Press Release

Patterson to Break Ground on The Schrauger Home Project for Lake Orion Parents Struck by Tragedies

Waterford, MI, December 10, 2007 - Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and Lake Orion parents Cliff and Vicki Schrauger will be in Lake Orion on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m., to break ground on a new home being built for the family. The Schraugers lost two sons in a fatal traffic accident and a third son is recovering from serious wounds suffered on Father's Day will serving in the U.S. Army in Iraq.

The groundbreaking for will be held at 316 Newton Court in the Newton Meadows subdivision in the village of Lake Orion. Patterson will be joined by Clarkston builder Forrest Milzow, who will head up construction on the project. Newton Meadows is east of the intersection of M-24 (South Broadway) and Atwater Street. Take M-24 to Atwater Street, head east to Newton Drive and turn right (south) to the Newton Court address. There will be heavy construction equipment at the site for the ground breaking.

The ground breaking comes six weeks after Patterson first announced the project to help the family. The goal is to build and furnish a new home for the family in six months, mortgage free. No taxpayer money is being used to build the home.

Brothers Joshua, 17, and Timothy, 14, were killed in a traffic accident in Clinton County on Sept. 29. Both boys were students at Lake Orion High School.

David, 24, a U.S. Army specialist, was seriously injured when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle. He suffered leg, arm, spine and lung injuries.

The Schraugers had also lost their home due to foreclosure several months earlier.

Commitments have been made to cover more than 80 percent of the goods or services needed for the home. A website was created for the project at www.oakgov.com/house.


Contact: Steve Huber, Marketing & Communications Supervisor, Oakland County Department of Economic Development & Community Affairs, Phone: office (248) 858-1848 cell (248) 830-9846.