From The Clarkston News archives

25 years ago – 2000
Golf course needs $5 million: A recent report prepared by a consultant determined it would take over $5 million in improvements to bring Clarkston Creek up to par as a golf course. But when it happened, it would be an amenity. The report, prepared by Don Childs Associates, a Golf Course Design, Engineering & Consulting firm stated “acquisition of the Clarkston Creek Golf (Course) would give Independence Township an excellent opportunity for a municipal golf course property. Purchase of the golf facility would expand the public recreational services to the township residents.”
Former Wolf races at Palace: Nicole Nicholas, a 1993 graduate of Clarkston High School, loved to race snowmobiles. So much so that she decided to put her plans to become a physical education teacher on hold for a while. Nicholas competed in both indoor and outdoor races across the country and in Canada. The tour at the time included a stop at the Palace of Auburn Hills in the Super Snowcross Tour.
Little ones make little Clarkston: Second graders from three classes at Springfield Plains Elementary worked with parents making models of buildings from historic downtown Clarkston. The children took field trips to the downtown area and drew sketches of the area buildings.

50 years ago – 1975
Parents take over senior trip: Senior trips at Clarkston High School were probably a thing of the past. Sixty people left for Orlando, Fla. for a trip, but they were traveling by bus and under the aegis of parents rather than under the sponsorship of the school itself. The school had originally tried to sponsor a Florida trip by air involving four days and three nights at a cost of $210. “Nobody had the money this year so the parents decided to promote it,” said Mrs. Valerie Wagnon, one of the parent sponsors.
Independence approves four budgets: The Independence Township Board approved fire, police, sewer and water department budgets, April 1 – the start of the new fiscal year. In thanking the board for okaying his department’s $242,100 budget, Fire Chief Frank Ronk commented on the uniqueness of having a budget in effect at the start of a new fiscal year.
Her needles fly over flag: Joyce Bailey had already spent 200 hours “celebrating” the nation’s 200th birthday. She did it by knitting a 42-inch by 76-inch American flag patterned after the original one by Betsy Ross. Bailey’s version was heavy enough so it could hardly be flown from a flagpole. It was to be hung on a wall in her brother’s house on Console Street, where she made her home.

75 years ago – 1950
Muddy roads interrupt school session: Clarkston schools were closed on Monday and Tuesday due to the muddy roads. It was impossible for busses to pick up the students as they could not travel through the mud without a good chance of remaining in some soft spots until conditions cleared. A number of county roads were blockaded to stop traffic, and post office employees had trouble making their rounds.
Club to hear Margaret Haviland: When the Clarkston Farm and Garden Club met at the beginning of April at the home of Mrs. Edward Seeterlin, they heard from Margaret Haviland of Adrian College speak of her experiences abroad. Haviland was Michigan’s “grass root diplomat and goodwill ambassador” when 31 representatives from 22 states participated in the International Farm Youth Exchange Project sponsored by the 4-H Clubs of the United States.
Local couple honored Sunday: In spite of the terrible weather more than 115 attended the open house honoring Mr. and Mrs. Bird T. Cooley on their 50th wedding anniversary. Guests were from Mt. Pleasant, Detroit, Milford, Holly, Davison, Pontiac, Hadley, Drayton Plains and Clarkston. It was like attending a flower show when stepping into the Cooley home on Robertson Court on Sunday afternoon.

  A Look Back, Peek in the Past