What’s Happening in LGA Free Local Newsletter

Sponsored by the Locust Grove Arts Alliance

No. 27: October 2016

This year’s Color Run will be held at 8:30 a.m., Oct.29. Darrryl Trammell is shown at last year’s run.

(Continues on Page 2)

PROSPECTIVE JUNIOR CHAMBER MEMBERS. . .Dianna Stokes, teacher, and ShaunPerkins, vice president of the Locust Grove Area Chamber of Commerce, standing left toright, helped high school students learn about a junior chamber. Some of the students whoindicated an interest in the Junior Chamber are shown above.

Junior Chamber organizesShaun Perkins, and

Roxann Yates, board mem-bers of the Locust GroveArea Chamber of Com-merce, presented a pro-gram to the high school stu-dents of Dianna Stokesabout becoming membersof the Junior Chamber andabout the requirement forcompleting the VisionBook Project.

Thirty-one studentsjoined the Junior Chamberthat day, and Stokes willcollect and turn in any othermembership forms com-

pleted at a later day.The Vision Book Project

is a program for LG stu-dents in grades 9-12 whowant to work on citizen-ship, leadership, business,economic, communicationand social skills. The pro-gram involves students incompleting a vision bookthat details a year of activi-ties in the community

The vision book will en-gage students in learningabout how the town gov-ernment works, how meet-ings are held, how deci-

sions are made at schoolboard meetings and Cham-ber meetings, what it is liketo run a business and much,much more. It will also in-clude a vision of one spe-cific improvement of thestudent’s choice that he/shewould like to see in thetown.

All vision books shouldbe completed by early Mayso that they will be avail-able for exhibit during theFounder’s Day celebrationMay 13, 2017.

The annual Holiday CraftFestival, hosted by the Lo-cust Grove Free Will Bap-tist Church, will be heldOct. 7-8. The fair will beopen from 9-5 on Fridayand 9-4 on Saturday.

This is the 14th year of thefestival which Linda Claver,organizer, says just keeps“getting bigger and better.”

This year local crafterswill display can art, wallplaques, ceramics, quilts,baked goods, wreaths, flo-ral turned wood, jewelry,candy, oil painting, woodart, dolls, horse art,snowmen, honey, vintageitems, lotions, crochet,primitive crafts, cookbooks,and fresh homemadebreads. And that’s probablynot the full list.

Some of the local craftersinclude Jess Dinsmore, Har-mony Wall, Brenda Morris,Verla and Dennis Fletcher,Wanda Elsey, WinnieChilders, Janet Monk, andKatie Stokes, to name afew.

A soup and salad lunchwill be served both days.

LGFWBChurch hostscraft festival

Page 2 What’s Happening in LG October 2016

LGAA meets Oct. 12 at VFW

EDITOR’S NOTE: While this newsletter is producedby the LGAA and will contain our organization’s news,we also want to publish information about any activitiesin Locust Grove that our community might be interestedin.

Please contact Betty Perkins at blperkins@sstelco.comor 918-479-5617 (leave a message if no answer), if youhave news on LG events, places, or people for inclusionin future issues. For advertising, call Roxann Perkins Yatesat 918-530-5321 or email at roxannperkins@gmail.com.As LGAA is a nonprofit organization, advertising mustsupport the publication of this newsletter. Your support isgreatly appreciated.

About What’s Happening in LG

(Continued from Page 1)Vision books will be

judged by Chamber offic-ers. First, second and thirdplace winners will be cho-sen. More about the VisionBook Project can be foundon the Chamber website.

Each of the winners willreceive a cash prize to bedetermined at a later date.

In addition all seniorswho complete a visionbook will earn a JuniorChamber of Commercecord to wear with theirgraduation gown.

During the Sept. meet-ing, students were asked tocomment on what they likeabout Locust Grove andwhat they think the townneeds or needs improved.

Some of the things stu-dents like about LocustGrove were the small townatmosphere, family-ori-ented, DJ’s, people,school, football, wide-open spaces, the KiddiePark, creeks, magic shop,Country Cottage, peopleworking together for acause, coffee shop coming,

library, Sonic, Sale Barn,FFA program, and SistersSweets to name a few.

Some of the needs theyfeel the town lacks includean indoor and outdoorpool, improvements toGorda Park (new basket-ball court), small theater,outdoor movies, GameStop, clothing stores, artstore, sport store, bowlingalley, fishing contest,Frisbee golf, book store,arcade, DJ’s 2, live music,event space, amusementpark, comic book store,restaurants open late, celltower, animal shelter, smallmall, McDonalds, LGPiggin’ Out, dance club,flower park, town fish fryand weekend events.

Both of these lists areincomplete. The studentscertainly had ideas aboutwhat they liked about Lo-cust Grove, and what theythought it needed.

One student observedthat the town had a largenumber of churches said, “Iguess a lot of us need sav-ing,” he commented.

--Junior Chamber--The LGAA held its regular monthly meeting on

Sept. 14 at the VFW Hall. T-shirt orders were dis-cussed by President Jennifer Henson and an updateon the LG Children’s Community Theater was givenby April Stone.

Teacher liaisons Tara Bennett, Pam Glass, AnnPhillips, and Brandon Hall reported on activities attheir respective buildings and how they spent the sti-pends from the LGAA that were given at the begin-ning of the school year.

Phillips brought information from Rochelle Chan-cellor, who teaches art at the middle school. A deci-sion to vote on giving her funds for some art supplieswill be made at the October meeting when more ofthe officers are present.

The Wonder City Arts Festival is in the works forSeptember 2017. A report from LaTasha Duncan, thechairwoman, will be forthcoming at the Oct.meeting.The LGAA meets next on Oct. 12, Wed., 5:30p.m. at the VFW Hall. All interested citizens are in-vited to attend.

COWAN INSURANCE AGENCY LLC

Justin Cowan -- Agent

410 E. Main Locust Grove, OK 74352Phone: 918-479-5273 Fax: 918-479-5809

Auto - Home - Farm - Boat -Life - Bonds - Mobile Homes - Commercial

October 2016 What’s Happening in LG Page 3

Turner’s Laundry&

Stash & Dash Mini Storage105 N. Wyandotte -- West Edge of Locust Grove

918-479-5759 or 918-479-5296Lighted, Fenced & Video Surveillance

Owner: Movita Turner

Rural OklahomaMuseum of Poetry

6603 S. 438 - Locust Grove

Visit us atrompoetry.com

The LG OK Area Cham-ber of Commerce had itsmonthly meeting Sept. 20,at the VFW Hall. Sixteenpeople were in attendanceand much community activ-ity was discussed. High-lights included:

· The Fresh Paint Dayswork on the In-N-Outshopping center and onHometown Shirt Shackwas a success.

· Tony Ballou was inattendance and discussedthe Locust Grove 5K run,Nov. 5, sponsored by theCherokee Nation.

· On Halloween,Mon. Oct. 31, LG busi-nesses can pass out treats

LG Chamber looks at past success, future plansto children from 3:30 p.m.to 5:00 p.m., with costumejudging at the library at4:45.

· The 2017 town di-rectory ad sales are under-way and people shouldcontact Shaun Perkins formore information. Addeadline is Oct. 15.

· A Christmas pa-rade committee wasformed. The parade will beDec. 3. at 2:00 p.m. Vol-unteers from LGHS’s alter-native education programwill help the Chamber withthe parade.

· The Sept. 15 circuswas a success and broughtin $1,651.25 in profits to

help fund future Chamberprograms and events.

· Tami McKeon,Grand Gateway, reportedon the economic develop-ment program the Chamberhas been working on. Shestressed the need for aseparate leadership team tobe formed to meet with herin the future.

· Mark Foster withSmokey Valley Camp-ground explained thecampground’s success andplans to add an RV parkand disc golf course to thecampground.

· Maggie Hunton,president of the Friends ofthe LG Library, explainedthe library’s book sale, go-ing on Oct. 6-8.

· Annissa Fleming,Hope Coalition, reportedon the possibility of aChamber-supported 5krun.

· Treasurer JenniferHenson reported that theChamber currently has

$9,195.30 in its bank ac-count.

The next Chamber gen-eral membership meeting isOct. 18, at 6:00 p.m. at theVFW Hall. For more infor-mation about Chamber ac-tivities, visitlocustgroveoklahoma.com.LIKE the Locust GroveChamber on Facebook forweekly updates.

COLOR RUN. . . This year’sColor Run will be held Oct.29, according to DanielStokes. For more informa-tion contact him atdstokes1@lg.k12.ok.us. Thispicture is from last year’sColor Run.

Page 4 What’s Happening in LG October 2016

“A Community Bank With Roots, Not Branches”

Established 1949

Online Banking: www.banklg.comVoice Banking: 1-877-479-5225

Phone: 918-479-5225FAX: 918-479-8787

Member FDIC

BLACK DRUGCompounding Pharmacy

Kevin Black, D. Ph.

Pharmacist

blackdrg@sstelco.com

918-479-5223918-479-6510 fax

412 East Main Street

P.O. Box 669

Locust Grove, OK

74352

Members of Locust Grove’s Creative Communities hadtheir initial site meeting Aug. 29 with Suzann Wade, fa-cilitator, at the library.

Following an introduction of those present, they talkedabout the history of Locust Grove, and demographics ofthe town. Key leaders in the community were identified,including school, municipal, civic groups, and culturalgroups. Members of those groups will be asked to jointhe Creative Communities Committee in an effort to in-clude everyone.

The first step in the process of identifying just whatthe group hopes to accomplish were discussed, and thegroup worked on a vision statement.

One of the many ideas that were tossed around wasthe creation of an arts festival that would be an ongoingevent.

It would, hopefully, make Locust Grove a destinationspot on an October date in 2017. The outdoor festival,perhaps at Pipe Springs Park, might include arts and crafts,food trucks, games for kids, and music.

Between now and the next meeting, the committeemembers were asked to complete two sentences: “Wewill be a community that. . .” and “We are a communitythat. . .” Anyone in the community who is interested inmaking Locust Grove a better place to live and work isinvited to complete those two sentences and send themto Shaun Perkins at okiestoryteller@google.com. Citi-zens are also invited to attend the next meeting of thegroup at 1 p.m. Oct. 17 at the library.

Those who attended the meeting were Latasha Duncan,Jennifer Henson, Ken Lusk, Shaun Perkins, Hugh Callery,Marea Breedlove, Roxann Yates and Betty Perkins.

Creative Communitiesgroup works on vision

BRAINSTORMING. . .Facilitator Suzann Wade adds stickynotes to the board as members of the Creative Communitiesgroup made suggestions for a vision statement.

October 2016 What’s Happening in LG Page 5

Quantie Auto SupplyHarold Jr. & Georgeann Quantie - Owners

Family Owned & Operated for over 40 Years

Phone (918) 479-8797 Fax (918) 479-8796

Hwy 82 South, P.O. Box 428Locust Grove, OK 74352

Fresh Paint Days spruces up downtown

Hugh J. Callery, a mem-ber of the Centennial Com-mittee which published ahistory of the town, says afew books are still avail-able, along with severalcopies of the DVD.

They can be purchasedat the LG Library, Thebook is $30 amd the DVD,$20.

History book available

FRESH PAINT DAYS. . . Members of the Locust GroveArea Chamber of Commerce, hold up a Fresh Paint sign asthey complete work done in downtown LG. In addition topainting the outside facade of Hometown Shirt Shack, theyspruced up the In-N-Out complex by painting the light fix-tures, the parking barriers, and they cleaned up the lot. Thegroup had planned to paint the stores in the In-N-Out Cen-ter, but the wrong color of paint was sent, and Sara VanHornallowed the group to paint her business for the contest. Fromleft are Mark Palmer, Theresa Mennecke, Jerry Yates, JoelPowel, Marsha Evans, Kate Bowerin, Roxann Yates andJennifer Henson.

BEFORE AND AFTER photos of Hometown Shirt Shackshow a cleaned-up front to Sarah Van Horn’s business. Theproject is a part of the grant from the Fresh Paint Days.Elaine Clark of Elaine’s Beauty Shop bought the grouplunch from DJ’s and Marcia Payne bought drinks.

Page 6 What’s Happening in LG October 2016

Sisters SweetsDonuts

Breakfast & Lunch

Open: 5 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

918-479-2677Rowland’sQuick Shop

“Your HometownConvenience Store”

Open: 4 a.m.-10 p.m.

Kitchen isnow open!

The Locust Grove Area Chamber of Commerce is inthe process of putting together a full-color print direc-tory for 2017 that will be full of information about thetown.

It will be distributed for both townspeople and tour-ists. To get an ad in the directory, visit the Town Direc-tory page at the Chamber website atlocustgroveoklahoma.com.

Business owners can also contact Chamber Vice-Presi-dent Shaun Perkins at okiestoryteller@gmail.com or 918-864-9152. DEADLINE for ad payment and copy is Oct.15.

GAL ON A MISSION . . .Fourth grader Sophie Van Hornis determined to help children at St. Francis. She has beensaving her money for two years and collecting money fromothers through a donation box at the Hometown Shirt Shack,owned by her mother, Sara Van Horn. “When the box isfull, we will give the money to St. Francis. When the box isfull again, we will repeat,” Sophie said.

Town directory wantsto include all businesses

Book donations neededfor library fall book sale

The Friends of the Locust Grove Public Library areaccepting donations of gently used books for its thirdannual Fall Book Sale Oct. 8-10.

Donations of used hardback and paperback books canbe brought to the library at 715 East Main Street.

Donations need to be made by Oct. 1 for the Oct. 6-8sale. Times on Thursday and Friday will be 10 a.m. to 5p.m., and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

(No textbooks, encyclpedias, Harlequins, Silhouettesor romance novels.)

“You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture.Just get people to stop reading them.” --Ray Bradbury

October 2016 What’s Happening in LG Page 7

K & D’s Vapor Store117 East MainLocust Grove(918) 479-7977

Come VAPE with us!We have all your vaping needs!

Kevin & Debie Jackson

DJ’SPhone: 479-5877 Hours: M-F10:45 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Free Desserts Wednesdays!

Good Food. Good Service.

Good People.

The Locust Grove Okla-homa Area Chamber of Com-merce is initiating a programto honor local homeownersand businesses that make aspecial effort to beautify theirpremises.

Each month, a home orbusiness will be awarded the LG Yard of the Month andwill receive a gift certificate for further upkeep and beau-tification.

The Chamber is partnering with Locust Grove MiddleSchool teacher Missy Ingram and her students for thisproject. The students will choose each month’s winner.

The students also came up with the criteria for thecontest:

· Lawn and house must be well kept and neat.

· Must be seasonal if decorated (Example: NoChristmas lights up in August unless it fits a decor).

· House must be in LG or within the LG schooldistrict.

· Porch and yard must be free of debris that doesnot fit the decor of the home and yard.

Judging will take place by the 25th of each month forthe following month’s award.

Nominations for yards can be posted in the COM-MENTS section on the YARD of the MONTH page onthe Chamber’s website: locustgroveoklahoma.com. The

pictures of the Yard of theMonth will also be run inthe next issue of the LGAANewsletter “What’s Hap-pening in LG.”

People can also emailI n g r a mat mingram@lg.k12.ok.us.You can also call/text herat 918-638-2845.

Please send the addressand/or a photo with yournomination. Nominationscan be anonymous.

Students involved inchamber program

CAR SHOW. . . Wayne Cole, president of the OutlawCruisers Car Club stands next to “Old Yeller,” his 1969Plymouth Roadrunner. Club members brought out theircars to Locust Grove’s Main Street on Sept. 24 during theFourth Annual Honor Flight Car Show.

“If GM had kept up with technology like the computer in-dustry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1,000MPG.” --Bill Gates

Page 8 What’s Happening in LG October 2016

Locust Grove Animal Clinic

707 E. Main StreetLocust Grove, OK 74352918-479-5496918-479-8543David Fleming, DVMdavidthevet@gmail.com

Office Hours:Mon.-Fri. 7:30 am- 5:30 pm

Sat. 8-Noon

After Hours Emergency Service Available

Something “wonder”ful isabout to happen to LocustGrove. In a Main Street shopthat was once Ford’s Variety,a new place occupies thespace—Wonder City Cof-fee—set to open this Nov.

“It’s about creating aspace that allows us to enjoythe wonderful people in oursmall town. It’s about seeingan empty storefront filled.It’s about giving back to acommunity that’s been giv-ing to us our whole lives,”Kelly Palmer, owner, said.

Palmer hopes to create anenvironment of good smells,

good eats and reads.“Because the coffee cul-

ture is so popular now, theidea came to me, but it’s re-ally more about having astorefront, not what’s in thestorefront. I’m hoping thiswill be like when I chose acareer path. It was sheer luckthat I stumbled onto the rightthing,” she said.

She’s spent much timegetting everything just rightinside. Comfortable seating,inviting decor and a libraryin the back, create an atmo-sphere for those who want tosip, snack and size up an in-

teresting book.Espressos drinks, includ-

ing, lattes, cappuccinos,americanos and macchiatoswill be served as well ashigh-quality teas and somebaked goods. Palmer willconcentrate on having a se-lect number of menu items.

“We are not a Starbucksand will not be serving 30drinks,” Palmer said. “I thinkcustomers will be pleasantlysurprised by the rich taste ofeach drink.”

To prepare for this ven-ture, Palmer and her two sis-ters, Shaun Perkins and

Roxann Yates, completedbarista training at Texas Cof-fee School in Arlington.

“‘We had intensive train-ing about coffee equipment,the business aspect of a cof-fee shop and about optimalways to provide the best cupof coffee possible,” Palmersaid.

Wander in to WonderCity Coffee in the comingweeks. The “Barista Sistas,”their mother, Betty Pekins,and aunt, Doris Rable, andother family members lookforward to serving this com-munity, one cup at a time.

Coffee Shop coming to Main Street