What’s Happening in LGA Free Local Newsletter

Sponsored by the Locust Grove Arts Alliance

No. 31: February 2017

Matt Adams wins one of poetry contests at Comic-con. Page 3

Daddy, Daughter Dance Feb. 16 at LGUECovey Masonic Lodge

#460 and the Locust GroveUpper Elementary will hostthe annual Daddy Daugh-ter Dance (DDD) Thurs-day, Feb. 16, 6-7:30, at theLocust Grove Upper El-ementary cafeteria.

In its third year, theDDD is open to students inthe LG Upper Elementaryand the LG Early LearningCenter.

Tickets are available atthe door for $10 percouple. Couples with anextra sibling still only pay$10.

“The dance is a great

bonding time for dads anddaughters. They plan andlook forward to it everyyear,” said LGUE princi-pal, Shannon Hall.

Couples come dressedup with the girls in theirbest dresses and the dadsdressed in anything fromcowboy boots and jeans tosuits and ties.

Daddies and their littlegirls will dance the nightaway to family friendlymusic as well as get theirphotos taken by local pho-tographer MareaBreedlove. Photos are $5for a 5x7 print.

This is the first time theCovey Masonic Lodge#460 has sponsored theevent. The organization haspledged matching funds of$1,000 for the night.

Last year the dancebrought in around $1,000between ticket sales and thephotographs. This year thatcould double with the helpof the Masons.

“We appreciate the sup-port of the Masons thisyear,” Hall said.

Money raised from thedance will go toward pur-chasing needed classroom

(Continues on Page 10))

ALL AWHIRL. . . Bill Hixand his daughter, Emmatwirled around the dancefloor at the 2016 DaddyDaughter Dance.Photo credit: ShannonHall, principal LGUE.

The Locust Grove ArtsAlliance (LGAA) will hosta fundraiser on Feb. 9,Thursday, from 6:-8 p.m. atthe VFW. Hall

This event will include abeans and cornbread din-ner, bingo games, and ajunk drawer baggie sale.

The bingo games will below-key and designed forfun rather than profit, al-though “cool” prizes will be (Continues on Page 10)

Beans, cornbread, Bingo, junkdrawer sale on tap for Feb. 9

DDD 2016. . . JustinBrown and his daughter,Macy at last year’s dance.

awarded for the winners ineach game.

LGAA members andothers in the communityhave cleaned out their junkdrawers and put the con-tents in baggies. Thesebaggies will be for sale withsmall sandwich baggiespriced at $1.00 and largebags priced at $3.00. “Youknow what they say: Oneperson’s junk is another

person’s treasure!” saidLGAA president JenniferHenson.

The LGAA would alsolove to have donations ofjunk drawer baggies. Theycan be brought to the eventor dropped off at WonderCity Coffee or ROMPRummage Store before theevent.

The cost for the dinner

LGAA meets Jan. 11 at VFW

EDITOR’S NOTE: While this newsletter is producedby the LGAA and will contain our organization’s news, wealso want to publish information about any activities in Lo-cust Grove that our community might be interested in.

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 inclusion infuture issues. For advertising, call Roxann Perkins Yates at918-530-5321 or email at roxannperkins@gmail.com. AsLGAA is a nonprofit organization, advertising must sup-port the publication of this newsletter. Your support is greatlyappreciated.

About What’s Happening in LG

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What’s Happening in LG February 2017 Page 2

The Locust Grove Arts Alliance will meet at 5:30p.m., Feb. 8, at the VFW Hall, for a working meetingto prepare for the Beans and Bingo event it will hostthe following evening. The group hopes to make thisits fundraising event each year.

The LGAA will be hosting two big events in thefollowing two years, the Founder’s Day Art Showseach year and the Wonder City Arts Festival whichhas been postponed to 2018. Please come and helpus plan these events and more.

Everyone’s invited, anddoesn’t have to have a“talent” to be a memberof the organization.

For more information,contact LGAA PresidentJennifer Henson,jenniferh@rae-corp.comor 918-530-1902 or visitlgartsalliance.com.

New Creative CommunitiesDirector makes plea for helpBy Sydney Schwictenberg

Creative Communities(CC) is a 20-month initia-tive from the OklahomaCity-based Creative Okla-homa organization. A rep-resentative from the orga-nization, Suzann Wade, hasbeen working with LocustGrove to improve civic,educational, business andrecreational opportunitiesin town.

As the new leader of CC,I’m looking forward towhat I can do for the town.CC relies on the citizens ofLocust Grove and theirwillingness to help betterthe town. I believe we canaccomplish many greatthings through this grant.

Our goal is to put LocustGrove back on the map asa Wonder City, the namewhich the railroad gave thetown when it was first or-ganized.

A publication created bythe railroad at the timecalled the town“Locust Grove WonderCity on the Grand River.”I know Locust Grove has

potential, and this programis meant to plug into that,and amplify it.

We hope everyone cancome to the next planningmeeting on Feb. 28, Tues-day, at 4 p.m. at WonderCity Coffee, 118 E. Main.If you cannot attend, westill need your help. Con-tact me through the LGCreative CommunitiesFacebook page.

NEW DIRECTOR. . . TheCeative Communities groupis under new leadership withSydney Schwictenberg, ahigh school senior at LocustGrove, taking the reins. Sheis a member of the FutureBusiness Leaders ofAmerica and the StudentCouncil at the high school.

February 2017 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

THE YARD of Lex and JanieCannon, 318 E. Main receivedthe Locust Grove Area Chamberof Commerce’s Yard of theMonth award for January. Thechamber picked this yard for theCannon’s seasonal decorationand landscaping.

The 1st annual Pryor Creek Comic Convention, orga-nized by LG alumnus Jimmie Tramel has come and gone,and it was a great success. Locust Grove was well-rep-resented at the Jan. 21 event at the Graham CommunityHall.

LG face-painting artist Claudia Biendl stayed busy theentire day painting faces for the audience. There was al-ways a line at her booth, and she created some incrediblecustom renderings of everything from fairies and prin-cesses to skeletons and monsters.

The LGAA’s paper and duct tape costume contest hada superb winner with 5-year-old Naomi Shaffer’s color-ful and original rendering of Electra Girl who shocks theworld with kindness.

Jennifer Henson, Ray Grass and Betty Perkins mannedthe LGAA booth all day and handed out information aboutthe group and about the town.

The Rural Oklahoma Museum of Poetry (ROMP) alsohad a booth and awarded prizes for the ROMP POW!Poetry Contest. The winners in six different categorieswere as follows:

· Matt Adams, Claremore, Best Rhythm & Repetition

· Laiyla Canon, Pryor, Best Theme, 6th-12th Grade· Lora Collier, Locust Grove, Best Imagery· Pamela Hill, Pryor, Best Theme, Adult· Betty Perkins, Locust Grove, Best Rhyme· Sherry Simpson, LG, Best All-Around Poem.The Comic-Con, also sponsored by the Pryor Area Arts

and Humanities Council and the Pryor Area Chamber ofCommerce, will probably become an annual, and perhaps

a bi-annual event.A comment from Jack

Bunds on the Comic-Con’sFacebook page sums up theevent and Tramel’s work:

“Jimmie Tramel put to-gether an amazing event inPryor. So much more workthan I can imagine. He waseverywhere doing every-thing. And all those on handwere so happy how thingscame off.”

Locust Grove has presenceat Pryor Creek Comic-Con

SUPER HERO. . .NaomiShaffer holds up herprize-winning entry inLGAA’s super hero cos-tume contest at the PryorCreek Comic-Con eventJan. 21. Naomi is hold-ing up her hero “ElectraGirl.” This is Electra Girlwhose mission is to“Light the World withKindness.”Contestantshad to create their heroesof paper and tape.

“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

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What’s Happening in LG February 2017 Page 4

On Feb. 4, door-to-doorand phone-in orders forGirl Scout cookies will be-gin, according to ErinDishong, leader for troop3199 in Locust Grove.

This year, the GirlScouts have a new smorescookie. They also continueto have a gluten-freecookie.

On Feb. 17, booth saleswill start, and the GirlScouts will be set up atWal-Mart, among otherplaces.

LG Girl Scout cookiesales start Feb. 4

row: left to right, Sara Maner, Alexis Maner, HannahCoffelt, Amanda Ishmael. Second row: Sophia Ward,Hannah Ward, Carly Ward. Third row: Jasmine Bark,Gracie Coffelt, Erin Dishong, Makenzie Fogleman, AlexisDishong

Locust Grove has twoactive troops. Troop 3199is Juniors and Cadets, ledby Dishong with assistantleader Amanda Ishmael.

Troop 587, led by Am-ber Ward, is composed ofDaisies, Brownies and Jun-iors. Troop 587’s SaraManer is an ambassadorfor the group.

To order cookies or formore information, contactDishong at 904-505-5831or Ward at 918-864-7414.GIRL SCOUTS . . ..Front

Group’s efforts help girlsget dressed for prom

Damsel in the Dress is a Locust Grove High Schoolorganization which makes prom possible with help toobtain dresses and accessories for the annual event.

Sponsor of the group is Angela Livingston, LocustGrove High School Junior-Senior Counselor.

Donations of any kind are appreciated: dresses, shoes,accessories, and/or money. To help, find the Pink Dam-sel jars and the dress drop-off locations at localbusinesses.The group makes every effort to protect theidentity of all recipients. More information can be foundonline: Facebook and Twitter.

The Senior Citizens at Locust Grove’s Killam Com-munity Center are offering an upright piano at the rightprice -- free.

Those interested should stop in at the senior citizensbuilding, and “first come, first gets it,” one senior said.

Classified Ad: Need a piano?

February 2017 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

SPECIAL!Chain SawsSharpened

$7.50

Free Saturday night entertainmentcontinues to happen in downtownLocust Grove at Wonder City Cof-fee. This month’s lineup includes:

• Feb. 4: First Saturday Story Hour• Feb. 11: Love You to Death: Val-

entine Poetry w/Emily Kzany• Feb. 18: Music by Beau

Kilpatrick• Feb. 25: Cowboy ShortFirst Saturday Story Hour is an

hour of storytelling from old handsand new folks and anyone in between.People can come just to listen or totell a story that is family-friendly andunder 10 minutes. The story hour isfrom 7-8 p.m.

Emily Kzany is the alter-ego ofMolly O’Connor, an artist who alsoworks for the Oklahoma Arts Coun-cil. Kzany is a teenage goth poet fromYukon, OK, who likes to deliver herdark, heart-wrenching poetry to themasses. She will be promoting hernew book “Another Year Closer toDeath.” You can get a signed copy.Kzany will perform from 7-8 p.m.with a book-signing afterwards.

Beau Kilpatrick is a local musicianwho is very talented at singing and

Wonder City Coffee offersentertainment for February

playing his ukulele. Come hear himplay a strong mix of both old classicsand modern songs. Beau will performfrom 6-8 p.m.

Cowboy Short, AKA Chris Hardyof the Pryor Book Exchange andBible Bookstore, will appear as hispopular Cowboy Short to talk about

books and stories and enter-tain both children andadults. Cowboy Short willgive his talk from 6-7 p.m.

Wonder City Coffeehosts Saturday night eventsthat are always free andopen to the public. For moreinformation, visit WonderCity Coffee on Facebook orcall 918-479-2885. The cof-fee shop is located at 118 E.Main.

BOOK TALK. . . Cowboy Short (ChrisHardy) will be on hand to talk aboutbooks and stories for both adults andchildren Feb. 25.

FUNDS FOR UKULELE. . . LGAArecently donated money to help pay fora new ukulele for local musician BeauKilpatrick who works full time at theIndustrial Park, but performs wheneverhe gets a chance. He will bring hismusic to the Wonder City Coffee ShopFeb. 18. This is a free concert open toeveryone.

POETRY WINNER. . . Dr. LaraCollier, right, won a certificate andcash for her winning poem in a contestsponsored by the Rural OklahomaMuseum of Poetry (ROMP). She isshown with her children at the PryorCreek Comic-Con where winners wereannounced.

What’s Happening in LG February 2017 Page 6

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.

Busy tonight?Order supper

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BLACK DRUGCompounding Pharmacy

Kevin Black, D. Ph.

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918-479-5223918-479-6510 fax

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Locust Grove, OK

74352

Locust Grove Animal Clinic

707 E. Main StreetLocust Grove, OK 74352918-479-5496918-479-8543David Fleming, DVM

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

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After Hours Emergency Service Available

lganimal clinict@gmail.com

The Rural OklahomaMuseum of Poetry, 6603 S438 Rd, is closed for Janu-ary and February while anew exhibit is being in-stalled. In the meantime,the ROMP RummageStore, which funds thework of the museum, hasopened a museum annex inits back room.

The ROMP Annex is aroom full of displays andpoetry from the museum’slast exhibit, which detailed

ROMP opens museum annex in townthe history of autographbook poetry from the1880’s to the 1970’s. Theannex displays some of themuseum’s collection of au-tograph books and the po-etry treasures inside them.

The annex is free andopen to the public anytimethe rummage store is open,which is Thursday throughSaturday from noon to 6p.m.

The ROMP Annex canalso be viewed on otherdays and times by callingROMP director ShaunPerkins at 918-864-9152.

The ROMP RummageStore is located at 110 E.Main.

NOW OPEN. . . Annex of the Rural Oklahoma Musem ofPoetry has opened in the back room of the ROMP Rum-mage Shop.

February 2017 What’s Happening in LG Page 7

Now Open!5225 E. Hwy. 412

918-479-4224

Gift ItemsGroceriesSnacksHardwarePaintRoofing

Locust Grove Creative Communi-ties’ new chairperson is high school se-nior Sydney Schwichtenberg.

“I’m trying to get the word out morethrough our Facebook page, so we canmake Locust Grove a “wonder” cityagain.

Creative Communities is a 20-monthinitiative/project from the nonprofit or-ganization Creative Oklahoma. InMarch 2016 the Oklahoma City-basedorganization picked eight town in thestate to work with over this time pe-riod. They are hoping to help Locust Grove to improvequality of life by exploring creative ways to make posi-tive changes in business, culture, education, civic life,communication, etc.

This senior is involved in many other activities too.“I’ma member of Business Professionals of America. I’m help-ing with Damsel in the Dress to get prom dresses andaccessories for those in need. I’m also on Student Coun-cil,” Schwichtenberg said.

Schwichtenberg and classmate and friend Baley Wellsdesigned the police logo that is on the police cars in Lo-cust Grove.

“I have helped with Special Olympics events and wasthe editor of the school newspaper for two years,” shesaid.

She wants to study journalism and an-thropology at Oklahoma University,among other areas of interest.

“Lately, I have been looking into so-cial media marketing and business de-grees. What I want is to be all over theplace. Bottom line: I just want to helppeople with whatever I decide to do,”she said.

Writing and drawing are some ofSchwichtenberg’s interests. “I enjoywriting on the computer, and I will writeabout anything I find amusing,” said this

daughter of mom, Cara, who is a homemaker and ownsa small soap business. Her dad, Larry, is in the Air Force,and she is the youngest of four daughters that includeErin, Skye and Ashly.

If she could choose one word to describe herself, itwould be “unapologetic.”

“I have never downplayed my creativity, humor or in-telligence to please others, and I’m proud of that,” shesaid

Contact Schwichtenberg to donate to Damsel in theDress at Damselinthedresslg@gmail.com. Check out LGCreative Communities on Facebook. Message or postfor information.

Or contact this “Damsel of Success” by email:mrppugg@gmail.com.

High school senior named new leaderof Creative Communities Committee

What’s Happening in LG February 2017 Page 8

Ron’s Auto Repair

Owner/Operator

918-479-2075109 West Main

109 W. MainLocust Grove, OK 74352

Ron Noble

COMIC CON FUN . . . Claudia Scheffer creates fun foryoungsters and adults alike as she paints works of art ontheir faces. The Locust Grove artist had a steady stream ofpeople waiting to have their faces painted at the Pryor CreekComic Con held Jan. 21.

A local man, JohnRatchford, has volunteeredto help rebuild the oldplanter in front of theformer Cook’s Restaurant,and Clark and Marcia May,current owners of the prop-erty, are amazed.

“We are exceedingly im-pressed with the ‘can do’spirit and generosity of thefolks in Locust Grove,”Clark May said.

Ratchford also arrangedfor the Mays to meet withJack Fine who is going torebuild the planter withbricks to match the former

Planter work starts at old cafe

restaurant.Ratchford donated the

bricks, used his own truckto bring them to theworksite and used his ownforklift to unload them.

OUT WITH THE OLD. . .John Ratchford uses physicallabor to destroy the old planter.

February 2017 What’s Happening in LG Page 9

Locust Grove, OK 74352

Locust Grove Tag Agency216 E. Main St./PO Box 1213

Williams AgencyBrenda Williams

(918) 479-1800(918) 479-1801 FAX lgtag@sstelco.com

New

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“My grandmother al-ways made sure we hadpaint-by-numbers projectsto do,” Stuart Horton saidabout his first experienceswith painting.

Locust Grove artist andLocust Grove Arts Alliancemember, Horton, firstpainted cars, race cars, andfunny cars.

“I would sit at the PryorPool and draw drag racingcars, top fuel and funnycars,” Horton said.

Artists’ teachings ontelevision fueled his love ofdrawing and painting.

“I first started doingacrylics after watchingJerry Arnell, Bell Alexanderand Bob Ross on television.I was inspired by their tech-

niques,” he said.A spark for painting also

came from his 7th grade artteacher in Ardmore.

“She was right out ofcollege and very talented asa teacher and artist. We en-compassed the gamut ofart—sculpture, molding,puppets. We did charactersfor the high school to usein their plays,” he said.

His eighth grade teacherin Pryor was thorough.

“Ms. Louise Janz had usdo letters in block perspec-tive. She made sure we un-derstood concepts, and shewould turn us loose inspare time to draw what weliked,” he said.

The GRDA employeeruns the Pensacola ware-

house and has lived heresince 1991. Artistic talentsrun in his family. His wifeShelley and children TristanBrunner and ThomasHorton enjoy creatingworks too. Horton also hastwo grandchildren—Sammy and Logan.

Horton says he is moreof a realist than an impres-sionist and has dabbled intaxidermy, air brush paint-ing, and sign and t-shirtdesigns.

“I will eventually do air

brushing again. In the fu-ture, I want to get moreinvolved in painting of allkinds,” he said.

“One of my favoritepaintings is of an oceanscene. It’s just a pretty nightpicture, but it was difficultto do,” said Horton. He hasalso painted scenes of lo-cal water spots, and one ofSnowdale Park.

Take a look at a numberof his paintings at the up-coming LGAA Art Showon Founder’s Day, May 13.

ARTIST Stuart Horton points to a painting hanging in theWonder City Coffee Shop.

Local artist inspired by former teachers

February 2017 What’s Happening in LG Page 10

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

Free Desserts Wednesdays!When purchased with meal

Good Food. Good Service.Good People.

Rural OklahomaMuseum of Poetry

6603 S. 438 - Locust Grove

Visit us atrompoetry.com

(Continued from Page 1)materials and supplies forthe UE that are not typi-cally covered by the dis-trict.

The Masons will notonly help with a monetarydonation but they will alsobe on hand to volunteer atthe dance.

Also volunteering will beteachers and support stafffrom the Upper Elemen-tary.

Teachers and staff willstay after school to helpdecorate tables and makesure everything is ready forthe girls and their fatherswhen they arrive.

A new addition to thedance will be a special sec-tion for mom. In the past,the dance has only been forstudents of the UE. Sincethe invitation has been ex-tended to the ELC spacewill be limited.

For this reason therewill be a special area justfor mom called the“Mamarazzi Section.” Moms will be able to takephotos of the girls withtheir dads before they en-ter the cafeteria.

Once the couple enters,it will be daddies anddaughters only.

-Daddy,DaughterDance-

(Continued from Page 1)and bingo is $10. The LGAA has very few fundraisers,and needs community support so it can continue to helpLG teachers, students, and artists in the community.

LGAA provides funds for teacher supplies, art sup-plies for area artists, sponsors art contests and events,pays for arts scholarships and more.

-Beans, Bingo, baggies-

2016 PHOTO SHOOT. . .Tretin Powell takes a photo withdaughters, Peyton and Dallas at last year’s DDD.

--Photo courtesy Rebecca Mounce PhotographyMORE 2016 PIX. . . RonDawson and his daughter,Zoey, get their picture takenby Rebecca Mounce Photog-raphy at last year’s Daddy,Daughter Dance.