P & Z Board Okays Lot Resizings

Future home sites in two Grove subdivisions are going to shrink, or expand, depending on the development.
The Grove Planning & Zoning Board approved two requests for lot splitting at Patricia Island Estates which will result in smaller lots, and okayed re-platting of lots at Melody Point which will result in larger lots.
At its regular monthly meeting Monday the Board approved a lot split plat for lots 1-9 in Phase IV, and lots 2-10 in Phase VI, Patricia Island Estates, downsizing lots. The Board also approved a lot split plat for lots 60, 61, 62 and 63 at Melody Point, making four lots into two, and a lot split plant for lots 50, 51, 52 and 53 making four lots into three, upsizing lots.
Board Member Judith Read brought up the possibility that Patricia Island Estates is not within the Grove City Limits due to GRDA and the city never signing the proper paperwork several years ago. City Manager Bill Galletly said that issue would be researched separately by staff.
The board also voted to amend Animal Ordinance 354 to add site restriction for large animals, requiring a minimum of two acres of land; tabled action to move forward with public hearings on an Ordinance on signs and billboards, and tabled action regarding a site plan for a shopping center for Cedar Oaks Subdivision at 8700 Highway 59 North due to all requirements not met.
The Board approved a site plan for Liberty Storage for additional facilities at 6823 Highway 59 North and tabled action on an annexation petition from Tommy and Janey Gray for 60 acres east of Grove as the petitioners were not present.
The Board approved amendment of a drainage plan for Littlegate Subdivision Phase VI by adding a retaining wall along the rear of lots 52, 53 and 54 and changing the open drainage ditch to in-ground storm drain along the rear of lots 54, 55 and 56.
Actions will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration at the next regular council meeting Tuesday.

Motion to Dismiss Filed in Galletly Case

A hearing date of Sept. 28 has been set on a motion to dismiss misdemeanor charges against Grove City Manager Bill Galletly. The hearing will be at 9 a.m. in District Court before Judge Robert Haney.
Galletly's attorney, Jack Gordon Jr. of Claremore, filed the motion this week on grounds that the state statute Galletly allegedly violated is punishable only by rendering the split contract void, and omits any reference to criminal sanction.
The city manager was charged last month on two counts of violating state statute 131, or splitting of contracts to avoid requirements of the Oklahoma Competitive Bidding Act of 1974.
These involve two projects; the "White Building Project" which involved sewer line construction to Rocket Gaming east of Grove, and the "Grove City Hall Remodel Project."
Galletly remains released on an Own Recognizance Bond set at his appearance Aug. 19.
Jack Gordon Jr., his attorney, has the appearance of someone straight out of a William Faulkner novel. One of his trademarks is his finely woven beige hat, which he places for effect on the wood railing separating attorneys from the public. His wire glasses and short cut gray facial hair, combined with the slight smile and tall air of confidence, make one think that this is not someone you would want to mess with in the courtroom.

Editorial...Was it the Money?

Delaware County Voters, by 89%, voted against proposal SQ 723 on raising gasoline taxes by a nickel a gallon to improve roads and bridges. We can't believe a nickel a gallon would make any difference when the price of gas is going up and down like a yo-yo.
We have to believe that Okies would like to drive on roads at least as good as our neighboring states have, and all of them have higher gas taxes than we do.
So it must have been something else. Like a general distrust of where the current 17 cents a gallon is going, or what the state legislature does with our tax money, or why doesn't more of our tax money get put in the highway budget to begin with.
Most of our tax money goes for education and health care. So do you think our legislature is going to rob those pockets to pay for better roads? Think again. Some people even think there is a secret bank account for toll road revenue that could be robbed for state highway use. Think again.
True, the tax proposal could not have come up at a worse time, when gasoline prices are bumping $3 a gallon.
But folks, it isn't going to get any better over the long term; our highways and bridges will continue to fall apart, and people will complain as they always do. Next time you run off the road because it didn't have proper edging, or a piece of bridge comes through your windshield, remember voters had a chance to change things.
What a shame.

Followup File...

In the Aug. 12 edition of The Grove Observer we carried an editorial titled "Aruba--No Place for Travelers" regarding the failure of their government and authorities to prosecute suspects in the Natalee Holloway case. We urged travelers to boycott Aruba until they get the message.
The main suspect and his Father have now fled to the Netherlands; the other two suspects are free on Aruba.
This week, TV's Dr. Phil joined in urging a boycott of American tourism to Aruba as well. Now that should get things going...Developers at Cedar Oaks subdivision on Highway 59 East have received approval on dirt compaction from their engineers so that construction may proceed at Phase III, according to Robbie Blair, inspector. The City had halted work a few weeks ago until an Oklahoma registered engineer could sign off on the fill and compaction requirements. The dirt was hauled from the Grove Municipal Airport last year....This Saturday is REC Day in Grove where some 8,000 people will be coming into town for the annual event, featuring lots of prizes, entertainment and fun...GRDA has scheduled public forums on a shoreline management plan for 7 p.m. Oct. 6 at Grove High School, 10 a.m. Oct. 7 at The Coves' clubhouse, and 7 p.m. Oct. 7 at Cowboy Junction near Vinita. Here's your chance to sound off on how you think the shoreline should be managed...

Oklahoma National Guard in New Orleans

Sgt. George Lowry, National Guard Recruiter in Miami, spoke to members of Grove Rotary at Wednesday's regular meeting, telling of his experiences in the Gulf Coast area following Hurricane Katrina.
Some 55 Guardsmen from Vinita and Miami are still in New Orleans and should return home in a couple of weeks, he said, part of an Oklahoma contingent numbering more than 2300.
With only one day's notice to families, they left in a convoy on Friday following Sunday's event and are staying in a basement apartment in the Garden District in an area that was not flooded.
They take care of security, go through houses searching for looting or bodies, block by block, and wear protective masks at all times.
"This is a hazmat site," Lowry related. He added that there are 14,000 troops from across the US in the New Orleans area now. "Only two days ago did our troops get cots to sleep on, they had been sleeping on the floor." They get hot food and water for showers, but there is still no electricity or coolers to put their ice in, so it just melts on the floor.
He said it is the Governor's responsibility to call out the National Guard from each state, while the President of the United States calls out the regular military personnel.
Oklahoma has 6,800 people in the National Guard, he said.
Jamie Zellow, Grove Rotarian and with PSO in Grove, just returned from 14 days in the Gulf Coast area of Alabama and Mississippi, where he described the damage as 80% complete.
"Everything is covered in 3-6 inches of mud that smells terrible, houses are destroyed in a path 125 miles across by 100 miles inland from the coast," he said. "Boats are in trees," he added.
"We will have crews down there and it may be November before all the power is back on. This is like nothing I have ever seen before," he said.
(Photo, Sgt. George Lowry and Rotary President Charlie Wallace)

Grove Genealogical Society to Meet

The monthly meeting of the Delaware County Genealogical Society will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept 20, at the Grove Public Library, 1140 NEO Loop. Dale Denney, speaker, will discuss his new book, "My Letters to You", an outgrowth of his passion for writing letters beginning with the one that triggered the romance and marriage to his wife, the former Juanita Graham, of Jay, OK.
While each of the 100 stories in his book can stand alone, taken in their entirety, they tell the story of life in northeastern Oklahoma during the final three quarters of the 20th century, from the poetic chicken thieves of the 30's in the oil fields of Oklahoma to finding the perfect human being living in Delaware Coounty at the turn of the millenium.
Denney began the Jay American newspaper in 1987, which he later turned over to others to publish. He has been active in civic life and a long time member of the Delaware County Historical Society, where he is still a member ofthe board of directors. He served on the Courthouse Renovation Trust Authority, and was instrumental in updating the World War II memorial in Jay.
After surviving cancer in 1996, he wrote a series for the local papers on how it feels to be told you have the dreaded disease, and what you have to go>through to get rid of it. Denney has kept writing a weekly column for area newspapers ever since.
The Genealogical Society meets the third Tuesday of each month, except December, at 7 p.m. at the Grove Public Library. Meetings are open to everyone who is interested in family genealogy.
...from Correspondant Linda R. Adzigian.

The Dam Builders...Sixth in a Series

Bob Morrissette
Bob had worked on previous construction projects and could read blue prints and worked on the Pensacola project from the beginning. After steel and concrete construction began, he noticed a flaw in the process, according to his sister, Marceline Butts of Broken Arrow. He went to his supervisor and the architect was called in. Bob felt that a lack of steel was a problem and might eventually cause the demise of the dam. The architect disagreed so Bob got his lunch pail and prepared to quit. Another co-worker noticed that Bob was preparing to leave and asked why…and the co-worker also picked up his lunch pail and prepared to leave. Soon, a major controversy arose so Bob’s boss again called in the engineers and another architect, went over the blueprints and the engineers and new architect agreed that more steel was needed. Bob eventually got a Citation for his work ethic and worked for Massman Construction until the dam was completed.

The Canine Corner, by Missy MacTavish

I've been itching (pardon the pun) to talk about several subjects that are bothering me this week. First, there are the cell phones. I think people should be arrested for DWP (driving while phoning). Studies show that these people are just as dangerous as those who drink. I can plainly see this as I drive around with my head hanging out the window.
This is especially troublesome in Grove because the cell phone service is really bad. You have to keep dialing up all the time.
Also, here are some things that my dog friends do that you can also think about doing, as people:
--Take naps daily, and play a lot.
--Eat with gusto and enthusiasm, even if you don't like the food.
--Avoid biting your partner when a simple growl will do.
--Delight in the simple joy of a long walk and when it's in your best interest, practice the art of obedience.
--When you are happy, dance around and sway your whole body.
--No matter how often you are scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout--run right back and make friends.
--Never pass up the opportunity to ride in the golf cart, allowing the fresh air and wind in your face for pure ecstasy.
Until next time, be nice to each other. Miss Missy.

Monkey Island "Hatters" Visit Price Tower

The Red Hot Flames of Monkey Island visited historic Price Tower this week where they enjoyed luncheon at Copper Restaurant overlooking the skyline of Bartlesville.

Shown from left to right, front, are Ruth Kirkpatrick, Shirley Daggett, Mary Ann Spurgeon, Leah Anderson, Mascot Sassy, QM Carla Mills; back row Sandi Stone and QM Carole Chalupnik. Not pictured are Diane White and Kathy Klahr.

Price Tower is the only high rise designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright and was completed in January, 1956. It almost three and a half years to complete. The entire design is based on a diamond modular of 30 and 60 inch triangles, which can be seen scored on the floor as a pattern throughout the building.

Thelma Lee Dies at 103

Funeral services for Thelma Muskrat Lee, the oldest living resident of Monkey Island and co-author of "A History of Monkey Island" were held this week at the church she helped to found, Lake Center Baptist Church.

Thelma Muskrat was born April 26, 1902 four miles southeast of Grove, Indian Territory. She attended Grove High School and was graduated in 1921, the same year she married Everett Rolston Lee. They purchased a house in Needmore (now old Bernice under the waters of Grand Lake) and had it moved to where it stands today, at the end of East Bay on Monkey Island. Their only son, Bill, was born in this house in 1926.

In those days the road out to their house was a one-lane rutted mess of mud and dust that was even too much for a horse and buggy. One can only wonder what went through Thelma Lee's mind as she watched Monkey Island change from the 1920's to 2000, the coming of electricity in 1941, telephones in 1947, a paved road in 1960, real estate development, the airport, Shangri-La and more.

It was Thelma Lee who helped to gather signatures and research records in order to contact every property owner along what would become SH 125, so that the road could be put on the state highway system.

The church she helped to found, Lake Center, was her home every Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening; she sang in the church choir well into her 90's. She served every position in the church except Pastor and Deacon.

On the occasion of her 100th birthday, she held a party in her home with many family and friends in attendance. Upon our entering her home, she said "I don't believe I know these people" and proceeded to introduce herself and her grandaughters who were present. We asked her to autograph the book she helped to write and her signature was exactly the same as it was in 1987.

Thelma Lee moved to Tulsa shortly after that birthday party and lived out her final years there.
Her contributions to Monkey Island and the Delaware County Historical Society will be missed.

Sailboat Bridge Momentos on Sale

The Sailboat Bridge mementos will be available for sale during REC Day, Sept. 17, at the Grove Civic Center from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Delaware County Genealogical Society sells these unique ornaments for $10 each. Those not at REC Day can call Linda McDonald at 786-9367 about buying the mementos.
...from Correspondant Linda McDonald.