Clarkston State Bank to consolidate branches

By Don Rush It may sound counter intuitive, but the decision to close two branches of the Clarkston State Bank is not because the company is feeling any financial pinch. Quite the opposite, if you ask bank president Grant Smith on why branches downtown and on Sashabaw Road are closing. ‘It’s a sign of the […]

Changing, growing with the times

It may sound counter intuitive, but the decision to close two branches of the Clarkston State Bank is not because the company is feeling any financial pinch. Quite the opposite, if you ask bank president Grant Smith on why branches downtown and on Sashabaw Road are closing. ‘It’s a sign of the times,? Smith said […]

The birthdays keep stacking up . . .

I guess there’s a certain moment in every American’s life when he or she knows he or she is getting older. There comes a point in time when all the pretending in the world won’t keep you hip, or cool, or of the younger-generation. I know. I got these hipster cool glasses and even their […]

Looking for vets to help

By Don Rush Each year volunteers for Clarkston’s American Legion Post 63 can be seen at local street crossings and businesses with handfuls of red poppies. They seek donations that in turn are used to help those veterans of the United States Armed Forces in need. Each year, the volunteers are able to trade thousands […]

The ‘power? of Don tested this weekend

I’ve long had this ‘feeling? that somehow, some way, I hold ‘sway? over Old Man Winter. It’s like I have this uncanny power (dare I say super natural?) that affects the winter weather. I know, it’s weird. Right? These ‘powers? didn’t manifest themselves to me until about three or four years ago. I don’t know […]

Life in the fast lane . . .

A blast from the past is usually fun. I think you like this column, from February 18, 2004. * * * For the past month or so Young Master Sean, our three, but soon to be four-year-old son, has made it his life’s mission to go to Disney World. He wants to head south to […]

SHUT UP! Czech Republic and Freedom of the Press

Writing a weekly column is good therapy. It helps keep the old ego sufficiently inflated while at the same time is humbling. As a published columnist, I see my job as writing to engage. I want (and, remember it is all about me) readers to be emotionally engaged. I want them happy, sad or mad […]

A word of advice: don’t go to Royal Oak!

Okay, I will be up front about this. I’m about to grind a proverbial ax. Your hero (that would be me) is whizzed off and before I explode into a heap of smoldering ash I needed to vent (or whine, your call). Without further eloquence, I will cut to the chase: Don’t spend your money […]

Can you feel the love tonight?

Softly, in the background I hear Elton John singing, ‘Can you feel the love tonight .. . .? Zoinks! Who woulda? thunk a little ol? column, by little ol? me about that city to the south (Royal Oak) last week could have caused such a ruckus! But, it did. There were tons of responses, some […]

Don’t go to Royal Oak, the final chapter?

Two weeks ago I did what most columnists do: I opined. I dared to swim against the current. And, in doing so I stirred up some muck and muddied the proverbial pure flowing waters leading to the mecca of civilization, of course the zealots all know that to be Royal Oak, Michigan. I wrote (about […]