Putt Putt Kicks on Route 66 Grand Opening is this Saturday, July 30th from 5 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. There will be $2.00 miniature golf for everyone as well as free hot dogs, door prizes and lawn games. Chips, soda pop, water, candy bars and Johnny Freezes will be available to purchase. We have two new picnic tables with umbrellas donated by David and Janet Griebel where you can sit and enjoy the activities in the shade. Be sure and bring a lawn chair though because seating is limited. Please mark your calendars and come out and support this project. This golf course was a labor of love spearheaded by Town Talk but built with monetary, in-kind, and labor donations by many of our residents and alums near and far. Many hours were put into this project as a gift to our community and Route 66. No profits will be made from the golf course. It is not-for-profit and all monies raised above expenses will go back into the golf course and to other Town Talk community projects.
My graduating class of 1974 lost one of our classmates this past week to the insidious disease of cancer. Kevin Black passed away in Locust Grove where he resided and was a long-time pharmacist in the community. Kevin was married to another classmate, the former Terry Hinman and was the son of the late Raymond Black and Stroud resident Billie Black. Kevin has been my friend and classmate for as long as I can remember and was even my neighbor when I was a youngster living on Eighth Street. Kevin was a beloved member of his community and his church, Free Will Baptist in Locust Grove. He was also definitely a family man and I know he will be missed. Town Talk sends condolences to the Black and Hinman families.
Town Talk members Aleta Smalley and David Evans and I had the pleasure of visiting with Paul and Lou Ann Mercer this past week about volunteer opportunities for them in Stroud. Paul is a Stroud alum and he and Lou Ann lived and worked in Stroud several years ago and are loyal Stroudites even though they currently reside in Oklahoma City. We look forward to having them join our team.
While visiting with Paul, he mentioned that Stroud’s past but favorite Sharpe’s Department Store manager, John “Killer” Killingsworth re cently had back surgery. My first experience with John was when he and my dad shared a hospital room when the hospital was on Seventh Street. I don’t remember how long my dad was in the hospital that time but if “laughter is the best medicine” it wasn’t long. John kept my dad laughing his entire hospital stay and thus began the Smalley/Killingsworth friendship. Town Talk wishes a speedy recovery to our Chandler buddy.
Do you remember the double bank robbery Henry Starr pulled off in Stroud many years back? That is a piece of history that happened right here in our community. You can view silhouettes depicting the action on the side of Jim Hodgens Law Office and the Stroud Tag Agency. The Lazy J Sa-loon even boasts on their marquee that they were the “watering hole” of Henry Starr himself. It wouldn’t surprise me if Starr went there for the grub instead of the whiskey. The Lazy J is currently closed but I hear it may be reopening soon
Andrea Thompson Flatt’s one and only granddaughter was in town to visit her grandma this past week. Andrea, of course, had to take her to visit Stroud’s latest attraction, Putt Putt Kicks. Every time two-year-old Karter’s ball failed to find the hole she would say, “Oh, I missed it!” When she made her putt, she would raise her club and say, “I win.” She had a great time though and left with her own Putt Putt Kicks on Route 66 souvenir t-shirt. See what fun you’re missing if you haven’t played on the new miniature golf course. Don’t forget to pick your t-shirt up at the course. They are on sale now!
Debbie Heskett Hankins
Hearing set in collision
A pre-preliminary hearing has been set for a Shawnee man who faces two felony charges and three misdemeanor counts following a pursuit that reached a speed of nearly 100 miles an hour and striking a vehicle headon, critically injuring the woman who was driving.
Ciano Edmond Draven Sneed, 25, was formally charged recently in Lincoln County District Court with causing great bodily injury while eluding/attempting to elude a police officer after former conviction of two or more felonies and driving with BAC of .08 or more—great bodily injury after conviction of two or more felonies.
In the current case against him, Sneed made his initial appearance before Associate District Judge Sheila Kirk who set his bond at $10,000 and ordered him to return June 23 for his pre-preliminary hearing.
Special Judge Emily Mueller continued the hearing until 1:30 p.m. on July 7. posted a nice review on our hospital’s emergency room. She had to take her husband Joe there, which I hated to hear. I was happy to hear though that he received great care and they couldn’t have been more pleased. Debbie stated that it was better care than they had ever experienced at any of the larger Oklahoma hospitals. Joe received the correct diagnosis and the right medications and we hear he’s on the mend. Debbie did say to let her know if you saw him out driving around because that is a no-no. Please do your civic duty and let her know if you catch him out on the streets. In all seriousness, we are blessed to have such a wonderful hospital in our backyard. Can you believe Stroud kiddos will be returning to school on August 11th? Have you purchased all your back-to-school supplies? It’s not too early to start shopping for school and your last-minute summer items. Fall items are starting to fill up the shelves so if you need anything to finish out the summer you better get it now. Have a great week and thank you for remembering to shop local…………. first!