Grove Steps on Miami Wardogs 34-20

Extends Season Record to 8-0

The Grove Ridgerunners proved that smaller and quicker can bring down a larger opponent by defeating Miami's Wardogs Thursday night 34-20, extending this season's record to 8-0 for the first time in memory.

Grove's first touchdown came only 15 seconds into the game on its first offensive play, with a 63-yard pass play from Senior quarterback Darius Hopper to wide receiver Dusty Gehrke. Gehrke broke out of the pack so quickly the nearest tackler was in Welch. The score stood at 7-0 with the clock at only 11:45.

Hopper, at 5'10", and his opposite, Wardog quarterback Grant Longcrier at 6'2", seemed to typify the difference in the two teams.

Looking across the field the Wardogs seemed to be a head taller than Miami, but Grove moved more quickly and appeared to be all over the field on defense.

Miami now goes to 5-3 on the season.

Miami's first score came at 5'59" left in the first quarter after a nine play six minute drive, with a pass to James Pickens in the corner of the end zone good for 11 yards. The point after attempt missed, making the score 7-6.

Grove's next drive took only five plays to score with a third down, 45-yard pass play from Hopper to Junior half back Michael Hudgens. The extra point was good bringing the score to 14-6 with 3'29" left in the first quarter.

Miami's next drive ended with a quarterback sack by Grove's Bobby Harris and R.J. Brantley and an incomplete pass on fourth down. Now into the second quarter, Grove took over on the 27 yard line and ran into penalty trouble, a holding call on first and 10; another holding call on third and 12; and a pass interference call on third and 25. This drive ended with a punt from Grove's 27 yard line which was fumbled and recovered by Miami's Trent Turner on the Wardogs 30.

The rest of the second quarter saw excellent play by Grove's Corey Davenport and Darius Hopper and the half ended at 14-6.

In the third quarter Miami ran into penalty troubles with a face mask call, illegal motion, delay of game call, and ended up kicking to Grove, taken out of bounds on the 23 yard line.

After mixing up a series of run and pass plays Grove moved to the Wardogs 27.
On second and one, Hopper threw a quick pass to Jesse Hale which resulted in first and goal from the one, with Hopper smashing it over the line with a quarterback sneak. The extra point was no good leaving the score 20-06 with 4 minutes left in the half.

Another Grove scoring opportunity late in the second quarter was thwarted when Hopper threw an interception to Miami's Nick Henson on the Wardogs 22 yard line. But Grove's R.J. Bartley returned the favor by intercepting a Miami pass attempt and returning it to the Wardogs eight yard line.

Hopper then ran through the middle for another six points with two seconds left. The point after was good ending the third quarter at 27-6 Grove.

The fourth quarter begin with an interception by Grove Junior Corey Davenport who returned the ball for a touchdown. Grove 34, Wardogs 6. At this point Grove was well in control of the ball game. Grove appeared to be quicker, and well coached. But Miami's Longcrier was downright scary in the dominating way he moved the ball, mowing down tacklers along the way.

Grove's kickoff was taken at the Wardogs 16 by Trent Turner and run to the 28. After a nine play drive Miami scored with a Longcrier pass bringing the score to 34-12 after a two point try failed.

Miami's last score came with only 26 seconds left in the game with a Longcrier run and a successful two point try making the score 34-20. Miami's on-side kick attempt was recovered by Grove and Miami, out of time outs, could not stop the clock.

Standout players for Grove included Hopper, Davenport, Bartley, Gehrke, and Hudgens.
Grove's next opponent is Wagner, followed by Collinsville and Idabel. Grove is ranked #2 in Class 4-A play behind Bishop McGuinness.

(our thanks to spotters Carla Mills and Bob Henkle)

FERC OK's Big Marina on Main Lake

The Peninsula Resort & Club on Grand Lake announces that The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved the commercial marina located on the tip of the peninsula in addition to the residential boat docks in Davis Cove. The GRDA Board of Directors had previously unanimously approved the permit in the Fall of 2006 and submitted their recommendation to FERC for their approval as required under the GRDA license.

"This is a very exciting day for Grand Lake, Northeastern Oklahoma, and The Peninsula Resort & Club," said Peter C. Boylan III, Chairman. "I would like to personally thank the GRDA board of directors and staff, elected officials, state agencies, and the hundreds of citizens whom proactively voiced their support for this important permit."

"The issuance of this permit remained a critical element associated with our ambitious plans to develop a premier four star resort on Grand Lake."

Charles Banks Wilson Coming to Grove

Acclaimed artist, Charles Banks Wilson, will be at Jana Jae’s Gallery Southwest at 10th and Main in Grove, OK, Saturday, November 3 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in celebration of Oklahoma’s 100 years of history and to sign his latest book entitled, “Charles Banks Wilson,” consisting of over 175 images of the artist's finest works, including oils, watercolors, pencil drawings, and lithographs created over nearly seven decades of the artist’s life.

Artist Wilson is well known for his murals and portraits in the rotunda of the Oklahoma State Capitol. Wilson creates portraits that honor great Oklahomans, murals that pay tribute to the history of his home state, and a long running series of portraits of Native Americans, all of which assure him a place in the hearts of Americans. Charles Banks Wilson is quoted as saying, “I believe, as I look back, every drawing I made--and every painting--is a sentimental observation of people and places.” Currently, Gilcrease Museum is exhibiting Wilson’s works in a highly acclaimed and very extensive display.

Gallery Southwest is featuring artist Charles Banks Wilson through Christmas, with many works newly framed, and a nice selection of prints and lithographs ready for framing and signing. Gallery manager Betty Scott invites the public to meet Wilson, “We are pleased to have this outstanding artist visit Grove and Gallery Southwest November 3. His new book is just wonderful--very colorful, and very affordable. This is a rare opportunity to meet the artist and to have Mr. Wilson sign your own collected works as well.”

“I can’t remember ever not drawing,” Wilson said of his artistic genesis. Following his graduation from High School in Miami, Oklahoma in 1936, Wilson enrolled in the Chicago Art Institute, studied there for the next five years, and became well-known for his book covers and illustrations. He later returned to Miami where he taught Art at Northeastern Oklahoma A & M College for 15 years. By the late 1930s, fellow students spoke of the unique “Wilson Indians” and the first phase of Wilson’s career was under way.

In the early 1960s, Charles Banks accepted a commission from the Oklahoma legislature to paint murals depicting Oklahoma history and life size portraits of famous Oklahomans for the Oklahoma State Capitol. His subjects were without question the most notable and influential individuals of their time: humorist Will Rogers, Cherokee educator, Sequoyah, Senator Robert S. Kerr, athlete Jim Thorpe, and others.

Wilson’s most recent commission from the Oklahoma legislature occurred in 2001 when he was approached to paint another notable Oklahoman and was told he could choose any subject he wanted. Wilson’s subject was songwriter-activist Woody Guthrie. The portrait was unveiled at the State Capitol in 2002 and was well received. Prints of this portrait and other works are available for sale at Gallery Southwest.

The public is invited to meet and visit with Charles Banks Wilson at the book signing of his latest book, “Charles Banks Wilson,” from 1 p.m. to 4 p,m, Saturday, November 3 at Jana Jae’s Gallery Southwest, 10th and Main, in Grove, OK.

Fire Damages Grove Home

The Grove Fire Department responded to a house fire Tuesday around 11 a.m. at 114 N. Hazel with one tanker truck and two engine units, and extinguished the fire, confined mostly to the living room and front porch. Cause of the fire was an electrical problem. Also responding was a unit from the Cowskin Fire Department, which automatically responds every time there is a fire in Grove. "We had plenty of water available, water was not a problem," said Chief Lee Dollarhide. A fire hydrant is located one block away on Mill Street. The home belongs to J.D. Blackmore.

Observations...

According to news reports, Integris Health could soon begin construction on a new hospital on I-35 south of Edmond costing $40-$60 million with 30-60 beds, if members of Henderson Hills Baptist Church vote to sell 24 acres of church-owned land to Integris. No mention of contributions from Edmond taxpayers or local donors as a requirement for construction…Troy Helms, son of Beverly and Dave Helms, was honored with a National Boy Scout Heroism Award last week as a result of preventing two young girls from a possible drowning at a Springfield, Mo. Days Inn swimming pool in May. The two girls had drifted into water over their heads and were in trouble and Troy dragged them to shallower waters…GPS Units in Grove Police Department vehicles will be removed and disconnected by Nov. 1 as being "ineffective and unnecessary" said City Manager Bruce Johnson. This will save the city $282 a month. The system tracked each patrol car and automatically sent an email to the Police Chief anytime units were stationary for more than 30 minutes with the motor running, or exceeded 70 mph, among other things. The system was designed as a high tech way of keeping track of police vehicles when in service…"Several" resumes have been received at City Hall from attorneys applying for the job of City Attorney, a 40-hour per week full time job, says Johnson…City Council will hold a special meeting next Tuesday regarding the city's garbage collection contract…

Highway 28 Closing Next Tuesday

The Grand River Dam Authority has announced that Highway 28, crossing over the middle spillways of Pensacola Dam (one eighth of a mile east of Disney) will be closed to all traffic from 9 AM to 1 PM on Tuesday, October 23.

GRDA crews will be performing some maintenance work across the spillway and both lanes of traffic will be completely closed during the four hour period. Because the maintenance includes pouring concrete, the work is subject to weather conditions.
An alternate route for westbound traffic during the closure would be to take Highway 28 east to Highway 20, then west to Highway 82, which goes back to Langley. An alternate route for eastbound traffic would be Highway 82 south from Langley to Highway 20, then east to Highway 28.

GRDA Credit Rating Upgraded to "A-"

The Grand River Dam Authority, a wholesale electricity supplier for Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative in the Grand Lake region, is announcing that Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Rating Services has upgraded GRDA’s credit rating. On Monday, S&P announced it was changing GRDA’s credit rating from “BBB+” to “A-”, and improving the outlook from stable to positive. While GRDA has received three rating outlook improvement from rating agencies in recent years, S&P’s announcement is historic, marking the first rating upgrade in GRDA’s history.

“Similar to the three outlook improvements we’ve received since March 2005, this upgrade is proof that the financial community believes GRDA is growing more financially stable,” said GRDA Chief Executive Officer Kevin Easley.

According to an S&P statement, “the willingness of [GRDA] board members … to strengthen the authority’s financial profile” was a chief factor in the upgrade decision. Long-term partnerships with customers was also a strong factor. The partnership between NEOEC and GRDA first began in the 1940s.

According to Easley, recent decisions by GRDA to strengthen its financial position have also helped to strengthen customer partnerships for the coming years. "This news is historic," he said. "Moving the rating from “BBB+” to “A-” adds even more stability to the financial foundation this agency will rest on in the future.”

Of course, the impact this upgrade has on all those Oklahomans will show up in savings, said Easley. “For those who may be asking ‘why does this matter to me?’ GRDA would respond that it believes this upgrade will save our customers millions of dollars in finance and insurance charges as we continue to grow and plan a safe, reliable and affordable electric future.”

According to Easley, the upgrade could not have come at a better time for GRDA, which is entering an extensive growth mode. “GRDA is a progressive agency focused on meeting our customers’ needs while always retaining our reputation as Oklahoma’s low-cost, reliable electric supplier. An excellent workforce, solid customer partnerships and recognition like this from the financial community will help us achieve those goals.”

In March 2005, Fitch Ratings reaffirmed GRDA’s “A-” rating and upgraded its outlook of the utility’s bonds from stable to positive. In March 2006, S&P cited GRDA customers’ acceptance of rate increases and GRDA’s low-cost power supply as factors in its decision to, at the time, affirm the “BBB+” credit rating and improve the outlook from negative to stable. Then, in January 2007, Moody’s Investor Services affirmed an “A2” rating on GRDA’s outstanding electric revenue bonds and announced it would also change GRDA’s rating outlook from negative to stable.

“These improvements by the rating agencies give us confidence that GRDA is on the right track with the financial decisions we’ve made,” said Easley, “and I certainly want to commend the GRDA Board of Directors, for the role it has played in this effort. The rating agencies thought that leadership was noteworthy.”

Talbot Library Offers Souvenir Pavers

Colcord, Okla -- As part of the Springtown Schoolhouse renovation project in Colcord, Oklahoma, the Talbot Library and Museum is offering paving bricks available for engraving to honor family members, friends, special events, businesses, etc. The bricks can be engraved with 3 or 4 lines of text, depending on the size of letters selected. They will be displayed in the walkway connecting the Talbot Library and Museum and the historic Springtown Schoolhouse. Truly a great way to create a permanent remembrance for your loved ones.

The Schoolhouse has been designated officially as Talbot’s Historic School Restoration Project by the Oklahoma Centennial Commemoration and funded in part through a grant made possible by the Oklahoma Legislature.

The cost of each paver is $50.00 during the Oklahoma Centennial Year of 2007, $75.00 thereafter. For more information, contact Talbot Library and Museum, P.O. Box 349, Colcord,OK 74338, or call 918-326-4532. e-mail-talbotlibrary@earthlink.net