Local News
Country Swing Legends Raise the Roof And Scholarships on Dec. 18
CHICKASHA – Musician-educator Joe Settlemires must have been a good boy this year. His “perfect Christmas wish” is coming together on Dec. 18 – when he brings to Chickasha The Former Texas Playboys to make the music he loves and raise money to help students get an education.
“What could be more fun at Christmas?” Settlemires asks friends. “All proceeds go to scholarships for deserving students at USAO, and we’ll hear some of the greatest western swing artists collaborate for an evening of fun and entertainment. I can’t wait.”
Seating is limited for the first-ever Black Tie & Boots Ball, scheduled in the USAO Student Center Ballroom. Tickets are $75 and may be purchased online at www.usao.edu or by phone with a credit card at 405-574-1213. The fun begins at 6 p.m. with a country brisket buffet dinner.
For this charity event, seven accomplished musicians have joined as The Former Texas Playboys. Together they will perform for the sole purpose of raising scholarship money for students. The ball is staged by the USAO Foundation.
Because of the unique nature of this event, no tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets may be purchased in advance until Dec. 14 only.
Featured are country music legends Bobby Koefer, Louise Rowe, Chuck Hays and Joe Settlemires, along with Monte Gaylord, Wayne Gasson and Chad Maines.
"What a way to give during the holiday season," said Settlemires, who also leads the USAO ShowBand. "Because of the economy, there are many young adults looking for resources to pay for their education. Here’s the most fun opportunity to support scholarships we could imagine.
“We hope to stage a spectacular and fun musical event,” Settlemires said. “Guests will be invited to take the dance floor and enjoy the music with their feet.”
Settlemires praises those who open doors for students.
"All of us have been given opportunities in life. This is a way to give back. Knowing that you helped someone achieve his or her life goal of a college education is extremely gratifying. And you have a chance to hear a few country legends do what they do best."
Settlemires began playing professionally at 14. He toured for years with Bob Wills, Willie Nelson, Red Foley, Tex Ritter, and many others. His students are associated with some of the biggest names in music. He has taught at Oklahoma Christian University and has been teaching since 2001 at USAO. In 2006, the Oklahoma Legislature recognized him for 50 years of leadership and service in the Oklahoma music industry and education. He has two recent jazz albums out, “Canadian Sunset” and “Sugarfoot Rag,” which features Vince Gill and Harold Bradley.
He is the youngest surviving member of the original Texas Playboys. Settlemires leads the popular USAO Showband. He has been inducted into four musical halls of fame, including three western swing organizations. He arranges all the music and directs the Showband with the assistance of his wife, Donna.
Settlemires’ newest album, Joe Settlemires and Northfield Swing, will be released soon. It features Chickasha vocalist Kristen Killion and singer Hank Adam Locklin. Settlemires plays every year with The Former Texas Playboys at Bob Wills Days in Turkey, Texas.
Bobby Koefer is called one of America’s most unique steel guitarists. He plays a 1953 stand-up Fender, triple neck steel guitar. Being self-taught has resulted in a very versatile singular sound and an unorthodox technique.
Bass player Louise Rowe, whose experience with country and western swing spans six decades and intersects with top artists, will be featured. The only female musician Bob Wills ever hired also is the youngest and only female sibling of the famous Seven Rowe Brothers. At 18, she was hired as a singer, but has built her long and illustrious career playing bass and writing songs. Her most recent album was the 2008 release, I Still Cry.
Performer Chuck Hays, who now is a leader in the western swing movement, is a former member of the Texas Playboys. Hays played for years with the Pee Wee Whitewing Gold Coast Playboy Band and later for the legendary Tommy Duncan Band. Eventually he was honored to join the Bob Wills Band in 1969.
Fiddle player Monte Gaylord is no stranger to Chickasha. A star performer with Alan Jackson, Brooks and Dunn and others celebrities, Gaylord performed with the USAO Showband during its 2006 spring concert. Video of the concert is available at www.usao.edu/news in USAO TV under "Showband Spring Concert."
Pianist Wayne Glasson played the Longhorn Ballroom for Dewey Groom in the 1970s and became friends with many of the great western swing musicians. Next he played for 20 years with the Texas Rhythm Band. In 1996, he joined a group of former Texas Playboys called the Texas Playboy Reunion Band. Glass has played for audiences from the Cains Ballroom in Tulsa to the Lincoln Center in New York to the 2008 Presidential Ball in Washington DC.
The youngest member performer at the big Chickasha event is 26-year-old drummer Chad Maines from Lubbock. He also plays guitar, bass, mandolin and sings. He tours with three different groups -- the Texas Country band, Brian Milson and the Short Road Band, and a blues band, 108 E Broadway.
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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
