Grand Lake Poised for Major Flood?

But Mom, we just did Shoreline Cleanup last weekend!

At 6 p.m. Tuesday almost 110,000 cubic feet per second of water was poised to move into Grand Lake from the Spring and Neosho rivers, both above flood stage. By 7 a.m. Wednesday this figure had grown to 129,000 cfs but by 4 p.m. it dropped to 119,000 cfs and to 85,754 by Thursday afternoon.

At Quapaw, the Spring River was moving 73,639 cfs, nine feet above flood stage at 29 feet, at 6 p.m. Tuesday. By 7 a.m. Wednesday it had grown to 90,502 cfs but by 4 p.m. it had dropped to 79,504 cfs, cresting at 30 feet, 10 feet above flood stage. By Thursday afternoon it had dropped to four feet above flood stage at 47,520 cfs.

At Commerce, the Neosho River was moving 35,454 cfs, four feet above flood stage at 19.6 feet. By 7 a.m. Wednesday it had grown to 38,663 cfs and by 4 p.m. to 40,243 cfs. Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. it was moving at 38234 cfs at five feet above flood stage.

Downstream at Miami, 43,324 cfs was moving at 2 p.m. Thursday, at a stage of 60 feet.

The above information is from the Tulsa District Army Corps of Engineers website.

At Pensacola Dam, 21 floodgates were open Tuesday, with full generation, which should release about 54,000 cfs; three gates are open at Kerr Dam downstream at Lake Hudson, according to GRDA personnel.

Grand Lake level was approaching 750, or five feet into the flood control pool at 2 p.m. Thursday. Huge trees, logs and everything down to twigs was coming downstream past Sailboat Bridge Wednesday afternoon, blown to the east by light winds.

For those who are counting, the largest infow of water ever to come into the lake was in 1943 with 300,000 cfs following a 26-inch rain north of the lake. All gates were opened to the maximum and everything flooded below the dam. Water rose on the back of the powerhouse to 7 feet deep, but was blocked from entering by sand bags and door closings.

Observations...

No word yet on who will be appointed to replace County Commissioner Howard Payton, who died this week after a lengthy term of service. He served the northern portion of Delaware County including parts of Grove…The Blue Ribbon Committee will unveil its recommendations Monday at 5 p.m. before a joint meeting with City Council and GIDA. Insiders say the proposals are "excellent" but the group is nervous as to how the Council will receive them…Is this any time to own a car wash?...Did you know that in the past six years Ottawa County's population has decreased by a half percent while Delaware County has increased 8%? Building permits in 2005 totaled 39 in Ottawa County, 144 in Delaware; the median value of housing in Ottawa County was $47,200, $81,900 in Delaware. But Ottawa received $2.8 million in Federal monies while Delaware got $2.0 million…The Grove Police Department is enforcing the city's long established curfew law, with some parents complaining. Look for a statement on this issue later this week...City Council is meeting in Executive Session Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday this week to interview the final three candidates for the new City Manager... Please Note: There will be no issue of The Observer next week, the Editor will be on vacation.

P&Z Board--Mobile or Modular?

Residents of Quail Run Estates became alarmed several weeks ago with the delivery at Walnut Grove, nearby, of two sections of a modular home, shown here. Tuesday at the regular Planning & Zoning Board meeting, Dennis Hendrix of Southwind Homes in Muskogee explained how the modular homes are built.

"These are industrial built homes, 25 times stronger than a typical studded wall home, with more insulation," he said. "It's all about speed. We can build them quickly in our 130,000 square foot plant in Muskogee." A typical home owner will pay about $90 a square foot for a modular 1500 square foot home, he said.

After the two sections are lifted on a foundation, either slab or other, the roof and garage is added, and exterior walls are covered with brick or Hardy Board, or combination of both. "You can't tell the difference between our home and the rest of the homes in the subdivision," he said, and illustrated it with slides from a Kansas City project.

Several years ago Walnut Grove covenants prohibited modular homes but the covenants were changed recently to make them legal. City ordinances do not prohibit modular homes but do prohibit mobile homes in certain areas. Modular homes qualify for conventional home loans, while mobiles can be FHA only, the board was told. Modulars are installed on permanent foundations, while Mobiles can be moved. Modulars are also referred to as Manufactured Homes.

Chris Dudley, owner of Do-Right Automative off Highway 59, pleaded with the P&Z board to allow him to put up a direction sign on the highway, replacing one which was removed during utility construction. He was told to see the Acting City Manager.

No action was taken on the site plan of the new casino since no one appeared representing the casino project.

Grove Beginnings...Part 7

Government Reports, 1907
By Rose StauberOne hundred years ago the Grove Board of Education made a financial report for the year which was published in the "Grove Sun" July 12, 1907. The report follows:

Report of Board of Education
For Scholastic Year Ending
May 30, 1907

Receipts

3-5 of Town taxes applied on school fund 1906
$1238.04
100% tuition received and applied to school fund
70.80
3-5 occupation applied to school fund
148.00
Balance on hand of fund for 1905
395.20

_______

Total 1852.04

Disbursements:

Principal teacher, 8 months at $65
$520.00
Assistant teacher, 8 months at $40
320.00
Janitor, 8 months at $8
64.00
Scavinger
5.00
Wood
35.61
Appraisment on school lots
135.00
Rent
250.00
Well and pump
59.00
Repairing pump
4.20
Furniture
5.40
Brooms, erasers, crayons, etc.
19.35
Sun Office
3.75
Stationary
2.00

_______
Total expenses for 8 months
1423.81

Balance
428.73
Less as per Treasurers report
59.05

_______

Balance
on
hand July 1st $369.68

George A. Cox, Recorder.

According to the School Fund receipts and warrants paid, the principal
was W.C. Jordan and the assistant Sadie Barnes.

On May 11, 1906, the Grove Sun ran an announcement of the Annual meeting of the Stockholders of Grove Educational Association which was to be held at the Court House in Grove on Tuesday, May 22, at 4 p.m.. The purpose of the meeting was to elect a board of directors for the coming year, and transact other important business. The notice was signed by O.W. Killam, Pres. and Ad V. Coppedge, Sec'y.

O.W. Killam and his brother, W.T., were Missourians and partners in
various businesses around Grove. Ad V. Coppedge had been in the same law class
as O.W. at the University of Missouri. Ad went on to a distinguished law
career in Grove and Delaware County.

It was O. W. Killam, as president of the association, who had signed
for Lot 5 in Block 57, appraised value of $54 for the lot and estimated
value of the stone foundation was $200. The town of Grove bought the other
five lots in Block 57 for $54 each when the lots were sold. Block 57 is the southwest corner of the intersection of Center and 7th Streets. It is the anchor that the school has spread from in that area.

What is this about meeting at the Court House? The Northern District
Court, one of the federal courts established in 1890 to provide law in
Indian Territory between the 1890s and statehood, was seated at Vinita.
It appears that the court did work a circuit and held court in Grove on
some schedule. The "courthouse" was the second floor of the building on
Third Street now known as "Courthouse Apartments". With statehood getting
nearer and Grove sure to be the county seat, it appears the city fathers had
already decided that they had a courthouse.

A word about the "scavenger" in the list of school expenses. The
dictionary meaning of the word includes one who removes dirt, filth and
such from the streets. The term used here appears to include cleaning
outhouses.
There's no doubt that it was a dirty job and paid very poorly.

Copyright © Rose Stauber 2007

BBQ Cookoff is Smokin' Ready

“A little friendly cookoff competition is a tradition of the Smoke On The Water BBQ & Chili Showdown,” said Walt Jennings, Grovefest Chair. “Local companies or organizations will compete against one another to determine who is the best chili or bbq cook, and who can outdo the others with their creative talent for showmanship.”

Here is how it all works…

Each Showdown participate will be competing for the award as best cook of bbq or chili (or both if they wish). The participant is required to prepare a certain amount of bbq or chili that is then sold through Tasting Kits at the event. Each person who purchases a Tasting Kit may visit every Showdown booth and they are given a sample of Chili or BBQ and asked to vote for the best bbq and chili.

To make it even more exciting, each participate is encouraged to participate in the Showmanship Competition as well as the Crowd Pleaser Competition. This is where the fun really begins! “Last year there was plenty of music, laughter and entertainment during the Tasting Challenge as the participants competed to see who was the BEST of the BEST,” said Lisa Friden, GACC President. “By competing in the Showmanship Competition, each participant is able to coerce votes for the best booth.”

The Smokin’ BBQ & Chili Showdown will be held from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Community Center. The cost to enter a team is $50.00. Tasting Kits will go on sale at 11:00 a.m. and end at approximately 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 16, 2007. Tasting Kits will be sold for $3 per person.
Awards for Best Chili, Best BBQ and Showmanship will be presented around 2 p.m. Of course, the Grand Prize is the bragging rights of being voted the winner of these categories by area residents and visitors for the 2007 Smokin’ BBQ and Chili Showdown.

Any company or organization interested in participating in this fun event should contact the Chamber office at (918) 786-9079.
.

Grove's Fireworks Display Set for July 3

The City of Grove Independence Day celebration is just around the corner for July 3. It promises to be a great show and fireworks event. The following is a list of events.

6:30PM Eddie Mcalvain and his Hall of Fame western swing band from
Wichita Falls, Texas. They will also do a tribute to our veterans.

7:50PM Lindsey Miller, Miss Grand Lake 2006 and Miss Oklahoma 2006 will
celebrate the Oklahoma centennial.

8:00PM The Brett Family Singers from their show in Branson, Mo. are an
exciting family group that will command your attention.

9:00PM City fireworks program (fantastic)

Also, Free watermelon and several non-profit concession stands will be put up to raise money for great causes.
From Ben Hynum, Chairman

Sand Volleyball League Set by YMCA

The Grand Lake Family YMCA is now holding signups for an Adult Co-ed Sand Volleyball League.
This program is for individuals over 18 years of age. Games will be played Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning June 12 and 14 at either 6:00 or 7:15 pm at the Elk River Baptist Church Grounds in Grove.
Each team must consist of three men and three women. Games will be played six-on-six and teams can play with a minimum of three players providing at least one player is female. Games will be played first team to 12 wins, best two out of three games. Tie breaker games will be played first team to eight wins. All games will have a one hour time limit.
All teams or individuals must be registered this week. Team dues are $60 per team or $10 per individual. Trophies will be awarded to the top three teams and the first place individual.
Registration 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.

Signs...

(courtesy of Steve Williams)

Sign over a Gynecologist's Office:
"Dr. Jones, at your cervix."


In a Podiatrist's office:
"Time wounds all heels."
**************************

On a Septic Tank Truck in Oregon :
Yesterday's Meals on Wheels
**************************

On another Septic Tank Truck:
"We're #1 in the #2 business"
**************************

At a Proctologist's door:
"To expedite your visit please back in."
**************************

On a Plumber's truck:
"We repair what your husband fixed."
**************************

On another Plumber's truck:
"Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber.."
**************************

On a Church's Billboard:
"7 days without God makes one weak."
**************************

At a Tire Shop in Milwaukee :
"Invite us to your next blowout."
**************************


At a Towing company:
"We don't charge an arm and a leg. We want tows."
**************************

On an Electrician's truck:
"Let us remove your shorts."
**************************

In a Nonsmoking Area:
"If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action."
**************************
On a Maternity Room door :
"Push. Push. Push."
**************************

At an Optometrist's Office :
"If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place."
**************************

At a Car Dealership:
"The best way to get back on your feet - miss a car payment."
**************************

Outside a Muffler Shop:
"No appointment necessary. We hear you coming."
**************************

In a Veterinarian's waiting room:
"Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!"
**************************

In a Restaurant window :
"Don't stand there and be hungry, Come on in and get fed up." **************************

In the front yard of a Funeral Home :
"Drive carefully. We'll wait."
**************************
Chicago Radiator Shop:
"Best place in town to take a leak."

American Heritage Festival Declared Huge Success

Jana Jae and the American Heritage Music Festival staff and volunteers have declared the 2007 event held last weekend a huge success. Kathleen Pixley, co-director of the festival said, “We are all so very pleased with the success of this year’s event. We had huge crowds for all events with great entertainment and the best talent on both the fiddle and the clogging stages.
We have a great staff and the most faithful and hard working volunteers---we could not
begin to do all the festival tasks without their untiring service.”

Brad & Shirley Adams announce the winners of the fiddle contests as follows:
OPEN:
1st Junior Marriott, Ava, MO
2nd Shawn Howe, Miami, OK
3rd Douglas Thompson, Rose, OK
4th Bill Jones, Chapel Hill, TN
5th Jake Duncan, Jenks, OK
6th Cody Marriott, Stoval, MO
7th Doug Fleener, Litchfield, KY
8th Kyle Link, Lebanon, MO
SENIOR
1st Kathy Kampschmidt, Willows, CA
2nd Gary Johnson, Nevada, MO
3rd John Blevins, Van, TX
3rd Sam O’Field, Claremore, OK
ADULT
1st Chris Stewart, Lebanon, MO
2nd Brad Hawkins, Cushing, OK
3rd Karen Harmon, Tulsa, OK
JUNIOR
1st Maddie Denton, Murfreesboro, TN
2nd Michael Thompson, Caney, KS
3rd Tori May Gilliam, Willows, CA.
JR. JR.
1st Emily Dickie, Paola, KS
2nd Paige Park, Caney, KS
3rd Adam Barton, Springfield, MO
PEE WEE
1st Brett Dudenhoeffer, Marshfield, MO
2nd Olivia Park, Caney, KS
3rd Regina Scott, Tulsa, OK
HOT FIDDLE
1st Eric Dysart, Disney, OK
2nd Shawn Howe, Miami, OK
3rd Maddie Denton, Murfreesboro, Tn
TWIN FIDDLE
1st Junior Marriott, Ava, MO & Cody Marriott, Stovel, MO
2nd Michael & Douglas Thompson, Rose, OK
3rd Cody Marriott, Stovel, MO & Bubba Hopkins, Spavinaw, OK
BANJO
1st Ken Plummer, Augusta, KS
2nd Benjamin Link, Lebanon, MO
3rd Seth Park, Caney, KS
FLATPICK
1st Ken Plummer, Augusta, KS
2nd Jerry Shadrick, Montreal, MO
3rd Carman Davanzo, Conway, AR
DOBRO
1st Richard Willis, Mack’s Creek, MO
2nd Ken Plummer, Augusta, KS
MANDOLIN
1st Russ Weeks, Long Lone, MO
2nd Marina Pendleton, Tulsa, OK
3rd Luther Park, Bartlesville, OK
JUKE BOX
1st Kyle Link & the Link Family, Lebanon, MO
2nd The Dickie Family, Paola, KS
3rd Emma Jane & Marina Pendleton, Tulsa, OK & Eric Dysart, Disney, OK
HONEY CREEK SPECIAL
Doug, Fleener, Leitchfield, KY
TAKE ME BACK TO TULSA
1st Shawn Howe, Miami, OK
2nd Junior Marriott, Ava, MO
3rd Gerry Lay, Hominy, OK
ACCOMPANIST
1st Gayle Hopson, Huntsville, TX
2nd Rex Gillentine, Graham, TX
3rd Eldon Combs, Lowell, MO
4th Bubba Hopkins, Spavinaw, OK

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful sponsors which include:
City of Grove, Cherokee Nation Enterprises, State Representative Dr. Doug Cox, ConocoPhillips, Grand Savings Bank, Wal-Mart, Air Power Systems, First Class Collision and Limo Service, Thompson & Associates, First National Bank, Arvest Bank, Grand Bank, Best Western TimberRidge Inn, Grand River Abstract, Jack’s Music Shack, Dolphus & Mozelle Blevins, Drakes Restaurant, Bank of Grove, Grand Rental Station, Cathy Shaefer—Thompson & Associates, Shirley & Gene Sawyer, Sanco Lumber, Lungren Chevrolet, Richard & Dolores Graham Family, Prairie Breeze, Ltd., Jana Jae’s Gallery Southwest, Snider’s Camp, Java Dave’s, The Urban Table of Fayetteville, AR, Grove Sun, KGVE, Grove Observer, Nowata Printing and with assistance of the Oklahoma Arts Council and the National Endowment for the arts.

The next event Grand Lake Festivals, Inc. will bring to the Grand Lake area will be the Arts, Crafts, Music and Cajun Festival to be held at the Grove Civic Center on July 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This event is free to the public. Everyone is invited to enjoy great Cajun music, Cajun food and Cajun fun as well as many wonderful arts and crafts items for sell by local and area artists.

Pulitizer Prize Winning Author to Speak

Vance Trimble, Pulitzer- Prize winner and author of the best-seller "Sam Walton," will speak at Third Thursday at the Grove Public Library at 12 noon Thursday, June 21. The meeting is open to the public.

Trimble began his writing career in 1927 at 14 as a cub reporter on
the Okemah Daily Leader. He worked at a series of papers and became
managing editor of the "Houston (Texas) Press". Promoted to news editor of the
Scripps-Howard national bureau in Washington D.C., he won the Pulitzer
Prize in 1960 for his expose of Congressional nepotism and payroll abuse that
brought on grassroots outrage and caused the Senate to open secret
records.

The same series of articles also won the Raymond Clapper and the Sigma
Delta Chi awards for national reporting. The three awards are the triple
crown of journalism.

"Choctaw Kisses, Bullets & Blood", Trimble's latest book, is a true
story of life and times in the Choctaw Nation about a century ago. The book
concentrates on the white Locke family. Victor Locke, a penniless,
ragged, Confederate boy-soldier, came to the Choctaw Nation after the Civil
War. Locke sets out to make his fortune and have a role in the political
affairs of the nation.
Victor, Sr., married a Choctaw, and his half-blood son, Victor, Jr., became a Choctaw chief and led an eventful life.

Trimble has found plenty of resources so that his story is backed up
with facts. There is conflict, intrigue, and action. Yet the story can be
accepted as a true account of the times. Many family and other historical photographs add greatly to the readers enjoyment.

Other books by Trimble include biographies of Fred Smith, founder if
Fed-Ex; Happy Chandler, the baseball commissioner; and E.W. Scripps,
newspaper publisher. Last year he wrote "Alice & J.F.B.: The 100-Year
Saga of Two Seminole Chiefs", another true story of a mixed -blood family.

Trimble worked as reporter or editor on newspapers in Wewoka,
Seminole, Maud, Shawnee, Muskogee, Okmulgee, and Tulsa. He was editor of "The
Kentucky Post", Covington, Kentucky, for twenty years. He now lives in Wewoka where he grew up.

Trimble will be signing his books following his discussion.

Those attending Third Thursday are invited to bring a brown bag lunch.
Drinks and dessert will be provided.

Third Thursday is a program about books and authors sponsored by
Friends of the Grove Public Library.

Submitted by Rose Stauber

A Matter of Faith

By Carol RoundFather Always Provides

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?”
Luke 11:11 (NIV)

When I was growing up in southwestern Louisiana, my father wasn’t home very often. He worked hard in the oil-field industry. His job would take him away for days, sometimes weeks, at a time, leaving my mother to do most of the child rearing.

However, when he was home, my father spent quality time with us. My sister and I never lacked for anything. We didn’t realize it at the time, but we were blessed.

Visiting with a friend recently, she commented on her deceased father, who was the pastor of a small church. He died at a young age, leaving behind his wife and five children. Because of his premature death, my friend didn’t get to know her father very well.

“However, one thing I did know is that he loved the Lord and he tried to put Him first in his life,” said my friend. “Since he was a minister, he had a love for people. He was extremely sensitive to treating everyone fairly and with dignity.”

Although my friend’s family didn’t lack for life’s necessities, she said that times were tough growing up in the 50s and they, like everyone else, struggled to make ends meet. “My dad wasn’t afraid of work. He would haul hay and wasn’t afraid to try anything.”

After her father’s death, times were even tougher. “My dad always told us that he couldn’t leave us with great riches but he could leave us a good name. I didn’t truly understand this concept until I started working out in the public and realized what an impact he had made on people’s lives with his short ministry.”

My friend’s family struggled but “God always provided,” she said, “even before we asked. It’s like the story in the Bible of the woman and her son who didn’t have enough oil and flour. God always replenished. My life has always been like that.”

Recalling how God always provided, even when they hadn’t asked, she said, “My mother hadn’t worked outside the home. After my father died, she was offered a job in the superintendent’s office because she was good in math and had beautiful handwriting.”

The family never realized they were poor. “God provided us with work to do, like babysitting and ironing, so we could help our mother after Dad died.”

As a young teen, my friend wanted to play basketball but could not afford the athletic shoes that were required for the sport. “I didn’t even ask my mother because I knew we didn’t have the money.”

One day the coach called my friend into the hall during basketball practice to ask her what size shoe she needed. “When I told him that I couldn’t afford it, he replied that someone else had paid for mine.”

My friend never learned the name of her generous benefactor but she knows that “Our Father” always provides. Do you?


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.