(SANILAC COUNTY) – Five people were involved in a two vehicle accident Saturday morning at the intersection of Cass City Road and Germania Road in Sanilac County’s Greenleaf Township. According to Sanilac County Sheriff Deputies, a minivan driven by a 47-year-old Sterling Heights woman, with three teenage passengers, pulled into the path of a pickup truck driven by a 43-year-old Ubly man. The driver of the van was transported to Hills and Dales Hospital by Sanilac EMS for treatment of her injuries. Deputies said airbags deployed and all subjects reported wearing their seat belts. Alcohol was not a factor in the accident. Deputies were assisted by Bingham-Ubly Fire Rescue.
(HURON COUNTY) – Huron County emergency personnel made at least four water rescues over the weekend, after kyakers got themselves in trouble and could not get back to shore without assistance. A 41-year old Madison Heights man was rescued by bystanders and rescue personnel Saturday morning after capsizing his kayak near Port Austin. A second kayaker was reported in distress further out in the water off the shore of Port Austin. Deputies Port Austin Fire handled two other calls in the Pointe Aux Barques area. One kayaker overturned, but was able to over swim the wind drift to get back in shallow water while another incident involved a small sailboat overturning, with the occupants being rescued by shoreline residents using their watercraft. Sheriff Department officials again warn everyone to use caution when using the waterways around the county.
(TUSCOLA COUNTY) -A 33-year old Cass City woman was sentenced to jail on a conviction of retail fraud and began to serve her sentence at the Tuscola County Jail Friday evening. Once booked into corrections, she began to overdose on an unknown substance and was immediately transported to McLaren Caro Hospital. Investigators say the woman had brought drugs into the jail hidden in a body cavity that went undetected. According to police, the woman is now facing additional charges of smuggling drugs into a correctional facility. Sheriff Department officials say the drug problem throughout the county is shwoing an increase in recent months.
(ST. CLAIR COUNTY) – Authorities say two boys, ages 13 and 10 have died following an accident when the go-kart they were riding on was hit by a vehicle in St. Clair County’s Kenockee Township. The St. Clair County sheriff’s department says the boys were riding the cart Thursday night near the intersection of Fargo and Beard Roads in Kenockee Township, when they were struck. They were taken to McLaren Port Huron where authorities say the older boy was pronounced dead. The younger boy died a few days after the accident. The sheriff’s office says a preliminary investigation determined the boys, who were cousins, ran a stop sign at the intersection before being hit by a westbound vehicle. The crash remains under investigation.
(SANILAC COUNTY) – The Coast Guard, assisted by the Sanilac County Sheriff’s Office, rescued two Port Sanilac men from their overturned vessel last week, after a woman reported her father and his friend missing. Late Thursday, a Sanailac County sheriff deputy discovered the missing men’s vehicle and empty boat trailer. The Coast Guard began searching with boats and a helicopter from theier Detroit base, along with a patrol boat from the Sheriff Department. After searching for several hours and receiving further information, a Coast Guard helicopter found the men around 2:30 a.m., sitting on the 18-foot vessel’s hull in life-jackets. 69-year-old Dennis Pluff and 68-year-old David Varian were rescued 14 miles northeast of the Port Sanilac Harbor. Both men were treated for hypothermia after being in the water for 17 hours, with Pluff transported to Port Huron McLaren Hospital for further treatment.
(ST. CLAIR COUNTY) -Two people were arrested and $50,000 of cocaine and guns were among the items seized following an investigation by the St. Clair County Sheriff Drug Task Force last week. Officers conducted a traffic stop in the area of Gratiot and Macdonald in Fort Gratiot Wednesday, according to a press release. A subsequent search was executed in the 4000 block of Lakshore Road, where $50,000 a large amount of drugs, weapons including an AR-15 rifle, a large amount of cash, two vehicles and two drug presses were seized. A 51-year-old woman, and a 28 year old man both of Fort Gratiot, were arrested. Both are facing multiple drug charges and possession of firearms in the commission of a felony.
(TUSCOLA COUNTY) – Michigan’s Governor has appointed Cass City attorney Jason Bitzer to serve as Judge of the 71-B District Court in Tuscola County. Bitzer, age 38, is a graduate of Caro High School, Eastern Michigan University, and Thomas M. Cooley Law School. The announcement came in a press release earlier this week. Bitzer, who lives in Cass City with his family, has been in private practice with Biddinger & Bitzer since 2008. He will serve the remaining time of recently retired Judge Kim David Glaspie which expires January 1st, 2021. Bitzer will run as the incumbent for election in the 2020 election for the next six year term.
(HURON COUNTY) – The Michigan Department of Transportation will be doing resurfacing work on M-25 and M-53 starting Aug. 5 in Huron and Sanilac counties, according to as press release. Work includes resurfacing 13 miles of M-25 and M-53, including joint repairs and resurfacing of the M-53 and the M-46 intersection. Work will take place on M-25 from Canboro Road to Stein Road and on M-53 from M-46 to Severance Road. The nearly $2 million dollar project is expected to be completed in early October and will effect the communities of Marlette, Kingston, Deford and Sebewaing.
(HURON COUNTY) – Those traveling north of Bad Axe are keeping a close eye on the progress of new construction happening new the intersection of M-53 and M-142 in Colfax Township. Crews are getting closer to the opening of the new Meijer’s store, as wall’s are being built and a gas station, in the front of the property, is nearing completion and expected to be open sometime this fall. Depending on weather conditions, construction crews intend to have the main part of the new business enclosed before winter sets in and be ready to open for business next spring.
(ST. CLAIR COUNTY) – State environmental officials are fining an eastern Michigan factory after a yearlong investigation into air pollution violation. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy says Mueller Brass has agreed to pay about $60,000 over violations at its Port Huron location. Violations included not properly maintaining equipment used for controlling particulate emissions. The state’s investigation began in April 2018 after an air monitoring station recorded elevated lead levels and officials identified Mueller Brass as a possible source.
