Realtor: Help Was Offered on Civic Center Sale

A Grove Realtor specializing in commercial real estate sales offered to assist in the sale of the current Civic Center more than a year ago at no fee, sources told The Observer this week.
Jack Forrest, owner/broker of Forrest Realty, sent a letter to the Grove Municipal Services Agency board (GIDA) on May 10, 2004, offering the assistance stating that he would "not seek nor accept any remuneration, immediate or deferred, for any transaction involving property owned by the City of Grove or the GIDA" and specifically mentioned the present Civic Center and any land obtained by GIDA or Grove from GRDA.
Forrest said he strongly advocates the sale of the present Civic Center and construction of a new Civic-Convention Center in the downtown area of Grove and "remains convinced that the City of Grove should request that GRDA declare their property adjoining downtown Grove to be surplus property and transfer same to the City."
"A portion of this land could be leased by the City of Grove to a marina developer and subsequently to a hotel developer, with retention of sufficient acreage for a new City Park with full utilization of Grove Springs," he said in the letter.
Forrest said the Wolf Creek Project, as it is called, would be a boon to the economy and an excellent "front door" to the city on new Highway 59 as people arrive at downtown.
Sale of the present Civic Center, or repairs of the roof leaks at a cost of $500,000, or sale of portions of the building, are up in the air at the present time. The GIDA board voted last summer not to sell the building for one year.
An effort was made to sell the building by running newspaper ads in the Grove Sun and Tulsa World and an offer to purchase was made but was insufficient according to some council members. The offer to purchase was four times what was originally paid by the city for the former WalMart.

Grove is a Positive Community, says Galletly

City Manager Bill Galletly said Wednesday that dirt would begin moving in about two weeks on the 18th Street Project from Sumac to Shundi and on Shundi from its intersection with 18th north to 13th.
He was the speaker at Wednesday's Grove Rotary Club meeting and gave a "State of Grove" talk.
The 18th Street Project will be built in three phases, he said, with the second phase being Shundi from 13th to 9th and eventually north to Third Street, forming a loop around the east side of the city and opening up new access to the east part of the city.
Landscaping will be done at major intersections on this project as well, he said.
Another road project, State Park Road, will be redesigned, he said, and rebuilt from Highway 59 to Broadway.
All of these roads will eventually have bike and walking paths, he said.
He said work would start in the near future on the Downtown Revitalization project with drainage and utilities in the alleys now in final design stages; new ordinances regarding metal buildings have been approved and new signage standards for the community are making their way through the Planning & Zoning Board.
New subdivision construction regulations are in place, he said, and the burden is being shifted from the taxpayers to the developers for construction requirements, including adherence to the Stormwater Law which says you cannot dump water on your neighbor. A runoff plan must be in place and "we now have a program to do that."
He said Grove is a positive and wonderful place to live despite some of the problems that have surfaced and "the school bond election yesterday was another positive thing for the community."
"There are a lot of things being done at city hall that you can't see, such as new accounting practices, new software, new ordinances, organizational development, and employee recognition. We have outstanding city employees who are doing great work," he said.
"We should have two new cellular towers up by Spring which will drastically improve cell phone service as well as offer wireless high speed internet service," Galletly said. They will be put up by different phone companies with a 20 year free lease to the city for its communications uses on the first tower, he said.
A third tower will go up shortly after that to serve Buffalo Shores South and Patricia Island, he added.
He said new industry was making inquiries about Grove and he expected two or three new companies to move into town that could bring a total of 175 new jobs. "People are coming to us looking to relocate," he said.
He said Rocket Gaming started out with 125 employees and are now at 200.
Asked about Honey Creek Ranch, he said nothing was planned that he knew of. Asked about the foul odor coming from the old sewer plant, he said the plant had been disconnected from the system but the odor was being caused by sewage in the lines that goes toxic and turns into a septic condition. He said a $70,000 filter was needed and would be budgeted for GMSA for spring or summer installation.
He said new light bulbs were installed last week on the overhead lights on Sailboat and Honey Creek Bridges, replacing the burned out bulbs.

This Week's Restaurant Review

By Sam L. Smithers
Chief Restaurant Reviewer

It was Tuesday and one of those kind of evenings. We felt like belting down some ribs and where else can you climb in a crib and eat ribs but the Rib Crib.
Tuesday is All You Can Eat Rib Night at the Rib Crib for $9.99 plus you get all the sides you want to try as well. What a deal.
Our server named Katie was a perky little person who explained all the other specials and stuff but my mind, and stomach, were made up.
Then comes the server with three ribs. Now mind you the four-rib dinner sells for $11 and change so I knew if I could just get enough ribs I would score big time on this deal. So I asked for another cow if they could put one on, and they said they had enough already in the smoker to keep me happy.
I mixed the regular and high test sauce together for a bit of added pleasure and dug in. The ribs were tender and cooked just right, not overdone or burned up as some are. I got another three, and another three, and then I lost count. I had to get a used rib plate for the bones as my platter was filling up.
I tried the slaw, beans and okra and two glasses of iced tea also.
It became apparent that my "all you can eat night" had got up and went. I was full.
My dinner companion had the chicken tender salad with the honey mustard dressing, which is all she ever gets no matter where we eat. There are some chickens missing somewhere.
We recommend Tuesdays at the Rib Crib, as long as the ribs hold out.

The Canine Corner...by Missy MacTavish

Wow! They have this new thing in Oklahoma called Scratch N Sniff, I think....or maybe it is just Scratch. Has something to do with the Oklahoma Lottery. I can certainly participate in the scratch as I am well practiced.

Anyway, the first day of this lottery thing they sold $2.2 million in scratch off tickets. Imagine that. Enough money I hear, to build the 18th Street project in Grove.

I've got to get me some of these scratch tickets. If I won some money I would buy me a new kennel to stay in when my folks leave town. They seem to have a demand for such a place here. I would have a country club type kennel with all sorts of play areas, games, and fake people standing around, maybe even some fireplugs. The food would be five-star with all kinds of treats and we would get headphones to protect our ears from the other barking dogs.

We would get bathed and brushed every day and get to run around a lot. So if I win the scratch thing that is what I will do with the money. I would name it Animal House.

Now, if you win any money in the scratch thing I hope that you will donate it to me as a contribution to build Animal House.

Until next time...have a nice day!

Grove Passes School Bond Issue

Grove voters passed by a 72% margin a $7.4 million school bond issue this week which will provide for much needed new school facilities for pre-school, kindergarten, upper elementary and middle school students. The vote was 1417 for, 557 against.
Impact on property owners will be about an additional $85 per $100,000 in home valuation.
The money will go for a new early childhood center with 36,420 square feet and 20 classrooms for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students; a 15,950 square foot addition to the upper elementary school with 20 classrooms, two special ed rooms, computer lab and media center, administration area and teachers' workroom; and addition of 6,195 square feet to the middle school cafeteria with expanded seating for 400 students, who now eat in shifts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Passage of the issue required a 60 per cent majority.

Historic Texas Road Subject of Society Meeting

The Delaware County Genealogical Society will hear about the Texas Road, a well-travelled route in the 19th century, at its regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18 at the Grove Public Library.
The speaker is Bill O'Brien of Tulsa, a member of the archeological group in Tulsa that works on historic sites. The Texas Road was a major trail coming through northeastern Oklahoma. The Historical Atlas of Oklahoma says that it "developed as a natural result of travel from the north and east into Indian country...."
The public is invited to all meetings of the genealogical society. Anyone with an interest in family research is invited to join the society. A short social time closes each meeting. The society promotes education in genealogy and supports the genealogical department at the Grove Public Library with volunteers, funds, and materials.
...from correspondant Linda Adzigian

Library Brown Bag Lunch Set

Joretta Duncan, popular speaker and familiar figure in Delaware County, will entertain the Grove Library Third Thursday brown bag lunch group with the wit, wisdom, and sayings of Sam Levenson.
The fun begins at 12 noon Oct. 20 at the Grove Public Library. Levenson was an American author and humorist who wrote books, hosted TV shows, and is known for his sayings. An example is, “Insanity is hereditary -- you get it from your children.”
Duncan retired from Jay Schools after 45 years as a teacher. She has been active in any number of organizations. Among other things, she is a senior regent of Women of the Moose, and has been director of the Delaware County United Way.
Everyone is invited to the monthly Third Thursday luncheon meetings. Bring a brown bag lunch, and drink and dessert are provided. The programs are hosted by the Grove Public Library and Friends of the Grove Public Library. Memberships to Friends are $7.50 for one person and $10 for a couple.