1976-01-14; Clare Sentinel

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FIFTEEN CENTS
FOURTEEN PAGES
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14. .976
OUR 96TH YEAR
VOL. 84 NO.20
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Clare Seeks $3
By Alfred R. Bransdarfcr
Editor
The Clare City Commission moved
ahead with plans to seek $300,000 in
federal funds to provide off street
parking in downtown Clare.
The decision to file application for the
money was made at a special city
commission meeting, Tuesday, Jan. 6.
Preliminary plans call for the removal
of buildings from 4th to 5th St, and 3rd
S t. to 4th S t, behind the stores downtown
on the east side of McEwan St.
Involved would be buildings occupied
by Clute's Garage, Guys and Dolls
Photography, Dr. Ballard's office and a
building on 3r<TSt. across from Con^
sumers Power Co.
Plans call for the buildings to be
demolished and the area black topped for
downtown parking.
Owners of the 4 structures have been
contacted and 'seem in general agreement to sell. No firm prices for the land
has yet been determined.
The land involved would, in some
cases, back up to land presently being
used for parking by employees of the
downtown stores.
It was not immediately known if this
land would also be purchased for additional parking spaces.
Mayor William Ulrich lauded the
proposed plan and said the "Downtown
area is the hub of this community."
In addition to plans for offstreet
parking a program of repairing, re
placing and adding new sidewalks are
included in the request for the $300,000.
Ron Kunse, president of the Clare
Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber has gone on record backing the
proposal pointing out that when you have
a strong downtown area you have a
strong community.
The grant is being sought from the
federal government under urban renewal
programs.
The special meeting was needed since
the deadline for filing a pre-application to
the state was Jan. 13. After the state
looks over the proposal it must go to the
federal government by Feb. 14.
It is expected that Clare would hear the
decision sometime early in the spring. If
the decision is favorable, then the city
would file a full application for the funds.
Other communities across the state
have also filed requests for urban
renewal funds for various projects.
Some of the sidewalks to be replaced
and repaired are in the area of Maple and
Beech Streets near 1st and 2nd Streets.
The area of Brookwood Park would
receive new sidewalks.
New sidewalks are also planned for the
Little League Field at Lake Shamrock
and on Mary S treet near the new housing
development. The sidewalks there would
hook up the present sidewalks leading to
the park area.
Also new sidewalk ramps for handicapped persons would be built throughout the downtown area at 3rd, 4th, 5th,
6th, 7th, State and Wheaton Streets.
Armed Man Robs
Clark Gas Station
The Clare Gas S tation in Clare was
robbed Tuesday, January 6, as a
gunman donning a ski mask walked
away with about $100.
"It's just sad," said ThUrm Mariage,
owner and operator of the station located
at I26McEwen St.
According to Mariage, the bandit,
wearing a red, hooded sweatshirt and a
ski mask, walked over to the station from
Dunlop road.
The man went into the bathroom, came
out and drew a pistol on the attendant
working at the time, Clyde Bell.
At first. Bell laughed at him, and
♦I'm
according to Bell, the man said,
desperate...I gotta have money."
Bell gave the man a roll of bills and
was told to stay in the building.
After the gunman walked past the gas
pumps, Bell walked out and yelled to
him.
The man started running but stopped
after he had gotten to the street.
"I was a little shook up," Bell said.
The robbery was reported at 9:35 p.m.
Police say that possible subjects are
being checked and that the crime is
under investigation by the Clare City
Police, Clare County Sheriff's Department, and the Michigan State Police.
Family Flees Fire
At Farwell Home
FARWELL - An early morning fire
completely gutted a home located at 880
Kaplinger Road, Saturday, January 10.
Fire Chief J ames Brinkerhoff said that
the home, owned by John Mester, was a
total loss, but no one was injured in the
blaze.
Therehas been no estimate on the cost
of the fire. The house was insured,
Brinkerhoff said that Mester, his wife,
and two children, were asleep when the
fire broke out.
Mester discovered the fire and the
family climbed out a window and went to
the nearest  house to  call  the  fire
Fire Destroys
Chare Auto
A car, owned by J ames Allen, 315 E.
7th, caught fire and burned on Surrey
Road, Friday, January 9, at 9:45 a.m.
The car was a total loss.
Only Minor
Damage
The Clare Fire department reports
(hat a furnace exploded at 1009 Court St.,
Thursday, January s at 9:45 p.m. The
only damage suffered was by smoke.
There" were no injuries.
department.
The call was made at 3:32 a.m.
Brinkerhoff  believes  that   the
started near a portable fireplace.
fire
Renewal Funds
TOTAL LOS S - An early morning fire J an, 10 gutted this home located at 888
Kaplinger Drive in Farwell. The four   occupants of the home escaped
unharmed. (Photo by Bill Chadwick)
Clare School Board Votes to Continue
Baccalaureate, Commencement Program
By Bill Chadwick
The Clare S chool Board voteo", Ttfon-
day, to leave the Baccalaureate and
Commencement, for this year's graduating senior class, the way it has been in
the past.
Baccalaureate has always been held at
2:00 p.m., followed by Commencement at
8:00 p.m. on Sunday.
The Faculty Committee made a number of recommendations, to the Board, to
change the current schedule of events on
graduation day, as many students attend
parties in between Baccalaureate and
Commencement,
Superintendent of Schools Richard
S nyder outlined a couple of possibilities,
S nyder said that it could be left as it has
been, or change it so Commencement
will begin at 2:00 p.m., followed by
Baccalaureate at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday.
President of Student Council Dave
Dull presented the board with a poll
conducted by the senior class on whether
or not to keep Baccalaureate. Of the 103
that voted, 92 were in favor of keeping
Baccalaureate. There are 150 pupils in
the senior class.
"I was disappointed," said Board
Trustee James Walters of the small
turnout of Student voters "These kids
had ballots in their hands and they didn't
vote."
Dr. J.R. Gershon moved to keep
Baccalaureate. It was supported by J ohn
Dunlop, The vote was unanimous.
Theneame the question of when to have
Baccalaureate.
>i "I feel that those who want Baccalaureate will come. There is no
significance to the kids or their parents,"
said Gershon, who was in favor of having
Baccalaureate at 8:00 p.m, "It seems
that it might be the best route to take, as
far as I'm concerned."
Board President Forrest Sogge disagreed. "Some kids might have been
confused (at Commencement), but I see
no serious problem," said Sogge,
Burke Rilett felt that it should stay as it
is. "Any senior who is causing a problem
might realize that they're putting the
other students in jeopardy," said Rilett.
"Give them the vote of confidence,"
said S uzanne Allen.
"I can't see," said Arlene Poet,
"having Baccalaureate after Com-
mencement...It defeats the whole purpose. I'm sure it will feel empty."
Allen moved that the times of Bac-
calureate and Commencement be left the
same. It was supported by Poet and the
vote was unanimous.
The board approved a partial payment
to Rieih-Riley Construction Company
Inc., for work done on the hard surface
play area behind the Middle School.
Approval was given by the board to use
new textbooks for the high school U.S.
History course.
Permission was granted by the board
to allow the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
George Wilsc-n to finish her senior year at
Clare, and for their son to finish the
currenfsemester. The family has recently moved to the Chippewa Hills.School
District.
The sale of a used bus for $801 was
approved by the Board. Another bus,
which will be sold for no less than $400
has no motor.
Forrest Meek presented the board with
the idea of erecting a Viet Nam War
Memorial somewhere on school property. No action was asked of the Board
as of yet.
The board authorized for school sponsorship of the 4th grade trip to the S hrine
Circus.
Authorization by the board was given
to pay $4,402 to the Harrison Community
Schools as tuition for 71 high school
students enrolled in the Cooperative
Secondary Program. This amounts to
$62 per student.
The board discussed the best methods
to more fully inform the board of
activities taking place in the school.
Sogge appointed Trustee Wallers to
Lack of Support
Kills Off Chamber
the local Career Education Steering
Committee.
Michael Haley and Winifred Denton
have been appointed Grade Level Chairpersons to the Primary School. The
Board also appointed Sally Murphy as
Grade Level Chairperson for the Middle
School.
The board also reviewed student
enrollment projections for the 1975-76
year.
The board suspended a 10th grade
youth from all his classes for the
remainder of the current semester for
violating terms of a previous suspension.
The board also suspended an 11th
grade youth without academic credit for
the remainder of the current semester
for unacceptable behavior involving
deliberately taking and damaging school
property. Taaddition to the suspension he
must make restitution to the school
district for the loss estimated at $50.
The two decisions were handed down
by the board following a closed session.
D ES TROYED - Ray Lifattert, «t|f Otter Lake Drive* Farwett fasfeel* tte rrtm #t Ma fcemae, wWch
was leveled by fire, TpesAiy. J,siwafiy i. Ne am wa« tajiired tn **e Wa*e, (Ptwte % Bill Chadwick!
By Bill Chadwick
FARWELL - "It collapsed," said Paul
Ward, owner of Ward's Drug S tore in
Farwell, He was referring to the Farwell
Chamber of Commerce, which hasn't
been functioning for about a year,
Why did the Chamber of Commerce
fade away?
Ward said, "The Chamber of Commerce requires the co-operation of every
business in town ... which we haven't
had."
Ward said that the chief function of a
Chamber of Commerce was to keep the
name of Farwell in front of the population of Michigan, "and don't let them
forget it", added Ward, who has resided
in the Farwell area for 13 years. He has
owned and operated the store for four
years.
Ward believes that Farwell needs a
Chamber of Commerce. "There are a
few that would like it back..,every town
should have one" stated Ward.
"This town can support a thing like
this. People have Called and asked how
they can get in touch with the Chamber",
said Ward.
"We should sponsor anything for the
betterment of the community. It'll bring
in tourists and publicize the area,"
continued Ward.
J im Carrow, owner of Carrows supermarket, felt the same as Ward,
"As far as I know, it was a lack of
interest and lack of time nf the businessmen." said Carrow,
"Lack of time is a poor excuse, but if
you haven't got it, you haven't got it,"
continued Carrow.
Carrow had another reason for needing
the Chamber of Commerce. "I do feel we
need it because of the new freeway," said
Carrow.
Leo Embrey, owner of the Farwell
Hardware store, feels basically the
same.
"It's the same as the Chamber always
goes. It has it's highs and lows," said
Embrey.
But Embrey is a firm believer that the
Chamber will return. "It always has,"
said Embrey,
Embrey said that when he moved to
Farwell 20 years ago, the Chamber was
active and social, but the high point was
in the 60s.
Mrs. Embrey said that the Chamber
used to run the annual buck contest every
November, but last year the Rotary Club
took over.
"It got down to 'Let George do It", said
Mr. Embrey.
"Yeah, and we ran out of Georges,"
contributed his wife.
When asked if she thought the Chamber of Commerce will start again, Mrs.
Embrey replied, "S tire! Farwell will not
sit on their hands for the 1976 Bicentennial."
Herb Miller, of the Farwell State
Savings Bank also believes that the
Chamber will live again, "I think it will
'eventually/' said Miller.
"It's just like every other little town* 12
work and get tired of it. It's a matter of
someone else taking hold of it."
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