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Letters to the Editor

Public Attention Needed at the Alpena School Board

With the lack of enough funds for our Public Schools, it is important that that money is spent wisely. Our children’s education should always come first. I am concerned that school board members want to add another law firm when they have used the same one for 60 years. The new law firm has a trail of losses causing large sums of money for their representation. We need to make sure that our kids get the education they need to become productive citizens. Wasting money on a bathroom issue just shows that some board members really do not care about our children but are pushing ...

A Tale of Two Law Firms

At their June 30th meeting our school board took a problematic turn voting 5-2 to add a second law firm to the APS payroll. Here are the facts about the Kallman Group. They have two attorneys on staff (father and son) who have no experience representing public schools. They are considered an extremist group willing to use our tax dollars to fuel their agendas. Contrast this with the firm representing APS since 1960. Thrun Law has 30+ attorneys and have been counsel to the vast majority of public school systems in Michigan since the 1940s. They are, as our superintendent says, “risk ...

MBTF Small Tent Managers say ‘good-bye’

“Thank you again for your past service and for helping us with this transition.” — MBTF President Despite attending monthly meetings, our tenure never appeared on any agenda and there was no conversation with us. No vote was ever taken, as per the bylaws. To be clear, we did not resign as the Michigan Brown Trout Festival Small Tent Management Team nor were we asked to. Gerald (Gerry) Lucas of Alpena is a former participant, informal volunteer and a 30+ year Small Tent Manager. Michael (Mick) Kaiser of Alpena and his daughter, Danielle Kaiser of East Lansing, are former formal ...

Support the library and freedom to read

Dear Editor: I am writing this letter in support of our local library, and of the right of an individual to have the freedom to read whatever he or she chooses. I would also like to encourage our county commissioners to appoint to the library board an individual who has experience, who supports the library, and its workers, and who values the freedom to read. Sincerely, DORIS FEYS Ossineke

World ROV competition a great success

Well, maybe Alpena is no longer that well-kept secret. Last week, some 18 countries and 22 states arrived in Alpena to compete in the International ROV competition. To observe the diversity and blending of the thousands of people was encouraging and enlightening. With these people, our future looks bright. Kudos to all the people in Northern Michigan who made this successful. All your efforts did not go unnoticed. RON and CHERLY LEMKE Alpena

Increasing our debt without spending

Last month, Moody’s Bond Rating Service downgraded U.S. national debt from Aaa to Aa1, driving America’s national debt borrowing costs up by 0.45 basis points in a single day. As of May 19, 2025, at 7:17 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, the national debt was $36,218,929,729,031. When Treasury Bonds mature under deficit spending, they must be paid and we issue new bonds to replace the old matured bonds at current interest rates and borrowing costs. The cost for using this money changes according to the strength of our credit ratings and the financial markets at the time of ...