Sand Springs City Council approves permits for city's first marijuana dispensaries

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Police Chief Mike Carter was recognized for 25 years of service at Monday’s City Council meeting.

Medical Marijuana took center stage at Monday night’s Sand Springs City Council meeting.

Specific Use Permits (SUPs) were approved for a medical marijuana cultivation facility, as well as a dispensary, owned by Dr. Cannabis, LLC at 3417 S. 113th W. Ave., Suite B3. An SUP was also granted to Therapeutic Herbal Care, LLC to open a dispensary at 1126 E. Charles Page Blvd.

Council denied an SUP to David Dietrich for the purpose of opening a cultivation facility at 15208 W. Weaver Road. The facility would have been located in a predominately residential area, and numerous neighbors requested that Council deny the permit. At a recent Planning Commission meeting, nearby residents cited concerns about the effect that a cultivation facility would have on the neighborhood’s water pressure.

Nature’s Candy Dispensary was subject of discussion surrounding their name. The organization agreed to legally do business as Nature’s Apothecary at a Planning Commission meeting earlier this month, due to objections to the use of the word “candy” in regards to a medicinal substance. New objections were raised by Councilman Jim Spoon to the use of the word “apothecary.” According to Spoon, businesses dealing in marijuana are banned from using the word “apothecary” by the Oklahoma Board of Pharmacy. A motion was approved to award an SUP to the business on conditions that they not use any terms relating to pharmacy or candy. The dispensary will be located at 3417 S. 113th W. Ave., Suite A2.

In other news:

Oklahoma Municipal League representative Pam Polk presented a certificate to Police Chief Mike Carter in recognition of 25 years of service. Fleet Technician Michael O’Dell was not present, but will also be receiving the award.

Council unanimously voted to approve a resolution of support for the Sand Springs Public Schools’ General Obligation Bond Propositions 1 & 2. The propositions total $32,850,000 and will provide funding for transportation equipment and the construction of a new Ninth Grade Center and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Academy on the grounds of Charles Page High School. The measures will go to a vote of the people on March 5th.

Council unanimously voted to affirm dilapidation public nuisance hearing findings for a fire-damaged residential building at 405 West 7th Street.

Council unanimously voted to approve a Beautification Wall project at the City’s Water Treatment Plant on the corner of Highway 97 and Morrow Road. The funding for the project was passed by voters as a G.O. Bond measure in November of 2017. Council awarded the construction project to Crossland Construction Company, Inc. in the amount of $1,113,807.60. Council also awarded an administration and inspection contract to Keithline Engineering Group, PLLC in the amount of $98,118.87.

Council approved an ordinance authorizing the City of Sand Springs Police Department to remove individuals from private and public properties, without involving the property owner. The measure gives property owners the ability to inform the department of individuals banned from their property, and authorizes officers to remove that individual without first establishing contact with the property owner. This also includes nonspecific entities, such as bans on loitering or semi truck parking.

Council approved an ordinance authorizing the City Manager to determine individual salaries.

Council approved a $250,000.00 Title Sponsorship agreement with the Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation, including naming rights and expanded hours with paid staff at the Keystone Ancient Forest visitors’ center. Voters approved funding for construction of a visitors’ center in a 2017 G.O. Bond election, but the sponsorship agreement will provide additional funding for increased visitors hours and a larger facility.

Council approved $100,322.00 for the purchase and instillation of communication equipment for the Billie A. Hall Public Safety Center.

Council approved granting an easement to OmniTrax for railroad property abutting the upcoming Main Street project in downtown. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation will be bidding the project in February of this year, with construction set to begin soon after. Main Street will be rebuilt from 1st Street south to its current terminus, with a new section of road connecting Main Street west to Highway 97. A new frontage road will also be built to connect Main Street to the Lincoln Avenue On-Ramp onto Highway 412.

OmniTrax operates the Sand Springs Railway, which runs railways across Main Street, Morrow Road, and Highway 97. The easement will allow the railway to continue normal operations throughout the construction project.

City Invites Local Businesses to Join at Tulsa Home and Garden Show

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Sand Springs, OK - The City of Sand Springs is announcing its plans for the 2019 Tulsa Home and Garden show. This year the City is extending an invitation to Sand Springs retail businesses to join them during the show to promote the Sand Springs community- and their business! The annual home improvement event takes place March 7-10, at the Riverspirit Expo at the Expo Square Tulsa County Fairgrounds.

For more than a decade municipalities have reached out to area citizens during the Tulsa Home and Garden Show as a means to promote their community to area citizens by providing information about quality of life, new projects, services and more. This year, the City of Sand Springs wishes to expand on that approach by including a handful of local retailers.

“We’re excited to invite our partners in the retail business sector to invest a little time with us and work alongside city staff as we promote Sand Springs,” stated Grant Gerondale, Community Development Director for the City. “Sand Springs has so many unique retail outlets, each with their own great history of successful business service and great products.”

Interested businesses can apply at no cost; however, each business will be asked to provide one or more door prizes to be given away during a raffle drawing. Door prize winners will then be asked to visit each Sand Springs retailer later to redeem their prize.

Businesses will also be asked to help staff their display portion of the booth during an assigned segment of the Tulsa Home and Garden Show. Most volunteer opportunities for each business will last approximately 4-6 hours. To apply, simply email Grant Gerondale at grant@sandspringsok.org with your request for an application! Deadline to apply is January 31, 2019.

Bright Morning Farm holds ribbon cutting in Sand Springs

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Bright Morning Farm in Sand Springs held a ribbon cutting recently at their new event barn. The 3,600 square foot event center is located on a 35-acre ranch just outside of Sand Springs City limits.

Bright Morning Farm has been hosting weddings, reunions, birthday parties, and other events for years, and the event center is the newest addition to the grounds. Originally a garage, the entire facility was renovated from the inside out to offer a rustic feel with modern conveniences.

The event center officially opened this past summer, but the farm used the ribbon cutting to celebrate their joining of the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce, as well as to offer a holiday open house.

Boulder Coffee opens in downtown Sand Springs Triangle District

Sand Springs couple Danielle and D.A. Myers celebrated the grand opening of their new coffee shop Saturday morning in the downtown Sand Springs Triangle District.

Boulder Coffee opened its doors at 8:00 a.m. and held a ribbon cutting ceremony with fellow business owners and the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce.

The shop is located at 118 North Main Street and shares its space with the Myers’s other businesses: Myer’s Marketing and We Are Sand Springs magazine.

Boulder offers coffee, espresso-based beverages, hot and iced teas, hot chocolate, chocolate milk, muffins, and Dippin Dots. Beverages sizes range from 10 oz to 16 oz with a $1.75-$4.25 price range. They also carry vanilla, caramel, mocha, and lavender flavored syrups.

The shop has an array of furniture and invites patrons to hang out and enjoy the free wireless internet. They are open Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. They are closed on Sundays.

City Councilman Jim Spoon receives national honors

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Sand Springs, OK - Sand Springs’ own Jim Spoon has been recognized by the National Community Pharmacists Association during the NCPA’s 2018 convention in Boston, MA. Spoon has been recognized as the 2018 Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year, for his exemplary leadership and commitment to independent pharmacy and his community.

“Jim has been a tireless advocate for independent pharmacy over the years, helping shape not only its future but the future of his community through service,” said NCPA President David Smith, RPh as part of the national convention’s announcements.

Spoon currently serves as Sand Springs City Council Member “At Large” and is a member of the council’s Legislative and Finance and Development Committees. He is a Sand Springs Rotarian, and has been an active member of the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy and the Sand Springs Education Foundation.

He received his BS in Pharmacy in 1975 from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and received his PharmD from the University of Oklahoma in 2002. Many local Sand Springs residents may be familiar with Spoon Drug, which he opened in 1979.

“We wish to express our sincere congratulations to Jim Spoon on this well-deserved recognition,” said Elizabeth Gray, City Manager for the City of Sand Springs. “We enjoy the opportunity to work with Mr. Spoon on our council and appreciate his long-standing commitment to improve our city and this community.”

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/.

Atwoods Ranch & Home celebrates Grand Re-Opening of expanded Sand Springs location

Atwoods Ranch & Home held a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday morning to commemorate an extensive remodel and expansion at their Sand Springs location.

The store never closed during the six month expansion, but they were without signage for several months and significant portions of the parking lot were closed for construction.

The store expanded from 50,000 square feet to more than 82,000, adding a larger selection of food, gifts, clothing, feed, pet supplies, and more. They also carry steel tanks for the first time.

Atwoods Sand Springs is located at 730 East Charles Page Boulevard and can be reached at 918-241-1700.

Sam Shook wins inaugural SalsaFest at OkieSpice & Trade Co.

OkieSpice & Trade Co. held their inaugural SalsaFest Saturday in Sand Springs and the event was a big success according to business owner Kim Zieg.

The event featured local craft, spice, and salsa vendors, as well as a homemade salsa making competition. Sam Shook took top prize in the salsa competition out of a field of 24. According to Zieg only a handful of the competitors were local and most traveled from out of town to participate.

“We exposed most to this area for the first time,” said Zieg. “Customers loved the event and the store. Our vendors were well pleased with their day and we had more entries than we could have hoped for!” She says the store plans to bring the festivities back next year.

OkieSpice opened in November of 2017 and have already made a big effort to be involved in the local community. In April they held their inaugural Westival event to coincide with the 29th Annual Herbal Affair and Festival. They are located at 501 West 2nd Street just west of downtown.

Internationally-acclaimed Blue Dog art exhibit to debut at Sand Springs Museum this November

The internationally acclaimed Blue Dog art exhibit by George Rodrigue will be making its Oklahoma debut this November at the Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum. 

The deceased artist's iconic creation was the face of Absolut Vodka and Xerox Corporation in the 1990s. The Blue Dog is Rodrigue's interpretation of the Cajun werewolf, or loup-garou, and was modeled after his dog, Tiffany. 

Northwoods Fine Arts Academy instructor Jennifer Barretto secured the exhibit earlier this year, but it wasn't set in stone until recently. While the George Rodrigue Foundation agreed to loan the art at no cost, the museum still had to raise $18,000 for transportation, security, and insurance. 

With paintings valued at $60,000 apiece, the museum will have to provide alarm hooks and a physical security guard for the duration of the three-month exhibit. Barretto led the fundraising effort with help from the Sand Springs Small Business Coalition and other organizations. 

Local business owners believe the exhibit will be a major economic stimulant for the downtown area, attracting thousands of visitors in the height of the Christmas shopping season. The exhibit will open November 17th, just a week before Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, in the heart of the downtown Triangle District. 

Eagle Wrecker & Towing provides 24/7 service to greater Tulsa Metro

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Break downs happen, but never at the opportune time. For every lucky duck who breaks down in a neighborhood with ample street parking, there's a hundred poor saps stuck on the side of the turnpike at 3:00 a.m. 

Been there, done that. 

When Murphy's Law strikes, Eagle Wrecker and Towing is in your corner with 24-hour towing and other emergency services. 

Forget to turn your headlights off when you stop at McDonald's? The Eagle crew can jump start your car and get you back on the road in no time. Forget to watch your gauges? They'll even deliver enough gasoline to get you to the next gas station.

Maybe your keys are sitting on the seat taunting you while you stand helplessly out in the rain. Been there, done that too. And a common urban myth is that the fire department will come pop your lock for you. Most emergency responders will only come for a true emergency, like if a baby or a desperately-needed prescription medicine is in the car. Eagle will help a brother out any time, any day.

Tire repair is another common necessity. Maybe you never learned how to change a tire, or you're disabled and unable to do it yourself. Whatever the situation, Eagle can slap on a spare or air you up. 

When all else fails, sometimes you just need a tow. Eagle Towing covers dozens of communities within a fifty-mile radius of Tulsa. They will take you home, or to a repair shop, and back on your journey as quickly as possible. 

Eagle Wrecker & Towing
(918) 978-4880
3604 East Admiral Place
Tulsa, OK 74115
eagletowingservice@gmail.com
https://eagletowingservice.net/

Texoma Country Pools and Spas is your perfect pool provider

Everyone needs time to relax, but not everyone can get away to the Caribbean or Gulf Shores. That's where Texoma Country Pools and Spas comes in. With their help, you can transform your backyard into your own private slice of paradise. Named the "Best of Texoma" seven years in a row by the Herald Democrat, Texoma Pools specializes in recreation and relaxation.

Texoma's custom in-ground pool installations will make you feel like you're in a island oasis or a secluded mountain hot spring. Visit them at their store in Sherman, Texas or host them at the site of your future resort. A Texoma designer will create a three-dimensional drawing of your future backyard and help you plan the perfect sanctuary with stone pathways, landscaping, waterfalls, or fountains. 

No resort is complete without a steaming hot tub to relax the muscles and lull you into a perfect rest. A warm spa can be a perfect addition to your pool, or can fit perfectly into your home on its own. 

Maybe your need is less for a secluded getaway and more of an inexpensive party spot to cool off and escape the heat. Texoma's Wilbar above-ground pools are financially friendly and a great way to bring the whole family together for some quality bonding. They come in a large variety of sizes, depths, and shapes and Texoma can help you design the deck, placement, and landscaping.

Texoma not only designs and installs your pool or hot tub, they can also maintain it for you! Weekly, biweekly, monthly, and one-time cleanings are available, as well as covering and uncovering before and after the winter season. Texoma performs plumbing and electrical repairs, leak detection and repair, and equipment repairs and replacements. They will even baby-proof your pool and deck!

Texoma Country Pools and Spas services the North Texas and Southern Oklahoma regions and can make your home the delightful getaway you've always dreamed of.

Texoma Country Pools and Spas
3811 Texoma Parkway
Sherman, Texas 75090
Phone: 903-891-3483
Email: fun@texomapoolsandspas.com
https://www.texomapools.com/

Technology Solutions offers Oklahoma businesses peace of mind

Technology has no limits. You just have to know what you're doing.

With 23 years on the job, Technology Solutions knows what they're doing, and they can get you where you need to be. 

Located at 10 S Iroquois Avenue in downtown Tulsa, Technology Solutions has been helping Oklahoma businesses thrive for more than two decades. They also have a new face and new energy under CEO Kevin Shoemaker, who purchased the company in 2017. 

Technology Solutions provides IT equipment, services, and support, ensuring that their clients are able to fully focus on their day-to-day activities and not worry about technological disasters such as hackers, viruses and malware, network outages, or corrupted data.

Services such as computer support, network management support, disaster planning, and general IT services are a crucial to a 21st century business, and you can't leave those necessities in the hand of amateurs.

Technology Solutions is a Managed Service Provider, on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing technical support, network security, and IT services. Their IT consultants can help you anytime you have a question or concern and can remote access into your computer to figure out exactly where your problems lie. 

Technology Solutions is literally the name of the game, and the only company you can trust to provide the expert care your company deserves. 

Technology Solutions
https://www.techsolutions.cc/
10 S Iroquois Ave
Tulsa, OK 74063
(918) 770-8499

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

Harper's Hut Shaved Ice & Java unveils new "Little Free Library"

Harper's Hut Shaved Ice & Java added a new "Little Free Library" to their Sand Springs snow cone stand Tuesday.

The miniature outdoor library is accessible at all hours and runs on an honor system. Readers of all ages are encouraged to take a book or leave a book that they have finished reading.

According to the Children's Literacy Foundation, 61% of low-income families have no age-appropriate children's books in their homes. The Little Free Library organization aims to help the low-income community share their resources and encourage reading.

The Harper's Hut library is an official Little Free Library and also contains books for adults and teens as well. 

The Harper's Hut library is the third little library in Sand Springs. Other locations are 11 South Vermeer Ave and 4201 South Walnut Creek Drive.

Sand Springs has two public libraries, but they are only open 53 hours a week, most of which conflicts with school or work for many people. The 24/7 self-help model of little libraries offers an alternative for children in desperate need of literature.

Harper's Hut is a Sand Springs company with half a dozen locations in the Tulsa metropolitan area. The original Sand Springs stand was opened in 2014 by William Nozak and is located at 1124 East Charles Page Boulevard.

Harper's can also be found at the Case Community Park splash pad and at 3110 South 65th West Avenue in Berryhill. Nozak says he is also working on a little library for the Berryhill location.

Sandlot Sno-Balls celebrates new Prattville location with ribbon cutting

SUBMITTED.

Sandlot Sno-Balls held an official ribbon cutting ceremony for their new Prattville shaved ice stand.

The snow cone stand first opened in late June and is the second location for the business. 

Brad Crain opened Sandlot at the former JwY's Tropical Ice location in the Warehouse Market parking lot at 250 South Highway 97 in 2015.

The new stand is in the Prattville Center at 5 West 41st Street alongside Lee's Charburgers, Minuteman Pizza, and Terry's Classic Coneys. This location is also the only snow cone stand in Sand Springs with a drive-through. 

Sandlot serves a traditional New Orleans-style snowball finely shaved from a solid block of ice. 

City Council passes demolition order for historic grocery store building

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The Sand Springs City Council approved an abatement and demolition order against the former Tilley's Grocery Store at Monday evening's regular monthly meeting.

The historic two-story stone building at 400 N. Cleveland Ave. was heavily damaged by fire in September of 2016 and has remained roofless and hollow ever since.

Built in the 1920s, the grocery store was owned and operated by former City Councilman Kim Lee Tilley and wife Janie for more than twenty years before being vacated. The grocery store went under various names and owners for most of its history, and at times was a laundromat and barbershop. 

According to the resolution, property owner Dale Chronister has until September 5 to begin restoring the property, otherwise the City will demolish the structure. 

In other news:

Council renewed a ten-year tax incentive agreement between the City of Sand Springs and Reasor's LLC. The City recruited the grocery store chain to Sand Springs in 2011 through a $2 million incentive, creating more than sixty jobs at the long-vacant Wal Mart facility in Prattville.

Council accepted a $65,045 bid from Tim Mills Fence Company for 6,400 feet of white vinyl fence. The company will have until October 1 to complete the installation along the city's highway corridors. 

Council approved the purchase of a Toro Reelmaster mower for the City sports fields. The $55,027.93 mower will be funded initially by the City but will be reimbursed over a three-year period by the Baseball, Soccer, and Softball organizations who lease the parks. 

Council approved a $188,702.47 contract with L&M Office Furniture to furnish the new Billie A. Hall Public Safety Center. 

Council approved a $113,387.00 contract with Southwest Solutions to purchase storage lockers, explosive cabinets, high density shelving, gun lockers, armory storage cabinets, etc. for the new Billie A. Hall Public Safety Center.

Council approved a $34,211.00 expenditure to provide a School Resource Officer for the Sand Springs Public School District. 

Following the Council meeting, the Sand Springs Municipal Authority approved $99,547.24 to purchase two new Toro Greenaster 3150-Q lawn mowers and a Toro Workman utility vehicle for the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge golf course. 

Broadway Barber Shop hosts "Vets That Matter"

Veterans matter in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.

On the first Saturday of each month, The Broadway Barber Shop in downtown Sand Springs hosts veterans and active duty members of the United States armed forces, as well as police, fire, and paramedics whose unique experiences have left them in need of camaraderie or guidance.

Wayne Pait and Warren Hood started the Vets That Matter organization four months ago at Church That Matters in Prattville. Hood is an active duty reserves Sergeant Major and Pait is a retired Navy veteran, eleven years removed from service.

"I've had this on my heart for a few years and didn't know how to kick it off," says Pait. "When I first got out I was really bitter about being a civilian, about my career. I didn't want to be involved in anything to do with the military. The longer I've been out, the more nostalgic I've been."

"It's been a struggle watching the news, seeing some of the guys coming back, and some of the problems their families are dealing with." Pait says the military spends years teaching them to be soldiers, but doesn't spend nearly enough time teaching them how to be civilians again.

Pait met Hood in October of 2017 and the two hit it off instantly due to their military connection. Church That Matters provided a launching point for their meetings, but the church location created a barrier for some vets who didn't feel comfortable meeting in a religious setting. 

Mitch, the mononymous barber, has offered to let the vets use his facility at 29 East Broadway Street for as long as they need it. Eventually they hope to have their own facility in the downtown area where individuals can come by any time for help or fellowship.

"What we do is supply active duty reservists, veterans, and first responders an opportunity to come in, talk with us if they want about what they're dealing with," says Pait. "I don't even care if you got kicked out of the military, there's still things we can do to help you."

"On the outside we don't really like talking about it with our spouses so we kind of hold things in a lot. Some don't want to talk about it to their supervisors either because some of them believe it could affect their ability to get a promotion."

"This is just a platform for them to come in and kind of hang out, meet some guys that are in their field, that have done what they've done, seen what they've seen. We have a connection."

Pait says they have a police officer from their church involved with helping first responders. They are also working with the Disabled American Veterans location in Sapulpa and the American Legion post in Sand Springs. 

Since their meetings began, they have had the opportunity to provide guidance to individuals struggling with drugs, alcohol, and transitioning back into the civilian world.

While Vets That Matter is focused on Sand Springs, they welcome anyone from the surrounding communities. They also hope to meet with local homeless veterans.

Pait says reservists in particular are encouraged to come get involved. 

"Reservists have it the hardest because they do military part time and they're civilians part time. The problem is they deploy for a year at a time and go over to Afghanistan. They fight in the wars over there and when they come back they're expected to transition back into civilian world right away."

"Us full time military guys didn't have to worry about that. We go do what we do, we come back and we're still doing military things every day. So the reservists are having a harder time transitioning. They have more problems with alcohol and domestic violence, and that's where police officers and first responders get involved. They have to deal with us in town."

The meetings last from 9:00 a.m. to noon and donuts and coffee are provided. The meeting opens and closes with prayer, but the rest of the session is informal.

"I'm new in my faith," says Pait. "But without God, I would not have been able to do what I do now."

"We're not trying to thump them in the head with a Bible, but just make them understand that we had the same problems until we decided to make a change. Most of us decided to make that change by getting involved with Christ and following Him. It's made it better for a lot of us."

"But mostly what we're trying to do is have a place for them to come in and hang out. With military people, we can know each other five minutes and it's like we've known each other all our lives. A lot of guys are just missing the camaraderie of talking with people that know what we do."

Additionally, Pait wants to help bring attention to the 20.6 veterans on average who kill themselves every day in the United States. "Our job is to try and stop that. We've already stopped one in our group. It's a beginning."

Vets That Matter have a new t-shirt available at the Broadway Barbershop. Additionally, they plan to host a car show in September and will be having a free food for homeless vets outreach. 

Find Vets That Matter on Facebook, or at www.vetsthatmatter.org

Harper's Hut loses thousands to burglary at Sand Springs stand

Harper's Hut Shaved Ice & Java was the victim of a brutal break-in Sunday night at their 1124 East Charles Page Boulevard location.

The perpetrator appears to have attempted jimmying open a window before giving up and kicking in the door.

CEO William Nozak estimates losses of more than $2,500 due to theft and damages. The culprit made off with more than $800 cash and an iPad, trashed the interior, and caused extensive damage to the doorjamb and window. The stand will remain closed on Monday for repairs.

The oldest of Harper's five locations, the Charles Page Boulevard stand is at the entrance to the Harris Center development.

Master Lube & Car Wash, also in the Harris Center, recently shut down their car wash services due to theft. The car wash reportedly had coin boxes and the change machine broken into repeatedly, and brushes and sprayers were stolen multiple times. 

Last season the Harper's location inside of Case Community Park was burglarized and thieves made off with candy, soda, coin change, and a portable speaker system. The new Berryhill location suffered about $400 in vandalism damages just a week after opening last month. 

Nozak says repeated theft in the Harris Center is making the area feel unsafe, but this case in particular appears personal.

Both the cash register and safe appear to have been opened with a keycode and were not forced. Nozak suspects it could have been an ex employee or friend of an employee. 

A police report has been filed and the department has assigned a detective to the case. Anyone with information can contact the department online at this link or may call 918-245-8777. 

Tulsa Bone & Joint opens new Sand Springs clinic

Tulsa Bone & Joint Associates celebrated the grand opening of their new Sand Springs clinic Thursday afternoon at the Springs Village shopping center.

The clinic will provide orthopedic urgent care services and scheduled orthopedic care, including follow-up care and physical therapy. The clinic is located at 3917 S. Highway 97.

Chief Executive Officer Linda Gunter, Chief Operations Officer CJ Daley were both on hand for the ribbon cutting, as were numerous City, County, and State representatives. 

"(Tulsa Bone & Joint) is a welcome addition to the service life of Sand Springs," said Mayor Mike Burdge, who also coaches Charles Page High School Track and Cross Country. 

"I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to have Tulsa Bone & Joint coming here to House District 66," said State Representative Jadine Nollan. "I actually was a patient last summer. When I was at the Capital, I had a shoe malfunction and had to go make sure my back was okay. They took very good care of me so it's wonderful to have you here."

DiAnne Adams, DO, will serve as provider for the clinic. Dr. Adams joined Tulsa Bone & Joint in 2017 as a member of the Urgent Care team. Dr. Adams is board certified in Family Medicine and received her Fellowship in Sports Medicine from St. Elizabeth in Edgewood, Kentucky. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. 

Dan Skierski, DPT, will oversee physical therapy at Tulsa Bone & Joint Sand Springs. Skierski has a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Saint Augustine and has been a physical therapist at the main campus of Tulsa Bone & Joint since 2014.

The 4400 sq. foot clinic and physical therapy space will also house an X-ray machine to allow for fast diagnoses and on-site evaluation and treatment. The clinic will welcome walk-in patients as well as scheduled appointments. The clinic phone number is 918-236-4504.

"Since I've been here there's been so much growth in Sand Springs," said Chamber of Commerce President Kristen Cepak. "We've seen so much growth, development, improvements of different things. I come from Austin, Texas and I am proud to live in Sand Springs. I am absolutely proud to live here and wouldn't think of leaving. It's absolutely an adorable town and I love it. I'm so excited to have Tulsa Bone & Joint here."