ALPENA — More roads in Northeast Michigan are in poor condition than those classified as good or fair, according to the latest ratings from the Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council. And those roads will continue to deteriorate without a shift in the way funding is distributed, ...

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Way Out Wayne and the Neckbenders perform at Alpena’s 16th Annual Spirit of the Blues Festival Saturday afternoon in downtown Alpena.

ALPENA — When Diane Sims fell off the roof of her Alpena home while she was shoveling snow some years ago, she had to explain the subsequent surgeries and metal rods in her leg to her friends. “You can’t say you fell off the roof, so you have to say you fell skydiving. So this is my ...

ALPENA — Despite the arguments of some proponents and misconceptions of some voters, it appears legalization of recreational marijuana will not solve the financial ills of schools or local governments. It will have a limited impact on roads across the state, as well. Most will welcome ...

ALPENA —The Alpena County Board of Commissioners should have a trio of candidates to choose from when they vote on Tuesday to fill the vacant board seat representing the county’s District No. 7. Three submitted letters of interest by the noon Friday deadline: Leanne Bloom, Marty ...

ONAWAY—A high-speed, precision cutting machine will drill into the daily routine at Moran Iron Works in Onaway, slicing the time needed to complete a project by up to 25%. The business has been awarded a $564,300 grant for the purchase of the snappily-named PythonX CNC Plasma Cutting System, ...

ALPENA — The longest-tenured Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District employee is retiring Friday after 40 years. Tony Suszek, assistant superintendent of finance and non-instructional services, is retiring Friday after spending his entire career with the district. Two ...

ALPENA — Every evening at 5, when she gets off work, Mary Newhouse takes Charlie to the dog park. The 18-month-old Labrador retriever, still puppy-spirited despite his adult-sized body, is one of the unofficial greeters of the Thomas Stafford Dog Park on the north bank of the Thunder Bay ...

Going PRO Talent Fund info sessions set The Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium will host several employer information sessions on the state’s Going PRO Talent Fund, the agency said in a news release. The sessions will provide information on how employers can access some of the $30 ...

My great-great grandparents immigrated to America, eventually settling on these shores and living out their lives with the next generations. Being a fifth-generation Alpena native allowed me to know my maternal great-grandparents. I remember visiting their home and marveling at how ancient they ...

ALPENA — Airplane enthusiasts and their aircraft will head to Alpena for a meet-and-greet and pancake breakfast on Saturday at the Alpena County Regional Airport. The public is invited to enjoy a hot meal and check out the many different types of airplanes. The event is hosted by the ...

ALPENA— In May, a U.S. District Court judge gave Michigan lawmakers 90 days to change the state’ sex offender registry law, almost three years after it was declared unconstitutional in 2016. The sex offender registry is a clearinghouse of names, contact information, and other data about ...

HUBBARD LAKE — An 80-acre nature preserve in Hubbard Lake is now open to the public. A grand opening event celebrating the Hubbard Lake Nature Preserve, 720 Holiday Inn Road, was held Thursday. The park is now open for the public to explore from sunrise until sunset. The preserve was ...

ALPENA — The Alpena Community College Board of Trustees on Wednesday gave President Don MacMaster a highly effective rating for his yearly president’s evaluation. The board highlighted five strengths for MacMaster from the past year: student enrollment, relationships with legislators, the ...

A roundup of recent activity by Northeast Michigan school boards: ∫ The Alcona Community Schools Board of Education voted to purchase 43 acres of land behind Alcona Elementary School for $60,000 with a 50% down payment. The board also approved the 2019-20 millage levy at 19 mills for ...

Dirt bikers did “considerable damage” at the Blackshire Golf Course at the Alcona/Iosco county line during the early days of June, according to Michigan State Police. The MSP-Alpena Post is seeking the community’s assistance in identifying three people who drove dirt bikes on several ...

News Photo by Julie Riddle Former scholarship recipients Alayna Nugent, Ivy Kokozska, and Brendan Fleishans spoke at the Northeast Michigan Community Foundation’s Summer Scholarship Celebration on Thursday. An elegant evening of food, music, and white rope lighting at Art in the Loft ...

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Matt Hepburn, left and his sons Karsen, Kayleb and Cameron, visit the cannon in front of Alpena City Hall on Thursday afternoon. They also admired the flower gardens and played on the large lawn.

LANSING —Elected officials put many miles in, traveling around their districts meeting with constituents, attending events and spending some time at home when their scehdule allows. From time to time during visits, there are those who present lawmakers with trinkets of appreciation. Many ...

ALPENA — An Alpena man convicted of drugging and raping a pair of girls during a series of July 2016 parties was sentenced on Wednesday to 16 years to life in prison. Nick Skaluba, 22, was found guilty of spiking alcoholic drinks with Xanax, incapacitating the girls while he assaulted them ...