I am penning this email to enlighten you on an opinion and what will be subsequent actions on my part.

I am extremely distressed at your decision to publish a particular “cartoon” in this past Saturday’s paper on the “editorial” page July 24, 2021. I am completely confused at this point on what your intent was in making the decision on something that completely disrespects ALL firefighter service personnel in our community. To depict our community firefighters as “children playing with toys” degrades the multitude of hours of training and service they provide. I am not even sure if you realize that all firefighters undergo the SAME exact state mandated curriculum no matter what department they associate with. Essentially in my eyes, you have disrespected all sides of that critical infrastructure. The cartoon attacks the incorrect population, as it was the governmental boards that broached the subject, not the rank and file of the departments.

I would hope at the minimum you entertain a public apology to the members of both departments.

In addition, at the conclusion of this email, I am contacting your subscription department and canceling mine. This latest poor choice in moves cemented the lack of trust in your decisions and gives more credence to the reputation of the Alpena News as biased and inaccurate reporting. I will also be forwarding this official complaint to the Alpena News parent company Ogden Newspapers, The Nutting Company.

As in one of our previous email exchanges in which you encouraged me to continue to contact you when errors occur, here it is.

BEVERLY BANKS,

Alpena