I appreciate that the board of Rogers Township hosted a hearing on Monday night on the potential licensing of local establishments to sell marijuana for recreational use. Yes — “nuclear weed” is likely coming to a place near your home and family. We learned at the meeting that in 1970 ...

According to Leonard Pitts, the globe is warming, climate is changing. Big whoop! What does global warming or climate change have to do with us? If the globe is going to get a little warmer or climate is going to change, about the only thing we can do is adapt. So a hurricane is headed ...

I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Alpena’s health care providers during the passing of my beloved Ernest G. Borg. He received wonderful care at MidMichigan Medical Center’s emergency room as well as by the medical staff during his hospital admission. Following a definitive ...

In America, we have a health care system that makes industry executives a fortune while ordinary people are forced to crowdfund to survive. A quarter-million GoFundMe campaigns are launched each year to pay for medical bills; $650 million is spent on medical GoFundMe campaigns annually; 90% ...

On Aug. 28, The Alpena News carried a column by Dr. Walter E. Williams headlined, ‘The beginning of US slavery was not beginning of democracy.” Then, two days later, the front-page headline reads: “Students struggle on social studies tests.” Is perhaps the cure of the latter in ...

In the article in Monday’s paper about the Posen Potato Festival, Livonia resident and President Donald Trump supporter Rob Cortis is quoted saying his “message is to unite America on a positive message, on things that will benefit Americans across America — all America.” The symbol ...

I would like to express my dismay in your article on the Posen Potato Festival in the Sept. 9, 2019 edition of The Alpena News. As a descendant of Polish immigrants and a supporter of (true) unity, it was disheartening to see you use this community event, and a community fiercely proud of its ...

I would like to use this space to brag about the amazing experience I had bringing my daughter, Molli, into this world at the Alpena Women’s Health Unit at MidMichigan Medical Center-Alpena this past June. From the doctor to the CRNA to the nurses to those who cleaned our room, I can’t ...

Kenneth Oke, in his letter in the Saturday, Aug. 24 Alpena News, claims “Citizens should not own weapons of war.” He states that citizen-owned weapons should be limited to one shot at a time and registered. Using that inference, he should also agree that the First Amendment would not ...

As a grandma with grandkids who are new to our area, I would like to express my gratitude to Alpena’s many volunteers, businesses, and organizations that made this a fun-filled, adventurous summer for me and my grandsons! Many thanks go out to the Alpena County Library for their ...

“A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right ...” Actually, I’ll keep this simple without quoting the full Second Amendment or going into actual statistics on gun violence. Kenneth’s solution is to simply just take away all of the “weapons ...

During a time of great crisis in America our most notable president (a Republican) earned the nickname the Great Emancipator. What label will history apply to today’s holder of that office (also a Republican) in light of his response to our present crisis? It could be the Great Abuser, ...

It is telling that the organizers of The Longest Table event sent invitations to their kumbaya-sandwich-on-the-bridge dinner. From the reporting in The News, they invited people at extant community organizations, people who likely already know each other (or know of each other), people who ...

Weapons. Our U.S.A. was started with single-shot mascots, in the 1700s. Most citizens used them to put food on their plates. When war was started, big guns were used. We won at Fort Ticonderoga, we hauled the cannons 200 miles to defend Boston. The weapons of war kept getting bigger, bombs, ...

Americans are increasingly troubled and struggling with what they are seeing, hearing, and experiencing. Many appear to be searching for an elixir to ease their distress and sadness. Unfortunately, elixirs are known fantasies and are often dangerous. In our historical past, many Americans ...

In the death of a young lady in Alpena, this does not need to be front page news as the family suffers. I have seen different things in The News which should say an accident occurred and not release any names. As many accidents on M-32. This is heartbreaking to the family enough to release ...

Is it just me or do others think it’s wrong for the county to hire out-of-state contractors so the county doesn’t have to pay sales tax? So let me understand this, the county who gets their money from taxes doesn’t want to pay taxes ( to save the taxpayers money). Taxes that local ...

It is sad to read articles regarding financial issues at the Alpena Plaza Pool. Our pool is a treasured asset in our community providing healthy activities for all ages. Living in Michigan means we are never more than six miles from a body of water. Learning to swim with qualified instructors ...

The Alpena News’ Aug. 6 editorial offered excellent suggestions for avoiding ticks and correctly suggests that ticks are no reason to avoid the beautiful nature Northeast Michigan offers. Indeed, medical research continues to show decreased depression and decreased blood pressure in persons ...

I love guests and tourism, but I was one of the annoyed last month. Where the director saw dollar signs I saw danger and exclusion. I was annoyed by the city’s lack of measures to ensure safe walkability and cycling in the downtown core and in accessing the city beaches. The exclusion I ...