Dealership driven by focus on customers

Clarkston Chrysler Jeep President Chuck Fortinberry works hard to create customers for life. The key, he said, is to treat every customer as the dealership’s best customer, by exceeding expectations in sales, service and value. But in order to meet such lofty goals, Fortinberry knows it’s important his entire staff think in the same terms. […]

A holly jolly Christmas

Big trees, small trees, fat trees and thin trees, every one who arrived at Rattalee Lake Tree Farm seemed to find just the tree they were hoping for Saturday. The farm, located on Rattalee Lake Road about a mile west of M-15, offers Fraser Firs, Blue Spruce and Scotch Pines, plus free shaking, baling, drilling […]

Making spirits bright

As the Christmas season gets into full swing, Clarkston News staffers are putting together holiday-related stories, talking to local organizations and hearing the same message over and over and over again: more families are feeling pinched this year. We want to help, and we’re hoping you do, too. The Clarkston News is collecting nonperishable food […]

Springfield boards up its building department

Michigan’s gasping economy claimed another victim last week when Springfield Township was forced to permanently close the doors to its building department Dec. 1. All open permits, as well as future requests for permits or inspections, will be handled by Code Enforcement Services (CES), a private Independence Township firm specializing in ordinance enforcement, inspection, construction […]

Independence Township police seek gunman in home invasion, carjacking

Police in Independence Township are warning residents to be on the lookout for an armed man they believe is responsible for holding one homeowner at gunpoint and carjacking another. A resident living in the 5000 block of Waldon Road near Pine Knob Road called police after arriving home around 10:30 Wednesday morning and interrupting a […]

Heartfelt thanks

SCAMP gave thanks at its annual social last week to the many contributors who donated time and money so hundreds of special-needs children could enjoy a summer camp experience otherwise unavailable to them. The evening included dinner, tributes to many supporters and special recognition for SCAMP pioneer Bob Brumback. ‘Bob not only created the program,? […]

Officials learn how to get our share at seminar

Need to fund a program or project? About $400 billion in annual awards is available from more than a thousand federal grant programs, and it’s all organized’or on the way to becoming organized’in one place: Grants.gov. Invited by U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, The Clarkston News and its sister publication The Citizen, police, government officials, and […]

Danger lurks online

Clarkston-area parents heard a stern and frightening warning last week: Be vigilant about what your kids are doing online or they could fall victim to a sexual predator. Several dozen people showed up to listen to the two-and-a-half hour presentation at Clarkston Junior High, and many found the information alarming. ‘We don’t like to talk […]

Greenbacks needed for green space poll

Two local men who want to preserve a parcel of natural area in the rapidly-developing Independence Township are hoping to raise about $10,000 to prove others are interested in safeguarding a bit of green space, too. Thomas Pytel and Jim Reed approached the township board recently to ask for a ballot proposal of 0.6 mills […]

Turning their lives around

Part III of a series on the 52-2 District Court’s Sobriety Court program, The Clarkston News examines how the program works and the people behind it. BY LAURA COLVIN Clarkston News Staff Writer It’s a satisfying night on the job for Deputy Jim Bowie when he can pluck another drunk driver off Clarkston-area roadways. After […]