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Letters to the Editor

Summer Reading Program fun, vote yes Aug. 6

To the editor, As much as I love the summer sunshine, beach days, and the blur of activities across our community, there’s still nothing like those rainy summer days that keep me cooped up with a good book. While the infamous personal pan pizzas of my childhood are no longer the prize for reading, the Alpena County Library’s Summer Reading Program offers engaging activities and prizes for all ages, including for adults. I’ve already picked up two prizes, including downtown dollars to spend, plus I’ve earned extra tickets to vote for the community prize, which is always a ...

Choose Matthew Wojda for PI probate judge

Presque Isle County has been given the opportunity to elect a nonpartisan judge who has experience, knowledge, compassion, and over 100 years of family roots in our county. Matt Wojda has been a personal friend of my family for over 10 years. He has unwavering commitment to the Michigan and United States constitutions, and the rule of law. He has been endorsed by seven judges in Northeast Michigan, which speaks volumes. As a mother, I know if any decisions needed to be made involving my children and family, Matt would be the one who I would want to make those decisions. He chose to ...

We must hold Trump accountable in the fall

Dear editor, Donald Trump was found guilty of all 34 felony counts of falsifying his company’s business records to keep information from voters that he knew would harm his 2016 presidential campaign. Lying on official business filings is a serious criminal offense and another clear example of Trump’s pattern doing anything to gain or stay in power. No one is above the law, even if the far right members of our Supreme Court are protecting Trump and any other American would be punished if they committed the same crime. Despite the guilty verdict, Trump is still very much running for ...

I will vote no on library tax on Aug. 6 ballot

Now it came to pass that many have no class, just brass. As a retired widow, I’ve dealt with many groups, including students, staff, and government over the last five decades and heard it all! No computer for me, I was hacked at Alpena Public Schools and not wasting my social security on the overpriced cable company. Don’t need fake Facebook to be informed about some vacation or the mile-high club. I did visit the public library after my spouse died of COVID-19. I asked for some help and was appalled at the negative attitude and response to some concerns. I don’t need that ...

Religious columns welcome in the newspaper

Dear Editor, I’m writing in response to the letter from Molly Stepanski that was published in your paper on July 8, 2024. She stated her opinion that The Alpena News should not include a religious column, which she says is inappropriate for a community newspaper. I’d like to know why she thinks it has anything to do with the separation of church and state (which she mentions in her letter) because the newspaper is independently owned and not a governmental entity. In my opinion the faith-based column is a welcome addition to your newspaper. I’d much rather read about religion ...

Library no vote is our only leverage on books

Our George Fletcher county library, a gem in our beautiful county and town, needs a closer look, there is more than meets the eye. The library board and administrative library staff are insisting on putting books that are explicitly sexual in content in the youth (6- to 12-year-old) and teen (13- to 17-year-old) sections of our library. Our concern is that young patrons can inadvertently be exposed to pictures, ideas, and “how to” sexual instructions! This exposure is called “grooming” and defined as “sexual abuse of children.” Starting in December 2023, groups of Alpena ...