Grand Jury Will be Called April 24

For the first time in more than 10 years, a Grand Jury will be called April 24 in Delaware County.

It results from a petition filed by Earl Barnes, Grove resident, to investigate conduct by Grove City Manager Bill Galletly, Mayor Carolyn Nuckolls, and Councilor David Helms, on various charges of violations of the Open Meetings Act, bid splitting, the city bidding ordinance and improperly worded council agendas.

Much of this has previously been addressed by District Attorney Eddie Wyant. A District Court trial earlier this month resulted in a conviction for Galletly on charges of bid splitting. He was fined $500 on the misdemeanor and has appealed the jury decision to the State Court of Criminal Appeals.

The certification of the petition this week brings more questions than answers at the County Courthouse.

Since the petition specifically requested disqualification of the entire District Attorney's office, who will prosecute? Where will the jury come from? Who are the attorneys and witnesses?

District Court Judge Barry Denny said Wednesday that the prosecutor could probably come from another nearby county, an assistant district attorney; another courthouse source said an assistant district attorney from Cherokee County might prosecute. The jury would be impaneled in the same manner as any jury, from rolls or lists within the county. There is no judge during the conduct of a Grand Jury, except to rule on privilege issues or issues relating to contempt. Normal rules of evidence do not apply to a grand jury investigation.

The roll of a Grand Jury is to determine "probable cause" for the return of an indictment. The jury hears only cases brought to it by the prosecutor; the prosecutor decides which witnesses to call and which will receive immunity for testifying. The grand jury members are generally permitted to ask questions at the end of a witness's testimony.

Proceedings in a Grand Jury are secret; only the witnesses and attorneys are present, there is no media or public allowed in the room. Some have called a Grand Jury investigation nothing more than "a witch hunt." A Grand Jury can go beyond the original petition if it chooses, exploring back in time in any direction.

For more information on Grand Jury proceedings, please go to www.abanet.org/media/faqjury.html

The Barnes petition contained 675 names; 45 were ruled invalid, another 15 were duplicates, leaving 615 as valid, according to the County Election Board.
Signing the petition were a number of owners of Grove businesses; airport trust authority members and their supporters; the airport manager; a couple of local attorneys, and ex-councilmen and their followers. Those wishing to see the complete list may do so at the Court Clerk's office, file # CV-2006-76.

City Manager Bill Galletly said the next Council meeting would address the issue of legal defense for himself, Helms and Nuckolls.

The last Grand Jury in Delaware County was in 1996 involving the Grove School Board and one of its members, according to the clerk's office.

An Editorial...County Jail Overcrowding

The Delaware County Jail in Jay is in trouble. Too many prisoners, too little space, not enough beds. At times the prisoner count grows to over 90, forcing eight to a cell with four sleeping on the concrete floor.
A state jail inspector says he has given the county 45 days to remedy the situation or face closing or fines of $10,000 a day.
Captain Charlie Melton of the Delaware County Sheriff's Office says the problem has only one solution…build more jail cells. When the new courthouse was built several years ago only 20 beds were added from the old jail capacity, forcing the new jail into an overcrowded situation from Day One.
The prisoner count varies daily…release five, bring in seven. Melton says additional jail facilities can be built on the north side of the courthouse but this would take out the parking lot. A Bond Issue or hike in the sales tax is the only way that funds could be raised to pay for a jail expansion or an entirely new facility somewhere else.
A lengthy trial process, plus overcrowding at the state level make the problem worse.
And many of the prisoners are in jail for failure to pay child support. Loss of job begins the cycle, then failure to make payment, then jail sentence which keeps the offender from earning a living and paying the support. The cycle goes round and round.
The short term solution to the overcrowding, it seems to us, is to release some of the offenders who avoided child support, those who have served the longest time already.
Help them get back to work so they can pay the child support and stay out of jail.
The jail is built for 61 prisoners, today it has 71 and soars to nearly 100 at times.
If we are going to keep the serious offenders in jail to protect the population, we are going to have to find a way to release early the less serious offenders; at the same time, we need to explore ways to add additional jail space.
Melton says he has seen the Arizona tented jail out in the desert, operated by the Maricopa County Sheriff's office in Phoenix.
Hopefully it won't come to that here in Delaware County.

Poll Results Revealed on City Manager

Last week The Observer offered its first readers' poll. The question was "Despite the legal problems, has Grove City Manager Bill Galletly done a good job or not?

Those voting Yes: 59%. Those voting No: 41%

We hope to have another poll in the future and we thank those that voted. If you have suggestions for polls please email them to groveobserver@yahoo.com

Suspense Fills Playmakers' Theatre

A lively chiller is a safe bet for an easy evening’s entertainment. “Snake In The Grass,” a suspenseful play about murder, blackmail and haunting, provides this entertainment at The Playmakers, 121 W. 3rd in Grove, Ok. Opening Friday, April 21 at 7:30 pm, the production runs for only seven performances. It is produced with assistance from the Oklahoma Arts Council.
“Snake In The Grass,” by Alan Ayckbourn, who also wrote the recent Playmaker production, “Communicating Doors,” is a subtle and powerful piece with all the requisite ingredients for a thriller including a contested will, an attempted murder, and a fortuitous power outage.
Gardens can threaten as well as enchant, and in this one the sisters must confront the ghosts of their pasts. In a neglected garden where they once played as children, the two sisters confront a family secret that may crumble their relationship. The nurse of their deceased father seems all too willing to tell this secret and send them on their way to rack and ruin. In the darkness of the run-down summerhouse, which one will turn into a snake in the grass? What secret terrors does the old tennis court hold?
Sandy McCabe assumes the role of director as well as that of one of the sisters, Miriam. Karon Wheat is the other sister, Annabel, who returns home after thirty years in Tasmania. Amanda Beck is Alice, the creepy, polite nurse with a secret.
Reservations may be made by email: play_theatre05@sbcglobal.net or by calling 918-786-8950. Performances begin April 21, and run Friday, Saturdays and Tuesday at 7:30, and Sundays at 2:00 through April 30. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for students, K-12. Group rates are available for twenty or more people. The maturity level suggested is upper-elementary and above, as students of this age may understand the play and find it enjoyable, and will not disturb other audience members.

Humane Society to Hold Garage Sale

The Humane Society of Grove and Grand Lake will hold a Garage Sale on Saturday, April 8 and Sunday, April 9. The location is at the shelter on Hwy. 10 approximately 2 miles east of downtown Grove across from the airport. The sale will begin at 7:30AM on both days and ends around 4:00PM.

Items that will be available include televisions, furniture, computers, and a wide assortment of household goods.

All proceeds from the Garage Sale will go towards feeding and caring for the animals at the shelter. Donations for the Garage Sale can still be dropped off at the shelter during office hours, which are Tuesdays - Saturdays 10AM to 3PM - closed on Sundays and Mondays.

The Canine Corner...by Missy MacTavish

First, my apologies for missing my column last week. I have Spring allergies and my paws were too sore to type. Things look like asadf or ;lkj when I hit the keyboard. Mom took me to Doctor Jan and I got some medicine and a bill for $277 but I am worth it.
The two leggers tell me that I will have to set my clock up an hour on Saturday in the middle of the night.
First, I don't even own a clock and if I did I sure would not get up at 2 a.m. to set it. And, I can't tell time anyway. I go by tummy time and outdoors time.
But I can tell that Spring is coming...I can hear the grass growing and see the green colors coming out. (Yes, I know that dogs are not supposed to see in color, but I can) My friends are out walking and of course I can run and play in the yard and my doggie friends are getting frisky. (Please, no jokes about water hoses and cold water.) I hope that you enjoy Spring as much as I do and take time to be nice to someone today.
Until next time, Bark On... Miss Missy.

YMCA Sponsoring Healthy Kids Day

The Grand Lake Family YMCA is sponsoring “Healthy Kids Day,” a free one-day active, educational event for children ages five through 12.
“Healthy Kids Day” runs from 9 am to 2 pm on Saturday, April 8 and features obstacle and three-legged races, a dance contest, hula hoop, limbo, and jump rope races and games
While they have fun, children will also enjoy an edible craft project entitled “How Healthy is a Hamburger?”.
There is no cost for Healthy Kids Day and children are welcome to attend all day or just portions. Parents are encouraged to send lunch with their children if they plan to attend the entire program.
The first 50 children to arrive will receive a free t-shirt.
Special early bird registration for the YMCA Summer Day Camp will also be held during Healthy Kids Day. Those who register for any or all weeks of Day Camp at this special registration will receive a $5 discount certificate for any future YMCA program.
Further information is available by calling the Grand Lake Family YMCA at (918) 786-5774. The Grand Lake YMCA is located at 206 Elk St. in the old library building.

Clinic Neuters 125 Animals

The Humane Society of Grove and Grand Lake held a Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic on March 25 and 26 at their shelter in Grove. A total of 125 dogs and cats were spayed or neutered.

Lunch for all the volunteers working was provided by Paparazzi’s Italian Restaurant on Saturday and by Arby’s on Sunday. The society would like to thank them for their contribution.

The Humane Society held their first Low Cost Spay and Neuter clinic two years ago in March 2004. Since then they have had nine clinics and neutered a total of 965 dogs and cats.

The next clinic will be held in late May or early June. The exact dates will be announced at a later time.

The Humane Society holds these clinics as a service to the community and to reduce the number of unwanted pets in our area. They derive no income from the low fees charged.
The society is a non-profit organization and relies on donations and fund-raisers for financial support. Items such as laundry soap, bleach, paper towels, cat litter, pet food, old blankets and towels are always needed. Memberships are available and new members are always welcome. There are many opportunities for volunteer work and more volunteers are needed.

There are lots of dogs and cats at the shelter waiting for loving homes. The Humane Society invites you to stop by during office hours and learn more about how you can become a part of the solution to pet overpopulation in Grove. Give them a call at 786-7630. The shelter is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10AM to 3PM and is closed on Sundays and Mondays.