Stakoe introduces
lake legislation
The use of Michigan road ends for lake access will be more clearly defined under legislation developed by State Representative John Stakoe.
House Bill 4141 protects the public interest by allowing access and guards adjacent property owners’ rights, in accordance with a recent court ruling.
In January, the Michigan Court of Appeals concluded that road end lake access privileges are only for boating, swimming and fishing. The court further suggested that a legislative solution be introduced to better control road end activity.
“This measure clarifies and supports the court ruling,” Stakoe said. “It provides for ingress and egress, but gives no riparian rights for permanent facilities at a public access site. By removing the pressure the current use puts on these areas, the general use for the public will be greatly enhanced.”
The bill:
· Defines public access sites for ingress and egress only, which does not include installing boat hoists or docks, unless to aid public access, picnicking, sunbathing or lounging, unless allowed by property definition.
· Prohibits overnight mooring of boats at public dedicated access site.
· Requires signage indicating use-limitations of the site.
· Implements a misdemeanor crime for violating the public access limitation, punishable by up to $500 a day the violation continues.

Essay contest
winners announced
“When Our Freedom is Threatened” was the topic of the 2003 Optimist International Essay Contest.
The winning entries from the local contest were: First Place, Katherine Woloson (CHS); Second Place, Timothy Stapleton (CHS); Third Place, Michael Sorrentino (CHS).
Woloson’s essay was submitted to district judging. She will compete with others from Michigan for a $650 scholarship. The winner from that level will vie at the International Contest for a major college scholarship of $5,000 (first place), $3,000 (second place) and $2,000 (third place).
All Clarkston area students from grades 9-12 were eligible to submit entries based on the topic, and point values were assigned by the independent (non-Optimist) judges as per criteria set by Optimist International.

Clarkston teachers
receive grants from DTE
Clarkston students will benefit from grants awarded to their teachers by the DTE Energy Foundation.
Teachers Ellisa Crawford and Heather Smith will use their mini-grant of $264 to fund a project on Michigan lighthouses and energy conservation in which their students will construct a model lighthouse using recycled materials and develop a complete electrical circuit for their model.
Also, Betty Anderson, Mary Hughes, Angela Comp, Jennifer Tipp and Pam Dunlavy will use a grant of $1,693 to fund a program to learn about using light as a source of energy, energy conservation, refraction, reflection and color mixing.