Alcona County, “First of the 83,” looks south to faraway Iosco County this month.
Harrisville is equidistant between Alpena and Tawas City, and between Ossineke and Oscoda. Is Alcona more in the orbit of Alpena County or Iosco?
Some say that Up North begins at the Alcona-Iosco county line. Reach Greenbush (motto: “People Loving People”), and you’re there! Stay in Oscoda, and you’re still kind of downstate, those some say.
But Iosco seems as fully Up North as Alpena, with one major exception: Wurtsmith. The sprawling Air Force base dominated the Iosco/Alcona corridor for 30 years. And will again. Soon.