Harper's Hut Summer Kickoff to honor lost Sand Springs foster kids

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The Harper's Hut Summer Kickoff is back for the third straight year and it promises to be as big as ever!

Harper's Hut Shaved Ice and Java opened in Sand Springs in 2014, and for the past three years they have kicked off the summer season with one of the biggest free parties around.

Every year there are inflatables, games, music, face-painters, and tons of great giveaways. Not only will Harper's be giving away "Sno Yo" cards for free snow cones, but they'll also be giving away "Cold Cards" for free shaved ice all summer long! This year there will also be a petting zoo and a classic cop car on scene for photos. 

Green Country Federal Credit Union, Battman Collision Repair, Master Lube & Car Wash, Sand Springs Autosource, and Integrity Pest Management are all contributing to the festivities. 

In the past the snow cones have been free during the Summer Kickoff. This year you'll have to pay for your snow, but it's going to a good cause. 100% of shaved ice sales will be donated to James Mission.

James Mission is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with locations in Tulsa and Nowata that helps provide care for orphans, widows, foster children, and displaced families. The Resource Center at James Mission provides clothing, shoes, toiletries, toys, and other household items. They have sizes ranging from preemie to 18 years old for boys and girls, summer and winter. 

In addition to the physical needs they meet, they also offer a place for biological parents to have supervised visits with their children in DHS custody and offer connections, resources, and training for long-term relief. On average, they provide for 60 children a week.

According to Oklahomafosters.org, more than 9,500 children in the State of Oklahoma are in DHS custody, and approximately 2,000 of those children are waiting to be adopted. 

In 2014 a Sand Springs police officer and his wife lost a two-year old girl they were fostering in an accidental drowning. This past year, a Glenpool officer who lives in Sand Springs and his wife also lost a child. Harper's reached out to those families to see how they could help and were put in contact with James Mission.

Harper's Hut aims to make as big of a contribution as possible to help James Mission care for these kids and wants to invite anyone and everyone to attend their party. The Summer Kickoff is being held in memory of Teagyn Rose and Corey, the two children who were lost. Harper's has previously named a snow cone after Teagyn, called the "Busy Rose."

This year's event will be held Saturday, June 3rd from 12:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Harper's Hut is located at 1124 East Charles Page Boulevard in Sand Springs, next to the Cinema 8.

Sand Springs musician Morgan Ganem releases new album, Paradise

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Sand Springs musician Morgan Ganem released his debut solo album Friday, May 12th. 

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Morgan Ganem was born and raised in the music industry as the son of I.J. Ganem, a member of the Rogues Five. The Sand Springs band saw success in the 1960's, charting regionally and opening for bands like Jim Morrison and the Doors at the Tulsa Convention Center. Fifty years later it's Morgan's turn, and he is seeing major successes of his own.

The Charles Page High School graduate just released the "Only for the Night" music video, the second single from his new album. Paradise dropped Friday, May 12th.

Paradise is Morgan's first full-length album as a solo artist, and third album all-together. Previously he was the lead vocalist for Sownds, which released albums in 2010 and 2012. He released the Breakthrough EP in 2013 and the Somewhere in Time EP in 2015. 

Morgan and I.J. co-founded GX2 Records, through which Morgan not only records his own music, but co-writes and records topline vocals for producers and musicians across the globe.

"It's grown pretty vastly in the past few years," said Morgan. "I initially started GX2 to put out my own music. Since that point, about the time that Sownds dissolved, I've had pretty incredible releases. We've signed people in Barcelona, a guy in Mexico, a guy in Malaysia, a lot of cool things are happening at this point."

He also plays in his father's band, the I.J. Ganem Band, and fills in with the Rogues Five when the drummer isn't available. 

"It's a full time gig for me. I'm really fortunate to be able to do music my entire life thus far. At this point I've learned how to do so many different things that my plate stays pretty full."

Morgan Ganem performs at the album release party for "Welcome to the Show," the debut album from Sownds. (Photo: Scott Emigh).

Morgan recently began a radio show, live-streaming Morgan Ganem on the Air through his official facebook page. The hour-long special includes original music, remixes, and yesterday featured a preview of Paradise. More than a thousand viewers tune in for each podcast.

"(My influences) are pretty broad. It ranges from the Beatles and Phil Collins to Hardwell and Steve Aioki. I had been doing rock music when I was a kid, now I've kind of transitioned to EDM. Now what I'm doing is a nice mixture of a little bit of both. The lyrics and stuff now have a little more substance the music has more of a rock edge, but it's not really guitars anymore, it's big distorted synthesizers. I definitely still take influence from the classic. I even put a little ode to The Beatles in my song 'Forever Young,' which is the first track on my new album."

"'Only for the Night' was written for someone else originally, but they didn't use the top line, but I really like what I had done with that and wrote my own music around it. It turned out to be a whole new animal. It's fun to collaborate with other people, but if it doesn't work out I can still use whatever I wrote for them as my own music."

Click here to find Paradise on iTunes, amazon, Spotify, Google play, and more. 

"The next thing is just to go out and perform this new music...I've been working on this for some time. I'm also working on some new music. I just finished a new vocal for a guy in Malaysia...I'm just constantly writing music, it never really ends."

Morgan won't need to tour to promote his new music, he already has a summer residency booked with Safari Joe's H20 water park in Tulsa. He will perform more than thirty concerts this summer at the former Big Splash location, which also features a petting zoo and a bar. The first concert will be June 1st for adult night. On Thursday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00, patrons must be 21 years or older to enter. There is also a teen night from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 on Tuesdays. 

On June 3rd, he will be doing a big outdoor concert at the River West Festival Park as a fundraiser for the Bridges Foundation in Tulsa. Registration for the Dirty Dog 5K/Fun Run & Concert will end at 5:30 p.m. The Fun Run will start at 6:00, followed by the 5K at 6:30 and the concert at 7:30. The Bridges Foundation is a United Way affiliate that provides vocational training, employment opportunities, education, living skills, and community resources for individuals with developmental disabilities. 

As far as young and upstart musicians go, Morgan has some simple advice. "Do you. Don't try to sound like anybody specifically, but take influence carefully from artists that you trust. Learn how to do a lot of stuff. Learn how to do it all. There will be a point when no one seems to care, no one wants to help. If you can push yourself past that threshold, then you'll grow and get better. It's not only good for yourself, but it's good for your music. Don't wait on anybody."

100 Mile Yard Sale returns to Sand Springs this weekend

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The Sand Springs city-wide yard sale is this weekend, once again coinciding with the 100-Mile Yard Sale across Oklahoma. Sand Springs will be joining up with Cleveland, Hominy, Ralston, Pawnee, Yale, Cushing, Oilton, Sapulpa, Mannford, Jennings, Hallett, and Terlton for the biggest yard sale weekend of the year.

Sand Springs first participated in the event last year and is back again for the 7th annual event. 

Visit this link to see the Sand Springs map of participating homes and add yourself to the list!

There's about three-dozen homes currently listed on the official Sand Springs map at present time, but if this year goes the same as last year, there will be many more who participate but don't sign up online.

Walnut Ridge in South Sand Springs is just one example of a neighborhood yard sale that only signed up one house online. The neighborhood homeowners association confirmed that several homes will be participating.

The forecast for this weekend is sunny and clear with a slight breeze. Temperatures will start off in the low 50's in the morning and crest around the mid-70's in the afternoon. 

Great Raft Race returns to Sand Springs, registration opens May 3rd

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Photo: Austin Evans.

The Great Raft Race is returning to Sand Springs for the third-straight year this Labor Day, and registration for the event opens May 3rd. 

The historic Tulsa-based event ran from 1973 through 1991 and returned to the Arkansas River in 2015.

Participants will be able to race down the river in three categories of vessels.

  • Purchased watercraft, including kayaks, canoes, and inflatables.
  • Small to mid-sized home-built rafts (max size of 8 feet by 10 feet).
  • Mid to large-sized home-built rafts (max size of 12 feet by 16 feet).

The Raft Race launches at River City Parks in Sand Springs and concludes at River West Festival Park in Tulsa. Prizes will be awarded both for the race itself and for best raft theme and costumes. 

Corporate sponsorships are available, ranging from $2,000 to $25,000 and include registration for one raft along with shirts for your team. 

Click here to view our 2015 Raft Race photo gallery.
Click here to view our 2016 Raft Race photo gallery.

Herbal Affair founder Sandi Byerly receives Hometown Hero award

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Longtime Sandite Sandi Byerly was presented with the Hometown Hero award by Mayor Mike Burdge at the 28th Annual Herbal Affair Saturday afternoon in downtown Sand Springs.

Byerly is credited as having helped start the Herbal Affair and Festival along with the late Ruth Leib in 1989.

The "small" garden party attracted more than 800 visitors in its first year, and grew annually thanks to the efforts of Leib and Byerly. Today, the Herbal Affair attracts more than 25,000 individuals annually. 

The City Garden Park houses a wine garden at the annual Herbal Affair.

According to a City press release, Byerly traveled the Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas countrysides seeking out the best gardeners, artisans, and food vendors in the region to help make Herbal Affair unique.

Local volunteer group The Herb Society was formed by the Byerly-Leib duo in conjunction with the City of Sand Springs. 

Byerly opened The Garden Trowel shop in the former Sand Springs Railway station in the early 1900s, specializing in gardening and cooking. She also helped with the landscape design and installation of the City Garden Park across the Municipal Building. 

Currently, Byerly designs and produces jewelry through her company, Elements of Nature.

Bylerly is a perpetually active volunteer in the Sand Springs and Tulsa communities, working with Special Olympics, Little Light House, and the Tulsa Boys' Home. She is a founder and former president of the Sand Springs Symphony League and an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Sand Springs choir. 

Leib passed away in 2010, but not before receiving the Hometown Hero award in 1999. The Herbal Affair mural in downtown was also dedicated to her memory.

Click here to view previous Hometown Heroes.

This Week in Sand Springs

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Monday

  • 4:00 p.m. Sand Springs Planning Commission - regular monthly meeting
  • 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Oklahoma Blood Institute blood drive
    • Sand Springs Church of Christ. 4301 S. 113th W. Ave, Sand Springs OK 74063
  • 6:00 p.m. Sand Springs Board of Adjustment - regular monthly meeting was CANCELED
  • 6:00 p.m. CPHS Baseball - road game
    • Bartlesville High School. 500 S Madison Blvd, Bartlesville, OK 74006

Tuesday

  • State and Federal Taxes are due
  • 8:00 a.m. CPHS Girls' Golf - Union Tournament
    • Lafortune Park. 5501 S. Yale Ave. Tulsa OK 74135
  • 5:00 p.m. CPHS Slow Pitch Softball - road game
    • Union Intermediate High School. 7616 S. Garnett Rd. Tulsa OK 74012
  • 6:00 p.m. CPHS Baseball - home game
    • Sandite Baseball Complex. 405 W. 55th St. Sand Springs OK 74063
  • 6:00 p.m. Sand Springs Cultural & Historical Museum Trust Authority - regular monthly meeting
  • 6:00 p.m. CPHS Girls' Soccer - home game
    • Memorial Stadium. 500 N. Adams Rd. Sand Springs OK 74063
  • 7:00 p.m. CPHS Band Booster Club - meeting and elections
    • Charles Page High School. 500 N. Adams Rd. Sand Springs OK 74063
    • Positions up for election: President, Vice President, Secretary, Co-Treasurer, CPHS Representative. Appointed coordinator positions also open.
  • 8:00 p.m. CPHS Boys' Soccer - home game
    • Memorial Stadium. 500 N. Adams Rd. Sand Springs OK 74063

Wednesday

  • Sand Springs Development Authority - regular monthly meeting

Thursday

  • 8:00 a.m. CPHS Boys' Golf - 6A State Preview
    • Karsten Creek Golf Club. 1800 S. Memorial Dr. Stillwater OK 74074
  • 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. Guns n' Hoses Community Challenge Blood Drive
  • 4:30 p.m. CPHS Baseball - road game
    • Cascia Hall. 2520 S. Yorktown Ave. Tulsa OK 74114
  • 5:00 p.m. CPHS Slow Pitch Softball - double header road games
    • Jenks High School. 1561 N. Birch St. Jenks OK 74037
  • 5:30 p.m. Sand Springs Education Foundation Hall of Fame dinner
    • Ed Dubie Field House. 500 N. Adams Rd. Sand Springs OK 74063

Friday

  • 3:00 p.m. CPHS Choir Trip - Branson "Music in the Park" Choir Contest
  • 3:00 p.m. CPHS Track and Field - Muskogee Track Meet
    • 3200 E. Shawnee Rd. Muskogee OK 74403
  • 6:00 p.m. CPHS Girls' Soccer - home game
    • CPHS Memorial Stadium. 500 N. Adams Rd. Sand Springs OK 74063
  • 8:00 p.m. CPHS Boys' Soccer - home game
    • CPHS Memorial Stadium. 500 N. Adams Rd. Sand Springs OK 74063

Saturday

  • 9:00 a.m. 28th Annual Herbal Affair & Festival
  • 10:00 a.m. Sand Springs OKUSA Freestyle/Greco-Roman Wrestling Tournament
    • Clyde Boyd Middle School. 305 W. 35th St. Sand Springs OK 74063

This Week in Sand Springs

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Monday

  • 5:00 p.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Baseball - road game
    • Bixby High School, 601 S. Riverview Dr., Bixby OK 74008
  • 7:00 p.m. Regular Sand Springs City Council Meeting

Tuesday

  • 9:00 a.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Boys Golf Tournament
    • The Canyons at Blackjack Ridge. 1801 N. McKinley Rd., Sand Springs 
  • 5:00 p.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Baseball - home game
    • 405 W. 55th Street, Sand Springs
  • 5:00 p.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Softball - home game
    • 405 W. 55th Street, Sand Springs
  • 6:00 p.m. Charles Page High School Girls' Varsity Soccer - road game
    • Booker T. Washington High School. 1514 E. Zion St. Tulsa OK 74106
  • 8:00 p.m. Charles Page High School Boys' Varsity Soccer - road game
    • Booker T. Washington High School. 1514 E. Zion St. Tulsa OK 74106

Thursday

  • 9:00 a.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Girls Golf Tournament
    • The Canyons at Blackjack Ridge. 1801 N. McKinley Rd., Sand Springs
  • 4:30 p.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Softball - road game
    • Broken Arrow High School. 1901 E. Albany St. Broken Arrow, OK 74012

Friday

  • 4:00 p.m. Charles Page High School Track and Field
    • Stillwater High School. 1224 N. Husband St. Stillwater, OK 74075
  • 4:30 p.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Baseball - Highway 97 Rivalry home game
    • 405 W. 55th St. Sand Springs
  • 6:00 p.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Girls' Soccer - road game
    • Enid High School. 611 W. Wabash Ave. Enid, OK 73701
  • 8:00 p.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Boys' Soccer - road game
  • Enid High School. 611 W. Wabash Ave. Enid, OK 73701

Saturday

  • 12:00 p.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Baseball - home game
    • 405 W. 55th Street, Sand Springs

Free community events are free to list and advertise with Sandite Pride.
Submit posters and information to SanditePrideNews@gmail.com

CPHS Memorial Stadium to host non-denominational praise and worship night

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Unity Praise
7:00 p.m. 
April 7, 2017
Memorial Stadium
500 N. Adams Road
Sand Springs, OK 74063

Donations to the event can be addressed to:
In Jesus Name Ministries
P.O. Box 1616
Sand Springs, OK 74063

Click HERE to donate online
Visit In Jesus Name Ministries on Facebook.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

It has been thirty years since Jim and Stephanie Schrepel first felt God calling them to start a ministry. But the timing never seemed right until now. Jim turned 71 years of age last week and the couple celebrated their 38th anniversary, but he is more energized than ever before when it comes to following God's call on his life.

You could compare the couple to Abram and Sarai, and fittingly enough, Stephanie's maiden name is Abram. Jim personally identifies more with Noah. He feels God calling him to do something that has never been done before, and like Noah, he has had to endure some skepticism from people who don't share his vision.

The vision came to Jim during an intercessory prayer session. "I saw myself standing at the old Forward Youth Building, looking down in to the Charles Page High School stadium, full of people praising the Lord." He knew that God was calling him to make it happen.

Thus began the difficult but rewarding journey to launch the first and possibly annual Unity Praise event. "It's a time to bring the body of Christ together, without worry of denomination," says Schrepel. "No denomination has the corner on praise. Praise is universal. God is trying to put this together, showing that denominations can come together and work together."

A lifetime in the Sand Springs community has given Schrepel plenty of connections. He has attended church with House Representative Jadine Nollan and City Councilman Phil Nollan in the past. Jadine introduced him to City Manager Elizabeth Gray. "Mayor (Mike) Burdge and I have known each other for decades," says Schrepel. "The City has just embraced this. Everyone I've crossed paths with has been there to meet a need."

Word of Life church recently moved Forward Youth Ministries to their main campus and sold the old building to The Stronghold church, formerly known as The Church at Moriah. Stronghold pastor Brent Thurber has caught on to Schrepel's vision and will be one of the speakers at Unity Praise.

Also speaking at the event will be former Word of Life Children's Pastor Smiley Elmore, Jr. Elmore played running-back for the University of Missouri from 1987-1989, participated on the TV show American Gladiator, and is an active bodybuilder, speaker, and physical fitness coach. 

There will be multiple worship teams and speakers from area churches working together to put on the event. "God has just opened doors and given us favor. Every day people are getting on board with it."

Securing a venue, sound equipment, advertising, and insurance can get expensive, but Schrepel isn't sweating it. "It has just totally blown us away how the money has come in. It's come from the individuals--not just businesses and churches. They're catching the Unity Praise vision and wanting to see change in Sand Springs."

"God's going to build up Sand Springs to be a spiritual hub in America," says Schrepel. "I asked myself, 'Tulsa's right in the middle of the Bible belt, why is there not more happening here?'"

In the beginning, many church leaders doubted whether Schrepel could pull off an event of this magnitude in Sand Springs. But he insists he has nothing to do with it, it's all God's work. "It's to raise up a new generation of ministers."

The event is on sure ground now. Flyers have gone up all around town, the location, speakers, and musicians are all secured. The Schrepels will even be guests on Good Day Tulsa on April 3rd at 9:00 a.m. to promote the event.

"This event is going to saturate Sand Springs with the word of God."

In correlation with the Unity Praise event, the two have also founded the nonprofit organization "In Jesus Name Ministries." Jim was previously a Radiologic Technologist at City of Faith, while Stephanie supervised Respiratory Therapy at the Oklahoma State University Medical Center. Now they feel called to be paramedics to the body of Christ. 

This Week in Sand Springs

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Monday

  • Regular monthly meeting of the Sand Springs Planning Commission has been canceled. 
  • 6:00 p.m. Regular monthly meeting of the Sand Springs Board of Adjustments
  • 6:00 p.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Baseball - road game
    • Moore High School, 300 N. Eastern Ave, Moore, OK 73160

Tuesday

  • 4:30 p.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Softball - Highway 97 Rivalry road game
    • 631 N. Brown, Sapulpa, OK 74066
  • 6:00 p.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Baseball - home game vs. Moore
  • 6:00 p.m. Regular monthly meeting of the Sand Springs Museum Trust Authority

Thursday

  • 8:00 a.m. Charles Page High School Boys' Varsity Golf
    • Page Belcher Golf Course, 6666 S. Union Ave, Tulsa OK 74132
  • 5:00 p.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Softball - home game vs Barnsdal
  • 6:00 p.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Soccer - home game vs Muskogee

Friday

  • 8:00 a.m. Charles Page High School Boys' Varsity Tennis - Muskogee Tournament
    • 3200 East Shawnee Bypass, Muskogee, OK 74403
  • 8:00 a.m. Charles Page High School Girls' Varsity Golf - Jenks Tournament
    • South Lakes Golf Course - 9253 S. Elwood Ave. Jenks, OK 74037
  • 4:00 p.m. Charles Page High School Varsity Track & Field - Broken Arrow meet
    • 1901 E. Albany St. Broken Arrow, OK 74012
  • Charles Page High School Varsity Baseball - Bartlesville/Collinsville Tournament
    • 2400 W. Broadway St., Collinsville, OK 74021
    • 11:00 a.m. vs Rogers
    • 4:00 p.m. vs Parkhill Christian Academy
  • Charles Page High School Varsity Soccer - Stillwater Tournament

Saturday

  • 8:00 a.m. Charles Page High School Boys' Varsity Tennis - Claremore Tournament
    • 2001 N. Sioux Ave, Claremore, OK 74017
  • 8:00 a.m. Charles Page High School Girls' Varsity Tennis - Muskogee Tournament
    • 3200 East Shawnee Bypass, Muskogee, OK 74403
  • Charles Page High School Varsity Baseball - Bartlesville/Collinsville Tournament
    • 2400 W. Broadway St., Collinsville, OK 74021
    • 12:30 p.m. vs Hillcrest
    • 5:00 p.m. vs Fort Osage
  • Charles Page High School Varsity Soccer - Stillwater Tournament

Free community events are free to list and advertise with Sandite Pride.
Submit posters and information to SanditePrideNews@gmail.com 

The Land That Time Forgot: Estill Park and Wekiwa Road

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Sunset over the Arkansas River, as seen from the mouth of Euchee Creek. (Photo: Scott Emigh).

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Case Community Park, previously known as River City Park, is the flagship of the Sand Springs Parks Department. While the City is partnering with philanthropist Mike Case and using Vision 2025 funding to give the 100-acre park a $6.2 million dollar face-lift, another once-great park sits just a mile down the road--seemingly forgotten by many in its community.

SEE RELATED: Mike and Pat Case donate $2 million for massive park renovation; Sand Springs breaks ground

Estill Park was once a beloved recreation destination, sitting just a hair outside of Sand Springs city-limits. Now it's a dumping ground with little risk of repercussions. The mile-and-a-half-long Tulsa County park stretched from Euchee Creek in the East to Shell Creek in the West and featured a parking lot, a playground, park benches, and pavilions. At its eastern boundary there was a boat ramp, now destroyed, where fishermen and recreational boaters could launch into the Arkansas River. 

The mouth of Euchee Creek in August of 2012. (Google Earth).

"It was a garden of Eden," says former park-goer Ralph Emigh. "It was absolutely an awesome place. For a kid growing up in the seventies it was a romantic place with the fire pits and the river going by."

Today, former park-goers wouldn't recognize it. The area is still used for fishing, four-wheeling and shooting guns. At present time, two abandoned vehicles sit in the sand, riddled with bullet holes and vandalism. Charred boat hulls sit in ruin. One of the vehicles has been reported stolen, according to a Sand Springs Police officer. However, the property is under the jurisdiction of the Tulsa County Sheriff's Department, who says the vehicle would be too difficult to remove due to how far out in the riverbed it is.

The park isn't the only thing that has been neglected. A daily drive down Wekiwa will send your car to the shop for an alignment and new shocks in no time. The guard rails are broken down and overgrown with weeds. Fallen trees and limbs still lay beside the road from a tornadic system that devastated the area in March of 2015.

"If you don't have roads, people don't travel and use the resources," says Dr. Josh Turley, who has already declared his candidacy for the Tulsa County Commissioner election in 2020. "I hate that we have land there that should be accessible, but people can't use it. We're not focusing where we need to be focusing."

Turley compares the loss of Estill Park to that of the lower section of Chandler Park. Tennis courts, pavilions, picnic tables, and more have all been closed to the public for a decade since an ice storm riddled the area with debris in 2007. The County decided it was easier to abandon the area than to clean it up and reopen it.

The west side of Tulsa County has definitely endured some neglect in past years. But things may finally be on the upswing.

In April of 2016 Tulsa County voters approved a 0.05% sales tax renewal, $3,000,000 of which is slated to go toward reconstruction of a two-mile stretch of Wekiwa from 129th West Avenue to Shell Creek. The Vision Tulsa funding will provide for reconstruction of the roadway with a new base, new asphalt surfacing, and wider shoulder and guard rail placement. Welcome news--but long overdue. According to a Vision Tulsa report, the road is considered to be in "Very Bad Condition," with average daily traffic between one and two thousand. 

County Engineer Tom Rains says the Wekiwa Road project is still in the earliest stages, and plans have to be drawn. He expects it will be two years at the earliest before the project is complete.

Chandler Park will also receive $4,350,000 in Vision Tulsa funding for a new swimming pool and upgrades to the youth baseball fields. $1,000,000 of that will go to re-developing the lower-level park. The Master Plan for the park renovation was released in May of last year and calls for nearly $19 million in total costs, with more than $2.5 million for the lower level. The County approved the plan, but hasn't come up with a way to fund it yet.

Creek drainage improvements were made in 2013 to prevent the creek from flooding. (Photo: Scott Emigh).

Euchee Creek, Estill Park's eastern boundary, received a big improvement in 2013. Sand Springs first began a study of the Euchee Creek watershed in 2003 due to flooding concerns, and reconstructed the mouth of the creek in 2013. During that process the City cleared a section of trees and radically improved accessibility from Wekiwa. 

The Euchee Creek area in particular is a historic landmark. The Oklahoma Euchee (also spelled Yuchi) tribe today are enrolled as citizens in the Muscogee Creek Nation. According to a May 2005 Report on Cultural Resources prepared by the Guernsey Consulting firm, the mouth of the Euchee once held a Creek Nation community center before Sand Springs was even incorporated. The tribe later relocated to present-day Sapulpa, where their national headquarters is to this day.

Much of the property was donated to Tulsa County by the Estill family in the 1970s, and upon the closure of the park, it was given to the State Highway Department. The Sand Springs Home Trust owns a piece of the land west of the Euchee, and the City of Sand Springs purchased the eastern side in 2013 with plans to build new Police and Fire Stations on the property. The expected site for those facilities has since been relocated to the Sheffield Crossing development on Morrow Road. The City is limited by an agreement with the Home Trust on what it can do with the land. 

The mouth of the Euchee was the base of a massive cleanup effort this past weekend. Newly-founded Tulsa-based nonprofit organization The Power of Partial Improvements spearheaded an all-day event in the former Estill Park area that drew more than fifty volunteers over the course of the day. 

SEE RELATED: The Power of Partial Improvements: dozens of volunteers clean up Sand Springs park

Pokemon Go: Where to catch 'em all in the Tulsa area

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Dratini outside of the Sand Springs Fire Station.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The hubbub around Pokemon Go has died down a little since winter has set in, but the game is still one of the most rapidly growing apps of all time with more than 500 million downloads worldwide. 

Niantic Labs is constantly rolling out new updates and improvements and is far more active in engaging with their customers through social media than they were in the game's early days. If your gameplay has stalled over the winter months, here's what you may have missed:

  • In September Niantic announced the addition of "buddy" pokemon. Whichever pokemon you set as your buddy will earn candy as you travel, allowing you to more easily power up and evolve rare pokemon.
  • In October Niantic expanded training in "friendly" gyms to allow for the use of six pokemon instead of just one.
  • In November Niantic added daily bonuses for your first catch of the day, and your first pokestop of the day. Furthermore, catching at least one pokemon every day for a full week, and visiting at least one pokestop every day for a full week, will result in an extra large bonus.
  • In November Niantic adjusted the CP (Combat Power) of various pokemon. One of the earliest criticisms of the game was that many pokemon were useless in gym battles due to their low max-CP. Pokemon such as Alakazam, Rhydon, and Gengar had their CP increased while others had theirs lowered.
  • In November Niantic officially rolled out a new in-game tracking system to help trainers locate nearby pokemon. The new tracker shows both "nearby" pokemon, as well as pokemon at nearby pokestops.
  • In November Niantic added the pokemon Ditto to the game. Ditto takes the form of Pidgey, Rattata, Magikarp, and Zubat. There is no way to identify a ditto without catching it first. When used in battle, Ditto will transform into whichever pokemon it is currently battling and will have the same moves.
  • In December Niantic partnered with Sprint, Boost Mobile, and Radioshack, turning more than 10,000 of these locations into pokestops and gyms throughout the United States. They also partnered with Starbucks, turning 7,800 locations into gyms and pokestops. In January they converted another 5,000 Starbucks locations into gyms and pokestops. Starbucks also launched a special Pokemon Go Frappuccino to celebrate the partnership.
  • In December Niantic added several baby pokemon to the game from the generation two games. Pichu, Togepi, Cleffa, Igglybugg, Elekid, Magby, and Smoochum can now be hatched from eggs. Additionally, trainers can also evolve Togepi into Togetic. 

In addition to all the new updates, Niantic has continued the practice of rotating "nests" every two weeks. The local Pokemon Go community in Tulsa and the surrounding areas has been working together to rapidly identify common nest areas and put out an extensive lists of places to acquire previously elusive pokemon. The "Tulsa Pokemon Go" facebook group is the largest and most active network of trainers, boasting more than 5,000 active members.

Here is the most recent list of nests, expected to last from January 11th through the 25th. 

Sand Springs: 

  • River City Parks - Magmar

Owasso: 

  • Rayola Park - Bellsprout
  • Elm Creek Park - Squirtle

Broken Arrow: 

  • Nienhaus Park - Charmander

Sapulpa: 

  • Davis Park - Doduo
  • Kelly Lane Park - Vulpix

Skiatook: 

  • John Zinc Park - Ekans
  • Central Park - Onix and Psyduck

Jenks:

  • Southlake Golf Course - Geodude

Bixby:

  • Washington Irving Park - Ponyta

Bartlesville:

  • Johnston Park - Paras

Stillwater:

  • Boomer Lake - Seel

Tulsa:

  • Centennial Park - Charmander
  • Jackson Park - Cubone
  • Tulsa Zoo - Digglett
  • Woodward Park - Drowzee
  • Woodward Park Rose Garden - Squirtle
  • Mingo Creek Trail (11th and Mingo) - Electabuzz
  • Hunter Park - Growlithe
  • Veteran's Park - Growlithe
  • Whiteside Park - Growlith 
  • Maple Park - Horsea
  • Westbank Soccer Complex - Jigglypuff
  • Gilcrease Museum - Krabby
  • Hicks-Bowman Park - Machop
  • McClure Park - Machop
  • McCullough Park - Machop
  • Heller Park - Meowth
  • Mohawk Golf Course - Omanyte
  • Turkey Mountain - Paras
  • Philbrook Museum - Pinsir
  • Henthorne Park - Pinsir
  • LaFortune Park - Poliwag
  • River Parks - Poliwag
  • Turner Park - Psyduck
  • O'Brian County Park - Sandshrew
  • Redford Lake - Sandshrew

Muskogee:

  • Civitan Park - Electabuzz
  • War Memorial Park - Goldeen
  • Honor Heights Park - Bulbasaur and Zubat
  • Hatbox Sports Complex - Nidoran (female)
  • Spaulding Park - Ponyta

The Tulsa Boys' Home has served nearly 12,000 children in 98 years

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Sand Springs Rotary Club and the Sand Springs United Methodist Church hosted a nonprofit showcase this past Thursday and twenty-nine local organizations participated. The free public event included free food and door prizes to help bring public awareness and attention to the organizations and the opportunities for community involvement. One of those organizations is the Tulsa Boys' Home.

The Tulsa Boys’ Home was first established in 1918 as an orphanage, and since then has cared for nearly 12,000 children and young people. The residential treatment facility currently is home to 64 boys, ages 11 through 18, who struggle with serious emotional, behavioral, and drug problems.

The majority of the boys in the home are placed by the Department of Human Services, though roughly a third are placed by parents and legal guardians. The average length of stay is ten months, but the facility staff work hard to help the boys transition well upon aging out.

The philosophy of the home is “the belief that most of the emotional and behavioral problems (of the boys) are caused by painful past events or a lack of a safe, structured, supportive, and nurturing environment, with consistency, clear limits, and boundaries.”

The program focuses on addressing the individual, the group, and the family, while including life skills training, character education, and employment opportunities. The home has 24-hour supervision with licensed psychologists and psychiatrists on staff.

“Essentially, Tulsa Boys’ Home is about healing broken hearts and broken homes, giving young boys a sense of hope for a positive future that they perhaps never thought possible.”

The facility boasts a swimming pool, recreation hall, gymnasium, tennis court, weight room, baseball field, football/soccer field, ceramics shop, fishing ponds, running track, hiking fields, and other activities. It also is home to a therapeutic equine program that brings retired race horses and quarter horses to the facility for the boys’ attention and care, aiding in the healing process.

The Home offers hour-long “Hope Tours” to those interested in finding out more about the facility and operation. The Home welcomes volunteers, donations, and admission applications.

www.tulsaboyshome.org

Sand Springs grad Dylan Whitney headlines Oklahoma Stage at Tulsa State Fair

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Charles Page High School Class of 2015 graduate Dylan Whitney has been making waves in the local and Midwest blues scene recently, performing at the Sand Springs Chillin 'n' Grillin Festival, the Bixby Vintage Down South Festival, Tulsa Mayfest, and even the Exit 56 Blues Fest in Tennessee.

On Sunday he will taking one of his biggest platforms yet when he headlines the Oklahoma Stage at the Tulsa State Fair. The Tulsa Fair is far from a local showcase. Some of the other headliners on that stage this past week have included Old Dominion, Brothers Osbourne, Chris Janson, Mercy Me, Kellie Pickler, and Elle King. 

Alongside Whitney is vocalist Christi King, bass guitarist Scott Craig, guitarist Michael McClure, and drummer Randy Reese. When the band isn't traveling, Whitney is a guitar instructor at the Butler Music School of Tulsa.

The Dylan Whitney Band will take the stage at 4:00 p.m. Sunday. Admission is included with regular fair entry fee. The stage is located on the West side of the Fairgrounds next to the Exchange Center.

Author Jamie Jones to speak at Word of Life Church Sunday morning

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Courtesy. 

Word of Life Church in Sand Springs will host Christian author and preacher Jamie Jones at their 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. services Sunday morning.

Jones will be promoting her newest book, "Rich For Good." 

"By the time author Jamie Jones was in her 30s, she had gone from having to pray for toothpaste to becoming a millionaire. Rich for Good is not only the "how" and the "why" she did it, but how the why makes all the difference. Rich for Good offers a fresh perspective on doing finances God's way. Each chapter focuses on one of 10 tried and true practices derived from a combination of scriptures, thought provoking questions, and real-life situations. These principles shed light on acquiring wealth the right way for the right reasons. In the world of how-to-get-rich books, Jamie's raw and honest approach sets Rich for Good apart as a humorous and insightful read. Her practical and spiritual guidance helps readers acquire the financial freedom that happens when prosperity partners with purpose."

Word of Life is located at 1402 N. 81st W. Ave., Sand Springs, Oklahoma.
www.mywordoflife.com

56th Annual Greek Festival returns to Tulsa this weekend

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By: Morgan Miller, Executive Director

Food, fun, and Mediterranean festivities await Oklahomans in the Tulsa area this weekend as the 56th Annual Tulsa Greek Festival returns to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.

The festival is Tulsa's oldest Ethnic Festival and has been put on every year by the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church since it started in 1960.

There is something for everyone at this festival. They have traditional dancing and music, authentic Greek appetizers, entrees, drinks, and desserts as well as church tours, and shopping.

The festival will even be dedicating an entire tent to the OU v. Ohio State game Saturday, courtesy of Channel 8 News. The tent will be exclusive to viewers of the game and will charge an entrance fee. It will be full-service with food and drinks served within.

The entrees and appetizers that are being served include chicken and pork souvlaki, calamari, lamb dinner, gyros, cheese pies, dolmathes, Greek salad, spinach pies, and more. Dessert includes classics like baklava and galaktoboureko, along with modern twists like the baklava sundae. The full menu can be found here. As for drinks, there will be imported Greek soda and wine, and Ouzo. Ouzo is a sweet anise flavored liqueur similar-tasting to licorice. 

The festival started on the 15th, and will continue this evening into tomorrow. The hours for Friday and Saturday are 11:00 a.m. till 10:00 p.m. After 4:00 p.m. there will be a $3 entry fee for adults. The festival is at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church at 1222 S. Guthrie Ave, Tulsa Oklahoma 74119. 

Terry's Classic Coneys presents the Harper's Hut Classic Car & Bike Show, next Saturday in Sand Springs

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Three cars that may be at the car show. Photo: Mark Battenfield

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Harper's Hut Shaved Ice & Java is teaming up with Terry's Classic Coneys to bring an old tradition back to the Prattville community. Before being acquired by Teri Buckner, the former Ed's Classic Coneys hosted car shows just about every year. On Saturday, September 24th, the show is back and bigger than ever.

"We've spared no expense," says Harper's owner William Nozak. "It's not just car fans who should be there--it's families. It's a big big thing that we've all come together in Sand Springs to do."

Car Show sponsors:

Allstate
Animal House II Pet Store
Battman Collision Repair
Church That Matters
Copper Oaks Bed & Breakfast
Do Overs Furniture
Green Country Federal Credit Union
Harper's Hut Shaved Ice & Java
Inkwell Custom Apparel
Lucky 7's Custom Creations
Master Lube
Miss Trita's Dance Studio
Mother's Helper Consignment Shop
Sand Springs Autosource
Sand Springs Leader
Shell & Cross Bones Candles
Sullivan's Body Shop
Terry's Classic Coneys
U.S. Army Sand Springs Recruiting Center

The event may be hosted by Buckner and Nozak, but more than a dozen area businesses and organizations are helping to bring the annual event back to life.

The car show will last from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will have plenty for everybody. DJ Blake Bush will be providing entertainment for the evening. Miss Trita's Dance Studio students will be performing a routine. The Sand Springs Leader will be providing games for the children and the Army will have youth games. There will be several other vendors of food, crafts, clothes, and more at the event as well.

Church That Matters will be preparing breakfast and the Harper's Hut coffee truck will also be on hand. Throughout the day, attendees will be able to lunch on Papa Pat's Barbecue or Terry's Classic Coneys, and follow it up with some shaved ice for dessert. 

The car show itself will feature 21 classes, with trophies going to the top-three in each class. The first place trophies are extra special, however. Nozak traveled three hours to Conway, Arkansas to acquire the trophies that were hand-made by an artist/mechanic from actual car parts. The trophies are very heavy, and very expensive. 

There's a special category for the kids to participate in, and a People's Choice Award trophy. Every entrant in the competition will receive a T-shirt, but the biggest prize goes to the Best in Show winner. That lucky person will receive a one night paid stay for two at the Copper Oaks Bed & Breakfast in Sapulpa. 

There will also be a raffle open to the public, full of great prizes. There's a lamp made out of car pistons, $25 vouchers to the Sand Springs Pumpkin Patch, two meals at Rib Crib, car detailing supplies from AutoZone, a month of free tanning from Touch of Sun, a one-year subscription to the Leader, and even more great prizes. Raffle tickets will be $5.00 apiece, and each prize will have its own bucket so that everyone gets a good shot at what they're wanting. 

The best part of the whole event is that it's nonprofit. The proceeds from the car show and raffle will all be split between the Keystone Fire Department and the Church That Matters Special Needs ministry. 

For more information, contact
William Nozak
www.harpershut.com
www.facebook.com/harpers.hut

Local businesses and churches say farewell to summer with stellar parties

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Photo: Courtesy, Holly Felts Photography

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Sand Springs students have been back in school for a week now, but two local youth groups just held big "Back-to-School" parties Wednesday night. 

Forward Youth, the youth ministry of Word of Life Church, held their third annual Whiteout powdered-paint war with inflatables and slip'n'slide kick ball. The Movement, Church That Matters's youth group, held their third annual Meltdown snowball fight with shaved ice provided by Harper's Hut Shaved Ice & Java and the Sweet Pink Shack.

Forward Youth celebrated their first service at their new location. The youth have had their own building at 10th and Adams since the church vacated that building and moved to their current location at 1402 N. 81st W. Ave. The church recently announced the transition to bring their youth into the main church building earlier this summer. 

The party featured free shaved ice from Sandlot Sno-Balls and free donuts from Livi Lee's. The church provided a massive inflatable obstacle course and bounce-house and played games of slip'n'slide kick ball on the church's baseball field. For the third year the church hosted a powdered-paint war with more than a hundred attendees. The war splits the youth group into two sides with each student receiving bags of dry powder paint to hurdle at the other team. 

The Movement has also been doing their Meltdown Summer Snowball Fight for three years now, using buckets and coolers full of ice shaved by Harper's Hut and the Sweet Pint Shack. The packed event held its worship service outside in the church parking lot at 3 West 41st Street. 

City officials hold ground breaking ceremony in River West Development

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Sand Springs City Council members and other City officials held a ground-breaking ceremony for the new El Maguey location Wednesday evening in the River West Development. 

Owners Rogelio and Norma Ayala and their two children were visibly excited about their new property and the progress being made. The Ayalas have been renting their current facility at 520 East Plaza Court for the last fourteen years and are expected to move into the new restaurant next summer. 

The new restaurant will feature the same menu, but the Ayalas look to improve service and atmosphere while adding quality patio seating. 

The thirty-acre River West property was purchased with Vision 2025 funds approved in 2003 and development began in 2007 but stalled out due to the Great Recession. 

Centennial Baptist Church and McDonald's have been present in the area since 2000. In 2010 IHOP opened as the first sit-down restaurant in the development and in 2012 an existing O'Reilly Auto Parts location relocated from within the property. In 2013 a CVS pharmacy opened on the former site of the Booker T. Washington High School and Kindergarten Center. Holiday Inn Express opened a new location in 2015 and Starbucks opened a small location the same year. El Maguey will be the second restaurant to join the fast-growing development.

 

City of Sand Springs launches economic development Web site

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Sand Springs, OK- The City of Sand Springs has launched www.SeeSandSprings.com, a Web site focused on economic development. The new site features data and resources geared to business, development, visitors and tourist attraction to Sand Springs.

“We are thrilled to make See Sand Springs available to the public,” said Elizabeth Gray, City Manager. “Our staff has worked very hard researching and developing this site to help realtors, Chambers and brokers guide interested parties to the type of information a national chain or industry looks for.”

The See Sand Springs site started as a graduate student project in the summer of 2015 and has since been adopted by staff and City Council as a part of City Council’s recent Economic Development Resolution.

“The See Sand Springs site is an excellent example of what cities should be doing to further economic development,” said Charlotte Howe, Northeast Regional Development Specialist with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

Data gathered for the site grew from partnerships with local agencies like the Indian Nations Council of Governments (INCOG,) Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC,) regional and local chambers. The site was compiled as a graduate project by Sand Springs Public Information and Marketing Manager, Kasey St. John.

City staff will begin marketing the site this fall at national events and conferences.

For more updates on development and City happenings, please visit www.sandspringsok.org.

Pokemon Go! Machop nest confirmed in Sand Springs River City Parks

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

I have been hearing rumors for weeks of a Machop nest at River City Park in Sand Springs and finally got to confirm Sunday morning.

The flagship of the Sand Springs Parks Department, River City is the "Gathering Place" of Sand Springs and can frequently be found packed with families and sports teams any day of the week.  

The park features a nine-basket disc golf course with alternate tees for eighteen holes. There's a (mildly overgrown) horseshoe pit, a skate park, a splash pad, boat ramp access to the Arkansas River, numerous great fishing holes, and a large stretch of scenic paved walking/biking trails.

The park's Inez Kirk Soccer Complex is home to the Sand Springs Soccer Club recreational league and the West Side Alliance competitive soccer league. The Jerry Adair Baseball Park is the home of the Sand Springs Little League and boasts some of the nicest facilities in the region. The Will Ramsey Softball Park, Case Community Center, Sand Springs Round Up Club rodeo arena, and Sand Springs BMX Association are also found in the massive park.

The soccer complex, ballparks, community center, and park entrance are all Pokéstops and the playground is a gym. However, due to the sheer size of the park, it's not a good place to go without a solid stock of pokéballs. The stops are spread out with zero overlap and unlikely to be lured on a normal day. 

Case Community Center

The Pokémon selection is solid, however. It's not as dense of a hunting ground as downtown Tulsa by any means, but it beats your average neighborhood park by a long shot. The best spot for diversity is the Case parking lot. As soon I pulled in, I was confronted by Diglet, Nidorina, Pidgey, and Ekans. After circling around the building I added a Tauros and Eevee. From there I went to the baseball park and found Exeggcute, Zubat, and multiple Krabby. Magikarp and other water type are throughout the area.  For the Machop nest, you have to travel all the way into the park to the BMX track. Some will spawn as far out as the disc golf course, but the deepest concentration is within the BMX fence. No worries though; the track has free admission for spectators! Head over to www.sandspringsbmx.com for their schedule and enjoy some racing while you hunt! 

A great opportunity to do some hunting will be on Labor Day when the park is swarmed with participants and spectators of the Great Raft Race. River City is the launching point for the race and there will likely be hundreds of spectators playing and I would be surprised if there's not at least one or two lures running. ​

Did I mention the outstanding concessions stand that's open all week long raising money for the soccer leagues? It's located right next to the splash pad and serves an above average array of food and drink including the famous Harper's Hut gourmet Shaved Ice!

So whether you're just working towards the elusive Machoke or Machamp, or you want a fun area to enjoy some fresh air with friends or family, River City is a five star destination for any Pokémon trainer!