town dying

why is Oscoda dying the empty builing that once was carter and now is own by glen's the only grocery store in town/? plus all the restraunts that have close. plus the highest gas prices around ? Well why

Oscoda is dying because there is a monopoly in this town...Glens doesn't want any competition...it was the same way in another town we lived in with a Glen's store...
The local businesses don't want change or competition...it's one thing to buy local...but if by "local" we end up being a "ghost town"...then what's the point?...AS far as gas prices...who knows...if you go anywhere else it seems like the prices are lower...doesn't make sense does it...When City Council wants to spend
$8,000.00 on the Paul Bunyan Monument...and $15,000.00 on a sign for city hall but yet the local economy is dying...does that tell you anything?...More people may come to Oscoda for the festivals and such but they still go back Downstate to their nice paying jobs and their nice houses...they don't stay here because the schools aren't the greatest...there are no jobs to speak of...and they just can't afford to move up here because of all of this...sorry sad situation...I was under the impression that Up North was different...but it seems like it's just like anywhere else...but worse...

Oscodagirl: It's sad that you feel that way, but you are not the only one. There are many who feel this way. For some, (the elderly that come here to retire with their big downstate job pensions and social security, don't seem to feel that the original residential here, or even the newer younger generation that dare to venture here, deserve to earn an honest living. (at least that is what I got from reading their posts)They have the money to give to Glens-Spartan to keep other grocers out. The older business people don't seem to be able to absorb the idea that if there were MORE business's here it would create MORE jobs, which in turn would create MORE customer spending for THIER business's also. I don't know if it's something in the water or what. And you are also correct about the school system here. The school system seems to run more on the scenario of a 'Payton Place' soap opera,rather then an educational source for our kids....thus more folks are considering other schools of choice (no matter the gas prices) and home schooling. I guess Tall Paul will be able to fix our economy though. He has been moved to a better spot to see all, and the City Hall will be noticed for their new sign,,, but the poor are still poor, and the jobless are still jobless. I can only hope that the city had the good sense and wherewithal to hire LOCALS to do this work. Meanwhile, myself and yourself, and others like us will just sit back and watch the decay that is happening to our wonderful town. It makes me sad, for I love it here and it hurts to see it die.

Some good food for thought Ziggy!

Why do you begrudge the retirees their pensions and social security. These people are contributing to this community with their property taxes. As for supporting Glens, I have met many many retirees who go to Neimans in Tawas because they recognize Glens for what they are. Glens is supported by tourists and the locals who are unable to do their shopping elsewhere due to their economic situation and transportation problems including gas prices. What would they do without Glens? I hear and read on the news that oil has been trending downward for more than 3 weeks but suddenly gas shot up 22 cents yesterday in Oscoda and continues to be more expensive than Tawas and Alpena. But cheer up, 250 more jobs are coming to town and undoubtly more foreign nationals to fill them.

OMG! A thread that doesn't have anything to do with the school board!
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It's kind of hard for the town to approve new companies to come in and offer new jobs when there aren't any companies that want to come to Oscoda. And as far as the new jobs that ARE coming into Oscoda, don't worry. I'm sure the owners of the company will just be rushing at the chance to hire locals that aren't educated in the field of study that they require. Because let's face it. They obviously don't know how to run their company. Right? It's funny how everyone wants new businesses and companies to come into the area. But when they do and they "have the nerve" to hire outside of the community everyone yells:

"How dare they hire who they need! Make them hire the local Joes who don't know what they're doing."

Nevermind the fact that the people who get hired from outside the community:

A. MOVE to Oscoda
B. Shop at the LOCAL stores
C. Have their kids attend the LOCAL schools
D. Cause that company to become successful, making the company grow more and hire more people (outside the community), thus starting the cycle over again.

After reading most of the info on here I've realized that people in Oscoda don't want more business in the town. They want to be handed jobs. They don't want growth because they damn anyone "who would care" move to town and take a job from an uneducated person.

Wow! What book are you reading? Check the archives here. Some retired person said they didn't want growth here; that's why they moved here, to retire. Well they CAN retire. More power to them. NO-ONE begrudges them their pensions. But they, at the same time, shouldn't begrudge others a living either. And I didn't read anything here that said people wanted jobs handed to them either. Ya know. All this stuff is so black and white. One majority of the citizens here know whats happening, and the other majority can't do anything about it. And Oscoda is not full of uneducated morons. These are good, intelligent people who have been dealt a crappy hand, is all. As far as the gas prices go, I - myself have reported these prices to AAA to keep them informed of whether they are fair or not, If they are not fair, I'm sure they will get caught in the end. And as far as the hiring of so called 'trained and skilled' workers from outside town,,,,didn't I just read somewhere here about how many planes leaving Kalita crashed somewhere? Including one losing an engine over Lake Huron, and not even getting noticed until it reached its destination? So much for outside skilled and trained laborers.

Good job reporting gas prices to AAA. How dare they charge what they want for a product that they own! Burn them! Burn them at the stake! In fact, everyone should go into Glen's right now and protest about how much they charge for a gallon of milk or a box of noodles. Threaten to report them to the BBB for not selling a product for the price that you think they should sell it for.

Don't worry, I'm sure that gas stations will be more than willing to absorb the loss of profits they will incure from selling a gallon of gas for $2.00 a gallon that they purchased from the whole saler at $3.00 (don't forget to add the national gas tax and state tax which makes the cost shoot up almost $1 a gallon.)

And I'm sure that if an unskilled worker had been working on that aircraft it would've probably been tail deep in someones back yard.

The few mishaps with Kalita are nothing in terms of aviation related mishaps. You'd be surprised what happens everyday around this country with the military and other aviation companies.

Guy Who Moved Away has it right.

Sorry to hear about how things are over there nowadays. I left Oscoda about 25 years ago, after a couple of years at Wurtsmith.

the guy who moved away wrote:

Good job reporting gas prices to AAA. How dare they charge what they want for a product that they own! Burn them! Burn them at the stake! In fact, everyone should go into Glen's right now and protest about how much they charge for a gallon of milk or a box of noodles. Threaten to report them to the BBB for not selling a product for the price that you think they should sell it for.
Don't worry, I'm sure that gas stations will be more than willing to absorb the loss of profits they will incure from selling a gallon of gas for $2.00 a gallon that they purchased from the whole saler at $3.00 (don't forget to add the national gas tax and state tax which makes the cost shoot up almost $1 a gallon.)
And I'm sure that if an unskilled worker had been working on that aircraft it would've probably been tail deep in someones back yard.
The few mishaps with Kalita are nothing in terms of aviation related mishaps. You'd be surprised what happens everyday around this country with the military and other aviation companies.

You know, some of your posts are acceptable, but the most of your ideas are just downright ignorant. But, hey, I guess you're entitled. After all, you did ONCE live here.

Ziggy, don't worry about poor old gwma. Apparently he has alot to say about Oscoda for someone who really needed to get away from here. You really do have to feel sorry for someone who moved from here to better themselves then does nothing but get on topix to post comments back to us to still are trying to make something of this town; who stay because even though it's going through some tough times right now. Those of us here understand the frustration; we're not ignorant nor unintelligent people. We are very productive citizens who get tired...and then we have to listen to gwma. Maybe he can come back and sit on the township or school board; he just arrogant enough and he seems to have all the right answers.

Well Ziggy, Sometimes the truth hurts. Just don't ever say I didn't give you some good advice. BTW, didn't you say that you weren't going to be responding any more of my posts? I'd hate for you to lower yourself to my level :).

Mr. Got The Picture, it sounds as though you feel a slight grudge against people who try to make a better life for themselves. You shouldn't belittle people who have made posotive choices in their lives, it's just not polite. Also, it's not very christian. Sounds to me like somone needs to find Jesus.

Describing Oscoda as "going through some tough times" is a serious understatement.

I think the township board has been working on a new slogan. "We're becoming the new Homer. Don't blink or you just might miss us."

One last thing. The township board seems to be doing a good job. Hell, they've kept the town above water this long. That's a pretty big accomplishement. Could you step up to the plate? Or do you just like belittling your local government for fun?

GWMA...what the heck is "becoming the new Homer"?
If you're referring to the Illiad or Odyssey, then I would say, "thanks" from all of us in the great town of Oscoda. I would like to think this is a defining moment in our lives and that we're all trying to come together for a common purpose; to uplift this town to it's greatest potential.(go ahead and read up on your "Homer")

Quit trying to downgrade those who are only trying to give opinions. You really read way too much into these comments. Assume for just a minute that the people behind these comments are at least as intelligent as you. Try thinking that these may actually be people who do "step up to the plate".

Actually, try reading the Oddyssey.
Here's to the new "Homer". May we all live in anonymity.

Homer is a little town near Battle Creek at the corner of M-60 and M-99. It's claim to fame is that Oscoda's infamous football coach Kyle Tobin took a coaching position there this year.

Homer, MI:

Claimed to be the smallest town in Michigan. When driving through, people are known to say "Don't blink or you'll miss it."

It covers a total area of just over one square mile.

Actually - that is Omer.

I think GWMA has been gone long enough that he should just forget about Oscoda and concentrate on his current surroundings.
As for comments about hiring from outside the community, that's not a problem in my book. The problem is bringing workers in from outside the country as Kalitta does. Foreign nationals contribute little the local economy. They do not contibute to the tax base as they rent their lodgings and often live 6 and 8 to a dwelling. I am told of one instance where there are 8 sleeping in a garage. Kalitta uses these people because they work for less than the prevailing industry rate in other parts of this country. They are also here for relatively short stints and are rotated in and out of the country unless they overstay their visas. I believe they also pay minimal if any income tax.
In short, let's have American jobs for American workers from the local area, down state, or out of state but American citizens. Argue with that!

chiliman wrote:

Actually - that is Omer.

Oh snap! You're right, I meant Omer. Meh, my mistake.

The Watcher:
Glad to see that someone finally agrees with me. I still don't see why everyone insists that every job can be filled by a local worker in a town as small as Oscoda. In bigger cities, yes. Oscoda? No. Maybe some jobs, but not all of them.

BTW, my arguments were never for or against hiring from outside the country. I was arguing the fact that some people insist that a person with nothing more than a high school education should be filling a job that requires a 4 year degree at minimum to fill (not to mention experience). I'm sorry, but working as a roofer for 10 years doesn't qualify you to sheet metal in the aeronautical industry.

Once again, it's nice that we can agree on this.

Was just reading all the complaints about glen's market , sheesh thinking you should check out roger's in Glennie. Would be happy to trade ya any time :)

Lived in Tucson longer than I lived in Oscoda. I'd never go back to Tucson. I'd move to Oscoda tomorrow.
People make a choice in how they want to live. It's a simple life "up north".And I respect all those who choose to deal with the hardships of that choice. So get over yourself your college education (like that makes you a better person???)shut up and post your negatives on a Tucson Az forum page.....