Local News
SOMETHING’S BREWING
... And it smells a lot like a new beer law. Shhhh.
By ELLIS GOODWIN
Staff Writer
He has been doing it illegally for years, but 72-year-old Don McKay doesn't believe brewing beer should be a crime.
The Rush Springs resident began brewing his own beer and bottling his own wine in his house since 1982, but this week McKay's hobby took another step towards legality.
House Bill 2348 passed in the House of Representatives with many votes and lots of controversy. Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs, is a proponent for the law, and he feels that many conservatives were simply trying to block a measure they see as immoral.
"This is ridiculous,” he said. "These people have this as a hobby; they make their own product and they share it with their friends. ... This is one of those issues that makes us look stupid to the rest of the country.”
Dorman said current state law prohibits brewing beer but allows individuals to make their own wine and cider.
Dorman is a distant cousin of McKay's, and brewing beer has been in their family for some time.
McKay still has some pieces of equipment his father used to brew "bathtub beer." He said his father's beer was a rudimentary liquid that contained alcohol but was not very good to drink.
McKay, on the other hand, is constantly trying different blends of barley, hops, water and yeast in order to find the perfect beer. Or, at the very least a good one.
"I don't know if a perfect beer exists," he said. "To me, it is all about being with good friends."
McKay's wife died several years ago, and his home brew keeps company constantly flowing in and out. He said his hobby has afforded him great companions that have helped him cope with the loss of his true love. McKay's wife died in 2008, months before the couples 50th wedding anniversary.
McKay has hosted a bevy of Rush Spring's social events, including numerous birthday parties and a party to wrap up the annual watermelon festival. He has served drinks to hundreds of people, but he has never taken a dime from anyone.
He gets offended when others try to buy him alcohol or give him money.
"I just enjoy company," he said.
In nearly thirty years brewing beer, McKay has only thrown out two batches. The only time he goes to the liquor store is to buy something to compare to his brew.
"I always end up liking mine better," he said.
And so do his friends. Jessie Brown, a long-time friend of McKay's, said brewing beer is one of the many things that his friend does well. Brown said he remembers drinking a White merlot that was the best wine he has ever had.
"It was like drinking gold," he said. "This man is the king, and this is the place that you can come and enjoy something that you can't get anywhere else."
McKay said it takes six to eight hours to brew a 5-gallon batch of beer, and alcohol content ranges between 5 and 7 percent. He said he looks forward to the law passing, but it doesn't change anything he has been doing for many years.
McKay is 72. He said two of his seven children have taken up the hobby, but his 27-year-old grandson Jason is in line to take over McKay's "man cave" brewery.
"If he doesn't, I'll be right here to do it," Brown 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
