From The Clarkston News archives

25 years ago – 1999
Tree removal causes complaints: Despite many good feelings surrounding the opening of Independence Elementary School in November, at least one resident was not pleased with school officials. A stretch of 700 feet of Hubbard Road at Main Street would be paved in the next two weeks which caused a need for tree removal. A resident who lived on Hubbard Road, directly across the school, was unhappy with the way the situation was handled. “We believe the school district did take an extra step to preserve the trees,” said Craig Bryson, public information officer for Road Commission of Oakland County. “This is not an unusual situation with a rural road.”
The road to Woodward begins in Clarkston: The first review was in and it was good – Metro Times called the new Woodward Magazine, “metro Detroit’s best answer to The New Yorker.” It was good news for publisher/editor Leif Gruenberg and executive editor Chris Bisha, both Clarkston residents. The first issue hit stands during September and was aimed at culture lovers in southeastern Michigan, tempered with the small-town upbringing and sensibilities of Gruenberg and Bisha.
Swimmers get first ever win: Any success the Clarkston Girls Swim team had in its first year was just a bonus. The Wolves had some big success on Sept. 14 as they won their first ever dual meet with a 149-34 victory over Pontiac Central at CHS nanotorium. Coach Kenwyn Chock called Kelly Orris the “swimmer of the meet” as she set two school records. Orris took first in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:29.92. She was also part of the record-setting 200-yard freestyle relay team with Diana Doyle, Sara Zerba and Andrea Forst. Senior Krista Roschak took first in the 100-yard backstroke, 1:18.51; and the 100-yard butterfly, 1:19.5.

50 years ago – 1974
Upper Mill Pond to be dredged: Dredging of the Upper Mill Pond would be done during the fall, the Independence Township Lake Board decided after a public hearing on Monday night. The dredging of muck off the bottom of the pond would be beneficial, said Dorothy Aszurek, Oakland County Department of Health sanitation, although she added the effect on the water might be short-term.
He makes music with a computer: Clarkston resident and Oakland University music professor Clifford Pheil spent part of the summer creating “Mad Mountain Music,” with the ISMUS computerized music system at Iowa State University.
The mill stream: Linda Dolven, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John Dolven, of Clement Road, was entertained at a surprise going-away party at the home of her friend, Becky Mielke, on Foster Road. Ann Noonan was co-hostess. Linda was entering Interlochen Arts Academy as a sophomore in the fall.

75 years ago – 1949
First horse show grand success: A very large crowd attended the Dixie Saddle Club Horse Show on Glen Ellis farm on Dixie Highway. The club was organized last May and this was their first attempt at a horse show – they were very pleased with the results. There were about 150 horses entered from Pontiac, Grand Rapids, Clarkston, Flint, Ortonville, Milford, Caro, Fenton, Detroit, Davisburg and Ann Arbor.
Shower honors local girl: Mrs. Ray Riksen and daughters, Betty and Pat, entertained at seven o’clock dinner and personal shower honoring Geraldine Fuller, who became a bride of Arnold Pacer of Clarkston. The group enjoyed playing games and presented Geraldine with many beautiful gifts.
Clarkston locals: Mr. and Mrs. George Perry entertained a family dinner honoring their son, Charles, who was celebrating his birthday. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Clark spent a few weeks in northern Michigan. Mrs. Clark was recuperating after undergoing an operation at the University Hospital in Ann Arbor.

  A Look Back, Peek in the Past