GrovePAC Launched to Elect Three Candidates

What exactly is GrovePAC?

For the first time in memory, a political action committee has been formed in Grove in connection with the April City Council election. Known as GrovePAC and headed by its founder, Troy Kyman, owner of Precision Wi-Fi and Precision Communications, the committee seeks to raise funds for its three candidates, selected before the filing period opened, and work for their election to office.

The committee is backing candidates Larry Parham, Gary Trippensee and Mike Davenport and has its own web site, www.grovepac.org. "Our goal is to support Grove City Council candidates that represent a clear character displaying leadership, honesty and integrity,." according to the web site. Kyman said this week that "we will be watching their performance, and if these candidates are elected and don't get the job done, we will back someone else at the next election."

GrovePAC's issues to date include "the intentional corrupt power plays that have taken place over the last couple of years," the appointment of council members to the various trust authority boards, and the undercharging by GMSA of $890,000 over the past three years of the Simmons natural gas account. Kyman feels the city should reimburse GMSA customers with the Simmons payment. (approximately one half has been paid by Simmons to date)

Fact check: The underpayments by Simmons were discovered by Assistant City Manager Debbie Mavity and GMSA gas foreman Jim Reiling, after a lengthy investigation "covering every inch of gas line." The increased use of gas came after Simmons expanded the Fairland plant but did not pay the increased gas usage, which it was aware of, say city officials.

"Our concern is that the money will be used for some sort of perk like a new Civic Center or Water Park," says the web site.

Fact Check: Both issues are subject to voter approval; no monies from a Simmons repayment could be used for either project, by law; and neither project could be called a "perk."

It is no secret that City Manager Bill Galletly would be immediately retired if two of the three candidates are elected. He has said he will retire in 2007 either way. "I want to build more bird houses and drive the causeway from Miami to Key West," he said recently.

Davenport, a 12-year GMSA employee, was part of an employee group that did gas and water line work for private contractors and developers on their own time, but using city equipment, a violation of state law. According to documents obtained by The Observer, the practice had been ongoing for at least 12 years. Galletly put a stop to it in 2003. Davenport, in an April 24, 2003 document, admitted doing work for several developers with labor being charged based on the "contractor's needs." According to the documents, the equipment used was "cathode" or "corrosion equipment, with a fee charged to the developer or contractor for the operator and the piece of equipment, with all the money going to the employee."

Parham, a current city council member and owner of the Grove Radio Shack, has spent most of the past two years trying to fire Galletly. He uttered the famous words "I do not want to help my neighbor," in connection with the city's disposal of an old truck to the town of Disney for $1.00. Supporters point out that he is detailed, asks a lot of questions, and is thrifty with city expenditures.
Trippenssee was a member of the Grove Airport trust authority and the lone holdout against the transfer of airport land to the city that would protect the property in case of a lawsuit. The property was transferred in 2006. Several observers have pointed out that council meetings could last until midnight if Trippenssee is elected. He is a mechanical engineer, owner of two airplanes based at Grove Airport, and a longtime NASA employee.

The committee has not announced any specific candidate platforms as yet. Kyman said "everybody in Grove is in favor of a new swimming pool" but that the "costs need to be kept in line and a fancy, flumed water park that costs $13 million is out of the question." The city's Blue Ribbon Committee named to study the issue has not yet announced its recommendations and the public has mostly been kept in the dark as to plans.

The three candidates' individual opinions on issues such as the civic center, swimming pool, support for the Chamber of Commerce, city street improvements, Grove's future needs, and what kind of new city manager should be hired, are unknown. But it is early in the campaign with plenty of time left to explain.

Other candidates for council offices include David Adzigian, a former council member who lost to Parham in the last election by 25 votes and is seen as a mediator and extremely detailed person; Dustin Phillips, a farmer-rancher who says his platform is to bring in new business to Grove; Harry Worley, Grove businessman, and current Mayor Carolyn Nuckolls. Ben Hynum has withdrawn from consideration.

As with the GrovePAC candidates, these have not announced any details of their platforms as yet.

During the campaign, The Observer will attempt to separate fact from fiction, truth from lies. We encourage candidates to speak about the future of Grove, not the past.

Grove Council Votes to Seek Cleanup Bids

In an effort to speed up collection of thousands of tons of tree debris left from January's ice storm, the Grove City Council has voted to take bids from private firms, setting Friday noon as the deadline. The usual 21-day notice has been waived under Federal Emergency declaration rules.
The city will pay the private firm selected and be reimbursed by FEMA at 75% and the State of Oklahoma at 12.5%, leaving the city to pay 12.5%. Bid details have been faxed to some 44 companies which specialize in debris removal. A bid will be awarded at Council meeting next Tuesday, by law, to the lowest responsible bidder.
Council voted 5-0 to take action on the matter at a Special Meeting Monday afternoon. It was felt that the fastest way to clear the city would be to hire private outside contractors rather than rely on city crews. Under FEMA rules, the city could only be reimbursed for overtime work, not the standard 40 hour work week. City cost to haul the debris is $6 per truck regular time and $8 per truck overtime, City Manager Bill Galletly said.
Contractors will be expected to complete the debris removal within 60 days of startup, using a per unit measurement of weight (tonnage); will not go on private property; will haul the debris as piled, first to Longan's scale for weighing, then to the city dump where it will be put in piles and burned. Individuals must put the debris curbside in order to be picked up. This includes debris from golf courses.
The city has been divided into 12 pickup zones and the contractor will start over with zone 1, as some debris has been piled since the first city pickup two weeks ago. City crews had completed zones 1 and 2 and were working on zone 3.
City officials said it may be six months before the city is reimbursed for the expense, although several contractors noted they still have not been paid by FEMA for work done after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

Letters to the Editor

Like most folks, it sometimes takes me awhile to get to the point where I'm willing to stand up and voice my opinion on a matter. I think we are called "the silent majority" in most parts of the country, everywhere that is but here on Grand Lake. Here, we are called "the idiots who are against economic growth" of the lake as reported recently in a local publication. Well........here are a few observations made by this idiot concerning the current course of events around the lake.

I recently read in one of the local publications that the South Grand Lake Area Chamber Of Commerce has decided to appoint themselves the Grand Lake Area Chamber Of Commerce by simply dropping the word South from their title. It would appear that our southern neighbors feel that the northern lake communities are incapable of providing proper representation of themselves. I'm always a little suspicious when strangers tell me they know what is best for me. Of course, these are the same folks that want to develop the living daylight out the lake regardless of the consequence.

Along those lines of unsolicited representation, we have another group of individuals who seem to have taken it upon themselves to represent the silent majority. These folks call themselves the Grand Lakers United Enterprise. Again, here is another group who appear dedicated to making as much money off of the lake as possible regardless of the consequence.

Have you ever noticed all the ads in the above mentioned weekly publication? I don't think I have ever seen so many ads for blue water yachts on a fresh water lake! When considering the size and depth (the average depth of the lake is only thirty five feet), does it make sense to promote the sale of these oversized behemoths whose wakes cause damage to the shoreline and endanger smaller craft. Of course it does, if your sole motivation is to make as much money as possible regardless of the consequence.

Some may think I'm painting with a broad brush here, but I don't think so. My comments here touch on only a few of the problems facing this lake. The lake is in serious jeopardy of being overdeveloped just so a handful of individuals can make a ton of money, then move on. There are a lot of hidden agendas whose only purpose is profit at the expense of a wonderful area. A few groups seem to see the lake as a "cash cow" and are dedicated to exploiting it to the max. I truly hope the GRDA will step up to the plate with the proposed Shore Management Plan, stick to their guns, and do the right thing regardless of the pressure being brought by special interest groups.

But then, I'm just an idiot armed with nothing more than a little common sense and the ability to recognize B.S. when I see it. Hopefully, more of our silent idiot citizens will also. I love this place and I want to see it cared for so that it will always remain a "little slice of heaven here on earth".

M. L. Brooks
Grove, OK.
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To the Editor:
The only way that City Manager Bill Galletly should not be an issue in the upcoming election is if he would resign now, effective no later than March 31.

As a commercial real estate Broker, I am still trying to figure out how on God's earth the value of the Civic Center land would be reduced rather than increased by the purchase of property by Walgreen's. The Civic Center land is the most valuable commercial property in northeastern Oklahoma. I just sold one acre of land (Charlie's Chicken) directly across from the six-acre Civic Center, for $850,000.00. I have a standing offer of $3,000,000.00 for the Civic Center. I will not present any offer to the City of Grove for less than $3,500,000.00, and this would be without any expense or commission fee paid by the City of Grove.

Jack L. Forrest
Grove, OK

Genealogical Society Sets Feb. 20 Meeting

The Delaware County Genealogical Society is pleased to announce that Oklahoma author, Gean. Atkinson, will continue his statewide book tour at our February 20th meeting. Designated by the Oklahoma Centennial Commission as an official Oklahoma Centennial Project, critically acclaimed “Bloodmoon at Cabin Creek”, is a time travel story that heralds the exploits of a Cherokee Confederate soldier in the Battle of Cabin Creek, close to what is now Strang, OK The soldier is mysteriously jerked from the fierce battle in 1864 only to find himself stranded in 2007 in the midst of an entirely new set of incredible dangers and adventures. Struggle after struggle face First Sergeant Gus Rider CSA in his breakneck effort to save his family and army from 170 years away. It is a story that is heart stopping until an ending that will surprise, no matter how perceptive the reader.

“Bloodmoon at Cabin Creek” is Mr. Atkinson’s third book. His first, “Pilots of My Soul”, was published in 1988 and his second novel, “Internal Invasion”, was published in 2001 and optioned for a screenplay the following year.

An advertising executive, Mr. Atkinson is a former member of the OK House of Representatives, continuing a family tradition of elected service to his state begun by his Cherokee ancestors in 1877; and, he is currently secretary of the Cherokee National Historical Society.

A graduate of the 2003 FBI Citizens’ Academy, Mr. Atkinson was a decorated Marine Officer in Vietnam and a Navy Captain in Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

Mr. Atkinson will sign books at the Delaware County Genealogical Society meeting, Tuesday, February 20, 2007, at 7 pm at the Grove Public Library. The book is $24.95 and can be purchased at the book signing.

Friends of the Grove Public Library and the general public are invited to attend the meeting. Refreshments will be served.

A Matter of Faith...

By Carol Round

How to be Happy

“Happy is he whose help is the God of Jacob, and whose hope is in the Lord his God.” Psalm 146:5 (NLV)

Someone once asked me what made me happy. Without hesitation, I replied, “Helping others.”

Many people are searching for happiness. Most fail in their quest because they are looking in all the wrong places. They’re trying to find it in someone or something outside of themselves.

A relationship with the Lord is the foundation for happiness. When we build on that foundation, then we can fully experience happiness. I recently came across the following list of Ten Rules for Happier Living:

1. Give something away.
2. Do a kindness.
3. Give thanks always.
4. Work with vim and vigor.
5. Visit the elderly and learn from their experience.
6. Look intently into the face of a baby and marvel.
7. Laugh often—it’s life’s lubricant.
8. Pray to know God’s way.
9. Plan as though you will live forever—you will.
10. Live as though today is your last day on earth.

When you reflect on these rules, you also realize that they don’t require money. They are not complicated. They don’t come with a list of additional steps. Nor do they come with a list of ingredients that you have to buy at the store. Anyone can follow them.

Over the past few years, I have made an observation about people who have lived into their 80s and beyond. I am especially fascinated by those who have celebrated their 100th birthday and more. I want to know their secret because, God willing, I plan to live that long too.

Their secret? It’s not just in the genes. Nor is it just a healthy lifestyle. They have followed some or all of the ten rules listed above.

A 104-year-old Kansas man was recently recognized as “America’s Oldest Worker,” an honor given to him at a ceremony in Washington. Ralph Waldo McBurney still goes to work at his honey business every day. Waldo attributes his longevity to three things: he never smoked nor drank, he ate his vegetables, and he keeps very busy. (See rule #4 above.)

Another centenarian, Rosella Mathieu, is 100. In addition to being an active herb grower, she has been keeping a journal of her journey through her later years and is contemplating writing a book of her experiences as a guide to others. "It's hard to get answers to questions you have as you get older,” she says. “I think that's one thing I can make a contribution on." She cares passionately about others, particularly as they enter the uncharted territory of life after 80. (See rules #2, 5, 9 and 10.)

I recently struck up a conversation with an 83-year-old gregarious woman while shopping at a bookstore. I learned that she would be celebrating her 84th birthday that week. When I told her that she didn’t look her age, she replied, “That’s because I have Jesus in my heart.”

With Jesus in your heart and a heart for others, you can’t go wrong. Happiness will be yours.

A collection of Carol Round’s most popular faith-based columns is now available in book form. For more information, readers can reach her at carolaround@yahoo.com.