Sheriff Flewelling announces retirement after 34 years in department

by Amanda Polaski– Staff Writer

Many people count down to retirement using a traditional method, such as a calendar, but Presque Isle County Sheriff Terry Flewelling has been using parades as his method ? every time an area parade starts and finishes, he is that much closer to retirement. ?People would ask me when I was retiring,? said Flewelling, ?and I would tell them I had four parades to go.? Flewelling will officially retire in 2008 with 34 years and five months at the department, and 16 of those years as sheriff.

AS THE son of Leonard and Doris, Flewelling was born and raised in Rogers City. He is a 1966 graduate of Rogers City High School, and married his high school sweetheart, Norma (Lamb) in 1971. ?I went into the military (US Navy Seabees) and served one year in Vietnam,? said Flewelling. ?When I came back, Norma came to pick me up. I proposed to her on the way home ? we just celebrated 36 years.? The young couple soon added two children to their family ? son Chris was born in 1972, and daughter JoLen was born in 1973. Chris eventually followed in his father?s footsteps and is currently employed as a deputy for the Sheriff Department. He has two children, Drew and Demi Jo. Sadly, daughter JoLen passed away in 1990. ?I was sailing, and had been doing that for several years,? said Flewelling. ?After the two kids came along, I decided I didn?t want to be on the lakes with children at home. I was offered a job with the sheriff department, and I took it.?

IN AUGUST of 1973, Flewelling started at the department, which was located at that time in the courthouse. ?I started as a dispatcher,? said Flewelling. ?I worked from midnight until 8 a.m. This was at a time when we still used typewriters and wite-out for mistakes. That lasted for a year, and then I decided to go to Northern Michigan University and took training to become an officer.? Flewelling started the seven-week course in the fall of 1974 at NMU. He returned to Rogers City as a deputy for the Sheriff Department, and started ?working the road.? At that time, Sheriff Hank Clendenin was in his first term. Flewelling was eventually appointed to Sergeant, and then to Undersheriff during Clendenin?s second term. In 1991, Sheriff Clendenin stepped down from his post and Flewelling was appointed to the position. He then ran for Sheriff and won during the elections of 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004. Flewelling said he looks back now at his start with the Presque Isle County Sheriff Department and is shocked at how the time has passed by.

?YOU REALLY wonder where the time w

ent,? said Flewelling, ?but I?ve enjoyed it ? I?ve enjoyed the time I?ve had.? Wife Norma will be retiring January 31 from her role at Independent Bank in Rogers City. The couple is looking forward to spending the cold northeast Michigan months in warmer climates. ?We will head to where it is warm for the winter months,? said Flewelling. ?We are going to head to Texas, Arizona, and Nevada, and then we?ll come back home.? Once Flewelling retires, the prosecuting attorney, county clerk, and probate judge will decide on whom to appoint sheriff until the November 2008 election. The current Undersheriff is Bob Paschke.

Until then, Flewelling has turned to the conventional calendar method since the last parade has marched past. He is looking forward to relaxing days of golfing, fishing, and hunting. ?It has been my honor and privilege to serve Presque Isle County,? said Flewelling. ?I?ve had a great staff to work with all these years ? I?ve been very fortunate.?