WELCH—As I posted when we first launched WelchOK.com, I applied (unsuccessfully) for a radio license that would have given us our own station right here in Welch, America.

Lately, I’ve been wondering, if we did have a radio station, what would you want to hear on it?

So, please vote in our latest poll:

WELCH—Vinita native Clint Walker will bring his high-energy Rockin’ Music show to the Welch Civic Auditorium for a back-to-school concert Sat., Aug. 28, 2010. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the show starts at 7:00.

Walker has toured with some of country music’s best and is famous for his classic rock tunes from the ’50s and ’60s. His vocal stylings are always thrilling to hear, and there’s not a better way to start the school year than with an evening of great entertainment.

Tickets are $10.00 and will be available at the door. Kids under 12 are $5.00 and children 5 and under are free with a paid adult.

Concessions will be available before and during the show, and the proceeds from food sales will benefit the Welch school music department.

Walker said that he owes a great debt to the public school music instructors who helped him on his way years ago, and he hopes everyone will come and support this effort to give back.

Start your school year off right with an evening of great music and good food.

This event has been added to our Community Calendar. To add your community event to our calendar, contact us at info <at> WelchOK <dot> com.

WELCH—Tulsa author Carla Stewart will be greeting readers and signing her debut novel, Chasing Lilacs, at Chapters bookstore in Miami, Okla., from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Thur., Aug. 12, 2010. Chasing Lilacs has received rave reviews, and Stewart will be meeting with the Welch book club, which is reading it for August, while in the area.

The public is welcomed to stop by Chapters and meet Stewart, visit with her about Chasing Lilacs and her soon-to-be-released second novel, which is set in Tulsa, and pick up a signed copy of Chasing Lilacs. Due to street repairs in Miami, you are encouraged to use the parking lot behind Chapters, as well as the rear entrance.

About Chasing Lilacs:

Elvis is on the radio and summer is in the air. Life in the small Texas community of Graham Camp should be simple and carefree. But not for Sammie Tucker. Sammie has plenty of questions about her mother’s “nerve” problems. About shock treatments. About whether her mother loves her.

As her life careens out of control, Sammie has to choose who to trust with her deepest fears: Her best friend who has an opinion about everything, the mysterious boy from California whose own troubles plague him, or her round-faced neighbor with gentle advice and strong shoulders to cry on. Then there’s the elderly widower who seems nice but has his own dark past.

Trusting is one thing, but accepting the truth may be the hardest thing Sammie has ever done.

Learn more about Stewart, Chasing Lilacs, and what others have to say about them both online at http://www.carlastewart.com.

GROVE, Okla.—The Sooner Xplosion junior clogging team—Chase Herd, Katelyn Winfrey, Brett Mayfield, and Brice Mayfield—took two first place honors at the American Heritage Music Festival in Grove, Okla.: first place in their age group and grand champion novice team.

Each team member also entered the male and female solo clogging event. Result: female division, Katelyn Winfrey, second place; male division, Brett Mayfield, first place; Chase Herd, second place; and Brice Mayfield, third place. The judges at the event were very impressed with team members’ talent relative to the length of time they have been clogging.

Sooner Xplosion will travel to Branson June 19 to compete at the Welk Theater.

WELCH— The Welch Public Schools music department will present its sixth annual dinner concert, Mon., Apr. 26, 2010, at the Welch Civic Auditorium. The Wildcat band and chorus will perform, and students who prepared solos for district and state contests will also be on the program. The menu includes a spaghetti dinner buffet that includes Italian-style green beans, salad, garlic bread, and cherry cheesecake. The buffet will begin at 6:30 p.m., and students will perform while guests enjoy the meal. Tickets are $5, and kids six and under can eat for $3. Tickets are available from all secondary music students and will be available at the door. All proceeds from the event will help fund the spring trip on which music students will travel to Kansas City to participate in the Worlds of Fun Festival. For an evening of good food and fine entertainment, everyone is invited to join the young Wildcat musicians on Mon., Apr. 26.

This event has been added to our Community Calendar.

Winston McKeon contributed to this report.

WELCH—Clint Walker will be live in concert at the Welch Civic Auditorium, Sat., Mar. 13, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Kids five and under will be admitted free. Concession proceeds will be donated to the Welch High School music department.

This event has been added to the WelchOK.com Community Calendar. Have your community event listed on our calendar by emailing it to info [at] WelchOK [dot] com.

Junior Sooner Xplosion cloggers at Welch's Harvest Day 2009

WELCH—The junior Sooner Xplosion clogging team will have a benefit spaghetti lunch, Sun., Jan. 31, at the Welch Civic Center. Serving will begin at 11:30 a.m. For a cost of $6.00, lunch includes spaghetti, salad, bread, dessert, and drink. There will also be door prizes, a dessert auction, and the clogging team will perform for your enjoyment. The team is planning on four competitions this year, and funds raised will be used for costumes, entry fees, and travel expenses. Be at the Civic Center Sunday afternoon if you wish to help support the team.

This event has been added to our Community Calendar. Send your events to info «at» WelchOK «dot» com to have them included on our calendar.

WELCH—The Welch Area Community Theatre will be holding two readings this week to select materials for actors interested in providing entertainment at the community feed sponsored by junior-class parents as a fundraiser for after-prom activities. The readings are at 7:00 p.m. on both Mon., Jan. 18, and Thur., Jan. 21, in the Welch State Bank meeting room.

This event has been added to our Community Calendar. You, too, can have your events listed in our Community Calendar. Email your event info to info {at} WelchOK {dot} com.

Kathy Piper contributed to this report.

My late cousin was a poet. In his memory, here is one of his works.

Prayers for Broken People

I am broken among the broken…

Lord, deliver me from my despair.
Give me strength that I might continue to fight.
I am tired, I am lonely and I feel I am alone among the mad.
I know I am not alone but my heart breaks.
Help me, save me… I try so hard, yet I know I should try harder and that there is much I could do but do not…
Have mercy on me, help me be a better instrument, a better servant and a better healer for those that come before me.
Save me from pride, from arrogance, and help me remember that I am broken among the broken.
Give me wisdom to discern what I can and cannot do, and what I must walk to and away from.
Lord, save me.
Amen.

—Travis “Gideon” Addington, January 20, 1979-December 12, 2009

Have you ever wondered what those little figures would say if they could talk? Come and find out Sunday night as the nativity comes to life. “Back to You”—a Christmas comedy—will be presented without charge for the viewing public.

“Back to You” will be presented at Gateway Church, 410 West 10th St, Welch, Okla., Sun., Dec. 20 at 6:00 p.m. Come and be encouraged, come and laugh, come and enjoy the real reason for the season at Gateway Church. Groups can call the church at 918-788-3783 to reserve special seating so they can sit together.

Patrick Hankins contributed to this report.

You, too, can be a contributor to WelchOK.com! Just email your news and info to info[at]WelchOK[dot]com.