DIANA REED
Correspondent
Activities in the community this week include Stroud Middle School and High School football scrimmages Thursday, August 25th beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Oklahoma Blood Institute’s blood drive will be held at the Assembly of God Church on Friday, August 26th from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. The Lincoln County Fair is happening at the fairgrounds in Chandler from Wednesday, August 24th through Saturday, August 27th.
The high school girls fast pitch softball team will be in the conference tournament this weekend. The tournament runs from Thursday through Saturday during the day and will take place here in Stroud.
One of the best things about being a part of Town Talk is not only getting to be a part of the improvements we make in our community but gaining new friends through their donated time and monies. Stroud High School alum and former Stroud resident Tom Evans is one of those people.
Even though the Evans’ family have been members of the Stroud community since before I was born, I did not have the privilege of getting to know Tom until I started Town Talk. Tom has been so supportive and generous of our projects and has become a dear friend. He and his late wife Mary were residents of Stroud during a time when I was not. Tom currently resides in Tulsa. We texted this week and I asked him if I could share with you the following information and he gave me his permission. He said to let you know he is in the hospital battling the late stages of COPD but that he is not giving up. Let’s keep Tom in our prayers.
Stroud sweethearts Leon and Vivian Henshaw celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this past week. I know Leon wouldn’t care for me to tell you, but it seems he told me they got married in first grade. It must have been at the school carnival. I know I got married there a few times myself. I spent all my tickets at the marriage and fishing booths while everyone else seemed interested in the bingo game. Anyway, Pastor James Bond asked them if they’d like to renew their wedding vows. Vivian politely told him no, they recited their vows to each other 60 years ago and said “until death do us part” so those same vows still hold true today. Thought that was a very wise statement.
My dear friend Janet Griebel’s mother passed away recently, and her funeral was held this past Saturday in Woodward. Janet is not originally from Stroud but married into our great community, so we claim her as one of our own. She is the wife of my classmate, David Griebel. They are great supporters of Town Talk, our veterans, and all things Stroud. Town Talk sends their condolences to David and Janet.
I had a chance to visit with Debbie Garrett and Vicki Keim this past week. Our paths don’t cross much these days since they are not at the Health Care Center. It was nice to catch up with them. Seeing them reminded me of something my greatnephew Lincoln said to me. Lincoln, who is five years of age, was complaining because his brother Gideon was on the Play Station, and he wanted a turn.
I told him if he could just hang on another eleven years, he would have the house to himself. I explained that Gideon would be working, August would be in college, and he would be a senior in high school and would have the run of the house. His other brother August asked if I would be dead in eleven years and I said, “I hope not.” I told them both I would be 77 years old but hopefully I’d still be around. Lincoln told me, “I hope you’re not in a nursery then like my MeMa. That would be sad.” I just want to thank Debbie and Vickie for owning and operating Stroud’s outstanding “nursery” for all those years.
This week’s publish date for the paper is the 25th. I never write the number 25 without thinking about Christmas. It doesn’t matter that we haven’t celebrated Halloween or Thanksgiving yet just that we only have four shopping months until Christmas.
It’s not too early to start thinking about who’s been naughty or nice and checking your list twice. I’m sure our local merchants can help you fill up all your stockings.
Thank you for choosing to shop local…………first.