Thank you to the City of Stroud, GRDA and the Stroud Chamber of Commerce for hosting Stroud’s annual fireworks show in Foster Park. It’s a great time to come together as a community and celebrate America and the freedoms we enjoy. Thanks, also, to the fire department for the family activities they provided. It was well attended, and the weather was quite pleasant for a July evening.
Stroud alum Randy Owens and his family came to visit his mom, Pat Owens, and celebrate July 4th right here in Stroud. Randy currently resides in Minnesota. He told me his family enjoys coming to Stroud over the fourth to enjoy the firework celebration. All five of his children, the youngest being eighteen, any many of his grandchildren came to visit. They spent one evening playing Putt Putt Kicks on Route 66 and enjoyed disc golf at the lake. It’s great that we have activities to offer when we have visitors in our community.
Long-time Stroud resident Charlie Webb passed away a couple of weeks ago. I have known Charlie since I was just a youngster. Charlie was married to the former Donna Carney. In early May when we were diligently working on the golf course trying to get it ready to open for alumni weekend, Charlie and Donna were driving by and saw several of us working. Donna said Charlie told her, “We’d better stop and see if they can use any help.” They pulled over, got out of their car, and began working right alongside us. As I’ve mentioned before, many people drive by, honk their horn, and give us a “thumbs up” but those two actually stopped to help and we were grateful. Charlie will be missed in Stroud. Town Talk sends our belated condolences to Donna and his family.
Kalah Summers is one of Town Talk’s newest volunteers. Mom and I were downtown one Sunday watering the Main Street flowers and Kalah, too, stopped to see if we could use some help. Of course, we told her we would appreciate it, so she proceeded to help us finish the job. Now Kalah has taken on a day herself to volunteer. We now have people watering every day. Thank you to Amber Talley and her family, Julie Bivin, Linda Waller, Aleta Smalley, Amy Shields, Cathy Terry, Andrea Thompson, Kalah Summers and Brian and Mary Vickery for volunteering to keep our flowers watered on Main Street.
Business is picking up at Town Talk’s Putt Putt golf course on Main Street. Due to the hot weather, we have just been opening Thursday through Sunday from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Pam Hunt and Kalah Summers have been my steady volunteers, but I know they could use a break. If you would like to donate three hours of your time once or twice a month to volunteer at the golf course, just give me a call at 918-527-9833. Also, call me if you’d like to book a birthday party at the course or if you would like us to open at a specific time for your event. We will do everything we can to accommodate you.
Stroud graduate of 1974, Kevin Black, is dealing with some serious health issues. I am sure he would appreciate prayers being sent up from his hometown. Kevin is married to Stroud alum Terry Hinman Black and is the son of Stroud resident Billie Black. He currently resides in Locust Grove where he is a pharmacist and the owner of Black Drug Store. My dear friend and Stroud resident, Leon Henshaw, had surgery this past week so a big Town Talk “shout out” to Leon and we wish him a speedy recovery. Another dear friend and Town Talk supporter is my friend the firecracker, Maxine Henshaw, who celebrated her birthday on July 4th. Her granddaughter, Ann Henshaw Miller, and her family were in town from Sanger, Texas, visiting Maxine. Ann grew up here in Stroud. Town Talk hopes Maxine had a wonderful day!
This Saturday is the Mason’s monthly breakfast at the Ag Building from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. The cost is $7 and is all you can eat. Come out and support the Masons. They give back the money they raise to various community projects. Stroud Arts is looking for kid and teen actors. They are having an “open call” at the Stroud Arts building on Sunday, July 10th. The Food Pantry will be open Tuesday, July 12th from 9:00 a.m. until noon and the Chamber of Commerce will meet at their Main Street facility at 5:30 p.m. First Baptist Church and Deer Creek Baptist Church will be hosting their summer Bible Schools July 11th through the 15th.
Stroud Little League hosted the OK Kids regional t-ball tournament last Thursday and Friday in Foster Park. Four teams entered and they were Chandler, Stroud, Blanchard and Luther. Stroud’s t-ball team played some good ball games and took home third place honors. Congratulations to our t-ballers. They had a great season.
I have to give a shout out to my new friend, Ms. Loren Fitzer. Loren sent me a nice text message this week and told me she reads this column. It’s always nice to hear from our paper’s readers. Thanks for reaching out, Loren.
I heard kids in my Sunday School class already starting to talk about school starting next month. I guess it’s not too soon to start checking out our local merchants for your back-to-school needs. Stop in and see what they have to offer. If you don’t see what you need, ask to see if they can order it for you.
Have a great week and thank you for choosing to shop local………..first.