SMP Debate Could Last Another Three Years

It may be three years before the Grand Lake Shoreline Management Plan issue will be settled, Rusty Fleming, founder of Grand Lakers United Enterprise (G.L.U.E.) told Grove Rotarians this week.

He also predicted Wednesday that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) would not like the revised GRDA plan as it currently exists, and that a round of lawsuits from both sides would eventually ensue.

The GRDA Board of Directors will consider the current plan at its November meeting and then send it to FERC, where a 60-day comment period will exist.

He told Rotarians that GLUE has 220 members, with only three commercial marina owners. "The majority are waterfront and non-waterfront property owners just like you and me."

"I am a pro-GRDA guy and although they are not perfect, they are preferable to overseeing Grand Lake than FERC," he said. The 50-year-old license that GRDA had since 1940 ran out in 1990 and the 1992 re-license brought about changes, one of which is FERC insisting on a shoreline management plan.

FERC recommended the hiring of Kleinschmidt, a Maine consulting firm that also has a number of ex-FERC employees, Fleming said, to do a study begun almost two years ago. When the first draft came out "only two people" favored it, he said. Waterfront use was broken down into 17% for commercial development, 3% for GRDA operations, 52% for limited use, and 28% designated as "sensitive." It was judged far too harsh, especially relating to shoreline tree clearance.

The latest plan, re-written by GRDA with input from GLUE and hundreds of pages of testimony from area hearings, designates 71% of the waterfront as "responsible growth" area for commercial and residential development areas. There is no separate designation for residential use.

Opponents of the latest plan say it is just another invitation for the big commercial marinas to expand, and the new plan says nothing about on-water homes, or dockominiums. They say the GRDA board is loaded with conflicts of interest and has historically favored commercial installations and has been arbitrary and capricious in making dock and retaining wall decisions based on the influence of the applicant. Some predict that FERC may put a residential land use category back in the plan.

Tiger Wouldn't Have Been Welcome at Patricia Island GC

Tiger Woods, who first took up the game of golf at age 3, would not have been welcome at Patricia Island Golf Club, as new signs have gone up prohibiting anyone under the age of 8 from setting foot on the golf course grounds. That includes the practice green, the sandtrap, and driving range, and of course, the 18-hole golf course.
And Tiger shouldn't bring his First Tee program to Patricia Island either, as some of the kids are under age 8.
Little Megan, shown here, has five more years before she can use her family membership.
Golf course management says the new sign and policy helps to keep insurance costs down.

11th Annual Weedin Benefit Takes New Twist

For the past 10 years, the Art Weedin Benefit Auction and Golf Tournament have served
as a significant fund raiser for the newly named Grand Lake Area Chamber of
Commerce. The organization, previously named the South Grand Lake Area Chamber of
Commerce, has announced significant changes to this year’s event scheduled for October 26th at Arrowhead Yacht Club.
In the past, the event has virtually been an endurance contest featuring 18 holes of golf followed by a dinner and auction in the evening. This year’s event will feature a new and not as challenging format as the six plus hours of real golf will be replaced with Fantasy Golf. Whether you’ve ever touched a golf club or not, you’re chanced of claiming first, second or third place in this fun-filled tournament will be right up there with Tiger Woods and his professional friends.
A $250 golf team sponsorship package includes dinner for four and four Fantasy Golf
Cards. Participating in the golf portion of the event is as simple as playing the lottery.
Simply scratch off the surface on the card associated with holes one thru eighteen to
determine your score. And, just like in a real charity golf tournament, minus the cheating, mulligans will be available at $5 each. The winning teams will capture $500, $250 and $100 respectively to be used towards any silent or live benefit auction item. Bragging rights will definitely be on the line.
The dinner and auction portion of the event will feature great food and some truly unique silent and live auction items. The auction lineup is still being formulated but include a Colorado ski retreat, a week at the Quarter Deck Condos in Venice, Florida, three rounds of golf at Southern Hills Country Club, dinner for six at the home of Darrel & Sheryl Hicks, a fish fry for fifty provided by Joe Johnson, a beer and football party at Mark Oliver’s “Doghouse,” and the list is growing.
The two major $2500 Platinum Sponsors of the event are the Grand River Dam Authority
and Arrowhead Yacht Club and Marina. Other levels of sponsorship are the $750 Gold
Sponsorship, which includes your company’s name on all promotional materials, dinner
for eight with associated Fantasy Golf Cards, acknowledgement in the event program and table signage and the $500 Silver Sponsorship, which includes dinner for four and
associated Fantasy Golf Cards, acknowledgement in the program and signage at the
event.
For the past 10 years, this event has been the largest chamber fund-raising event of the year and we need your help to insure its continued success. For reservation information or to donate an item to the upcoming auction, contact the Grand Lake Chamber of Commerce at 918-782-3214.

Grove Beginnings...Part 16..More on Mayors

By Rose Stauber

We have established that the first Grove mayor was James Caleb Starr, elected when the town was incorporated in 1897. The next known mayor was John H. Gibson in 1899. The county history lists the mayor in 1900 as Simps Melton. He apparently was mayor at some point and perhaps 1900 was the correct year.

First, let's get his name correct. It was Simpson Foster Melton. Sounds much better than Simps. Like his two predecessors named above, he was a Cherokee. He was born in the Cherokee Nation in 1851. His father was Samuel N. Melton, a white from Bates County, Mo., who had come to the Cherokee Nation where he married Narcissa Monroe. She had first married John M. Ward. One of the children of that marriage was George M. (Monroe) Ward. So Simpson and George M. Ward were half-brothers.

Simpson married Isabelle Graham, daughter of William and Nancy Matoy Graham formerly of Georgia. She had married Thomas Murphy who died leaving two daughters, both married. The marriage of Simpson and Isabelle resulted in five children: Narcissus, George A., Rosa B., Maud M., and Simpson Jr. The family was enrolled by the Dawes Commission.

According to a biography in Gideon's History of Indian Territory, Simpson had been prominent in agricultural circles and operated a farm west of Grove. In 1899, he sold that property and moved to Grove while retaining 600 acres of good land south of Vinita. Simpson reportedly did not take part in business in Grove, but supported improvements for the town. He fitted right into Grove; he was a Democrat and his wife a Methodist.

The family seems to have gone West in later years. According to David Hampton's Cherokee Mixed-Bloods, Isabelle died in Denver and is buried at Vinita, and Simpson died at Boise, Idaho, at age 79.

The next identified mayor was William A. Walton who is said to have served in 1902-1903. Not much is known about Walton but he apparently was prominent in public affairs. He served as chair of the school board in 1906. In the sale of town lots, Walton had lots 3 and 4 in Block 19 which was on the north side of Third Street. The frame house on one lot was valued at $500 and two barns on the other lot were valued at $100.

The 1910 census shows a William A. Walton, age 76, widowed, with a nephew and a daughter-in-law and four grandsons. The adults were born in Virginia and West Virginia.

James P.Butler, is said to have served as mayor in 1903-1904. A classmate and friend of John H. Gibson at the Cherokee Male Seminary, Butler was active in affairs in Grove. He had lots 1, 2, and 3, in Block 31 on the corner of Cherokee and 4th Streets. A barn and a large frame house worth $800 occupied the lots. The county history gives Butler's middle name as Proctor; in other places the middle initial is "E".

Butler's obituary in the Grove Sun of Feb. 8, 1945, offers the most information found on this man. His parents were Rev. Elisha Butler and Dorcas Landrum. He had three brothers and five sisters, one of whom, Elizabeth, married James Crittenden, subject of a previous column. James married Nancy Muskrat. One son, James, survived of this marriage. Butler was survived by his second wife, Laura Inlow Paden.

In his early life he had served as a Cherokee Nation policeman. Later he was elected to serve two terms as representative from Delaware County to the Oklahoma Legislature. In early Grove, Butler was one of those who worked to build the Methodist Church in 1899 and 1900.

He had joined the Methodist Church as a young man. Later he become so interested in religion that he began preaching and continued as a minister until his death. The family home of the Butlers is on Honey Creek. Today the Butler Cemetery is the resting place for many including the Butlers.

W.H. Morgan was listed as mayor when the Grove Sun of April 14, 1905, gave the list of new city officials. The Grove Sun of April 20, 1906, announced that a new council was sworn in by the retiring mayor, W.H. Morgan. The paper explained that due to installing a new steam press the Sun was unable to get full particulars.

William Thomas took office as mayor April 20, 1906. Thomas and his family had come to Grove since the 1900 census when they were in Arkansas. Thomas was born in Kentucky in 1841, the son of Isaac and Elizabeth Thomas. He and his wife Susan had been married about 40 years and raised a family of nine children. On an 1885 census of Colorado, the family is found in Weld County.

Public service was something Thomas seemed to like. He had been elected to two terms as county judge in Kentucky and was elected and served as sheriff for a term. Thomas bought Lot 4 in Block 35, the lot on the west side of the Christian Church. It had a frame house valued at $145. The Thomases, husband and wife, died within four days of each other in late January, early February, 1919 and are buried in Olympus Cemetery. William's obituary says he had 40 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.

Tom Witty, who grew up on Cowskin Prairie and spent his working years away from Grove, retired here some years ago. He is a grandson of the Thomases.

In May 1907, John H. Gibson again became mayor and served for the beginning of statehood. The council was concerned enough to inquire how statehood might affect the incorporated towns. They were told just to continue the march. Nothing changed their governments or ordinances.

© 2007 Rose Stauber

Coats for Kids Program Launched

The First National Bank of Grove has launched its annual Coats for Kids program and is now accepting clean, good condition coats for children of all ages.
Drop off is at the bank, 600 S. Main. Deadline is Oct. 31.

Outdoor Adventurer To Speak at Third Thursday Event

Gary Courtney, native Oklahoma author, photographer, and historian, will be the speaker at the Grove Public Library's Third Thursday on Oct. 18, at 12 noon. His talk will be followed by a book signing. The public is invited, and brown bag lunches are in order.

Courtney will talk on the famous or infamous Cookson Hills of eastern Oklahoma and the outlaws and people of the area. For most of the last ten years, Gary Courtney has lived on a mountain top overlooking Lake Tenkiller, in the heart of the Cookson Hills, where he roamed as a boy and young man, fishing, hunting, camping, cave exploring, and Scuba diving. He moved there to observe, interview, research, explore, photograph, and to write about the area history and pioneers.

One result of his work is the book, "The Historic Cookson Hills Dictionary – Old Time & Slang Words & Phases." Courtney's latest book will be out in about a month. It is "Carl Janaway – Smartest Bandit of the Cookson Hills." The author is working on a book in progress for ten years, "Cookson Hills Chronicles."

The Cookson Hills Dictionary contains a history of the area with color photographs, tourist information and information on the notorious cave hideouts of outlaws on the run.

Courtney is noted for his outdoor attire which includes an old felt hat, blue jeans, and flannel shirt, topped by a big Bowie knife. His cameras are always nearby.

Beginning over seven years ago, he previewed chapters of his books to the public on his online magazine and as front page feature stories in the "Oklahoma Legend" weekly in Tahlequah. His two month-long museum exhibits at Northeastern State University featured the history of the area.

Courtney has a tie to Grove and the northeast Oklahoma area. His grandfather, James Grover Cleveland Tillman, was born in this area in 1891. Courtney now lives in Broken Arrow and Colorado.

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

Drinks and dessert are provided.

Pelican Power Fun Run Set Nov. 10

The first annual “Pelican Power” 5K and Fun Run has been scheduled for Saturday, November 10 at 9 am at Patricia Island Estates and Golf Club in Grove.
A partnership of the Cherokee Nation Wings Program and the Grand Lake Family YMCA, the Pelican Power run is USATF Certified and Sanctioned.
The first 240 registered participants will receive a t-shirt, fruit and water. Awards will go to the top overall male and female winner, and to the top three males and females in each standard age group.
Pre-registration is $10. Race day registration begins at 8 am for $15.
Sponsors include Arvest Bank of Grove; Curtiss Tate's Tire & Service; Drake's Restaurant; Joan Vermaire, ReMax Grand Lake; Lakehaven Dental; Lowe's Home Improvement Center; Lupe's Mexican Restaurant; and Sanco Lumber Inc.
The Cherokee Nation Wings Program is a volunteer-based organization of the Cherokee Nation that helps communities organize events to promote healthy lifestyles.
For more information and registration forms, contact Ida Sue Gray at (918) 253-4271 ext. 288.
(Editors Note: No one under the age of 8 permitted (see related story)

Genealogical Society Meeting is Tuesday

The monthly meeting of the Delaware County Genealogical Society will be held on Tuesday, October 16, 2007, at 7 pm at the Grove Public Library. Harley Buzzard, of Jay, will speak on Cherokee History. Mr. Buzzard is newly elected to the Tribal Council of the Cherokee Nation, representing Delaware County . He will bring us up to date on the Cherokee Nation and the current status with the Freemen issue and several bills in Congress to withhold funds from the Cherokee Nation.

Refreshments will be served. The meetings are open to the public and anyone who is interested in their family history.

Bowling Fundraiser set for EquiSpirit.

EquiSpirit Theraupeutic Riding Acadeny Announces The First Annual Bowling Tournament set for Sunday, October 21 3 to 7 p.m. at Country Lanes, 28300 South 620 Road
North Cherokee Street in Grove.

Individual Bowlers: $25 Adult
$15 Age 17 and Younger

Five Bowlers per Team

PRIZES:
Highest Score Per Team
Highest Score Adult Bowler
Highest Score Age 17 and Younger