Church That Matters holds community service day, donates children's bicycles to flood victims

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Members of Church That Matters held their annual “Don’t Go to Church Sunday” this weekend and spent the day in service to the community.

Volunteers worked at the Local Church Network’s Back to School Bash, organizing, setting up, operating, and tearing down the event at the Tulsa Technology Center Sand Springs campus. The event provided free backpacks and school supplies, haircuts, dental checks, physicals, eye exams, food, and inflatables.

Church members performed landscaping and weedeating for the Sand Springs Parks Department, Clyde Boyd Middle School, and an elderly couple in Shannon Valley mobile home park. They also constructed a wooden deck for a home in Shannon Valley.

Workers cleaned, painted, and sorted clothing at DaySpring Villa, a shelter for victim of domestic violence and sex trafficking. They also held worship encounters for both the adults and the kids at the shelter, and played games with the children.

Representatives were stationed at Prattville Laundry to provide free quarters and laundry detergent to the laundromat’s patrons. They also offered free quarters at Bubble Town Car Wash.

The church purchased and assembled 150 children’s bicycles for victims of the historic May flooding, which they gave away during a special service held specifically for flood-affected families. They also organized a community swap meet Saturday, accepting and organizing hundreds of furniture and appliance donations for flooded families.

Church That Matters meets Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. at 3 West 41st Street in Sand Springs. They are pastored by Rusty Gunn.

Seven exciting events planned for this weekend in Sand Springs

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It’s shaping up to be a busy weekend in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. Several community events are planned for the August 10-11 weekend, including hiking, shopping, entertainment, and charitable giving.

Sandite Lift-a-Thon
Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
CPHS Veterans Memorial Stadium
600 North Adams Road

The Charles Page High School Football and Baseball teams will be competing in the annual Sandite Lift-a-Thon Saturday, August 10th. The two teams will participate in an NFL-style combine from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and this year it’ll be open to the public.

The players have been busy collecting donation pledges, and on Saturday they’ll try to max out both their donations and their reps. They will be competing in bench press, squat, and clean lift.

The football team’s locker room will be open for tours, there will be food trucks, inflatables, and more. The junior high dance teams will be serving up breakfasts of either pancakes or biscuits and gravy.

Open Hike Day
Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Keystone Ancient Forest
160 Ancient Forest Drive

The City’s largest park will be open to hikers. The 1,380 acre forest is only open during staffed Saturday hours in order to preserve its natural beauty and cleanliness. The park is home to 300-year-old post oaks and 500-year-old cedars as well as numerous wildlife. It has been relatively unaltered since the time it was first journaled about by famed Sleepy Hollow author Washington Irving during an 1832 exploratory expedition. The park includes a 0.6-mile ADA-compliant paved trail, as well as several miles of intermediate hiking trails.

Love Your Neighbor Free Furniture and Appliance Swap Meet
Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
WEBCO Star Center - West Entrance
13701 West Highway 51

From 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. individuals with furniture and appliances in good working condition will be able to drop off donations for victims of the historic summer flooding that devastated the community this May.

Accepted items include: tables, chairs, sofas, loveseats, living room chairs, night stands, flatscreen televisions, bed frames and head/foot boards, microwaves, stoves, ovens, dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers. Mattresses and box springs will not be accepted.

Flood victims will be able to come pick out items from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Photo ID and proof of residence in an affected flood area will be required. Only one person per household/address will be allowed to claim items. Each household will receive two tickets to choose two items they are most in need of, while supplies last. Delivery help will be available within two miles of Webco.

Summer’s End Market
Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
The Shops on Adams Road, Suite 510
510 Plaza Court

Located inside the former Sand Springs Beauty College storefront, this free-admission showcase will feature numerous vendors of arts and crafts, skin care products, hand crafted kitchen items, jewelry, boutique clothing and decor, and numerous other items. This annual event is a great opportunity to get a jump-start on Christmas shopping.

Osage County Republican Party Town Hall meeting
Saturday 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Elks Lodge #2553
546 West Imperial Boulevard

The Osage County Republican Party will be hosting a town hall meeting at the Elks Lodge Saturday, August 10th in Sand Springs. The general public is invited to hear updates from elected officials and enjoy complimentary refreshments.

Former State Senator Eddie Fields, County Sheriff Eddie Virden, County Assessor Ed Quinton, District 10 Senator Bill Coleman, District 1 County Commissioner Randall Jones, District 35 Representative Ty Burns, and District 66 Representative Jadine Nollan have all confirmed that they will be present and speaking at the event.

Speakers will address the 2018-2019 Legislative Session, the Oklahoma government under Governor Kevin Stitt, upcoming County Commissioner projects, and more. They will also answer questions on property taxes and criminal activity in the county.

Young Mrs. International Aiya Attaway Kelley, a former candidate for State Senate, will be performing the National Anthem prior to the meeting.

Tea, coffee, and cookies will be provided at no cost. The Elks Lodge will also have pulled pork sandwiches with beans, cornbread, and chips for purchase. Voter registration cards will also be available.

Flood Victim Bicycle Giveaway
Sunday 11:00 a.m.
Church That Matters
3 West 41st Street

Church That Matters will be holding a brief Sunday service for victims of the historic Arkansas River flooding earlier this summer, and will be giving away 150 children’s bicycles. Families must bring an ID and utility bill proving that they live in an afflicted flood zone. Free bicycles will be limited to one per child (ages 2-12) in attendance. The child must be present to receive the bike. There will be a short 20-minute program for the kids and their parent/guardian at 11:00 sharp, followed by the giveaway.

Families must attend the service to receive the bicycles, with one exception. Families who already have a home church will be allowed to visit Church That Matters Monday, August 12th through Wednesday, August 14th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and must bring their church’s program or bulletin to prove they were in a church service during the 11:00 a.m. time-frame.

Back 2 School Bash
Sunday 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Tulsa Tech
924 East Charles Page Boulevard

The Sand Springs Local Church Network will be holding its annual Back 2 School Bash Sunday, August 11th from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Tulsa Tech Sand Springs campus.

The event will feature inflatables, free hot dogs, and Sandlot Sno Balls, as well as numerous back-to-school necessities.

Volunteers will be providing free backpacks and school supplies, haircuts, dental checkups, eye exams, physicals, and more.

Free Back to School Bash Sunday at Tulsa Tech - Sand Springs

The Sand Springs Local Church Network will be holding its annual Back 2 School Bash Sunday, August 11th from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Tulsa Tech Sand Springs campus.

The event will feature inflatables, free hot dogs, and Sandlot Sno Balls, as well as numerous back-to-school necessities.

Volunteers will be providing free backpacks and school supplies, haircuts, dental checkups, eye exams, physicals, and more.

Tulsa Tech is located at 924 East Charles Page Boulevard.

Sand Springs Board of Education recognizes local churches for community contribution

The Sand Springs Board of Education handed out a series of Sandite Pacesetter Awards to local religious leaders for their involvement in the school district and community volunteerism.

The Sand Springs Local Church Network recently held its annual Back 2 School Bash with free haircuts, medical evaluations, school supplies, and more for local students. The churches also frequently donate supplies to the schools, water, gatorade, and snacks to the athletic teams, and even hold service days where they paint, remodel, and clean up the schools.

Receiving awards were:

• Nathan Woodmansee, Director of Sand Springs Community Services.

• Rusty Gunn, Lead Pastor at Church That Matters.

• The Stronghold church.

• Scott French, Lead Pastor at Solace Church.

• Jared Jackson, Student Pastor at Angus Church.

• Todd Nance, Lead Pastor at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.

• Paul Ozburn, Lead Pastor at St. Andrew Lutheran Church.

• Linda Scott, Administrator at Reach Church.

• Matt Barnett, Student Pastor at HillSpring Church.

• Jason Chambers, Student Pastor at CrossPoint Church.

Also recognized was Jay Rotert, who was presented the Pacesetter Award for his efforts to make the Sandite Virtual Academy a highly respected and successful program.

SouthSide Coneys holds grand opening, owned by Church That Matters

SouthSide Coneys celebrated its grand opening and ribbon cutting Monday morning in south Sand Springs at 1 West 41st Street.

Church That Matters, located in the same shopping center, recently purchased the business which was previously known as Terry’s Classic Coneys, and before that it was Ed’s Classic Coneys.

Ed’s built a brand as a 1950s-themed diner with hot rod red walls, Route 66 memorabilia, checkered racing flags, and frequent car shows. When Teri Buckner purchased the business in 2014, the name was the only thing to change.

The whole building got a facelift in recent weeks as it donned Sandite Black & Gold colors and a modern Sand Springs theme. School memorabilia is also expected to decorate the walls in the near future.

“Part of our vision since the beginning of our church has been to own and operate businesses,” says CTM Pastor Rusty Gunn. Not only will the businesses provide income for the church to expand its outreach ministries and missions, but according to Gunn, it also creates “touch points in our community where we can meet people that we wouldn’t normally get to meet.”

The church currently owns and operates the Prattville Market, a booth rental and resale store. It also owns Lee’s Charburgers, a food truck that operated out of the church parking lot throughout 2018 before shutting down this past winter. Lee’s is currently on hiatus, but Gunn says it is expected to return within the next year or two.

In addition to the aesthetic changes, the restaurant menu has also been changing. The chili used on the coneys is now made entirely in-house. Pulled pork and BBQ chicken sandwiches have been added, as have pulled pork and BBQ chicken nachos.

“We want to keep doing what we’ve been doing,” says Gunn. “Matter to God, our city, and the world.”

Church That Matters buys Terry's Classic Coneys

Church That Matters has taken over ownership of Terry’s Classic Coneys in south Sand Springs and will soon be rebranding the restaurant.

Originally Ed’s Classic Coneys, the business built a brand as a 1950s-themed diner with hot rod red walls, Route 66 memorabilia, checkered racing flags, and frequent car shows. When Teri Buckner purchased the business in 2014, the name was the only thing to change.

The whole building will be getting a facelift in the coming months as it dons Sandite Black & Gold colors and a modern Sand Springs theme with school memorabilia. It will also be renamed Southside Coneys.

“Part of our vision since the beginning of our church has been to own and operate businesses,” says CTM Pastor Rusty Gunn. Not only will the businesses provide income for the church to expand its outreach ministries and missions, but according to Gunn, it also creates “touch points in our community where we can meet people that we wouldn’t normally get to meet.”

The church currently owns and operates the Prattville Market, a booth rental and resale store. It also owns Lee’s Charburgers, a food truck that operated out of the church parking lot throughout 2018 before shutting down this past winter. Lee’s is currently on hiatus, but Gunn says it is expected to return within the next year or two.

In addition to the aesthetic changes coming to the restaurant, their menu has also been changing. The chili used on the coneys is now made entirely in-house. Pulled pork and BBQ chicken sandwiches have been added, as have pulled pork and BBQ chicken nachos.

“We want to keep doing what we’ve been doing,” says Gunn. “Matter to God, our city, and the world.”

The grand re-opening will be held on Monday, July 15th with a ribbon cutting celebration at 11:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend, and there will be special deals and drawings.

Texas private school visits Sand Springs to help clean up flood damage

A group of 26 volunteers from All Saints Episcopal School in Tyler, Texas visited Sand Springs Tuesday and put in a full day of work at the recently flooded Case Community Park.

23 high school-aged students and their three adult escorts teamed up with local volunteer group The Power of Partial Improvements to muck out the concessions and restroom buildings throughout the park. They also power-washed silt from the sidewalks, splash pad, and buildings.

The group is spending the week in Tulsa on their annual school mission trip to assist with flood-damaged areas, feed the homeless, and other community projects. They are staying at Oral Roberts University, and have also been working with Restore Hope Ministries on Charles Page Boulevard, organizing donations and prepping cleaning supply packages for flood victims.

The Power of Partial Improvements typically works to clean up trash along the Oklahoma shorelines, but was unable to take the students too close to the water due to the large number of displaced snakes in the area. For more information on PPI, or to make a donation toward their conservation efforts, click here to visit them online.

Church That Matters hosts 29th Annual Kids Free Fishing Derby, gives away free boat

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The 29th Annual Kids’ Free Fishing Derby went off without a hitch Saturday morning at the Sand Springs Lake, drawing more than 200 participants between the ages of 4-12.

Church That Matters hosted the event in partnership with the Sand Springs Parks Department, with free giveaway prizes donated by numerous community businesses. The lake was stocked with more than 200 pounds of catfish, bass, and bluegill prior to the event.

Briley Blaylock won the 4-6 age division with a 9.1 ounce catch, followed by Tristen Walker (6.5) and Jason Speck (4.3). Owen Russell won the 7-9 division with a 14.5 oz catch, followed by Alecia Oxidine (11.1) and Chandlar Templeton (9.8). Dalton Lunn won the 10-12 division with a 7.9 oz fish, followed by Bayley Gehri (7.7) and Carson Simmons (6.8).

Russell had the biggest overall catch at 14.5 oz, while Julianna Romero had the smallest at 0.2 oz. Peyton Simms won the biggest turtle competition at 10.75 inches.

Raffle prizes included an O’Rageous Family Pool, a Ginormous Gorilla Sprinkler, fishing poles, water guns, free kids’ meal gift cards to Charlie’s Chicken, Frisbees, tackle boxes, coolers, Dave & Buster’s gift cards, a Magellan 5-man Bastrop Tent, an Intex Challenger one-person kayak, and a Sundolphin two-person fishing boat.

The Sand Springs Lake Park is located at 1401 East Park Road and features a bike/walking trail, a beautiful garden, a picnic area, and a shelter.

Keystone Dam outflow reduced, community meeting scheduled and other resources for flood victims

For the first time in weeks, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has begun significantly scaling back release rates at the Keystone Dam. By 2:00 p.m. Thursday outflow had been reduced from 275,000 cubic feet per second to 230,000. Inflow is down to 204,251 cf/s, its lowest rate since May 20th. The flood pool is at 104.9% with pool elevation at 755.5 feet. With no additional rains, the Corps is projecting 100,000 cf/s by June 3rd.

By Monday evening the Sand Springs Police had shut down Highway 51 all the way from Riverview RV Park to 145th West Avenue due to flooding from Anderson Creek. The Arkansas River tributary was one of the first places to flood in Sand Springs, taking out the Meadow Valley subdivision, the Webco Star Center, Sand Springs Sand and Gravel Company, and Double H Sales.

National Guard checkpoints have been established at the Highway 51 intersections with 145th West Avenue, Town and Country Drive, and 165th West Avenue. Residents in those neighborhoods are still allowed to return, but the Meadow Valley subdivision was temporarily off limits.

At peak outflow, 145th flooded at the entrance to the neighborhood, cutting off access to anyone without a substantially lifted vehicle. However waters began to recede Wednesday evening. Some residents reported 2-3 feet reduction in water levels around their property.

Charles Page Boulevard closed Tuesday from 65th West Avenue to 74th West Avenue, then expanded to 81st on Wednesday. The National Guard is concerned about soil liquification under the roadway and potential sinkholes.

The Starbucks in River West shut down Monday and will remain closed until the Arkansas River flooding situation is resolved and the levee system is no longer at risk.

Case Community Park has been closed for the past week due to substantial flooding and will likely remain closed for some time.

Resources

Broadway Baptist Church will be hosting an informative event Thursday at 1000 North Adams Road for locals affected by the flood. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. with remarks to begin at 6:30 p.m. Senator James Lankford, Congressman Kevin Hern, Governor Kevin Stitt, Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready, Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado, and Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith will be in attendance.

Senator Jim Inhofe will be on hand at 5:30 p.m. to speak with constituents, but will not be available during the 6:30 meeting due to a previously scheduled conference call. The event is only open to residents of Town & Country, Candlestick Beach, and other affected flood victims in unincorporated Tulsa County areas of Sand Springs. QuikTrip is providing free drinks and pastries for the event.

Angus Church at 4401 South 129th West Avenue is serving three meals a day for locals affected by the floods and tornadoes. Breakfast is at 8:00 a.m., lunch is at 12:00 p.m., and dinner is at 6:00 p.m. However, the Thursday dinner will be moved up to 5:00 p.m. so as to not conflict with the meeting at Broadway Baptist.

Broadway will be providing free dinner to flood victims, first responders, and military Sunday June 2nd from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The church is partnering with Rolling River Relief and Sand Springs Community Services to bring multiple food trucks. Broadway is also offering free clothing and some financial support. They can be reached at 918-245-7513.

The Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Inc. has opened a Disaster Relief Distribution Center at the Sand Springs Church of Christ Activity Building at 4301 South 113th West Avenue. Beginning Thursday, May 30th, they are open from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily with boxed foods, baby care items, personal care items, cleaning supplies, and more. Flood victims should bring a valid driver’s license or ID card with your current address. This is a distribution site only and will not be able to receive donations.

Uhaul of Tulsa is offering free 30 day storage rental to anyone impacted by recent flooding. This is only at Uhaul Centers, not neighborhood dealers. Participating locations are 6105 South Peoria Avenue, 5140 South 103rd East Avenue, 3500 South Sheridan Road, 1006 South Memorial Drive, and 504 East Archer Street.

Samaritan’s Purse arrived Thursday to help with the physical labor that flood victims will have to deal with. The nondenominational evangelical Christian organization helps with gutting damaged homes to prep them for restoration. They are stationed in the Prattville Center at 3 West 41st Street to receive volunteers and flood victims in need of assistance. You can reach Samartian’s Purse at 918-257-1381. Samaritan’s Purse will provide training Monday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m. and on Sundays at 12:30 p.m.

Solace Church at 7314 West 41st Street will also be doing physical labor similar to Samaritan’s Purse. They can be reached at 217-853-1124.

Free meals are available for children up to age 18 from the Sand Springs Public Schools Child Nutrition Department. For information on locations and times, call 918-246-1430.

Sand Springs Community Services has food, clothing, cleaning supplies, hygiene products, toys, and other household items at 114 West 4th Street. They can be reached at 918-245-5183.

Sand Springs Care Closet at 3417 South 113th West Avenue has clothing and toys. They can be reached at 918-269-8434.

Harvest Church is receiving donations of cleaning supplies and canned goods at 1601 West 4th Street and can be reached at 918-245-0193. They have free cleaning supplies and bottled water at both their Sand Springs location and their 349 South 49th West Avenue location.

First Presbyterian Church at 222 North Adams Road has a food bank and can be reached at 918-245-1748.

Olivet Baptist Church at 155 North 65th West Avenue has a food bank and can be reached at 918-260-5369.

CrossPoint Church at 4600 South 129th West Avenue has a food bank and can be reached at 918-245-2534. They are accepting donations of bleach, gloves, cleaning supplies, bottled water, rags, and personal hygiene items.

HillSpring Church has clothing and licensed counselors available at 8801 West 41st Street and can be reached at 918-955-2031. They are accepting donations of trash bags, cleaning supplies ,bottled water, gloves, toilet paper, and paper towels.

Church That Matters has licensed counselors available at 3 West 41st Street and can be reached at 918-512-1486. They are accepting donations of bottled water, pre-packaged snacks, cleaning supplies, paper towels, gloves, and trash bags.

For resource updates, visit https://www.churchthatmatters.com/floodrelief

The City of Sand Springs canceled their “Chipper Days” event schedule for June 1st. The next date is July 13th. Citizens with a City water bill for proof of residence will be able to bring tree branches for free disposal.

Beginning Monday, free tetanus shots will be available at Gilstrap Chiropractic Clinic at 3900 South 113th West Avenue.

"Fire on the River" Praise & Worship event set for May 10th in Sand Springs

In Jesus Name Ministries will be holding its Third Annual Unity Praise event Friday, May 10th in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, and this year it will be at a new venue. Previously held at the Charles Page High School Veterans Memorial Stadium, the nondenominational praise and worship concert will move to the Case Community Park amphitheater.

Unity Praise
7:00 p.m.
May 10th, 2019
Case Community Park
2500 S River City Park Rd
Sand Springs, OK 74063

Unity Praise was founded in 2017 by Jim and Stephanie Schrepel who felt God calling them to help unify the body of Christ in Sand Springs. "God is going to build up Sand Springs to be a spiritual hub in America,” prophesied Jim in 2017.

The concert will begin at 7:00 p.m. Friday night on the Great Lawn, and will run as late as people are wanting to stay. The theme for the 2019 Unity Praise is “Fire on the River.”

“We were inspired to do Fire on the River because of a prophetic word that Chuck Pierce gave at CityPlex Towers back in August,” said Jim Schrepel. “There’s going to be a healing move of the Spirit and it’s going to follow the Arkansas River.”

The Schrepels want to see Sand Springs churches come together as a single body, regardless of denominational differences, to praise God and seek his presence in the community. The seeds of that unity have long been planted and growing for some time now.

Several local pastors gather at monthly Ministerial Alliance meetings which include Catholic, Charismatic, Pentecostal, Baptist churches and more. The Alliance hosts several local events annually and makes substantial donations towards Sand Springs Emergency Responder Christmas bonuses.

But the Ministerial Alliance only represents a handful of churches in a community with dozens of congregations and thousands of Christian believers. The Schrepels want to see all of them come together.

The Shipley family, from Sand Springs, will be performing at the event along with musicians from several local churches. Darin Shipley, a Tulsa Police Officer, is a recording artist with albums and a traveling ministry. His brother Carey plays drums, and his daughters and wife, Pam, are all talented vocalists.

The worship team from The Stronghold church is expected to play, as will a few other groups. In addition to worship music, the event will also have a time of ministry for women since it is taking place on Mother’s Day weekend.

Fisher Baptist Church celebrates paying off bank note nine years early

Fisher Baptist Church is officially debt free just six years after building a brand new facility. The church paid off their fifteen-year bank note nine years early and celebrated with a commemorative “shredding of the note” at their recent Sunday service.

The church was founded in 1953 in the Fisher Creek bottom at 2031 South 161 West Avenue. “I knew we needed a change,” said Pastor Danny Lynchard. “We needed to come out of 1953 and into 2010.”

Initially the church tried to refurbish their original facility, but was denied permits by Tulsa County due to their building being located in a flood way. Fortunately, a lady who attended the church offered to donate land for a new building.

The land was prime real estate, located on 41st Street, right across from a growing housing development, in an area that is expected to be right in the middle of the town’s future growth. But there was already an old house located on it, and the property needed extensive ground work.

“We had $10,000 in savings, which was only enough to tear down the house and build a retention pond,” said Lynchard. The church held fundraisers, hosted yard sales, and even received a donation from Angus Church a mile down the road.

With limited finances, every bank the church talked to denied their applications. Finally, they found a lender who was willing to work with them after seeing the level of dedication the parishioners put into their fundraisers. The lender even remarked at the time that he had a feeling the church would end up paying off their note early.

Fisher took out a $250,000 loan for their new facility, which is now appraised at a fair market value of over $995,000. “In all this time we never stopped giving to missions,” said Lynchard. In addition to paying off their loan nine years early, they were also able to make a donation back to Angus Church for the full amount they were given, and they have given $107,698 to missions since 2014.

Fisher Baptist is now located at 4008 South 137th West Avenue and can be reached at 918-245-7875. The church holds Sunday Bible Study at 10:00 a.m. followed by services at 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. They also have a Wednesday Bible Study at 7:00 p.m. They provide Nursery and Children services, and have a “Celebrate Recovery” program for those battling any kind of addiction.

Hometown Holiday brings Christmas cheer to Sand Springs Triangle District

The inaugural Hometown Holiday Christmas Celebration is underway in the downtown Sand Springs Triangle District. The event, hosted by the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce, will run through Saturday night at 9:00 p.m. and will resume Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The event features numerous vendors of crafts and food with nonstop entertainment on the Triangle Stage.

Elementary choirs from Garfield, Northwoods, and Limestone performed early Saturday, as did kids from Miss Tirita’s Dance Studio and the Lawnwood Freewill Baptist Church Choir. The Charles Page High School band and Sand Springs Community Band will perform from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and the Triangle will be officially illuminated at 6:00 p.m.

Santa’s Cottage is open for pictures with ole St. Nick from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday and from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, with a one-hour break from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m..

New Life Tabernacle and Broadway Baptist Church are hosting the church tent Saturday. Carriage rides will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday.

On Sunday the Salvation Army Band will perform from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Ms. Tirita’s kids will perform from 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Kiefer Elementary kids will perform from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Vendors at the event include Scentsy, the Sand Springs Women’s Chamber, Made By Rach jewelry, and OkieSpice & Trade Co.

Mr. Nice Guys’, 3 Feathers BBQ, and Mr. Whiskit’s Cheesecakes are among the dining options. Senior Celebration is selling tacos, CubScout Pack 14 has beef jerky, and dessert can be found at DJ’s Sweet Kitchen. The CPHS Dance Team has hot coco, cookies, and Sandite yard signs, while the band is selling popcorn.

Many downtown shops will have extended hours during the weekend festivities, and throughout the Holiday season. Visitors can also check out the internationally-acclaimed Shiny Happy Blue Dog art exhibit by George Rodrigue at the Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum.

Sand Springs churches donate $4,000 for police and fire Christmas bonuses

The Sand Springs Ministerial Alliance presented a $4,000 check to the City of Sand Springs at Monday night’s regular City Council meeting. The donation will be used for Christmas bonuses for City Firemen and Police Officers. HillSpring Associate Pastor Matt Barnett presented the check to Mayor Mike Burdge, Police Chief Mike Carter, and Fire Chief Mike Wood.

City Council unanimously approved a resolution allowing for the use of Municipal Reserve Funds for the advanced funding of various General Obligation Bond Projects. These accounts will be reimbursed following the bond sales.

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Voters approved $12,165,000 in bond projects in November of 2017, but the City has only sold $3.5 million thus far in order to keep the millage rate under 13 mills.

In Other News:

Council unanimously approved a resolution endorsing the Tulsa Metro Chamber OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda for 2019. Click here to read the agenda.

Council unanimously approved a Specific Use Permit for a medical marijuana growing facility at 1106 West Wekiwa Road.

Council unanimously approved a resolution affirming dilapidation public nuisance findings against properties at 11 West 35th Street, 418 North Grant Avenue, and 108 North Roosevelt Avenue. The buildings are slated for demolition on or after January 8.

Council unanimously approved the purchase of a 2019 Ford F-250 from Bill Knight Ford for Sand Springs Animal Welfare in the amount of $28,423.

Council unanimously approved a $34,709 payment to Aaron Fence Company for the replacement of 2,400 feet of fence at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Council unanimously approved a $45,750 payment to Garrow Construction for the replacement of 3,000 feet of deteriorated Campbell Creek Road water line.

Council unanimously approved a resolution adopting an investment policy for the City of Sand Springs and the Sand Springs Municipal Authority, providing clear guidance in regards to oversight, guidelines, and limitations of investments.

During the subsequent Municipal Authority meeting, Trustees unanimously approved the Shell Lake Dam Breach Plan, Revision 13.

Boo on Broadway draws thousands to Sand Springs Triangle District

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The Eighth Annual Boo on Broadway festival was a raging success Sunday afternoon in the downtown Triangle District. The event drew more than 3,000 participants for games, inflatables, costume contests, trunk-or-treats and more.

The event was hosted by the Sand Springs Ministerial Alliance for the second-straight year with involvement from several other local businesses and organizations.

State Farm agent Steve Lane and Farmer’s Insurance agents Kelly Smith and Nathan Spencer all set up booths with candy, as did American Heritage Bank, RibCrib, BancFirst, Christ Centered Lawn Care, and OSU Medical Center. Downtown businesses Blush Hair Salon, Coble’s Flowers, and Joni’s on the Triangle Hair Salon also participated.

New Life Tabernacle was the star of the show, taking over the entire Kingsley Insurance parking lot with numerous inflatables, balloons, popcorn, and a dunk tank. Reach Church set up a bounce house and several game stations. First Church of the Nazarene had a GaGa Ball arena, American Legion Post 17 and Chinowth and Cohen had corn hole toss, and Nexus Youth and HillSpring Church also had setups. The Sand Springs Police and Fire Departments also participated and let the kids check out the insides of their trucks and squad cars.

A Toy Story themed car won the best Trunk-or-Treat design and a costume contest was held with several age categories.

Age 0-2: Madilyn Gardner (Cabbage Patch Kid)
Age 3-4: Rainy Wachsmuth (Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas)
Age 5-6: Abby Taber (Cotton Candy)
Age 7-8: Israel Haley and Maddy Gaddy (Lucy and Ricky Ricardo)
Age 9-12: Ophelia Miss (Chicken)
Teen/Adult: Phillip Lamb (Uncle Fester)
Pet: Jared Robinson’s pygmy goat (vampire).

Halloween festivities for all ages coming soon in Sand Springs

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It’s officially costume season in Sand Springs, beginning this Thursday. Churches, bars, and other organizations in Sand Springs will be putting on Halloween festivities for all ages.

The Sand Springs Pumpkin Patch at 17516 West 8th Street is open every day in October from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Pleasant Valley Farms at 22350 West 71st Street is open every Sunday through Thursday in October from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

The Third Annual Monster Ball softball game will pit the Charles Page High School baseball and softball teams against each other in a costumed slow pitch fundraiser for Sandite Special Olympics. The Lady Sandites won the inaugural event and the baseball team tied the series with an 8-7 victory last year. The game was originally scheduled for Thursday October 25th at 6:00 p.m. at the Sand Springs Softball Complex at 408 West 55th Street. Due to rain it has been postponed till Tuesday, October 30th. Tickets are $3 for students and $5 for adults.

Tulsa Community College will be hosting their annual Westfest at the 7505 West 41st Street Sand Springs campus Thursday, October 25th from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Admission cost is one canned food item. There will be free games and inflatables, $1.00 hot dogs, and a spook trail for $2.00. The Spastic Cow Food Truck will also be on hand.

TCC will also hold a student costume contest Wednesday, October 31st from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Student Union with prizes for scariest, funniest, and most creative.

The Salvation Army Boys' and Girls Club will be holding a Fall Festival Thursday, October 25th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 4403 South 129th West Avenue. It will feature a costume contest, carnival games, inflatables, and a cake walk. It will be $5 per child.

Keystone Public School will be holding a Fall Festival Friday, October 26th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m with food, candy, and games at 23810 West Highway 51.

Chandler Park Community Center will host a Halloween Night Party Friday, October 26th from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at 6500 West 21st Street with hip hop, pop, and electronic dance music. There will be a dance challenge with a cash prize, and D.J. Luc Da Shine will be shooting a live music video.

M&M’s Ole Time Tavern is holding their Halloween Party Friday, October 26th at 9:00 p.m. with live music from Ronnie Pyle and the Drivers at 13906 West Highway 51.

Garden Heights Free Will Baptist Church will be holding a Fall Festival at 3415 Summit Boulevard, Saturday, October 27th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Next Door Bar & Grill at 6430 Charles Page Boulevard is holding a Halloween party on Saturday October 27th with a costume contest and karaoke.

The Office on Main’s 5th Annual Halloween Bash is Saturday, October 27th at 9:00 p.m. at 109 North Main Street. There will be door prizes, a 50/50 drawing, karaoke, a DJ, and a costume contest with cash prizes.

The Sand Springs Ministerial Alliance will be hosting their Eighth Annual Boo on Broadway festival in the downtown Triangle District Sunday, October 28th from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. There will be adult, child, and pet costume contests at the beginning of the event, as well as inflatables, competitions, games, face-painting, and more.

Reach Church, HillSpring Church, Church That Matters, New Life Tabernacle, Sand Springs Church of the Nazarene, Harvest Church, Solace Church, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, CrossPoint Church, Olivet Baptist Church, and First United Methodist Church all participate in the Ministerial Alliance.

HillSpring Associate Pastor Matt Barnett says he expects more than a hundred volunteers from those organizations, and a few dozen businesses participating as well. Anyone looking to get involved and help can email Barnett at Matt.Barnett@hillspring.tv. Last year’s festival attracted more than 3,000 visitors.

Any businesses or organizations participating in the event are also encouraged to make a donation towards Christmas bonuses for the Sand Springs Police and Fire Departments. The Ministerial Alliance donates several thousand dollars worth of gift cards to both departments every year.

Angus Church is hosting a Fall Carnival Wednesday, October 31st from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 4401 South 129th West Avenue. There will be free games, inflatables, trunk-or-treating, door prizes, free food, and a live classic rock show from Ronnie Pyle and the Drivers.

Broadway Baptist Church at 1000 North Adams Road will be hosting a Fall Festival October 31st from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with games, candy, food, prizes, and more.

CrossPoint Church is hosting the DreamLand Family Fall Festival October 31st from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 4600 South 129th West Avenue with games, inflatables, and a petting zoo.

Sand Springs Church of Christ will have a Trunk or Treat event October 31st from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at 4301 South 113th West Avenue. Sand Springs United Methodist Church will have a Trunk or Treat from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 319 North Main Street.

Are we missing your event? Email us details at SanditePrideNews@gmail.com

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 Salvation Army celebrates 40 years of doing the most good

Sand Springs Mayor Mike Burdge and the Sand Springs City Council presented the Sand Springs Salvation Army Corps with a Mayoral Proclamation Monday evening, recognizing their forty year anniversary at their current location. Read the full text of the proclamation below. 

 “Whereas, the mission of the Salvation Army is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination; and

“Whereas, the Salvation Army helped found the Sand Springs Home and the Widow’s Colony in 1911; and

“Whereas, the Salvation Army opened a Home and Hospital for Unwed Mothers in Sand Springs in 1928; and

“Whereas, in 1930, a Salvation Army Corps opened in Sand Springs with the generous assistance of founder, Charles Page, and former Salvation Army pioneer Captain B. F. Breeding; and

“Whereas, the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, and influence; and

“Whereas, in the 1970’s the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs began to flourish and grow in Sand Springs and

“Whereas, on September 24, 1978, the Sand Springs Salvation Army Corps Community Center, in memory of Charles Page, opened its doors for the first time; and

“Whereas, the Salvation Army in Sand Springs is now celebrating 40 years in its present location on 129th W. Ave; and

“Now, therefore, I, Mike Burdge, as Mayor of the City of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, and on behalf of the City Council of the City of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, do hereby recognize and celebrate a long history of meeting the needs of our children and citizens in partnership together with the Salvation Army.

“Dated this 24th day of September, 2018.”

HillSpring Church paints downtown storefront to help attract new businesses

HillSpring Church slapped a fresh coat of paint on the downtown Sand Springs Triangle District early Tuesday morning, helping the City clean up one of the first buildings you see when entering downtown on North Main Street.

The City of Sand Springs received a “Fresh Paint Days” grant from Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, with the stipulation that they use volunteers for the painting and not City employees. H.I.S. Paint donated materials, and the Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality donated cash stipends to the program.

The City reached out to HillSpring Church, who frequently assists with Community Serve Days and other City events. A team of about a half dozen volunteers spruced up the building with the goal of attracting a new business into the vacant storefront.

According to Tulsa County Assessor records, the 107 North Main Street building was built in 1920 and is 3,500 square feet. It is currently owned by Frank and Catherine Suraci and managed by Bauer & Associates. Anyone interested in renting the facility can contact 918-665-1210 or visit www.bauertulsa.com.

Catherine Adkins-Suraci curated Gallery 107 art studio from 2003-2005. Their exhibits drew visitors from across the country, with the most notable being work from the late Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead. Frank “Skip” Suraci operated his law office out of the building for many years.

The building’s most recent tenant was The Parlour Hair and Ink. They opened in 2009 as MainStream Tattoo and Body Piercing and moved to 100 North Garfield in 2016. It has also housed Eagle Eye Collectibles and Antiques and I Believe in Yesteryears antique shop in recent decades.

HillSpring meets on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. at 8801 West 41st Street South.

Go Life Medical offers free ultrasounds and other pregnancy resources

Courtesy.

An unplanned pregnancy is one of the scariest things a woman or couple can experience. A child can cause a massive impact on a person's health, social life, and financial well-being. Go Life Medical hopes to alleviate that stress.

Go Life is a non-profit organization that provides numerous free resources for people across Oklahoma. Not only does Go Life provide free ultrasounds and pregnancy tests at their brick and mortar clinic, they also have a mobile clinic that visits different locations throughout Tulsa.

The mobile clinic can be found at the 1150 South Garnett Walgreens from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m every Tuesday. On Thursdays it'll be at Springdale Baptist Church at 1511 North Lewis Avenue from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Go Life's primary clinic is located at 3210 South Norwood, Suite E and is open Monday through Friday. Ultrasounds are available from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Friday. 

Go Life is a Christian organization that hopes to guide women away from abortion and provides resources and guidance to aid in parenting or the adoption process. More important than the medical services they provide is their goal to share the love of Jesus Christ. 

Church That Matters holds Be The Church Sunday, helps out around Sand Springs

Church That Matters cleared a large section of overgrowth at the Case Community Park boat ramp in preparation for the Great Raft Race.

Church That Matters decided to “be The Church” this Sunday instead of having church. Forgoing their regular morning service, around 200 volunteers spread out across the Sand Springs mission field to make an impact in the lives of their fellow Sandites.

Church crews spent part of the morning at DaySpring Villa, a shelter for victims of sex trafficking and domestic abuse, painting, cleaning, weeding, landscaping, and holding a worship encounter for the residents.

Church That Matters has a big focus on house churches and holding small weekly get togethers in a more personal setting. One of those house churches, located on Nassau Avenue in Tulsa, held a free block party on Nassau Ave to share the gospel and make their neighbors feel welcome. Another group held a cookout and mini Vacation Bible School session at Shannon Valley Mobile Home Park.

Case Community Park is preparing for the annual Great Raft Race, set to launch on Labor Day morning. Church crews prepped the boat ramp area for both participants and viewers, improving the beach and clearing overgrowth.

At Sand Springs Care Closet workers helped sort through clothing and other donations. They also did landscaping and gardening at Clyde Boyd Middle School, where the church got its start. After meeting for several years in the middle school auditorium, the church gave back by cleaning up the grounds before the new school year starts.

Crews handed out free quarters and detergent at the Prattville Laundromat and helped wash cars and paid for cleaning at Bubbletown Car Wash.

One group helped a client of Sand Springs Community Services by building her home a wheelchair ramp.

Finally, a large group will be volunteering at the annual Sand Springs Ministerial Alliance Back 2 School Bash at Tulsa Tech’s Sand Springs Campus from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. In addition to fun activities like inflatables and food, there will also be free backpacks, school supplies, haircuts, dental checkups, and flu shots.  Tulsa Tech is located at 924 East Charles Page Boulevard.

Church That Matters meets Sundays at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. at 3 West 41st Street. For more information visit https://www.churchthatmatters.com/