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Letters to the Editor

Looking forward to water protection plans

I was delighted to read in Wednesday’s paper that the Alpena Municipal Council and the Township have pledged to protect and preserve the ecological integrity of Thunder Bay and Lake Huron as a whole. I am greatly looking forward to their plans to address the pollution emanating from Decorative Panels International, Holcim, the giant salt pile, and the tractor-trailer trucks that barrel through downtown with their plumes of smoke daily. JESSICA LUTHER, Alpena

Join us for the annual Aliferis race in Alpena

Our family will serve as the honorary chairs of the 22nd annual MyMichigan Aliferis Race to be held on Sept. 2, 2023. We are writing this letter to encourage you and your family to join us in participating in this community event which promotes healthy living and our local medical center. Nancy and I have been blessed with the opportunity to live a healthy lifestyle and have participated in many sporting activities over the years. We shared this active lifestyle with our three children as they grew up and now enjoy watching our grandchildren as they become active in sporting ...

You can’t fool all of the people all of the time

In his Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023 ‘Commentary’ editorial, editor Justin Hinkley took issue with some readers interpreting a previous ‘Commentary’ about his Christian faith as a profession of allegiance with the reader’s conservative cause. Hinkley went on to say that these few thought he must be different from the other leftist media professionals and must be someone who believes in conservative principles and would be friendly to the conservative cause. He then boldly stated “I am not.” There you have it. In print. Hinkley says he is on no one’s side and gives equal voice ...

We need to solve country’s child care crisis

It’s unconscionable that we still haven’t solved the child care crisis in this country. The reality is that child care is unaffordable for too many families; some families report paying a third of their take home pay to child care. It is truly alarming that across the country, the annual price of infant child care often exceeds the annual cost of in‑state tuition at a public four‑year university. Too many parents — mostly moms — are pushed out of the workforce due to the lack of affordable child care. To top it off, early educators are being paid poverty-level wages and ...

Some thoughts on American political science

It just isn’t worth it. It is time to come together. As the story of the true believer at Heaven’s Pearly Gate goes, “You kept expecting the Lord to save you and he gave you three chances to save yourself.” Rats abandon a godforsaken ship. I will not abandon my neighbors and countrymen. LANCE A. HEITZ, Presque Isle

So grateful for show of community support

We are so fortunate to live in the supportive, hard-working, caring, and helpful community of Hillman, Michigan. During the recent fire of our beloved centennial barn, the Hillman Fire Department, with assistance from Long Rapids Fire Department and Tri-Township Fire Department, were spectacular volunteer fire departments that came to our aid and worked tirelessly to put out the 111-year old wood that seemed to vanish in seconds from our barn and to save the many adjacent buildings from also burning. These firefighters worked tirelessly for 12 hours to put out this fire. We also ...