Opinion

A recap of the voting rules

Election Day is less than a week away and local voters have their fair share of proposals and candidates to consider on August 4. We hope that you’ll exercise your right to vote and take an active role in deciding who represents you at all levels of government. Some...

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Benefits of going local for online learning

We regularly expound the importance of shopping local because everyone—residents, business owners and municipalities—benefits from keeping our dollars local. The message is essentially the same when it comes to education too. We’re only about one month away from the...

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The role of newspapers in elections

Campaigning, like just about everything in 2020, will look different than usual because of the pandemic. There will be fewer public events and opportunities for candidates to meet and greet voters. No summer fairs or festivals to set up a booth. No parades to hand out...

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Enthusiasm for growing, learning

In the coming school year, Imlay City students will be fortunate to have a new “classroom” to explore. The school garden, currently flourishing on former tennis courts behind Weston Elementary School, is a grand community effort that has the potential to teach every...

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Having a reason to celebrate

Birthdays are supposed to be happy occasions but this year the 244th anniversary of our country’s birth feels different. Current events are weighing heavily on our minds and dominating our conversations too. For the past three months we’ve been fighting a pandemic...

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Youatt embodied vision, positivity

Outgoing city manager Tom Youatt has accomplished a lot on behalf of the citizens of Imlay City in just the six years he’s been on the job and city commissioners recognize that fact. The mayoral proclamation presented to Youatt at his last meeting comprises a...

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Staying safe in summer travels

Sometimes we pay a price for the mobility we generally enjoy. During the coronavirus pandemic and associated stay home orders, that mobility was restricted and it was especially evident on our state’s roadways. The Michigan Department of Transportation estimates that...

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Hiring process needs to be transparent

The role of city manager is an important one. From overseeing departments and employees to crafting budgets, addressing citizens’ needs, serving as the city’s spokesperson and advising city commissioners—the person who holds this job performs many critical tasks....

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The value of the U.S. Postal Service

Chances are that you’re reading this editorial after having retrieved this newspaper from your mailbox. The majority of our readers are those who faithfully subscribe so that means the U.S. Postal Service plays a major role in us being able to keep you informed every...

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Cheering on the Class of 2020

This is traditionally the season of caps and gowns, Pomp and Circumstance and inspiring speeches, but the ongoing pandemic has upended what’s been the tradition in our local high schools. It’s unfortunate that graduating seniors have missed out on experiencing special...

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