News Photo by Julie Riddle Rick Steiger, left, chief public defender, and Julie Miller, deputy chief defender, display a new sign at the Northeast Michigan Regional Defender Office in Alpena on Tuesday.

News Photo by Barbara Woodham Four-year-old Reynaldo Bumbolo plays at the foot of the tree.

Santa makes a heart with his hands for the children as he passes by.

News Photo by Barbara Woodham Children admire a light covered horse during the parade.

News Photo by Barbara Woodham Families gather around the newly lit Alpena Christmas tree Friday at Culligan Plaza.

Courtesy Photo Alyssa Sobel, right, shot a four-pointer and Andrew Conley, left, shot a six point in Alpena Township.

Courtesy Photo Troy MacArthur, 12, of Alpena, shot an eight-point buck while hunting in the Alpena area.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley From left, Tami and Bruce Anschuetz, “The Sign Man,” stand next to his sign, wishing Brandon Cook a Happy Birthday on Nov. 20. Bruce is holding their 10-week-old yellow Labrador Retriever, Maddie.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Tami and Bruce Anschuetz and their pup, Maggie, pose by the sign wishing Leaird Cameron a Happy Birthday on Nov. 20.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Bruce Anschuetz holds up a list of people’s names he keeps on hand to put on his sign for their birthdays or anniversaries. Below are the plastic letters he uses.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Deer hang out in Bruce and Tami Anschuetz’s back yard all year long, including Trudy, seen in the foreground munching on apples Bruce just tossed to her.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley

Courtesy Photo Community Foundation will host 60 Nonprofits on Giving Tuesday.

News File Photo Campers staying at Alpena-County-owned parks can expect to pay a bit more next year than they did in 2021 to help offset the cost of rising prices and for the county to invest further in campground amenities.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Shoppers LeeAnn Ludwig and Joan Ludwig pick up a few essentials and peek at Christmas decorations at the Alpena Meijer store on Thursday.

News Photo by Barbara Woodham Mariah Finch recently holds waiting lists of families who’d like their children to attend Great Lakes Child Care Center.

News Photo by Barbara Woodham Mariah Finch, left, and Delynn Pauly stand at the doors of Great Lakes Child Care Center recently.

News Photo by Barbara Woodham Items donated by the community are seen stacked up recently at the Great Lakes Child Care Centers.

News Photo by Barbara Woodham Delynn Pauly, left, and Mariah Finch sit in the office at Great Lakes Child Care Center recently.

News Photo by Julie Riddle An Alpena Police Department officer photographs a car that crashed into a tree on 11th Avenue near Elizabeth Street in Alpena on Thursday.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Runners take off from the Northern Lights Arena parking lot for the 19th annual Dork Brothers Turkey Trot Run/Walk in Alpena on Thursday.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Runner Hayden Allen finishes first in the 19th annual Dork Brothers Turkey Trot Run/Walk in Alpena on Thursday.

News Photo by Julie Riddle A cheerful participant nears the finish line at the 19th annual Dork Brothers Turkey Trot Run/Walk in Alpena on Thursday.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Participants prepare to run in the 19th annual Dork Brothers Turkey Trot Run/Walk in Alpena on Thursday.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Runners take off at the 19th annual Dork Brothers Turkey Trot Run/Walk in Alpena on Thursday.

Andy Marceau talks to the Alpena Lions Club on Tuesday.

Courtesy Photo Karen Tetzlaff, president of Thunder Bay Audubon Society, presents a $500 check to Judy Kalmanek, River Center chair for the Thunder Bay River Center.

Scouts, pictured from left to right, are Helana Burns, Junie Cordes, Zoey Claton, Matthew Burns of Boy Scouts Troup 78 of Alpena, and Anna Beauvais, Girl Scouts Troop 4810 of Hillman.

The VFW members were honored with the Hillman Band, pictured above, playing the National Anthem.

Rotarians and friends assemble benches.

Rotarians and friends assemble benches.

Rotarians pose on one of the benches they donated.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Northern Light Arena Manager Jeremy Winterstein sharpens an ice skate while at work on Tuesday. Winterstein said the arena has been busy, but he is concerned about the prospects of high utility bills this winter.

Taytom Oneal

Jazmyne Westfall

Blaike Blaski

Zoe Goings

Jazzmyne Kowalski

Evan Kasubowski

Eli Krawczak

Ava Dege

News Photo by James Andersen Marquette graduate Alaina Saari and Rock-Mid Peninsula graduate Shaelyn Lampinen recently signed with the Alpena Community College softball program. Pictured left to right are Marquette softball coach Kyle Johnson, Courtney Chartrand, Adam Saari, Alaina Saari, Shaelyn Lampinen, Michael Lampinen, and ACC coach Christin Sobeck.

Courtesy Photo Traverse City Central Football players with ties to Northeast Michigan — senior Nate Madion, left, and junior, Reed Seabase — are heading to Ford Field Friday for the Division 2 championship game against Warren De La Salle. The Trojans, who have not made it to the State Final game since 1988 head into Friday’s game with a 12-1 record. Madion’s parents are Kara Madion and Dan Madion, and his grandparents Tom and Carol Bendzinski. Seabase’s parents are Becky Seabase and Neil Seabase and his grandparents Bob and Kathy Burton and Judy Seabase.

News File Photo In this July 20, 2021 photo, several artists are hard at work on a series of murals that are part of the Alpena Downtown Development Authority’s Fresh Waves project. The murals, the latest installment in the project, are located at the entrance to the small boat harbor.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Player’s Pub and Grub bartender Michael Precour holds a card offering a free cab ride home to anyone who needs it.

News Photo by Barbara Woodham The Alpena Schools Board of Education is pictured during a meeting on Monday at Lincoln Elementary School.

Courtesy Photo Alpena senior Matt Thompson took part in a ceremonial puck drop along with M-1 United’s Devin Price and Alpena High athletic director Jon Studley before the start of the 2021-22 season on Friday at Northern Lights Arena.

News Photo by Julie Riddle A child watches a video in a box during the early hours of a homelessness awareness sleep-out at the Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency annex on U.S.-23 South in Alpena. The child did not spend the night at the event, but some Northeast Michigan children have no home where they can sleep warmly and safely, advocates say.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency staff members huddle under covers at 1 a.m. Saturday during a homelessness awareness sleep-out at the NEMCSA annex on U.S.-23 South in Alpena.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency staff members and children settle into boxes on Friday during a homelessness awareness sleep-out at the NEMCSA annex on U.S.-23 South in Alpena.

News File Photo An ambulance at the Alpena Fire Department gets ready to respond to a medical call in Alpena in this November 2021 News archive photo.