Raises for Township employees in limbo

Budget problems continued to disrupt Township business last week. Citing budgetary concerns, the Township Board voted unanimously Jan. 2 to table a salary proposal for elected and non-union employees. The proposal, submitted to the board by Supervisor David Wagner, includes a 2.5-percent pay raise for elected officials and 3-percent raise for non-union employees. The rate […]

Generosity shines for local girl

The people of the Clarkston area made Santa real for an Independence Township girl this past Christmas. Readers responded in a big way to the article ‘Mother needs Christmas help,? Dec. 20 edition. One young family brought in a sparkling new bicycle, while others brought in a PSP portable game unit, books, gift certificates, food, […]

Timing bad for traffic-light technology

The technology is impressive: fire trucks communicate with traffic lights via satellites so that as they approach, the signals cycle to green. Cross traffic stops and through traffic clears, so firefighters can get through as quickly and safely as possible. Also, the 3M company is offering its Opticom GPS Priority Control System to Independence Township […]

Tough choices

When trustees, planners, and department heads meet for a budget workshop Jan. 9, they will have plenty to talk about. The budget, as approved Dec. 5 by the Independence Township Board, is in deficit. The general fund is short $27,355, and the other funds, except police and safety path, also post deficits. ‘There will be […]

That’s a wrap!

From left, Halley Sosnowski, Caylee Price, and Julie Smail race to wrap a present during their classroom holiday party Wednesday at Independence Elementary School. Photo by Phil Custodio

Right-to-work lawsuit could include local

A lawsuit against the Michigan Education Association could include a Clarkston paraeducator. The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation’s lawsuit against the union’s “August Window” policy ? employees can opt out of membership only in August ? says the policy is outdated and limits members? First Amendment rights to one month. Paraeducator Amy Breza, a client of […]

Trimesters up for recall

Trimesters may be history in Clarkston as the Board of Education considers switching back to semesters. The change, which would take effect next September if approved, would increase focus on core curriculum, class continuity, connections between students and teachers, and opportunities for cross curricular collaboration, said Assistant Superintendent Shawn Ryan at the Oct. 28 school […]

Half marathon ready to go

In four days, Clarkston’s back roads will be filled with about 1,100 runners and walkers. The inaugeral Clarkston State Bank Back Roads Half Marathon is sold out. “We’re ecstatic, thrilled,” said Deanna Hart of High Five Races, who is organizing the race along with Megan Holt. “Our goal initially was about 850. Once we got […]

Phil in the Blank A column by Phil Custodio

With four days until Clarkston State Bank Back Roads Half Marathon, my training is over. I probably should have got in some more. My goal is to finish safely, with a secondary goal of maintaining a technically running pace the entire time. This won’t be easy, especially up and down the hills of the Deer […]

Hometown music maker making it big

Clarkston grad Billy Parr’s music career is taking off, and he’s ready for the next step. Parr and Matt Rankin’s Synergy Production tours the country, performing in shows and competitions in Detroit, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Chicago. “Everything’s going good. We’re making a lot of industry connections,” Parr said. They meet with artists at events, stay […]

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