From The Clarkston News archives
25 years ago – 1999
City over budget for 1998-99: The harsh reality of a budget deficit hit the Clarkston City Council hard during the Monday meeting, and the numbers were preventing progress on a two-year-old issue. With two months left of the 1998-99 fiscal year, the city was $7,560.36 over its projected budget. Disbursements for the year were budgeted at $606,629.64 and actual disbursements were $614,200.
Citizens honored at annual chamber breakfast: For the 14th year, local community members were recognized at the Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards breakfast. The award winners were: Karen Koval for Adult Youth Volunteer; Jenny Mizusawa, Youth Person of the Year; Jennifer Radcliff, Community Preservation; Ed Adler and David Harrison, Clarkston State Bank, Business Persons of the Year; and Audrey Keyser, Citizen of the Year.
Dancing up a storm: Ashley Shaw, a talented fifth grader at Clarkston Elementary School, was dancing her way to Broadway after winning several awards. Shaw made some outstanding accomplishments during the dance season including being chosen Detroit’s Junior Dancer of the Year through American Dance Awards. She was also selected through a dance audition by Access Broadway and would be notified of future New York auditions and be included on their agent’s list of performers.
50 years ago – 1974
High water creates lake problems: Flooding problems causing road problems had been relatively minor in Independence Township, according to DPW Director George Anderson. He said some roads like Reese had bad spots but overall roads had held up quite well. Where the problems were occurring was in lakes, which were higher than they had been the last 18-20 years.
1,500 sign for Little League: The Independence Township Recreation Department had 1,500 boys and girls registered to play summer baseball and softball starting the week before school was out on 28 play fields. All 1,500 players were placed on 15-member teams for a total of 100 teams.
The mill stream: New Boy Scouts in Pack 199 of the Oakland County Sportsmen’s Club were Jack Beckman, Mike Thompson, Don Bolton, John Boyajian and John Vanderpool. They made the jump from Webelos with appropriate ceremonies and a cake.
75 years ago – 1949
Clarkston wins last league game: Behind the two-hit pitching of Gib Wells, Clarkston High School Baseball won its tenth and last league game of the 1949 season with a 3-0 victory over Log Cabin. Wells struck out seven, walked three and gave up no hits. At the time, he was Clarkston’s leading batter and went 2-for-3 at the bat, scoring one run against Log Cabin.
Local girl in 4-H contest: Evelyn Mae McCrum of Clarkston would represent Oakland County at the 4-H Judging Contest at Ann Arbor in August. McCrum placed first in judging food preparation which included table setting, muffins and menus; and second in judging food preservation which included peaches, green beans and tomatoes, May 14.
The Hilltopper: Thirty-nine Clarkston High School seniors, their sponsor, Mr. Bonner and his wife, left on their trip to Washington, D.C. It was the biggest undertaking so far by any senior class of the school. The seniors worked very hard to accumulate the large sum of money necessary to make the trip.