While September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month, groups in Northeast Michigan are recognizing the year-round responsibility of saving lives by offering suicide prevention training this month. As Lifestyles editor Darby Hinkley informed us in a recent edition, Abundant Life ...
Along this way we’re bound upon, we can awaken to find ourselves in a dark wood — or not. Either way, we may need a tow. To that dark wood, let’s add a swamp — that way we can get buried to our axles. I’ll not discuss scenarios of causation. I’ve never heard a good one and can ...
The lead in the Flint water supply probably did not impact your health, but it’s about to smack you right in the pocketbook. Michigan taxpayers will be on the hook for part of a likely multimillion out-of-court settlement that is inching its way through a federal court, where the judge has ...
We don’t envy the position in which Alcona County commissioners find themselves. They’ve cut costs. They’ve raised fees. They’ve instituted a hiring freeze, as reporter Crystal Nelson told us in a story in Saturday’s edition. As Nelson told us on today’s front page, county ...
Politico Magazine recently turned to some of the nation’s leading thinkers for a massive series called “How to Fix Politics.” I’d encourage you to check out the whole thing here: https://tinyurl.com/y2wna2am. But I was particularly drawn to a section about how to fix ...
I am writing in regards to our city official/harbormaster, Don Gilmet, who had to be called and reminded to lower the flag at the boat harbor on 09-11. I am embarrassed by his lack of empathy and disrespect to those who lost their lives that day and the families left behind. Sept. 11 will ...
On the 2nd Avenue bridge over the Thunder Bay River, you can find a small plaque commemorating the Sept. 24, 1819 signing of the Treaty of Saginaw, an agreement between Michigan’s American Indian tribes and Lewis Cass, then the governor of the territory of Michigan, for how northern Michigan ...
Last week Earl Elowski expressed his opinion, “What does global warming or climate change have to do with us?” I can tell you, Earl, that you are completely ignorant to the facts. Also I would like to say that global warming and temperature rising affects ALL of us. If anyone has family, ...
Come Heller high water ... ∫ Congressional Republicans are treating the Trump/Zelensky memo like it’s a particularly hard “Where’s Waldo?” Gosh, they just can’t find a quid pro quo anywhere! Let me help. Trump: “I will say that we do a lot for Ukraine. We spend a lot of effort ...
In a News column by Betsy McCaughey last Sept. 12, where the pope calls “foreign aid a farce,” couldn’t be more truthful! Former presidential candidate Ron Paul said it’s unconstitutional to start with. If so, why in the hell are we doing it? Is it a religious mandate that has been ...
The Alpena News accepts guest columns of up to 800 words from individuals whose expertise in and/or personal experience with a subject can offer insights beyond the limits of a letter to the editor. Only subjects affecting Michigan —particularly Northeast Michigan —will be considered. ...
Why is Heather Winfield’s name again on the front page of the Alpena News (Sept. 17) on an article that is not even 50% about her? It must help sell papers. This used to be called yellow journalism — salacious, one-sided, exaggerated stories. What happened to presumed innocent? Would anyone ...
In regard to Earl Elowsky’s recent letter to the editor mocking climate change and those who find the evidence irrefutable, I’m wondering, Earl, by what authority you are making your claim. You say you don’t know how many scientists don’t believe it’s human-caused. “A bunch,” as ...
It’s disheartening to see so many people treating local rural roads as their own personal dumping ground. It’s not uncommon to find fast food waste, drywall, old tires, piles of trash, and plastic bags stuffed full of soiled diapers dumped along the roadside and flung into the ditches. Not ...
Let’s go back three years when the gas tax went from 19 cents a gallon to 26 cents a gallon. State Rep. Peter Pettalia and Sen. Jim Stamas with fellow legislators took months of talking to citizens, transportation officials and county road commissions. They put together a comprehensive plan ...
As with any government proposal, thinking persons ask: what are the specifics and who is paying for it? Medicare-for-All is no exception. In brief, everyone would have mandated government insurance at Medicare-level coverage. From a health insurance perspective, that is a mixed blessing but ...
We recently had a small family reunion at J.J.’s Pizza and Steak House. We reserved a few tables in the game room, where several patrons were enjoying four different football games on the televisions. Our waiter spoke with Mr. Benson, and offered us a newly renovated room at no extra charge ...
“What is downtown?” is usually how I begin presentations I give about the downtown or the Downtown Development Authority, where I work. What is the downtown? According to two high school classes I asked last week: “Downtown Scoops.” “Cabin Creek.” “Lots of old buildings.” ...
Northeast Michigan public health officials are warning that this year’s flu season could be more severe than typical, News staff writer Crystal Nelson informed us last week. Health officials watching the flu spread in the Southern Hemisphere said a more severe strain of the flu — H3N2 — ...
I like all four seasons, but fall has always been my favorite. The changing leaves are beautiful. I feel more comfortable outside because I don’t turn into a sweaty mess, and I don’t have to bundle up from head to toe. There is an abundance of football, chili, and apple cider. Autumn ...