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Letters to the Editor

Divisions need to be healed after election

Well, election day has finally come and gone. Regardless of how you feel about the outcome, we still have work to do. There are wounds to bind up and divisions to be healed. Attorney Russ Rynard is concerned about one such wound (“County should adopt policy to protect our kids,” letter to the editor from Nov. 2). It’s “those” library books. While there has been a compromise over their placement, the books remain. For my part, I am more concerned about yard signs — one in particular. The political yard signs have started to come down, but for weeks they’ve been a ...

Finding more important issues to focus on

That the discussion regarding a certain group of books on the shelf at the library is still continuing, is surprising to me. Your children are not going to turn gay if they were to read any of these books any more than your child would become a murderer if they read a book by James Patterson. Please get over yourselves, find something more important to spend your time on and please stop harassing our library over a non-issue. And for the record, I have read these books. ALIDA BYWATER, Alpena

Honoring and celebrating our brave veterans

Veterans Day is Nov. 11 every year. It is a day for us, as a nation, to honor and celebrate the brave Americans who have served our country in uniform. On this day we acknowledge their service, sacrifices, and selflessness. As Maya Angelou stated, “How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!” By fighting our nation’s wars and protecting us during peace, Veterans are often overlooked and their contributions taken for granted. Without them, our way of life and the freedoms we all enjoy would be lost. To all veterans, I want to express my ...

Concerns about proposed Rockport development

I am writing to express my deep concern with the proposed “development” of the Rockport State Recreational Area. With the election looming and the Nov. 8 public comment period ending, I am concerned this project will be greenlighted without the proper consideration from the community. This project is massive in scope and does not necessarily have the spirit or long-term integrity of the area in mind. More specifically, this pending development is extensive and invasive, seeking to expand infrastructure for a massive amount of modern overnight accommodations (I cannot bring ...

Hillman suffers loss with Matthias’ passing

Montmorency County has suffered a significant loss with the recent passing of Jack Matthias, founder and owner of Thunder Bay Resort in Hillman. A community-minded man, Jack employed generations of local families since 1971, and the resort’s 18-hole golf course was designed by him. He and his wife, Jan, created a unique experience with the renowned Elk Viewing Carriage/Sleigh Ride, Gourmet Dinner and Wine Tasting, long rated One of America’s Best Attractions. Jack and Jan were also instrumental in developing the area with clinics and affordable housing and much more. Both served on ...

Rockport is perfectly perfect just exactly as it is

Some folks think progress is always improving or enlarging, modernizing and upgrading something. I think progress sometimes is just keeping something special just as it is. I see the bureaucrats want to “improve,” develop, open up and expand Rockport State Recreation Area to produce the optimum modern camping experience — like that which you get when you pull in right next to your neighbor’s 32-foot travel trailer and want to have the kids get out of your hair at the clubhouse. My wife and I have walked and hunted, launched our boat, and climbed the big hill for its grand ...