The air we breathedon’t test, don’t tell

Growing up in Grand Rapids, I personally witnessed industrial waste trickling out of factory pipes into the Grand River and recall some referring to it as the “Grand Sewer”. After many decades of pollution, we learned that toxic bottom sediments accumulated and poured directly into Lake Michigan. Public health experts warn us about limiting the consumption of fish from these waters because these poisons have found their way into the flesh of aquatic life, limiting their value as safe food sources.

Something similar may be happening with our air quality, and we are using nearly $3M in taxpayer resources to subsidize the Grayling Generating Station (GGS) power plant near Grayling, just next door to beautiful Higgins Lake.

Currently, there are nine “biomass fuel generators” in Michigan. This phrase seems to make contaminated air sound more palatable to the public, but they are simply waste incinerators. They burn wood waste in combination with “tire derived fuel” which is a buzz phrase for old tires, making up around 10% of what they incinerate. They sell this un-green electricity to Consumers Energy. In 2018 alone, for example, the GGS incinerated 277,890.46 tons of waste wood and 2,412.45 tons of tire waste. This program was put in place by the Michigan legislature years back due to intense special interests lobbying efforts.

To quote Grayling Generating Station’s most recent, required annual

Farmer's market

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N State St, Gladwin. May – Oct. Sat: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

West Branch Farmers MarketS 3rd Street, West Branch. June – Oct. Sat: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Standish Farmers Market- 107

N Main St, Standish. June- Sept. Fri: 2 – 6 p.m.

Grayling Farmers Market- 213

N. James Street, Grayling. MaySept. Thurs: 2 – 6 p.m.

Ogemaw East Branch Library communication with the Michigan Public Services Commission (PSC), they are “not subject to the federal Mercury and Air Toxics Standard 40 CFR Part 63.” The citizens of the region therefore lack useful information about how much mercury and other toxins are being emitted in their stack plume on Four Mile Road. Waste tire burning emits unsafe amounts of cadmium, mercury, and arsenic. Operators of these biomass power plants are not required to comprehensively test, record, and report this information but once every five years. Good grief!

This GGS letter to the PSC goes on to assert that they are in compliance with federal regulations, because they are exempt from them! We all have a right to know what is going up in smoke in Grayling and what we are all being exposed to. This is beginning to smell like the Grand River problem or the firefighting foam mess that has already contaminated Grayling’s ground water.

Because of failures in testing and reporting emissions required under their operating permit, in 2022 the Grayling Generating Station was fined $43,000 and placed under a consent order for five years with the condition that they will pay $2000/ per day per violation if additional compliance variances occur.

In the interests of community health and environmental risks, we all need to know what’s coming out of the smokestack there. We shouldn’t be subsidizing these operations with taxpayer charity.

Phillip Robinson

Roscommon

Sister Jean

Continued from page 1 life. Supporting women creates safe, energized (people who positively) impact lives beyond (their own).”

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Farmers Market- 220 Washington St, Prescott. May – Oct. Wed: 1:305:30 p.m.

Plainfield Township Farmers Market- 220 West Washington Hale. May – Sept. Sat: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Arenac Conservation District

Farmers Market-107 N Main Street Standish. June – Oct. Sat: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Northeast Michigan Regional Farm Market- 815 W. Lake Street Tawas City. May – Nov. Sat: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Northeast Michigan Regional Farm Market- 4440 US-23 Oscoda. May – Nov. Wed: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Among her other works, Jean is a supporter of Riverhouse Women’s Shelter in Grayling. Her women’s circle has collected materials for them for years.

At 87, Jean looks at life through a changing lens. She faces her next season with courage. taking steps to do what needs to be done next “because it is the right thing to do.”

Her willingness to discipline itself, living kindly and in service, is testament to a woman who freely shares what she has learned in hopes to strengthen others.

Our community and the women touched by her work would agree: We ARE better than when she found us.

Out & About

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9 a.m.-2pm, Brugger Plaza, 324 W. Lake Street, Tawas City

Wed: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.- Northeast Michigan Regional Farm Market-

4440 US-23, Oscoda

Sat: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.- Plainfield Township Farmers Market- 220 West Washington, Hale

Sat: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.- Northeast Michigan Regional Farm Market815 W. Lake Street, Tawas City

OGEMAW COUNTY: West Branch, Rose City, Lupton Ogemaw County Extras:

Tues. – Kiwanis Club of West Branch, at Noon, Buccilli’s of West Branch

Weds. – BINGO, Early Birds at 6:30 p.m., Regular 7:45 p.m., Knights of Columbus off M-30

Weds. – AL-ANON meeting, 8 p.m., 12 Step-Up Club, 236 First Street

Weds. – Culvers Cruise In, 6 – 8 p.m., Culvers West Branch

Thurs. – Optimist Club, 7 a.m., Loggers Depot, 314 Houghton Avenue

1st Sun. – Adult Children of Alcoholics, 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 2490 State Road

1st & 2nd Mon. – City Council meeting, 6 p.m., West Branch City Hall, 121 N. Fourth Street

1st & 3rd Tues. – Rose City Council meeting, 6 p.m., Council Chambers, 310 N. Williams Street

1st Tues. – West Branch Retail Merchants meeting, 6 p.m., City Police Station, 130 Page Street

1st Wed.- Ogemaw County

Veterans Coffee Hour- 9-10 a.m.

1st & 3rd Thurs. - Newborn

Parent Support Group, 6 p.m., MyMichigan Health West Branch in the Executive Dining Room

1st Thurs. – Ogemaw County

Fair Board meeting, 7 p.m., meets in main building

2nd Mon. - Kiwanis Young

Professional Club, 6 p.m., Highway Brewing Company

2nd Tues – Parkinson's Disease

Support Group, 2:00 p.m., MyMichigan Medical Center West Branch Executive Dining Room

2nd Wed. – Aktion Club, 9:30 a.m., United Methodist Church

2nd Wed. - Business Professional

Women’s group, 5 p.m.

2nd Wed. - Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia Support Group, 2- 3:30 p.m. MyMichigan Medical Center West Branch

Executive Dining Room

2nd & 4th Thurs. - Healing

Together – Compasus Hospice, 10 a.m., Ogemaw Commission on Aging, 1508 M-33

3rd Mon. - Disabled American Veterans & Auxiliary meeting, 5 p.m., VFW Post 3775

3rd Tues.- OCGHS General Membership Board meeting, 2:30 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, 100 E. Houghton Avenue

3rd Thurs. – Vet2Vet Peer Support

Group 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church corner of Fairview and State Road, for more info call 989-8736088

3rd Thurs. - Ogemaw Area Swim

Boosters 6 p.m., Ogemaw Heights

High School Room 210

2nd Sat. - Ogemaw Hills

Snowmobile club meeting, 9 a.m., Club House

Wed: 1:30- 5:30 p.m.- Ogemaw East Branch Library Farmers Market220 Washington St, Prescott

Sat: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.- West Branch Farmers Market- S 3rd Street, West Branch

OTHER REGIONS:

Weds-Patio Grilling and Horseshoe League-5-7 p.m. -Mio Moose Lodge 631 Ryno Road for more info call 989-826-5800

1st and 3rd Thurs- Alcona County Veteran's Coffee Hour- 9 a.m.- Westminster Presbyterian Church 201 M 2nd St. Harrisville

1st Fri- Fish Fry- 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.Luzerne American Legion.- For info call 989-826-5950

2nd Mon- Mio Methodist Meeting

2nd and 4th Fri- Clothes Closet for Adults- 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.- Comins

Community Church- 4263 W. First St. Comins

4th Weds- Cheboygan Co

Veteran's Coffee Hour- 9 a.m.

-Cheboygan VFW

3rd Thurs- Craft Day- 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.- TriPoint Church of God- 831 W. Miller, Mio

4th Thurs- Alpena Veteran's

Coffee Hour- 9 a.m. Art in the Loft

Every Mon- Bible Study- 10 a.m. and 7 p. m. - Living Water Luthern Church behind Dollar General, Mio

Every Tues- Women's Group6:30 p.m.- TriPoint Church of God- 831 W. Miller, Mio- for more info call Deb 989-390-2708

Every Tues- Pickleball- 1 p.m.TriPoint Church of God for more info call Pastor Jody 989-390-9150

Every Tues 5/2- 5/30- Grief Share Support Group- 2-4 p.m.Mio UMC- for more info call Barb Butler 989-390-6617

Every Weds- Men's Fellowship10 a.m.- Living Water Luthern Church

Every Weds- Women's Bible Study- 10 a.m. Living Water's Luthern Church

Every Weds- Burgers Grilled on the Patio- 4:30-7 p.m. - Luzerne American Legion

Every Thurs- Men's Group- 7 p.m.-TriPoint Church of God- for more info call Gene 989-350-0638

Every Sun- Pickleball- 3 p.m.TriPoint Church of God for more info call Pastor Jody 989-390-9150

1st Fri- Fish Fry Dinner, Luzerne American Legion, 4:30-7 p.m. Fri: 2 – 6 p.m.- Standish

Farmers Market- 107 N Main St, Standish

Sat: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. -Arenac

Conservation District Farmers Market-107 N Main Street, Standish Sat: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.- Gladwin

Farmers Market- 200 N State St, Gladwin