Letters to the Editor: July 15, 2026

Make sure to check your property tax bill

We have received our summer property tax bill, and it is important for the local treasurer to verify that our property parcel is being assessed based on the taxable value shown on the Form L-4400, titled “Notice of Assessment, Taxable Valuation, and Property Classification,” that we received from the Local Tax Assessing Authority in the spring. 

According to Michigan Compiled Laws, all tax values on the L-4400, (Taxable Value, Assessed Value, and State Equalized Value) represent forms of 100% True Cash Value. The Michigan Constitution, Article IX, Section 3, states that the Tax Value cannot exceed 50% of the True Cash Value. Therefore, our Summer Tax Bill should be based on 50% of the Taxable Value. 

If your summer tax bill reflects 100% of the taxable value, you are paying twice the property tax required by law. 

It is crucial to ensure that your assessment aligns with these guidelines. 

John F. Diver

Emmett

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St. Cornelius critical to serving needs of Catholics

In a sullen response to the recent news that St. Cornelius parish mass schedules may be targeted by the Archdiocese of Detroit massive reorganization plan, I must say that I’m not surprised.

Reason being, approximately two years ago, the esteemed Catholic parish had printed a highly disingenuously worded survey asking parishioners their preferred Mass times. It was available for pick-up to attending parishioners, and not sent in the mail to all parishioners, at least as I recall.

Not long after the 8 a.m. Sunday Mass time was set in stone, I mentioned to the newly appointed Rev. Charles Aftermatt that I felt the survey was flawed and it needed to be re-worded and re-sent to parishioners for a second opinion on Mass times.

The good Rev. Altermatt flatly shot my suggestion down and said: “We aren’t going to change the Mass time again,” and he firmly suggested that I attend Sunday Mass at Imlay City’s Sacred Heart Parish.

With my present arthritic health conditions, and the fact that I live in a deeply secluded rural environment which is extremely challenging to safely leave my home in the middle of icy and heavy snowy days in the middle of winter season, attending the 8 a.m. Mass is near impossible.

And I always wonder about the many younger families of the parish who have to prepare their young children for such an early 8 a.m. Mass time?

Rev. Altermatt told me straight up, in his time, everyone made it to early mass time “on time.”

Well, I don’t know when his time was, but it wouldn’t be surprising if his time was near my time as a catechism youth attend my former Detroit parishes, Transfiguration Church and Guardian Angels, both which were no more than two blocks from my childhood homes in the Charles housing projects and then over on the east side near Hayes and Alma streets. Walking to each parish took a near five minutes and was easily achievable.

I firmly feel it wouldn’t have been that big of a deal to send a second survey out to parishioners asking for their preferred Sunday Mass times. And, I know for certain, that there is at least one prominent parishioner who feels the same way as I.

That’s all I’m going to say, other than that there are different and more suitable and convenient ways to attend Sunday Mass. For a second Sunday Mass option, I suggest the Sunday morning Mass at the Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, which is available on YouTube.

Chicago’s Holy Name Cathedral presiding Cardinal Blasé Cupich delivers a weekly heartfelt, spiritual homily that encompasses the good for all mankind, including having common respect for the many undocumented immigrants in our nation who are often treated with hostility and disrespect by our many flawed elected leaders.

One such leader in particular is Vice President J.D. Vance, who stupidly and dangerously made up a totally fictional story that harmfully targeted Haitian immigrants in Ohio in saying they’re eating our dogs and cats.

And, this little-minded man calls himself a devoted Catholic who follows the good teachings of the church. Ya, sure! As far as I’m concerned, this man should be ex-communicated for the sake of the future of Catholic religion in America!

Kenneth Hreha

Dryden