in wood pallets that were stamped as if they were heat treated, authorities believe the actual heat treatment process was not done properly. The voters of Port Huron have chosen Anita Ashford to become the city's new mayor in an upset victory over incumbent Pauline Repp who will be Port Huron's first Black mayor won the election with 6,005 votes to Repp's 4,965 according to unofficial results early Wednesday morning The result brings an end to Repp's 15-year run as Port Huron's mayor Ashford thanked everyone who turned out to vote in Tuesday's election "I just wholeheartedly want to assure everyone I will do the best to my God-given ability to lead this community with integrity," Ashford said Repp said she was disappointed by the election results and will miss being Port Huron's mayor "I appreciate everyone who supported me over the past 15 years," Repp said Repp was a city clerk before she became Port Huron's mayor in 2009 she cited achievements such as a decrease in the city's poverty and unemployment rates and investing $4 million in improving Port Huron's parks and recreation facilities Ashford has nearly 20 years of experience in city government between her current run as a city council member and her previous experience in the 1990s Her term as a council member had been set to end in 2026 but her election as mayor means the seat will need to be otherwise filled From Tuesday's election: Election Day: Updates from the polls in St. Clair County Ashford said she was responding to voters whom she'd heard wanted to see change in the city She also cited her faith as a motivating factor in choosing to run and said she intended to bring integrity and accountability to the city council Port Huron City Manager James Freed said he was ready to work with Ashford in her new role as Port Huron's mayor She's honest and I look forward to working with her," Freed said Freed said the city has its work cut out for it over the next two years listing a need for the council to address Port Huron's housing shortage and improve its streets to be more pedestrian friendly as priorities He said the city would also have to work out how to protect its downtown businesses while Huron Avenue is undergoing construction in 2026 Ashford will be sworn in as mayor at the city council's next meeting on Nov The Michigan Department of Attorney General is reviewing an investigation into the shooting of a Port Huron Township man by Michigan State Police press secretary for the attorney general's office but said he did not have a timetable for when it would be complete 12 while MSP troopers were responding to a domestic violence call at a residence on Dove Road Police have said a 52-year-old man reportedly exited the residence with a weapon and ignored orders by officers to drop it The man was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead The Michigan State Police Second District Special Investigation Section and Northville MSP Crime Lab investigated the shooting and submitted its report to the attorney general's office Michigan State Police refused to name either the victim or the officer after the incident Wimmer did not respond when asked to provide names of those involved A drug bust by the St. Clair County Drug Task Force has led to the arrest of a 55-year-old man and the seizure of methamphetamine and other substances. The bust occurred on Wednesday (March 5) in the 2700 block of 17th Avenue in Port Huron after 1 p.m. Police said, during the search warrant, which was part of an ongoing investigation, they found 515 grams of methamphetamine, which translates to a value of about $41,000, 6.3 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, a digital scale, packaging material, drug paraphernalia, and a large amount of money. Brandon Carr is a digital content producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with WDIV Local 4 since November 2021. Brandon is the 2015 Solomon Kinloch Humanitarian award recipient for Community Service.