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Feb 11, 2021
Courtesy Photos
A young Bill Speer reads The Alpena News in his office years ago. Today is Speer’s last day as publisher of The Alpena News, as he is retiring after 42 years in the newspaper business. Here are some photos of his journey throughout his tenure at The News.
Bill and Diane Speer and The Alpena News crew gather at the fairgrounds decades ago.
Ken Pokorzynski, Bill Speer, Todd McConnell and Laura Lancewicz represent The News at a golf outing.
Bill Speer talks with former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm.
Bill Speer accepts a framed State of Michigan proclamation from State Senator Jim Stamas, R-Midland. The proclamation honoring his years of service in the newspaper industry, is signed by Stamas, State Rep. Sue Allor, R-Wolverine, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The Michigan House of Representatives also passed a similar proclamation for Speer.
sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com
Trying to find the words to express my appreciation and respect for my boss, Bill Speer, as he moves into retirement has proved challenging and emotional for me.
There are so many things I want to tell him, and so little space to do so.
The only words I can come up with are “thank you.”
Thank you, Bill, for seeing something in me that I didn’t even see in myself, and for having enough faith in me to represent The News. I love this job, and you along with my former editor, Steve Murch made it all possible.
sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com
News Photo by Julie Riddle
Justin Hinkley, recently named publisher and editor of The News, poses in front of the building in downtown Alpena on Thursday.
ALPENA Justin Hinkley, the current managing editor of The Alpena News, has been named publisher and editor of the newspaper.
He will assume the new positions on Feb. 12, upon the retirement of longtime publisher Bill Speer.
Hinkley promises to continue the time-honored traditions of The Alpena News of providing readers what they want and deserve, with high-quality reporting, storytelling, and service.
“For more than 122 years, The Alpena News has been the leader in news coverage and the most responsive and effective advertising medium for Northeast Michigan,” Hinkley said. “We will continue to focus on local news reporting and providing quality advertising, both in our printed newspaper and our digital website, TheAlpenaNews.com. We take very seriously our role in informing our readers a