City Council Adjusts "Shop Grove" Proposal

Grove businesses seeking city funds for a five-month "Shop Grove" campaign will be required to put up matching funds in order to receive taxpayer dollars, up to $3,000.
The Grove City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday night to turn down a request for $6,250 for the merchants to purchase three billboards.

Acting City Manager Debbie Mavity suggested that the 19 merchants involved each spend $27 a month for five months to support the campaign, which would include 30,000 flyers, three billboards, and local newspaper and radio advertising. Council approved a budget of $2,000 for the group in April of which $1100 has been spent on three banners placed downtown.

The idea for the campaign is to urge Grove citizens to shop in Grove during the downtown revitalization work, rather than go elsewhere. Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Friden told the council that they have no money to support the plan.
Some 19 merchants have already agreed to spend $135 each for the Second Saturdays program June-October.

Council went into Executive Session at 7:39 p.m. and came out at 10:15 p.m. after reviewing additional telephone interviews with candidates for City Manager. After coming out, they voted to set up sessions to conduct personal interviews with several of the candidates, dates to be determined.

Council also continued work on the city budget for 07-08 which will be finalized June 15.

Mavity announced a June 18 meeting with GIDA, the Blue Ribbon Committee, and Council, to discuss the committee's results on the Civic Center and swimming pool projects.

Honored as Employee of the Month was John Fasano, Building Inspector, who has taken on the additional responsibility of being the primary inspector for the Downtown Revitalization Project.

Deb Wolek, Executive Director of the Grand Lake Association, asked for the council's blessing to apply for a $60,000 grant through the Oklahoma Parks & Tourism Department to build a pavilion, rest rooms and trash facilities at one of the city's boat ramps, to be maintained by the city once built. Council obliged.

Council also tabled a resolution pertaining to Rural Housing of Grove, L.P., which proposes to rehab 98 affordable units in its housing development at 400 Mill Street, until it can be assured there will be no new requirements to re-enter the housing, once vacated for rehab work.

Council cancelled the next meeting set for July 3 due to the holiday period.
Under budget items, council removed $77,000 for a new traffic light at Har-Ber Road and Broadway and discussed moving money from Shundi Road to improving 13th street. City Clerk Bonnie Buzzard pointed out that there is a waiting list for burials in the city's cemetery. Council pointed out that $250 for a burial plot would be reasonable, based on other city's charges. Money for the planned new cemetery adjacent to Olympus Cemetery is in next year's budget.

Council also voted to increase funding to the Chamber of Commerce from $28,000 to $35,000 on a 4-1 vote, with Councilman Terry Ryan voting against.

Budget items are still subject to review prior to final approval June 15.

Official Offers Casino Project Opinions

(forwarded to the Grove Observer by local citizen Ben Hynum)

I want to offer any informational resources or assistance our national group may have, to the citizens of Grove who oppose yet another, massive tribal casino.

As you probably know, the pattern when pushing for an off-reservation casino is to announce the subject as though it is some foregone conclusion, or a "done deal." Let me absolutely promise you, that if the project is truly "off" the reservation, and if the land has been acquired by the tribe but not yet placed into federal trust...then your community group can flat out stop the project, regardless of whether you have the support of local elected officials or not.

Communities such as Rohnert Park and Plymouth, California; Cascade Locks, Oregon; La Center, Washington; Lynden, Washington; Lima, Ohio; Lynwood, Illinois - all have community groups that are nicely undoing the "done deal" that was announced when a big Class III casino was proposed to be plunked down into the middle of these communities.

In a separate email I will send you information about how the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and the National Enviornmental Policy Act (NEPA) work, and how your citizens can insert their voices formally into the process.

In the meantime, you may wish to explore our national website: www.citizensalliance.org - click on the Gambling link, and/or browse our website for any information that may help your group. Our website gets high marks from legal counsel who refer to it consistently.

There's a particularly new U.S. Supreme Court case, in which CERA filed a persuasive Amicus Brief, that will also help you in Grove. The case is City of Sherrill v. Oneida Indian Nation, ruled on March 29, 2005. This case has knocked out all (over a dozen) major land claims that New York tribes had filed, placing "clouds" on the titles of over 840,000 homeowners in Upstate New York. The tools of this case, that are very, very helpful to community groups that oppose a Class III Casino are:

1. Mere acquisition of fee property by an Indian tribe does not make it "Indian Country."

2. Well-settled communities have a justifiable expectation to not be parceled into separate tribal "patches".

This powerful case was written by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in an 8-1 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court. It has been successfully applied in many off-reservation casino projects, as well as other jurisdictional conflicts between local areas and tribal governments.

There's much more to share, Ben - but I wanted to start getting a few things to you. If you send me your mailing address, I'll also put a book in the mail to you that I wrote, as a result of a 6,000 mile road trip I took with a videographer across 17 Indian reservations from Washington State to New York. The books is called "Going To Pieces..." and reflects the voices of tribal members, farmers, bankers, elected officials, sheriffs, teachers - all kinds of folks who live within or near Indian reservations and describe truly disturbing conditions and issues. The book is a good overview of what's happening across the country, so you'll truly know that Grove is not alone, and that there are thousands of resources available to help your community.


Elaine D. Willman, National Chair
Citizens Equal Rights Alliance
P.O. 1280
Toppenish, WA 98948
Phone: 509-865-6225
Fax: 509-865-7409
Email: toppin@aol.com

Observations...

Crickey Mate! The Grove Sun Daily has been sold to the Australians. American Consolidation Media LLC of Dallas, which is wholly owned by Macquarie Media Group of Sydney, a huge media conglomerate, also purchased the Miami News-Record several months ago as well as the newspaper in Columbus, Kan. Jeremy Halbreich is Chairman and President of ACM and Michael Thornberry is Regional VP and Publisher of the Grove Sun Daily. We don't expect any immediate changes in the Sun Daily. The larger the turtle, the slower it moves. Nearly all Oklahoma daily newspapers are owned by media conglomerates, following a trend, with local ownership stepping aside. The Grove Sun was first published in 1889…The Grove Health Care Trust Authority met for about 30 minutes this week to discuss Ordinance 518 pertaining to hospitals and ambulatory surgical care facilities, and agreed to meet again at 1 p.m. Friday, July 6, with renderings, plans, financial information for the planned new Grove Integris Hospital, which will cost about $58 million. The hospital group seeks $1 million from the City of Grove as a statement of interest from the city…An interesting item showed up in City Attorney Ron Cates' monthly billing statement to the city. "Teleconference with Debbie Maviety regarding article in Newspaper on suspended office, regarding City Council members comments made extemporaneously regarding Personnel Issues, Review City Code and State Statutes." State Statutes prohibit city council members from ordering or giving instructions to any city employee other than the City Manager and City Treasurer…Now that the storefronts are exposed following removal of the Bradford Pear trees, we wonder what the net effect of the new Downtown Revitalization Project and Streetscape work will be, considering the awful look of some of the storefronts, which are empty buildings long neglected…

An Editorial...Shop Grove

Grove's downtown merchants are a hardy lot. They've put up with those obnoxious Bradford Pear trees, ice storms, power outages, and lately, weeks of torn up streets in front of their businesses. Customers have to cross a footbridge to get to the store doors. It will be over soon, hopefully, when the projects are completed in August.

To their credit, they have not been standing still in their attempts to drum up business.
A "second Saturday" promotion starts soon, with sidewalk vendors and entertainment (provided they can find a sidewalk that isn't torn up); GroveFest is coming, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce; and the merchants wanted to create a program called "Shop Grove." This would attempt to advise locals to shop at home rather than travel out of town. They wanted the city, basically the taxpayers, to fund a nearly $11,000 program.

We sympathize with these merchants. We've owned businesses in the past and know how important it is to keep the cash registers churning, even in difficult times. But unfortunately, asking the city for money these days is like going upriver without a paddle.
Money is tight. It isn't there.

So we would urge the local merchants not to give up, but to create an ongoing public relations campaign using the local media, via news releases and radio spots, with space and time donated by the media owners, who after all, have a large stake in the success of the local merchants via continued paid advertising in good times. It would be the right course at this time.

And, to those empty building owners on Third Street, it's time to fix it, sell it, or tear it down. Your warts are showing!

Library Book Sale Set for June 16

The big Spring Book Sale will be held by the Friends of the
Grove Public Library on Saturday, June 16, in the parking lot at Main
and 11th Streets at Grand Savings Bank. Hours will be from 8 a.m. to
noon.

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 makes a this a
great opportunity to pick up bargains. Hard cover books will be $1,
pocketbooks 25 cents. Audio and video materials will be $1. Children's books will
be 25 cents.

This book sale is the main fund raiser for the Friends of the Grove
Library. The Friends support programs at the library, and this year
established the Friends of the Grove Public Library scholarship for a
Grove High School graduate.

All materials donated to the library are sorted by library staff.
Anything which can be used in the library is kept to be used. The
materials which are excess to library needs are what will be seen at the sale.

In the event of rain the morning of the sale, it will be postponed to
the next Saturday.
(from Correspondant Rose Stauber)

Grand Lake Shoreline Cleanup is Saturday

Is it possible to make a 1,300 mile stretch of Oklahoma’s most scenic region even more scenic? That is the goal of volunteers who will take part in the third annual Grand Lake Shoreline Cleanup Day scheduled for this Saturday, June 9.

Sponsored by the Grand Lake Sail and Power Squadron, Keep Oklahoma Beautiful and the Grand River Dam Authority, the event helps goal is to not only make Grand Lake’s shoreline even more beautiful but to also make it safer, by removing shoreline trash that can be harmful to people, wildlife and the lake’s ecosystem.

“Anything we can do to help clean up trash will benefit the wildlife habitat and make the lake area look better for all of us,” said GRDA Ecosystems Management Superintendent Dr. Darrell Townsend. “We all want the lake shore to be a safe, clean place.”

To help make the cleanup effort easier, GRDA will provide trash dumpsters, which will be in place at Cedar Oaks Storage Units in Grove (8020 Hwy 59 North); at Baker’s RV Ranch near Ketchum (31625 S 4510 Rd); and at Lakemont Shores Marina (37609 S 540 Rd).

Lake area residents can use these dumpsters, free of charge, to dispose of shoreline trash (please no brush or household trash). The dumpsters will be available from 9 AM to 2 PM on June 9.

One of the main goals of the cleanup effort is to remove old dock foam from the lake, said Townsend. “Old dock foam, which can be found in many locations along the shoreline, definitely needs to be removed,” he said.

Like with other lakeshore trash, wildlife often mistake polystyrene debris for food. Also, because it is not biodegradable it can litter the shore for many years. And, as wave action causes it to break apart, the foam debris can spread across the lake quickly, leaving the water and shoreline littered and unattractive.

“Burning it can also release toxins into the air. Really, the solution is for lake residents to bring these old pieces of dock foam to the dumpster sites so they can be properly disposed of,” said Townsend. “That effort will greatly benefit the shoreline not only for wildlife but for all lake visitors.”

YMCA to Host Soccer Camp

The Grand Lake Family YMCA will host Eurotech Soccer Camp, America’s foremost performance soccer camp,July 16 to 20 at the Grove City Sports Complex.
Camps will be held Monday through Friday with three programs for ages three through 11: Magic Micro Soccer for children three to five years old from 1:00 to 2:30 pm; Performance Soccer 1 for six to eight year olds from 9 am to noon; and Performance Soccer 2 for nine through 11 year olds from 5:30 to 8:30 pm.
Coaches will also hold a free parent/coach clinic for all YMCA volunteer coaches and a free goalkeeper clinic. Times of these clinics are pending.
Eurotech Soccer Camps feature soccer coaches who have National and International licenses (UEFA, USSF, NSCAA) and professional/semi-professional and collegiate playing experience.
Dues for the camps are $79 for the Magic Micro Soccer and $99 for the Performance Soccer 1 and 2 Camps. Enrollment is limited.
The registration deadline is July 6 and may be completed at the Grand Lake Family YMCA, 206 Elk in Grove right behind Pizza Hut.
For more information contact Butch Christy at (918) 786-5774.

A Matter of Faith

By Carol Round

Happily Ever After

“For everything that was written in the past was
written to teach us, so that through endurance and the
encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
Romans 15:4 (NIV)

When I was growing up, I always had my nose in a book
of fiction. I loved the adventure, danger and romance
of a good story. I loved the happily ever after ending
where the sleuths solved the mystery, the handsome
prince rescued the maiden, and they married for life.

Not every story ends happily ever after. Not all
mysteries are solved. Not everyone is rescued from
danger, and in today’s society, not every handsome
prince and his maiden stay together “till death do us
part.”

When I started a Bible study in August 2006, I had
not read the Bible from cover to cover. During my
morning time with the Lord, I read passages, but I had
never attempted to read the 66-book compilation until
I started the study, which ended in May.
Maybe the sheer volume of words that this holy book
contains intimidated me. Maybe the words written by
prophets, kings, apostles and others were too much for
my human mind to comprehend until I walked with my
fellow study members through the pages one at a time.

Since going through this study, I have learned many
truths that have helped me to grow in my walk with the
Lord. Inspired by God, this book is more than history.
It is the true story of God’s love for all people. The
Bible is an account of God’s promised deliverance and
freedom for all who obey.

As I have read, studied and contemplated the words of
“the greatest story ever told,” I have gained strength
for my journey through life because this best-selling
book of all times is the believer’s instruction manual
for daily living.

God’s Word is available to you every day. The power
of those words can change lives. It is an owner’s
guide to help you handle your finances and have better
relationships. Do you need help breaking a bad habit
or addiction? Do you need an attitude change toward a
family member or friend? Do you need to learn more
patience with your children? If you need more joy and
less stress in your life, then the Word can heal.

Like a fairy tale, the Bible begins with the words
“In the beginning.” However, unlike a story of
fiction, the Bible is, described in 2 Timothy 3:16-17,
“God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking and
correcting and training in righteousness, so that the
man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good
work.”

The Bible can help you answer many questions. As you
turn the pages, you can discover where you came from,
why you are here and where you are going. More
importantly, the Bible’s lessons teach you who God is
and how you can live with Him forever.

Living forever with Him means living “happily ever
after.” It isn’t fiction. It’s the truth.

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

GRDA to Reward Life Jacket Wearers

For years, the Grand River Dam Authority Lake Patrol has made life jacket awareness a top priority. While talking to civic groups and school children, the patrol has reinforced the importance of wearing life jackets and provided education on how to select a proper jacket, how to check for proper size, etc. Now, during the summer of 2007, the patrol also plans to “catch” people who are heeding the warnings by wearing their life jackets

“The slogan has always been ‘it won’t work if you don’t wear it’,” said GRDA Lake Patrol Chief Bruce Smith, “and its true; you can’t underestimate the importance of your life jacket. And we hope this new program will help us deliver that message in a new way.”

The patrol began the program in conjunction with National Safe Boating Week in late May and plans to continue it through the summer months. While on Grand and Hudson lakes, patrolmen will be looking for people wearing their life jackets. Those they “catch” will receive a t-shirt as a reward.

“Those who are wearing their life jackets and making sure their children are wearing their life jackets are really setting an example of safe boating for everyone else on the water,” said Smith. “This t-shirt campaign is a great way to reward them for doing the right thing.”

According to the United States Coast Guard, approximately 700 people drown in recreational boating accidents. However, many of those people could have lived if only they had taken the time to put on their life jacket before heading out onto the water. In 2004, there were 676 recreational boating fatalities nationwide. Unfortunately, 90 percent of those people were not wearing life jackets.

“Boating accidents can happen so fast,” said Smith. “There’s not always time to grab a life jacket and put it on before you go into the water. Wearing the jacket not only allows you to be safe but it also gives you a better chance to help others that may need your assistance.”

While the lake patrolmen will be watching for life jacket use this summer, they also want to remind all boaters of the following important life jacket information:

• Buy your own personal life jacket and use it. One size does not fit all.
• Look at the label. It will provide weight, size and use information.
• Try it on to check the fit. Once the straps and buckles are secured, it should not slip over your head.
• Never use water toys in place of an approved life jacket.
• Check your life jacket yearly for flotation and fit.
• Wear a life jacket to set an example for younger children and to increase your chances of survival in an accident.

Finally, if you are wearing your life jacket on the lake this summer, there’s a good chance you could get “caught” and rewarded with a t-shirt from the GRDA Lake Patrol.