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Letters to the Editor

Open letter to Jack Bergman

This letter is an open letter to Congressman Jack Bergman Dear Congressman Bergman, I am writing to you as one of your constituents, and I am writing to say that you have lost my confidence. You have not held an open public town hall in this district in roughly eight years, according to critics and local organizers who have resorted to holding their own forums — with an empty chair in your place. When constituents in Escanaba and Traverse City tried, your office dismissed them as "political stunts." Congressman, the people who pay your salary are not a stunt. If you cannot face ...

Unfit for office

As a resident of Delta County, I believe voters deserve candidates who demonstrate a proven standard of professional competence, trust, and accountability. In local politics, we have seen public perception shaped not by merit, but by coordinated attacks aimed at poisoning the well of public opinion against local officials like David Moyle, Robert Petersen, and Bob Barron—as well as private citizens like myself. When evaluating who is fit to represent us, track record matters. My own experience with Kelli VanGinhoven highlights valid questions about administrative reliability. On ...

Endorsement for Hayse

I am writing to encourage the voters of Delta County to elect Andrew Hayse District Court Judge on November 3. I believe Andrew is the best candidate because he is an intelligent, genuine, caring man of integrity who has the experience that matters to jump in on day one. He has been in the courtroom as an assistant prosecutor, family court referee (handling family law cases just like a judge would), and district court magistrate. I especially like that he has always worked in the public service sector in his law career. His professional goal has always been to serve the public as a ...

Michigan kids need daylight after school

I've lived and worked in Iron Mountain for 47 years, and every winter I watch our kids lose the daylight. Here on Central time it's dark by 4:15 in December. A child gets off the bus and there's no light left for sledding, skating or a game in the yard. Four months indoors in front of a screen isn't good for anybody's health or mood. The Sunshine Protection Act would fix that by keeping us on Daylight Saving Time all year. The U.S. House passed it 308 to 117 this summer. It's stuck in the Senate because one senator, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, keeps blocking a vote. The usual objection is ...

Economy bad, costs up, wages not

Lowest approval ratings yet on 84 percent of voters’ number one issues: Economy and Costs of living (Pew). People nation-wide blame these on Trump’s tariffs and bad Domestic Policies. (Pew Research Center Oct. 8, 2026): Only 30 percent approve of Trump, 68 percent disapprove. Reuters/Ipsos (Oct. 5–6, 2026): Only 32 percent approve. This is after 22 months of total Republican majority control. Republicans voted him in and enabled his bad actions. Nobody can blame Joe, Obama or Hillary now. What else? 31 percent of his own 2024 voters now disapprove of his foreign policy, Iran ...

Does my vote matter?

I know, I know, we now live in a time that everyone doesn’t believe in a God that created the universe. Rather, we have chose to convince ourselves that God doesn’t exist. For the sake of this article, humor me for a few short paragraphs and allow yourself to consider there is a God and we are responsible for all of our decisions, all of our actions. A trip down “Memory Lane” is in order: My school day started exactly the same. All students would arrive for school at least ten minutes before classes began. Students were on the play-ground waiting for the bell to ring. When the ...