News Photo by Julie Riddle Enterprising youngsters Waylon Jarvis, 13, Brielle O’Conner, 10, Brynna O’Conner, 9, and Gage Kruczynski, 13, tend to a thirsty customer who stopped at their lemonade and elephant ear stand on Long Rapids Road in Alpena on Friday afternoon. The young people are hoping to earn money for fishing gear and other needs, they said, before they have to go back to school — an event the girls look forward to with grins and giggles. The boys, on the other hand, aren’t so excited about the impending return to classrooms. “Fishing’s better,” Kruczynski said as he waited for the next customer.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Geriatric clinical specialist Andrew Doubek helps client Sharon Anderson practice balance at Thunder Bay Therapy and Sports Medicine in Alpena on Friday.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Northern Lights Arena Co-Manager Jeremy Winterstein shows how a computer installed as part of a bond-funded energy-efficiency project monitors operations at the arena. He said the system helps to regulate certain systems at the rink, but other improvements haven’t produced the savings the county hoped for.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Dennis Johnson tools around Long Lake on Thursday.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Dennis Johnson grins at photos of his wife, Kathy, cradling an oversized catch pulled from Long Lake during the couple’s 45 years of summer fishing trips Up North.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Fisherman Dennis Johnson displays the logs in which he’s recorded 45 years’ worth of catches on Long Lake.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Dennis and Kathy Johnson, Long Lake summer regulars for the past 45 years, motor across the lake’s calm waters on Thursday.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Fishing pole at the ready, Dennis Johnson shows the two kinds of hooks at the end of every fishing line he casts into the waters of Long Lake.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Dennis and Kathy Johnson, Long Lake summer regulars for the past 45 years, motor across the lake’s calm waters on Thursday.

This yellow flower is potted on Werda’s front porch.

Above is a red dahlia planted with white hydrangea, a contrast Werda enjoys.

The purple flowers here are one of the 39 potted plants in Werda’s garden.

News Photos by Darby Hinkley Jason Werda points to a red climbing mandevilla plant, explaining that he will set up a taller trellis for the climber to wrap itself around as it grows.

Above is a photo of last year’s pink hibiscus moscheutos, which will bloom to about 12 inches across this month, Werda said.

Here are green jewel echinacea coneflowers.

Here is a large potted jade plant. Werda drilled holes in the bottom of this huge wooden pot and put it up on bricks for drainage. He said a drainage system is essential for all potted plants to thrive.

Jason Werda’s home at 811 S. 5th Ave. in Alpena features 39 colorful annuals in pots and hanging baskets, in addition to a variety of perennials planted in the front and back yards.

News Photo by Julie Riddle A firefighter cleans up the scene of a motorcycle crash near the intersection of U.S.-23 and Golf Course Road today.

Courtesy Photo Emergency medical crews transport a woman with a broken leg down rocky terrain after rescuing her on Thursday at Rockport State Recreation Area.

News Photos by James Andersen Don Mueller, top, pitches a horseshoe during an impromptu tournament on Monday at the new Hillman Horseshoe Club courts at Emerick Park in Hillman. Mueller and local volunteers recently completed the courts after a year and a half of work and the club began earlier this month. Next week, the club will host its first Michigan Horseshoe Pitchers Association tournament.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Customers Keith Repke and Raymone Carpenter enjoy a last drink on Thursday morning before neighborhood bar Barilik’s Tavern in Alpena is closed today by order of the governor.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Alpena High School Principal Tom Berriman on Wednesday updates parents on the progress of the school’s reopening plans, some of which are still a work in progress.

Courtesy Photo Pararescue jumpers from New York parachute into CRTC in Alpena during Exercise Northern Strike 20.

Courtesy Photo Pararescue jumpers from New York parachute into CRTC in Alpena during Exercise Northern Strike 20.

Courtesy Photo Pararescue jumpers from New York parachute into CRTC in Alpena during Exercise Northern Strike 20.

Courtesy Photo Alpena Lions Club member Mike Hamilton poses with Elizabeth Cavanaugh at the Alpena Senior Citizens Center as he distributes hand sanitizer.

Steven Mark Casebier

Above is a rendering of the completed mural on the side of Salon 125 in Alpena.

Here are his many cans of high-quality spray paint designed to withstand the weather.

News Photos by Darby Hinkley Above, Mark Piotrowski of Bay City spray paints a mural on the side of Salon 125 at 125 E. Chisholm St. in Alpena. The mural is being painted this week as the second installment in Alpena Downtown Development Authority’s Fresh Waves public art initiative launched in 2019.

Mark Piotrowski works on the mural, slated for completion by the end of this week.

Bay City artist Mark Piotrowski poses in front of his mural.

Courtesy Photo The Alpena ThunderCats 12U softball team took top honors in the 10th annual Alpena Thunderstruck Tournament this past weekend. They were 5-0 over the weekend.  They battled back from a 6-2 deficit in the last inning against Team Michigan from Grosse Pointe and won the championship game, 7-6. Pictured left to right are: front: Aubrey Weiland; middle: Georgia Alberts, Emmi Ruby, Logan McDonald, Paige Samp, Lilly Rospierski, Harleigh Cohoon, Anna Wood, Jill Hartman and Madelyn Oswald; back: Coaches Chris Rospierski, Jamie Weiland, Paul Samp.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Wilson Elementary School Principal Lisa Hilberg updates parents on some of the plans that may be implemented when schools reopen on Aug. 31. A series of meetings for parents will be held in the coming week.

Courtesy Photos Above, Isabelle Renaud poses in front of some of her paintings. She will be the August Artist of the Month at Dragonfly Art Gallery in Harrisville.