How the FBI managed it I don’t know. I only know they have their methods. However, I was under the impression those methods were effective only on land. On a Great Lakes freighter I never encountered a man dressed in a dark blue suit. But somehow the former FBI director, while still ...
Is there no end to the dishonesty and shoddy treatment of those who served our country by bureaucrats at the Department of Veterans Affairs? Apparently not. In late February, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee asked VA officials about how long veterans were kept waiting for help at ...
When in doubt, form a study committee. Politicians love to study issues especially if they are explosive and could anger the public. By forming a study group they diffuse the issue for the moment and if a citizen asks for their position on the issue, they can say, "I won't know until the ...
The marriage between Northeast Michigan and SkyWest seems a solid one. That is the impression members of the county’s airport committee shared Thursday. Alpena County Regional Airport Manager Steve Smigelski told the committee that a recent visit from SkyWest representatives resulted in ...
A week from today will be a milestone for the Presque Isle Harbor Wooden Boat Show. For 25 years wooden boat aficionados have gathered together at one of Lake Huron’s most scenic ports to show off their craft, swap stories and share their enthusiasm with an adoring public. “I’m a car ...
Usually by the time I get around to my annual advice column for graduating college seniors, the loftier concepts have all been taken. For instance, Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook guy, told Harvard grads he got a girl to go out with him by telling her, "I'm going to get kicked out in three ...
These days, if you receive offers that contain the word “free” you can be sure that there is some kind of cost involved. If a recently formed group includes the word “indivisible” in their title, they may be inciting divisiveness. When a comedienne “apologizes” with no regard to ...
I was appalled and sick to my stomach to see that you would not only consider, but put into print in "our" newspaper the beheaded Kathy Griffin. A newspaper where all people, young and old, look forward to reading, and the younger children that just like to look at and enjoy the ...
This past month we received food for our pantry from Alpena and Lacine's post offices. It was a great selection of foods and it really helped to stock our pantry. It is greatly appreciated. We found their staff and volunteers to be very caring and loving people. We want area residents ...
Did you know that since the Endangered Species Act was passed, 98 percent of species listed as endangered have survived? Without it, we wouldn't have bald eagles today — but they were listed as endangered for 40 years. Humpback whales needed Endangered Species Act protections for 36 years, ...
I am personally very much opposed to the new changes to Alpena's downtown area. As both a Realtor, resident and Driving Instructor, I believe that our leaders (whoever voted yes on these changes) have made a major mistake. The negative impact on businesses, safety and people making the choice ...
Alpena sure knows how to show its patriotism. The 4th of July always has been a special day in town, but now area residents can add several more days to that list. Residents still are talking about the impact that the Avenue of Flags had on them over Memorial Day weekend. A joint project ...
It probably should come as no surprise that the Department of Veterans Affairs has been relying on an ancient computer program to manage electronic health records. Named VISTA (for Veterans Information Systems and Technology Architecture), the basic system appears to have been in use since ...
This summer sure is starting out with a bang. I’m looking at my calendar for the summer. The weekends are filling up fast. I can’t help but notice that Saturday is quite possibly the busiest day of the year in Alpena. This column is not to help promote individual events — I try to stay ...
Islamic terrorists who slaughtered seven people in London last week probably would have killed more had it not been for several courageous people who fought back. Their stories are illustrative of the extremists’ mindset. One hero in a pub saw all three knife-wielding brutes stabbing a ...
Our government should battle Islamic terrorists wherever they are, of course. But when they assault a people with whom we Americans have had a long friendship, our obligation becomes especially binding. Most terrorist attacks involve individuals or small groups of murderers. But a small ...
I have a sentence written on a Post-It note stuck to the wall of my office. It says, “What you don’t do, determines what you can do.” Lately I’ve been pretty overwhelmed with responsibilities, duties, obligations, and roles. We all wear many hats whether it be friend, coworker, ...
It is one thing to disagree with a president’s policies or to dislike his personality. It is quite another to engage in the hysteria — and that is the appropriate word — that some have directed against President Donald Trump. Led by some entertainers and politicians, a few critics of ...
Gov. Mark Bernstein? It could happen as the well-known and well-heeled trial lawyer from Detroit is "this" close to announcing he's in the Democratic primary for governor. The Mark Bernstein working the crowd at a business conference last week on Mackinac Island was not the same guy who ...
Graduation season is here, and for grads and families it’s a time to celebrate the achievement. Many people throughout Northeast Michigan will be helping this year’s graduates celebrate with parties and get-togethers. We want to urge everyone to do that celebrating responsibly. It ...