Stroud’s business district suffered a terrible loss Monday evening when one of its Main Street businesses caught fire. The building did not currently house an operating business but still contained many items from the previous business. The building was last home to an art and framing business and is owned by former Stroud residents Marshall and Sherry Horn, currently residents of Tulsa. The building was luckily separated on the east from Stroud Drug by a concrete parking lot. On the west side of the building is the Estate Barn and next to the Estate Barn is the Masonic Lodge. At this time, I do not know the extent of the damage but from the flames pouring out of the top of the building, I am sure it is a total loss and at a minimum smoke and water damage to the attached buildings to the west. Just like watching your home burn, it is tough to stand on Main Street and see your hometown businesses suffering such devastation.
Town Talk has now completed its fundraising efforts for the Bugle Boy sound system. Thank you to everyone who donated to this project. Plans are to have the Bugle Boy sound his bugle for the first time on Saturday, November 11th, when he will awaken our community to the sound of reveille at 8:00 a.m. With a donation from BancFirst, several donations from alums and community members and our bake sale we were able to secure the last of our needed monies. We are excited about this addition to our community.
Please mark your calendars for Friday, November 10th for an important event in our community. That afternoon from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. a celebration reception will be held at the Stroud First Baptist Family Life Center to honor Dr. Conrad Market. He is being recognized by the Stroud Community Foundation and AVEM Health Partners and will be awarded their first Heroes in Health Care Award. This will be an annual award. Please join them as they honor Dr. Markert, a man who has dedicated his life to the health care needs of Stroud and the surrounding communities. He is our hometown’s beloved doctor. Let’s all get out and show our love for “The Doc.”
The American Legion Auxiliary continues to raise monies to place a wreath on every veteran’s grave on Wreaths Across Stroud Day on Saturday, December 16th. We have close to 800 veterans buried at our cemetery and the goal is for each veteran to have a wreath placed on their grave. A twenty-four-inch wreath with a red bow costs $10. We are asking for minimum $20 donations that will allow us to purchase two wreaths/ bows. It is a huge undertaking for the organization, but donations are coming in both locally and from alums and former Stroudites near and far. We have currently raised close to $2000 so we still have a way to go. We will pick the wreaths up after Christmas and store them to use again next year. Please help the Auxiliary honor our veterans at Christmas.
Veteran’s Day is November 11th. The American Legion Auxiliary is hosting for the second year in a row a night of music by The Andrew Sisters Tribute Show to say “thank you” to our veteran for their service. The event will be held at the American Legion Building on 8th Street in Stroud. All veterans and their spouses will be admitted free of charge. If you’re a veteran and received tickets in the mail present them for admission. If you did not receive tickets, please wear your service hat or show your military I.D. for admission. There will be a cookie and punch reception from 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. with the show beginning at 7:00 p.m. and conclude at 8:00 p.m. The public may attend for a $20 donation and the donation will be used to purchase wreaths for the cemetery. Tickets may be purchased at Stroud Cleaners or Unique Market or from any Auxiliary member.
Stroud is very lucky to have a local hospital. I’m sure if you’ve needed any of their services lately you know what a top-notch facility we have in our own backyard. In August our emergency room had 367 people seeking care. Respiratory failure, wound care and dialysis continue to be the top three areas of care provided by the hospital. They employ over 160 staff. High wages, great benefits and caring professional co-workers make it a great place to work. Again, if you haven’t been out to the hospital lately to see all the improvements made to the facility, stop and take a tour. The staff will be glad to show you around and show off their top-notch facility. Julie Bivin visited the emergency room when her husband Steve recently needed a little medical attention. She told me she was very impressed with the quick way they responded to Steve’s medical needs; he wasn’t left waiting in a room, but they immediately began assessing his situation. The promptness and professionalism impressed her very much and she said she could not praise the staff enough. That’s quite a compliment because Julie is a nurse and has worked in numerous hospitals and is aware of how things need to happen. While I’m on the subject, I need to give a big Town Talk shout-out to my buddy Steve and tell him we all hope he feels better soon. Steve is one of Town Talk and the Legion/ Auxiliary’s biggest cheerleaders and we need him to get better and get his pom poms back out. We love you, Steve!
I delivered baked goods to Tulsa, Oklahoma to my good friend Donna Ashford Dundee and to my cousins Sammy and Marie Mayfield in Edmond. They watched the Auxiliary’s on-line bake sale and couldn’t resist bidding on some yummy treats. The loyalty our alums feel for Stroud and its continued growth and progress is heartwarming.
Kudos to Marshall Alsip on the Facelift he gave his real estate building at the corner of Highways 66 & 99. New cedar was added to the building along with a fresh coat of paint. With the new look of Newnam’s Feed Store across the street and the work that was recently done at Kid’s Convenience Store this corner is looking very spiffy. It makes for an attractive glimpse of Stroud for those traveling Highway 99 who may never make it downtown. Thanks to all of you for the facelifts you gave your business.
Dental Designs of Stroud at 110 East Main Street will be hosting a snow cone party on Thursday, October 26th from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Free Kona Ice snow cones for all who attend. Come and help them celebrate their one-year anniversary in their new building.
Maranatha Christian Center at 600 Tanger Drive in Stroud will be offering free Lego sets and pizza on Sunday October 29th at 3:00 p.m. There will be a Lego workshop, Lego sets for everyone, pictures with Emmet from the Lego Movie and pizza and giveaways. All activities are free, and all ages are welcome. This will also be the dedication of the park/pavilion area built in memory of Dennis Tuttle, Sr. and Kim Flatt.
Stroud Chamber of Commerce will host Trick or Treat Main Street on October 31st from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. There will be a costume contest which will start at 6:00 p.m. at the Route 66 Pavilion.
Milfay Community Craft Show will be held at the old school building in Milfay on November 4th from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Admission is free and concessions will be provided by the Community Center (breakfast and lunch). You may rent a booth for $30. If you are interested contact Peggy at 918-261-1495.
Stroud has so much happening all the time in the community. To feel a part of the community you need to not only shop and dine locally but fellowship locally, too. Let’s come together and support all the great happenings in our hometown.
Thank you for continuing to shop and dine local………. first!