Quigley advances to finals

When Bruce Quigley of Independence Township was looking through the newspaper, he came across an ad for an ‘Irwin’s Ultimate Tradesman? competition at Performance Line Tool Center in Waterford. ‘I looked at my wife and said ‘I can do that,?? said Quigley. He almost forgot about it, remembering the day of, but managed to ‘squeak […]

By dawn’s early light

Friends, family, soldiers and students at Everest Academy remembered a local hero Friday, raising the flag in honor of PFC Joseph A. Miracle, who died fighting in Afghanistan. ‘It was difficult to bring it all back again,? said Judy Miracle, teacher at Everest and Joseph’s mother. ‘It’s like opening a wound, but it brought meaning […]

Fire dept. ready for more development

If more people move into the northwest corner of Independence Township, the fire department will be ready. Indedependence Township Board voted unanimously Sept. 4 to approve the purchase of 3.01 acres on Ortonville Road, south of Rattalee Lake Road,as part of the department’s strategic planning project. It would be used for a fire station, if […]

Americana art, crafts to fill park

A hundred artists and crafters will fill Depot Park this weekend, for Clarkston Community Historical Society’s 33rd annual Art in the Village. The show, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 15-16, will feature potters, painters, woodworkers, and jewelers from all over the country. All the work is hand crafted. ‘This year’s unique because we have the brand […]

Life’s Seasons

I was sitting in church yesterday and the pastor read out of Ecclesiastes 3, ‘There is a time for everything and every season under heaven.? Well, I got thinking about the seasons and how I have noticed the weather starting to change It’s getting darker earlier at night outside and the sun is not rising […]

A laptop on every trustee’s desk

A move to paperless agendas could save the township money and time. Independence Township Clerk Shelagh Vanderveen has been working with Matt Shelly from Tech Resources, discussing the possibility of moving to ‘paperless agendas.? This idea was presented at the Sept. 4 board meeting. The recommended motion was to buy seven computers with hardware and […]

A lifelong legacy of service

Clarkston Residents remember a great community activist who served both Clarkston and God. Martha A. ‘Marty? Johnston, passed away Aug. 31 at age 72 after a battle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her husband Rich Johnston. Clarkston resident Tom Stone said he had a lot of experience working with Johnston when he […]

A lifetime of service

After 65 years of doing the Lord’s work around the globe, how does Brother Bruno Karpinski spend his retirement? ‘I get up every morning at 5:15 and spend an hour talking with the Lord, (asking) ‘what do you want me to do, Lord,?? said Karpinski, 87, a Jesuit at Colombiere Center, off Big Lake Road […]

Celebrating 175 years of history

Residents young and old filled Depot Park Sunday afternoon to wish Clarkston a happy 175th birthday, and dedicate its new bridge. ‘This is something typical about small town Americana,? said Bart Clark. ‘This bridge will make the back area more accessible and it will add to the park, hats off to Jim and Ginni Schultz.? […]

Deficits no more?

Seven months ago, budget deficits threatened Deer Lake Beach and other parks programs. Now, Independence Township is posting a $700,000 budget surplus. What gives? According to Finance Director Susan Hendricks, it was a combination of three things. ‘We underbudgeted our state revenue because at the time we were preparing our budget, we were told our […]