Observations...

Happy Birthday to Us. Yes, it has now been two whole years that The Grove Observer has provided in-depth news coverage to Grove citizens, more than 1,500 pages and 600 articles with 60,000 page views on the web, read by people who live around the world. And during this time not one issue has ever gotten wet in the driveway, wrapped fish, or put in the bottom of the bird cage. We thank our 1100 loyal readers, including the ones that disagree with our positions on various matters. Who would have thunk it. Call us crazy (many have). The Editor must be certified nuts to do this, without any pay. Bring on the man in the white jacket. Maybe the time has come to get a real job…or go quietly into the night…What's up with the slow water release from a flooded Grand Lake? Maybe they are giving us a view of what the Wolf Creek project would look like, with water at Grove's front door. Thing is, the water is ruining the city park and Rotary's 1986 pavilion project. It still beats the Cheapo Depo across the street though… Actually, the Corps is keeping the Arkansas River in check and can't add water to it from Grand, Hudson or Fort Gibson...Councilman Gary Trippensee objected to the minutes of the Airport Trust Authority Board meetings being included in the city council's packets and thus they have been stricken. This board does not like the media being in attendance and despite numerous requests The Observer does not get notified or get advance agendas. We say let the sun shine on city meetings…the taxpayers have a right to know…otherwise, take the word "trust" out of their name…We hope the new City Manager will communicate more with the citizens of Grove, adding a new page to the city's website titled "This Month's City Government News."…Latest word on finishing the utility work downtown is the first week of September. Talk about bad timing, the entire summer has been misery for downtown merchants. Hopefully it is like the pain of childbirth…it will soon go away, replaced with a revitalized downtown everyone can be proud of…