Editorial

Rubbernecking the world’s woes ruins my retirement

September 5, 2021

ACHTUNG: The following is not a “fair and balanced” article. It is an editorial by the editor. “There ain’t nothin’ I can do about it.” — The Supremes, “You Keep Me Hangin’ On.” “Nobody seems to notice, nobody seems to care.” — Comedian George Carlin. These two quotations may best...

Last 2 local police chiefs very different on the job

August 30, 2021

ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” article. It is an editorial by the editor. Steve Harper Mark Garnsey The City of Wayland has had two police chiefs in the past nine years, and the difference between them in how they have approached their jobs is striking. One, Lt....

So is the local town crier in the business over his head?

August 20, 2021

“What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate” — Strother Martin in “Cool Hand Luke,” 1966 ACHTUNG: This is not a "fair and balanced" article. It is an editorial by the editor. It was regrettable, but inevitable, what happened earlier this week. Townbroadcast published a story Thursday night erroneously...

Death of Kiwanis another sad ‘Bowling Alone’ chapter

August 12, 2021

ACHTUNG: This is not a "fair and balanced" article. It is an editorial by the editor. It was with great sadness that I received the news this week that the Wayland Kiwanis Club is calling it quits. Kiwanis, which did a lot of quality things to help the local school...

Editorial

Tuinstra again spreading misleading info about taxes

July 31, 2021

To the editor: John Tuinstra At the Dorr Township offices recently, there were a bunch of phone calls, either angry, frustrated, or confused with the general question being ‘Why are you guys doing this to me?’ In all sorts of flavors and degrees of heat. It wasn’t until one gentleman...

Do 40 percent of Americans have a serious death wish?

July 16, 2021

ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” article. It is an editorial by the editor. Once upon a time, but not long ago, smoking cigarettes, use of tobacco, was regarded by the medical community as the single most preventable cause of death. Big Tobacco’s lofty No. 1 standing in...

Editorial

Guest editorial: Resistance to Covid vaccine is baffling

July 15, 2021

EDITOR'S NOTE: Julie Mack is a retired journalist, most recently working for MLive, focusing mostly on Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. She posted this on Facebook this week: by Julie Mack Julie Mack Now that I'm retired, I've been musing about the key takeaways from my past 15 months of reporting...

Editorial

School board ruckuses may be coordinated or planned

July 13, 2021

To the editor: RE: Townbroadcast story about "Torches & Pitchforks" group appearing at school board meeting: This is an organized effort with the strings being pulled by multiple politically motivated groups. It's no different than what was seen more than a decade ago when the “grass roots” Tea Party crowded...

Editorial

Comparisons of Trump and Rev. Jim Jones frightening

July 9, 2021

To the editor: From Thom Hartman: Representative Jackie Spears got it right, and she should know. Back in 1978, Spears – then a 28-year-old aide to Congressman Leo Ryan – flew down to Guyana to investigate reports that Reverend Jim Jones was stealing money from his parishioners and subjecting them...

Editorial

CRT isn’t the bogeyman that right-wingers say it is

July 2, 2021

ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” article. It is an editorial by the editor. The latest in a long line of bogeymen our right-wing friends have dragged out into the public arena (Mr. Potato Head, Dr. Seuss) is something perhaps mislabeled as “Critical Race Theory.” I personally heard...

Category: Editorial