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Take steps to keep your vehicle secure

July marks Vehicle Theft Prevention Month, a timely reminder for drivers to take proactive steps to protect their vehicles. In 2024 alone, more than 850,000 vehicles were stolen nationwide, highlighting the importance of awareness and prevention. AAA urges drivers to lock their vehicles, stow valuables out of sight and park in well-lit areas. In addition, using anti-theft devices and technology can dramatically reduce the risk of theft. “It only takes a few seconds for a thief to steal a car that’s been left vulnerable,” said Adrienne Woodland, spokesperson for AAA—The Auto ...

Government doesn’t work without citizen participation

We’ve all had complaints at one time or another about government and what we consider to be its failures. We’ve all had concerns about rising taxes and how that money is spent. It turns out that in small-town America, governance requires participation, collaboration and a variety of viewpoints to get the job done. It’s our civic duty to pay our taxes and follow the law, but our civic responsibility does not end there. Boards and commissions in your municipality probably have some empty seats. Some of these bodies are provided for by state statute, like planning commissions, ...

Extracurricular activities can help youth mental health

The Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health recently came out with information that should not be a surprise: Youth can get mental health benefits from extracurricular activities. The office detailed the connections between extracurricular activities and youth mental health in its most recent fact sheet at https://children.wi.gov/Pages/ResearchData/FactSheets.aspx. Research found that kids who participate in extracurriculars such as lessons, sports, afterschool clubs or community ser­vice tend to have better mental health, according to the fact sheet. Extracurriculars are ...

Hunger a problem that can be beaten — if we choose to

The psychologist Abraham Maslow came up with a theory of how humans can reach their full potential. His article titled “A Theory of Human Motivation” appeared in a 1943 edition of “Psychological Review.” In it, Maslow describes an ascending order of needs that must be met for people to become their best selves. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs has five levels and takes the shape of a pyramid, with self-actualization at the top, the pinnacle where a person can achieve her or his full potential. Below self-actualization is esteem, which centers on personal respect, self-esteem and ...

Bay College’s tuition differences reflect the level of tax support

We’ve noticed that a number of people have pointed out tuition rates for Dickinson County residents attending Bay College are higher than what’s paid by Delta County residents. A millage renewal for Bay College will be decided in Dickinson County on Aug. 5, so it’s important to put this information in its full context. Bay College’s most recent independent audit by Rehmann LLC shows that for the year ending June 30, 2024, property taxes from Dickinson County paid to Bay totaled $1.23 million. The property tax levy in Delta County generated $4.53 million. It shouldn’t be ...

Construction zones can mean waits

The peak of the summer road construction season is rapidly approaching. Across the Upper Peninsula, there are numerous state highway projects in progress while others are just getting under way. The road projects construction often involves lane closures and sometimes the stoppage of traffic completely for several minutes. Coupled with the warmer summertime temperatures, all of this can result in frustration for motorists trying to get seemingly everywhere in a hurry. We want to urge drivers to try to relax and tolerate the inconvenience as a necessary evil for the ...