Local News
Rock on Comish
Monday morning, Grady County Commissioner Mike Lennier was busy tending to matters pertaining to local government. But just 36 hours earlier, he was moonlighting as lead guitarist in a classic rock and roll show.
He transforms from county commissioner into guitar hero.
For Lennier, music is very much a part of his life. But it hasn’t always been that way. So when he and several other local musicians took the stage this past weekend, rocking the amphitheatre at the Route 66 Festival in Clinton, it was quite a thrill.
With Lennier on electric guitar, “The Gregory Finsley Classic Rock Show” entertained the Saturday night crowd.
“We had a blast,” said Lennier, who was joined on stage by Ninnekah’s Steve McGrew on bass, and USAO music professor Dr. Dan Hanson on keyboards, along with another local resident, Erol Coulter on drums.
Lead singer Gregory Finsley, from New Orleans, is best known for his tribute to Freddie Mercury, the late singer of the rock band Queen.
“This show we’re doing now features a few of the Queen songs,” Lennier said. “We also cover Elton John, Paul McCartney, CCR, Rolling Stones, Hall and Oates, just a real good variety of classic rock and roll. Vocally, Gregory one of the best I’ve ever heard.”
The group is set to perform again at 8 p.m. today at the Medicine Park Music Hall near Lawton. Tickets for that show are available by calling 580-318-6262.
Lennier, McGrew and Hanson also teamed up recently to form the backing band for a series of shows called Buddy and Beyond starring Chicago’s Johnny Rogers. Rogers is now a headliner in Branson.
Lennier said he didn’t grow up playing music.
“I got a late start,” he said. “I began playing guitar when I was 18, but never pursued it professionally. Mostly weddings and things like that. I played guitar at a funeral once. Afterwards, someone asked me if they could buy my CD. Of course, I didn’t have one.”
Since 1985 Lennier has been playing regularly at Southern Hills Baptist Church in Chickasha. “I guess you could say that’s my regular gig,” the Commissioner said. “I just never had the desire to play in bars or live on a bus going out on tour.” That is what makes his current project all the more satisfying.
“Raising a family was always more important,” Lennier said. “So I never dreamed that I’d be playing in a show of this caliber.”
Might he compare this to a real-life version of the video game Guitar Hero? “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”
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Transformations
What comes to mind when you think of the word, “Transformation”?Do you have fantastic thoughts of people or things changing into something amazing for example, Clark Kent turning into Superman or Bruce Banner becoming the Incredible Hulk or possibly something a little more down to earth like a caterpillar miraculously changing into the beautiful butterfly?
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GRADY COUNTY FAIR RESULTS
Plants
Potted Plants
(Several varieties combined)
First: (Adult) Ann O'Bar
Second: (Adult) Joyce Riker
Third: (Adult) Jallane Link -
AROUND THE AREA
SEPTEMBER 2
Poetry Reading
• When: Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
• Where: Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant, Private Room, 3127 S. 4th St., Chickasha
• Details: Featured Poet is Carol Hamilton, writer, storyteller and Poet Laureate of Oklahoma 1995-97Hamilton’s website is www.carolhamilton.org. There is no admission fee to attend the Poetry Reading, and refreshments are available for purchase. For more information, contact Rockford Johnson, 224-0160 or 317-7506. -
Duncan nips Chicks for straight-game win
Duncan got their eighth match win of the season Tuesday, beating Nancy Waters’ Lady Chicks in straight games at the Activity Center.
The Chicks looked like they had a little hangover from Monday night’s tough road loss at Tecumseh, coming out flat again and dropping their first two games by identical 25-17 scores.
They came out firing on all eight cylinders for game three, running out to a 15-9 lead on the strength of a 7-0 run with Shelby Crosley serving, but the Demons battled back to tie it late and the Chicks let it slip away, 25-21. -
STATE SPORTS BRIEFS
NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has named walk-on Patrick O'Hara as the starting place-kicker for the seventh-ranked Sooners.
Stoops said on his radio show Tuesday night that O'Hara won the competition with Jimmy Stevens, freshman Michael Hunnicutt and redshirt freshman Bryce Easley. -
OSU's Gundy still learning on job
STILLWATER (AP) — Mike Gundy hasn't lost his love for dialing up the right play to keep Oklahoma State's offense purring along.
That passion, which he has called the most enjoyable part of his job as head coach, was bred into him as an offensive coordinator. And he is a former starting quarterback for the Cowboys. -
Whimsical metal work, jewelry part of big art show at USAO
A showing of whimsical metal work and jewelry is scheduled to be on display at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma during Helen’s Show Sept. 10-Oct 1.
The show will feature the work of USAO graduate Helen Shafer. The exhibition will be open daily during normal business hours in the Davis Hall Third Floor Art Gallery on the USAO campus. The show is free and open to the public. An opening reception is scheduled Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the gallery. -
High-speed chase lands 1 in jail
A high-speed motorcycle chase down Highway 81 last Wednesday landed a Ninnekah man in jail and a felony charge of eluding a police officer.
Court records show that James William Hutchins, 21, blew by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy Parrish at U.S. Highway 81 and County Road 1460 and was clocked going 144 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone.
Parrish reported that he was sitting stationary at that location at about 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 25 when he observed a red motorcycle traveling southbound. He engaged his emergency lights and siren and pulled onto the roadway behind the Triumph motorcycle. -
5 inmates denied parole
Parole was recently denied for five Grady County inmates serving sentences with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The following individuals were denied at the August Pardon and Parole Board meeting:
• Jeremiah Daniel Cline, who is serving a five-year sentence for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and a five-year sentence for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, began his sentence in August 2008.
• Warren P. Diego, who is serving a 15-year sentence (10 years PTS) for lewd molestation, began his sentence in February 2009. -
Judge recuses herself from pharmacy case
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state district judge has stepped aside from the first-degree murder trial of a pharmacist accused in the fatal shooting of an unconscious would-be robber.
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Transformations
