Harrisville made Northeast Michigan history earlier this year by becoming the first local government in the region to affirmatively allow recreational marijuana businesses after Michigan voters legalized the drug in November. The new law allows Michiganders 21 or older to buy and consume ...
The Michigan League for Public Policy has produced the Kids Count in Michigan Data Book since 1992. And, while child well-being in Michigan has fluctuated during the last 27 years, a few things have been constant: the integrity of our data, the goal to generate policy change, and the intent to ...
Each day this week, criminal justice reporter Julie Riddle is profiling a law enforcement officer from various Northeast Michigan agencies in honor of National Police Week. On Monday, we met Patrolman Adam David, of the Alpena Police Department, who was inspired into police work by his ...
The irony of the moment was not lost on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. There she was, taking a victory lap on a bipartisan plan to block law enforcement from keeping confiscated property from suspected drug dealers who were never convicted of a crime. Standing about six feet in back of her was the ...
Two armed teenagers bent on carrying out a massacre invaded STEM School Highlands Ranch in Colorado on Tuesday. Life-saving courage enough was shown by a school security guard who ran toward the sound of gunfire and apprehended one of the assailants. At least the guard, a Marine veteran, ...
Alpena Community College kicked off the 2019 graduation season on Thursday as about 150 of their 337 graduates turned their tassels in the college’s commencement ceremonies. The photo taken by News reporter Crystal Nelson showed the joy, excitement and nervousness in students’ faces as ...
Pundits and prognosticators much smarter than I now have the task in front of them to try and decipher the meaning of the vote this week regarding Alpena Public Schools’ bond request. For what it’s worth, however, as I have sat and analyzed the lopsided results Tuesday, I trace the roots ...
Now it came to pass that the latest class of the Alpena Sports Hall of Fame inductees were honored on May 4 at the Aplex. My congratulations to all five, especially Mr. Bill Romstadt Sr., whom I have admired for decades as a great teacher, coach, VFW chaplain 2496 (USMC) and friend with the ...
EDITOR’S NOTE: Before we begin this column, a note of correction. Last week, I wrote about the importance of thinking and reading critically. In that column, I wrote about a University of Connecticut study in which researchers directed students to a website detailing the fictional tree ...
Our rural life brings us daily beauty along with challenges. What a treasure seeing orphaned fawns being cared for released was. Now fear of disease has stopped a practice that was, I’m sure, a delight of heaven! I am betting a common-sense approach will one day rule again. Likely, ...
Where is the line in the sand drawn regarding government’s regulations of rights people have enjoyed for years? In Alpena, that line could be drawn at city beaches this summer. The Municipal Council approved moving forward with an ordinance this week that would prohibit smoking of ...
It’s too bad that those who are educating children don’t know what “NO” means, themselves. So the bonds are voted down and, for some reason, some people aren’t educated enough to understand why. They feel they need to go talk to the people that voted NO? You just can’t make this ...
The recent school infrastructure millage debate highlights the high cost of maintaining an obsolete educational delivery system. We are well into “the information age,” and the goal should be development of online or other electronic media delivery of the mandated free public education. ...
On May 6, 2019, in the Alpena Newss was this viewpoint about what was going on at the high school, “A week of good news for Alpena High.” But you forgot the FFA Banquet and Award Dinner. Don’t you think they should be honored, too? Mr. Worth and Mrs. Smith do a great job. Then, on the ...
The times, they are a changin’. So was the title of Bob Dylan’s 1964 classic. We were reminded of that song this week after reading of the Alpena Downtown Development Authority’s recommendation to the Alpena Municipal Council that the city allow “up to two medical marijuana ...
A park. No, not a park. A parking lot. Except we don’t need more parking. We just need people willing to walk to their destination. We need more parking, but not in a lot. A parking garage would be better. But it must be free parking. An apartment complex would be great in that space. But ...
It is inevitable that some of the 8 million or so species of plant and animals on our Earth will go extinct within the next few decades. Some will die out this year. In many ways, nature is no guardian of biodiversity. Human activity is accelerating the rate of die-offs, scientists warn. ...
If you’re looking for work, this is the best job market in 50 years. The economy is soaring. But Democrats running for president are pitching plans that will destroy millions of jobs, doubling the number of people out of work. Consider “Medicare for All.” It could wipe out a ...
There are people who do not matter much. That’s a painful truth, starkly at odds with our Jeffersonian creed and national mythology. But it is a truth, nevertheless, one frequently proven in actions if denied in words. In this country, by dint of race, gender, class or status, some people ...
Ah, spring. Sun’s starting shine. Grass is greening. Flowers soon to bloom. Birds chirping, hungry for the feeder you’re all too happy to refill ... ... and bears waking up from their winter slumber, lumbering into your back yard for a nibble. On Monday, News reporter Julie Riddle ...