Democracy’s beacon shines locally

July 17, 2026

I enjoy reading my local newspaper, but subscribership has fallen off around the country and newspapers are in decline. Per Northwestern University, “Over the past two decades, the U.S. newspaper industry has seen a dramatic decline, with nearly 40% of local newspapers vanishing and print circulation dropping by about 70% since 2005. This decline is attributed to factors such as decreasing subscriptions, advertising revenue and increased competition from digital media, and changing consumer habits.” Is it time to reevaluate our habits? Yes, “free” news content from distance ...

Never in U.S. history

July 16, 2026

To the Journal editor: Never in U.S. history, has a sitting president ever sued the executive branch that he controls to obtain a personal financial recovery from the federal government. Yet, that is exactly what President Trump did by suing the IRS, one branch of the federal bureaucracy he controls, for $10 billion dollars. Trump claims that his reputation and businesses were damaged by billions of dollars from the unauthorized disclosure of his personal tax return, not even by the IRS, but by a third-party contractor. Actually, the unauthorized release of Trump's person tax records ...

What floor do you live on?

July 15, 2026

If we were to house everyone in the U.S. in a single skyscraper based on income level, how many floors would it have? The top floors would be for the wealthy and the bottom floors for the less wealthy. And in keeping with our sense of just entitlement, an additional $100,000 in income (or wealth) would be required to move up one floor. The first floor would house those earning $0 - $100,000. The second floor would require earnings of $100,001 - $200,000, while those on the third floor earned $200,001 - $300,000 etc. If you were fortunate enough, or as some would say, if you worked hard ...

Miracles abound

July 14, 2026

We’ve all been there. You reach a point where the weight is too heavy and you cry out to God for help. You pray daily, you look for a sign, and … nothing. Or at least, it feels like nothing. If I’m being completely honest, there have been plenty of times in my own life where I’ve cried out to God and wrestled with a terrifying thought: Am I just screaming into a void? Is anyone actually listening? In the Reformed tradition, we talk a lot about lament, the very holy, very biblical act of telling God exactly how frustrated, lonely or overwhelmed we are. It’s okay to admit the ...

Card of Thanks

July 13, 2026

To the Journal editor: On behalf of the family of LaRaine Wiggins, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the unwavering support from community members, businesses, relatives, and friends who shared wonderful stories about our Mom, words of kindness, condolences, understanding, letters, cards, food, generous donations and services. We would like to recognize our Chippewa Tribal Health Care Employees for assistance in defraying costs, referrals & to Nurse April Morgan for her house calls. Thank you for treatment from the many medical specialists at Helen Newberry Joy, ...

Supporting Dave Prestin for Senate

July 11, 2026

To the Journal editor: As the state representative for the 109th District, I am proud to endorse my colleague, Dave Prestin, for the 38th District State Senate seat. Dave is a proven fighter for the Upper Peninsula. He is actively battling radical green energy mandates to protect affordable, reliable power for our families and businesses. On mining, Dave is fighting to keep the Tilden Mine open; he supports our vital mining and timber industries. He is a consistent voice on government overreach, defending local control and private property rights. As a small business owner, first ...