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Letters to the Editor

Holiday brings everyone together

It’s time to camp in the great outdoors! Our celebrated 4th of July heritage has brought families together now for 250 years of all things that Independence embodies: coming together for parades, family reunions and the infamous annual trip to the camp grounds. Getting ready, packing the necessities to live outside like our ancestors; our indigenous people. In Michigan, that means the wooded and water environs. Many local motels, hotels where you can park your car outside the door; because you are on the move, thank you Henry Ford, are full. Aunts and uncles and grandparents ...

We have a country to save

I’ve been reading letters to the editor over the past several weeks in what appears to be a concerted effort by a few to undermine three members of the Alpena Public School Board. Their efforts are to obtain sufficient signatures to recall them and subject them to the Nov 4 general election in which it’s hoped they would be defeated, replaced by progressive liberal candidates. Upon examining the grounds for this recall it appears it is largely based on administrative issues and not educational issues. For example, turning down grant dollars for a rain garden. On it’s face this ...

Thoughts on potential APS bond issue

Soliciting and publishing (6/23/26) comments from a few APS board members about the tax bond issue up for vote next year was premature and stirred up unneeded speculation and ill informed opinions in Alpena. At this time APS staff and consultants are developing the detailed scope of work needed and or options to deal with maintaining the aging school infrastructure. In addition there is the need to address the impact of the declining student enrollment. A detailed plan is not complete. Comments at this time only encourage those ill informed opinions form the public that will vote on the ...

We have the right to recall, sign the petitions

The Alpena Public Schools Board of Education has a problem. Multiple members of the school board are casting votes that waste taxpayer money that is supposed to fund our schools. Their names are Eric Lawson, Monica Dziesinski, and Sarah Costain. All three members have “voted no to a $150,000 grant for a rain garden at Alpena High School”. Who turns down free money? All three members “voted yes to hire a second law firm, Kallman Legal Group for Alpena Public Schools.” Lawson and Dziesinski “voted yes to award a paving contract to a higher bidder.” Lastly, “during 2025, her ...

“United We Stand and Divided We Fall” and where it all began!

The U.S. Pledge of Allegiance is a patriotic oath expressing loyalty to the American flag and the United States of America, traditionally recited in schools and at civic ceremonies. It was originally written by Francis Bellamy in 1892 and has undergone several revisions, with the most recent change adding "under God" in 1954." Wikipedia 2026 I'm proud to be an American, but with less certainty. God does not create nations, people do, and we created a nation to represent all of our citizens. All of our citizens born with certain inalienable rights, the existence of God not included ...

Where credit is due

In a recent letter, you were told that at the APS Retirement Dinner I didn’t honor the retirees and talked only about myself. What I did was spend thirty seconds establishing that as a teacher myself, I have some understanding how hard their jobs are. In the remaining four minutes of my talk I said: “Let me thank you for working so hard for so long to bring to fruition that vision that burned within you, that fire that drove you to achieve all that you have and which inspired you to help others and take care of our students here at APS. You have proven your commitment and ...