Alpena News editorial
Disturbing news out of Rogers City recently, as the Rogers City school district decided to put up for sale its Grambau Education Center, asking $500,000 and apparently taking the Presque Isle District Library folks by surprise.
According to reporting by News staff writer Crystal Nelson, the library folks were very publicly interested in that building for a library and community center and had openly pursued the idea of a property tax proposal. They’d already raised $12,000 toward the project, but they had no formal agreement with the school district to keep the building on hold for them.
Nick Hein, school superintendent, told his Board of Education he had talked to the library and urged them to continue pursuing the project, but, “If we are just narrowing ourselves to one thing, we’re not accomplishing it all the way.” Putting the building up for sale does not preclude any deal from coming together.
sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com
News Photo by Julie Riddle
The gazebo at Westminster Park in Rogers City badly needs extensive repairs. The City of Rogers City, along with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, may utilize a Patronicity crowdfunding effort to raise the $21,000 or so needed for the needed fixes.
ROGERS CITY–The City of Rogers City has begun the process of trying to acquire grant funding that may lead to improvements at Lakeside Park and Westminster Park.
The city’s Park and Recreation Commission supported City Manager Joe Hefele’s request to submit grant applications to the State of Michigan, which, if approved, would lead to restroom improvements at the lakefront pavilion and updated playground equipment at the beach.
Feb 16, 2021
Michelle Nowaczyk (Seminchuk) passed away Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021 in a Canadian care home. She was born July 20, 1963 to Thomas Nowaczyk and Kathleen Nowaczyk (Banks).
Michelle touched many hearts throughout her Earthly journey. She spread joy through humor and playfulness. Anyone gifted by her smile likely sensed her sincerity and the benevolence of her heart. Michelle’s love of laughter and people kept her inspired, despite a life of physical pain and illness. Her pets were adored and served as cherished companions. Decorating and cooking were natural talents. Her charm was expressed throughout her home and her creativity blessed each meal. Michelle and her loving husband Ken ran an adult foster care home for many years in Rogers City, Michigan. Together they shared in nurturing and guiding others. The final 11 years of her life were spent in her husband’s homeland of Sudbury, Canada. Michelle’s dedication to kindness will remain forever an inspiration to famil
Feb 15, 2021
∫ The Alpena Public Schools Board of Education’s Property Committee recommends the board award an asbestos abatement contract to Total Environmental for the district’s asbestos abatement projects in the amount of $198,200.
The district will be doing asbestos abatement at Hinks, Besser, Ella White, Sanborn, and Wilson elementaries, the former Sunset Elementary School, and Central Office as part of the $33.9 million property tax voters approved in March. The majority of the asbestos abatement will be completed in the boiler rooms of the schools.
Total Environment is the lowest bidder for the project and is recommended over three other contractors who submitted bids for the project.
cnelson@thealpenanews.com
News Photo by Crystal Nelson
Kim Margherio is pictured in her home in Rogers City. Margherio is the community events director with the city’s Downtown Development Authority and is among many residents working to get the city accepted into the Michigan Economic Development Corp.’s Main Street program.
ALPENA Rogers City officials knew the city’s population was declining, Mayor Scott McLennan said, but didn’t know how significant that decline was until a consultant completed an economic development plan last year.
The plan developed by the East Lansing-based firm Place and Main identified population decline as the number-one risk to the city’s future. Since 2000, the city has been on track to lose about 22% of its population or 745 people by 2024