Measles not an issue at Clarkston schools

BY MATT MACKINDER Clarkston News Staff Writer With the recent measles outbreak in southeast Oakland County, there is no panic within Clarkston Community Schools. According to Clarkston Medical Group Medical Director Erica Harding, MD, the solution to avoiding the measles in general is to get vaccinated. Measles is contracted by inhaling virus-infected particles. Infectious droplets […]

Future Problem Solvers win at State Bowl

BY MATT MACKINDER Clarkston News Staff Writer Over the March 23 weekend, the Clarkston Community Schools’ Future Problem Solvers team traveled to Michigan State University for the State Bowl competition and came home with nine awards. The team now qualifies for the Future Problem Solving International Conference in June in Massachusetts. They will be researching […]

Japanese exchange students take in Clarkston culture

BY MATT MACKINDER Clarkston News Staff Writer For one week every school year, a handful of students from Japan make the trek from their homeland to spend time in Clarkston as part of a student exchange program. The program has been in existence since 2000 and has been spearheaded by CHS Japanese teacher Faye Valtadoros […]

Clarkston native Macaulay commits to play NCAA hockey

BY MATT MACKINDER Clarkston News Staff Writer On the heels of two successful seasons with the Metro Jets junior hockey team in Fraser, stalwart defenseman Devlin Macaulay is moving on. This week, the 20-year-old Clarkston native committed to play NCAA Division III hockey at New England College, a small, private school in Henniker, N.H., that […]

Teachers learn how to keep kids calm

BY MATT MACKINDER Clarkston News Staff Writer For a team from North Sashabaw Elementary School, last month’s mid-winter break was a chance to keep learning. Principal Jennifer Johnson, Social Emotional Coach Kristina Hoover, Social Worker Kayle Parker, fourth-grade teacher Molly Hothem and kindergarten teacher Maddie Spencer joined hundreds of other educators in Washington D.C. to […]

$200,000 matching grant sought for Bay Court playground

BY MATT MACKINDER Clarkston News Staff Writer Nothing lasts forever, even the playground equipment at Bay Court Park. Thus, changes are coming – and for the better. The Independence Township Parks, Recreation and Seniors Department is in the process of applying for a Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant through the Department of Natural Resources […]

$2 million for fresh fire trucks

BY MATT MACKINDER Clarkston News Staff Writer Later this year, expect to see three new fire engines on the streets. At the March 19 Independence Township Board of Trustees meeting, Fire Chief Mitch Petterson presented the department’s plans to spend nearly $2 million on two new trucks and a quint – a cost that was […]

Kids going to school in June to make up days

BY MATT MACKINDER Clarkston News Staff Writer A state decision is pending on making up snow days, but Clarkston Community Schools is moving forward with plans to deal with three of them. “Clarkston requested and was granted the additional three days of forgiven time. However, even with the additional three days that were granted, we […]

Springfield Plains takes safety STEPs

BY MATT MACKINDER Clarkston News Staff Writer Principal Matt Gifford took a turn teaching fifth graders during Safety Week at Springfield Plains Elementary School. “The lesson provides general knowledge about disasters common to our area and strategies for how students can protect themselves and their families,” Gifford said. “It also teaches students how to create […]

WHAT ‘MATT’ERS: Freezing time

A column by Matt Mackinder I am of the opinion the phrase “time flies when you’re having fun” takes on a whole new meaning once you have kids. Here’s an example: Back in 2005 when my wife, Stephanie, had our oldest, Ethan, we were over the moon. And rightfully so. People everywhere told us to […]