The Paper

Summer Grillin’ winners picked

BETHANY ROBERTS. a fifth grader at Jefferson Elementary in Pryor, won a state poster contest for her entry in the 'Tar Wars' tobacco-prevention competition sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Health

The Paper & Friends gave away a gas grill, a huge box of fireworks, and 50 boxes of hamburgers and hot dogs to 52 winners selected by luck of the draw. The winners are:

GAS GRILL WINNER
Theresa Mennecke

FIREWORKS WINNER
Diana Crowell

BURGERS & HOT DOGS
Listed in order drawn
Pat McDonald, Leta Mathis, Dean Taylor, Karen Littledave, Betty Anderson, Clifford Applegate, Dennis Troyer, Betty Langston, Angie Thomas, Debbie Chancellor

Rita Mozingo, Rick Taylor, Darrell Applegate, Joanna White, Melanie Kinion, Judy Keith, Sandra Bark, Phyllis Miller, Pat Meek, Gary Buffington

Don Wilson, Nathan Hall, Betty Snell, Mike Guinn, Gene Gage, Shelly Coffman, Alma Eichelberger, Wanda Deegan, Doris Pollard, W.H. Gage

Patty Noland, Marilyn McClellanm, Joyce Palmer, Colleen James, Johna Bradshaw, Tami Rowland, Connie Davis, Sue Dixon, Calvin Crisp, Tony Graves

Linda Trotter, Reta Terry, Nick Sunday, Courtney Cantrell, Greg Richards, Sarasue Schrock, Rowena Darnell, Helen Holloway, Ernest Fogleman and Don Freiner

Chamber project out on technicality?

FACELIFT FOR CHAMBER STILL POSSIBLE?

Renovation of the Pryor Area Chamber of Commerce offices at Pryor’s front door probably will not be a part of the $13 million bond issue package the city is considering.

The renovation, which would remove the facade and bring out more of the original look of the 1900 building, was originally part of the project — but it is probably going to be dumped on a technicality.

However, Mayor Jimmy Tramel talked Wednesday about the possibility of the city funding the proposed $250,000 renovation of the Chamber building, owned by the city, with city funds.

The city has “capitol outlay” funds and “real property acquisition” funds for such purposes.

The technicality? If the Chamber project is included in the package, a “super majority” (60 percent) would be required to pass the entire $13 million project, instead of a simply majority.

City Attorney Randy Elliott explained that although the Chamber is a non-profit 501c3, the city building has a “private use” and that puts the building outside of the legal definition of “utility” projects which all of the other proposed projects meet.

‘Country Fever’ grounds not sold

RED-DIRT COUNTRY FEVER BAND JAMS

Pryor Creek Music Festivals has not sold.

“No offer has been made, and nobody is buying these types of facilities right now because of the economy,” said Dave Giencke, director of operations.

“We are working to partner with some worldwide entertainment companies to help us bring in some big-name acts, but we have not sold and have no offers to sell,” said Giencke.

Last winter, PC Music Festivals was approached by a church (not Willie George Ministries) to purchase the property.

“We gave them a price and they never got back to us with a counter-offer,” said Giencke.

Salina man cycling ‘Trail of Tears’

GARY WALKER PRACTICES FOR 900-MILE RIDE

SALINA — He knows his genealogy as far back as the Dawes Roll, but Gary Walker said he’s probably about to learn more on a more than 900-mile bike ride.

Walker, 24, of Salina, a graduate of Locust Grove High, is one of eight Cherokee cyclists who left last Wednesday to participate in the “Remember the Removal Project,” a bike ride from Rome, Ga. to Tahlequah — following the historical northern route of the “Trail of Tears.”

During the winter of 1838, some 16,000 Cherokees were forced to relocate from their homes in Georgia and other states.

From Georgia, they will bike through Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas.

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