TASM Announces Statewide Essay Contest, Select Students to Participate in Live NASA Downlink

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TULSA, Okla. – The Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium (TASM) is hosting a statewide essay contest for students in grades 5th through 12th. Students with winning essays will be invited to participate in a live NASA downlink, hosted by TASM.

Students are asked to answer the question, “What question would you ask an astronaut and why” and explain how their question relates to their life on earth. The contest is open to students enrolled in public, private, charter or homeschool schools within the state of Oklahoma.

All entries must be submitted by 5 p.m. on March 9, 2018. Essays will be evaluated based on content, relevance, depth of thought and grammar. The live NASA downlink will take place in April or May, on a date to be determined by NASA. TASM will announce the exact date as soon as it is selected.

Students with winning essays will have the chance to interact with NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station. ISS crewmembers will discuss and demonstrate unique concepts in space and have a live question-and-answer session with the students.  The downlink will be broadcast live on NASA TV and streamed on the web. 

To download the complete contest packet, visit www.TulsaAirandSpaceMuseum.org. If you have question about TASM’s 2018 Live NASA Downlink Essay Contest, please email NASAchat@tulsamusuem.org.

International Space Station In-flight Education Downlinks supports NASA’s efforts to encourage K-12 students to study and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Downlinks are facilitated by the Johnson Space Center Office of Education as part of STEM on Station, and use the unique experience of human spaceflight to promote and enhance STEM education. 

Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium is the region’s hub of science based learning through discovery. Each year, more than 55,000 visitors pass through the museum to explore Tulsa’s rich aviation heritage and explore the correlation of science and technology with flight.

Governor Mary Fallin Signs 2018 Fiscal Year Budget Bill

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Governor Mary Fallin, with Secretary of State, Education and Workforce Development Dave Lopez watching, on Tuesday signs House Bill 1020XX, the 2018 fiscal year budget bill.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today signed House Bill (HB) 1020XX, the Fiscal Year 2018 budget bill, into law. The $6.98 billion budget covers the current fiscal year, which ends June 30.

The measure cuts state spending by about $44.7 million and requires every state agency to cut about 2 percent from their budgets over the next four months. It is the result of two special sessions that Fallin convened after three health-related agencies were plunged into a $214 million budget shortfall last August when a proposed smoking cessation fee was struck down by the state Supreme Court.

Fallin urged lawmakers to pass revenue and reform measures to make up the funding gap. However, members in the House of Representatives failed to muster the required three-fourths majority necessary for certain revenue measures.

“Most House Democrats chose politics over people by refusing to vote for the budget package,” said Fallin. “Their no votes resulted in votes against a teacher pay raise, funding our health and human services and protecting our most vulnerable citizens, and against putting our state on a stable budget path forward. Unfortunately, House Democrats kept moving the goalposts and the people of Oklahoma are the ones who lost.

 “Developing a budget in this difficult fiscal and political climate is never easy. This budget keeps our government operating and, despite challenging circumstances, funds our core mission services. Passage of the Step Up Oklahoma plan, House Bill 1033XX that failed earlier this month would have helped fill our budget hole for the current fiscal year as well as put Oklahoma on a more stable budget path.”

The governor also signed HB 1021XX, which states legislative intent that a number of social service programs, mainly for the elderly and disabled, be kept at their original budgetary levels.

Governor Mary Fallin Says Measures in Place to Help Provide Safe Environment for Oklahoma Students

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OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today assured Oklahomans that measures are in place intended to keep Oklahoma students safe.

The Oklahoma School Security Institute, created under legislation signed into law in 2013 by Fallin, operates under the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security. The institute continues to offer schools training in numerous areas, and provides other services, such as security assessments at school campuses.

“The state of Oklahoma has a duty to do everything we can to keep our children safe. Every parent should have their child come home safely,” said Fallin. “The Oklahoma School Security Institute ensures that schools are well prepared for emergencies of all kinds. It also helps to provide more training and better coordination between law enforcement and education professionals.”

Kim Edd Carter, director of the Office of Homeland Security, said the institute’s staff of three also works with the State Department of Education to provide training it proposes schools obtain. More information may be found here.

 The Office of Homeland Security partners with Oklahoma’s fusion center to provide a free statewide tip line for school security reporting. Information reported to the tip line is forwarded to the appropriate school administrators and local law enforcement authorities.

Persons may email concerns to the tip line program, Tipline.OK.gov. It is available for anyone to report suspicious activity or a possible threat to any Oklahoma school. Reports may be made anonymously. Or persons may call (855) 337-8300.

“When parents send their children off to school, they expect their children to be safe,” Carter said. “The Oklahoma School Security Institute staff works with school officials to provide a secure environment for our students.”

The homeland security office also offers active-shooter training to law enforcement officers, he said. About 7,000 of the state’s law officers have undergone such training.

Carter said the Office of Homeland Security is launching a single-officer response course on active-shooter response.

Another major training course offered by the homeland security office is the law enforcement first-responder course, which trains officers how to use tourniquets, chest seals, and wound packing materials that are needed after a shooting.  When the officer graduates from this eight-hour course, he is given a small kit that contains the tools he had been trained to use. Those kits are purchased by the Office of Homeland Security with federal and state funds, Carter said.

A law passed in 2015 gives local public school boards the authority to allow school personnel with a concealed-carry license to attend an armed security-guard training program and be armed on campus.

State law allows private schools to make similar decisions. If a private school has a policy allowing the carrying of weapons, a person with a concealed-carry license may carry a weapon on private school property.

Certified law enforcement personnel, such as school resource officers, may carry firearms in public schools.

The Oklahoma School Security Institute and Rose State College are hosting a panel discussion on school safety at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Rose State College Community Learning Center in Midwest City.

School safety was discussed by Fallin and other governors attending the National Governors Association conference last weekend in Washington, D.C., during a meeting with President Donald J. Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Gov. Rick Scott.

SSPS Board of Ed discusses upcoming bond election, new Ninth Grade Center

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Board of Education President Bo Naugle administers the Oath of Office to Rusty Gunn. 

The Sand Springs Public Schools Board of Education met in a special meeting Monday, February 20th, to discuss an upcoming bond election, as well as to swear in board member Rusty Gunn.

Gunn, the lead pastor at Church That Matters and chaplain for the Sandite football team, filed unopposed for reelection last year and was sworn in for another three-year term. Gunn was previously the Board President, and was replaced by Bo Naugle. Each year, the Board rotates positions. Jackie Wagnon was elected as Vice President and Krista Polanski was named Deputy Clerk.

The biggest single issue discussed by district officials was a new Ninth Grade Center building, attached to Charles Page High School. The current building was constructed in 1923 in downtown and housed Sand Springs High School until CPHS was constructed in 1959. Of the 420 students who currently attend CNGC, 319 are shuttled to classes at the high school every day.

In addition to the ninth grade center, the district also hopes to add a new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) lab. Phase One of the construction would see an expansion made to the existing CPHS lobby with an interior entrance to four new STEM classrooms. The addition would be two stories, but the second floor wouldn't be built out until Phase Two.

In Phase Two, the district would construct the ninth-grade building immediately behind the STEM lab. It would sit flush with the high school, but the two would only be connected through the front lobby. The addition would connect to the STEM building and would build out the second floor for a total of 22 new classrooms and a cafeteria exclusive to the freshmen. Food would be cooked in the primary cafeteria and carted over to the freshman cafeteria. That process is currently utilized at the Sixth Grade Center and Clyde Boyd Middle School.

New administrative offices would also be built, as the district does not plan to consolidate staff from the two schools. More parking would also be created. District Architect and Bond Projects Manager Jeanie Kvach is behind the designs.

Other issues that the district is considering for bond measures include new sound systems for Memorial Stadium, the Sandite Baseball and Softball stadiums, and the Ed Dubie Field House. The baseball program has been asking for new equipment for several years, and the field is severely in need of grading. The wrestling team, which won State and Dual State titles last year, is in need of new mats. The Pratt Elementary teacher's lounge has been operating without water, leaving faculty without a sink or coffee pot. 

All of the bond issues are still in the discussion and planning stages currently, and nothing is finalized. Community input is always encouraged at District Dialogue meetings and Board of Education meetings. The next District Dialogue meeting will be March 5th at 5:30 p.m. followed by the Board of Ed meeting at 7:00 p.m. Both will be held in the Performing Arts Building at the CPHS campus. 

Church of the Month: Word of Life Youth Ministry

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Word of Life Youth. (Courtesy). 

*Note: Word of Life changed their name to Reach Church in August of 2018.

Last week Sandite Pride introduced readers to the Children’s ministry at Word of Life, our February Church of the Month. Today we look at the Youth Ministry under Pastor Chad Ketcher.

SEE RELATED: 

Word of Life’s youth ministry has been called by many names over the years. Harmony, Lighthouse, the Depot, and Forward. The church recently moved the youth services from a building at 10th and Washington to the church’s main campus and took on the simple moniker of Word of Life Youth.

Having the youth on the adult campus has always been a goal of the church, but until recent years the main church also held a Wednesday night service, so there wasn’t room.

Ketcher took over the ministry full time in January of 2016. The only lifelong Sandite to ever hold the position, he felt called to return to Sand Springs again shortly before that. He and wife, Heather, were previously involved in a church in downtown Tulsa.

While still attending church in Tulsa, they were also participating in a small group hosted by Will and Amberly Bell, a couple heavily involved in Word of Life. “I thought that was kind of cool that they opened it up to somebody that didn’t even go to church here,” says Ketcher.

“In August (of 2015) we thought we were going to go somewhere else. But someone asked us to come visit (Word of Life). We had already been going to the life group for almost a year, so I said ‘let’s at least go check it out.’”

“We fell in love with (Word of Life) in the first week,” says Ketcher. “We loved everybody. We knew a lot of the people because we lived in this town our entire lives.”

Ketcher wasn’t looking for a full-time ministry job, despite having graduated Rhema Bible Training College in 2003. At the time he worked at the OSU Medical Center in Tulsa. He visited Forward to look into volunteering as a youth leader and found out that the pastor job was open.

Ketcher has a history with the Word of Life youth, having attended services in his teenage years under the late pastor Terry Scott. Going on mission trips to Mexico with the youth is part of what first inspired him to go to Bible College after graduating Charles Page in 2001.

Word of Life Youth Pastor Chad Ketcher. (Courtesy). 

After a few weeks of prayer and contemplation, he decided to apply for the position. Ketcher is the fourth Word of Life Youth Pastor since 2010. “All they need is consistency,” thought Ketcher. “They just need someone to ride this thing for a long time.”

“When we started, my goal in the first year was just to let these teenagers know I’m not going anywhere. My goal in the second year was to get them involved in doing stuff and get them here on Sundays, enjoying church. My goal this year is all about ‘how can we reach other people?’”

Ketcher looks to the example set by former Youth Pastor Tim Earnhardt, who left the church in 2010 and currently pastors Occupied Church in Tulsa. “He always had teenagers with him, all the time,” says Ketcher. “Honestly, as a youth pastor, you should always have a teenager with you. That’s your life. That’s why you exist. It shouldn’t just be a Wednesday night or Sunday morning thing.”

He also wants to make sure the kids are there for the church more than for him. “Whenever you leave, you don’t want everyone to quit coming to church because they were so tied to you. We try to encourage that they come on Sunday and to small groups and that they serve in our children’s church. I don’t need you here for me, I don’t get paid per student.”

“I want you to enjoy church because of what you bring to church. The benefit that you can bring. That even as a teenager, you are valuable. You have your own personality type, you have your own set of skills. Our worship team is all teenager-led. I let my teenagers preach on Wednesday nights. How do you expect to grow a leader if you don’t give them the chance to be one?”

“We try to keep it real with the teenagers. Don’t ask them to live a lifestyle that you don’t teach them how to live.” The youth will be doing a series coming up in April on sex and how to date in a manner that’s consistent with biblical teachings. “That’s what we expect sometimes. A youth kid should be perfect or least act right when he’s at church. You’re asking someone to not cuss, who hears cursing all the time in their house. That’s not fair. Maturing is not an age thing, it’s someone being taught how to grow up.”

According to Ketcher, Wednesday night should be the most fun night of the week. Forward has their own party bus with hardwood floors, limousine-style seating, lights, and surround sound. They plan to use it to pick up kids for church and take them home if they need rides as soon as Ketcher gets his Commercial Driver's License. 

Word of Life. Stock Photo.

The youth plan on going on a mission trip to Arlington, Texas over Spring Break. Then they’ll take a trip to Haiti next year where they’ll work with fellow Sandites Michael and Baylee Wilson who live there full time. Ketcher also plans to get the youth involved at Gable Hills, Highland Crossing, the Sand Springs Home and Colony, and local nursing homes.

“Your community has enough serving opportunities, it’s just a matter of finding them. It’s fun to go out to different places, but if there’s that much need in your own town and you can get thirty kids to show up and serve, that’s just crazy not to serve your own community. One of the people that I think is absolutely the best at this is (HillSpring Associate Pastor) Matt Barnett. I love that his heart is where his community is. That rubs off.”

Ketcher participates in One Network, a coalition of local pastors who work together to reach Sand Springs youth. “How can we all come together? If we stop competing and start just working. Yes we want people, and yes we want the same town, and we want the same community, but every church brings something completely different.”

Ultimately Ketcher wants students to know that they’re the church, not him and his fellow pastors. “I’m not different than anybody else, I just love what I do. I think sometimes we get so caught in ministry as preaching. It’s not preaching. Ministry happens in conversation. It just happens."

Word of Life Youth
1402 N 81st West Ave
Sand Springs, Oklahoma 74063
(918) 245-0262
Service: Wednesday 7:00 p.m.
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
http://www.mywordoflife.com/forward-youth
Facebook: @theforwardyouth
Instagram: @wordoflifess_youth

Word of Life
1402 N 81st West Ave
Sand Springs, Oklahoma 74063
(918) 245-0262
Service: Sunday 10:00 a.m.
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
http://www.mywordoflife.com
Facebook: @Wordoflifess
Instagram: @Wordoflifess
Twitter: @mywordoflife

This Week in Sand Springs (2/25 - 3/3/18)

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Monday

  • 7:00 p.m. No. 13 Lady Sandite Basketball vs. No. 10 Bixby (A, Regionals)
    • Bixby High School
      601 South Riverview Drive
      Bixby, OK 74008
  • 7:00 p.m. Sand Springs City Council Meeting 
  • 8:00 p.m. Sand Springs Municipal Authority Meeting
    • Immediately following City Council
    • Sand Springs Municipal Building
      City Council Chambers, Room 203
      100 East Broadway
    • Click here to view agenda.
  • 8:00 p.m. No. 10 Sandite Basketball vs. No. 7 Putnam City West (A, Regionals)
    • Putnam City West High School
      8500 Northwest 23rd Street
      Oklahoma City, OK 73127

Tuesday 

  • 5:30 p.m. Open House for 8th Grade Parents and Students
    • Central Ninth Grade Center
      14 West 4th Street
  • 5:30 p.m. Tulsa Boys' Home Hope Tour
  • 6:00 p.m. Sand Springs Cultural & Historical Museum Trust Authority Meeting
  • 8:00 p.m. Sandite Soccer Scrimmage v. Coweta (A)
    • Coweta High School
      14705 South 305th East Avenue
      Coweta, OK 74429

Wednesday

  • 5:00 p.m. Sand Springs City Council Special Meeting

Thursday

  • 9:00 a.m. Lady Sandite Golf
    • Sapulpa Municipal Golf Course
      1200 West Dewey Avenue
      Sapulpa, OK 74066
  • 5:00 p.m. Sandite Baseball vs. Coweta (A)
    • Coweta High School
      14705 South 305th East Avenue
      Coweta, OK 74429
  • 7:00 p.m. "Annie" by Sand Springs Community Theater
    • General Admission $10
    • Central Ninth Grade Center
      14 West 4th Street
  • No. 13 Lady Sandite Basketball (Regionals)
    • Time/Location to be determined.
    • Either Claremore at 6:30 p.m. or Daniel Webster at 8:00 p.m.

Friday

  • 8:00 a.m. Lady Sandite Tennis at Jenks Invitational (A)
    • The Grand Health and Raquet Club
      3030 East 91st Street
      Tulsa, OK 74137
  • 8:00 a.m. Sandite Tennis at Union Invitational (A)
    • Union Tennis Center
      7616 South Garnett
      Broken Arrow, OK 74012
  • 10:30 a.m. Sandite Track & Field at Owasso Invitational (A)
    • Owasso High School
      12901 East 86th Street North
      Owasso, OK 74055
  • 6:00 p.m. Lady Sandite Soccer vs. East Central (H)
    • Memorial Stadium
      500 North Adams Road
  • 7:00 p.m. "Annie" by Sand Springs Community Theater
    • General Admission $10
    • Central Ninth Grade Center
      14 West 4th Street
  • 8:00 p.m. Sandite Soccer vs. East Central (H)
    • Memorial Stadium
      500 North Adams Road
  • No. 10 Sandite Basketball (Regionals)
    • Time/Location to be determined.
    • Either Bixby at 6:30 p.m. or Tulsa Memorial at 8:00 p.m.

Saturday

  • 8:00 a.m. Lady Sandite Tennis at Union Invitational (A)
    • Union Tennis Center
      7616 South Garnett
      Broken Arrow, OK 74012
  • 8:00 a.m. Sandite Tennis at Jenks Invitational (A)
    • The Grand Health and Raquet Club
      3030 East 91st Street
      Tulsa, OK 74137
  • 1:00 p.m. Sandite Baseball v. Midwest City (H)
    • Sandite Athletic Complex
      408 West 55th Street
  • No. 13 Lady Sandite Basketball Area Playoffs
    • Time to be determined. Either 3:00 p.m. or 1:30 p.m.
    • Daniel Webster High School
      1919 West 40th Street
      Tulsa, OK 74107
  • 7:00 p.m. "Annie" by Sand Springs Community Theater
    • General Admission $10
    • Central Ninth Grade Center
      14 West 4th Street
  • No. 10 Sandite Basketball Area Playoffs
    • Time to be determined. Either 6:30 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. 
    • Daniel Webster High School
      1919 West 40th Street
      Tulsa, OK 74107

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  • Free for nonprofit/free/charitable events.
  • Free for Sandite Pride Partners.

Church of the Month: Growing up at Word of Life

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Courtesy. 

*Note: Word of Life changed their name to Reach Church in August of 2018.

Last week Sandite Pride introduced readers to our February Church of the Month, Word of Life. This week we learned about the church's children's and youth programs. 

SEE RELATED: Church of the Month: Word of Life exists to reach people

While children are always welcome in the main service, the church does provide several children’s classrooms on Sunday morning. The nursery provides care for babies from birth through 18 months old. 18-36 month olds have their own classroom, as do Kindergarteners and Elementary students.

The 18-36 month room does a couple of praise and worship songs, reads a picture story, and does brief lessons with props. The Kindergarten class expands on what the kids have been doing, adding longer lesson periods. They also join with the Elementary students for worship before heading back to their own class.

Word of Life Children’s Pastor Alexis Glaze. (Courtesy).

"I'm a firm believer that anything adults can do, kids can do better." - Alexis Glaze.

Children’s Pastor Alexis Glaze oversees the whole children’s program from infancy till middle school, and teaches the First through Fifth Grade class each Sunday.

Glaze came to the church in the summer of 2016, immediately after graduating from Oral Roberts University. Originally from Texas, Glaze married Golden Eagle pitcher Grant Glaze this past July and the two are currently expecting their first child. She is also a part-time substitute teacher for Sand Springs Public Schools while attending graduate school through Liberty University.

Each Sunday morning, the Elementary classroom starts with playtime, then brings in the Kindergarten class for worship. Each lesson is structured to address questions the children may have. Glaze recently posed the question “Does God still love me when I do bad things?” and spoke on God’s unconditional love. “We don’t want to do bad things, because we don’t want to make God sad, but he’s going to love us no matter what,” says Glaze. Children’s teachers also incorporate animated bible stories to keep the kids interested.

The church hosts lots of activities for children outside of Sundays. This Spring Break, parents and kids will be invited to a Chick-fil-A picnic at Ray Brown Park. Ages seven through twelve will spend several days this June at Victory Christian Camp in Mannford. In July they will hold Vacation Bible School for Kindergarten through Fifth grade students. The church will be having two services for Easter this year, and each service will have an egg hunt with 1,500 eggs.

Word of Life
1402 N 81st West Ave
Sand Springs, Oklahoma 74063
(918) 245-0262
Service: Sunday 10:00 a.m.
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
http://www.mywordoflife.com
Facebook: @Wordoflifess

Instagram: @Wordoflifess

This Week in Sand Springs (2/18 - 2/24/18)

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Monday

  • Presidents' Day
  • 11:00 a.m. Sandite Baseball Scrimmage vs. Owasso (A)
    • Owasso High School
      12901 East 86th Street North
      Owasso, OK 74055
  • 4:00 p.m. Sand Springs Planning Commission Meeting 
  • 6:00 p.m. Sand Springs Board of Adjustment Meeting

Tuesday 

  • 4:30 p.m. Sandite Baseball Scrimmage vs. Mannford (H)
    • Sandite Sports Complex
      408 West 55th Street
  • 6:00 p.m. Sand Springs Cultural & Historical Museum Trust Authority Meeting
    • Sand Springs Museum
      9 East Broadway
    • Click here to view agenda.
  • 6:00 p.m. Sand Springs Public Schools Board of Education Special Meeting 
  • 6:00 p.m. Lady Sandite Soccer Scrimmage v. Coweta (A)
    • Pryor High School
      1100 Southeast 9th Street
      Pryor, OK 74361
  • 8:00 p.m. Sandite Soccer Scrimmage v. Pryor (A)
    • Pryor High School
      1100 Southeast 9th Street
      Pryor, OK 74361

Wednesday

  • 4:00 p.m. Sand Springs Development Authority Meeting
  • 5:00 p.m. Sand Springs City Council Special Meeting

Thursday

  • 4:30 p.m. Sandite Baseball scrimmage vs. Victory Christian (H)
    • Sandite Sports Complex
      408 West 55th Street
  • 6:30 p.m. No. 13 Lady Sandite Basketball v. Stillwater (Regionals)
    • Bixby High School
      601 South Riverview Drive
      Bixby, OK 74008

Friday

  • 9:30 a.m. - 10:15 p.m. OSSAA 6A State Wrestling Tournament (A)
  • 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Rotary Club Chili Cook-Off 
    • Case Community Center
      1050 West Wekiwa Road
  • 6:30 p.m. No. 10 Sandite Basketball v. Jenks (Regionals)
    • Putnam City West High School
      8500 Northwest 23rd Street
      Oklahoma City, OK 73127

Saturday

  • 10:30 a.m. - 10:15 p.m. OSSAA 6A State Wrestling Tournament (A)
  • 1:00 p.m. Sandite Baseball Scrimmage v. Sapulpa (A)
    • Allen Wallace Field
      1004 West Bryan
      Sapulpa, OK 74066
  • 1:30 p.m. Girls' Basketball Regional Finals 
    • Bixby High School
      601 South Riverview Drive
      Bixby, OK 74008
  • 7:00 p.m. Boys' Basketball Regional Finals
    • Putnam City West High School
      8500 Northwest 23rd Street
      Oklahoma City, OK 73127

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  • Free for nonprofit/free/charitable events.
  • Free for Sandite Pride Partners.

Sand Springs golf course ranked among top-ten Best Value courses in United States

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Sand Springs, OK -  The City of Sand Springs' Canyons at Blackjack Ridge Golf Course has been named one of the top golf courses not only in Oklahoma, but in the U.S. The recent rankings come from Golf Advisor (golfadvisor.com) an online golfing review source, using feedback from golfers themselves. The 2017 rankings reflect online voting by golfers around the region and the results showcase the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge as the #3 rated top golf course in Oklahoma and among the Top 10 Best Value courses in the United States.

"We've been working on the course for more than ten years, and we're pretty pleased to be noticed in this manner," stated Brian Talley, Director of Golf for the City. "Our course has added many recent improvements like new tee boxes, pond features, beautiful vistas and our greens have been consistently strong."

The Canyons is a USGA sanctioned, 18 hole course overlooking the beautiful Tulsa skyline.  Each year tens of thousands of sports tourists play the course and enjoy the Sand Springs community. Talley says there are no shortcuts in producing the consistently strong product that is the Canyons golf course.

"Many hours are spent by staff every day monitoring the greens, irrigation and nutrient inputs which come together to create a fantastic golf experience for people", Talley added. "With many choices for people to play golf, we go the extra mile with great customer service and competitive rates to keep people coming back."

The Canyons boasts natural rolling topography and small canyons laid out across the course, providing unmatched natural beauty. In recent years the course's #12 hole was voted by Tulsa World readers as one of "Tulsa's Best Holes of Golf" with its dramatic cliff setting and nearly 200' vertical drop to the green below. 

The Canyons offers memberships, tournaments and lessons from PGA professionals. To make a golf reservation call (918) 246-2606 or visit www.canyonsatblackjackridge.com. 

For more information on the Golf Advisor resource, check out: 

 https://www.golfadvisor.com/best-of/

For more information about the City of Sand Springs, please visit  www.sandspringsok.org and www.seesandsprings.com and follow the City on Face Book for the latest updates.

This Week in Sand Springs (2/11 - 2/17/18)

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Monday

  • 4:00 p.m. Sandite Baseball Scrimmage vs. Booker T. Washington (H)
    • Sandite Sports Complex
      408 West 55th Street
  • 7:00 p.m. Sandite Dance showcase
    • Ed Dubie Field House
      500 North Adams Road

Tuesday 

  • 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sand Springs City Council Ward 6 Election
    • CrossPoint Church
      4600 South 129th West Avenue
    • Fisher Baptist Church
      4008 South 137th West Avenue
  • 5:00 p.m. Sandite Baseball Scrimmage vs. Hilldale (A)
    • Hilldale High School
      300 East Smith Ferry Road
      Muskogee, OK 74403
  • 5:30 p.m. Tulsa Boys' Home Hope Tour
    • Tulsa Boys' Home
      2727 South 137th West Avenue
    • Contact Shannon Curry at 918.245.0231 ext. 5055 or scurry@tbhinc.org to RSVP
  • 6:00 p.m. Lady Sandite Soccer Scrimmage v. Pryor (A)
    • Pryor High School
      1100 Southeast 9th Street
      Pryor, OK 74361
  • 6:30 p.m. No. 13 Lady Sandite Basketball v. Jenks (H)
    • Ed Dubie Field House
      500 North Adams Road
  • 8:00 p.m. No. 10 Sandite Basketball v. Jenks (H)
    • Ed Dubie Field House
      500 North Adams Road

Wednesday

  • Valentine's Day

Thursday

  • 6:00 p.m. Sand Springs Small Business Coalition Meeting
    • Pratt Library
      3219 South 113th West Avenue

Friday

  • OSSAA 6A East Regional Wrestling Tournament (A)
    • Broken Arrow High School
      1901 East Albany Street
      Broken Arrow, OK 74012
  • 4:30 p.m. Sandite Baseball Scrimmage v. Metro (H)
    • Sandite Sports Complex
      408 West 55th Street
  • 6:30 p.m. No. 13 Lady Sandite Basketball v. Bishop Kelley (A)
    • Bishop Kelley High School
      3905 South Hudson Avenue
      Tulsa, OK 74135
  • 8:00 p.m. No. 10 Sandite Basketball v. Bishop Kelley (A)
    • Bishop Kelley High School
      3905 South Hudson Avenue
      Tulsa, OK 74135

Saturday

  • OSSAA 6A East Regional Wrestling Tournament (A)
    • Broken Arrow High School
      1901 East Albany Street
      Broken Arrow, OK 74012
  • 1:00 p.m. Sandite Baseball Scrimmage v. Union (A)
    • Union Intermediate High School
      7616 South Garnett Road
      Broken Arrow, OK 74012

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  • Free for nonprofit/free/charitable events.
  • Free for Sandite Pride Partners.
  • $5 fee for for-profit events.

Church of the Month: Word of Life exists to reach people

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Lead Pastor Chad Stewart preaches at a Sunday Service at Word of Life. (Courtesy).

*Note: Word of Life changed their name to Reach Church in August of 2018.
"Go to Sand Springs, raise up a New Testament church, and from there you will touch the world."

Like most nondenominational churches, Word of Life started as a handful of friends with a vision and a prayer. A dozen evangelicals meeting in a downtown Sand Springs storefront for prayer and bible study. They held their first official service on January 4th, 1981 in a twenty-year-old QuikTrip building near the intersection of 10th Street and Adams Road. 

David, Sharon, and Amanda Emigh. 

Pastor David Emigh founded the church at the age of 28 after a one-year stent in Rosebud, Missouri. During his tenure out of state, Emigh felt called by God to return to Sand Springs, raise up a new testament church, and from there he would touch the world. Together with wife Sharon, and their infant daughter Amanda, the Emigh family packed up and returned to their roots.

For thirty years, Emigh led the church. He published three books and aired an AM radio broadcast that reached tens of thousands. His team founded over a hundred churches on multiple continents, established a bible school, and ran an international ministerial organization.

By their 25th anniversary in 2006, the church had grown to over 800 members. They never got to celebrate their 30th anniversary. On June 15, 2011 Emigh died following a motorcycle accident. 

Word of Life founding pastors David and Sharon Emigh pray over current pastors Chad and Sarah Stewart.

“Without the Thirty, there wouldn’t be the Seven.” – Linda Scott

On September 11, 2011 the church took its first step forward. Word of Life members voted more than 90% in favor of confirming Chad Stewart as the new Senior Pastor.

Stewart arrived at Word of Life as the College and Careers (Young Adult) Pastor. He worked his way throughout the church, briefly running the bookstore, custodial duties, and serving a year as interim youth pastor. He was promoted to Associate Pastor a few months before Emigh’s death.  

Moving a church forward after the death of its founding pastor was far from an easy task. Stewart had to honor the legacy of the church’s founder, maintain the church’s existing identity, while simultaneously following his own passions and calling.

“That was a rough transition,” says Church Administrator Linda Scott. “The message never stopped being preached. The missionaries that we supported eight years ago, are still being supported today. They have never missed a payment since David died. We cut staff, we cut salaries, we did all kinds of stuff right here, but they never had a loss. That value of what was important to David has been important to Chad.”

Wednesday night service was dropped, and instead an emphasis was put on creating small groups, both ministerial, and shared interest groups. For four years the church hosted a carnival that offered rides, food, snow cones, backpacks, and haircuts all for free. In 2017 the church decided to forgo the one-day-a-year festivities and invest even more into the community throughout the year.

REV. TERRY SCOTT WITH HIS 2012 SUMMER INTERNS ON A MISSION TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS. (PHOTO SCOTT EMIGH)

Scott has been a member of the church since 1986 when she and her late husband Terry were invited by then-youth pastor Tom McCaslin. When McCaslin left Word of Life to start a church in Midwest City, the Scotts took over as Youth Pastors and served there for more than a decade. Under the Scotts, the Youth transitioned from the main church campus back to the old QuikTrip building where it all began. They continued meeting there until 2016 before rejoining the main campus.

Terry Scott stepped down as Youth Pastor to focus on FutureVision Ministries, but the two stayed plugged in at the church and Terry took on a part-time Missions Pastor position. Linda took on the Administrator position in 2011 and Terry took over as Associate Pastor soon after. Terry continued to travel the world, supporting Word of Life satellite churches, ministering, and leading missions until his death in 2016. He died doing what he loved, on a mission trip in Guatemala.

Volunteers from Word of Life church put in a work day at Limestone Elementary, painting and gardening. (Photo: Micah Felts).

“We exist to reach people.” –WOL Vision.

“We exist to reach people. We want to reach people with the love of Jesus Christ,” says Scott. “Sometimes to reach people, if we can reach a physical need in their life, that can help to bring them to the knowledge that God is a loving god and God is a caring god. We exist to reach people wherever they’re at in whatever condition they’re in.

“It’s not about the lights and all that. You have those things because you’re drawing people in, and we live in an age that people like that kind of stuff. But it’s more about getting to the heart of people. How can we impact them? How can we help them to get from Step A to Step B in their spiritual life? And sometimes it’s how do we get them from A to B when they’re going through a massive change in their life. It’s a divorce, it’s a death, it’s a crazy teenager, a crying baby. How do we help them in those hard times of life to stay on their feet and know that there’s a community behind them that cares about them and the whole time just reminding them what the Word of God says about those things, that He’s there to help them.

“We want people to understand that it’s not just the people at the pulpit that are called to reach people, but it’s all of us. Whether it’s inviting people to church, or handing someone a ‘bless you’ card because you bought their McDonald’s, or whatever. Just showing that love to people.”

Word of Life
1402 N 81st West Ave
Sand Springs, Oklahoma 74063
(918) 245-0262
Service: Sunday 10:00 a.m.
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
http://www.mywordoflife.com
Facebook: @Wordoflifess
Instagram: @Wordoflifess

Sand Springs Museum hopes to host world-famous Blue Dog art exhibit

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The Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum could soon host an internationally-acclaimed series of paintings by George Rodrigue. 

The Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum could soon house a world-famous series of paintings by George Rodrigue. Northwoods Fine Arts Academy teacher Jennifer Barretto recently secured permission to display the art, but first she has to find a way to get it here.

Though the George Rodrigue Foundation has agreed to donate the art for a three-month exhibit next winter, it has to be transported, insured, and protected along its journey. Rodrigue's world-famous Blue Dog paintings are valued at no less than $60,000 apiece, meaning the small Sand Springs museum will have to provide both alarm hooks and security guards for the duration of the visit.

Inspired by the Cajun legend of the loup-garou, Rodrigue's Blue Dog series catapulted him to international acclaim when it was used in an advertising campaign by Absolut Vodka in the early 1990s. Rodrigue passed in 2013 after a battle with lung cancer. His funeral services were open to the public and held at the historic St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.

The loup-garou was a Cajun adaptation of the french rougarou, or werewolf. The creature, who typically has a human body and and canine head, is said to prowl the swamps around New Orleans. In some legends he hunts down Catholics who disobey the rules of Lent. In other tales he punishes misbehaving Cajun children. 

The Blue Dog is more "man's best friend" than occult phenomenon, sharing the stance and shape of Rodrigue's deceased pet, Tiffany. Barretto's class has spent much of the year learning about Rodrigue's work and imitating it with their own Blue Dog-inspired art. 

Barretto believes that the display could draw thousands of visitors to Sand Springs from across the region. In addition to the cultural impact it would have on the community, she believes it will also be a financial stimulus for local shops and restaurants.

The Sand Springs Museum has until August 1st to secure the funding for the exhibit, which would arrive in November. According to Barretto, it would mark the first time that Rodrigue's work has ever been displayed in the State of Oklahoma. Rodrigue's widow, Wendy, and son Jacques will also be on hand to share stories of George.

Sand Springs native actor and musician Sam Harris has gotten involved in the project and has released two promotional videos encouraging people to donate to the cause. Harris has starred on television, film, and even Broadway. 

"Art is more than just something pretty or interesting," says Harris. "It is a personal experience...only bound by the imagination of the artist and the viewer. For kids it's really important...it's a foundation for creativity and for critical thinking, things that will stay with them for the rest of their lives."

A GoFundMe account has been set up by Barretto that has already begun receiving donations. To view the page and make a donation, click here.

Board of Ed: Torkleson, DeMurray, Solace Church receive awards, CPHS to offer interior design

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The Sand Springs Public Schools Board of Education met in a regular monthly meeting Monday evening at the Charles Page High School Fine Arts Building. 

Board President Rusty Gunn presented the Sandite Spirit Award to Solace Church, accepted by Missions Pastor Ryne Isaac. 

"I love the churches in our community and the partnership that we all share. When churches step up to the plate in helping our schools, it's really an incredible thing. Solace Church has stepped up in a huge way," said Rusty Gunn. According to Gunn, Solace has awarded more than $40,000 in grants to local schools. 

Board member Mike Mullins presented a Sandite Spirit Award to Melissa Torkleson with Champions. According to a statement by SSPS School Counselor Megan Elliott, Champions provides Christmas gifts to many students/families and continually provides clothing, hygiene items, etc. throughout the year. 

Angus Valley Elementary Principal Angelia Noel presented a surprise Pacesetter Award to Graciella DeMurray. A video compilation showed students and peers speaking of DeMurray's kindness, selflessness, and infectious smile. 

Superintendent Sherry Durkee gave a positive report on Daybreak Family Services who provides pro bono counseling to students. She also spoke of difficulties in recruiting new teachers, particularly in the science department. 

Tulsa Tech will be partnering with SSPS to provide an interior design program at Charles Page. The program will remodel two classrooms at the high school. "It hasn't been that difficult to get students interested in meaningful elective courses that provides them a passageway to what's out there beyond high school," said Durkee. 

Durkee addressed the need for a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) center. The district is preparing for an upcoming bond election and hopes to add new buildings at the CPHS campus. 

The district plans to partner with Community Care to provide counseling for employees at a total cost of about $5,000 per year. 

The Board approved an agreement with SRC Solutions Inc. for an online enrollment program. 

The Board approved an agreement with Safe and Civil Schools for two days of professional development in the amount of $12,400.

The Board approved an agreement with the Oklahoma State School Board Association to review the district's current policy manual at a cost of $1,000.

The Board approved $12,600 to purchase a residential lot adjacent to Garfield STEAM Academy. The lot currently has a dilapidated house that will need to be demolished, and the grounds will eventually provide paved parking. 

The Board approved a policy revision that will allow employees to accumulate unused sick leave and vacation days. The days will roll over annually and will be compensated at $10/day upon retirement or resignation.

Sand Springs City Council candidates speak at Chamber forum

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This Week in Sand Springs (2/4 - 2/10/18)

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Monday

  • 12:00 p.m. Sand Springs City Council Ward 6 Candidate Forum
    • Tulsa Tech - Sand Springs Campus
      924 East Charles Page Boulevard
  • 5:30 p.m. Sand Springs Public Schools District Dialogue Meeting
    • CPHS Performing Arts Building
      600 North Adams Road
  • 6:00 p.m. Sand Springs Parks Advisory Board
  • 7:00 p.m. Sand Springs Public Schools Board of Education Meeting

Tuesday 

  • 6:00 p.m. Guys Night Out
  • 6:30 p.m. No. 11 Lady Sandite Basketball v. Union (A)
    • Union Multipurpose Activity Center
      6836 South Mingo Road
      Tulsa, OK 74133
  • 7:00 p.m. No. 5 Sandite Wrestling vs. Bixby (H)
    • Ed Dubie Field House
      500 North Adams Road
  • 8:00 p.m. No. 10 Sandite Basketball v. No. 6 Union (A)
    • Union Multipurpose Activity Center
      6836 South Mingo Road
      Tulsa, OK 74133

Wednesday

  • 12:00 p.m. U.S. Cellular Ribbon Cutting
    • 430 West Wekiwa Road
    • Same store, new management. 

Thursday

  • 6:00 p.m. Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce Annual Reception and Silent Auction
    • PostOak Lodge
      5323 West 31st Street North
      Tulsa, Oklahoma 74127

Friday

  • 9:00 a.m. Oklahoma Youth Wrestling League State Championship
    • Lloyd Noble Center
      2900 Jenkins Avenue
      Norman, OK 73019
  • 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. CrossFit 1055 & YellowHouse Sip & Shop
  • 7:00 p.m. No. 10 Sandite Basketball v. No. 8 Owasso (A)
    • Owasso High School
      12901 East 86th Street North
      Owasso, OK 74055
  • 6:00 p.m. No. 5 Sandite Wrestling (A)
    • Dual State Championship Quarterfinals
    • Firelake Arena
      18145 Old Rangeline Road
      Shawnee, OK 74801

Saturday

  • 8:00 a.m. Oklahoma Youth Wrestling League State Championship
    • Lloyd Noble Center
      2900 Jenkins Avenue
      Norman, OK 73019
  • 1:00 p.m. Meet the Sandites - Baseball
    • Sandite Baseball Complex
      412 West 55th Street
  • 2:00 p.m. No. 5 Sandite Wrestling (A)
    • Dual State Championship Semi-Finals
    • Firelake Arena
      18145 Old Rangeline Road
      Shawnee, OK 74801
  • 6:30 p.m. No. 5 Sandite Wrestling (A)
    • Dual State Championship Finals
    • Firelake Arena
      18145 Old Rangeline Road
      Shawnee, OK 74801
  • 6:30 p.m. No. 11 Lady Sandite Basketball vs. No. 4 Owasso (A)
    • BOK Center
      200 South Denver Avenue
      Tulsa, OK 74103

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  • Free for nonprofit/free/charitable events.
  • Free for Sandite Pride Partners.
  • $5 fee for for-profit events.

Sand Springs Flowers to relocate under new ownership

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Sand Springs Flowers held a grand opening Thursday evening in downtown Sand Springs, but the business is anything but new. Though it has changed hands a few times over the years, the business traces its roots back to before the city was officially incorporated.

Jessica Hendricks took over the shop after previous owner Carolyn Short announced her retirement in December. Short ran the business for more than two decades before closing its doors in January. Hendricks opened them right back up.

Originally owned by Sand Springs founder Charles Page in 1908, the business was moved to its current location in 1987. Three decades later, the shop has plans to move once again. Hendricks is currently renovating a storefront previously occupied by The Book Box at 26 East Broadway in the building with Napoli's Italian Restaurant.

Sand Springs Flowers will continue to offer the same quality floral arrangements it has been providing for over a century, but also looks to add new opportunities for the community. 

"We're now offering an art journaling class," says Hendricks. "I'm in the works on getting a glass-staining class. We've talked about trying to get a calligraphy class going, a floral design class, we've got all kinds of things in the works right now."

The store is now an exclusive carrier of Glacier Confections, a Tulsa-based chocolate company. Their flowers come from Green Leaf Florists in Tulsa and they're also carrying hand-painted signs by Hendricks's sister-in-law.

The store caters to patrons of all budgets, with Valentine's Day candy and balloon bouquets as cheap as $5.00. The store will also deliver throughout Sand Springs and Tulsa. 

Sand Springs Flowers is currently located at 206 North Main Street and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The store can be reached at 918-245-9511.

Allison Ikley-Freeman takes oath of office, begins first term in State Senate

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Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman, D-Tulsa, was sworn into office by State Supreme Court Chief Justice Douglas Combs Thursday, February 1, in the Senate chamber at the Capitol.

Allison Ikley-Freeman is now officially on the job as State Senator for District 37. The West Tulsa Democrat was sworn in during a ceremony at the Capitol on Thursday morning as friends, family and other supporters looked on from the Senate gallery.

“I am grateful to the citizens of District 37 for trusting me to be their voice in the Senate,” Ikley-Freeman said. “I’m looking forward to promoting legislation to help increase access to quality education and fund public education programs. Ensuring access to health care and mental health care services is also high on my list of priorities while serving in office.”

Ikley-Freeman holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in clinical mental health. She most recently worked as a therapist at a non-profit, community mental health agency before being elected to office late last year. 

Ikley-Freeman and her wife, Dawn, have two sons and a daughter. They attend Centenary United Methodist Church in Tulsa. 

Senate Minority Leader John Sparks said he was looking forward to working with Ikley-Freeman.

“I’m pleased to welcome Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman as the newest member of the Senate Democratic Caucus,” Sparks said. “Her professional background as a mental health therapist will bring a much needed perspective to the Oklahoma Senate. I look forward to serving with Senator Ikley-Freeman and I know that she will work tirelessly on behalf of the Oklahomans in Tulsa County she was elected to represent.”

Flu Epidemic Impacting Blood Supply, Healthy Blood Donors Needed Now

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The flu epidemic affecting Oklahoma is negatively impacting the blood supply. Because so many of our regular donors are ill, or taking care of sick family members, they’ve been unable to give blood. Additionally, the widespread flu is forcing school closures. High schools account for about 20 percent of Oklahoma Blood institute’s blood donations, and parents are unable to keep their blood donation appointments. All of this puts even more strain on the blood supply.

Oklahoma Blood Institute is urging all healthy adults, ages sixteen and up*, to give blood. Blood donors who have been diagnosed with flu should wait seven days since their last symptoms to give blood. Donors may give blood the same day they receive a flu vaccine.

Beginning February 1st, all Oklahoma Blood Institute blood donors will receive their choice of a new, trendy t-shirt in one of three featured colors, “Strong” olive, “Bold” maroon, or “Fearless” teal. 

“The flu has hit our state particularly hard, but the need for blood remains constant, and there is no substitute,” said John Armitage, M.D., president and CEO of Oklahoma Blood Institute. “That’s why we are calling on all donors who are able to give blood, or those who have never given before, to stop by one of our donor centers or mobile blood drives. If you have recovered from the flu, or been unaffected by it, we urge you to use your good health to save lives today.”

Only ten percent of people in the United States who are eligible to give blood actually do. Blood donation takes only about an hour, and each donation can save the lives of up to three patients. 

Oklahoma Blood Institute is the state’s local non-profit blood bank serving more than 160 hospitals, medical facilities, and air ambulances statewide. This includes all Children’s, Veterans and Indian Hospitals. Appointments to give blood aren’t required but can be made by calling 877.340.8777 or visiting obi.org.

*16-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds and provide signed parental permission; 17-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds; 18+ year-olds must weigh at least 110 pounds.

Sand Springs Progress Report: What's new and what's changing

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ALDI grocery store is holding its grand opening this Thursday at 8:00 a.m. The store is located at 101 West Alexander Boulevard in River West.

SEE RELATED: ALDI grocery store to hold grand opening Thursday in Sand Springs

The QuikTrip convenience store at 2 East 41st Street is nearing completion. The existing building was demolished in November of last year to make way for the larger, newer facility. 

Braum's Ice Cream Shop & Burger Restaurant at 3950 South Highway 97 was demolished in October of 2017 to make room for a larger, newer facility with a full fresh produce selection.

Construction nears completion on the new Warren Clinic facility in the River West development near downtown. The building will house the relocated offices currently at 796 Charles Page Boulevard. It will also add a new urgent care clinic.

SEE RELATED: ALDI and St. Francis Urgent Care to open new locations in RiverWest Development

Colton's Steak House broke ground in River West in October of last year and is expected to open this spring.

SEE RELATED: Colton's Steak House & Grill holds ground-breaking ceremony in Sand Springs

Sandlot Sno-Balls will be opening a new Prattville location at 3 West 41st Street this summer.

This mural by Josh Butts Creative Services is currently unfinished and will eventually wrap partly around the eastern side of the silo. Located just west of the intersection of Highway 51 and Avery Drive.

SEE RELATED: City of Sand Springs commissions mural for abandoned Monarch Cement silo

Another mural by Josh Butts will be going in on the side of Yesterday to Now at 224 North Main Street. The project will begin this spring and will take about a week to complete. 

SEE RELATED: Plans unveiled for new mural in downtown Sand Springs

ZegART Studios is renovating the building at 700 East Charles Page Boulevard in the Atwoods Shopping Center. Formerly a Radio Shack, the storefront will now house a studio for local artists.

Construction has yet to begin on this City Council-approved "hardened room" storm shelter at the Case Community Center. Other improvements coming to the Case Park area include G.O. Bond-funded paved parking at the Jerry Adair Baseball Complex and a road will be constructed over the levee for easier access to the park. 

Demolition continues at the old Gerdau Steel Mill and future Sheffield Crossing development. The City of Sand Springs recently purchased eighteen acres from OmniTRAX with the long-term goal of providing a good location for a hardware store such as Lowe's or Home Depot. The City hopes to develop the land to incentivize one of these businesses as well as provide the infrastructure for other shopping/dining options nearby. 

The Billie A. Hall Public Safety Center will break ground this spring along Morrow Road inside the Sheffield Crossing development. The facility will house the Sand Springs Police Department and Municipal Courts as well as replace the existing Fire Station No. 1.

SEE RELATED:  New Sand Springs Public Safety Facility to be named in honor of war hero Billie A. Hall

Progress continues on the new Fire Station No. 2 at 4101 South 113th West Avenue. Construction is expected to be complete in August.

SEE RELATED: Sand Springs Fire Station #2 to receive $1.5 million new facility

Atwoods is currently undergoing a major expansion into the building space previously occupied by Stage department store and CrossFit 1055. Both of those businesses relocated to bigger and better facilities.

The old Spotless Car Wash at 3300 South Highway 97 was demolished this week to make way for new development.

Several upgrades were recently approved for the Keystone Ancient Forest. With passage of General Obligation Bond Proposition No. 3 in November, voters provided the funding for a new observation platform and visitors center.

Top: The Teal Ridge development at 8600 West 41st Street offers 115 lots with homes priced from $270,000 to over $400,000.
Middle: The Rivercrest Development at 3123 South 113th Avenue West offers twelve lots with homes priced from $200,000 to $300,000. 
Bottom: This Capital Homes development near the intersection of 51st Street and 129th West Avenue will hold 87 houses. 

Church That Matters recently purchased the Prattville Market at 3 West 41st Street. They also opened the Lee's Charburgers food truck at the same location. Both serve as fundraisers for the church's ministries. 

It's a Girl Thing Boutique opened recently at 4106 South 113th West Avenue.

El Patron Cocina Mexicana recently opened in The Shops at Adams Road at 536 Plaza Court.

The House of Hair and Boutique recently opened at 407 East Broadway.

Sand Springs Leader closes downtown offices

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The Sand Springs Leader newspaper is closing the doors on its offices and will be consolidating staff with the Tulsa World. Despite the closing of its local building, the paper will continue to be published from the downtown Tulsa World location. 

The century-old newspaper was purchased in 2015 by Berkshire Hathaway Media Group and brought under the umbrella of the Tulsa World. 

Print newspapers have been on the decline and numerous Oklahoma publications have closed their doors in recent years. 

The Leader absorbed the Mannford Eagle in 2011. In 2012 the Glenpool Post merged with the Jenks Journal and the Bixby Bulletin to form the South County Leader, which closed its doors two years later. The Catoosa Times ceased publication in December of 2013. In September of 2016, the Wagoner Tribune and Coweta American were consolidated as the Wagoner County American-Tribune. The Broken Arrow Ledger closed its offices in February of 2017 and ceased printed publication.