My friend Paul passed away recently. Paul’s life wasn’t measured by a clock, or even a day for that matter, as much as by the season: time to let his cattle out to pasture, time to vaccinate his calves, time to cut hay or bale straw, time to cut wood for winter, or time to go deer ...

Today I dropped off my recycling at the old Habitat ReStore site. Sitting next to the dumpster I chose to put my recycling in were a crock pot and a microwave oven. Really!!! Just out of curiosity, I looked in the plastics bin and there was a big empty dog food bag and a bag of bags. The ...

Tanya Russell posted on YouTube an item about Hearts for Healthcare Workers. Her hubby is an ER physician. She would like everyone to prominently display a pink heart on their front door or mailbox as encouragement to health workers for sharing their lives for us. I want to go a step more — ...

Four months ago, we bought a 4-year-old golden retriever named Ava. When we brought her home in the car, with her leash in hand, she heard a loud noise and bolted and ran down State Street on Lake Huron. Three hours we tracked her prints in the snow. She jumped into the water and kept swimming ...

With the March 10, 2020 presidential primary election behind us, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to all local clerks and election workers for their efforts that ensured the election was conducted with the highest degree of patience and professionalism. It was a challenge, ...

In Friday’s paper, March 6, there was a picture of a man proposing to another man. I have a question. Why are you glorifying a sin that God hates and called it an abomination? Why are you lifting up this lifestyle? God loves people but he hates sin. We need to love people also. But just ...

I’m disappointed that the school millage passed this week. I’m a “bucket list” student at Alpena Community College. The things I’ve witnessed there are appalling. Students in a basic math class didn’t know how to do long division, but graduated from Alpena High. In a second ...

Though the spread of COVID-19 virus is a worldwide situation, not yet a Northeast Michigan event, the current virus pandemonium is affecting us in Alpena already. Why are we panicking? I wish we could each take a deep breath and go on about our lives as we have for generations, taking care of ...

A farmer owned land, buildings and livestock, including dairy cows. Milk production was low and profits were poor. His herdsman suggested building a new barn to increase production. The farmer said “too expensive.” They compromised by repairing and painting the old barn and adding some new ...

We read with interest (and a sense of deja vu) Anne Gentry’s defense of old buildings. We want to agree, and yet ... We agree that demolition of old buildings simply to clear space is abhorrent. We also agree that preservation of certain old buildings (and building interiors and nearby ...

The obvious answer to the question is yes — however, using CNN and Jim Acosta as basis for reference taxes one’s ability to arrive at that conclusion. Undoubtedly, Acosta has tarnished the profession of journalism as he often makes himself the story. For example; when he sought to ...

I am writing this letter about the mud pit referred to as Lincoln School, especially on the Taylor Street side. Year after year, I watch the rainfall turn the side of the street and the sidewalk area into an absolutely disgusting mass of mud. In the wintertime, when the snow melts on warm ...

It’s time to put the customer (patient) back in charge of the billing. This country needs to go on strike for health care. Live with the strike consequences. Everyone needs to stop going to the hospital for two weeks. A complete two-week quarantine of the entire health care ...

AmeriCorps Week is observed this year from March 8 to 14. Most of you will wonder what AmeriCorps Week is — you may not know what AmeriCorps is! Here is an opportunity to find out. AmeriCorps was established in 1993 by Bill Clinton as a way for more Americans to serve their communities. ...

As the country faces a probable pandemic with coronavirus, those who remain loyal to the Liar-in-Chief will have their opportunity to blindly follow him to infection. Unfortunately, the rest of us who believe in science will be collateral damage. Trump fired the Center for Disease ...

March 10 is the election when we must pick a winner that will serve for the well-being of all AMERICANS. We are all a part of our government. So this means we ALL must be of good health and well-educated. We have 300 million to choose from to find a person that will put the well-being of all ...

I received a number of phone calls, all but one AGAINST the NEW BOND TAX. The one caller who was pro-bond couldn’t answer basic questions but would rather change the subject with what he felt were his positive reasons. So for the third time, Alpena Public Schools would ask the unthinking ...

Woe is me. The Secretary of State is urging business owners to offer a paid holiday for Election Day. Elections are a privilege, an honor and a responsibility to all American citizens. A politician who offers a paid holiday for something we should all take responsibility — has never owned a ...

Nearly 14 years ago, my husband and I relocated to Alpena. The people, the natural beauty, and the public schools sold us. We knew this was the perfect place to start our family. Two kids later, we are very happy with our choice to grow roots here. Our kids are receiving quality educations ...

Safe, warm and dry ... What does that mean to most? Safe ... proper doors, locks and security. Warm … Heaters, walls and roof. Dry ... Roof, walls and floors. I have been watching social media, news and TV on this particular issue, I have seen the posts/comments all over Facebook and all the ...