Airport Grants Tied to City Ownership

The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission is requiring that airport property must be owned at least in part by the public entity (city or county) involved, in order to obtain a grant.

Several city officials this week received a letter from Victor Bird, Director of Aeronautics for the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, clarifying the OAC's position on airport property.
In letters to Mayor Carolyn Nuckolls, Gary Trippensee, Chairman of the Grove Municipal Airport Trust Authority Board, City Manager Bill Galletly, and Airport Manager Terri Abercrombie, Bird said "to preserve the argument that a public asset cannot be executed against, the asset must be owned at least, in part, by the public entity. "Consequently, the Commission is requiring that for an airport sponsor to receive a grant, the airport property must be owned at least, in part, by the public entity involved.
"Whether the public entity should be the exclusive owner is a local issue, and not an issue in which the Commission is interested.
"The Commission is interested in protecting the public investment, period, and we believe the position we have taken addresses our interest," Bird said.
Bird said as a result of litigation concerning the Grand Lake Regional Airport and "the fact that ownership of that airport has been transferred to a private individual, the Commission must take steps to protect the investment of public--state and federal--money in public airports which are part of the State Airport System."
The airport board will hold its next meeting at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6 to discuss the issue of transferring airport property to the city of Grove.

The Canine Corner...by Missy MacTavish

Well, the Tulsa Boat and Travel Show is safe this year. Mom scheduled a vacation so that Dad will be out of town for the entire event. Dad cannot walk past a boat without panting. He has bought and sold more boats on Grand Lake than Ugly John.
Me? I will be in Jail. Maybe I can get some rest. These long walks every morning are killing me but my parents need the exercise. I have to put them on a leash to keep them on the street, as they tend to wander off to look for lost golf balls.
I read in the paper that during the big draught in the 50's there was a five-year-old kid that had never heard thunder.
I'm beginning to think we are never going to get rain. I noticed that it usually rains after a car wash, so I have set Friday, Jan. 27, as the date that everyone in Grove should get their car washed…and then it will rain within 48 hours. If it does rain, you can thank me with your donation. And, I'm looking forward to my friend Champ Miller returning to Grove.
His parents bought him a big bus so he can travel with them. Isn't that nice.

Remember, next week there will be no Grove Observer...I won't be able to get to a computer in Jail.
Until next time…Miss Missy.

Miss Grand Lake Wins Miss America Pageant

Wow! Miss Grand Lake is Miss America!
Jennifer Berry, a senior at OU and graduate of Jenks High School, appeared at the Grove Rotary meeting last year prior to winning the state pageant. Last week in Las Vegas Berry was selected over 51 other candidates as Miss America 2006. She will spend this year fulfilling her pageant duties. She won $30,000 in scholarship funds.

This Week's Restaurant Review...

By Sam L. Smithers
Chief Restaurant Reviewer

Grovidians frequently head northeast to Joplin for shopping and a good meal and this week we found another new restaurant in this ever-growing city.
Logan's Roadhouse, owned by the same company that operates the Cracker Barrel chain,
is located on Rangeline north of the Mall and the concept is "kickin food."
You are greeted by a bucket of peanuts ready for shelling and don't worry about the mess…just throw the shells on the floor.
The menu offers crisp salads, burgers and sandwiches, chicken, seafood, ribs, chops and freshly hand-cut steaks. And of course, the menu includes barbecue baby back ribs.
We ordered The Logan, a big sirloin that was extremely tender and only $12.99. It comes with two sides (select from a lengthy list). We had the fried onion petals and apples.
Freshly made hot rolls are delivered to your table upon seating. These are really good.
The Saturday lunch crowd filled the restaurant prior to the noon hour but service was excellent and unhurried. Our steak arrived just a bit rare (the server asks you to cut into it before departing the table) and it returned just a few minutes via the manager, who again asked that we cut it to make sure it was perfectly cooked. It was.
During the weekdays an Express Lunch is offered in under 15 minute service, with lunch sized portions.
Although we didn't have room for dessert, the restaurant offers peanut butter and chocolate ice cream pie with hot fudge and roasted peanuts, a fudge brownie, and New York Style Cheesecake.
Logan's Roadhouse has 145 units in 18 states and is headquartered in Nashville, TN.
It features lots of TV's hanging from the ceiling, a good spot to watch a sporting event we would say, although it is certainly not what you would call a "sports bar." Background music is a combination of 70's soft rock and country.

Letters to the Editor...Re Civic Center

I’ve been involved with the Civic Center, almost since the idea was first born, although that idea originated with Jana Jae and Huber Logue. Through several years of meetings and discussions, it seemed like a difficult if not impossible hill to climb before the City of Grove stepped into the picture and made the project possible. I have always believed in the concept and believe in the value of this facility more today than ever before. Your related editorial a couple of weeks ago in the Observer left me thinking about my approach to the subject, which may be slightly different than yours. This is definitely not to say I disagree with most of your questions/conclusions, but may see the issues from a different perspective.
Originally I drew up a simple basic plan for the facility which included break out meeting rooms, banquet room and the possibility of offices for the GLA and the local Chamber. The budget and the plan for the facility provided by the architect had to be pruned considerably due to the unavailability of funds and the desire to have the main room as large as possible. Regardless of this over the years the Civic Center has attracted numerous meetings and entertainment events to our community which would otherwise not have been able to be held. These events bring people to Grove who spend money on food, lodging and shopping creating sales tax income for the community. If our facility was more flexible and utilitarian than the current structure it would be much better utilized!
Your article pointed out the lack of income created by the facility and the expense of operation it requires. These facts are absolutely correct to the best of my knowledge; but fail to include the other benefits the building provides. Besides the sales tax created by the attendees at various events the building enables us to hold and experience events which might not be able to be held in Grove. It accommodates other events which are much more effective and enjoyable than if they were held in a smaller facility. I truly believe that the Civic Center is one factor that contributes to making Grove the truly unique and unusual community that it is! Believe me, there are many other communities in our locality and around the Oklahoma and the 4 state area who would love to have it!
Furthermore, in my mind the Civic Center is really no different than any other property the community owns and supervises. Has anyone ever been critical of the expense of operating the part of the Community Center that doesn’t include the offices? We have a really wonderful Sports and Recreation Park, has anyone ever been critical of the electrical cost of all the lighting or upkeep of that great area? The City parks and play areas require upkeep and maintenance, should they be questioned? The Civic Center from at least my perspective should be similarly considered.
Your point that it is under promoted and under utilized is beyond question, absolutely correct. I believe this is due to a combination of factors, some rectifiable others probably not. It can and should be promoted more, but by whom? The Chamber which is probably the most likely candidate chooses to lack much interest according to your article. The City Manager has numerous responsibilities leaving him little time for such things. However, our City Managers have always controlled the property and made the decisions related to rentals, maintenance etc. Promotion and management of the facility can and need to be reviewed and improved!
On the other hand the facility itself has many drawbacks. The ceiling is much too low making the acoustics for many uses impossible, The ceiling and low height of the garage type doors prohibit utilization for some events. Even more important is the lack or break out rooms and facilities to accommodate banquets and social events! Mostly income creating activities!
Finally, I’d like to point a number of factors related to the economics and financial considerations related to the property. We purchased it for about $685,000 about one third of its appraised value at the time. We have a total of about $1,450,000 invested. Today it is valued at $3,500,000 to $4,000,000! It was a great purchase! Furthermore, at the time it was purchased a use tax for Grove was adopted by the citizens of the community on out of the area purchases delivered to activities in Grove, sales taxes that previously went to other communities and other states! The proceeds of this tax were primarily designated for the Civic Center! This tax has been providing an average of 12 to 15 thousand dollars a month to pay down the debt on the facility!
There are a number of urgent maintenance requirements that are needed for the facility. Sooner or later these must be addressed as mentioned in your article. I have long hoped that we might be able to sell it and build a bigger more functional facility that will attract much more activity and will not require all of the maintenance expense that continues to build up on the existing property.
I have long supported this position, and frankly question why we have not been able to address this and thought we would be well on our way to having a new facility completed by now!
Thanks-
Bob Henkle

Playmakers Present "A Man for All Seasons"

The Playmakers’ very theatrical version of the historical drama, “A Man for All Seasons” by Robert Bolt, opens Feb. 17 at Off Broadway Arts in Grove. It is produced with the assistance of the Oklahoma Arts Council.
It is a story told dramatically, but without concern for a plot, since the story is a well-known time in English history --the reign of Henry VIII-- and the beginning of the Renaissance and the Reformation. More specifically, it is the time when Henry attempts to divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn. It is during this time that his friendship with Sir Thomas More comes into conflict because Henry is in conflict with the church in Rome, and although More is attempting to change many aspects of the Catholic Church, he is still, first and foremost, a devout Catholic. As a lawyer he is not against burning people at the stake as heretics for their beliefs in the doctrines of Martin Luther. He was brought down not by King Henry alone, but by Thomas Cromwell, the able administrator who set up and used the perjury of a young man, Richard Rich.
The play is made up of key scenes in the life of Thomas More, which switch from one locale to another, from one time to another, without explanation or transition. This gives the play great theatricality, unlike the representational style of the movie which won four Academy Awards in the 1960s. One character not in the movie, the Common Man, adds to the sense of theatre as he guides the audience by telling them where they are, introduces the people in the play, and then becomes different characters that represents traits common to all humanity.
The characters in the play were actual human beings in the early 1500s. Thomas More was a man who drew the highest legal fees in England, became Henry’s Lord Chancellor, but ended his life in comparative poverty, because he would not tender the Oath of Supremacy which made Henry head of the Church of England.
The cast of eleven men and three women are under the direction of Suzanne Boles. The Rev. Philip Lawrence takes on his first leading role as Sir Thomas More. Chuck Bullock portrays the Common Man. More’s family includes his second wife, Alice (Alverda Bolton), his daughter Margaret (Kiersey King), and her suitor and later husband, William Roper (Derek Dixon). Leonard Noel plays the role of More’s friend, Thomas Howard, the Duke of Norfolk. Stan Starts takes the role of Henry VIII. Ken Hines is Cardinal Wolsey. The antagonists in the play are Richard Rich and Thomas Cromwell, played respectively by newcomers to The Playmakers, Adam Pharr and Alan Sharkis. The Ambassador for Spain is Fred Dunn and his attendant is Blake Dixon. Archbishop Cranmer is played by Bud Kaufman, and the role of the woman who tries to bribe Sir Thomas with a silver goblet is played by Linda McAhren.
Organizations and groups who would like to take part in discussions about this play are urged to call the director at 786-5871. The themes of the play provide a wealth of subject matter for discussion by church groups as well as historical and legal classes. Ticket discounts are available to the play for groups of 20 or more.
Performances are scheduled at 7:30 pm on Fridays, Feb. 17 & 24, Saturdays, Feb 18 & 25 and Tuesday, Feb. 21. Sunday matinees on Feb. 19 & 26 are at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $12 for adults, and $6 for students. The suggested maturity level for this production is upper elementary and above. Reservations may be made by calling 918-786-8950 or emailing http://us.f340.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=play_theatre05@sbcglobal.net. Off Broadway Arts theatre is located at 121 W. 3rd St., in Grove.
...from Correspondent Suzanne Boles