Town Talk

Can you believe this is the last paper you will receive in July?

August is upon us and once again I’m sure we are all asking ourselves, “Where does the time go?” Teachers report to school on August 10th and students who choose to return to traditional school will do so on August 13th.

I know it’s going to be a tough start for everyone as teachers maneuver through new ways of teaching and students must adjust to a routine after being off schedule for an extended period. Let’s remember to keep our schoolteachers, staff and students in our thoughts and prayers as they start this new school year.

Do you have your Stroud Tigers license plate yet? We have only a few of them left so don’t delay.

There are two designs available, “Once a Tiger Always a Tiger” and “Stroud Tigers.” Town Talk is selling them for $20 so contact a Town Talk member or me if you’d like to purchase one. All proceeds benefit community improvement projects.

Town Talk is still waiting on the next truckload of American flag flowerpots to arrive in Texas and then be shipped to Stroud. We are expecting 42 pots on the next shipment and all of them have been sold.

Hopefully after these arrive everyone who wanted a pot will be able to purchase one. When these funds are collected, we will donate the proceeds to the City of Stroud and work can begin on our Main Street Pavilion public restrooms.

Our latest donation came from Maxine Henshaw so a great big Town Talk “shout out and thank you” goes to Maxine for her contribution.

I enjoyed the article in last week’s paper about the murals located around our area.

After Town Talk worked on trimming the trees around the black and white mural on the building at the corner of Main Street and 5th Avenue, the building I call Beltz Bakery, I wondered about the history of that mural.

I asked our “librarian extraordinaire” Marsha Morgan if she had any information on it. She shared an article with me from the Stroud American dated February 24, 2000 written by Bill Brown.

It stated that it was the first mural painted by G.C. “Sonny” Stewart. Stewart lived in Luther but had an art studio in Davenport. He was contacted by Stroud National Bank, who owned the building, to paint an early scene of the old Frisco Railroad Depot, circa 1898. Stewart, who was a month shy of 62 when he painted it, said it took him about eight days complete and said it should last about 10 to 12 years.

I think it still looks great after being on that wall for 20 years. Stewart died on September 16, 2015 at the age of 77 years in Luther. He left a part of himself right here in Stroud, Oklahoma for us to enjoy for years to come.

The Treasure Box will host an “End of the Summer Sale” on August 1st at the Main Street Pavilion.

The event will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. There will be various local vendors with an assortment of items for sale, from clothes to baked goods to car air fresheners. Stop by and see what they have to offer.

Make it a “local” day and have lunch at one of our many great restaurants while you’re out. Don’t forget to check out our local merchants for all their back to school items.

If they don’t have what you need, just ask them and they might be able to order it for you.

Let’s remember to shop our local merchants, take advantage of our many local services, and dine or carry out from one of our local restaurants.

As always, remember to shop and dine local……. first!