Story Archive

International Incident

The annual “Float Down” on the St. Clair River from Port Huron to Marysville, Mich., went awry when winds and currents took about 1,500 people on rafts and inner tubes into Canada. Police in Sarnia, Ont., rounded up the illegal aliens, who were mostly dressed in swimsuits and certainly not carrying passports, but rather than give them trouble, officials had Sarnia Transit give them rides back to Michigan. It took 10 buses and multiple round trips over six hours to ferry everyone back, and Sarnia announced it wouldn’t even charge for all the overtime and fuel. The effort was complicated by some floaters needing actual medical rescue, including a pregnant woman having contractions, and a possible heart attack. “The majority of rafters were unable or unwilling to help themselves get out of danger,” said St. Clair County Sheriff Dive Team Chief Wayne Brusate. “There might be a raft with 15 or 20 tubes tied together and only one or two people paddling.” They would wave down rescue boats, and get upset when told actual medical emergencies had priority. As of now, the annual event is set to repeat next August. (RC/Port Huron Times Herald) ...Well sure: they have a new record they have to break.