Few businesses link a community together like a newspaper – and our community has been fortunate in this respect for many years.
Our voice – the glue that helps bind us to our neighbors – has been and still is The Clarkston News. The names of the staff members have changed over the years, but the commitment remains the same. The Clarkston News was founded just one month before the stock market crash of 1929. The first print edition was Sept. 23,1929.
And, since January of this year, members of the community have had the ability to view an on-line version of The Clarkston News by visiting our web site: www.clarkstonnews.com
“We were slow to the World Wide Web,” publisher Jim Sherman, Jr., said, “Our primary focus has been and will always be the printed page so we took our time setting our webpage up. We looked at many, many other newspaper sites. Some were great, some were good and some we would never subject our readers to. We believe our site is user-friendly, nice to look at and can also be interactive.
“Our goal is to have the web version on-line by Thursday morning of each week,” Sherman said.
Local organizations like the Clarkston Rotary or Clarkston Chamber of Commerce as well as local governments like Clarkston Schools can add their own community events to our on-line calendar while visiting this site. Just click on the “Calendar” listing, then on to “Add a Caledar Event,” then follow the easy instructions.
Visitors can also submit classified ads, opinions and subscribe to the printed version.
We plan on uploading all public notices that appear in the print edition to the on-line Clarkston News — which will help us in our goal of keeping residents abreast of local government action.
Most to the editorial and advertising seen in the print version will be uploaded every week, Sherman said. Photos will be in full color and, on occasion, on-line viewers will be able to see extra photos of an event that were not in print.
“We’re pretty excited about it,” he said.
When visiting the site, if you click on an editorial reporter’s name a list of previous articles by that author will appear. Folks can then also read those articles. On-line archives are of those recent editions that have been uploaded on-line and will continue to grow. Currently, no plans have been made to put past years’ of The Clarkston News on-line.
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This past year, The Clarkston News also conducted an on-line survey with the nationally renowned Pulse Research group.
From suggestions and constructive criticisms, we rearranged the structure of our community newspaper. We have brought back an old favorite — the Clarkston Millstream section. This section will be full of people features, happenings and a People Poll. We also invite readers to submit not only Milestone announcements but also favorite recipe or short, original poetry.
“We want this to be a weekly adventure in how wonderful the Clarkston area and its residents can be,” Sherman said “Let us know if you know of a good feature.”
To make room for this section, sports has been moved to the front section. “It’s still all there, just somewhere else.”
“We’re moving forward this year,” Sherman said. “These will be exciting times for us and our readers.”
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From the Great Depression until 1933, five publishers tried to make a go at it with The Clarkston News. Five publishers in four years failed until an attorney from Detroit came to town.
William H. Stamp, attorney at law, wanted out of the city. He wanted a hobby. In 1933 he and his wife Ann became The Clarkston News’ sixth owners.
The Stamps did not want a crusading newspaper, rather they wanted to print community news. They had since moved to Clarkston and wanted to make friends, not enemies. William handled the advertising sales and business end, and Ann took care of the editorial side.
The Stamps operated The Clarkston News until the late 1950s, when it was sold to Bob Wilson. In 1966 Stamp took the paper back and sold it to Jim Sr. and Hazel Sherman. The Sherman family still owns and operates The Clarkston News. Jim Jr. took over publishing duties in 1993 when his father (author of Jim’s Jottings) retired.
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An interesting side note: By 1966 Stamp was also the town justice of the Peace. He served community justice and ran The Clarkston News out of the same building (now in the area of True Value Hardware on M-15).
The Shermans’ first day of ownership was a Monday, following a particularly rowdy weekend. At 9 a.m. two state troopers marched through the News office, followed by a handcuffed and shackled prisoner and another policeman.
By 10 a.m. Mr. Sherman was on the road looking for a new location. He decided it was not good business policy to have prisoners walking through his office.
He settled on the office of dentist Gary Usher, closer to town. That office was on Main Street at Waldon Rd. By 1970 the Shermans purchased the building at 5 South Main Street, which has been the newspaper’s home since.
The Clarkston News has been published weekly, uninterrupted since 1929. The Clarkston News is part of a group of publications owned by the Sherman family. They run weekly newspapers in Oxford, Lake Orion and Ortonville, as well as two shoppers (purely advertising), The Penny Stretcher, the Ad-Vertiser and Metamora Crossroads — reaching over 60,000 homes. Depending on the season, Sherman Publications employs between 50-60 people
In addition to news and feature stories, The Clarkston News prints engagement, wedding, anniversary, birth and school news.
To place an ad or announcement in or subscribe to The Clarkston News, call 248-625-3370. You can also visit our office, located at the comer of Washington and Main at 5 S. Main Street in downtown.

CITY OF THE VILLAGE OF CLARKSTON
375 DEPOT ROAD
CLARKSTON MI 48346
SUMMARY
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MARCH 13, 2008
Meeting called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Mayor Catallo.
Roll. Present: Catallo, Brueck, Inabnit, Johnston, Ottman, Roth.
Absent: Gawronski
The Minutes of February 25, 2008, accepted as presented.
Agenda accepted as presented with the addition of D.P.W. Car Expenses to Item 2 of Unfinished business.
Resolved that bills in the amount of $271,042.26 be approved for payment
Inabnit reported that Ottman, Inabnit, Catallo, and Pappas met to discuss privatization in D.P.W. areas.
Roth stated that Ottman and she had met with Rob Bondy to establish a relationship between the City Council and business owners.
Johnston asked if the Chamber of Commerce could work with the business district. A discussion was held on whether stores could be open later in the evening, especially during special events.
Brueck reported that there was good attendance at the Phragmites Workshop held on March 11 in the Cushing Center at St. Daniel Church. Anne Vaara, Executive Director of the Clinton River Watershed Council will be present at the University of Michigan graduate students? presentation on Depot Park. Johnston will issue invitations to neighboring communities for the presentation to be held at the Independence Township Fire Hall No. 1 on April 16.
Ottman and Inabnit met with Pursley and Pappas to discuss the D.P.W. The budgets for the last five years are being studied. Ottman stated that Pursley brought out good points for review. Johnston asked that building plans be reviewed in conjunction with discussions on the D.P.W.
Ottman expressed her appreciation for Peggy Roth joining in the dialog with business owners represented by Rob Bondy.
Mayor Catallo commented that there were solutions to the business climate in downtown Clarkston. She commented that the Taste of Clarkston, the Farmers Market, Concerts in the Park, as well as the other community events should give exposure to the businesses. Mayor Catallo stated that she had information from past efforts for the committee to use.
Chief LaCroix advised Council that the Police Department had use of a Dodge Charger for one week. The request for a flasher light at M-15 and Washington is being processed by the State of Michigan. The Chief stated that a new computer has been ordered. The Chief will be picking up U.S. military surplus lockers for use at 3 East and 375 Depot.
Pursley furnished a budget update which showed costs for new trucks based on the specs for the trucks now in use and other budget items.
Pursley reported that most projected costs for the 2008 ? 2009 budget are normal except for a new computer. Sand has been used for road maintenance due to salt being unavailable.
Pursley reported that a Taste Fest meeting occurred wherein he suggested to the Chamber of Commerce that previous contributions to the City in the amount of $1,000 should be increased, if possible.
Pursley stated that he does not think that privatization is the answer to the D.P.W. services.
Ottman stated that investigating privatization has nothing to do with services of D.P.W., it is simply a fiscal responsibility to determine which route is more financially sound.
Pursley reported that a girl scout troop has requested to complete the task of marking storm sewers as a community activity.
Johnston requested costs on park maintenance. Pursley will estimate mowing and maintenance costs.
Pappas asked that Finance Committee schedule a meeting to begin work on the 2008 ? 2009 budget. Chief LaCroix and Bob Pursley are working on their budgets.
Pappas asked that the search committee schedule a meeting to review resumes received for the City Manager and Clerk/Treasurer positions.
Steve Wylie of 6065 Middle Lake Road expressed his thanks to Bob Pursley and the D.P.W. for the good job of clearing the streets of snow. Mr. Wylie stated that he did not favor privatizing the D.P.W. functions. He felt it would be impossible to purchase services at the current costs levels as there is no profit factor for city employees. Wylie suggested that the midnight shift using the Oakland County Sheriff for police services be studied as it would lower the cost of city police services.
Johnston said he felt Mr. Wylie had good points, and we need to focus on the budget.
City Attorney Ryan conducted the first reading for Ordinance No. 140, The Sidewalk Ordinance.
Resolved that the Chief of Police contract be extended to June 30 with no changes.
Council instructed that City Attorney Ryan attend the first Council meeting of the month rather than two meetings each month.
Brueck asked that the Council track the cost of the D.P.W. automobile for the next few months and leave things where they are now. The Council will consider the issue of the D.P.W. vehicle in the next budget.
Pappas informed Council that the Community Awards Breakfast was scheduled for May 22 at the Deer Lake Racquet Club.
Meeting adjourned at 9:12 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Artemus M. Pappas
Clerk