Congratulations to Stroud Chamber of Commerce and City of Stroud on a great Christmas parade. Everyone enjoyed the parade and gave it rave reviews. The Christmas spirit was definitely alive and well in Stroud. The Illuminated Elf theme was a huge success.
The American Legion Auxiliary is still accepting donations for wreaths. The Auxiliary’s goal is to place a wreath on every veteran’s grave at the Stroud Cemetery. There are close to 800 veterans buried there. A $20 donation will purchase two wreaths. We have raised enough money for 300 wreaths, so we have not reached our goal. If you would like to donate you can send a check to ALA Treasurer Cindy Mason at 426 South 10th Avenue Stroud 74079 or Venmo me at Diana Reed@ TownTalk. Thank you to everyone who has donated. Saturday, December 16th is Wreaths Across America Day, so the Auxiliary has chosen that date to place the wreaths as Wreaths Across Stroud Day. There will be a short program and then the laying of the wreaths. The event will begin at 2:00 p.m. at Stroud Cemetery. This is a community event, and we are asking for your attendance to help lay the wreaths.
Town Talk sends condolences to the family of Donnie Reed who passed away on November 29th. Donnie was born in Depew, Oklahoma but was a resident of Stroud for as long as I can remember. He was the son of the late Noah and Winnie (Pitts) Reed and brother to Darrold Reed. He loved horses and turned that love into his profession. He also owned Salt Creek Bait Shop and Stroud Pawn. Every time I saw Donnie around town, he had a big grin on his face and an even bigger story to share with me. He will be missed by his family and all who knew him. Town Talk also offers condolences to Leon and Vivian Henshaw in the death of Vivian’s sister, Hellen. Another sister, Alta, recently passed away, too. That leaves Vivian as the only survivor of her six siblings. Please keep Vivian and her family in your prayers.
Don’t forget the “My Favorite Things” Christmas Party at the Methodist Church Thursday December 7th at 6:30 p.m. To participate in a special gift exchange bring three of the same things unwrapped to share. The limit is $10 per item.
Do you need food, formula or diapers? The Infant Crisis Services BabyMobile will be at Stroud Regional Medical Center on December 18th from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Those eligible are birth to three years. No appointment is needed but distribution is only while supplies last. A legal guardian must be present, but the child does not need to be present. You will receive one week’s worth of diapers and formula or food. Visits now renew every January, and each child can receive up to four visits each year.
The Friends of the Library will be having a book sale December 7th through the 9th of December. Most books are three for $1.00. Great Courses on DVD are also available for $10 each. Donations of books for the sale will be accepted before sale. This year’s funds will support participation in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
If your kids have too many toys you might want to consider giving them to someone in need. Sac and Fox National Public Library is hosting a “Buy Nothing” event just in time for the holidays. Stop by the Sac and Fox Community Building on December 9th from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. to donate, shop and enjoy some cookies and cocoa.
I just received word that Santa Claus is coming to town, before he arrives on Christmas Eve to deliver presents. He will be at Newnam’s Feed in Stroud on December 9th from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. and Newnam’s Automotive, also in Stroud, on December 22nd from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. If you didn’t get your letter to Santa mailed, this might be a good time to stop by and let him know what you’d like to have for Christmas.
The Housing Authority of the Sac and Fox Nation (HASFN) is hosting Cookies with Santa on December 16, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Pictures can be taken with Santa from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. This will take place in Shawnee at 201 North Harrison Avenue at the HASFN. You may also have pictures taken with Santa on Thursday, December 14th from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
A toy drive is being hosted by 99 Nutrition. Bring presents to 507 North 8th Avenue. The drive will end on December 17th. Let’s help them provide gifts to those that might need them.
The Stroud Tigers Middle School 7th grade boys’ basketball team competed in a tournament in Prague last week. The team placed 3rd in the tournament losing only one game to North Rock Creek. Congratulations, Tigers. Their next game will be Monday, December 11th. The Stroud 2nd graders played basketball this past Saturday against a team from Shawnee. It was their first game of the season. They showed great hustle but ended up losing the game in the last few seconds by one point. We will be ready for them next time. This team will play this Saturday at 9:00 a.m. here in Stroud.
Birthday wishes go to out my mother, Aleta Smalley, or “Madame Petite E” as she is known to her former French students. Mom will celebrate her 94th birthday on Saturday, December 9th. For those students who haven’t seen her in years but are reading this in the paper, she is doing great. She is healthy, not wealthy and somewhat wise. (That’s a joke, mom). Arthritis seems to be her main nemesis, but I feel blessed to still be running, or at least strolling, the streets of Stroud with her.
It’s the Christmas season and that means lots of shopping, I hope that also means shopping locally first. If our merchants are as loaded inside with holiday items as their buildings are loaded with decorations on the outside, you shouldn’t have any trouble checking many items off your holiday gift list. Thank you to our merchants for going all out with their holiday decorations and thanks to each of you for continuing to shop local……………….. first!