Breaking News

Letters To The Editor

Sometimes, the truth hurts

To the Journal editor: A disturbing trend has cropped up in our neighborhood: the spraying of pesticides/insecticides and other chemicals on lawns. Lawn care companies are promoting the use of these chemicals for “insect control,” “weed control,” “lush, green lawns.” But, these chemicals are not without risk. Glyphosate; 2,4-D; neurotoxic insecticides, other herbicides, etc., all have risks and side effects. (Glyphosate is classified as probably carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.) These chemicals have been associated with increased rates of ...

City prioritizing swim safety

To the Journal editor: As summer draws near, shoreline communities prepare to welcome visitors from around the world to enjoy the beautiful body of water that their community is nestled on. In Marquette, Lake Superior is our crown jewel; it’s important that residents and visitors alike are equipped to enjoy the water safely. The importance of beach safety in communities like Marquette cannot be overstated, especially given that May is Water Safety Month. As the founder of SwimSmart (a local company providing technology-based solutions for waterfront safety), and a Weather Ready ...

Is tech out of control?

To the Journal editor: Is technology a good thing? Of course it is. Imagine where we’d be without it. For example, look at how it’s dramatically improved the ability of medical specialists to locate and treat life-threatening diseases. And that’s just one example out of countless others. And for that we should be thankful. However, there are also certain aspects of technology that can have a negative impact on our lives. As we’re all aware, people sometimes have a bad habit of turning a plus into a negative by the abuse of what’s been given to them. This is ...

Learn from history

To the Journal editor: In 1939, Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia. The French, British, Australians, and Americans, future allies, did nothing. Hitler went on to invade Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands. France and England declared war on Germany, while the U.S. remained neutral. Those supporting the political stance of staying out of the war were labeled isolationists. In March 1941, Congress approved the Lend-Lease Act allowing the U.S. to ship ordnance to countries, primarily England, considered vital to the defense of our nation. The amount made available ...

Always appreciate teachers

To the Journal editor: During Teacher Appreciation Week, celebrated nationally the first week in May, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my education colleagues who tirelessly dedicate themselves to both traditional and virtual instruction. As an instructor at Republic-Michigamme Schools and with Michigan Virtual, I have the privilege of witnessing the hard work and commitment that educators pour into their roles every day. In today’s dynamic educational landscape, providing flexible pathways for students while maintaining solid relationships is paramount. I am continually ...

Person-to person best

To the Journal editor: With the continued advancement of technology, loneliness is a growing problem in our world with more texting, smart phones and even when you go to the stores, many have self-checkouts, no cashiers to talk to. Even getting phone calls, many are recordings and with A.I. coming, means robots or images of people that are not real ones. Many health magazines I read say to get back to talking to people in person, also make a phone and a personal note or letter is the way to go, just think a letter in the mail, not on a machine, time will tell but its moving the wrong ...