Work on the demolition of 1214 and 1216 Manvel - known as the St. Cloud buildings - has officially begun as of Feb. 2.
According to Chandler City Manager Jason Orr, Midwestern Wrecking has started work on taking down the buildings and estimates it will take about two to three weeks to complete, due to the complexity of the demolition.
The company will take several steps moving forward, rather than knocking it all down at once, Orr said. The plan is to completely remove all building materials from the sites and fill in the basements. He added that the City doesn’t anticipate they will need to close any streets throughout the process, but will issue any public safety announcements as needed.
In previous public hearings, the City estimated that demolition will cost around $200,000. They will issue a lien on the properties for the final amount.
It’s been about 10 months since the City of Chandler began efforts to address the buildings.
“The property owner has been given adequate due process including several hearings in front of the City Council, litigation in District Court, and an appeal to the Oklahoma State Supreme Court,” City Manager Orr said.
The City Council initially voted to demolish the buildings at a regular meeting in April 2025 after two public hearings on March 25 and April 8. A wind event on March 18 blew a retrofit roof off 1216, causing damage to the St. Cloud and the animal hospital next door. During the public hearings, Code Enforcement Officer Scott Wintz and an independent engineer from KFC Engineering presented reports detailing deterioration that took place over decades and made the buildings unsafe.
The demolition was stalled after building owner John Givens filed for a temporary injunction on May 5. He was initially granted a temporary restraining order, according to court documents. In a hearing on June 25, both parties presented evidence to District Judge Joseph Dobry. The plaintiff showed work done, while the defendant showed that it wasn’t enough to ensure the safety of the buildings and that they had been dilapidated for a long time.
After the hearing and receiving written arguments, District Judge Dobry issued a ruling that dissolved the temporary restraining order and denied the temporary injunction, according to court documents filed on July 9. Dobry found that the City of Chandler acted according to law and that the plaintiff failed to meet any of the requirements for injunctive relief.
On July 22, the case was appealed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. On Nov. 11, City Attorney Larry Lenora filed a motion to confirm the enforceability of the district court ruling and a hearing was held on Dec. 1. Judge Dobry granted a temporary stay until Dec. 16, ordering Givens to post a $300,000 supersedeas bond by then. He said that if the bond was not posted and there was no appellate ruling by the deadline, the City of Chandler was within its rights to move Bethany Descher, Brooklyn Eyestone and Bryson Taylor were named Lions of the Month for February by the Chandler chapter of Lions Club International.
Bethany Descher is the daughter of Kryste Nguyen and Tony Nguyen. She has a 3.75 GPA and has taken four years of Advanced English. She’s also been in Gifted and Talented for three years and Academic Team for two years. In 2024, the Academic Team won Conference.
Descher has been the Class 2026 secretary for three years, and part of the leadership for Positive Peers (two years) and PSI (two years).
Descher has been in band for seven years. During that time, she has been on the band leadership team, clarinet section leader, and colorguard captain. She helped the band to win OSSAA Sweepstakes each year from 2023 to 2025. She’s helped to win various marching band awards, including seventh overall at the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association State Championships in 2025 and 2A State Champs in 2024. She made the Cimarron Valley Honor Band and ECOBDA Honor Band from 2023 to 2025. Descher has also made the Small School All-State Band in 2024 and 2025, taking home the Best Woodwind Award for the Chandler High School band in 2024. In solo and ensembles, she received a Superior rating at Regions for three years, and went on to receive Excellent and Superior ratings at State. She also received an Excellent rating at the OSSAA State Winterguard Competition in 2025.
Descher is also a member of Thespian Troupe #1825 at Chandler High School and has been for three years. During that time, she’s been elected president and secretary. She’s also been an Oklahoma State Thespian offi cer. She’s won many awards during this time as well. In 2023, she placed third at the Regional One-Act Competition and went on to place eighth at State. In 2024, she placed second at Regional One-Act Competition and fourth at State. She was also part of the cast that won Fan Favorite at the Oklahoma One-Act Festival. In 2025, she was a national qualifi er with a musical duet, received a Superior rating at the National Thespian Festival in Musical Duet, and one Best Actress in Thespian Troupe #1825. Descher was named to the 4A OSSAA All-State Cast and placed fourth at OSSAA Drama State and made All Star cast at Regionals. She was selected as Thespian One-Act Chapter Select and All-State Cast at the Chapter Select Competition. Descher placed first in Dramatic Duet and second in Dramatic Interpretation at Area Speech and Debate.
She’s been in choir for two years and during that time was elected the choir class secretary. She helped the choir to win the OSSAA Sweepstakes Award in 2025 and made the ECOCDA Honor Choir in 2024. She received Superior ratings at Regionals in Solo and Ensemble and at State.
Descher also helped to organize a mental health seminar with Positive Peers in 2025 and took part in Girls State. Her other organizations include the prom committee, Student Council, BancFirst Student Board of Directors and Rotary Club.
Descher has been very involved in the community. She has given presentations for PSI, taken part in Girl Power Wise Guys and volunteered at the children’s theatre camp. Bethany also helped with the Student Council Memorial Garden, is a teacher’s aide at East Side Elementary, and painted windows downtown during Christmas. She’s helped Lincoln County On-Stage as a dinner theatre server and helper, as well as performed at a benefit dinner. She sang at the tree lighting ceremony with the choir and volunteered at the Chandler Community Christmas Ball.
After graduation, Bethany plans to attend Oklahoma State University and pursue a degree in Music Education. She plans to participate in the marching and concert band, then become a music teacher.
Brooklyn Eyestone is the daughter of Bailey and JD Eyestone. She has taken four years of Advanced English and is a member of the National Technical Honor Society. Eyestone has also received an Academic Excellence award from Gordon Cooper. She’s been in Gifted and Talented for six years and is attending Gordan Cooper’s Early Care and Education program. Eyestone is also in the leadership academy. She was the class treasurer her freshman and senior year.
She has received several certifications, including those for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. She’s a paraprofessional with fire safety, safe sleep, workplace violence and FERPA training.
Eyestone has been on the Chandler High School dance team for four years and a competitive dance team, where she’s captain. Through these teams, she’s won multiple awards. She placed first at Fly Dance as a soloist, third at Revolutions Dance Nationals, second and third at Stage One Regional Competition, and second first at Talent on Parade Regional Competition. She was the highest scoring soloist at OKLA regional dance competition and placed first at AMP regional dance competition. She’s also placed fifth at Stage One nationals competition. On the high school dance team, she helped win state champion in hip-hop and jazz at the OSDTDA state four years in a row and placed fourth overall in jazz. Eyestone won the Be Bold award, made the All American Dance Team and received a Superior rating at NDA dance camp.
Eyestone is also in FCCLA and placed first and second at FCCLA regional conference and third at State.
She’s been very involved in the community as a speaker during Memorial Day events and serving veterans at the Veterans Day luncheon. Eyestone has also helped with the Memorial Garden, is a cemetery volunteer, performed at nursing homes, and volunteered as a dance teacher, at Girl Power Wise Guy and at a grocery store for unfortunate families.
After graduation, Eyestone plans to attend East Central University and major in early care and education. She then plans to open her own early care program.
Bryson Taylor has a 3.69 GPA and is in Gifted and Talented.
He’s played baseball for four years and during that time was named All District Pitcher of the Year, First Team Pitcher, and was named to the 66 All-Conference Team and SSBR 3A-3 Pitcher of the Week.
While on the football team for three years, Taylor was District Safety of the Year and Lion of the Year.
He’s also a member of First Baptist Church youth group and BancFirst Student Board.
Taylor has worked at NAICO as a summer maintenance helper, a Little League umpire, a summer maintenance worker at 280 Ranch and a lifeguard.
As a community volunteer, Taylor has helped coach flag football and instruct at the Youth Baseball camps.
Taylor plans to go to college and play baseball. He hopes to obtain a degree in physical therapy.