Alpena News editorial
The coronavirus has struck another popular Northeast Michigan event The Alpena News’ Business Expo and Newspapers in Education Book Sale.
“The expo has been delayed, not abandoned,” said Alpena News Publisher Bill Speer.
The first Saturday in February this year, the 6th would have been the 21st Business Expo sponsored by the newspaper. However, because of crowd size restrictions in the state right now and concern about bringing large crowds of people together in confined spaces, the staff at the newspaper made the decision to postpone the event until later, when it can be held safely again.
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
The Alpena News
News Photo by Justin A. Hinkley
Bill Speer, longtime publisher of The Alpena News, reads a copy of his newspaper recently in front of tall stacks of newsprint stored at the newspaper in downtown Alpena. Speer will retire next month after 42 years in journalism, 33 of those years in Alpena, including 30 as publisher.
ALPENA Forty-two years ago, Alpena News Publisher Bill Speer began his professional career as a journalist.
On Feb. 11, when he turns out the lights to his office for the last time, he will end a career that spanned three states, numerous roles, and that has seen him supervise hundreds of employees.
Jan 15, 2021
Reporters here at The Alpena News last week completed an exhaustive series on the availability of broadband technology across the region.
The series was both insightful and frightening, in that it revealed that, as a region, we are woefully behind other areas of the country for new technology use.
According to the Federal Communications Commission, 6,700 homes in the four-county area of Alpena, Alcona, Presque Isle, and Montmorency counties lack the infrastructure for an internet connection that is reliable or fast enough for today’s world.
Specifically, the share of residents who lack a dependable connection is 8% in Alpena County, 38% in Alcona County, 33% in Presque Isle County, and 40% in Montmorency County.
Alpena News editorial
Reporters here at The Alpena News last week completed an exhaustive series on the availability of broadband technology across the region.
The series was both insightful and frightening, in that it revealed that, as a region, we are woefully behind other areas of the country for new technology use.
According to the Federal Communications Commission, 6,700 homes in the four-county area of Alpena, Alcona, Presque Isle, and Montmorency counties lack the infrastructure for an internet connection that is reliable or fast enough for today’s world.
Specifically, the share of residents who lack a dependable connection is 8% in Alpena County, 38% in Alcona County, 33% in Presque Isle County, and 40% in Montmorency County.