Huron Township Aug. 4 primary election round-up

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By Scott Bolthouse | The Huron Hub
ScottBolthouse@HuronHub.com
Posted Aug. 3, 2020

Tuesday, Aug. 4 is the primary election in Michigan.

In-person voting will be available in every jurisdiction. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voters using the absentee ballot method to vote have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to complete the ballot and return it to the clerk’s office.

Your ballot will not be counted unless your signature is on the outside of the return envelope and matches your signature on file.

In Huron Township, the main bout on the ballot is six Republican candidates for township trustee competing for four places in the Nov. 3 general election.

Incumbents Angie Cady, John Chont, Michael Glaab and David Patterson are being challenged by Walter Irodenko and Bernie Yoscovits.

Also on the ballot in Huron is the fire department millage request.

The millage hopes to raise $527,820 in revenue to improve fire services through a proposed 20-year tax increase of 96 cents per $1,000 of taxable property valuation.

Huron Township public safety officials say the additional revenue will be used to upgrade equipment, make building improvements, and purchase fire response vehicles such as fire trucks.

The Secretary of State’s Michigan voting information website has a lot of useful information for voters.

You can view you sample ballot for the Aug. 4 election at this link.

Here is Huron Township’s election information website.

Letter to editor: Huron Education Association makes statement on fall return to school

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Letter to the editor submitted Aug. 3, 2020

By Huron Education Association

As teachers, we want to be face to face with our students. We would LOVE to be able to go back to school, with a normal experience, if that were a possibility at this time. Unfortunately, so far, we do not know what school is going to look like in the fall, if we end up being physically back in the buildings. The one thing that we do know for sure is that it will look VERY different from a typical school day.

Many teachers have been approached by parents during the past few weeks about what school will look like in the fall. Parents want to make informed decisions, and many parents have told us that they feel that the information provided by the district was not specific enough or detailed enough to help them make the decision as to whether their child should go online or attend face to face.

A lot of parents have referenced the letter from the district, which says “It is clear that the majority of our parents and staff prefer some sort of face-to-face, in-person learning model.” Although it is true that our teachers all want to get back to normal, we did not have a majority of teachers who felt, based on the information provided by the district, that we could do it safely.

Many parents have questions about what the physical layout of classrooms will be in the coming year, how much time students would spend in each subject, how much students would be confined to their desks, and how much students will be allowed to interact with each other (group work, elementary stations, etc.).

For elementary students, what will recess look like, will they be able to have the group work, stations, and carpet time, or will they be asked to remain still and separated from one another?

For junior high and high school, how long will classes be, and how will passing time be managed, with students moving through the halls? What about vocational classes, which involve students not just moving between classes, but back and forth to other schools?

Just as we are all asked to socially distance in our everyday, adult interactions, students will be asked to maintain distance, in a way that they have not traditionally had to do.

Others have expressed concerns about the cleaning routines in the buildings, passing times, what lunch will look like, what bus runs will be like, and what will happen if a student has symptoms of COVID at any point during school.

If your child has special needs, how will those needs be met?

We suggest that you reach out to the district and school board for the information that has not yet been provided, so that you can make the best decision for your children. You have the right to specific details, in order to make the best decision for your children’s future.

If you have questions, we suggest asking direct, specific questions. The following contact information is directly from the Huron School District website:

Donovan Rowe, Superintendent:
Email: rowed@huronschools.org
Phone: (734) 782-2441 ext. 1120

Huron High School
Stephen Hudock, Principal
Email: hudocks@huronschools.org
Megan O’Brien, Assistant Principal
Email: obrienm@huronschools.org

Renton Jr. High School
Kurt Mrocko, Principal
Email: mrockok@huronschools.org
Jason Gomez, Assistant Principal
Email: gomezj@huronschools.org

Brown Elementary
Carrie Fisher, Principal
Email: fisherc@huronschools.org

Miller Elementary
Jean Gilbert, Principal
Email: gilbertj@huronschools.org

School Board
President: Jack Richert
Email: jackrichert@specialtree.com
Vice President: Trena Szawara
Email: szawarat@huronschools.org
Treasurer: Alice Whited
Email: whiteda@huronschools.org
Secretary: Scott Ferguson
Email: fergusons@huronschools.org
Trustee: Dana Town
Email: townd@huronschools.org
Trustee: Nathan Cornwall
Email: cornwalln@huronschools.org
Trustee: Cory Roupe
Email: roupec@huronschools.org

The Huron Hub accepts letters to the editor from all points of view. Submit your letter to ScottBolthouse@huronhub.com or through the contact page at HuronHub.com. 

Huron firefighter commended for responding to house fire in Ash Township while off-duty

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By Scott Bolthouse | The Huron Hub
ScottBolthouse@HuronHub.com
Posted Aug. 3, 2020

A Huron Township firefighter was commended recently for responding to a house fire while driving off-duty through Ash Township.

Firefighter Chris Ciersezwski was driving on Sigler Road in Ash Township on May 5 when he noticed a chair was on fire on the front porch of a house with people inside.

Even though Ciersezwski was off-duty and outside his jurisdiction, he still took action and responded to the fire, which had been burning unnoticed by the residents.

Ciersezwski evacuated the residents and began to fight the fire, which had spread throughout the house, according to a letter of commendation from Everette Robbins, Huron director of public safety.

Ciersezwski was fighting the fire without his regular department equipment.

He then contacted Monroe County Emergency Dispatch and relayed information to them regarding the fire.

Ciersezwski was also commended by Fire Chief James Hinojosa and Deputy Fire Chief Bill Metzger for his brave actions.

You can read the full letter of commendation for Chris Ciersezwski at this link.

 

Police identify man they say is wanted in connection with July 27 break-ins

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Huron Township Police say the man seen in this photo has been identified following an alleged break-in and other suspicious activity that occurred in Huron Township on July 27. Detectives are currently working on locating the suspect. Photo courtesy of Huron Township Public Safety.

By Scott Bolthouse | The Huron Hub
ScottBolthouse@HuronHub.com
July 31, 2020

Police have identified a man they allege is connected to break-ins that occurred in Huron Township on July 27.

According to police, it is not the first time the suspect has victimized the Huron Township community, and they are currently working on locating him.

On July 27 at 2:45 p.m., police responded to the 22600 block of Rust Road for a break-in.

A resident in the area called 911 to report that the front door of a neighbor’s house looked forced open.

He told dispatch that the door remained open and he was unsure if anyone was inside the house.

When police arrived, they searched the house but did not locate anyone inside.

The police department K9 unit responded and assisted with a search for suspects still in the area, along with the Huron Township Detective Bureau and Evidence Technician Unit.

The homeowners reported a handgun was missing from the house but no other property was reported missing. No vehicles or suspects were observed during the incident.

At the same time police were investigating the Rust Road break-in, 911 received a call from the 20200 block of Middle Belt Road for a report of a home invasion of an occupied house.

The homeowner reported that he arrived home and observed a red older Dodge Ram truck parked behind his house

The homeowner told police he then saw a man inside his house.

A verbal confrontation occurred, and the suspect fled the house northbound on Middle Belt Road.

The homeowners reported jewelry missing from inside.

Later the same day at 7:25 p.m., a resident reported suspicious activity at his house located in the 27100 block of Rust Road.

The resident reported that at 11:35 a.m., a suspicious man and his vehicle were captured on the surveillance camera at his house. (photos below)

The suspect seen on footage knocked on the door of the house but did not make entry inside.

“We believe all of these incidents are related. Fortunately, we have been able to identify this individual and are attempting to locate him. The unfortunate part is that this is not the first time he has victimized our community. In the summer of 2014, we located, arrested, and charged this individual after he did multiple home invasions here in Huron Township. He was released on parole after doing only a fourth of the time he was sentenced to and is out and back at it again,” said Everette Robbins, director of public safety.

“The community has our word that we are working hard and using multiple resources to locate this individual. Truth be told, we are angry that he has been given the ability to victimize our residents again unnecessarily. Our Detective Bureau has worked tirelessly to put this investigation together and did a terrific job identifying him once again. We are asking our residents to come together, watch out for each other, and report anything suspicious to us immediately. If you wonder if you should call, please do. Again, please keep a look out for the vehicles we described, but also be aware he could have access to other vehicles. A common method is for thieves to knock on a door to see if someone is home. If this happens to you, even if they do not attempt entry, call us via 911 immediately.”

 

Public Safety Department collecting new school supplies during “Stuff the Bus” event

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Posted by Scott Bolthouse | The Huron Hub| July 31, 2020

The Huron Township Department of Public Safety is partnering with local schools and community groups to collect new school supplies for the upcoming school year during their annual “Stuff the Bus” initiative.

The Huron School District, Summit Academy Schools, Huron Township Rotary, Willow United Methodist Church and Huron Township Goodfellows are joining forces with the department for the school supply drive.

New school supplies, backpacks, child-size face masks, hand sanitizer, washable markers, and small denomination gift cards to Target, Meijer, or Walmart are needed to assist local families in need.

Anyone interested in dropping off donations can do so at the Huron Township Police
Department, 36500 S. Huron Rd. New Boston, beginning Aug. 3. Drop-offs will be accepted from 8 a.m to 10 p.m.

“Even as an adult, I still remember the feeling of going to the first day of school with my new clothes, backpack, and school supplies. Unfortunately, some kids who go to school in our community never get to experience that feeling. My favorite part of this job is having a platform to help kids in my community that can use it,” said Everette Robbins, director of public safety.

“I have seen first-hand the generosity of this community, especially when it comes to our children through the shop with a hero Christmas Program. I am hoping that we can all come together to stuff the busses. All the collected items will be given to kids who show up the first week of school without the things they need. I am excited to see what this community can do. I want to thank all of our community partners for the support. We always get immediate support from Superintendent Rowe and Superintendent Hedke and they are as excited about this initiative as we are. The busses are here, and we are ready to go.”

 

Whitmer restricts indoor gatherings to 10 people, closes bars for indoor service statewide

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Posted by The Huron Hub | July 29, 2020

Governor Whitmer today signed Executive Order 2020-160 and Executive Order 2020-161, amending Michigan’s Safe Start Order and issuing revised workplace safeguards.

Under the Safe Start Order, starting July 31, 2020, statewide indoor gatherings will be limited to 10 people and bars will be closed for indoor service across the state, including in Regions 6 and 8.

“As we see COVID-19 cases continue to rise, Michiganders cannot afford to drop our guard. We must take every step possible to saave lives, protect the brave men and women on the front lines, and avoid overwhelming our healthcare system while we continue to combat COVID-19,” said Governor Whitmer. “After seeing a resurgence in cases connected to social gatherings across the state, we must further limit gatherings for the health of our community and economy. By taking these strong actions, we will be better positioned to get our children back into classrooms and avoid a potentially devastating second wave.”

Officials say COVID-19’s resurgence is closely associated with super-spreading events at large social gatherings, often attended by young people.

An outbreak at a Lansing bar has resulted in 187 infections; more than 50 cases have been linked to a single house party in Saline; and a sandbar party at Torch Lake over the July 4 weekend led to at least 43 confirmed cases.

Executive Order 2020-160 limits statewide indoor gatherings to 10 people or less and, across most of the state, limits outdoor gatherings to 100. (The outdoor gathering limits will remain at 250 in Regions 6 and 8.)

Executive Order 2020-160 also orders that bars in every region, including those in regions 6 and 8, must close for indoor service if they earn more than 70% of their gross receipts from sales of alcoholic beverages.

Under the governor’s orders, Detroit casinos will also be allowed to open on August 5, but their occupancy will be limited to 15% capacity.

Casinos must also, among other things, conduct a daily entry screening protocol for customers and employees, temperature screening. Casinos must require patrons to wear a face covering, except while eating or drinking or for identification purposes.

Executive Order 2020-160 will rescind Executive Orders 2020-110, 2020-115, 2020-120, 2020-133, and 2020-143.

 

Huron Rotary donation allows Huron School District to purchase 22 hand sanitizer stations

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Posted by The Huron Hub | July 28, 2020

The Huron Township Rotary Club donated funding to the Huron School Board allowing the district to purchase 22 hand sanitizer stations needed for school buildings.

Melanie Shepler, president of the Rotary, presented the donation to the board recently.

Michigan Department of Agriculture issues advisory regarding unsolicited packages of seeds from China

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Seeds

Photo courtesy of Washington State Department of Agriculture

Posted by Scott Bolthouse | The Huron Hub| July 28, 2020

The Michigan Department of Agriculture issued an alert Monday warning residents of invasive and dangerous seeds being sent to people of the USA from China.

“Across the United States, people have been reporting receiving unsolicited packages containing seeds from China in the mail,” the department said in a media release.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is warning residents who receive these packages not to open or plant the seeds.

The seeds are usually sent in white packages displaying Chinese lettering and the words “China Post.”

Most recipients say they did not order anything, and that the packaging was labeled as jewelry.

Seeds

Some recipients have reported ordering seeds on Amazon and receiving these seeds.

“If you receive unsolicited seeds from another country, do not plant them. If they are in sealed packaging, do not open the package,” said Mike Philip, director of MDARD’s Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division. “We don’t know what type of seeds are in the packages, but we do know they come in a variety of sizes and colors, with some reported to be very tiny. These unsolicited seeds could be invasive, introduce diseases to local plants, or be harmful to livestock.”

The packages may be a part of a “brushing” scam. A brushing scam is an exploit by a vendor used to bolster product ratings and increase visibility online by shipping an inexpensive product to an unwitting receiver and then submitting positive reviews on the receiver’s behalf under the guise of a verified owner.

“If planted, these unknown and potentially invasive species could have a very negative impact on the environment. Additionally, we’re asking people not to throw the seeds or packages away or dispose of them,” added Philip. “MDARD appreciates the cooperation of Michiganders who receive these packages as we work together to protect Michigan agriculture.”

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service’s Plant Protection and Quarantine Smuggling, Interdiction and Trade Compliance Unit is currently investigating this situation across the nation.

If you receive an unsolicited package of seeds from China, hold on to the seeds, packaging and mailing label, and contact MDARD’s Customer Service Center, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., at 800-292-3939 or via MDA-Info@michigan.gov.

For more information on MDARD’s Pesticide and Plant Pesticide Management Division, visit www.michigan.gov/mdard.

 

Camilleri introduces legislation to protect consumers by designating internet as a public utility

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Posted July 28, 2020 | The Huron Hub 

Following decades of deregulation among Internet service providers in Michigan, State Rep. Darrin Camilleri (D-Brownstown) introduced House Bill 5949 last week, which would grant the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) the authority and jurisdiction to regulate all providers of broadband service.

Telecommunications companies (Ameritech, AT&T, Michigan Bell, etc.) used to be rate-regulated so the companies had to come to the MPSC for permission to raise their rates, much like electric and natural gas utilities must do today.

However, the Michigan legislature deregulated and removed consumer protections in the telecommunications space through various changes to the Michigan Telecommunications Act over the last two decades, meaning telecommunications companies are no longer required to go before the Commission for permission to increase rates. Cable and internet companies have never had rates regulated so they would have never come to the Commission for purposes of rate-setting.

By regulating rate-setting processes for these large companies, we can help lower prices for consumers across our state and provide for improved consumer protection in the process.

“The Internet should be available to everyone, especially as more and more basic needs require access to affordable Internet, such as telehealth, teleworking, school, and even ordering groceries,” said Camilleri. “We regulate telephone, electric, and other essential services to prevent monopolies, but right now, Internet service providers can do whatever they want in setting their prices, slowing down Internet traffic, and more. By designating Internet as a public utility, we can finally add much-needed consumer protections and allow more people across our state to access the services they need.”

Article submitted by State Rep. Darrin Camilleri