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Letters to the Editor

Smalenberg deserves our vote for state House

Please vote for the only military veteran in the race, Todd Smalenberg. Todd Smalenberg is a patriotic American who has served his country both in the military and in the private sector. He grew up in northern Michigan and is now seeking to be our state rep. Todd is pro-gun, pro-life, pro-fiscal-responsibility, and pro-freedom. Todd will help reduce the bureaucratic waste that is sucking the life out of our free market, and he will fight the rising cost of living. Most importantly, Todd will not be voting like the current rep has for Gretchen Whitmer’s corporate welfare fund that has ...

Inappropriate books at APS, like the library

Now that the inappropriate material in the children and teen sections of the public library has been exposed to the public, what everyone should know is that the books are also in the Alpena Public Schools libraries. On top of the library books being present, we have more indoctrination going mainstream in our schools. The largest publisher of school books, Scholastic, puts out the following resource guidance: “Scholastic publishes a Pride Guide now, encouraging educators to distribute queer literature and books about transgenderism to elementary students, to use pseudo-pronouns, ...

Library brings us opportunity to learn, grow

To the editor, I did not expect to spend the last week of May reading a story about a remarkably bright octopus and yet there I was, determined to finish the book before the author came to Alpena on June 3. I’ll admit, I still had 60 pages left and was reading right up to the lights being dimmed in the auditorium, but I wasn’t going to miss one of my favorite special programs hosted by the Alpena Public Library. I became completely absorbed in the story that was outside of my typical choice of books because I was too curious to hear more from Shelby Van Pelt, who spent 51 ...

My father chose democracy, and I will, too

June 6, D-Day, come and gone. Did you remember the day? I watched coverage of the day as old men with broken bodies sat in their wheelchairs proudly displaying their medals pinned to their uniforms. I thought about my dad. He would say, “I was an 18-year-old farm boy when I left for the service.” The men and women in France on June 6 this year were 17, 18, and 20 years old 80 years ago. Strong bodies with even a stronger will to preserve freedom pulsed through their bodies back then. I heard while watching the D-Day coverage 230 men landed on one beach and by the end of ...

Protect Alpena and protect the library

I am speaking out regarding the Aug. 6 election proposal for the Alpena County Library. My family moved to the area two years ago, and, as we explored our new home, we found ourselves repeatedly impressed. We are avid homeschoolers and found an incredible support system through the Partnership, we love the outdoors and found a variety of public trails and beaches, and we are small business owners and found encouragement and networking. Not to mention enjoying the many offerings Alpena has produced: like the Alpena Community College, the Besser Museum, Art In the Loft, NOAA, and the ...

Don’t destroy beautiful 2nd Ave. maple tree

The City of Alpena has decided to remove a beautiful, large, ancient maple tree on South 2nd Avenue because of a complaint they received claiming that its roots are affecting a sewer system. The Department of Public Works representative says that they have now designated it as a “hazard,” not only for the root problem but also because its large trunk has damaged the sidewalk and street curb. Finally, she has determined, just by looking at it, that this tree is dying. After decades, this now “dying” tree is still sending out roots invading sewer systems? The representative ...