2023 – A Year to Remember

Following are excerpts from the front pages of the Clare County Review for July through December – Continued from last week.

July
7-7
Fire destroys Clare home Wednesday morning
Fire neighboring fire departments assisted Clare in battling a fire in a home at 102 Hillcrest Street on the south side of the city Wednesday morning. The home is a rental owned by Brian Clark. The tenant was not at home when the fire broke out.

7-14
Fisticuffs fly as Republicans fight at Doherty – again
The historic Doherty Hotel in Clare doesn’t seem to be a lucky place for the leaders of the Republican Party to meet. Once again, police were called to the hotel last Saturday afternoon because of an alleged assault between Republican Chair Mark DeYoung and James Chapman (not the Clare Fire Chief), a Republican from Wayne County who drove to Clare for the meeting. Reportedly the meeting was only for members of the State Republican committee.
Prosecutor suing county board over staffing denials
Because of the staffing shortage, low pay compared to court -appointed attorneys, caseloads that often necessitate working weekends and holidays and difficulties in meeting the court’s needs and the state requirements, all complicated by the County Commission being unwilling to provide an adequate staff for the county workload, Clare County Prosecutor Michelle Ambrozaitis has filed a lawsuit against the County Commission.
Clare BOE to ask for reduced bond on November ballot
It isn’t finalized yet, but the consensus of the Clare Board of Education is to see a reduced bond issue placed on the November election ballot. The new bond request includes a two-story academic wing, reduced square footage bringing the total bond request from $66.52 million (turned down in May) to $48.85 million.

7-21
MyMichigan Health will stay in downtown Clare
There was a sigh of relief from Clare officials at the City Commission meeting Monday and from many downtown businesses after a press release from MyMichigan Health said the Clare branch will stay in their downtown location.
My Michigan Health repeats ‘No connection to Complete Health Park”
A release from MyMichigan Health Monday addresses the confusion with the “Complete Health Project” proposed on the north side of the City of Clare. As part of their release that says the medical center will be completely renovated and expanded at their present site in downtown Clare, they wanted to answer some of the questions recently raised in the community. “We want to reiterate to our community that we are not involved or associated with Complete Health Park in any way,” said MyMichigan President Marita Hattem-Schiffman.
Farwell Health Center groundbreaking held
Next year, Farwell will have a new Health Center at the Village. A groundbreaking ceremony for the new facility was held Wednesday afternoon. The new building will be located where the former physician’s office of Dr. Jennings was – at 522 Main Street (on the east side of the village). The new Health Center will be a local branch of Isabella Citizens for Health Inc., (ICH) which is located in Mt. Pleasant. A press release from CEO Jennifer White said, “The $1.8 million, 6,000 square foot Farwell project will be modeled on the Mt. Pleasant facility and will include primary care, behavioral health, care management, community health and pharmacy services. Completion is estimated by the late summer of 2024.

7-28
Doherty Hotel is quietly up for sale
One of the most historic and well-known hotels in Clare is now up for sale. The Doherty Hotel is quietly for sale, and people now have the opportunity to buy a large piece of Clare’s history for $6.25 million. Current 4th generation owner Dean Doherty is selling it because he is looking to retire. It’s quite possible that one or more of his children could take over the ownership of the hotel, keeping it in the family, but if not, he is willing to sell it to the right person.

August
8-4
Harrison man who threatened Judge and wife will undergo treatment
A Harrison man posted on Twitter last year about his desire to kill 55th Circuit court Judge Roy G. Mienk and grand his wife into meat pasties. As a result of his cannibalistic threats, he faced federal charges. Now after being in jail for more than a year, he has been court ordered to receive in-patient Psychological treatment. Jeremy Adams, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington to 13 months on July 26, 2022. Since he has already served that time, Ludington has ordered Adams to be on supervised release for three years and ordered Adams to be released into a mental health treatment facility for up to 90 days, to be on prescribed medication and not to have any contact with his victims.

8-11
Charges filed in GOP lawmaker altercations at Doherty Hotel
In April and July of this year, Clare County made national news when two different altercations between Michigan Republican Party lawmakers occurred at the Doherty Hotel. Augus 9th Prosecutor Michelle Ambrozaitis filed several criminal charges as a result of these incidents. Both Kelly Sackett and Melissa Pehlis were charged (for the April incident) with disturbing the peace and disorderly jostling, misdemeanor charges. James Chapmen has been charged with assault and battery and disturbing the peace in the July incident, also misdemeanors.

8-18
Harrison District Library moving to the Surrey House
The Harrison District Library was in the process of moving its location to the historic Surrey House Building this week. The move began August 14 with the library closing its doors at their former location on Main Street. They plan to be closed through August 22 and tentatively reopen in the Surrey House Building on August 23rd.

Undersheriff resigns
Dwayne Miedzinski has resigned from the undersheriff role at the Clare County Sheriff’s Office after filling the position for over a decade. In a statement to the Morning Sun, Sheriff John Wilson said that Miedzianowski resigned “in good standing” and that he was looking for another job in law enforcement elsewhere. Wilson has not yet named a replacement. Miedzianowski work for the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police for many years, leaving there to become Police Chief in Clare in 2013.

9-8
Hearing set in Clare Health Park lawsuit
A Clare County man who is being sued for breach of contract involving a halted health care park in Clare is asking a judge to throw out the case. David Coker, Jr, is asking visiting Judge Mark Duthie of Isabella County to toss out the lawsuit filed by Coker’s former business partner and ex-felon Anthony Demasi. Demasi has accused Coker of failing to pay his consulting firm, Goldman Advisors, LLC part of the funds for consulting agreed upon by the two

9-22
Clare to ask voters to approve bond proposal again
The Clare Public Schools bond proposal that was voted down in May will be on the ballot again in November with changes, which includes reducing the total cost to $49.85 million (originally $66 million), provides cost impact to homeowners, provides a better explanation of the funding recommendation and saves a portion of the existing Middle School for future growth.
Harrison seeks investors for new hotel project
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has provided a toolkit for cities to “help shape the future of their communities by building strong foundations of planning, zoning and economic development practices. The kit which was developed by experts, encourages community to “proactively plan, engage stakeholder and become more attractive to developers.” Harrison is now one of these communities as the work on adding a new hotel for the community through their new (hotel) project.
September 29
Parts of Health Park lawsuit dismissed
An Isabella County judge has dismissed some parts of a ci9vil lawsuit that involves two would be developers of a stalled health care park in Clare. On September 26, Judge Mark Duthie’s opinion and order dropped civil fraud, conspiracy and breach of contract of contract accusations against David Coker Jr., but gave Anthony Demasi 21 days to file an amended civil complaint. Demasi, currently charged in federal court with bank fraud and identity theft, filed the suit back in March accusing Coker of failing to pay his consulting business Goldman Advisors (should be Advisers) LLC, a portion of a contract agreed upon for consulting on a project and writing a grant to build a health park in Clare. He claims Goldman is owed the balance of $300,000. The project has been halted over concerns about the use of part of the $25 million grant for the project.
October 6
Clare County Historian Robert Knapp passes away
Clare County historian, and member of the Clare County Historical Society Robert Knapp passed away recently. Knapp made many historical contributions to Clare County. He wrote many books about local history including ‘Clare 1865-1940’ (2012), ‘Community of Learning History and Memories. The Laboratory School Central Michigan University 1895-1970’ (2021), ‘Gangsters Up North: Mobsters, Mafia, and Racketeers in Michigan’s Vacationlands’ (2020), ‘Small-Town Citizen Minion of the Mob. Sam Garfield’s Two Lives – Purple Gangsters, Meyer Lansky, and Life in Clare Michigan’ (2018), and ‘Mystery Man. Gangsters, Oil, and Murder in Michigan’ (2014). 
Former Clare City Clerk Burns dies unexpectedly
Former Clare City Clerk Christine Burns, the current Village Manager of Spring Lake, died unexpectedly at her home in Spring Lake on Wednesday, September 27th.
October 13
Two die in Clare crash that destroys building
A 78-year-old driver, Richard Arthur and a 76-year-old passenger, Connie Arthur, both of Coleman, died Tuesday afternoon when the vehicle they were in crashed into a pole then into Clare Auto Service at 215 West Fifth Street.
October 20
Couple featured on Today Show
A Clare Couple was featured on the Today Show during the Smucker’s birthdays and anniversaries segment on October 5th. Henry and Bernice Eberhart celebrated their 75th anniversary and they were recognized on a jar of Smucker’s on national television.
November 3
First Clare County roundabout open on Surrey and Old State intersection
The second roundabout in the area and the first one in Clare County open to traffic last Friday with a special Ribbon Cutting ceremony. Area drivers have been using roundabout that opened in Isabella County on the south side of the City of Clare since it opened in 2019.
November 10
Clare voters say a resounding ‘NO” to bond proposal
It will be back to the drawing board for the Clare Board of Education after Clare School District voters said a resounding NO to the reduced bond proposal for building renovations and a new high school. The vote total, including Isabella County residents in the school district was 740 yes votes and 1,282 no votes in Tuesday’s election.
Train derails in Farwell November 2nd
A train derailed in the Village of Farwell last week, but “there was no danger to the public, no injuries, and no leaks due to the accident. It happened at Lear Corporation’s railyard siding around 1:50 am Thursday, Emergency Services Homeland Security Division Director Jerry Becker said. He said a problem with the rails on the siding caused the engine and train cars attached to the engine to come off the rails.
November 17
Redding Township recalls successful
There is a new supervisor and tow new trustees on the Redding Township Board after the Board of Canvassers verified the November 7 election results. According to their results, Write-in Candidate Michael Thomas Trzcienski will replace Bruce O. Scarbrough (R.
Two trustees, Nancy L. Scarbrough and Marlene McGlashen, have also been ousted from the township board. Write-in Linda Ann Miller bested Nancy L. Scarbrough (R) and Write-in candidate Louis A. Schreiner won over Republican Marlene McGlashen. All three winners will fill the township seats for partial terms. The election resulted from three successful recall petitions authored and filed by Township resident John Thompson.
Man arrested in Rosebush for shooting at police
An attempted traffic stop by Clare Police turned into a chase that led from Clare into Rosebush Monday and ended with apprehension of a 24-year-old man wielding a handgun and firing at an officer and his vehicle.
November 24
Lansing man facing 13 felonies for shooting at police
Dustin Sweet, 24 of Lansing is in the Isabella County Jail after a November 13 police chase into Rosebush. Sweet has a lengthy history with law enforcement, Isabella Sheriff Michael Main said, with multiple prior convictions.
December 1
York sentenced for hiding wife’s body in freezer
Terrell York, of Deerfield Township in Isabella County, will be spending from two to eight years in prison for keeping his dead wife’s body in a freezer in his home to continue to collect her Social Security.
York was sentenced Tuesday by Isabella County Circuit Judge Mark Duthie, who reportedly called the facts surrounding the case “horrible.” Officers conducting a wellness check last April 18 found the body of 67-year-old Patricia York in a chest freezer in the couple’s home in the 800 block of West Baseline Road. He had reportedly kept her body there for months.
Harrison man sentenced in connection to Leszcz murder
On November 21, Kenneth Joseph Young was sentenced in connection to the murder of Brian Leszcz. He pled no contest to Assault with Intent to Murder, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Felon in Possession of Ammunition and guilty to habitual 4th offender, all felonies. His convictions were the result of Young’s participation with Ronald McClure in the murder July 20, 2021.
December 8
Fire completely destroys Clare landmark
For more than 60 years, Gateway Lanes and the Lounge has been a gathering place for the Clare community and surrounding area. Sadly, that tradition was destroyed overnight when the building burned to the ground Tuesday night. Four fire departments assisted Clare Fire Department in attempting to stop the enormous blaze, that reportedly could be seen from as far away as Rosebush and closed down much of the north side of the City. Clare Fire Chief Jim Chapman said 45 fire fighters from Clare and neighboring departments were there to fight the blaze, which they had under control in about four and a half hours.
December 15
Attorney General Nessel takes over Complete Health Park investigation
The fate of a $25 million grant establishing a “Complete Health Park” north of the City of Clare is still unsure. Now the Inspector General for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel has turned the investigation over to State Attorney General Dana Nessel who will investigating questions about both the grant and the process used to secure it as well as the distribution of grant funds already released to the non-profit. The grant funds, awarded to the reportedly non-profit group, “Complete Health Park,” which was developed by Director David Coker, Jr. of Clare, have been frozen by the Michigan DHHS while an investigation into the group, and its leader, is conducted.
December 22
Schoolcrest fire destroys Clare home
A mobile home fire at 12:28 pm Tuesday, December 12th at 809 Schoolcrest Street destroyed the home inside and out. Clare Fire Chief Jim Chapman said arriving firefighters found heavy fire on the north side exterior of the house and inside the home. The homeowner Carol Taylor was at home when the fire broke out and was able to escape the blaze without injury, the Chief said. The home, which is a total loss, was insured and the cause the fire has been determined accidental.