Mike’s Musings: It’s 2026. Why Is the IRS Still Stuck in the Past?
Not long ago, I set aside part of my workday to ask the Internal Revenue Service a simple question. This wasn’t a complicated audit issue or a dispute over taxes owed. It was a basic inquiry that should have taken…
Clare welcomes new officer James Chinavare
By: Lindsey Ashley At this Monday’s meeting of the City of Clare Commissioners, City Clerk Diane Lyon formally introduced the city’s new hire, Officer James Chinavare.Recently, the city identified a vacancy for a patrol officer job with the Clare Police…
Clare High School team wins Titan Challenge
Junior Achievement of North Central Michigan (JANCM) announces the winners of the 2025 JA Titan Business Challenge. This immersive business simulation tests high school students’ strategic and critical decision-making skills by placing them in the role of CEO of a…
Tommy House and Friends: Still packing the house with debut album
by Christopher Johnson Every community has their guy when it comes to music. That local celebrity everybody knows by name and nickname. That can shred a guitar, dispense knowledge like an encyclopedia, and recount some fascinating lore from a rich…
May I Walk with You? WINTER TIME
I just had the experience of officiating at a friend’s funeral. Though not a frequent church goer, she professed a personal relationship with Jesus, prayed often, and though a sinner like the rest of us, did her best to live…
Farwell loses to Saginaw A&S
By John RaffelCorrespondent FARWELL — Farwell boys lost to Saginaw Arts & Sciences in overtime 48-46.Farwell had quarter totals of 9, 19, 25 and 43 going into the overtime while Saginaw A&S had 16, 30, 36 and 43“We started off…
Mike’s Musings: Airing the Grievances: The Worst of Washington’s Waste
Every December, Sen. Rand Paul releases his annual Festivus Report, a nod to the fictional holiday made famous by Seinfeld. The tradition includes an “airing of grievances,” and for taxpayers, there is no shortage of them.I just got the opportunity…
Clare girls wrestlers compete
By John RaffelCorrespondent CLARE — Clare’s girls wrestling team had three wrestlers compete in the Chippewa Hills Lady Warrior Invitational on Dec. 21.AnnMarie Green took first place at 235 pounds. She got a first-round bye and then she had three…
State-wide winter storm hits Clare County hard
By Genine Hayden This winter started early and it has given only a small reprieve for Christmas before coming back with a vengeance beginning Friday and hitting hardest Sunday night through Monday. About half of the residents in Clare County…
RED ICE: Over a hundred emergencies In 3 days
By Christopher Johnson According to Clare’s Fire Chief, Sam Eberhart, he has never seen a busier time for the city’s fire department than the week just gone.From 8 o’clock Friday morning until 6 o’clock Monday night, there were between 80…
Mike’s Musings: When Silence Walks Louder Than Shouting
In a world addicted to outrage, the most radical protest I’ve seen lately involved no slogans, no megaphones, and no demands shouted into the air. It was a line of Buddhist monks walking.I first noticed this on Facebook. The monks…
Clare wrestlers have busy month
By John RaffelCorrespondent CLARE — Clare’s wrestling team was 0-2 at the Mount Pleasant Oiler Tournament conducted earlier this month.Clare lost to Charlotte 52-12.For the Pioneers, Kyle McGraw (120) decisioned Braylon Rodriguez 11-8, Chris Green (157) lost 14-5 to Tyler…
May I Walk with You? POTENTIAL HOLINESS
At one time I held the belief that God created each person good, holy, and sacred and that they were called to be natural, just be themselves. It seemed that whatever could be justified as natural was good, holy and…
Farwell welcomes new parks and rec coordinator
By Christopher Johnson This past Saturday. Farwell enjoyed it’s second Winter Market with a return of baked goods, knit crafts, maple syrup and more. However, this also came and went with a bittersweet gravity, as it marked Tonya Rowe’s final…
May I Walk with You? CAREGIVER’S PRAYER
Recently, I have been focusing on being a caregiver. It seems that at some time in everyone’s life they get to have the role of being a caregiver for someone they love. While we think of caregivers as saints, the…
Christmas in Clare County: Making Whoville Proud
By Christopher Johnson Christmas is nearly here, and Clare County has been beyond busy with holiday cheer.That rhymed, and why shouldn’t it? Because the Clare Area Chamber of Commerce decided to celebrate this year’s season with a Whoville theme, inspired…
Carncross named Farwell interim superintendent
By Genine Hopkins At a Special Meeting of the Farwell Area Schools BOE held on Tuesday, December 16, the board, after careful consideration, offered Elementary School Principal Carrie Carncross the position of Interim Superintendent for the district. Tom House, the…
Stover a key athlete for Farwell
By John RaffelCorrespondent FARWELL — It was a memorable sports season for Clayton Stover and his Farwell sports teams.Especially for Stover, it was a fun football season with the Farwell Eagles displaying immense improvement.Stover was a junior with his first…
Mike’s Musings: We Need The Good News of Christmas
I was searching for words that would express an uplifting spirit this Christmas season. Too many of us, my self-included, consider the holiday season to be a distraction rather than a time to rejoice. Well my friend, Glenn Mollette happened…
Clare wrestlers fall to Cadillac
By John Raffel Clare’s wrestling team lost to Cadillac 42-33 in wresting action on Dec. 3.For Clare against Cadillac,Kyle McGraw (120) beat Noah Follow 18-3 for a technical fall, Kennedy Boxx (126) pinned Emily Bown; Chris Green (157) lost 3-0…
