To the editor:
The May 8 article reporting the issues facing the county’s emergency services departments reminds me of the importance of our local weekly newspaper to our community.
Over a decade ago, as a township official working on the reorganization of Cedar Area Fire and Rescue, I appreciated the Enterprise’s reporting on the challenges the four townships negotiated over several years to secure fire and rescue services for our residents.
They cover it all, from county commission debates and school millages to the names and lives of who was born, married, or passed away. The letters to the editor let us speak freely to each other. The sports pages remind us that our children are hard working and a joy. And then there’s the blotter, bringing a smile and a shake of the head, especially since I was included once, many years ago.
Every week they report on the heart of who we are. Without their professional journalism how would I make an informed decision on voting for a millage or a local candidate? How would I know whom to congratulate or offer a condolence the next time I see them? Where would I say my piece to my neighbors?
Since 2005, over a third of local newspapers, 3,300 in number, have closed. The reasons are numerous, but the result is that many communities are “news deserts” and lack this vital connection to each other. So, thank you Leelanau Enterprise for being here and for the work you do.
James Schwantes Cedar
