Clinton Local Year in Review 2025

The community mourned the loss of Clinton Police Chief Tony Cuevas at a memorial service at the Clinton High School auditorium in June. Cuevas, who was a vital and engaged part of the Clinton community in his six-year role of chief, died suddenly June 21.

January

• The Braylon Strong/Katie Dorr Memorial Blood Drive on Wednesday, Jan. 8 collected 50 units of blood.

• On January 10 during halftime of the boys basketball game against Hudson, Clinton High School announced Brodie Stipe and Ashlyn Lehman as the 2025 Winter Homecoming King and Queen. The queen’s court was comprised of Erin Burton, Madilyn Bowles, Ruby Faulkner, Isabella Szubielak, and Kaylin Sposite, and the king’s court was Jacob Pope, Domanic Ferguson, Jalen Stelzer, and Brody Wenn.

• After an outstanding 30 years of service in education and coaching, Nito Ramos announced his retirement from Clinton Community Schools, effective January 17. Ramos had accepted a new opportunity as the men’s and women’s golf coach at Siena Heights University.

• Clinton High School senior Chase Gillman was recognized as Clinton Rotary’s January Student of the Month. Chase had a 4.532 grade point average and had plans to attend college for computer science with an interest in autonomous vehicles.

• After serving the Clinton community for decades, Comerica Bank announced on January 17 that it would be closing its doors at 169 W. Michigan Ave. as of April 24, 2025.

• Clinton resident Don Corwin, who turned 103 in January, was honored at the Clinton United Church of Christ on January 30 by friends, family and leaders of the village of Clinton for his service to the village, with a proclamation by Clinton Village Council declaring January 2025 as Donald Corwin Month.

February

• It was announced that Clinton High School teacher Renee Gilson was selected as a recipient of the MiSTEM Region 2 Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her dedication, creativity, and lifelong contributions to STEM education. She was set to be honored at the MiSTEM Region 2 STEM Educator of the Year Awards Banquet on February 27 on the campus of Washtenaw Community College and also received a $1,000 grant to further enhance STEM opportunities for students at Clinton High School.

• On February 11, members of Clinton High School’s chapter of National Honor Society joined their peer members of NHS from Adrian, Addison, Blissfield, and Sand Creek at Adrian High School to help make tie blankets for various charities in Lenawee County.

• Clinton High School announced Class of 2025 valedictorian Katelyn Baker, daughter of Ben and Laura Baker, who had a grade point average of 4.320. Senior Mattis Riddle, whose parents are John and Gemma Riddle, was announced as salutatorian with a GPA of 4.313.

• Clinton High School announced that Ryan Handy, a CHS Scholar with a grade point average of 4.273, had been named a QuestBridge finalist. Ryan is the daughter of Jamie Handy of Tecumseh. QuestBridge is a highly competitive program that connects high-achieving, low-income students with top colleges and universities. Ryan planned to attend Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Va., receiving a generous financial package that was to cover the full cost of attendance.

• United States Postal Service Rural Carrier Jeff Judkins announced his retirement after 43 years, all with the Clinton Post Office. Judkins, a graduate of Britton High School, has worked and lived his entire life in Lenawee County. His last day was February 28.

• Student teams from Clinton High School’s STEM and Advanced STEM classes competed in the 46th Annual Purdue Bridge Bust competition hosted by the Purdue University American Society of Civil Engineers’ student chapter, excelling in the 76-team field by earning 2nd and 3rd place prizes and placing other teams in the top 10 of the highly challenging competition.

• Clinton High School announced that Class of 2025 Valedictorian Katelyn Baker was named a National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) Finalist and earned an impressive grade point average of 4.32.

• Kamryn VanSickle was named the Clinton Rotary Club Student of the Month for February. Kamryn’s grade point average was 4.2 for the term and she had earned many awards and honors. Kamryn planned to attend school for social work at Eastern Michigan University.

• Superintendent Kevin Beazley and Elementary Principal Adam Jurasek began their day on February 27 working out at 5:30 a.m., but shortly into their workout the high school fire alarm went off. They grabbed fire extinguishers and rushed to a fire in the janitor’s closet near the maintenance director’s office. After Jurasek used the extinguisher, Beazley opened the door and found the electrical panel to be the cause of the fire.

March

• Village Council announced construction scheduled for Tate Park, with $933,100 budgeted for capital improvements. The projects were to be funded with a $394,100 grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, $150,000 from a Michigan Recreational Passport Grant, and $389,000 from the Tate Park Trust Fund. Plans were to construct four pickleball courts east of the sand volleyball courts at a cost of $583,100; new paved paths at a cost of $237,000 were to start at the existing path near the pedestrian bridge crossing from the Scout Cabin. A total of $69,000 was allocated for removing and replacing the millings in the Tate Park drives and parking lots. The budget showed $44,000 for two batting cages. There were also plans to rebuild Clark and River streets in 2025 with a cost estimated at $493,000. The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) was to offer the façade grant program again with $20,000 budgeted.

• In response to growing concerns about property maintenance and the presence of clutter in various neighborhoods, the Clinton Township Board voted to appoint Dennis Scott as the new ordinance officer. The decision came after numerous complaints from residents regarding properties that have fallen into disrepair, prompting the need for dedicated oversight. Scott is a retired federal law enforcement officer with 27 years of federal law enforcement service and eight years in the military.

• Clinton Elementary School had all three of its teams place in the top 3 of the annual TriCounty Elementary Science Olympiad.

• At the March blood drive 42 units of blood were collected and Dave Wattles received his 14-gallon pin.

• At a special Clinton Village Council meeting on March 17, council held a public hearing to consider an electric rate increase of $4.88, or 5.38%, to the average residential customer using 570 kWh. The rate was necessitated by the significantly higher cost of energy, the backup generator, supplies and operating costs.

• Clinton High School Wind Ensemble earned perfect straight Division I ratings at the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association Band Festival at Manchester High School. This was the first time the school participated in the festival in approximately six years, competing under the direction of band director Zachery Casper.

• Clinton resident, author and illustrator Colin McMillan visited the DPP School of Early Learning to share his debut children’s book, “Foxy and Roxy and the Box Rocket.”

• Clinton High School and Middle School STEM teams earned 1st Place Overall in the High School Stock, Middle School Stock and Open Class divisions at the 2025 Michigan Regional SeaPerch Underwater Robotics Competition at Canham Natatorium on the campus of the University of Michigan.

• Clinton Community Schools planned an open house on March 30 to give the community a chance to see the new Clinton High School addition and attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The addition was made possible by the passage of a 2021 bond proposal to improve the school facilities.

• Kaylee Kranz was chosen as the Rotary Club of Clinton Student of the Month for March. Kaylee had a 4.33 grade point average and had received many awards and honors. She planned to attend Grand Rapids Community College for nursing.

• Clinton Police Chief Tony Cuevas planned to hold the department’s first-ever Citizens Academy in May to teach participants what a police officer does and other details about the criminal justice system.

• Clinton students competed for the first time in several years at the Lenawee Intermediate School District’s annual Tri-County STEM Fair on March 18 at Adrian College.

• Thirty-eight students from Clinton High School visited Washington, D.C. March 17-20, including stops at The White House, the National Archives, the American and Natural History museums, the Holocaust Museum, Arlington National Cemetery, the National Air and Space Museum and several other memorials and locations.

April

• Clinton United Methodist Church honored Phyllis Perry for her 32 years of running the Clinton Food Pantry, which was started 34 years earlier by the church’s high school juniors and seniors. Phyllis spent 20 to 25 hours each month to ensure that those in need were able to be fed.

• Robert “Bob” Vogel of Clinton, who worked at Hardwoods of Michigan in Clinton for 43 years, serving as vice president for nine years and president for 20 years, was honored with the Lenawee Community Foundation Leadership Award for 2025. Vogel has served on multiple nonprofit boards and in 2010 was named one of the 50 most influential people in the hardwood industry in America.

• Clinton Township Public Library faced funding challenges due to the decision by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to cut vital funding for public libraries in the state, according to Library Director Mary Gallup. Gallup said the library was exploring alternative funding options such as state-level support and private donations, but advocates warned that those solutions would not be enough to replace the support provided by IMLS.

• United States Postal Service Clerk Karman Brighton of the Clinton area announced that she would retire after 27 years working at the Clinton Post Office, effective April 25. She was the fourth Clinton Post Office employee to retire in six months.

• Dozens of children attended the Clinton Rotary Club Easter Egg Hunt at Tate Park despite inclement weather conditions. Hundreds of eggs were stuffed with candy by Rotarians and their family members for the annual event.

May

• The Historical Society of Clinton board celebrated Mary Houghton for serving as treasurer for the society for more than 25 years. Houghton was stepping down and Kim Kachur was to take her place on the board.

• Clinton Community Schools announced that beginning in the 2025-26 school year the district would have two elementary schools, with Clinton Elementary for kindergarten through 3rd grade and Clinton Upper Elementary offering 10 classrooms for students in grades four and five. The two-building model was a step forward in the district’s long-term plan to support student growth and academic success.

• A milestone celebration was scheduled to begin on May 16 for Busch’s Fresh Food Market, as the southeast Michigan supermarket chain — which opened its first stores in Clinton and Saline — celebrated its 50th anniversary. The festivities included a charity hot dog event at all store locations, as well as cake being served in every store for a limited time and 10 days of special promotions.

• The Clinton Local announced it had joined forces with Meadowbrook Media, a group of media publications within Lenawee County owned by local businessman Rex Crist. The change in ownership saw former publisher Sean McNatt sell the newspaper to Crist — who also purchased The Tecumseh Herald, its Downtown Printing arm and Homefront Magazine from longtime owner Jim Lincoln at the beginning on March. In December 2024, he acquired The Advance in Blissfield from former owner and publisher Marcia Loader.

• Officials in the village of Clinton said the state of downtown and its future were looking up. “Placemaking,” described as a multi-faceted approach to planning, designing and managing public spaces with a focus on strengthening community connections and improving the quality of life for residents, was full go in the village. Clinton Village President Doris Kemner and Village President Kevin Cornish said the attractive features of the community are “poised to bloom with new growth.”

• Cost-saving measures were being lauded by the Clinton Village Council when it came to the purchase of three “newer” service trucks that joined the village’s fleet of utility vehicles.

• The Clinton Action Alliance, described as a motivated group of Clinton residents working together to help make a brighter future for the village, started their local work in March. They quickly gained between 30 and 40 members in a private Facebook group. Members of the Clinton Action Alliance are dedicated to fostering inclusive, progressive and positive changes in the community.

• Clinton High School senior student Raven Aldridge had been awarded the coveted Frank and Shirley Dick Memorial Scholarship, which will provide $5,000 toward her college expenses per year for four years. But that wasn’t all. The daughter of Heidi and Jason Aldridge also received more than 10 additional scholarships from other funds/legacies.

• The village of Clinton was briefed on the state and federal availability of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Such grant dollars are designed to help communities accomplish downtown building improvements and neighborhood rehabilitation. The village applied for up to $1.5 million in MI Neighborhood CDBG funding.

• The Clinton High School Class of 2025 held its graduation ceremony inside the high school’s brand-new gymnasium facility. There were 79 seniors who received their diplomas on May 22 during Clinton’s 148th commencement.

• As an appointed advisory board that guides local decisions related to development, land use and municipal planning, the Clinton Planning Commission said it is in the process of updating the village’s master land use plan, as well as performing the final site plan on the Carriage Hills subdivision, creating a vacant building ordinance, updating the recreational vehicle ordinance and updating some residential regulations for the downtown.

June

• The appointment of Giovanni Mautone to the Clinton Planning Commission helped fill a longtime vacancy on the local advisory board. Mautone’s appointment as a planning commissioner will last through 2026 as he completes the remainder of a term on the commission.

• Plans were well underway and nearly set for the 16th annual Clinton Summerfest and Antique Tractor Show, scheduled — rain or shine — from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 14 at Tate Park. The event celebrates the coming of the summer season and recognizes both Clinton’s and Lenawee County’s agricultural history.

• Clinton High School STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) teams excelled and earned some victories while competing in the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) TRAC state bridge competition in April at the Amway Grand Hotel in Grand Rapids. The team of Mattis Riddle, Katelyn Baker and Kamryn Van Sickle won first place in the 11/12 division and earned $400 each — a first for CHS’s participation in the event.

• Business and property owners within Clinton’s downtown district were gearing up for some potential facelifts to the exterior of their storefronts as the Clinton Village Council — at the recommendation of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) — awarded $44,762 in facade grants to support a growing list of property owners who are willing to make improvements to their buildings during the remainder of 2025.

• When The Business Barn in Clinton, 3700 E. Michigan Ave., celebrated its grand opening June 7, the response from the public was enthusiastic. There was a steady stream of visitors and an obvious appreciation for what Tiffany and Paul Merryfield have worked to bring to fruition.

• While students, teachers and staff at Clinton Community Schools were enjoying the first handful of days of summer vacation, officials with the village of Clinton, the police department and Clinton schools were putting their heads together to ensure students have the safest access to the school’s campus when walking throughout town.

• A handful of blight complaints remain on the books but are being addressed by the Clinton Township Board, as announced by township officials during the board’s June 9 regular meeting.

• The Rotary Club of Clinton announced four scholarship winners: Kaylee Kranz will receive $5,000 per year for four years, Raven Aldridge was awarded the $2,500 Dan Schindler Memorial Scholarship, and Brodie Stipe and Eden Frederick will each receive a $1,500 Technical Scholarship.

• Nearly 50 merchants and vendors — along with free admission, free activities and entertainment — were part of Clinton’s annual Summerfest celebration on June 14. More than 80 antique tractors were on display for guests to explore. A grand tractor parade through Clinton closed out the day’s festivities.

• Steve DeGood’s name stood alone for those Clinton Community Schools staff members being honored by the district for 35 years of service at the June 16 Clinton Board of Education meeting. DeGood was among the several educators and staff members who were recognized for their five, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 35 years of service to Clinton schools.

• The Clinton community and Lenawee County’s law enforcement family coped with the unexpected loss of six-year Clinton Police Chief Tony Cuevas, who died June 21 at the age of 53. “Chief Cuevas was a great leader of the Clinton Police Department and within law enforcement in Lenawee County. I will miss working with him to address the community’s needs,” said Clinton Village President Doris Kemner.

July

• Former Clinton Police Chief Tony Cuevas, aged 53, was remembered fondly by loved ones and those he served alongside through the years in the law enforcement field during a memorial service on June 28 inside Clinton High School’s new auditorium/gymnasium, which was attended by community residents, village officials, family members and relatives, as well as law enforcement personnel representing departments from throughout Lenawee County and those with the Michigan State Police. Cuevas’ End of Watch Call came shortly after 12:15 p.m.

• A special “red carpet” event was being advertised at the Clinton Theater for a weekend double-feature showing of films from Clinton native and executive film producer David Ingerson and Nigerian-born scriptwriter Martins Samuel. The two films being screened at the theater included “The Fisherman,” an independent film directed by Samuels, and a “sneak-peek, pre-distribution preview” of “Somewhere Else.”

• There wasn’t any internal panic within the walls of the Clinton Village Office even though Clinton’s general fund balance for May 2025 was the lowest it has been since 2016. Being the summer months when some of the biggest projects are taking place, Clinton Village Manager Kevin Cornish described it as a “routine problem” saying, “This is a big expense period with limited general fund income.”

• Clinton Community Schools and its board of education were in the market to fill a vacancy on the school board after Monica VanTuyle resigned from her post on the board, citing her retirement from a teaching position in the Allen Park schools district. VanTuyle had served the school board since 2017.

• Clinton’s village council and its planning commission were gearing up for a special joint meeting to review the final site plan for the Carriage Hills Subdivision, which will be constructed and located on the eastern side of Clinton along U.S. 12 heading toward the boundary line with Washtenaw County. The property will be on the south side of East Michigan Avenue, east of Clinton High School and will consist of more than 97 acres of land.

• Macon Township Supervisor Dean Montrief, at the township board’s July 7 meeting, provided an update of where things stood with the judicial system regarding ongoing and pending lawsuits stemming from the proposed Mustang Mile Solar Energy facility.

• A partnership between the village of Clinton and the Southern Michigan Railroad Society was being lauded for the complete replacement of the railroad track crossing along Clark Street, which was one of three local streets being rebuilt by the village along with River Street and Wolverine Circle.

• Clinton Community Schools’ own Dale Wingerd — currently serving as secretary on the board of education — took over responsibilities as president of the Michigan Association of Schools Boards (MASB) after being appointed July 17. The one-year appointment was made official during an MASB leadership ceremony and dinner that took place at Sauce Italian Grill & Pub in downtown Adrian.

• A July 21 joint meeting between the Clinton Village Council and the planning commission, to review nearly 20 pages of plans pertaining to the Carriage Hills Subdivision, lasted for nearly two hours and consisted of village officials requesting certain details about the proposed subdivision while reviewing a bevy of descriptions from things like street width and parking to the sanitary sewer collection system’s capacity and more.

• It didn’t take long for the Clinton Community Schools Board of Education to return to full strength following Monica VanTuyle’s resignation. Zak McNitt was unanimously appointed by a vote of the school board following its July 21 regular meeting. Besides McNitt, other school board applicants included Janet Baker, Frankie Mautone, Carl (Jason) Miller, Lafe Schneider and Derrick Theisen.

• Dan Shoner was named Rotarian of the Year by the Rotary Club of Clinton. He has been a member of the Rotary Club since 2020, and his son Nick was awarded the Rotary Foundation Student of the Year scholarship in 2018.

August

• A free event featuring family-friendly activities, games and music was on tap as part of the planned celebrations on Aug. 16 for the 70th anniversary of the Smith-Kimball Community Center. The Greek Revival house at 211 Tecumseh St., built around 1840 by Jira Payne, owner of the Atlas sawmill, was the hub of the celebration.

• At 105% funded through the 2024 calendar year, the village of Clinton’s retirement system for its employees — managed through participation in the Municipal Employees Retirement System (MERS) — appears to be in positive financial health, according to village officials.

• A plan was set in motion by the Clinton Village Council to ensure the village is working its way toward costs-saving, energy efficiency standards as set forth by the state of Michigan through its Clean and Renewable Energy and Waste Reduction Act.

• An 1818 copper penny found on the property of Dillon Howe and his wife, Kelly, ended up being a link to Clinton’s history. Records from the Historical Society of Clinton show that their Coman Street property was once part of a much bigger piece of property. Their house was built in the late 1800s, and the property was eventually divided into several parcels.

• The Macon Township Board’s decision to halt funding of any kind for the maintenance and operation of Lake Ridge Cemetery was because of legal issues, according to Township Supervisor Dean Montrief. Lake Ridge Cemetery is not owned by an individual, family, association of even Macon Township, Montrief said.

• All classes for the new 2025-26 school year at Clinton Community Schools were set to get underway Aug. 25. The new school year also meant some new enhancements and features throughout the district’s campus expansion — made possible through the passage of a 2021 bond proposal.

• With the new school year on the way, leadership from the village of Clinton, the police department and Clinton schools deemed the MDOT-approved pedestrian crosswalk near Kathy Drive as an “unsafe” school crosswalk for children and families to use when walking to school. The concern is because the crosswalk does not have a crossing guard and it sits on the crest of a hill, creating limited visibility and increased risk for pedestrians.

• After getting his start in teaching at Clinton Community Schools and instructing a variety of music courses over the span of five years, Zach Casper returned to the student life to pursue a Masters of Music degree in conducting from Eastern Michigan University.

September

• Following the unexpected death of Clinton Police Chief Tony Cuevas in June, Sergeant Ryan Hillard was appointed acting police chief — a role he held for more than two months before submitting his letter of interest and resume to apply for the full-time chief position. The Clinton Village Council chose to open the position to all applicants — those within the Clinton Police Department and from outside agencies.

• Phil Driscoll, a Clinton High School graduate with the Class of 1973, said he has been fascinated by the look of different typefaces since he was a teenager. That might explain why, 54 years later, he’s still operating vintage printing machines all from his two-story garage in Clinton — his hometown.

• Ink and artistry made their debut in Clinton with the opening of BB’s Ink, a new tattoo and piercing studio. The studio opened Sept. 3 and its grand opening was set for the Clinton Fall Festival weekend. Owner Brittany Baird said she hopes the studio at 151 W. Michigan Ave. will become a place where self-expression, creativity and community collide.

• With a new school year started at Clinton Community Schools, administrators were finally able to raise the United States Flag in front of the brand-new high school addition. A commemorative flag-raising ceremony took place with the help of Pieper-Hull Sparks Clinton American Legion Post 176.

• Citing concerns for potential long-term impacts to public health, water resources, agriculture or the environment, the Clinton Township Board voted unanimously for the continuance of a moratorium “on the installation of wells in Clinton Township for the purpose of carbon dioxide sequestration, storage or disposal.”

• The 51st Clinton Fall Festival was set to make its return throughout the streets of Clinton Sept. 26, 27 and 28. Organizers and volunteers highlighted many of the tried-and-true traditions that have made the festival so beloved through the years including street vendors, crafters, food booths, live music, entertainment, a carnival and more.

• A handful of guest speakers approached the Macon Township Board during the public comment portion of the Sept. 8 meeting and spoke in favor of the township board continuing to funnel dollars toward Lake Ridge Cemetery for general maintenance and upkeep.

• Clinton Community Schools celebrated its annual homecoming festivities with themed Spirit Days throughout the school week, a convincing varsity football victory and the crowning of the 2025 homecoming king and queen: seniors Eli Turner and Dalia Albashir. The week of fall merriment was capped off with a semi-formal dance in the Clinton High School cafeteria.

• More information came forth about a proposal to construct a data center in Saline Township that would have the capability of storing computing machines and their related hardware equipment in “the cloud.” The proposal, brought before the local government in Saline Township by Related Digital, aims to rezone 575 acres of land but construct the data center on only 250 acres of the site, with the remaining balance of land being devoted to open green spaces and landscape.

October

• Nearly 30 awards were handed out to those who participated and entered a historic or souped-up vehicle that caught the judges’ attention in the Clinton Fall Festival’s 36th Classic Car and Truck show held on Sept. 27.

• Organizers of the BraylonStrong Foundation, a nonprofit brain tumor foundation that seeks to find a cure for pediatric brain cancer, said they expect their fundraising total to climb even higher after foundation supporters and members of the Clinton community gathered in the parking lot behind the Clinton Inn for the “After Hours Music Festival.”

• As Clinton High School’s September Student of the Month, Jaren Settles holds a 4.21 GPA this year. Along with his schedule of Athletic Conditioning, Academic Assist, CP Chemistry and Advanced Stem, he is enrolled in a number of AP classes including AP Physics E and M, AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics.

• Two Siena Heights University graduates with ties to Clinton Community Schools were among the alumni to be named “Distinguished” as part of SHU’s Distinguished Alumni Awards. Current Clinton High School teacher Tyler George and Clinton alumnus Nate Adams were among the five alumni honored.

• Project design, construction details, schematics and layout plans were revealed by the owners of 101 W. Michigan Ave., a downtown Clinton business that is in pretty good shape to receive at least $200,000 in state and federal grant funds for redesigning storefronts for residential purposes.

• In a split decision, a Michigan Court of Appeals panel ruled 2-1 that the former Macon Township Board in approving a special land use permit for the Mustang Mile solar energy project and Lenawee County Circuit Judge Michael R. Olsaver in upholding the board’s decision made errors “and this Court is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made.”

• For a second time in just as many months, the village of Clinton released a statement regarding the ongoing talks about construction of a data center in nearby Saline Township. “…The data center and its construction will pose some challenges for the village so it may behoove Clinton to pursue some concessions from the developer,” a portion of the statement said.

• Aubrey Douglas, a fourth grader at Clinton Elementary School, was named Clinton’s first place winner in the 2025 Public Power Week statewide coloring contest. Third grader Morgan Owens placed second with her submitted coloring.

• Bowman Chevrolet of Clinton, 1070 U.S. 12 on the western edge of Clinton, welcomed costumed children and decorated trunks for its 18th annual trunk-or-treat on Oct. 23, which was filled with promises of “ghoulishly good times including food trucks, live music, doughnuts and cider, and more.” The Tecumseh Herald and The Clinton Local newspapers were among the participants.

November

• Clinton Township officials said they are in the process of making “important changes” to improve voting access for its residents. Clerk Kim Scott said the township will combine its two voting precincts starting with the next election to allow for early in-person voting to take place.

• As of Oct. 30, the state of Michigan — through a news release issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office — gave its support to the multi-billion-dollar OpenAI Stargate data center project in Saline Township, which is anticipated to create more than 2,500 union construction jobs, more than 450 on-site jobs and 1,500 additional jobs across the Washtenaw County region.

• American Municipal Power, Inc. recognized 13 individuals who have made significant contributions to public power throughout their careers during the 2025 AMP annual conference which took place in Columbus, Ohio. Among the 13 individuals honored by receiving the AMP Service Distinction Award was village of Clinton Manager Kevin Cornish.

• Clinton High School students — freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors — were armed and ready to take on the most leaf-filled yards across the Clinton community as part of the high school’s “Fall Into the Streets” annual day of service.

• Clinton Township’s waste disposal ordinance, which aims to ban the subsurface disposal of waste products from all sources within the township, officially went on the books towards the tail end of November after being adopted by the township board in October.

• A total of 43 units of blood were collected Nov. 5 during a Red Cross blood drive at Clinton United Methodist Church. Vickie Jedele received her 19-gallon pin, Terry Calhoun received his 16-gallon pin, Jim Baker received his 15-gallon pin, Brenda Britt received her 8-gallon pin and Erin Dickerman received her 2-gallon pin.

• In the couple of months since his July appointment as president of the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB), Clinton Community Schools Board of Education Secretary Dale Wingerd published his debut article as MASB president detailing the landscape of education and how it has changed because of AI and innovation.

• Frustrations started to mount and some spirited back-and-forth dialogue took place between the Clinton Township Board and residents Mike Marsh, Joseph McKelvie and Jim Strickland at the Nov. 10 board meeting regarding the board’s efforts to rectify a number of ongoing blight complaints.

• Since serving the community as acting police chief in the immediate days following the unexpected death of former Chief Tony Cuevas in June, Ryan Hillard — past sergeant — was promoted to full-time chief of police by the Clinton Village Council, concluding a months-long search and deliberation for who should take leadership duties of Clinton’s police force.

• “A Dash of Gingerbread Magic” was announced as the title and theme for December’s village-wide welcoming of the Christmas season in Clinton with most events scheduled for Dec. 6 — some starting as early as 9 a.m. and continuing into the late evening hours.

December

• Clinton Elementary School’s weeklong, second annual canned food drive in November was an even better success than the inaugural food drive in 2024. “Last year, students gathered 2,000 food items over the course of two weeks to support the Clinton United Methodist Church food pantry. This year, they exceeded that total in just one week, collecting an incredible 2,586 items,” Clinton Elementary Principal Adam Jurasek said.

• Another step was cleared by the Clinton Village Council when the governing body adopted a resolution to submit additional documentation pertaining to a community development block grant (CDBG) rental rehabilitation application for $236,000. Funding dollars will help transform the vacant second story of 101 W. Michigan Ave. into two separate apartments.

• A decision was not issued on Dec. 5 by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) regarding an application from DTE Energy for two special contracts to service a 1.4-gigawatt data center in Saline Township, despite claims from the Detroit-based utility that the project could be canceled if not approved by Dec. 5.

• Thanks to the contributions from several volunteers, the Christmas season was ushered into the Clinton community throughout the entire day Dec. 6. “Christmas in the Village,” Clinton’s annual celebration of the holiday season, logged almost 12 straight hours of holiday merriment.

• As Clinton High School’s October Clinton Rotary Student of the Month, Dalia Albashir holds a 4.19 GPA. Dalia’s academic schedule includes business law, student leadership, personal finance and advanced Spanish 4, and several AP courses including AP English, AP government and AP European history.

• As Clinton High School’s November Clinton Rotary Student of the Month, Elijah Turner holds a 3.66 GPA. Elijah’s coursework includes personal finance, advanced STEM, English 12, Spanish 4, athletic conditioning, AP physics, and AP government and politics.

• The Clinton Township Public Library held a special birthday party on Dec. 10 that commemorated the library’s 35th year in its current building on Brown Street. It was sponsored by the Clinton Lions Club and Busch’s Fresh Food Market of Clinton.

• Macon Township’s clerk of almost 10 years, Julia DeJonghe Marshall, was named a “Vigilant Steward” when it comes to “outstanding dedication” and “exemplary service” of preserving election integrity. She was a recipient of the Michigan Fair Elections Institute’s Sunlight Award.

• The Michigan Public Service Commission’s three-person panel came to a unanimous decision at its Dec. 18 commission meeting, approving two special contracts that will in essence pave the way toward building and operating the 1.4-gigawatt data center in Saline Township. The commission’s decision came with conditional approval while imposing a number of mandatory safeguards that must be met by DTE Electric Co. to protect residential and other customers from bearing any costs associated with the development and continued operation of the data center.

• Some of Santa’s elves — most of them hailing as congregation members of Clinton United Methodist Church — offered gift wrapping services and made it possible for people to drop off their unwrapped gifts and presents between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Dec. 17 and 18, so they could be decoratively wrapped for the approaching Christmas holiday.