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Letters to the Editor

Untruths hurt

To the editor: Early AM radios were developed in the 1920s and by the Great Depression were found in nearly every U.S. home. On Halloween of 1929, Orson Wells broadcasted “The War of The Worlds,” which was a depiction of an earlier H.G. Wells story of a Martian invasion of Earth. Although the drama was not intended to scare anybody and was only put out for entertainment, the opposite truly happened. There was nationwide panic as people thought that indeed Martians were conquering the Earth. Early black and white televisions came on the scene in the 1950s and by the early 1960s, ...

Thank you, PHA!

To the editor: The Hancock School Public Library would like to extend a HUGE thank you to the Portage Health Auxiliary! They gave us a grant of $3500 to purchase circulating STEM Kits and we are super-excited about this program. STEM is a term to describe science, technology, engineering and math, grouped into a focus of study and exploration. It develops higher level thinking skills, usually through hands-on practical application, and gets kids excited about science at all age levels. With this grant money, we will be able to purchase 35 kits to circulate to families, students and ...

State boosts local booze; more help needed

Michigan made a major move this week to boost the burgeoning craft distillery industry with the adoption of bipartisan legislation that makes distribution of some products simpler and taxes lower. Now it should tackle the remaining barriers keeping the promising new segment from reaching its full potential. The key piece of the four-bill package signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer deals with canned cocktails, the hot new segment of the liquor business that packages mixed drinks in an aluminum can. Michigan distillers can now raise the alcohol content of the ready-to-drink cocktails to ...

Thanks to Portage Health Auxiliary

To the editor: Simple Kindness for Youth (S.K.Y.) would like to thank the Portage Health Auxiliary for the grant received to support our mission of serving youth in our community by providing access to basic needs, educational activities or community participation. Our motto states, “Simple Kindness, enduring effect” and it is not always obvious how an individual act of kindness impacts one person, but... every youth benefits when they have community and adults that support their success! The Auxiliary deserves to be recognized for all the good work they do. The Guilded Rose ...

Blood donations

To the editor: First of all, I would like to thank everyone who donates blood. I have donated blood in the past and am no longer able to. If it wasn’t for people donating, I would no longer be alive. I have a rare blood disease and held transfusions frequently. Without donated blood, many people would not survive. I would like to wholeheartedly thank each and every one of you. You are truly angels on Earth. May God bless you each and every day.

Where are our leaders’ voices?

To the editor: On January 6, domestic violent extremists assaulted and killed Capitol Police as they stormed the U.S. Congress attempting to prevent the certification of of the 2020 Presidential Vote. Mere hours later, Rep. Jack Bergman (R) attempted to prevent the certification of the 2020 Presidential Vote. Since the election of Joe Biden as president in November 2020, Bergman was a principal supporter of the “Big Lie,” engaging in frivolous lawsuits that were dismissed without merit. He continues to avoid answering full page ads in his district newspapers asking him to ...