Airport Board, Council Settle Property Dispute

The long-standing battle between the Grove City Council and Grove Municipal Airport Trust Authority over transfer of title of property to the city is over, with both groups meeting in joint session Thursday afternoon and voting to approve the transfer.
All of the previous issues that were left to resolve were settled and the property will be transferred as soon as the paperwork can be completed.
The five stipulations that the airport board had given city council March 2 were either dropped, modified, or agreed to by council and the board.
By a 3-2 vote the airport board agreed to delete #1, regarding the city's indemnification of the board members in case of a lawsuit against them. Voting against dropping the stipulation were Gary Trippensee and Max Schuermann. Attorneys for both groups agreed that if someone were to sue a board member they would also sue the city and the city attorney would end up responding for both, although the possibility of a suit was considered remote.
Also agreed to were updating the legal descriptions of all land, and agreement to specify the co-owned land as tracts 17, 18 and 19 of approximately 19 acres, the rest to be owned by the city; the board passed a motion 5-0 to automatically continue the lease agreement after all debt is paid off rather than automatically terminate as previously worded; and agreed that the city would pay for recording fees and deed preparation for the co-owned property.
The airport board then passed a motion by 5-0 to authorize the chairman or vice chairman to sign the quit claim deeds including parcels 17, 18 and 19 upon acceptance of the council. Council then voted 4-0 with Larry Parham abstaining, to accept the board's revisions.
Some discussion was devoted to the possibility that at some period in the past, there was no debt and thus the trust authority might have been automatically terminated. But the revision made Thursday to automatically continue the authority keeps that from happening again. Board member David Adzigian authored this change.

An Editorial...Galletly Trial Analysis

Why did the jury in the bid-splitting trial of Grove City Manager Bill Galletly find him guilty in one case, innocent in another?
Maybe you care or maybe you don't, but if the appeals process fails him, Galletly's career as a city manager, anywhere, is over. The jury probably was not aware of that.
Basically it comes down to this:
1. Prosecutor Ben Loring got an "A" and defense attorney Jack Gordon, Jr. got a "C."
Loring's strategy was simple: Put the jury to sleep for the first two days, (one did on day two), referring to piles of paper that the jury never saw, and then call in his stealth witness, Tisha Carroll, the feisty CPA who looked Gordon right in the eyeballs and didn't back down. She presented some simple spreadsheets summarizing the expenditures for the White Building project and the City Hall Remodel Project, in a power point presentation that the jury could see. Gordon had nothing.
2. The issue of the City Hall Remodel Project was a no- brainer. Assistant City Manager Debbie Mavity made it clear that the ADA Doors were not part of the original project and were added after the Mayor broke her ankle and couldn't get to work. This Count might have been a Trojan Horse put up by the D.A.'s office, simply to prep the jury for the more complicated White Building Count.
3. Witnesses from City Hall were basically not effective in helping Galletly. One even volunteered information which hurt his case. Mavity saved the day on the City Hall project.
4. The key defense witness, a Claremore lawyer who had served as city attorney for 24 years, was not permitted by Judge Haney to offer expert witness testimony, a devastating blow to the defense.
5. In a Bench Trial, you pretty much know what you are going to get, so the defense asked for a Jury Trial, which is a crapshoot. This time the dice rolled badly. One juror spent most of the trial looking at the clock on the rear wall; most doodled in their notebooks. They never saw most of the exhibits entered into evidence. By the time Gordon presented his closing arguments they were squirming in their seats ready to bolt for the door, their minds made up. You knew it was over when they begin smiling at Loring.
6. Gordon's folksy manner and soft voice may have turned the jury off…they may have felt they were being talked down to. No one likes to strain his ears to hear what is being said.
7. Galletly did not testify in his own defense. Maybe this would have opened up other questions from the Prosecutor that would have worked to his disfavor, but some juries like to see the defendant testify in his own behalf, and if not, they wonder why.
8. The jury didn't understand the difference between contracts and projects. No contract was over $25,000 but the project, the sum total of the contracts in the White Building matter, was. The key defense witness that was not allowed to testify could have cleared this up.
9. The Delaware County Courthouse. Gordon has lost just about every motion filed since Day One. We continue to wonder why the defense did not ask for a change of venue to another county.
So we await the appeals process, supposedly put on a fast track. Meanwhile, Galletly just wants to finish out his career and retire in 16 months, ending the bumpy ride he has endured since coming to Grove. But the boo-birds want him gone, with the council members that support him, taking away the ballot box from the citizens of Grove.
Stay tuned. The bumpy ride ain't over and the Fat Lady has not yet sung.

GMSA, GIDA to Hold Joint Meeting Friday

City Council members, GMSA board members and GIDA members will meet in joint session at 1:30 p.m. Friday to hear presentations from three companies pertaining to wireless internet, cell phone service and communication towers.
The three presenters are Tulsa MetroNet Wireless Internet, Ridgeline Communications, and Verizon.
Citizens interested in improving communications in the Grove area should plan to attend.

Services Set for Velva Williams

(Editors Note: We have never carried an obituary in The Observer but this one is special. Velva Williams fought the wretched beast that is Cancer harder and longer than anyone we've ever known, an example to others to never give up.)



VELVA ASHCRAFT WILLIAMS
1955-2006

Velva Ashcraft Williams, 50, Died Thursday, March 16, 2006 at home, after a hard fought 7 year battle with cancer.

Velva was born November 29, 1955 in Florence, AZ to William “Bud” Ashcraft and Annie Mae (Hannah) Ashcraft. She grew up in Coolidge, AZ. She graduated from University of Oklahoma as a Registered Physical Therapist, practicing in Oklahoma City, and Edmond before joining Integris Regional, Miami, OK. She last worked as in-patient supervisor for rehab there, before going on medical leave.

In her fight with breast cancer, she participated in several treatment trials at CTRC, San Antonio, TX, & at MD Anderson, Houston, TX, hoping if it didn’t cure her, maybe it would someone else. Let’s pray it does.

Velva is survived by her husband, Steve Williams of Grove, daughter, Lee Horlacher of Kansas City, MO, step-son Joshua Williams and wife Melissa of Grove, Granddaughter Whitney Williams of Grove, mother-in-law, Irene Williams of Grove, Brothers Chester Irons, Bakersfield CA, Johnny Ashcraft, Coolidge AZ, Truitt Ashcraft, Casa Grande AZ, David Ashcraft, Henryetta OK, Sister Donna Smith, of Van Buren AR. She was preceded in Death by her parents & a sister.

Services will be officiated by Rev. Malcolm Mosby, longtime family friend, at First Christian Church, in Grove, Sunday at 2 p.m.; following will be a graveside services at Tracy Church Cemetery, 7 miles east of Anderson, MO on Hwy 76.

The Canine Corner...by Missy MacTavish

Well the OU Women's basketball team plays in the big tournament this weekend and my friend Sailor and I watched them play last week when Sailor's mom was out of town. Her mom won't let her watch TV, she says it is habit forming.
Anyway, as we watched this game the other team would foul one of the OU ladies on purpose, at the other end of the court, knowing that she was pretty bad at free throws.
This went on and on but finally the OU girl got revenge and made four baskets in a row.
Sailor and I think this is really an unfair tactic and a penalty should be called on anyone who fouls another player knowing they can't shoot worth a hoot. Since I'm kinda short I don't play basketball myself but I watch the tall people that play the game. I'm more into tennis.
So to all my doggie friends out there, enjoy the tournament.
Bark on...Miss Missy.

Planning & Zoning Rejects Sign Request

The Grove Planning & Zoning Board rejected a request for placement of a temporary sign for Golden Meadows Subdivision to be located on the corner of Third and Zachery, at Monday's regular meeting. The sign would have been placed on another person's property, which was deemed illegal by the board.
The board tabled a request by IBC Bank to construct an ATM island at 6826 Highway 59 North, site of Dental & Dentures and Sharp's, as plans were incomplete.

Animal Shelter to Hold Clinic

The Grove Animal Shelter is sponsoring a Spay and Neuter Clinic which will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 25 and 26 at the shelter located on Hwy. 10 about 2 miles east of downtown Grove (across from the airport and next to B&B Plumbing). Anyone interested in information and registration can call the shelter at 786-7630 during business hours, which are: Tuesdays - Saturdays 10-3, closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Prices are based on income and are as follows:
Under $12,000 annual income $25 for cats and $35 for dogs; between $12,000 and $18,000 annual income $30 for cats and $40 for dogs; anything over $18,000 annual income $35 for cats and $45 for dogs.