Voting NO on the Copper Shores Millage

Editor:

With the August 5th election drawing closer, please take some issues into consideration in regards to the Copper Shores Elder Nutrition Millage.

Copper Shores was just awarded $20 million from our attorney general, add that to the approximate $70 million they had in the bank, and it’s close to $90 million they have. They are remodeling/building a new $2,100,000 building in Hancock. The CEO gets $150,000 a year. The Foundation appears to be more interested in growing their endowment instead of having the board increase its spending to the Meals on Wheels program.

The proposed 1.0 millage is quite high compared to similar initiatives elsewhere in Michigan. The state average for senior millages is 0.5821 mills. What is the explanation for this?

Why wasn’t fundraising considered? Those who are able to donate and want to could do it through a fundraiser. Local people and organizations along with national institutions would be willing to donate to cover the costs, instead of forcing those in financial distress or who would rather help the elderly on their own.

There is no income, asset, lack of transportation, or disability verification. Anyone age 60 or older can receive free meals along with a caregiver.

We all want our elderly to be well fed and have personal contacts, but different solutions should have been studied before raising property taxes and making it harder for the elderly on fixed incomes (and others) to stay in their homes. I encourage voters to vote NO on the Meals on Wheels millage.

Sharon Foix

Calumet

Our Elderly are Worth Caring For

Editor:

Copper Country Strong and Meals on Wheels are true Copper Country and UP traditions. A small millage is being voted on to take care of our elderly.

The two groups that are coincidentally the most valuable and vulnerable are our elders and our children. The past, our storytellers, and the future, the next chapter. We, those eligible to vote in the August 5th election, are the current writers. Let us honor our storytellers and give the future a good rough draft.

The feeding of any person is essential for health and well-being. Thankfully, we have the schools and 31 Backpacks for our children. Copper Shores Meals on Wheels saves our elderly. What else does Meals on Wheels do for our elderly? In many cases, the Meals on Wheels representative is the only contact a senior has all day. Not so uncommonly there is no response and this starts a great chain of events, including the police and ambulance. For several tenants of the Douglass House this has been a wake up call: a stroke, broken hip, or other medical issue has occurred. The seniors in the Copper Country are not numbers, they are our people.

There are many misinformed members of our great community about Copper Shores, previously called the Portage Health Foundation. It does not take much research to find the amazing effect they have had on our community aside from supporting Dial Help and Meals on Wheels. Just take a quick look at all of the nonprofits in the area, from fire to food, that have benefited from Copper Shores’ Giving Tuesday and other contributions made by Copper Shores throughout the year. Please vote to help feed our seniors and keep Copper Country Strong.

Robert Megowen

Houghton

Incompetence

Editor:

Americans on both sides of the aisle are realizing that the current POTUS is both incompetent and indecisive. Because of his disorder, he is incapable of understanding nuance and lacks empathy. Back in the late 80’s and early 90’s, Republicans accused Democrats of being “flip-floppers”. Ironically, they now have the greatest “Flipper” in U.S. history sitting in the Oval Office. He can’t decide on anything.

His executive orders have been easy to issue. About 39% are being challenged in court as illegal or unconstitutional. His diplomacy (lack of) is ridiculed around the world. With his narrowly passed budget bill, Flipper has thrown the vast majority of his supporters under the bus by cutting access and support for reasonable health care, raising their taxes (through his ridiculous tariffs), stifling their basic constitutional rights, and it is clear, that he despises the middle class and worships the excessively rich. He doesn’t need their votes anymore.

Privately, most Republican lawmakers can’t tolerate the POTUS, but they lack the political spine to oppose his half-baked and ill-conceived policies. America was built on the backs of Middle Americans, yet now, these same people are smack dab in the crosshairs (literally) of this disordered buffoon and his incompetent political appointees. Russia and China are just sitting back waiting for the wheels to fall off. They may not have long to wait. It’s time to wake up, America!

Mike Irish

Houghton

Thank You

The Twin Lakes Volunteer Fire Department would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended and supported our annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser. Your presence and generosity made the event a great success. Your support helps us continue to serve our community with the resources we need. Events like this not only help raise critical funds for equipment, training, and safety initiatives, but they also remind us how fortunate we are to be part of such a caring and connected community. We are truly grateful for your continued support and hope to see you again next year!

Jared Johnson

Toivola

Thanks