The past year brought a new multi-million dollar project to the Clarkston area in the McLaren Health Care Village project. The development so far, however, couldn’t overcome millions more lost in property tax revenue, forcing local municipalities to cut services and staff. Here are those and the other stories of Clarkston, the highs and lows, successes and less than stellar moments of 2009:
January 7
Making their move: Clarkston Medical Group’s new building on Sashabaw road was ahead of schedule and under budget.
City looks for its share of stimulus: Michigan was slated for up to $25 billion of President Obama’s $300-$350 billion stimulus package. Local officials looked to get a cut.
January 14
School officials vow to avoid budget woes: Less money was coming into Clarkston’s schools than going out, but school board officials had a plan to weather the storm.
January 21
Stimulus plan hurts in long run, Ottman says: Councilwoman Kristy Ottman warned that stimulus money for Clarkston may just be a band-aid on a larger problem.
January 28
Contemplating cuts: To help with possible budget problems, Clarkston School Board considered extensive lists of possible cuts.
February 4
School board may vote on May vote: The school board discussed changing the date of its elections from May to November.
February 11
School board resistant to change: Trustee Susan Boatman’s motion to move school board elections to November was tabled in a 5-2 vote.
February 18
$16,000 for Dixie Highway improvement study: Springfield Township officials planned improvements to the Dixie Highway Corridor to hopefully make it safer for everyone.
Three candidates for Board of Education: Two challengers for open Board of Education spots, Michelle Back and Rosalie Lieblang, joined President Stephen Hyer in the upcoming elec-
tions this summer.
A kept promise: When the late Bill Cobb asked his friend Dale Bond to research Edwin Victor Bailey’s family tree, Bond found a surprising direct link to the two founders of Clarkston.
February 25
Historical society offers lecture on Lincoln March 5: The Clarkston Community Historical Society was ready to give a presentation on Abraham Lincoln to celebrate his 200th birthday.
March 4
Confined space: stimulus could fund consolidated city office center: A possible solution for the lack of facilities for various city departments was money from federal stimulus.
Township to take a longer budget view: Township officials started to plan the budget three years in advance in order to keep ahead of the downturn in the economy.
March 11
Dead Fish: Thousands of fish in Waumegah Lake died due to a phenomenon called winterkill.
Township joins suit to stay on the air: Independence Township lent its name to the lawsuit against Comcast and AT&T to keep public, educational, and government channels free.
March 18
Driving on past districts: The Clarkston Wolves basketball team won the district title, moving on to regional championships to compete against Pontiac Northern
New sheriff (substation) in town?: Although nothing was official yet, plans to build a new Independence Township Sheriff Substation were moving forward
March 25
Broken hearts at Breslin: The Clarkston Wolves lost 54-44 against Kalamazoo Central in the MHSAA Boys Basketball Semifinals in Lansing.
Schools set to cut staffing, programs: Clarkston School Administration planned for budget cuts in the following year, including substitute teachers and cooks.
April 1
Blown away: Planners study up on windmills in advance of new regs: Members of the Independence Township Planning Commission considered windmills as a viable green energy solution.
Sewer tax hike set for city: Getting sewer rates in sync means 70% increase for city: Due to an increase in sewer-related events, the Clarkston City Council raised sewer rates by 70 percent.
April 8
Budget busting: Clarkston’s police budget takes nearly 10% hit: Police budget cuts and a need to prioritize meant Clarkston Police had to wait another year for new equipment.
April shower: Charitable event gives young moms some essentials for baby: The third-annual Community Baby Shower in Davisburg collected donations to give to new mothers in need.
April 15
Joining forces: Conservation groups consider consolidation: Members of the Clarkston Watershed Group and the North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy explored the possibility of joining together.
Larger classes likely as $1.8 million cut: One of the effects of recent budget cuts in Clarkston Schools was the possibility of larger classes.
Crossing Clarkston: Many were silent as the Cross Walk approached Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Churchon, Good Friday, with the cross.
April 22
3 vie for 2 seats on school board: Incumbent Hyer offers experience: Stephen Hyer, incumbent president of the School Board, ran on a platform of experience and stability.
Predator hunt: Oakland County Sheriffs arrested a 55-year-old would-be child molester in an undercover sting operation.
April 29
Election results in ? Hyer returns to school board, joined by Lieblang: Incumbent Board of Education President Stephen Hyer was elected to another term with almost 36% of the vote. Rosalie Lieblang joined him with almost 33% of the vote.
Library suspect booked: Due to the ‘invaluable? assistance of a witness, police quickly apprehended a suspect in a strong-arm robbery at Independence Township Library.
May 6
Manhunt: The police were still looking for a suspect to a recent rash of break-ins in Independence Township.
A chance for change: A Constitutional Convention looked more and more certain as the economy continued to falter.
May 13
Hazmat responds to mercury spill: Independence Township Fire Department had to be called after a pint of mercury spilled in a house cleared for eviction.
School elections: $44,000 for 2% turnout: The recent school board election costs outweighed the less than 2,000 people who went to the polls and voted.
May 20
Fight not over for local Chrysler dealer: Despite being on a list from Chrysler telling it to shut down, Clarkston Chrysler Jeep was not going down without a fight.
May 27
Clarkston Medical welcomes all to open house: McLaren Health Care and Clarkston Medical Group’s open house was that weekend for the community.
Salute to fallen heroes: American Legion Honor Guard and CHS Marching Band were among those participating in the annual Memorial Day Parade.
June 3
Layoffs looming: Township layoffs were almost guaranteed after a decrease of more than $200,000 in local tax money.
New rules and policies for meetings: Independence Township Board adopted new Rules and Procedures Policy by a 4-2 vote.
June 10
Online check info unlikely for local schools: The school board said while they had nothing to hide in the school’s records, making the records more public needed to be ‘done right.?
Trustees take hall renovation work to task: While renovations to the new Township Hall were already complete, some trustees thought money was not efficiently spent.
June 17
What a ride!: Clarkston’s Class of 2009’s graduation ceremony was marked with many old traditions, and new ones as the students went off to face the world.
June 24
Pool malfunction investigated in school evacuation: A problem with the pool led to CHS being evacuated due to risk of possible chlorine leak.
Memos point to money trail: A conflict over payments for recent work on the Town Hall and transparency of the board led to heated debate.
July 1
Summer brings hope: After devastating decreases in fish population of Waumegah Lake, summer brought spawning fish and new hope for the lake.
Trustees reject closing Deer Lake beach: Despite losing money each year, the Board voted unanimously to renew the lease on Deer Lake Beach.
July 8
Main Street moves forward: The City Council, with help from the county, decided that while Clarkston had ‘good bones,? it could use a larger variety of businesses
July 15
Compensation-gate?: Supervisor David Wagner faced possible state investigation over ‘unauthorized compensation? in connection with the new township hall.
Johnston to jump ship: City Councilman Cory Johnston said he would not run for reelection as he had become what he hated about government.
July 22
Locals get first look in new policy: The township’s new official policy of ‘My Clarkston Buy Clarkston? was well-received by Clarkston residents.
Over taxed?:Rainy-day funds for the city and township were examined and their uses were explained as ‘for emergencies only.?
July 29
$40,000 rescinded: The Board voted to overturn budget adjustment for the extra $40,000 in the town hall fund.
August 5
Cars line up for the clunker program: Cash for Clunkers was a shot in the arm for local car dealers.
Taking a beating: One in every 69 homes fell into foreclosure in Independence Township last year, for a total of 195 homes in 2008 alone.
August 12
School vote may be on way to fall: Clarkston was one vote away from moving May school elections to November.
Townships seek cash from trash: Some in the township were debating whether or not to establish a solid waste authority.
August 19
Sherman puts kibosh on mural: Jim Sherman Sr., owner of the Clarkston News building, fired Michelle Tynan, the artist who was painting the mural on the side of the building.
Academics focus of new school goals: With the new year coming up, the Clarkston School Board put more emphasis on advanced learning goals.
August 26
Schools OK Nov. elections: School board elections would take place in November, to save money and increase voter turnout.
Community takes cross burners to task: The NAACP announced a $1,000 reward for information about the person who burned a cross in the yard of an African American Independence Township family.
Farmers? Market grows on Clarkston: Each week brought new produce and goods to the Clarkston Farm’s Market.
September 2
Citizens speak out: After a presentation at CJHS rousing applause was raised for those who weighed in: Stay out of our trash.
Funding for high school liaison pulled: Funding to pay for Det. Crake at CHS was being pulled, with one deputy still covering the junior high, middle, and elementary schools.
September 9
Classy cars on parade: Clarkstonites crowded the sidewalks along downtown Main Stree for Monday’s annual Labor Day Parade.
Busted: Two youths who confessed to defacing the mural in downtown Clarkston told police they’d been planning the sabotage for a while.
September 16
A knight to remember: Business owner Tom Lowrie celebrated 30 years of business by being knighted by Queen Elizabeth, of the Renaissance Festival.
Citizens call for a recall: Efforts to recall Township Supervisor David Wagner were growing.
September 23
Lots to sample at Clarkston’s Taste: With an ‘unbelievable? number of people, lots of Clarkston businesses were afraid they will run out of goods at the Taste of Clarkston.
Stimulating home sales: In an attempt to increase sales, first-time homebuyers could get a federal tax break of up to $8,000.
September 30
Highest honors: Dan Fife added one more accomplishment to his coaching career when he was inducted into the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Hall of Fame.
People speak out on taxes: When it came time to talk about the possibility of raising taxes, residents of Independence Township were not happy.
October 7
Beyond the pale?: The latest ‘Recall Wagner? flyer stepped over the line and cited information that was simply not true, the supervisor said.
Head count up, slightly: The number of students in class for Count Day was up four students from 2008’s count of 8,224.
A day to celebrate Davisburg heritage: Downtown Davisburg was ready for its closeup after months of improvements and renovations.
October 14
All hands on deck: Facing $1.3 million in state cuts, administration and school board met to figure out what to do.
Time for frights at night: Respectable members of the community thought of creative ways to scare their friends and neighbors for the upcoming holiday.
October 21
$300,000 oversight: Independence Township lost $300,000-$350,000 in cable-TV revenue and legal costs over the past two years, a victim of incomplete paperwork.
‘Swine? flu hits home: After a summer lull, flu bugs, including H1N1, ‘swine flu,? was spreading through the Clarkston area.
November 4
Quick questions on Fast ForWard: Some questioned the computer-based learning program Fast ForWard and how much it actually did for students.
November 11
Township turns to state in Comcast dispute: Independence Township officials told Attorney Kristin Kolb to file a complaint with the state to try and resolve the ongoing cable fee fiasco.
Learn about local businesses at Expo: Those interested in shopping local found out how to do it at Chamber of Commerce’s Best of the Best Expo at Clarkston High School.
November 18
Slow down!: Clarkston City Council called for additional downtown speed-limit enforcement and cop presence.
November 25
Thankful students join in service: Students got an early taste of Thanksgiving, courtesy of the Clarkston Free Methodist Church.
Clarkston Rotary needs volunteer help: Volunteers were needed to collect donations on the streets of Clarkston in the Goodfellow newspaper sale.
December 2
Cop cuts considered: For officials considering a five-deputy cut to the township police force, a $680,781 fund balance offered a tempting solution.
Clarkston goes green for Garden Club: Clarkston Farm and Garden Club was hard at work planning, stocking, and assembling in preparation for the 18th Annual Greens Market.
December 9
New insurance to save township $15,000/year: Insurance-coverage consolidation would save Independence Township $15,000 a year through Mutual of Omaha.