For Friday, Sept. 6, 2019

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1 – Summer isn’t officially over, and neither is the threat from mosquitoes. 

Summer sends Sept. 23. Bay County Mosquito Control warns that the threat of mosquito-borne disease continues to exist until frost is prevalent. 

Evidence of West Nile virus has been found this summer in birds and mosquitoes in Bay County.

In other parts of Michigan, mosquito-transmitted viruses such as encephalitis have been suspected or confirmed in humans. 

Bay County Mosquito control say it’s imperative to protect yourself from mosquito bites this fall in order to reduce the risk of disease. When mosquitoes are active, remember to:

• Wear long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors.
• Use insect repellents with active ingredients like DEET. 

2 – Michigan communities are receiving more than $1.2 million in state grants to improve and expand recycling programs.

The grants also will support a new “Know It Before You Throw It” campaign to better inform residents of what can and cannot be recycled and how to recycle correctly.

Environmental officials say increasing recycling and improving the quality of materials being recycled saves energy, reduces water use, decreases greenhouse gases, conserves resources and translates into local jobs. 

The state’s environmental agency says doubling the states recycling rate from 15 to 30 percent could produce a statewide total of almost 13,000  jobs, which translates into an economic impact of up to $300 million a year. 

The grants include almost $41,000 to Bay City to establish an enhanced single-stream recycling program and open a drop-off collection site for hard-to-recycle items that will serve all of Bay County.

– Mr. Great Lakes is heard Friday mornings in Bay City, Michigan, on Delta College Q-90.1 FM NPR. Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes

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