¢ ESTABLISHED 1898 Friday, April 2, 2021 VOL. 123, ISSUE 26 | 50 Easter open houses highlight weekend Things will be hopping in Grove today and “It’s a great time, especially with family in town Saturday as participating merchants offer for Easter, to get out in beautiful weather and discounts and specials for the Easter holiday see all the great things Grove merchants have to weekend. The open house event is sponsored by offer. Everything from food specialties and Easter the Grove Area Chamber of Commerce. décor will be available. You can even test drive A map of participating merchants can be found a new golf cart,” said Donnie Crain, Grove Area on the chamber’s website and specific details Chamber president. can be seen on page 2 of today’s Grove Sun. Remember every dollar spent in Grove turns over Merchants are offering everything from storewide seven times before it leaves town so dollars spent discounts to 50% off items and even some free locally can keep a community thriving. Local items as well. merchants appreciate your support. Grove flight, Civil Air Patrol finds ELT beacon Lakehouse Kitchen Shoppe is one of the many merchants participating in open houses. Capt. William Brassfield. “The Emergency Locater Transmitter, or ELT, is designed to activate in the event of a crash.” Father and son back in jail A search was carried out eventually locating the ELT in Dakota and James Buzzard are now both in jail. The two a T6 Texan aircraft located in a men are alleged to have fired the shots that killed a Grove hangar on the northeast side of the man in 2019. airport. U.S. Marshals confirmed that Dakota Buzzard was found “Occasionally, as was the case Monday near the Iron Horse area of Grove. His father, here,” Lt. Cindy Clark said. “It James Buzzard, was captured in the early morning hours of can be unintentionally set off: Thursday. The aircraft could have taken a Provided The murder charges are part of a Cherokee Nation case. hard landing, someone could have The pair was originally charged by the Delaware County Pictured are members of the Grove flight of the Civil Air Pa- jostled the aircraft in the hanger District Attorney’s office and incarcerated in the Delaware trol’s Oklahoma Wing, including, from left, 2nd Lt. Alice Quin- just enough to get it going or even County jail. But a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in July 2020, ton, 2nd Lt. Cindy Clark, Senior Member Dakota Clark, Cadet accidentally hit the switch when ruled that only the federal government or the Cherokee Master Sgt. Justin Quinton and Capt. William Brassfield. exiting the aircraft.” Nation had jurisdiction in the case. “It was an interesting morning,” Lt. Alice Quinton said, “not Because new charges weren’t filed by the Cherokee GROVE — Recently, members center contacted the Oklahoma Nation against the pair until Monday, March 29, the two knowing right away if the of The Grove flight of the Civil wing for assistance in locating the plane had crashed or not, but it were released from the Delaware County jail on Friday, Air Patrol’s Oklahoma wing were beacon. March 26. The sheriff had no authority to hold them without was a good day because everyone awarded the search “find “ribbon The Wing Deputy Chief of staff- got to go home and not to the pending charges. for their part in locating an ELT operations contacted the unit and The murder of Jerry Tapp occurred on Aug. 1, 2019, on hospital. beacon that had gone off in an tasked them with finding the The aircraft was found to be in South 685 Road. Tapp was found dead in his front yard from aircraft at the Grove airport. ELT. multiple gunshot wounds. Dakota Buzzard is alleged to have good condition with no signs of On the morning of March 7, the “This is the kind of thing we train distress. been the shooter and his father was an accessory to murder. Air Force rescue coordination for” said the unit’s commander, The shooting was thought to be related to a vendetta. Request an emergency ballot Grove’s gas pipeline costs for for the April 6 elections February much lower than expected Registered voters an emergency.” who become physically If you or someone you incapacitated after 5:00 know becomes physically City agrees to absorb some of the extra costs p.m. Tuesday, March incapacitated after 5:00 30 and cannot make it p.m. Carolyn Ashford Boothe as a wholesaler. to the polls, still have an March 30, contact your [email protected] Grove customers got opportunity to cast their County Election Board as even better news when ballot. soon as possible. GROVE — The the GMSA board voted Delaware County January says Election Constellation Pipeline gas on Wednesday, to absorb Election Board Secretary, Board officials will work bill for the severe weather nearly half of the cost Crystal January, said that with you to make sure you in February arrived and caused by the need to state law permits voters have all of the necessary much to the relief of Grove buy on the spot market. who become emergency information to cast your city staff members, it was “We were able to do incapacitated after 5:00 ballot. substantially less than that because of the fiscal p.m. Tuesday, March Forms and information anticipated. stability of the GMSA,” 30 to vote under special can also be found on the At a special meeting according to board provisions. Oklahoma State Election of the Grove Municipal chairman Andy Stewart. January said emergency Board website at www. Service Authority (GMSA) “This is more than fair, it incapacitation is oklahoma.gov/elections. board on Wednesday, is above and beyond.” something most voters The Delaware County City Manager Bill So instead of charging don’t think about. Election Board is located Keefer announced that customers the blended “Voting is our at 225 S 5th St., Jay and the $526,239.87 bill price of $5.58 per constitutional right, but life is open from 9:00 a.m. for February was “less dekatherm, Grove happens. to 3:00 p.m., Monday than half of what was residential, commercial Injury, illness, or even through Friday. anticipated based on and industrial customers childbirth can prevent a Election Board preliminary information.” will only pay $2.49 per voter from being able to officials can be reached That is great news for not dekatherm, saving them Grove residential and business natural gas only Grove customers but go to the polls. at 918-253-8762 or about 55% of the increased customers can breathe easier. The GMSA for customers in the Afton, gas price for the month. That’s why it’s important delawarecounty@elections. Board voted Wednesday to absorb more than to make sure voters know ok.gov. Jay and Fairland area as Keefer praised both half of the increased cost for each dekatherm their rights in the event of well. Grove sells natural residential and retail gas to each of those towns customers for heeding used during February’s cold spell. 50¢ www.reidnewspapers.com PAGE 2 - THE GROVE SUN, FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2021 Patricia L. (Patti) Hawkins (1950-2021) Terry G. Hudgens (1958-2021) Patricia L. (Patti) Hawkins, age 70, of Grove, Terry G. Hudgens, age 62, of Grove, OK passed Oklahoma passed into the arms of her Lord and Savior away from a sudden illness on Wednesday March on March 26, 2021. Patti was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma 24, 2021 at Freeman Hospital in Joplin. on July 14, 1950 to W.D. and Helen (McLain) Mayes. Terry was born on October 27, 1958 to Ray and Patti attended Nathan Hale High School in Tulsa, Carolyn (Holloway) Hudgens in Miami, OK. He graduating in 1969. She moved to Grove in 1990 and grew up in Grove and attended Grove High School. worked for many years as a CMA at Grove Nursing Terry was the owner and operator of Elite Lawn Center. Care (formerly known at Superior Lawncare) and Patti was rather shy by outward appearance, but very loved loyally serving his customers throughout his kind, fun and loving around those who knew her. Her life. His greatest joy was spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren always 14 grandchildren: Desi, Dylan, Cameron, Brennan, brought her much joy and happiness. She was a willing Tatum, Javen, Farrah, Payton, Paizley, Titan, Tyus, and faithful volunteer at First Christian Church and Brix, Everly and Lyric. loved spending time and caring for the youth of the On January 24, 2002, Terry married Kim church. She very much enjoyed volunteering at the Patricia Hawkins Compton in Miami, OK. Terry Hudgens Christian Help Center also. Terry attended Crosswired Cowboy Church. He SEE OBITUARIES PG 3 SEE OBITUARIES PG 3 JOIN US FOR EASTER OPEN HOUSES THE GROVE SUN, FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2021 - PAGE 3 OBITUARIES GAS CONTINUED FROM PG 2 CONTINUED FROM PG 1 the call to conserve gas by turning down the the last eight years. However, some of the good Patricia L. (Patti) Hawkins thermostat. Keefer noted that several large industrial news came because the city staff had also obtained consumers shut down lines and the Cherokee Casino additional storage of gas along with the normal (1950-2021) shut down its operations for several days. “We have pipeline usage which meant that only 2.2% of the to give credit to the individuals and businesses who gas purchased in February had to come from the spot Patti was preceded There will be a heeded our requests,” Keefer noted.