Another year is behind us. They seem to go by so fast and we are now beginning 2025. Time for a look back at the year just past. Here are some highlights from the front pages of the Clare County Review in 2024.
Pat Maurer
January 12:
One dies, four escape Harrison fire
A Thursday morning fire, January 4th, in a mobile home, a rental, on Ash Road in Harrison, claimed the life on one man found inside on the east end of the building, but four others who were reportedly in the west end of the trailer were able to escape the fire.
First heavy winter blast blankets area.
The further north you traveled, the more snow fell, during the area’s first severe winter storm Tuesday and Wednesday. Because rain fell and froze on the roads first, travel was extremely treacherous. Around 10 inches fell in the northern parts of Clare County.
January 19:
Sprague to stand trial for murder
Allen Leroy Sprague will be tried for the murder of Dylon Edward Dean Andras October 25.
January 26:
Nevill chosen 2024 Irish Fest Grand Marshal
Clare’s Lori Nevill, area United Way leader, Irish committee member and community supporter has been named this year’s Irish Festival Grand Marshal.
February 9:
Frostbite Winter Festival is here
Harrison’s 36th annual Frostbite Winter Festival started Thursday and will run through Saturday evening.
March 8:
Irish Festival begins next week
It looks like it will be nice weather for Clare’s annual Irishe Festival next week.
March 22:
Irish Fest a great success
Clare Chamber Office Manager Kourtney said “What a great night had by all at the Irish Festival Recipe contest.
Parents complain about school survey
A media firestorm erupted when parents were not notified about a survey with questions about gender and sexual orientation at Harrison Schools.
March 29:
Hayes Twp residents angry over rec center closures.
The Hayes Township Center remodeling several years back has residents angry over a smaller gym and basketball court and kids being ejected from the center.
April 5:
Clare Gap work on rail trail ongoing
Work is progressing on closing the “Clare Gap,” the part of the Pere’ Marquette Rail Trail that will guide trail users through the City and connect the trail near the Moose Lodge on the west side.
Mounted deputy dies in riding accident
The Clare County Sheriff’s Office and the Mounted Division is mourning the death of another of their deputies, Kimba MacRichie who died April 2 from injuries sustained while trail riding with her family in Tennessee.
April 12:
Design, funding approved for hospital expansion
MyMichigan Medical Center of Clare recently obtained funding and design approval for a $40 million investment in Phases 1 & 2 of the multi-Phase expansion and revitalization of the Medical Center.
Aldi’s coming to Clare
Questions about whether or when ALDI’s grocery is coming to Clare were answered last month when the parent company issued a press release explaining their intentions to open new stores including in Clare.
April 26:
Clare BOE approves $12.1 million bond resolution for August 6 election
At the Clare BOE meeting April 15, a Bond Issue Resolution was approved for the August 6 election. A year ago, a proposal asking voters to approve a $66.52 million bond issue for a new high school, upgraded facilities and technology and safety upgrades was voted down by district voters.
Williams is new Clare County Undersheriff
Clare County ahs a new Undersheriff. Sheriff John Wilson said former Deputy Ed Williams as been named as the new Undersheriff. He is a 20-year veteran of the Clare County Sheriff’s Office and the former Osceola County Sheriff.
May 3:
Residents pack County meeting to discuss MMR
A full house was in attendance again for the second Special Committee Meeting of the Clare Commission May 1. Some township officials were also in attendance. All were looking for more emergency coverage from Mobile Medical Ambulance Service in the northern, western and eastern townships.
May 10:
$15 million left of Health Park grant put back in state general fund
The remainer of grant funding earmarked for Clare’s Complete Health Park project, originally a $25 million grant awarded in 2022 and now with $15 million unused, has been put back into the State General Fund. Some of the grant funds were distributed, but the remainder was frozen in 2023 when questions and concerns were raised over the use of funds distributed to the Health Park Committee, then headed up by David Coker, Jr.
May 24:
Farwell man charged with attempted strangling, fentanyl possession
May 17, Isabella County deputies responded to a report of a man strangling a woman in Rosebush. Timothy Lee Bowers, 44 of Farwell was reportedly holding his hand over a woman’s mouth. She told officers he “strangled her three times and punched her in the face many times.”
June 14:
Back to the Bricks makes pit stop in Clare
A sure sign of spring is the arrival of antique, vintage and ultra-sleek modern cars and trucks. Over 250 of them from all over the state rolled into Clare June10 for the first time since 2019.
June 21:
Grant Twp Hall and parking lot projects are completed
The renovation and expansion of the Grant Township Hall and the expansion and resurfacing of the parking lot is now complete. American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding paid for the building expansion, a total of $324,000. The total parking lot cost was $274,783.55, funded through the general fund.
June 28:
Monday storm knocks power out to more than 1,000 homes
According to reports from Consumers, downed trees Monday, June 24, cause a power outage for 1,266 comers in Clare, Gladwin and northern Isabella Counties. Most (749) were in Clare County.
July 5:
MyMichigan’s Clare hospital to break ground on expansion project
MyMichigan Health will break ground on MyMichigan Medical Center Clare’s Expansion and Renovation Project on Monday July 15.
July 12:
Tornado does much damage in Lake George area
A confirmed EF1 tornado (winds up to 95 mph) struck Clare County on Friday, July 5 near Lake George, cutting a 10-mile path down Mannsiding and Old State from the Lake George area to Townline Lake.
July 19:
18-year-old Farwell teen jailed for machete attack
An 18-year-old Farwell man, was arrested after he allegedly attacked his roommate, 35-year-old Dennis Jack Pardo Jr. with a machete, causing serious injury.
July 26:
Clare Superintendent Walter on administrative leave
Following a second closed session at the end of the regular board meeting July 15, Clare BOE President Loren Cole released a statement, citing an “employment issue” as the reason for an ongoing investigation. Superintendent Jim Walter II was placed on administrative leave, although no reason for the leave was given at the time.
Two seriously injured in hit-and-run in Clare.
A late evening motorcycle ride through Clare July 18 turned into a tragic crash when two on the cycle were hit by a speeding driver on Mewan Street. The couple from Mason riding the motorcycle were both seriously injured. The driver of the Chevrolet that hit the couple was found and arrested. He was identified as Thomas Vernon Claringbold III, 34.
August 2:
Walter resigns, House named Clare Interim Superintendent
In a special meeting Friday, July 26, after a closed session, the Clare Board of Education voted to accept the resignation of Jim Walter II as superintendent of Clare Public Schools. Former Harrison Superintendent Thomas House was named Interim Superintendent.
August 9:
School Proposals, county proposals all pass
Clare’s $12 million bond proposal, Farwell’s Sinking Fund proposal and Gladwin Schools non-homestead millage was approved by voters in August 6th’s election.
Drunken crash cuts power to hundreds in Clare
A 30-uear-old Clio man, Trevor Manning, was arrested for drunk driving August 1st after he entered the City of Clare from the west on Fifth Street at a high rate of speed, lost control and destroyed a Consumer’s power pole at the corner of Maple and Fifth, cutting power to hundreds of residents.
August 16:
Zebra mussels confirmed in Budd Lake
The appearance of zebra mussels in Budd Lake was confirmed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and reported to local authorities. The invasive species has made its way throughout Michigan’s lakes and ravers since the late ‘80s.
August 23:
Demasi helping in Health Park Investigation
Anthony Demasi, scheduled for sentencing this week after his recent guilty plea in an identity theft and fraud case, has had his sentencing delayed until September while he aids State investigators with the Clare Health Park investigation.
Father, son die in apparent murder suicide on East River Road
The bodies of a 48-year-old missing man and his six-year-old son – Steven Winchell and Rowan Milford Morey – were discovered August 21st by a family member dead in a camper on the father’s property. The search for the man and his son began August 19.
August 30:
Severe storms hit area, thousands without power
Clare Emergency Management Director Jerry Becker reported that 10,436 customers were still without power in Clare County Wednesday morning, after widespread heavy damage, trees toppled and lines down were reported all over mid-Michigan and area schools were closed due to a line of heavy thunderstorms on Tuesday with winds of 40 mph and gust up to 60 mph. Consumers reported 103,576 customers across the state lost power.
September 6:
Forsberg named Clare Superintendent
Clare High School Principal Matt Forsberg was named the new Superintendent of Schools at a recent Board of Education meeting. He replaces former Superintendent Jim Walter and Interim Superintendent Tom House.
September 13:
Counterfeit bills found in Clare
Clare Police Chief Dave Saad said two counterfeit bills recently surfaced at a Clare bank. He said to watch for matching numbers on the bills, which were made by bleaching and reprinting a smaller denomination bill.
September 20:
Demasi sentenced to a year and a day.
A 50-year-old Mt. Pleasant man, Anthony Demasi, was sentenced September 12th in U.S. District Court, Eastern District, after he pled guilty to identity theft and fraud last March.
October 11:
Vandenbos of McBain charged with attempted murder
A McBain man, 41-year-old Timothy Vandenbos was arrested and charged with attempted murder after he allegedly assaulted a woman and shot her vehicle. Before police arrived at the Winterfield Township scene on Clam River Road October 3rd, Vandenbos fled the scene. He was located after crashing his vehicle.
October 18:
Clare to get safety island for school crossing
. At the October 7th City Commission meeting, the board approved a “letter of support” for the installation of a temporary safety island at the intersection of Wheaton and McEwan due to concerns over the school crossing there.
October 25:
ALDI to open Clare Store next week
Aldi will open their new store in Clare October 30 with a Ribbon Cutting. For a “Sneak Peek,” the store will be open to shoppers October 29.
November 8:
Farwell pastor charged with sexually assaulting youth
A months long investigation led to the arrest of Harold Norman Cole, Jr., a 57-year-old pastor of the Trinity Baptist Church in Farwell for the sexual assault of an out-of-state youth.
Rail-Trail Ribbon Cutting held
Wednesday, October 23 was the ribbon cutting and official trail opening celebration at the new Pere’ Marquette Rail-Trail head located at the Clare Union Depot. Only the rail crossing gates and fencing at the end of Pioneer Parkway were still to be completed. Approximately one hundred attended the event.
November 22:
Pickup driver injured in crash with runaway Amish buggy
An early evening crash November 15 between a runaway horse and buggy and a 2005 Ford F-150 pickup sent the truck driver to the hospital with serious injuries and killed the horse. The crash, happened on South Clare Avenue (Old US-27) and Dover Road, when Richard Rodabaugh, 66 of Farwell, and a passenger were traveling south on Clare Avenue north of Dover Road. They crashed into the northbound horse and unoccupied buggy.
November 29:
Farwell teacher’s comment on social media causes community uproar
A Farwell teacher posted an apology on the Farwell Area Schools Facebook page after she apparently responded with a positive comment to a media post saying, “Nothing an assassination can’t take care of.” She posted the comment on November 6, the day after Former President Trump won the election. Her comment raised an uproar in the community with some Farwell Area Schools District residents calling for her to be fired.
Juvenile in vehicle stabbed, choked by driver
A juvenile was stabbed November 25th, while he was riding with an 18-year-old Farwell man, Randolph Schaub, who was driving. Another, a juvenile female was also a passenger. Reportedly the 17-year-old and Schaub were arguing. The teen victim was able to exit the vehicle during the assault and go for help. He was treated at the Emergency room in Clare. Schaub reportedly prevented the female from leaving the vehicle, until they were found in the Farwell High School Parking lot where he was arrested.
December 6:
Doherty Hotel celebrates 100 years
The Doherty Hotel held its Centennial Celebration December 1st. It has been the family’s business since opening in 1924. Dean and Ann Doherty are the 4th generation of owners since Alfred James (A.J.) Doherty. About 200 guests attended the event. Master of Ceremonies was Businessman Jim Paetschow, who introduced speakers at the event.
Clare charged with grandmother’s murder, mutilation
Shawn Clark Jr, 23, has been charged with the September murder of his Grandmother, Donna Mae Croft, 73, who was reported missing by family. After an extensive investigation which began in early September, Croft’s body was found and identified in the Meredith area, A search warrant led to a “burn site” on the property and some “human remains.” The GPS on Clark’s tether (he was on probation) led to the body site.
Grandson arrested for stabbing grandmother
November 30, a 68-year-old Harrison woman who “flagged down a driver on Harrison Avenue,” reported she had been stabbed several times by her 25-year-old grandson, Jacob Dunham. She was taken to the Midland Hospital. Investigators found that an argument between the two was going on just before the stabbing, and while she was attempting to escape from an assault, Dunham stabbed her in the back several times. He was arrested and arraigned December 1 on multiple felonies.
December 13:
Lawsuit filed by Prosecutor against County dismissed
A lawsuit filed by Clare County Prosecuting Attorney Michelle Ambrozaitis, against the Clare County Board of Commissioners, has been dismissed in 55th Circuit Court. The the lawsuit claimed her many requests for additional funds were denied after she cited the County’s attorney shortage and the alleged inability of the office to maintain state-mandated functions. County Administrator Lori Phelps disagreed with the prosecutor’s claim, saying, “The Clare County Commissioners denied the claim maintaining that the level of support (for the office) was not only adequate, but her research showed that the Prosecutor’s office maintained a higher number of employees than any other county compared.”
December 20:
Developer to potentially buy 15 acres in Clare’s Industrial Park No. 3
Clare City Commissioners voted December16 to approve a Purchase and Sales Agreement with Scannell Properties, a real estate developer in Indianapolis, Indiana, who is interested in “potentially purchasing and developing 15.5 acres of land in the newly created Industrial Park #3 at the south end of the City.
December 27:
Sprague sentenced up to 55 years for runover death of Dylon Andras
Allen Leroy Sprague, 54 of Farwell, found guilty last month of hitting and killing dirt biker Dylon Edward Dean Andras, and for attempting to kill a second rider – Ted Treloar, has been has been sentenced to spend 35 to 55 years in prison. Sprague, was found guilty of the October 25, 2023 murder of Andras, 29, who he allegedly ran down while Andras was riding on a dirt bike in northwestern Isabella County on West Stevenson Lake Road.
Clare BOE approves property purchase
At the December 16 Clare Board of Education meeting, board members approved a motion to purchase property adjacent to the school property, 107 E. Wheaton in Clare for $129,285.00. The BOE authorized Superintendent Matt Forsberg to negotiate the purchase at the November meeting. He reported the purchase will be “best used as property, not structure.”
