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Letters to the Editor

Time to say ‘stop’ to out-of-control spending

The Sept. 30 Alpena News contained a letter by one of its loyal Democrat subscribers with the title ‘Shutting down the government is not acceptable’. The letter noted that a shutdown would affect the Agriculture Department’s SNAP and WIC programs, eliminate funding for Title X grants for ‘family planning’ clinics (abortion clinics), cut Head Start programs, freeze childcare assistance, and cut Title I grants to schools serving low income or ‘disadvantaged’ background students. Another Continuing Resolution (CR) postponed any responsible action on a budget for 45 days. I ...

A novel solution to our country’s divisions

I have a solution for the divisions that are crippling our country. Let’s begin by dismissing all the court cases pending against Donald Trump. Let’s admit that his total asses are what he claims them to be. Then, let’s assist him in purchasing the Candian province of Nunavut. There he can set up his own monarchy where devoted followers can crown him King Donald the First. Such a move would allow millions of Trumpers to emigrate to a kingdom where there would be no governmental interference. Taxes would be nearly non-existent because there’d be no super-highways to build or ...

Shutting down the gov’t is not acceptable

2 in 3 Americans believe it’s never ok to shut down the federal government. Depending on its length, a government shutdown could impact lots of programs. Everything from student loan and nutrition assistance hotlines to pay for government workers (including those in the military) to CDC medical trials. The House Republican budget proposal would: ∫ Cut the fruit and vegetable benefit in the Agriculture Department’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which provides food assistance and other services to pregnant and postpartum adults, ...

Article on lawsuit needed more investigation

The Alpena News just displayed another great example of investigative journalism with the Sept. 9, front page article, “Lawsuit: Nightmare neighbors delayed home construction”. There is an “old adage” that there are two sides to every story. Obviously your staff writer never heard of it. It wouldn’t have taken much effort to reach out to the Presque Isle Conservation District, EGLE, board minutes, visit the site, speak with neighbors. There were a myriad of items that could have been accomplished before writing a one-sided slanted article. I do not have any vested interest ...

Kudos to a recent display of good manners

On the evening of Saturday, Aug. 26, the Alpena High School Class of 1959 held our 64th class reunion at JJ’s Restaurant. A good time was had by all. I wish to share an incident that touched our hearts……at the end of the evening, three of us gathered the decorations and memorabilia and were leaving. I picked up all the balloons, wondering what I was going to do with them . Just as I had that thought, four little boys came riding by on their bikes holding ice cream cones. They were about 10 years old. I said, “Hey guys, does anyone want a balloon?” You would have thought I ...

On State of Michigan, school board and God

In reference to a Sept. 2 letter, it seems to me that the educational achievement of our children in Alpena Public Schools is minor compared to small trumped-up little issues that preoccupy many. Academic excellence, a good education, should be the focus. Instead, education is being overshadowed with these fixations and false allegations that the state is in the business of sex change operations or kids pretending to be animals. Furries is a fad, largely exasperated by the adults fixated on it, making it an issue. It is not supported or condoned by the state or APS, yet it is used by ...