Local archive
Community
The Alpena Municipal Council voted 3-2 to authorize controlled Canada goose hunts at the Alpena County Fairgrounds on Sept. 17, 24 and 30, after spring flooding limited the city’s egg-oiling program and residents continued reporting heavy goose droppings in public areas.
Sport
The Par 3 Challenge and Million Dollar Shootout concluded its 16th season with a $1,230 donation to the Marine Corps’ League Toys for Tots program.
Education
The Association of Lifelong Learners will host its Fall Foliage, Facts and Fun event Oct. 21, with walking and bus tours, lunch and three route options to the UAW Conference Center on Black Lake.
Community
The Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan is accepting applications for Youth Advisory Council grants supporting youth projects across four Northeast Michigan counties. Applications are due Oct. 15, 2026.
Community Thunder Bay River
The Optimist Club playground at the Alpena County Fairgrounds will remain along the Thunder Bay River after county commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday against moving it. The club is considering repairs or replacement of a deteriorating wooden tractor, but the next steps depend partly on whether Murphy Builders inspects the equipment.
Community
Grace Episcopal Church will host its annual Harvest Dinner Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. in Alpena, with ham, scalloped potatoes, homemade pies and more. Admission is $15 per person and $8 for children.
Crime & Public Safety
Troy Wardlaw, 57, was sentenced in Alpena’s 26th Circuit Court to 40 months to 20 years in prison after pleading in a case involving more than 400 grams of cocaine.
Community
The Alpena County Older Persons Committee will meet Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the Howard Male Conference Room. The meeting is open to the public.
Community
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed Alpena resident Joshlyn Rasmussen to the Michigan Developmental Disability Council, beginning a four-year term Oct. 1.
Culture Downtown Alpena
A free, all-ages Halloween event is scheduled for Oct. 23 at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center during Downtown Alpena’s Trick-or-Treating evening.
Education
The Association of Lifelong Learners will host acoustical guitarist and balladeer Chuck “Butch” Runyon at the Granum Theatre on Thursday afternoon.
Community
A photo submitted by Alpena resident Pam Reynolds shows a duck resting in the shade during one of the last pleasant-weather days in Northeast Michigan.
Community
The APlex will host Get-a-Way Day events on Sept. 9 and Sept. 23, featuring Detroit Tigers afternoon games, food and drinks on large-screen TVs.
Community
A barred owl photographed in Alpena is shown perched in a tree and surveying the area around it.
Education
New 2025-2026 M-STEP results show 25.9% of Alpena Public Schools third graders reached proficiency in English Language Arts, down from 31.9% the previous year. Third- and fourth-grade results also declined significantly in mathematics, while older grades were largely steady.
Community Lake Huron Waterfront
The Alpena Municipal Council unanimously approved a final $13,545.57 change order for the completed Bay View Restroom and Pavilion Project, bringing the contract to $900,788.38—still below the grant-agreement total.
Sport
Cadillac defeated Alpena 6-2 in boys’ tennis on Thursday. Alpena’s Will Meinhart won the No. 1 singles match, while Alpena also claimed the No. 2 doubles match.
Sport
Andrew Szymoniak scored on touchdown runs of 58 and 45 yards, but penalties, mistakes and a blocked punt helped Cadillac defeat Alpena 34-21 in a Big North Conference football game Thursday night.
Community
Tracy Bouren has taken over as executive director of Sunrise Mission in Alpena, bringing experience as a licensed builder and faith-based trauma-recovery program leader to the 33-bed shelter.
Community Ripley Street
Gone to Pieces Quilt Guild of Alpena will host a quilt show, luncheon and Friendship Day at First United Methodist Church on Sept. 19, with veteran tributes, quilt displays, vendors and an auction.
Sport
The Alpena High School girls’ varsity swim team opened its season with victories over Caro and Gaylord in a double-dual meet, giving the Wildcats their first win against Gaylord. The team returns to competition Sept. 15 in Alma.
Education
Alpena native Breanna Burrone will compete on the upcoming season of “The Voice of Germany,” premiering Sept. 11. Because the program will not be broadcast or directly streamed in the United States, Burrone plans to share updates and video content so supporters back home can follow her blind audition.
Sport
The 1-0 Alpena Wildcats will visit Cadillac at 7 p.m. Thursday, seeking to repeat the balanced offensive and defensive performance that produced an opening victory over Boyne City. The Alpena News column also previews three other area games involving Hillman, Onaway and Alcona.
Crime & Public Safety
Three minor children testified in the 88th District Court in Alpena during the preliminary examination of Frederick Bobolts, 61, who faces multiple domestic violence, assault and child-abuse charges, along with allegations involving an animal and aggravated stalking.
Business & Openings Downtown Alpena
Paul and Kris Conger are retiring from The Black Sheep after nearly 16 years at 113 S. 2nd Ave. The pub will close Sept. 30, and they plan to lease the building to Rosa’s Lookout Inn owner Tara Brilinski.
Community Bay View Park
Community partners and city officials gathered Wednesday for ceremonies at Culligan Plaza and Bay View Park Sportsplex, recognizing renovations made possible through local support.
Business & Openings
Alpena County officials told the county planning commission that cities and townships—not the county planning commission—would control zoning, site-plan reviews and approvals for any future data center. County Administrator Jesse Osmer said commissioners are developing a resolution, although no company has approached the county about building in the area.
Community
Members of Catholic Central’s class of 1971 gathered Aug. 13 at the 19th Hole in Alpena for their 55th class reunion.
Community
A successful ice cream social hosted by Grace Episcopal Church helped the church donate $425 to Sunrise Mission in Alpena.
Business & Openings
Straley Lamp & Kraenzlein, P.C. has announced that Chelsea McConnell, CPA, recently became a shareholder of the Alpena-based public accounting firm.
