Published: January 27, 2010 09:39 am      

Residents oppose move to annex

• Last of a series



August, 2009 brought Tuttle area residents out in force to voice their opposition to being annexed into the Tuttle city limits.

After listening to more than a dozen citizens, several of whom received enthusiastic applause for their comments, Ward 4 Councilman James Brunson moved to cease all activity on the annexation.

“Based on the representation here tonight, it is clear the overwhelming majority do not want to be annexed,” Brunson said.

The motion, which passed with a 5-0 vote, was met with cheers, tears and applause.

“There were reasons to see it happen, but it didn’t,” Mayor Bobby Williams said. “I’m proud of the community and the number of people who came out for support. I’ve got to give them a lot of credit.”

August brought other celebrations as well, with Tommy and Janet Yeakley celebrating 50 years of marriage. The couple wed on Aug. 14, 1959 in the home of the late Frank and Maudie Yeakley of Tuttle. Janet was smitten by the sight of Tommy racing down Main Street in his ‘56 Chevy with the chief of police hot on his trail.

The Tuttle girl’s softball team began its season with 11 players returning. The Lady Tigers played four scrimmage games in one day, rotating 18 to 19 different layers in the lineup and winning all four games.

Coach Jerry Bates is a mere 26 wins away from career victory No. 900.

“I’ve mentioned that to them; they know we didn’t get here by mistake,” Bates said.

The Lady Tigers outscored opponents 35-8 in the Chisholm Trail Classic in Mustang, with junior pitcher Nicole Workman pitching three games for a total of 15 and two-third innings and allowing no earned runs on just two hits. Not bad for a pitcher just returning from rotator cuff surgery and hours of physical therapy.

Also in sports, the Tuttle-based Ultimate Fastpitch Softball team finished its season with a 67-6 record, winning the U10 OSSAA World series in Orlando, Fla., and the Tuttle Round-up Club hosted its 27th annual rodeo. The Round-up was established in 1943 to promote good fellowship in a family club in the city of Tuttle.

Tuttle School Superintendent Lee Coker was the featured speaker at the monthly chamber meeting, advising the group on the state of Tuttle schools.

Coker said enrollment was up to 1,800, compared to 1,204 nine years ago and since the school district recently received substantial funds from oil and gas taxes, the schools have been able to modernize and replace outdated equipment and technology.

“Financially, we had a good year last year and we got to do good things and finish the year on a good note,” Coker said.

Coker also said everything was set to go out for bids on projects to be funded by the new school bond issue, which will include additions to the middle and intermediate schools as well as the construction of a new elementary school.

The month of August finished up with crowns and reunions, with Anna Fellin crowned as Tuttle Rodeo Queen at the 27th annual Tuttle Rodeo and Katelyn Jayne Dickson named Little Miss Tuttle at the 2009 Tuttle Fair. Clara Gregory was crowned as Miss Tuttle 2009.

About 150 former Tuttle residents and high school alums attended the 63rd annual Tuttle Friends and Family Reunion. This year, the reunion honored graduates from years ending with the number nine. Iowa native and Tuttle transplant Jan Lee, mother of Tuttle Councilman Taylor Henderson, has organized the event for the last eight years, with her husband Jarrett acting as official photographer.

With September came a growing concern with the disappearance of nearly 40 local pets and even larger animals like sheep. The disappearances were thought to be the work of coyotes, but others reported catching glimpses of animals much larger than a coyote, including Ramona Huffman who witnessed a quickly-moving “good sized” animal snatch up her pet Yorkshire Terrier. One resident reported a pack of 30 to 40 coyotes living near Worley Creek east of town and a large mountain lion was shot and killed in the area several months later.

The fall also brought the Northern District Fair which took place in Minco. Once again Tuttle resident Tristan Gambill took home first place honors with his pig Splat, also earning the Best Showmanship award.

Ribbon cuttings for new businesses included ceremonies for both Partners in Health and Nachitos Mexican Restaurant and Lori McCarthey pocketed $50 for the best recipe in a contest sponsored by the Tuttle Farmer’s Market.

With junior pitcher Nicole Workman sidelined with shoulder inflammation, sophomore pitcher Allison Glass stepped up and threw a perfect game, defeating Dewey 6-0., and the Tiger football team opened its season with a 38-0 victory over the Marlow Outlaws. Not only was it the first game of the season, it was also homecoming, with senior Chelsi Hicks named homecoming queen and senior runningback and linebacker Ethan Biddy acting as her escort.

The Tigers continued to win all month, defeating the Kingfisher Yellowjackets 28-7 and destroying the Hilldale Hornets 56-14.

The Oklahoma Heat 8U softball team won several state and national championships, including the 2009 8U Boxer Blowout. Mackenzie Donihoo was named MVP twice during USFA Nationals tournament play, in addition to a number of other awards.

September saw the tables turned on Tuttle photographer Don Snart, with a feature story about Snart who has been a fixture at sporting and community events for many years.

As promised by Grady County Sheriff Art Kell, the new Northern Division Annex of the sheriff’s office opened in September, with an open house hosted by Kell and other deputies.

October brought more football victories for the Tigers as they rolled over the Elgin Owls 31-12, blasted Blanchard 31-6, squeaked by the Clinton Red Tornadoes 7-6. They smacked the Newcastle Racers 21-6 without head coach Phil Koons who imposed a one-game suspension on himself after calling game officials “cheaters” on a Chickasha radio station. The 44-0 victory over the Cache Warriors took the Tigers within one win of its second consecutive District 3A-1 Championship.

Blanchard took full advantage of three errors by the Lady Tigers, winning 3-1, shattering the two-time defending state champions’ dreams of another championship.

October also brought the opening of the Leopard Lily, an upscale shop on Main Street owned and operated by Susan Robinson and daughter-in-law Tia Durham.

In October, the Tuttle Masonic Lodge #405, founded in Silver City in 1910, honored past masters and widows at a ceremony at the Tuttle Senior Citizen’s Center, and the Tuttle Lady Tigers advanced to the semifinals by defeating Ft. Gibson 5-1, cinching Coach Jerry Bates’ 900th win.

Left fielder Markie LaFerney was named to the Middle West All-State team by the Oklahoma High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association.

The Tuttle Cheer Squad took its 10th state title at the OSSAA championship, performing a flawless routine in front of a packed house. The team captured the regional crown just two weeks earlier.

Kira Ryan, 10, was highlighted in October as Tuttle’s only female football player, playing left tackle for the 10 and under team. Despite her love for football and basketball, she still enjoys playing with her Barbie dolls once in a while.

The Tuttle Area Chamber honored several residents at its annual banquet, including Teachers of the Year, Shelli Mahoney, Donna Windsor, Debra Ruminer and Connie Banta. Police officer Andrew Graham was named Police Officer of the Year; paramedic Chuck Morrison was named EMS Employee of the Year, volunteer firefighter Scotty Turner was named Fireman of the Year; and Tuttle Water Superintendent Steve McVicker was named City Employee of the Year.

The Tuttle Cross Country team placed fifth in the 4A West regional Competition, qualifying them to advance to state competition where they placed sixth overall.

By November, the Tigers football team had defeated Anadarko 31-0 and, thanks to Tanner Koons’ four touchdown runs, they shut out Santa Fe 42-0, to finish the season at 10-0.

Drawing Bethany in the first round of the playoffs, Tuttle won easily with a score of 45-7, but lost to Claremore-Sequoyah 40-14 in the second round.

November brought celebrations for Robert and Lois Farmer who observed their 60th wedding anniversary on Nov. 11. The couple wed on Nov. 11, 1949 after asking their mothers to accompany them to El Reno so they could get married.

Tuttle wrestlers took home honors in the Lawton-MacArthur pre-season opener, with Jerrod Williams securing first place in the 160-pound finals match.

In November, Tuttle High School held a coin war to collect more than $600 to donate to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and 13 Tuttle band members competed for spots on the All Region Honor Bands, with seven members making the grade.

November also brought the H1N1 and Swine flus to Grady County, with county officials urging residents to reduce their risk of infection by receiving a vaccination.

December brought Meet Your Tigers Night and the Tiger wrestler’s season opener, with nine Tuttle wrestlers bringing home honors, placing in the top five of team standings.

December also brought a unanimous yes vote in the city council, approving a social host ordinance with the hopes off reducing teen drinking and holding accountable adults who provide alcohol to underage drinkers.

Shortly before Christmas, faulty wiring destroyed the home of Martin Kim, who watched his home go up in flames. No one was injured in the blaze and the damage is estimated at $80,000.

Vernon and Joy Kettler celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in December with a Caribbean cruise. They married on Dec. 9, 1959 as did Gerald and Armetta Jackson who also celebrated 50 years of marriage.

Two more Tuttle scouts earned the rank of Eagle Scout and were recognized at a Court of Honor at the Tuttle opera House. Jerrod Williams, son of Bobby and Sandy Williams and Dallas Gracey, son of Tony and Darla Gracey, both of Troop 4338, earned the rank of Eagle.

The Tuttle Masonic Lodge installed new officers for 2010 and Tuttle High School’s National Honor Society sponsored a fundraiser, raising $1,500 to purchase toys for children in need.

December wrapped up with an Arctic blizzard, dumping more than 14 inches of snow across many areas of the state on Christmas Eve, claiming the lives of three Grady County residents.

The storm was so severe, all interstate highways in the state were closed as were several state highways.

Locally, several farmers broke out their four-wheel-drive tractors and worked much of Christmas Eve night rescuing stranded motorists, and talomg them to shelters and to private homes where they got hot meals and beds.