Backs Florence school millage

March 24, 2021

I’ll vote “yes” on the school referendum question on the April 6, 2021 ballot. Interestingly, even with a “yes” vote and passage of the referendum, the millage rate for the school’s share of my property taxes will not increase over the next three years! In 2024, the fourth year of the referendum, the mill rate will still only increase to the level it was in 2019. Even if my taxes did increase, the most important asset we have as humans is our children. Seeing they have a free and appropriate education — regardless of income, social status, religion, race or disability ...

Stimulus will boost economy

March 17, 2021

It is Saturday morning as I write this and I had to “share.” I heard the minority leader of the Senate say that the stimulus package that just passed will have NO effect on our economy whatsoever. Who in the world gave him the power to suspend our entire form of economy and, further, ALL the laws of arithmetic? We have a consumer-driven economy that I have explained in the past in detail, as has my wife in her letters. We will not make you sit through that again. However, I do have to point out that if you put money in at the bottom of our economy, the economy grows. It is that ...

Opposition to Line 5 hurts jobs

March 15, 2021

I’m concerned by the misinformation, exaggeration and just plain lies that have become commonplace in the Line 5 debate, and feel environmental movements — such as the one to shut down Line 5 — continue to ignore the voices of working men and women. That’s where I fit in. I’m a proud member of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, or LIUNA. As union laborers, we work on the construction and maintenance of energy systems, including work on pipelines, nuclear power plants, solar farms, wind turbines, and other jobs critical to the energy industry. ...

Norway native touts Enbridge

March 10, 2021

As a native of Norway and a graduate of Michigan Technological University, the U.P. will always be “home.” I agree we need to be proactive in looking toward the future to embrace energy alternatives. Unfortunately, these alternatives simply to do not currently exist at the scale that our modern society demands. It will take time. I have worked for Enbridge for over 18 years and am privileged to work with an incredible team that safely and efficiently delivers the current forms of energy that Michigan needs and demands. Enbridge’s Line 5 represents Pure Michigan at its ...

Trust fund seeks suggestions

March 8, 2021

Though spring seems so far in the distance, this is a good time to be thinking ahead to things that can only be done when the weather cooperates. The August Lilja Trust has promoted and completed many beautification efforts in the Iron Mountain area over the years and the committee that makes the decisions as to the yearly project or projects would welcome ideas from the community. Unfortunately, the work can only be done within the Iron Mountain city limits; this is according to the will of the donor. If you have an idea or ideas, please put your suggestions in writing and leave at ...

Line 5 isn’t worth the risk

March 4, 2021

In 2010, an Enbridge pipeline ruptured, spilling 1 million gallons of oil into the Kalamazoo River. It was the largest spill in history and is still being cleaned up. Line 5 is 15 years older than that pipeline. So many residents of Michigan rely on our fresh water here in this special place we call “Pure Michigan.” The spilling of oil into the Kalamazoo was poorly handled despite claims from Enbridge that they would react quickly. This was one of 1,068 spills that dumped over 7 million gallons of oil in a 14-year span. In a recent shopper’s guide, Enbridge had a large and ...