Armed robbery at downtown bank

Staff and customers at Oxford Bank in downtown Clarkston were shaken up but unhurt after two men pulled an armed robbery, 10:55 a.m., Monday. One witness was there that morning, cashing a check. “He opened up the door and I thought, ‘I don’t like the looks of that guy’ ? he had his hoodie pulled […]

Lessons hard won in cancer fight

For Wanda Thomas of Independence Township, a visit to her daughter in Tennessee saved her life. ‘She told me I was getting worse,? Thomas said of the 2010 trip. ‘She took me to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville ? it took me five months to get back home.? Vanderbilt treated her for stage 3 Multiple Myeloma, […]

Phil in the Blank A column by Phil Custodio

With a month and a half until the Clarkston State Bank Back Roads Half Marathon, it’s crunch time for training. I’ve been pretty good about it, running twice a week most of the time since May. My courses have been the longest I’ve ever tried during training ? from downtown Clarkston down Waldon to Sashabaw, […]

Rhymester records ode to working man

Michigan, and especially Detroit, has taken a beating lately. Ryan Scott of Independence Township wanted to do something to help, so he wrote a song about it. “I’m trying my best to shed a positive light on our great state,” Scott said. “My hope is that, through my song, I can impact people and bring […]

They’ll always have Paris

Among many memorable French monuments visited by Clarkston-area students this past October, the Eiffel Tower stands out. It was tall. It was imposing. It was also blue. “The Eiffel Tower was lit up in blue because France was serving a six-month presidency of the European Union,” said Sheryl Powell, who led Cedar Crest Academy’s Middle […]

A day to remember

In its fifth year, Oakhurst’s 2008 charity golf fundraiser was as strong as ever, raising $8,127 for Oakland County’s Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial. “Even in this tough economy, people still come forward,” said Paul Cloutier, event committee member. “It gets easier every year. The community loves the idea of giving back to those who protect […]

New doc in town

For Dr. Gail Cookingham, medicine is a family affair. “I grew up in a medical family,” Cookingham said. “My father is an allergist ? his first office was in the basement of our house. His next one was in bicycle distance. We would ride to the office, and play and help out.” Cookingham and her […]

Sienna spa opens in Independence

When Tina Parenti learned her salon was closing its Waterford location, she and her husband Dave Parenti saw an opportunity. ‘The girls are a pleasure to work with, a fantastic team, like a family. They wanted to stay together, and we wanted to provide a place to do that,? Tina said. “They put an idea […]

Making their move

Clarkston Medical Group’s new 137,000-square-foot building on Sashabaw Road is running ahead of schedule and under budget, said Dr. Timothy O’Neill, CMG president. ‘We picked the right people, no question,? O’Neill said. ‘They have done a great job.? The medical office building, just south of I-75, is on track to open this summer. The entire […]

Phil in the Blank A column by Phil Custodio

A submarine sandwich has taken up station on the north-side pitch of the roof on Rudy’s Market. We can see it from the south-facing windows of our newsroom. We noticed it a couple weeks ago. Nobody knows how it got there. Perhaps utility workers on our roof, breaking for lunch, some sort of food fight, […]