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Letters to the Editor

Respect the electorate’s choices

For some time, I have felt growing dismay at the continuous hostility directed toward several of the school board members by a small, vocal group who regularly submit personal attacks against them in this newspaper. Now it appears the aim has evolved to overturning the fair election of those same board members. While there is nothing wrong with disagreeing with board members and there is nothing wrong with vigorous debate, everyone who sits on the board was given a mandate by the majority of the electorate, from which they draw their authority to run the meetings. Those seeking to ...

Let’s protect our voting

What's wrong with the Save America Act (SAVE)? Sounds like a good idea for United States citizens but senate Democrats vow to vote it down when it comes up for a vote next week. They say it would prevent married women from voting because their driving licenses would have their maiden name and not married name, or the opposite. What prevents anyone from changing their name when some are even changing their gender? Another reason often claimed by Democrats is that asking for a person's picture ID before voting is racist. Are banks, libraries, bars, movies of age restricted content, ...

Appreciate the successes!

January brought us chilling temperatures, but Alpena residents fostered a warm environment for the 14th Annual Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary’s International Film Festival. The amazing filmmakers displayed journeys of self-discovery, seeking out unchartered territories, and making positive changes. Alpena’s outreach through NOAA emphasizes our ongoing responsibility for the preservation of our Great Lakes. The people within each film and their dedication to their cause are undeniably impressive, including topics of plastics in the water, shutting down line five, ...

Toxic masculinity is poisoning our country

We see in the actions of ICE such as kidnapping a five-year-old in order to get to the father, a form of masculinity, which is toxic and has a negative impact on our society. Toxic masculinity is characterized by fear, weakness, racism, aggression, and lack of empathy. You can tell this because of the masks, the inability to identify with name tags and the brutality of many of the arrests, even of United States citizens. They are poisoning our country by creating an environment filled with fear and depression. I picture the image I saw on the screen of an 80+ year old veteran, hands ...

A workforce update from Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium

Workforce development doesn’t stand still — and neither can we. Across Northeast Michigan, rapid changes in technology, global markets, and economic policy are affecting both employers and workers. Conversations about artificial intelligence, tariffs, supply chains, and shifting public funding aren’t just national headlines — they have real impacts on local businesses and families. At Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium, our role is to help our region navigate that change with confidence. For employers, that means adapting to new technologies, rising costs, and a competitive ...

The newest directive

Since his appointment to the president’s seat, School Board President, Eric Lawson, has tried a variety of strong-arm tactics meant to suppress public comment at school board meetings. First he stationed Sheriff Deputies at board meetings to forcibly remove attendees who might clap during a meeting. (This story went viral due to the absurdity.) Lawson followed this up with threats of defamation lawsuits should anyone speak the unflattering truth about what board members Costain, Dziesinski, MacArthur and Lawson, himself, are up to. It has to be an unprecedented and embarrassing first ...