Clinton residents gather for first time since returning home

CLINTON — A ‘Clinton Strong’ rally was held on Saturday in the Village, bringing residents together and raising funds for the long recovery ahead. 

Clinton residents returned to the Village just under a month ago, after they were forced to evacuate due to the Pear Lake Wildfire. The event on Saturday was helping to raise funds for the Clinton Wildfire Recovery Fund, which will be administered through the Clinton Food Bank. 

“There was well over 250 people that attended (the breakfast), we actually ran out of food,” laughed Mayor Roland Stanke. “When everybody got evacuated and then coming back and you don’t know what you are coming home to. And you’re driving in from the south-end and you see all that devastation and say ‘what am I going to face.”