From The Clarkston News archives
25 years ago – 1999
Officials hope post office won’t deliver huge facility to Independence: If the U.S. Postal Service chose Independence Township for its new mail center, the building would be 650,000-700,000 square feet on 52 acres for a Northeast Metro (Michigan) Processing & Distribution Center. The federal agency was eyeing areas at least one mile on either side of I-75 from 14 Mile Road to Sashabaw Road; one mile on either side of M-59 from Dequindre Road west to I-75; and one mile on either side of M-24 from I-75 to Silverbell Road.
Let ‘Freedom’ ring: Ryan Thomas, a senior at Clarkston High School, graduated from the Michigan Freedom Academy with a greater sense of patriotism. He spent a week at Phelps Collins Air Force National Guard Base near Alpena to gain a greater awareness of freedom with 100 other high schoolers from around the state.
Students share memories of year spent in Mexico: A Christmas without snow was the only disappointment Christina Lichty had while spending a year in Mexico through the Rotary Youth Exchange program. Lichty, a 1998 graduate of Clarkston High School, arrived back in her hometown in June after staying with two host families in Victoria City (or Ciudad Victoria), the capital of the Mexican state Tamaulipas. “It was beautiful,” she said, as she shared her experience.
50 years ago – 1974
Schools reinstate field trips: There was enough gas available – at least for the moment – that the Clarkston Board of Education moved to rescind its motion in November 1973 and reinstituted field trips and spectator buses for games. The first group to benefit from the change would be the Clarkston Area Arts Council which had made tentative agreements to bus all fourth through sixth graders to the Michigan Artrain when it arrived at the White Lake Road Depot.
Coach White says Wolves ready: With their physicals behind them, conditioning workouts out of the way, armed with new uniforms, and a seven-man blocking that was the best in the U.S.A., Clarkston Varsity Football was on its way to the start of football practice, Aug. 19. “We’re ready,” came the word from head coach Rob White.
The mill stream: About 40 members of the Clarkston High School graduating of 1964 gathered for a tenth reunion at Spring Lake Country Club. Award for having come the farthest went to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kriss of Akron, Ohio; for having the most children, Karen Hamilton Beeton and Vera Mae Irelan Galvin; for being married the longest, Nancy Crosby Duckett; for changing the most, Tom Jackson, Roger Pearson and Boyd “Starchie” Eisenloher; and for changing the least, George White.
75 years ago – 1949
Willoughby disqualified by insufficient petition signers: Due to insufficient signers on the petition for Orlo J. Willoughby, his name was disqualified as candidate for school board member at the upcoming election. A five-person board for the newly organized school would be selected by voters out of a field of ten.
Husband honored Friday evening: Mrs. James Cowan entertained at their home in Clarkston honoring her husband following his graduation from the General Motors School of Technology. A buffet supper was served and many guests presented Mr. Cowan with a gift.
Clarkston locals: Mr. and Mrs. George Lawson and son, Robert, returned to their home after spending a few days with his brothers, Earl and Ralph, in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Mr. and Mrs. William B. Miller and daughters returned to their home in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., after spending several weeks with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Lawson.