HARRISON – “Clare County isn’t without representation in the state House,” State Rep. Darwin Booher R-Evart wants to assure constituents.
     In light of Clare County losing its state representative after Tim Moore resigned, Booher of the 102nd House District invited constituents in the 97th District to contact his office staff if they have “urgent [...]

     HARRISON – As The Clare Sentinel reported July 13, a large chunk of the Clare County Sheriff’s budget may disappear next year if a private security transport firm bypasses this county jail for another that charges a lower rate.
     Sheriff John Wilson estimated a loss of between $600,000 and $800,000.
     “We will survive during [...]

     CLARE – The concept was plausible but the unannounced changes underway unacceptable.
     City Manager Ken Hibl relayed this sentiment to the Michigan Department of Transportation last week that led to a Friday announcement that MDOT’s downtown McEwan Street test pattern is over.
     “MDOT will honor our request and plan to restripe the downtown portion [...]

     HARRISON – Opposition over arrival of a corporate vendor in a territory well-served by a local vendor packed County Commission chambers Wednesday, Aug. 19.
     Beverly Spencer of Hayes Township decried the presence of MMR ambulances, (Mobile Medical Response Inc. headquartered in Saginaw) in and around the city of Harrison that has been adequately served [...]

     HARRISON – A former administrative assistant at a Florida nonprofit organization began learning the ropes of county government a week ago.
     Harrison native Dawn Stafford is the new administrative assistant to Tracy Byard who moved from that post recently and into county administrator/controller.
     Stafford recently moved back to the area after living 15 years [...]

     HARRISON – County commissioners revised a budget schedule by postponing until Aug. 30 another session to tackle estimated revenues and expenditures beginning Oct. 1.
     At the first budget workshop Thursday, Aug. 12, Commissioner Jack Kleinhardt noted several departments still have budgets to submit and so far revenue is short about a million dollars.
     “Let’s [...]

    
SURREY TWP – Tim Moore, formerly 97th District state representative, has asked a sitting state legislator to shepherd legislation through the House that would clear the way for Supervisor Rick Miller to fill two public offices simultaneously.
      Moore reported to the Board of Trustees Monday, Aug. 10, that he had called on the services of [...]

     GRANT TWP – Township Supervisor Dan Dysinger has filed a lawsuit against the Michigan Department of Treasury over a mysterious scoring system the State Tax Commission uses to grade assessment practices and record-keeping practices in a local unit of government.
     “We’re taking on the STC on behalf of every local assessing unit in the [...]

    
FARWELL – If asked, Democrat Governor Jennifer Granholm would consider a special election call to fill the 97th District State Representative post vacated Aug. 6 when Republican Tim Moore resigned and began a new career as principal of Farwell Elementary School.
     Last week, deputy press secretary Tiffany Brown said the governor would consider taking steps [...]

CLARE – The Clare City Commission has renewed a multiple year contract with Middle Michigan Development Corporation to assist in stimulating the local economy despite one commissioner’s suggestion MMDC’s advice could be slanted.
Commissioner Tom Koch at the Monday, Aug. 2, commission meeting repeated arguments he raised in July when he had an invoice to pay [...]