Sand Springs shaping up to be North Pole 2.0 with extensive Christmas festivities

The 2018 holiday season is shaping up to be the best in Sand Springs history as new attractions join together with improved existing festivities. The town is well on its way to becoming a holiday destination for tourists across the region.

The Second Annual Snapped in Sand Springs event will run November 9th through December 29th. Dozens of businesses, churches, and organizations around Sand Springs will be setting up holiday-themed photo booths for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Some will be indoors, most will be outdoors, and everyone is welcome to stop by and take selfies or family photos.

On Saturday, November 24th the Sand Springs Small Business Coalition will hold their Second Annual Christmas Tree Lighting in the downtown Triangle District. Last year the event drew more than a thousand visitors as the city officially kick-started the holiday season with caroling, food trucks, and special holiday hours at the local businesses.

This year the Christmas Tree Lighting will be held at the finale of the Inaugural Sand Springs Sings vocal competition. The SSSBC will hold its third and final preliminary qualifier on Tuesday, October 2nd and the top three placers will advance to the November finals.

The Festival of Lights Christmas Parade will be held on Friday, November 30th in downtown and will feature Food Network star Kerry Vincent as Grand Marshall. The theme of the parade is “Christmas is the Sweetest Season of All.” Vincent was a judge on Food Network Challenge and has hosted multiple specials for the network as a master of sugar art. She founded and directs the Oklahoma Sugar Art Show every year, which is the largest judged sugar art show in the United States.

Prior to the parade, the Chamber will be lighting up all of the buildings in the downtown area with lights purchased through donations from Webco Industries, BancFirst, and the City of Sand Springs. Those lights will remain up through January 1st. The City is also donating a massive tree harvested from the Keystone Ancient Forest.

Last year Rod’s Books and Relics hosted their first Christmas Parade of Books, featuring several local authors at lighted tables along Second Street during the parade. The event has yet to be confirmed for 2018, but organizers are expected to announce a decision in the near future.

For the first time ever, the Chamber will also be hosting festivities through the entire parade weekend. “Hometown Holiday: A Christmas Celebration” will run Saturday December 1st from noon to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event will feature choirs, bands, plays, children’s activities, carriage rides and more.

The Public Service Company of Oklahoma is donating the funds for a Santa Cottage and Tulsa Technology Center’s Sand Springs Campus will be constructing it so kids can tell Santa their Christmas wish list! There will also be a handful of Christmas characters in full costume wandering the area for photo opportunities.

A church tent will be available for local churches to host children’s activities throughout the weekend. Churches can host three-hour blocks of activities. Any club or group will be welcome to set up a free fundraising booth during the event. The Chamber is also open to community suggestions for other events and attractions.

Sandite Pride News will be sponsoring our Second Annual Christmas Light Contest throughout the holiday season. We will be recognizing the best home and best business in the Sand Springs area.

Finally, the internationally-acclaimed Blue Dog art exhibit by George Rodriguez will be making its Oklahoma debut at the Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum from November 17th throughout the holiday season.

For more information on the Christmas Parade and Christmas Celebration, visit the Chamber of Commerce website at https://sandspringschamber.com/. Applications for Snapped in Sand Springs, the parade, and Hometown Holiday can be found at that link.

Sand Springs Chamber Business Incubator hopes to help small businesses thrive

Sand Springs has no shortage of retail or office space available for lease or sale. Downtown storefronts sit vacant. The 7,000 sq. ft. Shoppes of Cleveland shopping center built in 2014 has never filled up. The 15,000 sq. ft. Shops at Sand Springs built in 2017 have yet to land a tenant. Numerous other buildings around town sit empty, most notably the 84,000 sq. ft. K-Mart building on Charles Page Boulevard.

The problem? While the City has been slowly attracting big corporations to town (ie: Colton’s Steak House, Aldi Grocery Store, Starbucks, CVS, etc.) most companies with real capital want to build their own facilities. Existing vacancies are typically filled by small local businesses, and even the cheapest real estate in town can be a serious strain on an aspiring entrepreneur.

The Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the City of Sand Springs, is looking to kill two birds with one stone by providing low-cost office space to upstart organizations. The goal is for those businesses to build a customer base and reliable income stream so they can eventually expand into the vacant real estate around town.

Business Incubators not only offer cheap office space, but come with many other perks as well. The Oklahoma Small Business Incubators Incentives Act exempts tenants of certified incubators from state tax liability on income earned as a result of occupancy for up to ten years.

The Sand Springs Chamber incubator will also provide co-working space, conference rooms, electronic equipment such as printers, scanners, and a fax machine, and more. There are currently twelve rooms up for lease. The largest conference room seats as many as sixteen individuals comfortably. There will even be day-passes available for individuals to come use the technology center from their laptop.

The Chamber recently acquired their new building at 109 North Garfield Avenue from the City of Sand Springs with a $1.00/year lease agreement. The facility was formerly the home of the City’s Public Works Department and currently has 2,100 sq. ft. of rentable space.

“The City has been phenomenal to work with on this,” says Cepak. “(Community Development Director) Grant Gerondale has been amazing, that man has amazing ideas.”

Mile High Designs in Sand Springs recently installed new flooring through the whole building and most of it has received fresh paint and updated fixtures.

According to Chamber President Kristin Cepak, the Chamber has received approximately $6,000 worth of in-kind community donations so far, and 85% of the updates and improvements have been made by Sand Springs businesses. Organizations such as Webco and BancFirst are branding the building and providing free office supplies and other resources for the tenants.

The Chamber has yet to release pricing for the rental spaces. For more information on the incubator or other Chamber resources, contact Cepak at 918-245-3221 or visit their website at https://sandspringschamber.com/.

Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce to participate in community revitalization project

55 community structures across Oklahoma have been chosen to participate in Fresh Paint Days. This Keep Oklahoma Beautiful (KOB) program is designed to encourage volunteers to seek out community structures and renovate them with the creative use of resources. This year, Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce was chosen as one of the participating groups.

Fresh Paint Days is a program founded on the collaboration between H-I-S Paint and Keep Oklahoma Beautiful. KOB, with the help of sponsors, provides the paint and a stipend for supplies; selected communities supply the volunteers and elbow grease. This program has helped to revitalize communities across Oklahoma with a fresh coat of paint.

“This building is in a rather blighted area of Sand Springs and we are hoping the remodel of this building will bring back this portion of town,” said Kristen Cepak, of Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce.

H-I-S Paint and Keep Oklahoma Beautiful started the Fresh Paint Days program in 2005.

“HIS Paint is thrilled with the transformations that are being made within each of the communities participating in the Fresh Paint Days in Oklahoma initiative. It’s amazing how a fresh coat of paint can help to transform an entire community,” said Joe Cox, founder and CEO of H-I-S Paint.

Amelia Schoenhals, the projects coordinator for KOB, works with potential participants throughout the application process.

“I am honored to be able to assist communities in renewing their pride for the town they have built a life in,” Schoenhals said. “The participants of Fresh Paint Days truly exemplify how Oklahomans can make a change by working together, asking for help and applying a vision for the future of their community.”

When the Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) began to support the program, KOB was able to offer participating groups a cash stipend to purchase supplies and make the program entirely cost-effective for participating groups.

“Public Service Company of Oklahoma is pleased to continue its support of Fresh Paint Days, and of the individuals and organizations who work hard to make their communities great places to live and work,” said James A. Evers, with State Governmental & Environmental Affairs for PSO.

CL Boyd, an Oklahoma equipment company, is providing three pressure washers to the recipients of their equipment grant.

The group will have 30 days to complete their projects using donated paint from H.I.S Paint of Oklahoma City and a stipend from Public Service Company of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.

Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce will be one of 43 groups competing for the “Best Visual Impact Award” through the, ‘Communities Primed for Change’ online contest. Finalists will be chosen based upon their ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos. Winners will be announced at the Keep Oklahoma Beautiful 28th Annual Environmental Excellence Awards Celebration on November 30, 2018.

Keep Oklahoma Beautiful is a statewide nonprofit with a mission to empower Oklahoma citizens to preserve and enhance the state’s natural beauty and ensure a healthy, sustainable environment.

For more information about KOB, Fresh Paint Days, and the sponsors of this program visit: www.keepoklahomabeautiful.com

Sand Springs City and Chamber of Commerce partner to create small business incubator in downtown

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The Sand Springs Municipal Authority unanimously voted Monday evening to move forward with plans for a partnership with the Sand Springs Area Chamber of Commerce. 

The City of Sand Springs will lease the old Public Works facility at 109 North Garfield to the Chamber of Commerce at an amount of $1.00 per year, giving the Chamber room to develop a business incubator in the heart of downtown.

The Chamber will sublet office space to upstart businesses at a rate lower than most downtown office space. They will also provide resources to help young businesses get to a point of profitability that they can eventually move into the large amount of vacant downtown storefronts.

The terms of the agreement allow for either party to cancel the lease with a 90-day written notice for any reason. The City will receive 25% of the sublease revenue, while the Chamber will keep 75% to help with their economic development projects. The City will also receive a quarterly financial report and monthly update on the occupant businesses. 

The Chamber will take possession of the building in "as-is" condition and will be doing a self-funded remodel to convert the building for their purposes. 

Chamber President Kristin Cepak says it will take the Chamber about nine to twelve months to get the incubator program off the ground. The Chamber is working with The Forge, a curriculum-based certified business incubator in Tulsa, and 36 Degrees North, to create a fully certified program through the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

In Other News:

Council authorized City staff to apply for Programming of Tulsa Urbanized Area Transportation Alternative Funds. The City is working to construct a sidewalk along the western side of 81st West Avenue from Tenth Street to Park Road. 

Council unanimously passed Ordinance 1321 amending City zoning codes for the potential passage of State Question 788. Should medical or recreational marijuana ever be legalized in the State of Oklahoma, growers, processors, and retailers would have to apply for Specific Use Permits. 

Council unanimously passed Ordinance 1322, aligning the City with State statutes regarding underage access to tobacco. The ordinance prohibits possession or sale of vapor products to youth under age 18.

City Council approved a $165,096.00 contract renewal with Superion LLC for financial software. 

Council approved a $31,636.80 purchase order to upgrade all City employees to Microsoft Office 2016.

Council approved the purchase of 49 Dell PCs for Police, Fire, and Municipal Court departments in the amount of $37,240.

Council approved supplemental appropriations totaling $1,047,000.00 from the Municipal Authority Water Utility Fund to prefund building, golf course, museum, and park improvements. The water fund will be reimbursed when certain voter-approved bond packages are sold. 

Council approved a $29,662.27 service agreement with Motorola Solutions to upgrade Police Department communications systems.

Council approved $107,397.00 for the purchase of three 2018 Ford Police Interceptor SUV units and one 2019 Ford Taurus unmarked detective units.

Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding and $3,214.75 payment to the Indian Nations Council on Government for 9-1-1 mapping and MSAG services. 

Council approved $261,708.00 to subsidize EMSA services for the city. 

Council approved $47,485.00 to furnish the Billie A. Hall Public Safety Center and Fire Station No. 2. 

Council accepted a $29,635 bid from Candle Electric for electrical work in Case Community Park. Candle will work to replace buried electrical wiring feeding the roadway lights. They returned the lowest bid out of three companies.

Council approved a final payment of $6,860.00 to Lambert Construction for their work in building a hardened storm shelter at Case Community Center.

Council approved an agreement renewal with the Metropolitan Environmental Trust (M.e.t.) in the amount of $33,132.00 for operating the Sand Springs Recycling Program. 

Council unanimously appointed Merle Parsons to the Board of Adjustment.

Council unanimously appointed Sharon Weaver to the Sand Springs Development Authority.

Council unanimously appointed Thomas Askew and Paul Shindel to the Planning Commission. 

Council declared three residential lots as surplus, authorizing sale for residential development. The lots, located at 301 N Franklin Ave, 307 N Franklin Ave, and 505 W Broadway St, were donated in lieu of payment of liens.

Council approved $394,908.00 for the purpose of replacing Precision Approach Path Indicators and constructing a new Electrical Vault at Pogue Airport. 

House District 66 candidates focus on education at Sand Springs Chamber forum

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Left to right: Jadine Nollan, Angela Graham, Brian Jackson, Emily Delozier. Not pictured: Rusty Rowe.

All five candidates for Oklahoma House District 66 spoke at a forum sponsored by the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce Monday afternoon at the Tulsa Tech Sand Springs campus. 

Three Republicans and two Democrats spoke on issues ranging from infrastructure to mental health, but the focal point of the luncheon was the state of public education funding. 

Democrat Angela Graham is a Pre-K teacher, lifelong Sandite, and Charles Page High School graduate. 

"We have a broken legislature...that has chosen to stop fighting for us," says Graham, who is running on a heavy education platform and hopes to bring raises to Oklahoma teachers and support staff.

Additionally she wants to see all Oklahomans with health insurance, and wants to reduce statewide incarceration particularly among the female population. A big point for Graham is to undo Oklahoma’s “right-to-work” status and strengthen labor unions.

Democrat Rusty Rowe is a former restaurateur, owning and operating Mod's Coffee and Crepes in downtown Tulsa for seven years before closing shop in December of last year. He lives with his wife of ten years and two children in northwest Tulsa. 

"I decided to run because I feel like our current group of legislators have been given opportunities to invest in teachers, students, working class people, and small business owners like myself, and it seems like they often put the needs of their donors before the needs of their people," said Rowe. "I want someone who's listening to the entire district. Not just the Republicans, not just the Democrats - everybody."

"I've been talking to a doctorate of economics...a mayor, city officials, the chief of police, city planners, teachers, school administrators - to make sure that when I say something, it's been researched and I have some teeth to it. I'm not just armchair quarterbacking things."

Current Sand Springs City Councilman and former Senate District 37 candidate Brian Jackson is running as a Republican. Jackson is the Development Manager at Junior Achievement of Eastern Oklahoma and his wife is a public school teacher in Sand Springs. His daughter also attends Sand Springs Public Schools. 

"We need a representative that doesn't give up, that will go against the political parties and remember it's about the people," says Jackson.

Jackson was censured by the Republican Party of Tulsa County during the 2016 Senate race for vowing to support Democratic candidate Lloyd Snow against Republican incumbent Dan Newberry, who Jackson considered to be anti-education. The Oklahoma Republican Party's State Central Committee voted in May to uphold a ban preventing Jackson from accessing the OKGOP Datacenter Program.

Republican Emily Delozier is a fourth generation Sandite with a Bachelor's degree in business from the University of Tulsa and three Associate of the Arts degrees from Tulsa Community College. 

Delozier spoke in opposition of raising taxes, and in favor of consolidating school districts to eliminate administrative overhead and return education dollars to the classroom. 

Incumbent Republican Jadine Nollan is a lifelong Sandite and former Sand Springs Board of Education member. She spoke regarding her past eight years in office and the difficulties the legislature has overcome during her tenure.

"When I was elected in 2011, our country was in a national recession...Oklahoma went into an oil bust...we had pensions that were failing...we had crumbling roads and bridges...we had a worker's compensation system that was one of the most expensive in the nation, we had a capitol building that had been neglected and was unsafe," said Nollan. "We were not tracking any of our tax credits, evaluating them, measuring them, or monitoring them at that point...We had a revenue problem and we were not going to be able to cut our way out of it, though a lot of people still believe that we could."

Nollan pointed to the Oklahoma Incentives Commission, the Energy Stabilization Fund, the Governor's Closing Fund, a revamp of the worker's compensation system, the rainy-day fund, an eight-year plan for transportation, and the Capitol remodel as legislative successes.

According to Nollan, State pension funds are all nearing solvency and the Oklahoma Tax Commission is developing a real-time dashboard to measure and monitor tax credits online. 

Nollan holds a 93% rating from the Research Institute for Economic Development, a 100% rating from the National Federation of Independent Businesses, a 50% rating on The Oklahoma Constitution conservative index, a 100% rating from Oklahomans for Life, a 59% rating from the American Conservative Union, a "Pro-Public Education" assessment from Oklahoma Parents and Educators for Public Education, an "F" on the Sierra Club environmental scorecard, and an "A" on the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association scorecard. 

All candidates but Delozier vowed not to sign the Oklahoma Taxpayers United referendum petition overturning a historic revenue bill passed this past legislative session to fund teacher pay raises. If the petition garners 42,000 signatures by July 18, a State Question will appear on the November ballots asking Oklahoma voters to veto the package. 

HB1010xx is expected to raise $447 million in annual revenue by increasing the gross production tax to 5% on all new oil wells, increasing the cigarette tax by $1 per pack, increasing the gasoline tax by three cents, and increasing the diesel tax by six cents. The money is intended to fund pay raises averaging more than $6,000 for Oklahoma public school teachers.

An opinion published by the Oklahoma Attorneys General states that if HB1010xx is overturned, teacher pay raises will remain intact, but the funding mechanism will be removed and legislators will have to find other ways to back the raises. 

Not only has Delozier signed the petition she is also an active member of Oklahoma Taxpayers Unite and has copies of the petition available for signatures. 

"You don't want something that's going to raise the price of all goods," said Delozier. "It's not good for Oklahoma. We still have people trying to get on their feet and get a job. You can't raise the price of hauling everything and not expect to raise the price of everything."

The primary election will be held June 26th with the deadline to request absentee ballots set for June 20th at 5:00 p.m. Early Voting will be the 21st-22nd from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and the 23rd from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

Myers Marketing celebrates Grand Opening of new downtown location

Myers Marketing Management and We Are Sand Springs magazine celebrated the grand opening of their new location Saturday morning during Herbal Affair.

Myers Marketing is owned by Sand Springs locals Danielle and D.A. Myers. The company offers Social Media Management, Website Design, Search Engine Optimization, Brand Development, Video Production, Logo Design, and many other forms of traditional and modern marketing.

Myers' bimonthly magazine We Are Sand Springs provides 32 pages of full color stories, articles, and special features highlighting life in Sand Springs. They promote the aspects of Sand Springs that make the town unique, such as its history and founding by Charles Page, its beautiful parks, generous businesses, and successful schools. Copies of the magazine are mailed directly to Sand Springs homes free of charge, and can be found at businesses throughout town. 

We Are Sand Springs also publishes a calendar each year filled with coupons and important dates such as festivals, holidays, and the Sand Springs Public Schools and Chamber of Commerce calendars. 

The new office space for the company is located at 118 North Main Street and offers a place for locals to hang out and rest their feet while shopping downtown Sand Springs. They offer Dip 'n' Dots ice cream, games, and showcase local art. Sand Springs artist Jade Crawford is currently showcasing her work and sales of the art will go towards a summer mission trip to Tanzania with Asking For the Nations.

Sand Springs Chamber launches new Small Business Initiative

The Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce introduced a new Small Business Initiative at their Monday afternoon luncheon. The three-year program aims to present new businesses with resources for opening, growing, and becoming profitable quickly.

"The Chamber recognizes and appreciates the vital role that small businesses play in our community," said Chamber President Kristin Valentine. "These businesses are the engine of job creation and economic growth for Sand Springs."

"The Chamber wants to ensure that all businesses are equipped with the resources they need to grow and prosper, by providing the right climate for entrepreneurial and small business owners to succeed."

Businesses that have been open for five years or less and that have ten or fewer employers are eligible for the program, which includes reduced membership rates and sponsorship opportunities. Additionally, the program has created a Small Business Advisory Council that will provide direction for acquiring loans, filing corporate taxes, applying for permits, etc.

Lisa Miller, Jo Wells, John Fothergill, Danielle Myers, and Valentine comprise the council. Miller is the owner of Yellow House Market and Boutique, Wells owns Coble Flowers, Myers owns Myers Marketing and We Are Sand Springs, and Fothergill represents the office of Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith, who is sponsoring the initiative. Fothergill is also a former Sand Springs City Councilman and Vice-Mayor.

"We are very excited about it," said Valentine. "It's already brought in several new Chamber members. The response has just been phenomenal from the small businesses here in town."

Chillin & Grillin' expecting biggest year yet, still needing more BBQ contestants

Chillin' & Grillin' will return to Case Community Park in 2018. The festival was moved to Pogue Airport in 2017 due to park renovation.

City Councilman Phil Nollan and State Representative Jadine Nollan at the 2016 festival.

Chillin & Grillin has festivities for all ages.

Chillin & Grillin has festivities for all ages.

Chillin & Grillin has festivities for all ages.

Chillin & Grillin has festivities for all ages.

Harper's Hut Shaved Ice will be serving up snow cones for the fourth year. 

Church That Matters takes kids on a ride every year.

The Harper's Hut Classic Car Show partnered with Chilln' & Grillin' in 2017 and was a huge success.

Chillin' & Grillin' is more than just BBQ. The event attracts several arts and crafts vendors every year.

The Jennifer Marriott Band will entertain visitors for the second year.

Yellow House Market & Boutique will unveil their new mobile boutique at this year's Chillin & Grillin.

William Nozak presents a trophy to a winner at the 2017 Harper's Hut Classic Car Show.

The Seventh Annual Chillin and Grillin Festival is expected to be the biggest one yet, says Chamber of Commerce President Kristin Valentin, but organizers are having a hard time finding enough competitors for the BBQ contest.

Chillin & Grillin is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the nonprofit Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce, and is a major economic driver for the City of Sand Springs. The festival will be held at Case Community Park from Thursday, April 12th through Saturday the 14th. After six years of hosting an official Kansas City Barbecue Society event, the Chamber decided to forgo the prestigious, but expensive, partnership. 

There are four categories of competition with a $1,000 grand prize and $500 reserve. The contest judges brisket, pork, ribs, and chicken. There is also a People's Choice category and a Kid's competition. Only four teams have committed to the full contest, and Valentin says they may have to cancel it if they don't get ten teams by Friday.

People's Choice will proceed unhindered and already has eight entrees. Visitors can pay $10 to eat their fill on Saturday and vote for their favorite overall team. The Church That Matters Holy Smokers won the first five People's Choice Awards and were dethroned by the Sand Springs Parks Department last year. 

In addition to barbecue, Lee's Charburgers, Not Your Grandma's Cupcakes, and Kettle Treats will also be on hand, as will numerous vendors of arts and crafts, clothing, cooking and barbecue supplies, and more. Yellow House Market and Boutique, Okie Spice and Trade Co., Cutco Cutlery, and BJ's Pit Stop will be setting up shop and Janicelynn Yazzie will be selling traditional Navajo jewelry and blankets. 

The festival has expanded to three days for the first time and will have a full carnival as well. Entry is free all three days. Carnival wristbands are $20/day in advance or $25 at the gate and can be purchased at Prattville Market, Verizon Wireless, and Green Country Federal Credit Union. The wristbands will provide unlimited rides on either Thursday or Friday. Rides are $3 apiece on Saturday. 

Food trucks, carnival rides, live music, and a beer garden will be on hand all three days, and the Harper's Hut Classic Car Show will be on Saturday with five Best in Show categories and unique custom trophies made from actual car parts. 

Student jazz bands from Mannford, Berryhill, and Charles Page High School will provide the entertainment Thursday evening. Sand Springs's own Jennifer Marriott Band will perform on Friday, and Midlife Crisis will play on Saturday. 

Parking will be free all three days.

"This year we are already ahead of the game and we're very excited about it. The sponsorships of the companies in this town that are supporting us and this event are amazing," says Valentin.

"We truly feel that these events are economic development in its purest form because it brings people to Sand Springs, gets people out of their homes and doing something that isn't very expensive. We're very conscious of making it moderately priced so that people can absolutely come out and enjoy it."

To enter the barbecue contest, contact Kristen Valentin at (918) 245-3221. To enter the car show, contact William Nozak at (918) 671-6352. Car show entrees are $15 in advance or $20 day of. 

Event sponsors: Green Country Federal Credit Union, OmniTRAX, City of Sand Springs, Webco Industries, Church That Matters, Cecil & Sons Discount Tires, Keystone Chevrolet, Osage Casino Hotel, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, Sam's Club, United Rentals, The Canyons at Blackjack Ridge, KRMG, Mobley-Groesbeck Funeral Service, Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy Stores, PepsiCo, and Reasor's. 

Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce holds forum on criminal justice reform

The Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce held an open forum on criminal justice reform Monday afternoon at the Tulsa Tech Sand Springs campus. Sand Springs Police Chief Mike Carter, Tulsa County Public Defenders Office first assistant Stuart Sutherland, and District Judge Doug Drummond all spoke at the event.

According to Carter, the Tulsa County Court System has been working together with local police departments to implement electronic filing, saving the departments time and resources.

Carter discussed local law enforcement efforts to distance themselves from partisan thinking, comparing reform to a swinging pendulum that needs to test different policies and find balance.

Sutherland spoke about the high incarceration rate in the county and the potential for low income defendants to be adversely affected by the current system, speculating that some innocent defendants who are financially unable to bond out are more likely to enter guilty pleas in order to either get out of jail, or to avoid a greater sentence if they are unable to defeat their charges.

Drummond addressed the difficulty of balancing the need to reform offenders with the need to provide justice for victims. "I think (legislators) are afraid that people are going to think they're soft on crime. It does take some courage to make this move (toward reform)." Another concern of Drummond’s was a lack of data in Oklahoma to guide reform and let policy makers know what works.

Sand Springs City Council candidates speak at Chamber forum

Incumbent City Councilman Brian Jackson and former City Councilman Harold Neal spoke at a Chamber of Commerce forum Monday morning at the Sand Springs Tulsa Tech campus. The two are running for the Ward Six seat and the election will be held Tuesday, February 13th.

Jackson, 35, is in his third three-year term on the Council. He graduated Charles Page High School in 2002 and Oklahoma State University in 2007 before taking office in May of 2009. He is currently the Development Manager at Junior Achievement of Oklahoma.

Neal, 65, was a four-term councilman from Ward Five, serving from 2003 to 2015 before moving to his current ward. He graduated Liberty Mounds High School in 1970 and currently serves on the Sand Springs Planning Commission.

Jackson pointed to teamwork among the existing Council as pivotal to the recent community successes such as ALDI and Starbucks. According to Jackson, he first suggested that the City work to put a splash pad on the South side of the river at Pratt Civitan Park. 

Neal says he was recruited to run for his first term by current Mayor Mike Burdge. "I had a big interest in this city as far as the golf course. I was in that business for thirty years." According to Neal, he was an advocate for the golf course at a time when it wasn't as popular, pointing to the sales tax it generates at local convenience stores and eateries from out-of-town visitors as immeasurable. 

Jackson said Angus Valley Park is in need of new equipment but that the passage of a recent general obligation bond will pave the way for a new playground by Spring of 2019. 

Neal identified sidewalks as an area of concern in the ward and said he would advocate for more neighborhood sidewalks if he is elected. 

"I wish more people would call their councilmen when they have complaints," said Neal. "I've never failed to go to the City if one of my voters had a problem. I go to the City and take care of it for them."

City Councilperson is an unpaid position. The City has six wards and one At-Large position. Click HERE to view a map of the City wards. Only residents of Ward Six will be able to vote. The winner of the election will be sworn in at the May City Council meeting.

"Brian's always been a good friend of mine," said Neal. "We worked on the City Council together...I don't feel like I'm running against him. If he beats me that's fine, that's not a problem."

Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce launches new Ambassador Program

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The Sand Springs Area Chamber of Commerce is looking for community service-minded individuals to help launch a new Chamber Ambassador program. The Chamber hosted a free luncheon at Crescent Cafe Tuesday afternoon to discuss the program and distribute information, while the host restaurant graciously footed the bill.

The Ambassador Program will work to help inform the community of Chamber membership benefits, events, and opportunities to give back to Sand Springs. The Chamber has been working since 1946 to strengthen the community and local economy.

The Chamber hosts many events throughout the year, including: The Chillin & Grillin Festival, the Taste of Sand Springs event, and the Festival of Lights Christmas Parade. They also help other organizations with their events, such as the upcoming Ministerial Alliance-sponsored Boo On Broadway Halloween event in downtown.

Ambassadors will assist Chamber President Kristen Valentine with recruiting volunteers for events, recruiting new Chamber members, and networking with new and existing Chamber members. 

"We don't want people to have to work every single event," said Committee Chairwoman Jamie Halford. "We want to try to share the workload and plan ahead for events, rather than just throw things together at the last minute."

Ambassadors will earn participation points for attending or working events, for recruiting volunteers and new chamber members, and for helping with routine office work such as followup calls with existing Chamber members. Points will be turned in at quarterly meetings where an Ambassador of the Quarter will be recognized, as well as an Ambassador of the Year award at the Annual Chamber Reception. 

Chamber benefits include ribbon cutting ceremonies for new businesses, changes of ownership, and new locations. Members are able to submit information for the Chamber newsletter, are included in the online Chamber directory, and can include information in New Member Welcome Bags. 

Anyone interested in joining the Chamber or the Ambassador Program can contact Valentine at 918-245-3221 or Kristen@sandspringschamber.com. The Chamber offices are located at 1 West 1st Street in downtown. 

Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce looking for new Chamber Ambassadors

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The Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce is bringing back its Chamber Ambassador program and looking for new allies in recruiting community-involved members. 

The Chamber of Commerce has been working since 1946 to bring together area businesses and organizations for the betterment of the community and local economy. Chamber members work together to host events such as the Taste of Sand Springs, Chillin & Grillin Festival, and Festival of Lights Christmas Parade. 

Members enjoy benefits including: monthly forums with speakers such as local politicians, business owners, and other important regional figures, a weekly "What's Happening in Sand Springs" newsletter, a listing in the online Chamber directory, ribbon cuttings for new businesses and businesses that have changed ownership or location, and participation in Chamber events. 

Anyone interested in being a Chamber ambassador can contact Chamber President Kristen Valentine by Friday, September 29th to RSVP for a Tuesday Kick-Off meeting at noon in Crescent Cafe. 

Kristen can be reached at Kristen@sandspringschamber.com or at 918-245-3221. 

Senate candidates discuss education and budget concerns at community forum

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Left to right: R.Jay McAtee, Phil Nollan, Brian O'Hara.

Five of the seven Republican candidates for Senate District 37 spoke at a community forum event hosted by the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce Monday afternoon. Held at the Tulsa Technology Center campus in Sand Springs, the event offered each candidates a five minute platform, followed by a question and answer session.

The recurring trend of the conversation was heavily education and State budget focused. 

"What I'm hearing is, we need to get our schools better funding," said Rick Hardesty, 56. "We need to get more money into our education system. To me that makes sense as a small business owner in needing to have a viable workforce and things like that...The reason I started running, the main reason, was I sat and watched...and they have practically closed every school over there and it kind of got me angry."

Nicole Nixon, 31, added "three of my community schools were consolidated." She blamed Tulsa Public Schools for the closures, alleging failure to properly utilize their funding.

For Sand Springs Municipal Judge R. Jay McAtee, 60, the primary issue was the State budget. "The legislature needs to take the budget and make it their number one item on day one, February 8-9, 2018 and they need to not attend to any other business until that budget is addressed...We can't pay our teachers until we figure out how to do the budget."

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Nicole Nixon (left), Rick Hardesty (right).

Two Sand Springs City Councilmen are in the race, though one declined the invitation to speak. Ward 6 Councilman Brian Jackson, 34, who previously ran in the regular election last November, issued a statement.

"My campaign for Senate District 37 is a silent protest against the blatant disregard of the people’s voice through the elected official, who quit one year into his term. Too much time and too much money-to the amount of a half million dollars-have been wasted when we went through this political process a year ago. We are tired of the political nonsense we are bombarded with during elections. When will enough be enough? I will not raise one more dime, post one more sign, or campaign on any platform. Those that want to donate to my campaign, I ask you to find a local public school teacher and give that money to his/her classroom for supplies, as public education is still my number one priority. The choice of Senator for District 37 should be left to the people on voting day, not political games and influence.”

Ward One Councilman Phil Nollan, 59, spoke of his personal qualifications, his ties to Sand Springs, and his experience of working behind the scenes with his wife, House Representative Jadine Nollan. Jadine Nollan is in her seventh year at the Legislature, and previously served on the Sand Springs Board of Education for eleven years. 

"I'm a nationally-certified project manager. I think during my process of my early years I learned how to manage projects and programs, I learned how to lead teams...learned how to deliver things as promised - on time and under budget...My recent employment with EMC, I had to work with Fortune 100 customers...What I found in working with those companies is, they had big demands like I know this job has. Like I know the job that my wife has to do. Meeting those demands is not going to be easy, but you've got to keep your word. You've got to keep your promises, and you have to do the best you can do to make it happen."

Following their speeches, the candidates each responded to three questions from the audience. The first question regarded school vouchers, which allow parents to receive a tax refund to send their students to private schools. 

Hardesty declined to answer the question, citing a lack of knowledge on the subject.

Nixon expressed support for school vouchers in an ideal world, but said that our society and government isn't to the point yet that they would work. "We need to make sure that no children slip through cracks, ever. We need to find a good system."

Brian O'Hara, 56, touched heavily on vouchers during his opening remarks, and referred back to his earlier comments. "We're struggling, the schools are struggling...You make a choice if you want home school or private school and I respect that choice. I encourage that choice if that's what's best for your student...But that doesn't mean that tax payer money has to follow that student."

Nollan pointed out that proponents of vouchers often cite "school choice" as a major concern. "We already have school choice now...When we raised our kids in Sand Springs Public Schools, we could transfer our kids to a different school if we wanted to. We could ask for certain teachers for our kids to go through. If we didn't feel like public school was doing its job, we could home school our kids...You can send your kids to private school. If you don't live in the district, you can move into the district. In a sense, we really do have school choice now...Sending funding with the kid through a voucher system is not the solution."

"Lawyer answer, no," joked McAtee. "We need to fund our teachers, we need to fund our classrooms, we need to make it where we don't have to go out as a church, buy the supplies for all the teachers. We need to concentrate the money where it needs to be."

SEE RELATED: Word of Life church paints, cleans up Limestone Elementary

The second question asked "Will you increase the tax on oil and gas?"

"Yes, absolutely," said McAtee. "I don't want to put the tax burden on the citizens of Oklahoma until we have looked at every other alternative."

"It's an incentive tax, what's in place now," said Nollan. "The national average is 9.5%, in Oklahoma we average 3.2%. In Texas it's 8.3%. The research says that we probably need to take another look."

"Millions of dollars goes into drilling a well, which they may not get a dime out of if that well is dry," said O'Hara. "I've talked to a couple of companies, not the big guys, the guys that are just starting up. Their concern is that they can go elsewhere and drill...My position is, I don't support a gross production tax at this point. Only because the information I've received indicates that there would be a loss of wells if that were the case."

Nixon stated she would have liked to have seen the percentage increased to 4.5% during the last session, and that her biggest focus would be on getting Oklahoma away from a dependence on oil revenue. 

"It's really not raising a tax, it's taking away a tax incentive," said Hardesty. "The oil companies are well diversified. When they say 'if you take away our tax incentive we're going to cut back on drilling' that's a load of bull. That's how they make their money, they're not going to cut back. I have people in my family that own oil companies, and I have a lot of people in my family that work for oil companies. But that doesn't mean I want to sit and give the oil companies special treatment."

The final question asked for solutions to the ongoing budgetary problems.

"Take away the tax incentives that aren't working," said Hardesty. He also discussed consolidating State agencies and commissions. 

"Definitely want to look at incentives. I think that's a great start," agreed Nixon. "I think audits, very necessary. Anybody who's getting our tax dollars should be held accountable."

"I've told you where I think we need to start, and that means at the very beginning," said O'Hara. "The first month and a half, two months, if it takes the whole session we should be working on the budget. We don't need to throw bum legislation out."

"We need to do more on capping our incentives. Maybe some of the incentives stay, but we need to cap them," said Nollan. 

"We need to make Oklahoma a 21st-century state," concluded McAtee. "We have agencies that were created 150 years ago still in existence."

Grady Grant, 62, is also running for the Republican nomination, but did not participate in the event. Democrat Allison Ikley-Freeman, 26, filed unopposed and will take on the winner of the Republican nomination in November.

The Republican primary will be held September 12th. The voter-registration deadline is August 18, and the deadline to request an absentee ballot is September 6th.

Click on the candidates' images below to read their full statements.

Rick Hardesty.

R.Jay McAtee.

Nicole Nixon.

Phil Nollan.

Brian O'Hara.

USDA rolls out new Rural Development loan opportunities for Sand Springs area

Realtor Kenny Tate speaks at a Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce press conference.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce hosted a press conference Thursday morning to unveil big news for current and future home owners in the Sand Springs community. For the first time in town history, large ares of Sand Springs are eligible for United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development loans. 

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The orange-shaded area was previously ineligible for USDA rural development loans.

"An announcement of this kind has been a long time coming," said Kenny Tate, a realtor involved in the effort to get the USDA to re-examine the Sand Springs area. 

When parameters for eligibility were first laid out, the USDA utilized now-dated technology that resulted in the bulk of the Sand Springs area being considered urban. 

Buyers and builders in Sand Springs were unable to capitalize on the same financing opportunities that were helping neighboring communities to flourish. 

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Newly adjusted map of rural development eligibility. 

When a window of opportunity opened last year, the Chamber of Commerce made it their top economic development goal. Since then, Tate has worked together with Alan Ringle of Ringle Development, City Councilman Phil Nollan, and numerous local business men and women, as well as members of State and local government to get the Sand Springs area reclassified. 

Thursday morning Tommy Earls, USDA OK Acting Program Director of Single Family Housing, officially announced that everywhere outside of City limits, but inside of the City fence-line is now eligible for zero-down rural finance loans, in both Tulsa and Osage counties. "This change probably took effect faster than any we've seen so far," said Earls. 

The Rural Development program offers two basic programs. Families making up to $49,000 may be eligible for the Direct Finance program which will qualify them for 100% mortgage financing with a $220,528 loan limit at a 3.25% interest rate. They can also qualify for zero down-payment and closing costs. The Guaranteed Loan program is available for families of higher incomes with 100% mortgage financing with no loan limits at a 3.625% interest rate. Guaranteed Loan recipients can even use that money toward an in-ground pool. 

"This is your firefighter married to a teacher. This is everyone you know. This is a big deal," said Tate. Some neighboring communities have even had eligibility instated within city limits. "It's a long shot, but we're looking to try. We're thrilled with what we have, but we'll continue to fight for more. This is really a big deal."

"The area affected includes more than 100 square miles," said Ringle. Some existing areas that are now eligible include Nottingham Forest, Wekiwa Hills, and Whispering Hills.

Those involved in the effort believe this will be a game-changer for Sand Springs by encouraging more families to relocate to and build in the area, thus growing the local economy. 

Sand Springs Rotary Club hosts local nonprofit organization showcase

The Sand Springs Rotary Club and the Sand Springs United Methodist Church hosted a nonprofit showcase this past Thursday and dozens of local organizations participated. The free public event included free food and door prizes to help bring public awareness and attention to the organizations and the opportunities for community involvement. 

2 Angel Toy Run is an annual event hosted by Church That Matters in South Sand Springs with the purpose of providing toys for children at Christmas time, as well as scholarships for Charles Page High School students. The Toy Run is held each November. The annual event is named for Hannah Christian and Cassidy Rotramel, two Charles Page High School students who were killed in a motor vehicle accident in 2010. For more information, visit www.2angelstoyrun.com

The Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce is an organization of local businesses, organizations, and individuals working together to bring growth and economic development to Sand Springs. Members meet the first Monday of each month at noon in an open forum at the Tulsa Technology Center. For more information, visit www.sandspringschamber.com

Church That Matters seeks "to be a church that matters to God, each other, our city, and the world." The church has Wednesday evening youth service from 7:00 to 8:30, and three Sunday morning services at 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30. For more information, visit www.churchthatmatters.com

Camp Courage is an independent Christian youth camp located in Owasso and holds traditional camps during the Summer, Spring, and Fall breaks. They also offer a day camp with fishing, hiking, canoeing, paintball, swimming, archery, and more. For more information, visit www.campcourageusa.com

Counseling & Recovery Services of Oklahoma is an outpatient community mental health clinic for adults and children. The organization believes in "treating the whole person," both mentally and physically. They offer adult and children's mental health services, substance abuse assistance, physician visits, pharmaceutical needs, housing, and more. For more information, visit www.crsok.org

Daughters of the American Revolution is a women's only group that works to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. The group meets every third Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at Greentree Retirement Center in Sand Springs. Membership requires that a person be directly descended from a person involved in the United States' struggle for independence, and is only for adults aged 18+. For more information, visit www.oklahomadar.org

Day Spring Villa Women & Children's Shelter provides physical, emotional, Christ-like care to enable women and their children to live God-honoring lives. The shelter accepts any and all victims of domestic violence, human sex trafficking, and more. For more information, visit www.dayspringvilla.com

Hillspring Church is located in South Sand Springs and offers numerous small groups including Kids Outdoor Zone and Zumba. They are also hosting a motorcycle Toy Run on December 3rd at 11:30 a.m. For more information, visit www.hillspring.tv

Junior Achievement of Oklahoma serves K-12th grade students by introducing financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship into the classroom by empowering the students through exciting, hands-on learning experiences. For more information, visit www.jaok.org

Mobile Missions Network is a local organization seeking to meet the needs of mobile home communities in Northeast Oklahoma. Volunteers meet Sunday evenings at the River Oaks, Shannon Valley, and Valley Brook Mobile Communities from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. MMN hosts special events in these communities, including sports camps, bible clubs, and Halloween parties. They also help provide Christmas gifts and help families with light remodeling projects in the area. For more information, visit www.mobilemissionsnetwork.com

Oasis Adult Day Services provides affordable daytime care in a home-like environment for cognitively or physically impaired adults. Oasis has locations at 5525 East 51st Street, Tulsa, and 410 East Lee Street, Sapulpa. For more information, visit www.oasisads.org

Osage Forest of Peace bills itself as an "interspiritual Contemplative Retreat Center." The grounds are open to guests seven days a week with meditation times at 7:00 a.m. and noon daily, plus a 4:45 time on Tuesdays through Saturday. The Forest hosts various retreats and programs, with overnight cabins, meals, yoga classes, hiking, as well as a Zen Garden and labyrinth. For more information, visit www.forestofpeace.org. 

Rotary Club of Sand Springs is the local chapter of a worldwide organization promoting service over self. Rotary believes that service is the basis for success and happiness in business and community life. The local chapter meets ever Friday at 12:00 noon at Broadway Baptist Church. Some of the annual activities sponsored by Rotary include Downhill Derby, the Nonprofit Showcase, a February Chili Cook-off, and a June Bass fishing tournament. For more information, visit www.sandspringsrotary.com

Saint Francis Community Services works toward the recruitment, certification, and retention of quality foster homes in Oklahoma. The organization is not associated with Tulsa hospital, and is corporately located in Kansas. For more information, contact jason.cloud@st-francis.org

Sand Springs Area Support Group for the Visually Limited meets on the third Monday of each month at the Lucile Page Manor Community Room in Sand Springs. The organization helps the visually impaired, and their caregivers, to access resources and creative solutions to overcoming the disability. 

Sand Springs Community Services, Inc. assists Sand Springs area residents experiencing economic crisis in moving forward towards self-sufficiency. For more information, visit www.sscsok.org

Sand Springs Community Thanksgiving Dinner is sponsored by the Sand Springs United Methodist Church, and works to prepare and deliver Thanksgiving meals to Sand Springs and West Tulsa residents. Volunteers meet the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, as well as Thanksgiving day at the UMC Family Life Center. For more information, contact mcreeves@cox.net

Sand Springs Community Theater is dedicated to the exploration and celebration of the performing arts. The company performs three to four shows per year, hosts fundraisers and school workshops, and provides one scholarship each year for a Charles Page High School senior. For more information, visit www.pageplayers.com

The Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum is dedicated to the acquisition, preservation, interpretation and exhibition of information and materials related to the history and culture of the Sand Springs community and surrounding area. The museum holds an annual Night at the Museum event the week of Halloween, as well as a Christmas display. The Art of Giving Holiday Open House will be Saturday, December 18th from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 and will feature the Sand Springs Community Band, Sand Springs Service Clubs, and the Festival of Trees in the museum. For more information, contact SSmuseumSS2@gmail.com.

The Sand Springs Education Foundation is a private partner organization of the Sand Springs Public School district and helps provide creative and innovative materials that cannot be funded through local, state, or federal means. For more information, visit www.sandspringseducationfoundation.com

Sand Springs Park Friends, Inc is a fundraising organization for quality of life projects for Sand Springs Parks. For more information, visit www.sandspringsok.org

The Sand Springs Sertoma Club seeks to meet the needs of those impacted by hearing loss and meets each Tuesday at noon at the Sand Springs IHOP. The Sertoma Club sponsors the annual Sand Springs Fireworks show, as well as an annual Murder Mystery dinner. For more information, visit www.sertoma.org

The Sand Springs Symphony League works each year to bring symphony music performances to Sand Springs elementary school students. For more information, contact sandspringssymphonyleague@gmail.com

The Sand Springs Women's Chamber is organized for the purpose of advancing literacy through charitable, civic and literacy programs in Sand Springs. Members meet the second Wednesday of each month from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Case Community Center, September through May of each year. For more information, contact dmyers@mysersmm.com

Sandite Team Animal Rescue (S.T.A.R.) is dedicated to the rescue and care of abused, neglected, and homeless pets. Volunteers work to find homes and foster homes for animals in the Sand Springs pound. They provide veterinary care, spay-neuter services, transportation, and foster care for hundreds of cats and dogs.  For more information, visit www.STARescue.com

Springs, Inc. provides assistance in daily living for people with intellectual disabilities. The organization is committed to the principle of normalization. For more information, visit www.springsinc.org

Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Sand Springs is the local chapter of an international organization rooted in Christianity. The ministry seeks to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. For more information, visit www.salarmytulsa.org

Back to School in Sand Springs

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Several community organizations are hosting Back to School events in the coming weeks.

Trinity Baptist Church will be hosting a Back to School Bash from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, August 13th at 13 West 40th St. in Sand Springs. The church will be providing games, food, inflatables, and free haircuts. It is also a gym in the hit game Pokémon Go!

The Sand Springs Ministerial Alliance and Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce are partnering to host a Back to School Bash Sunday, August 14th at the Tulsa Tech campus at 924 East Charles Page Boulevard.

The event will last from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and will offer free haircuts and school supplies.

Sand Springs Community Services is hosting a three-day Back to School program in which they will be distributing backpacks, school supplies, and clothing vouchers. The program is only available to Sand Springs, Anderson, and Keystone students with proof of enrollment and proof that the child received free lunches las year.

The event will take place Monday, August 15th through Wednesday, August 17th. SSCS will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each day, and on Tuesday will reopen from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Angus Valley Elementary is having their Back-to-School Night Monday, August 15th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This is an opportunity to meet your teacher and the principal, Mrs. Noel. You can also fill out applications for free and reduced lunches, as well as sign up for the Salvation Army’s after school program.

Pratt Elementary is hosting their Meet and Greet event on Thursday, August 18th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  The PTO will have a table set up for memberships and new spirit wear will be available for purchase.

Northwoods, Limestone, and Garfield Elementary will hold Meet-n-Greet events Monday, August 22nd, the day before school starts. Northwoods and Garfield will last from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Limestone will last from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

First Annual Taste of Sand Springs boasts delicious dining experience

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The first annual Taste of Sand Springs was a success Thursday evening at the Charles Page High School cafeteria. The Chamber of Commerce event served as a fundraiser for the organization Junior Achievement. 

The dining started off with some delicious sliders from Osage Casino. Napoli's Italian Restaurant provided pasta. Reasor's deli had broccoli salad and deviled egg potato salad. Rib Crib served colossal portions of baked beans and mac and cheese with bacon. Charlie's Chicken had hearty portions of green beans and broccoli grape salad. Gander Mountain Vineyard provided open-faced roast beef sandwiches and mushroom casserole with key lime cheesecake for dessert. 

Other sweet options included Harper's Hut Shaved Ice, Sandlot Snoballs and brownies from Meadowlake Ranch. Livi Lee's donuts had a delicious treat called "Strawberry Fields," consisting of a glazed cake donut with strawberries and whipped cream. Also on hand were sixth-graders Taylor Blackwell and Sydnee Porter selling lemonade to raise money for the Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

Sand Springs City Councilman Brian Jackson was the spokesman for the evening and entertained the customers with periodic giveaways including car detailing certificates, Starbucks packages, Crescent Cafe gift cards and more. Jackson serves as the Development Manager at Junior Achievement of Eastern Oklahoma and is currently running for the Senate Seat 37.

Money raised from the event will benefit more than ten CPHS students participating in the Junior Achievement life skills programs.

“Just a short 15 years ago, I was a junior at CPHS and I had the fortune to be inspired by my community classroom volunteer with Junior Achievement.  That classroom time gave me direction to live out my American Dream alongside my wife and daughter,” said Jackson.