City Manager Lists Status of City Projects

Grove City Manager Bill Galletly this week discussed the status of various projects currently underway or needed, in a one-hour interview with The Grove Observer. Projects are not listed by priority.

Number One on his list is completion of Shundi Road from Ninth Street north to Third Street. One half of the money to fund this project is in the budget, for engineering and a third of the construction cost, and more will come in the new fiscal year beginning July 1, he said.

Number Two on his list is the Downtown Revitalization Project. Bids for Phase One will be taken in July with construction to start in August, and a completion goal by Thanksgiving, he said. Since this is a Federally funded project administered by the State, "things don't move as fast as the city does," he said.

Number Three on Galletly's list is the Chopper Heights Storm Drainage Project, a water problem which directly impacts residents there. A $150,000 grant combined with $100,000 from the city is in the works to fix the problem.

Number Four is Cemetery expansion. "Buzzard Cemetery is full; Olympus is full; we have hired a consultant to find suitable locations to build new cemetery space and his recommendations should be forthcoming soon," Galletly said.

Number Five is the Civic Center issue…"it needs roof repairs of up to a half million dollars." The community needs to make a decision, rehab it, sell it, or build a new events center, funded by a Bond Issue over a period of years," he said. He added that a state of the art center could be built for $8 million with nearly half provided by sale of the current civic center. "But the people of the community will be the ones who make these decisions," he added.

Number Six is 18th Street from Shundi back to Main, a four-lane street.

Number Seven is new Police Department facilities. "We hired an architect a year ago to study the old Post Office, which was not suitable; we really need new facilities for the police department and could either build a new facility or use the old library building currently leased by the YMCA."

Number Eight is utility relocation along Highway 59. Galletly is concerned with the cost of steel and pipe going up "every day, about 20-40% a year." He said "we would like to buy the materials now and store them, with the help of ODOT which will reimburse us for 72% of the cost.

"The Highway 59 project influences everything we do. The cost is going up and we need to prepare for this. If we get ODOT approval to go ahead and buy materials we will call a special meeting of GMSA," he said.

Finally, State Park Road from Main to Broadway is on the list. "This road is terrible; I took the ODOT people down there this morning to see it first hand."

Other projects he listed include work on 13th street, widening and lowering it to accommodate hospital traffic when the new hospital building is constructed; and work on the intersection of Har-Ber Road and Leisure Road (money is in the budget for next year).

Galletly, who has been city manager for three and a half years, said "there is never enough money to deal with growth in a growing city. The only way to jump start projects is with Bond Issues via a General Obligation Bond. City government can only do what the public is willing to pay for, with big projects like roads and the Civic Center."

Healing Bears Now at Work Worldwide

Tynsy Foster Has More Than 1,000 Bear Orders After Nationwide Publicity

The small frame house at the corner of Fifth & Grand in Grove has a small sign out front, "Tynsy's Alterations." It gives no hint of the roomful of hand stitched stuffed bears awaiting shipping, the piles of boxes containing fabric from a deceased loved one's clothing, or the incredible woman who works nights and weekends to make what she calls "healing bears."
What started years ago as a word of mouth business and a personal request for a healing bear has now grown to a worldwide effort, due to a newspaper article carried nationwide in April written by a former Jay high school teacher.
Tynsy Foster says that a customer six years ago asked her to make a teddy bear out of a piece of clothing that belonged to her late husband. Since that time she has made more than 1,000 bears, no two alike, using fabric from bathrobes, baby blankets, shirts, jackets, bib overalls, leather jackets or denim pants. She orders the polyester-fiber stuffing from WalMart and carefully stitches the bear together. Her customers also send her obituaries or pictures of their deceased loved one which Tynsy incorporates into the bear's personality. Her husband, Ron, goes to the Grove Post Office each day and comes home with a stack of boxes with requests and fabric inside.
She charges only $20 per bear. "God told me to do this, and He told me what to charge," Tynsy says. "Until He tells me otherwise, it will be $20." It takes about an hour just to stitch up a bear.
Over the past years she has made about 1,000 bears. But recently everything changed. A Claremore free lance writer, Carol Round, did a story on Tynsy for American Profile, a magazine style insert for several hundred newspapers across the country.
"The phone line went crazy. We had to add another line," Tynsy says. In one month, April, she received more than 900 requests for bears. She carefully logs in the calls and notes which states are represented and tells the customer where to send the fabric. She now has a waiting list of 1,013 bears and her husband has had to rent a storage pod to keep the fabric and personal requests in.
"I am going to keep doing this as long as I can," the 58-year-old seamstress says. "God said to me 'my children need to be healed' and I said that's what churches and ministers are for and he said 'No, these bears are for healing and I want all of my children to be able to afford one.'"
She keeps a photo scrapbook of every bear she makes, with the name of the person that requested it. Sometimes people request several bears at once. Every bear has its own personality, from the distinct eyes, feet, or ears, to the way the cloth is sewn.
"The grieving process can last for 20 years," Tynsy says, "and people hold the bears, talk to them, and let out their grief from losing friends and relatives due to illness, Cancer, accidents, heart attacks or even suicide."
Tynsy includes a small printed card tied around the bear's neck, reading "I'm only a bear. I'm made out of clothes from someone so dear who from loving memory will always be here, so when you hug me up close to you…just remember (blank for deceased name) loved you too!"
The day of our interview Tynsy mailed out 10 bears and took 57 phone calls just in one hour. Calls are coming from the Caribbean, Switzerland, Mexico and Great Britain and every state in the union except Alaska and Hawaii. Right now she is getting lots of requests for military bears, for relatives and friends of servicemen and women lost in Iraq and elsewhere.
"A request from Ft. Bragg, NC could generate several hundred bears," Tynsy said.
So if you see an early morning light coming from her home, you know she is carefully cutting the fabric that will become, by day's end, a beautiful, huggable bear that will give comfort for many years to someone in grief, far away.

In photos above: Tynsy Foster poses with two of her hand stitched bears.
A group of bears, awaiting shipping to grieving families.

Looking for Bass in All the Right Places

Local Fishing Guide Gives Out the Good Stuff on Catching the Big One

Ivan Martin has been fishing on Grand Lake since he was 13 years old, or put another way, about 40 years. So what does he have to say about those Top 100 Bass fishermen coming onto his lake June 1-4 to catch what has been called "our best and brightest?"

"They will be looking for brush piles, drop offs, areas around boat docks, points, willow trees in high water or lay downs in the river; they'll probably be using Carolina Rigging, a sinker with a three inch leader and a lizard lure, or maybe a brush hog, and they'll be as far away as the Dam or even up past Twin Bridges," Martin predicts.

He says the Top 100 will catch lots of fish "because they are really good. There is a lot of skill involved and they have it, just like the top professional golfers or Nascar racers."
Martin takes fishermen out on 400 trips a year just on Grand Lake. He sold Martin's Landing a couple of months ago to Nicholls Marine.

The pro's will be using their "wrapped" boats, a plastic covering which costs about $3,000 and displays all of the sponsor logos, pushed by up to 250 horsepower outboards. The professional is the boat driver at all time, including trolling; the amateur sits in the back of the boat during the fishing and is not allowed to drive or use the trolling motor. Boats range from $40,000 up, usually pulled by a nice pickup at $40-50,000, and the family may come along in a fine Motor Home towing another automobile.

Martin says one professional made $1,000,000 in just three weeks; others make "zero."
"They've just got to get out on the lake and find the good spots, and they will." They will keep their five best fish each day for the weigh-in, all over 14 inches, and then the fish will be released back into the lake from a special release boat with a large tank. Martin says they won't worry about shoals in the northern part of the lake because "at 70-80 miles an hour only about six inches of boat is in the water."

Who is Martin's pick to win the Sooner Run event? "Mark Tucker from Missouri has fished Grand a lot; Kevin VanDam is the Tiger Woods of fishing; Darrell Robertson of Jay has a good chance, or maybe Greg Hackney who is currently number one. Or even Edwin Evers, also from Oklahoma, or Mike Iaconelli, the bad boy of fishing."

Thirty or forty of these guys make a really good living fishing for Bass, but some don't make a dime," Martin says. "This will be an interesting three days of fishing and exciting for the community and Grand Lake." The winner here will walk away with $100,000.
TV taping will be shown on ESPN2 on Saturday, June 17 at noon; Thursday June 22 at 4 a.m.; and Monday July 10 at 3 p.m.

BassMasters at a Glance:

Thursday June 1: 100 Boats Out at 5:50 a.m, weigh-in at 3 p.m.
Friday June 2: 100 Boats Out at 5:50 a.m., weigh-in at 3 p.m.
Saturday June 3: 50 Boats Out at 5:50 a.m., weigh-in at 3 p.m.
Expo Tent Open Noon-6 p.m.
Sunday June 4: 12 Boats Out at 5:50 a.m., weigh-in at 3 p.m.
Expo Tent Open 1-6 p.m. Top prize $100,000.

Downtown Revitalization Project Ready for Bids

First Phase Construction Work to Begin in August

By Dr. Larry Stout
The Grove Downtown Revitalization project will soon be open for bidding on phase I with construction to start in late August. The downtown project was approved for $496, 113.00 as part of the Transportation Enhancement Program which matches federal dollars with funds from sponsoring organizations. The City of Grove, as sponsor, contributed $198,445.00 with $297, 668.00 from federal funds.

“I know everyone is anxious to see some physical work start on phase I. Our committee has been working to get to this point for almost 6 years and are really looking forward to seeing new sidewalks and lighting” said Dr. Larry Stout, chairman of the Downtown Revitalization Committee. “When I was in Kentucky looking at another project, I was told that these projects required much patience, and I have found over these 6 years that not only patience is needed but also perseverance”.

We have made a lot of progress recently with the City’s help and various business owners in the downtown. An improved parking lot on Grand between Third Street and O’ Daniel is available for the public. Parking on Third can be difficult at times because of the traffic. Using the public parking off of Grand or the Community Center’s parking area can make it easier and the walk will be more interesting looking in at the new businesses that are moving into the downtown. Also, the Sports Center at Third and Main has a new asphalt parking lot off the alley behind the Grand Escapes Travel Agency to serve the new stores in their complex.

Since the project has started, several new businesses have invested several hundred thousand dollars in the downtown area creating a “new” downtown experience for shopping. Dr. Stout related that several individuals commented to him that they had recently enjoyed an evening downtown starting with dinner at Tiramisu, a walk up the street to the Playmaker’s production “Snake in the Grass” and then capping off the evening with a treat at Java Dave’s.

Several downtown merchants have already refaced their storefronts in advance of the LandPlan work.

Editorial...General Custer Guilty of Bad Timing

The decision by City Manager Bill Galletly to fire Grove Police Chief Mark Wall is the topic of discussion all over town. The firing raises all kinds of issues, including the timing of the firing.

General Custer was guilty of bad timing when he got caught by a large band of Indians; the German invasion of Russia in the middle of winter wasn't exactly smart; and Napoleon got his at Waterloo.

Galletly fired the police chief the day after the funeral for one of his officers, a couple of weeks prior to the largest invasion of tourists in Grove history for the Bassmasters Top 100 Sooner Run fishing tournament, the American Music Festival a few days later and of course the Memorial Day weekend which causes the Grand Lake area to become the state's third largest city. Police experience at handling these events is not to be sneezed at.

Galletly said the action "was warranted or it would not have occurred" and that is basically all he is saying. But the attorneys will have a lot more to say about it... you know, those guys who get paid big bucks to ferret out the small type in the law. Wall's attorney says there is something called the Police Pension and Retirement System of Oklahoma and members may not be discharged except for "cause." A review board is supposed to be set up to hear the matter, but Grove has none. The city's personnel manual conflicts with it, the attorney says, with the state pension rules prevailing.

It is practically impossible to fire government employees, state, local or Federal, thanks to all of the protections written by lawmakers. Last week a US Congressman got caught with $90,000 in his freezer from an FBI sting and then said "There are two sides to every story." Huh?

It is difficult to run any organization when you have people on the payroll that you feel are not part of the team. It didn't help Mark Wall's public perception when at a Grove City Council meeting he sat between Earl Barnes and Charles Rowe, both of whom would like to see Galletly fired.

On the other hand, perhaps Galletly should have just sucked it up and waited until a better time, although it can be argued there is no good time for a firing of a long-time city employee. One needs to enter battles one can win, put aside those that can't be won, and forget about the rest.

What causes people to make decisions which bring on so much controversy? We suggest you read an article from the Wharton School of Economics at http://www.whartonsp.com/articles/article.asp?p=390814&rl=1. The issue is a lot more complicated that one would ever think. We won't even attempt to excerpt from it but it is certainly worth a read.

In the meantime, Wall has a nice job offer from the District Attorney's office while he is on paid administrative leave; our new Chief of Police Ivan Divitt, Jr. is at work; the attorneys are searching their law books and life goes on in Grove, Ok., controversy and all.

Does the city budget have funds for two police chiefs?
How much are the legal expenses going to be to see this through?

If it were up to us, we would call a Review Board and hash out the issues that caused the firing and clear the air rather than get involved in a long, expensive legal battle. Our sense is that the taxpayers of Grove are really getting tired of all the fuss.

Grove Businessman Tackles Tall Jobs

Fear of Heights Not a Problem for Troy Kyman

Troy Kyman installs TV antennas. No, not those little aluminum ones you see on house rooftops, but the big ones that TV stations use mounted atop 2,000 foot towers.
It's a good thing Troy isn't afraid of heights, but his wife Karen is. She went up, once, and promptly fainted in the tower elevator. And that was only at 600 feet.

Troy and Karen own Precision Communications, located in Grove's Industrial Park. Precision is the largest service company in the U.S. today providing repairs to broadcast antenna and transmission line systems. The company maintains a wide variety of new and used parts to accommodate systems manufactured during the past 50 years.
Their primary business is repairing and installing TV antennas high atop the towers, and erecting the towers, throughout the U.S. They even have a job coming up in Pago Pago, Samoa. Their company has been in business since 1993 and the Kyman's are the principal stockholders.
They've turned down two acquisitions in the past two years, from larger companies.
"We're a service company. We install, maintain and service television broadcast antennas and towers.
"We can usually get a TV station back on the air within 24 hours if they have a problem," Kyman says. He has his own twin engine airplane based at Grove Airport which can get him to almost any area, in a hurry.
"I have a suitcase already packed at all times," he says.

What's it like working on a television broadcast antenna when it is putting out a million watts? "Like being inside a microwave oven," Kyman says. "You can feel it inside your body."
His wife says Troy is known nationwide for his knowledge of antennas; he can rebuild them in the air and has installed about 50% of the country's new digital TV antennas. Their company has 30-40 employees. "We have never had to layoff anyone," Kyman says.
TV stations have until February 2009 to switch from analog to all-digital transmission, so business will be brisk the next few years. Some 40% of their business is maintenance, with 60% being new installations.

Kyman majored in aviation but a hearing problem kept him from becoming a commercial pilot, so he went into antenna and tower building and learned the skill beside a crack RCA engineer.
The tallest tower he has built is 1600 feet.. "We've seen airplanes flying at our elevation when we are working," he says. Towers can go as high as 2,000 feet above ground.
Next week he will go to Claremore to install a new antenna for Rogers State University's TV station. In the shop is a new 41 foot antenna for WHBQ in Memphis which will be hauled up their tower to broadcast digital signals. The hoist they use weighs 48,000 pounds and will lift 10,000 feet of line.
"Our employees make a sacrifice as they can sometimes be gone on a job for months at a time," Kyman says.
In the back lot are all kinds of equipment, from rolls of five inch thick cables, antennas, huge trucks to haul them, tackles so heavy it takes two men to lift them, and a graveyard of used antennas and towers.

So the next time you see a TV station knocked off the air by lightning or something, there's a good chance Troy and his crew will soon be on the way to fix the problem.
His company recently announced the formation of a new division, Precision Wireless Internet, with the mission of providing a reliable and affordable Internet solution for the residents of Grand Lake. Ground will be broken in a few weeks on the first of three towers and the first coverage area will be up and running by early August, Kyman said. The towers will also be able to offer additional cell phone antennas.


In Photos Above: This 41-foot TV antenna built in Grove by Precision Communications is on its way to WHBQ in Memphis to be placed atop their tower for digital broadcasting.
Troy Kyman, head of the company, oversees the construction.

Karen Kyman stands beside the huge rolls of cable that are used to bring the wattage from the transmitter at the bottom, to the antenna on the top of the tower.

The Photo Page...

In Photos: 18th Street is ready for asphalt and should be open late June; Young Eagles fly at Grove Airport. Shown are Brookelyn Popp and Josh Popp of Grove, who flew with pilot Paul Dolph from Miami. The Young Eagles program has flown more than one million kids age 7-17 to introduce them to aviation; kids fly free with local pilots.

A Matter of Faith...

By Carol Round

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24(NIV)

I recall a summer morning over 25 years ago. My oldest son and I were walking down a country road.

He would stop frequently to poke a small stick into the dirt or a mushroom that had bloomed after an overnight rain.

When he looked up from his inquisitive searching and saw the orange, red and purple sunrise, he exclaimed, “Look Mom, God sure got up early this morning.”

“How do you know?” I asked.

“Because he’s been busy painting the sky,” Casey replied.

I can remember my own Louisiana childhood days. I would spend hours outdoors in the sultry heat. My mother would usually find me lying on my back or on my stomach in the grass.

On my back I could look up at the clouds and imagine what God was doing up there. What did He spend His days doing?

My childish imagination pictured Him with the angels having a contest to see who could come up with the best cloudscape. Did God let them win once in awhile?

On my stomach I would be looking for four-leaf clovers or watching those little-hard-shelled creatures that I called roly-poly bugs. I didn’t—and still don’t—know their scientific name. I was just captivated by their funny looks. I’d poke them and watch them roll into a little ball for protection from my curious finger.

My fascination with God’s wonders didn’t end when the sun went down. I can remember firefly hunting with my sister. We would borrow some of mom’s Mason jars and poke holes in the lid.

In our eagerness to capture the insects while their lights were on, we would race across the lawn barefooted. More than once, our enthusiastic hunting tactics led to a broken jar and a cut foot.

When the lightning bug hunt was over—usually because mom made us come inside—we would take our nocturnal captives with us. Placing the jars on our windowsill, we would drift to sleep with the tiny insects flashing their lanterns.

It was only later in life that my curiosity led me to do some research on lightning bugs. I learned that their flashing signaled a desire to mate. What I found even more fascinating is that each lightning bug species has its own specific flash pattern so that it doesn’t attract a firefly of a different species.

As a child, I didn’t care why they were lighting the night skies. I just enjoyed their lightning bug dance.

As an adult I cannot fathom how anyone, who sees a sunrise or sunset, a cloud formation or a four-leaf clover, a roly-poly bug or a firefly, can deny the existence of God.

Even today, when I see a sunrise, I have a vision of God with paintbrush in hand putting His bold strokes on the morning sky.

Have you seen God at work today? Open your eyes and enjoy. He did it all for you.



Carol Round is a retired Jay High School teacher. She currently resides in Claremore, OK. Readers can reach her at carolaround@yahoo.com.

The Canine Corner...by Missy MacTavish

Well I'm back again for another week. Thought for a while there I had been cancelled.
The Big Weekend is coming up which means the golf course will be packed with people who play once a year and hack their way through the trees; the lake will be crowded with amateur boaters that violate all sorts of laws, followed by those seedoozers that swerve all over the place in front of you; and traffic driving around Grove clogging up the arteries. Not to be confused with my arteries.
So I am gonna stay home, indoors with the AC on and veg out and let the people out there screw things up.
My thanks go out to the EMS, Police and Fire and GRDA Lake Patrolers for working all weekend though.
Until next time, Bark On! Miss Missy

Schedule of City Meetings

As a public service, listed below are the various city and trust authority meeting schedules:
Grove City Council meets the first and third Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Grove Industrial Development Authority meets the third Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
Grove Municipal Services Authority meets the third Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
Grove Planning & Zoning Board meets the second Tuesday at 5 p.m.
Grove Municipal Airport Trust Authority Board meets the second Monday at 1 p.m.All meetings are held in Room 5, City Hall, and are open to the public.
Public comment is allowed at all meetings.

New Camera Sets Sights on Illegal Dumping

The Grand River Dam Authority is hoping a new infrared camera will help put a stop to boats illegally dumping their sewage into lake waters. Installed on GRDA’s helicopter, the infrared technology is already being utilized for multiple purposes by GRDA, including power line and substation inspections and customer energy audits.
The GRDA Office of Ecosystems Management recently began using the camera to locate possible pollution “hot spots” such as faulty septic systems that may be leaking into the lake and believes it can locate illegal sewage dumping from boats as well.
“The deliberate dumping of sewage from a holding tank into the lake is unacceptable,” said GRDA Chief Executive Officer Kevin Easley, “and if this equipment can help us to locate someone that may be dumping, then we intend to take full advantage of its capabilities. GRDA’s mission is to be a good steward of these natural resources, and that means doing all we can to prevent this activity that is so harmful to the lake and the lake community.”
According to GRDA Ecosystems Management Superintendent Dr. Darrell Townsend Ph.D., GRDA will fully utilize this new resource during the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend. “There will be a lot of boats on the water and our helicopter will already be patrolling, so we certainly intend to use the equipment as much as we can,” he said.
Townsend added that boats caught dumping their holding tanks into the lake would face a hefty fine.

Tours Set of Five Public Gardens

Five residential gardens in the Grove area will be open for public tours Saturday, June 3, as part of the fourth annual Home Garden Tour sponsored by Lendonwood Gardens. Lendonwood, a public botanical garden in Grove, also is included on the tour.
“We are so pleased to highlight five of the most beautiful home gardens in the Grand Lake area,” said Joan Vermaire, president of the Lendonwood Board of Directors. “This event is always popular with the community, serving as a great source of ideas and inspiration for our own landscapes.”
The home gardens and Lendonwood will be available for touring from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $5 per person and may be purchased in advance from local merchants, including Java Dave’s, Millie’s, and Victorian Accents in Grove. Tickets also may be purchased at Lendonwood on the day of the tour.
Maps with driving directions to each of the gardens will be provided to ticket-holders. Using the driving map, ticket-holders will be able to tour the gardens at their own pace. Volunteers will be available at each garden to provide information and answer questions.
Highlights of the home gardens range from water features to exotic plants. One residence, once a fishing resort, now includes a two-acre multi-tiered garden with unique whimsical features and a knot garden.
Another two-acre residential garden is just a year old, but looks lush and mature with beautiful rocks, water features and fountains integrated into the landscaping as well as over 400 flats of annuals planted in its beds.
One of the gardens has year-round interest, which will be featured on a video displayed during the tour. This garden includes many varieties of hydrangeas, azaleas, dogwoods, lilacs, and hardy camellia.
Another garden on the tour lies in a setting with a beautiful view of Grand Lake and includes many hostas, coleus, large ferns and a weeping red bud. This landscape offers unique touches, including an antique bicycle, an iron bed headboard and pieces of china tucked into the beds.
The tour also includes a garden with a large greenhouse that automatically controls temperature and humidity to house exotic plants throughout the winter. This garden also features tropical citrus trees, a mini-orchard with fruit trees and more than 50 azaleas.
In case of rain, the Home Garden Tour will be held June 4 from noon to 3 p.m.
Lendonwood, sponsor of the annual Home Garden Tour, is one of 12 botanical gardens in Oklahoma and is supported by volunteers and donations. The three-acre garden is open to the public year-round, from dawn to dusk.

Spring Book Sale Set June 17

The big Spring Book Sale will be held by the Friends of the Grove Public Library on Saturday, June 17, in the parking lot at Main and 11th Streets at Grand Savings Bank. Hours will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The library is still accepting donations for the spring sale. Anyone with donations should bring them to the library as soon as possible. Some categories which sell well are popular fiction, children’s books, cook books, westerns, and mysteries. Audio and video books are welcome. All items will be marked for sale on June 17 which means big bargains for buyers.
The spring and fall book sales are the main fund raisers for Friends of the Grove Public Library. The Friends support various programs at the library including the popular Third Thursday program about books and authors. Friends welcome new members. Dues are $7.50 a year for a single person and $10 for a couple. Inquire at the library.

YMCA Lists Summer Programs

There’s lots going on this summer at the Grand Lake Family YMCA for children, youth and teens.
For the little ones, the Y offers the following programs:
Kinder Kamp: A day camp for ages 3-5 years old, featuring crafts, special themed activities and picnic lunches. Camp begins on June 5 with nine weekly sessions offered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. The weekly fee for YMCA members is $15; for non-members, $25.
There’s also plenty to keep older youth busy:
Grand Outdoors Adventure Camp: A week long camp for kids ages 11 to17 from July 24 to 28 from 10:30 am to noon. Special activities include video projection archery, ATV safety and riding, and a fishing derby. Camp meets at Grand Outdoors, 9640 Hwy. 59 N. in Grove. The weekly fee for YMCA members is $15; for non-members, $25.
Summer Flight Camp: A week long camp for 11 to 13 year olds featuring the basics of airplane flight, rocket building and launching, experimenting with radio controlled models and kite building. Class is scheduled on July 24 through 27 from 2 to 3:30 pm and meets at the airport. The fee for YMCA members is $30; for non-members, $40.
Intro to SCUBA: This land based class will teach students the wonder of scuba diving where they’ll investigate equipment and learn about scuba and snorkeling. The program is offered twice: On June 6 or July 11 from 6 to 7 pm. There is no charge for YMCA members; for non-members it’s just $5.
Super Sitters: This intensive program is designed to teach 10 to 13 year olds babysitting skills such as creativity, personal safety and first aid procedures including home, fire, telephone and stranger safety. Participants receive a certificate upon class completion. Super Sitters will be offered on Saturday, June 10 from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm. The fee for YMCA members is $25; for non-members, $30.
Day Camp: For boys and girls 5-12 years old, YMCA Day Camp is a summer adventure guaranteed to create life-long memories. These week-long day camps are based at area parks and provide an active week of nature, and indoor and outdoor fun with hiking, skits, songs, games and swimming. Weekly day camps begin on May 30 through August 4 with different themes each week. The Day Camp bus leaves the school in the morning and returns in the afternoon. There is a one time registration fee of $25.00 and camp is $75 per week for YMCA Members; $90 per week for non-members. Reduced fees are available for early pick-up. There is a $10 discount for each additional child.
And just for teenagers, the YMCA has these programs:
For ages 11-14, Teen Summer Tour is offered on Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Thursdays from 1:30-4:00 pm. Teens plan and participate in great summer fun, including water sports, fitness, dune buggy rides, challenge courses, healthy snacks and sweet treats, arts and much more. The program begins on June 6 through July 27. Member cost is $10 per week; $15 per week for non-members.
At Teen Strength Training, 12 to 14 year olds learn the basics of strength training to develop muscular strength and endurance. The class meets three days per week beginning on June 6 and is free for Y members; $20 per month for non-members.
There’s also Teen Strength Training Orientation for 15 to 18 year olds on June 5. Participants will learn the basis of strength training at no cost for members; just $5 for non-members.
For further information or to register call the Grand Lake Family YMCA at (918) 786-5774. The Grand Lake YMCA is located at 206 Elk St. in the old library building.

Playmakers to Hold Youth Auditions

The Playmakers’ fall youth production, is a musical version of some of Aesop’s most charming Fables, titled “Don’t Count Your Chickens Until They Cry Wolf.” Auditions are scheduled for Tuesday, June 13 at 7:00 pm and Saturday, June 17 at 10:00 am, at Off Broadway Arts, 121 W. 3rd, in Grove. Audition sign-ups are preferred. Performances are September 15-24.
There are roles for students, 6 – 18 years of age. Students must be able to sing, either solo or with a group. Dance is not required for all characters, but an ease of movement is preferable. Please call The Playmakers at 918-786-8950. If you wish to audition, but your summer vacation or camp is during the scheduled audition times, please leave a message for the director, Suzanne Boles, to arrange a different audition date.
After casting, the music will be distributed to the appropriate characters. Cast members must have the music learned when regular rehearsals begin mid-July. Because of the nature of the scenes in the play, most having only a few characters in them, The Playmakers will make an effort to be flexible with regard to July rehearsal schedules.
Written by Carol Lynn Pearson, with music by JAC Redford, the play was commissioned by Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute. Highlights include the famous race of the tortoise and the hare, a soft shoe number by the fox, a chorus line of sheep, and a rousing peasant dance in the bundle of sticks. There’s even some audience participation.
Students and/or parents who would like to work backstage, or help with lighting, sound, costumes or sets, should notify the director as soon as possible.

New Board Member for Humane Society

The Humane Society of Grove and Grand Lake would like to welcome Kelly Whitehead as the newest member of the Board of Directors. Kelly lives on Monkey Island and is a realtor for Maxson Sales Co. Kelly has lived in the Grand Lake area since 1984 and on Monkey Island for the past 16 years. Kelly is originally from Canada, loves Grand Lake and is “happy to be a part of the Humane Society.”

Other members of the Board are: Connie Norris (President), Nancy Saamer (Vice President), Linda Miller (Secretary), Pete Brower (Treasurer), Dr. Warren Pennell, Lisa Toller, Mary Lee Jackson, and Gordon Thompson. The entire Board is excited about the improvements that are just getting underway at the shelter. Anyone wishing to volunteer or become involved as we work towards improving the shelter should contact the shelter at 786-7630.

GRDA Urges Safe Holiday Weekend

“Common sense is the key, we always stress common sense in the hopes that everyone will have a safe and enjoyable weekend.”
That is how Grand River Dam Authority Lake Patrol Chief Bruce Smith sums up his desire for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend boating activities on GRDA’s Grand and Hudson Lakes. Smith said while lake patrolmen will be out in full force patrolling the water, they are urging boaters to boat smart, boat safe and always, boat sober. “It’s bad enough when an alcohol-related accident occurs on land, but when it takes place in the water, every problem is multiplied many times,” said Smith.
With Memorial Day holiday traditionally being the first big boating weekend for Grand and Hudson, the GRDA Lake Patrol sees it as a great opportunity to remind boaters of the following safety tips they need to know year round.
Oklahoma boating laws and GRDA lake rules require children age 12 and under to wear a life jacket at all times while on the water. Also, all boats must carry approved personal flotation devices (pfd) for each person on board. However, the GRDA Lake Patrol urges everyone to wear their life jackets at all times while boating.