WELCH—The Town of Welch has announced a public hearing to be held at town hall, 124 W. Third St., Welch, Okla., Thur., Apr. 26, 2012, beginning at 5:00 p.m.

The Town of Welch is considering applying to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce’s Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) Drinking Water Construction for funding assistance. Water quality has been identified as a community priority need and a tentative decision has been made to seek funding from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce for approximately $150,000 in CDBG funding to perform water system improvements.

According to public notice of the hearing, the purpose of the hearing is to meeting is “to enable comments of the specific project activities that are proposed and to provide a clear explanation of probable impacts on the community/county and residents should the project be funded.” Many specific details regarding eligible activities and program requirements will be provided at this public hearing.

For additional information please contact Town Clerk, Kenni Morton, at 918-788-3616.

Here is the notice of public hearing as PDF:

Here is the agenda for the hearing as PDF:

WELCH—Enrollment for Welch Pre-K will Mon., Apr. 23, 2012, from 5-7 p.m.

Enrollees must be four years old by Sept. 1, 2012.

Enrollment will take place in Pre-K classrooms. Play centers activities will be demonstrated, and snacks will be provided. This time is to meet teachers, ask questions, and fill out intent-to-enroll forms.

For more information, call 918-788-3129

Parents of the Welch junior class after-prom would like to give a special thanks to all who donated to make Welch’s 2012 after-prom a very special event. Thanks for making after-prom a success!

• The Store in Bluejacket
• Charlie’s Chicken in Miami
• Clanton’s Café
• El Calvario in Miami
• El Vallarta in Miami
• KuKu in Miami
• Long John Silvers in Miami
• McDonalds in Vinita
• Montana Mikes in Miami
• Parnellis Pizza in Vinita
• Pizza Hut in Vinita
• Sonic Drive In in Miami and Vinita
• Subway in Vinita
• Taco Mayo in Vinita
• Cow Creek Pecan Co. & Café in Welch
• Bill Hodge Chrysler in Vinita
• Green Country Ford in Vinita
• Quapaw Tribe
• Arvest Bank in Vinita
• Arvest Bank in Miami
• First National Bank in Vinita
• First National Bank in Miami
• Oklahoma State Bank in Vinita
• Welch State Bank
• Security Bank and Trust in Vinita
• Joyful Learning in Miami
• Rhonda’s Beauty Shop in Welch
• Makin the Cut in Welch
• Welch Grocery Store
• Welch Fitness Center
• Brian Kelly Farm Bureau
• TAG in Welch
• Helena Chemical Co. in Welch
• Goforth Jewelry in Miami
• Jim Thomas Funeral Home in Welch
• Sooner Printing in Miami
• Dale E and Carolyn Hudson-Welch
• S&B Sports in Vinita
• C&L in Vinita
• Shout and Sack in Vinita
• Tag Office in Miami
• Westco in Vinita
• Westco in Miami
• Carter’s Foods in Vinita
• Daylight Donuts in Vinita
• Performance Fitness in Vinita
• Blossom Shop in Vinita
• Sun Kissed Floral in Miami
• KAMO in Vinita
• Ann’s Flower Shop in Miami
• Family Video in Miami
• US Wipe in Miami
• Security Finance in Miami
• ACE Hardware in Vinita
• Riggs Drug Store in Chetopa
• Stage in Vinita
• Chetopa State Bank
• V&V Drug in Vinita
• IAFF Local in Miami
• Osborn Drug in Miami and Vinita
• Pizza Hut in Miami
• Golden Spike Restaurant in Vinita
• Jessica Bruce
• WelchOK.com

WELCH—All prom-goers: Don’t let the fun end with the dance! Come join us at the Welch Civic Auditorium for entertainment and games through the night (1-4:30 A.M.). All junior and senior students and their guests are invited to attend after-prom festivities.

After-prom is a “lock in” event. All students and guests must be signed in by 12:50 a.m. Once signed in, attendees will not be permitted to leave and re-enter. Chaperones will be on hand for the entire night. If students choose to leave, their parents will be called and they will not be eligible for prizes and money given away at the end of the night.

Entertainment and attractions include:

• A scavenger hunt with prizes for the winning team (weather permitting)
• A jousting event and obstacle course contests
• Music and games (hosted by Tyson Wynn)
• Photo booth

Free snacks will be provided throughout the night.

If anyone has a curfew before 4:30 a.m., arrangements should be made to have them picked, as their dates will not be allowed to re-enter after taking them home.

Prizes and money will be given away after breakfast at the conclusion of the event.

This will be an alcohol and drug free environment.

MIAMI, Okla.—The second round of the Justin Berry “Balling for Berry” Memorial Basketball Tournament will begin at 9:00 a.m., Sat., Apr. 28, 2012, at the Miami High School Activity Center in Miami, Okla.

The playing fee is $15.00 per person and teams of 3-5 persons are allowed. Registration and playing fees are due by Apr. 21 (organizers can arrange to pick up playing fees if needed). Please make checks payable to Justin Berry Memorial Scholarship. If sending by mail, please send registration and fees to Nikki Mullen, 2N Main, Ste. 507, Miami, OK 74354.

Other activities will include a free throw contest, knock out contest, and a roping contest.

All proceeds will benefit the Justin Berry Memorial Scholarship Fund.

To register, please contact Nikki Mullin at 918-961-1046 or mullin_nik5 «at» hotmail «dot» com. If you’d liek to make a donation to the Justin Berry Memorial Scholarship fund, please contact Kyrie Panter at 918-533-8903.

If you’d like to pre-order tournament t-shirt with the above art on them, visit the Justin Berry Memorial Facebook Page.

WELCH—The Welch Publich Schools Enrichment Foundation will hols its annual membership meeting at 7:00 p.m., Mon., Apr. 9, 2012, at the Welch State Bank Annex on main street in Welch.

Up for discussion are the annual banquet, scheduled for Mon., Oct. 1, 2012, at the Welch Civic Center, as well as any other business to come before the Foundation.

Foundation membership dues are $20 per person and are now due. They will be used to help advance education for all students in Welch Public Schools by providing scholarships and grants to teachers for educational opportunities.

Welch Public Schools recently received a generous donation from a Welch alumnus. The donation is earmarked to build a new 40-station computer lab in the Delbert Lovelace High School that will be used by all Welch students. The projected cost of the computer lab is $96,000. The Enrichment Foundation will hold an event Sat., May 19, 2012, to raise additional funds for completion of the project.

WELCH—We have received the following Easter announcements from the Welch area. It’s our pleasure to pass them on to you.

• A sunrise service will be held at 8:00 a.m. on the east side of the United Methodist Church in downtown Welch, Sun., Apr. 8, 2012. All believers in the risen Lord are encouraged to attend. Musicians are asked to bring their instruments to help with the celebration. There will be a pancake breakfast immediately following this time of worship. Everyone is welcome. He is risen indeed!
• Living Hope Baptist Church will be celebrating Christ’s resurrection in the park near the Civic Center. They’ll start with a potluck breakfast at 9:00 a.m., then the the worship service will begin on the basketball court behind the Civic Center at 9:30 a.m. The service will include an worship in prayer, praise, and preaching, as well as bapstisms and the Lord’s Supper. Worshipers of the risen Lord–our Living Hope–are invited to attend. Learn more about Living Hope Baptist church online at www.livinghopewelch.org.
• Annabelle’s Fun Farm will hold a free Easter egg hunt at 1:00 p.m. The egg hunt scheduled for Sat., Apr. 7, 2012, was postponed due to inclement weather.

However you choose to celebrate Christ’s resurrection, WelchOK.com wishes you a blessed Easter.

WELCH—The second in a series of community meetings will be held Thur., Apr. 5, at the Welch Civic Auditorium.  The meeting begins with a free meal provided at 6:00 p.m. The program will begin at 6:30 with a presentation of demographic and economic trends presented by Kathy Gain, Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Following that, meeting moderator Dave Shideler, OSU Assistant Professor and Extension Economist, will present retail trend analysis and lead attendees in an exercise related to community assets. Organizers intend to be through with the meeting by 8:30 p.m.

The Town of Welch and the Welch Area Development Authority are sponsoring these events to focus on improvement of the Welch area and the north end of Craig County, as well.  All those concerned with the future of the Welch community are encouraged to attend. The first meeting was very well attended, and organizers are hopeful that the rest of the series will be, too. See you at the Civic Center Thursday night.

We have created a page here on WelchOK.com for the strategic planning process we’re going through. You can see it at www.WelchOK.com/future.

WELCH—We had a great response to our Spring Break Photo Contest! Thanks to all who submitted and/or voted for pictures. When the polls closed today at 5 PM, Kelli Biggs’ submission of Bryndl enjoying the rain that plagued Spring Break was in the lead with 26.45% of the vote. She’s the lucky winner of $25.

Bryndl Biggs enjoying the Spring Break rains

Again, thanks to all who participated in the fun.

WELCH—The Town of Welch’s annual Spring Clean Up day is 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Sat., Mar. 31, 2012.

Dumpsters will be set up on the east side of the Blossom Shoppe for metal, wood, building materials, household appliances, and yard debris.

Senior citizens needing assistance may contact Town Hall at 918-788-3616.

***You must present a copy of your current water bill to use this service***