Local News
Minco feeling impact of losing grocery store
By LARON SHORT
Staff Writer
Minco residents are still waiting to see whether the owners of the recently fire-ravaged William’s Discount Food Store will rebuild in their town. If not, an estimated 33 percent of the town’s sales tax revenue could be lost.
In a special called meeting on June 23, the Minco Chamber of Commerce discussed options available to the town in terms of new business to replace the lost income.
“We are working on bringing a grocery store into Minco; there are contacts being made,” Deana Walje, chamber secretary, said. “I don’t want to say anything until it’s confirmed, but we are definitely exploring some options. [The loss] will affect us for awhile, but hopefully for not too long.”
In the meantime, Minco is planning to tread carefully until the issue is solved.
“We’re just going to have to tighten the budget and watch spending,” said Kelly Savage, City Clerk. “It’s too early to tell what impact this is going to have on the town; we haven’t seen a change in sales tax yet. It won’t be until August that we see a difference.”
According to reports by the Minco Millenium newspaper, which were attributed to the Oklahoma State Tax Commission, about $100,000 of Minco’s annual income came directly from the grocery store. The entire town itself brings in close to $300,000.
“I suppose residents will have to go to Tuttle, Reno or Chickasha for groceries until another store opens up here,” Savage said.
A mission group from the town’s First Baptist Church now offers a shuttle for residents to and from Beachler’s grocery store in El Reno every Thursday morning. If you live in Minco and need a ride to buy groceries, contact the church at 352-4367 by 3:00 p.m. Wednesday to reserve a spot.
Tammy Clement, the coordinator for the Minco Senior Citizens Center, said that while people haven’t been complaining much, the lack of a convenient place to buy food is rough, especially for elderly residents.
“The senior citizens now have to rely more on family and friends to do their grocery shopping,” said Clement.
According to Walje, at the lastest meeting, Chief of Police Phil Blevins was up for a salary raise, but declined because of the financial state of the town.
“People are just doing what needs to be done to get through this and really pulling together,” Walje said.
- Local News
-
-
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?
-
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.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Transformations
