From The Clarkston News archives

25 years ago – 1999
Projected water main costs called ‘a big hit’ for some businesses: At the July 26 city council meeting, council members and several residents got their first look at preliminary costs to bring a water main into downtown. According to the estimate, the water main installation would cost each Main Street address $882.81 per year over 15 years, it was based on one Residential Equivalent Unit on sewer units in the city.
Back from the garden: Nineteen-year-olds Courtney Bomier and Gretchen Pitser became flower children like many of the 250,000 temporary residents of Rome, New York. The two attended Woodstock ‘99 with three fellow Clarkston High School graduates and Michigan State University students Sara McKechnie, Aaron Sailor and John Arcello.
In-line hockey leagues grow by the day: The demand for local in-line teams had grown to the point where Beth Walker, recreation programmer for Independence Township Parks and Recreation, had a waiting list of players wanting to get into one of the three leagues it was offering during the summer. “We changed the format a little this year to get more kids involved,” she said. “Last year, we had groups of kids come and sign up as a team. This year, we now have 22 teams and 270 kids involved. We had 246 sign up last year.”

50 years ago – 1974
Wrecker, tools returned to Roy Brothers: Oakland County Sheriff’s detectives made one arrest and recovered most of the items stolen during a bizarre burglary at Roy Brothers service station off Sashabaw Road during the weekend. Burglars had stolen the service station’s wrecker, damaging the garage door as they left, to carry away ten tires, two toolboxes containing a total of $6,300 work of tools and at least $100 in cash. The wrecker was discovered with the key in the ignition on a Pontiac street on Monday night.
Cub sailors: Winners of the mini-regatta held at Big Fish Lake were Tim Thorpe in first place; Steve Oakley, second place; Shannon Shilling, third place; and Neal Oakley, fourth place. The boys, who made the boats themselves, were members of Pack 341 of the Clinton Valley Council and raced the boats at the annual pack picnic.
The mill stream: Members of the Baron Engineering Widget Team honored their coach, Michael Pitts, with a trophy expressing their thanks for his help. The team didn’t do very well, but everyone had a good time and appreciated the help helped from Coach Pitts, Mrs. Diane Harken shared. “They were having trouble finding coaches, and I thought it was really nice of Mike to volunteer his help,” Harken said about the 17-year-old senior at Clarkston High School.

75 years ago – 1949
Surprise party honors birthday: About 20 friends and neighbors gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Allan Hintz on Hillcrest Drive and pleasantly surprised Mrs. Hintz, who was celebrating her birthday on Saturday. The group had a grand time visiting and square dancing to music furnished by Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Haan on the violin and piano. Refreshments were served at midnight, and the dancing continued until past the small hours of the morning.
Firemen swell “Cathy R.” fund: The benefit party sponsored by the Firefighters Association was a huge success. The amount raised from the party and from direct donations on Saturday night was $400. The money was then placed into the Cathy Richardson Fund.
Clarkston locals: Mrs. Walter Thompson and Mrs. Alice Lyons left the first of the week to enjoy a vacation in the Upper Peninsula.

  A Look Back, Peek in the Past