Megan Maxson is one of Nowata’s County(and we will claim her!) shining stars. A OSU graduate from Miami, Oklahoma. Megan is the Nowata OSU Extension Educator, which includes Family Consumer Sciences, 4-H Youth Development. Since I have known Megan, she has shown many talents for someone so young. However, she has hid the fact from me that she is also a top-notch singer/performer until November 21st when she took the stage at the Green Country Showcase.

What a performance!

Megan Maxson

The Star of the Show

Megan sang old and new country songs and her presentation was so delightful that she captivated everyone for the entire night. Each song seemed to speak to someone in the audience and only real talent can take command of the stage as Megan did that night.  Her “Night Riders Lament” showcased her  yodeling. Patsy, herself, would have enjoyed Megan’s “Crazy“. The most heartfelt song Megan performed that night was The Judd’s song,  “Flies on the Butter”.

Megan had an old friend, Cecil Walker, come on stage and sing several duets with her. When they sang the duet, “I Told You So”, Cecil sounded just like Randy Travis. Megan and Cecil did a fantastic job!

Megan and Cecil

The Green Country Superpickers

Emcee: Gary Walker

Piano: Jerry Cunningham

Guitar: Winston McKeon

Steel Guitar: Marty Neer

Back Up Vocals: Maggie Bell

The Green Country Superpickers

The best dessert in town on Saturday Night can be found at the Music Stop Cafe (inside the theater)! I understand that Karen Wilson is the baker of the desserts offered. And my, my the German Chocolate cake that I enjoyed that night.

Of course, there are many more items on the menu.

The Music Stop Cafe

It was a great day for all the Christmas Events in Nowata!

The streets were lined with young and old alike enjoying the parade!

The Nowata High School Cheerleaders provided Santa for pictures.

Chandee's Rocking' H Bake Sale

In the Regent Bank Community Room, family and friends were having a bake sale to raise money for the American Cancer Society, which is associated with the Washington County’s “Relay for Life” .

Chandee’s Rocking’ H group do this every year. Great job!

Paul Craun Setting Up the Sound System

Awaiting the Parade

We can hear the sirens of the Nowata Police Department. The excitement is building!

Arvest Bank Float

Cherokee Nation Float

Nowata High School Band

Nowata Senior Citizens

Lots of Candy!!!

American Legion Post 101

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service

VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 2746

Nowata County 4-H

Lloyd Jordan's 1967 Ranchero

Nowata First Church of God

Nowata's City Vehicles

Nowata Fire Department

Beautiful Horses

Cowboys

Nowata High School Cheerleaders

Santa Waving to the Crowd

Nowata’s Annual Christmas Parade

What a great day for a parade!  Beautiful sunshine and a Christmas time chill in the air!  With nearly 50 entries,  the Annual Nowata Christmas Parade held on Saturday, December 5th, was a great success!

The Nowata Christmas Parade Winners included:

Youth

1. Delaware Youth Coalition

2. Nowata County 4-H

3. Nowata high School Cheerleaders

Commercial

1. ARVEST Bank

2. Nowata VFW Ballard lack Post 2745

3. Cherokee Nation

Church

1. Eastside Baptist Church-So. Coffeyville

2. First Church of God

Marching

1. Nowata High School Band

2. Scout Troop 777

Notable Entries included:

Copan E. Trikers

Jerry Jones in his  1978 Pace Car Corvette

Floyd Buster’s  Little Jeep & Trailer

Lloyd Jordan’s 1967 Ranchero

Tri County Technology’s Kit Car

Burggraf’s Fancy Scion

State Representative Steve Martin and his “Reindeer” Duncan

All the represented city trucks and emergency vehicles-what a light show!

All the horses and riders

All eighteen floats!

And of course, Santa, atop the fire truck!

And very special “Thank You”s  to:

Bill Maddox for great parade commentary!

Paul Craun for providing sound for Bill and beautiful Christmas music before and after the parade.

Shannon Hill, Will Miller and Justin Roane for setting up and taking down  the announcer stage and  barricades up and down the streets

And a big “Thank You”  to everyone who attended!

Merry Christmas from the Nowata Area Chamber of Commerce

(Information from Billie Roane, Executive Director)

Nowata’s Christmas Events

Spend Saturday, December 5^th, In Nowata!

It’s time for the Nowata Annual Christmas Parade!  This year’s theme is “The Glory of Christmas”.  Pat Parks, Nowata’s 2009 Citizen of the Year, will be this year’s Parade Marshall and Youth, Church and Marching organizations will have the opportunity to win 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Place cash awards, sponsored by Arvest Bank and Regent Bank.

There are always beautiful floats, unusual modes of transportation and plenty of candy for the kids!  And, of course, Santa will be riding in the parade- all the way from the North Pole!  Parade line up will be on south Pine Street at the library at 1:15pm with the parade start down Pine Street to Cherokee at 2:00pm.  Entry forms are available online at www.nowatachamber.net or by calling the Chamber office at 918 273 2301.

Be sure to come early and get your picture with Santa at the Nowata Cheerleaders Fundraiser at the Regent Bank meeting room before or after the parade.  Or do some shopping at the Christmas Craft Bazaar at the Nowata Public Library or shop the Nowata County Historical Museum Gift Shop on Pine from 1:00-4:00pm  where you can take a tour and  register to win a gift basket.

And from 5:00-8:00pm, the Nowata camp of  Modern Woodsmen will sponsor a Benefit Chili Dinner and Silent Auction for Matt Linder at the New Life Assembly of God Church located at 106 N. Cedar.

(Thanks to Billie Roane, Nowata Area Chamber of Commerce)

Delaware Christmas Events

The Delaware Christmas Parade will be December 12th at 11:45am. All participants will line up at the Delaware Ball Field beginning at 11:30am. The theme of this year’s parade is “The Night Before Christmas.”  There will be prizes for the top three decorated entries.

Santa will be taking a break from his hectic schedule to visit with the kids from 9am until 11:15am at the Delaware Community Building, 125 East Cherokee. Refreshments will be served. Bring your cameras to capture those special moments with Santa.

For more information, call Delaware City Hall (918)467-3218.

South Coffeyville Christmas Events

The South Coffeyville Parade  will be on Sunday, December 20th at 3pm. The parade line up will be on the old highway at the John Deere Road. The parade will be led by Billie Bryant, a member of the OK Car Club, of South Coffeyville. The club will be presenting three trophies for Best Marching Band, Best Float and Best Club Participant. Candy will be given out by kids walking the parade route.

(Thanks to the Nowata Star and Becky Clark)

Sounds like fun! Hope to see you at the Nowata Christmas Parade!

Be sure to come out to the official lighting of the holiday season in Nowata at the Lights On Ceremony!

Nowata Lights On

November 30th

6:30pm

Spike’s Railroad Park

(Cherokee Street by railroad tracks)

Cookies, hot cider and hot chocolate will be served. The Lights On Ceremony will be hosted by the Nowata Beautification Committee. The Nowata High School Choir and Band will be leading everyone in Christmas Carols.

The Nowata High School Cheerleaders will be having take your picture with Santa Claus and his Helpers fundraiser. The cheerleaders will be dressed in costume as elves, reindeer and Christmas presents.  The gazebo will make the backdrop for the pictures. The pictures will be 4×6 inches and cost $5.00 each. The proceeds will be funding the cheerleader’s trip to New Orleans to perform in the Sugar Bowl. The performance will be televised at 7:30pm on January 1st, 2010, on the ESPN network.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

Matthew 25:35,40

Living Word Family Church is hosting a free community Thanksgiving dinner.

The church is providing a traditional Thanksgiving meal in a friendly environment at the Nowata Fair Building from 12:00pm until 2:00pm on Thanksgiving Day, November 26. Meals will also be delivered to those who are homebound.  The church wishes to reach out and help those in Nowata County who are in need of a Thanksgiving meal. However, the meal is opened to anyone.  In today’s economic conditions, for many it can be a very real challenge just to barely stretch the food dollar for the regular month’s meals; let alone a Thanksgiving meal. The members of the Living Word Family Church were moved to express their thankfulness and lend a helping hand to serve their fellow-man.

Fellowship and a meal prepared and served by loving hands can replenish a spirit and feed a soul. Maybe some of you would like to help with this Thanksgiving Meal, here are some opportunities to show your thankfulness for your blessings:

• Volunteer to help cook, serve or clean-up
• Donate money to the costs of the meal
• Donate to the Living Word Family Church Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry

For further information, please call the Living Word Family Church

(918)273-1208

Dinner will be at the

Nowata County Fair Building

612 E Roxy (across from Nowata Fire Department)

Nowata, Oklahoma

Megan is an excellent example of the hidden talent that abounds in Nowata County! Megan’s daytime job is Nowata County’s Extension Educator which includes Family & Health Sciences and 4-H Development at the Oklahoma State University Extension Office. This Saturday, November 21st, the Green Country Showcase features Megan and the Green Country Superpicker Band.

Megan Maxson

“Megan loved to sing from the time she was a little girl growing up in Miami, Oklahoma. Her mother, Judy says, “She could sing along with the radio exactly on key, basically from the time she was old enough to talk between 1 and 2.” Megan began singing solos in church at age 10. She became very familiar with the Star Spangled banner, singing it at almost any local event that would ask her. Megan has sung in various choirs in high school including the State FFA convention chorus for 3 years. She was a part of the Oklahoma State University Singers choir for 3 years and is just shy of a minor in music at OSU.

In college, Megan helped lead worship for various college ministry groups. Megan sang lead female vocals in a country trio called the Skeet Baker Band. In 2008, she was given the opportunity to sing back-up harmony for a band that opened up for country singer and another Miami native, Keith Anderson, at Gallagher Iba Arena in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The same band was rewarded the top four in a local contest in which they performed on stage at Toby Keith’s Bar and Grill in Oklahoma City.”

Green Country Showcase

Presents

Megan Maxson

November 21st

Doors Open 6:00pm/Show 7:00pm

Jack Ellis Theater

Nowata, Oklahoma

$8.50 Adults

Children Under Free with Paying Adult

Great Food at the Cafe!

Be sure to come out and support Megan! Hope to see you there!

A Colorful Palette of History

Can you feel the breeze blowing?

The Splendid Colors of Our Past, Present and Future

Dr. Palmer Signing Mural

The Artist's Signature

The Story Tellers

The crew left to right, Lisa Quishinberry, Dr. Bob Palmer, Scott Henderson, Sharon McCoy, Christen Humphries.

The Colors Are Flying!

Vibrant Purple and Red: Rich Colors of the Continuing Epic

Megan Maxson, Nowata County Extension Educator

Last week the Oklahoma Union School and the Nowata Elementary School hosted the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service exhibit, Farm To You.  The exhibit is presented at no cost to schools and organizations, however, there are requirements, such as space, volunteers and number of children.

Farm To You is a traveling interactive adventure for elementary school children that follows food from the farm to the market and through the body to explore the relationships between agriculture, food and health. Coordinated by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Farm to You is a collaboration between state agency, commodity and community partners.

Farm to You consists of a 40′ by 40′ enclosed walk-through exhibit with nine stations. It is designed to involve kindergarten through 6th- grade students in learning how foods from the farm are used by their bodies for good health. Students make their own way through the exhibit by visiting unique Farm to You stations.

• Cheeseburger Farm
• To Market
• Healthy Cool Cafe
• Mouth
• Stomach
• Small Intestine
• Muscle
• Bone
• Skin

Students spend about six minutes participating in activities and learning about the relationships between agriculture, food and health.

Mouth Station

Farm to You Objectives

• Children will learn that farms provide food for good health
• Children will learn to use food labels to make healthy choices
• Children will learn about the digestive system
• Children will learn the importance of physical activity and personal hygiene to good health
• Children’s eating and health behaviors will improve
• Awareness will increase among parents, school personnel and community members about the importance of teaching children healthy habits

The above information was found in the Farm To You Brochure printed and issued by the Oklahoma State University.

Small Intestine Station

The Oklahoma Union School Coordinator was Brenda Taylor and the Nowata School Elementary Coordinator was Lisa Kincade.  Many community volunteers participated at both schools, both in  setting-up the exhibit and presenting the stations.  The kids going through the exhibit were asking questions, telling stories and having lots of fun.

The Skin Station

For more information contact your Oklahoma County Extension Office or Diana Romano, Farm to You Exhibit Coordinator, (405) 713-1125, ext. 2122 or diana.romano@okstate.edu.

Protect Your Skin

Importance of Hand Washing

The Lung Station

This is just another example of the fantastic things that goes on in our Nowata County area. Great schools! Great Community Volunteers! Great Nowata County Extension Staff!

November 2009 Entertainment Schedule

Hey, readers, the VFW is a hoppin’ place these days. I heard someone say the other day that the VFW used to be “the place to be on Saturday night!”  It is told that people drove from all around to enjoy the music and dancing, so grab your friends and head on out to the VFW, 747 S Maple. Be safe and responsible!

Karaoke with Woody Walker

Every Wednesday & Friday Night at 9pm

Pool Tournament

Every Thursday Night at 8pm

Saturday, Nov 7^th, 9pm

Stealin’ Country

Country & Western

Saturday, Nov 14^th, 11am till ??

Veterans Day Bash

Rich McCready – 9pm

Country & Western

**Minors allowed until 8:30pm**

Saturday, Nov 21^st, 9pm

Just Fredd

Alternative & Rock

Saturday, Nov 28^th, 9pm

Karaoke with Randy Carter

**Band Night Cover Charge – $5 per person**

**Must be 21yrs or Older to Enter the Bar**

Veteran’s Day Bash 2009

Saturday, Nov 14^th – 11AM till ??

**Doors Open at 11am**

Patriotic Quilt Raffle Begins

Jeff Lawrence – Vocals & Acoustic guitar

12:30 P.M.

Opening Ceremonies

*Brisket & Chili Lunch*

$5 Adults, $3 – 12 and under, Under 3 FREE

Activities Sign Up Begins

2 P.M.

Pool Tournament

$5 entry fee

2 – 5pm

LIFETEAM AIREVAC Helicopter Display

3:30 P.M.

Lawn Mower Races

$10 entry fee

3- 5pm

Karaoke with Woody Walker

4:30 P.M.

Colors Retirement Ceremony

5 P.M.

Live Auction

Quilt Raffle Ends

Winners Announced

5:45 – 7:30pm

Nowata Idol Contest

2 Categories: Adults $10 entry fee – Kids $5 entry fee

7:30 – 9:00pm

Karaoke with Woody Walker

8:30 P.M.

**Everyone under the age of 21 must exit the building**

9:00 pm till close

Rich McCready

www.richmccready.com

Country & Western Band

$5 Cover Charge

Military Vehicles will be on display all afternoon. A Rock Climbing Wall and Interactive Combat Simulator will be on hand as well.

Thanks to Kimberly Smoak and all the Nowata VFW Post #2745 Veterans for planning the Veteran’s Day Bash.

All proceeds will go to support our VFW Scholarship Fund, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Ladies Auxiliary.

EVERYONE needs to come out and support our Veterans and our Troops!!

I am requesting your prayers for all Fort Sill military personnel, soldiers and families

during this time of loss and tragedy.

Cowboys on a Cattle Drive

The rich abundant pastures made Nowata an ideal location for the cattle industry. Cattle drives and ranches brought many pioneers here to settle. Nowata County has a rich history of cowgirls and cowboys that played such an important part of our history. One of those cowgirls was Pauline Nesbitt who became a world renown trick rider on the rodeo circuit. She started trick riding in 1927 at Burwell, Nebraska. Pauline was a national prize winner in 1936 and she was inducted into the National Cowboy Museum in 1999. When you visit the Depot Cafe, look on the west wall for many pictures of Pauline’s experiences.

Nowata County was abounding with cowboys, the heroes of the west! Lenapah was home to 5 World Champion Cowboys:

1. Fred Lowry 1916, 21, 24, 25, 27,29
2. Nowata Slim Richardson 1926
3. Everett Shaw 1946, 48, 51
4. Shoat Webster 1949, 50, 52, 54, 55
5. Buck Rutherford 1952, 54

The Gallopin Goose

The Gallopin Goose (car #75) trolley car of  the Union Electric Company Interurban line that ran 22 miles from Nowata to the Kansas border, just three miles south of Coffeyville. The full trip took four hours as the trolley meandered through hill and vale. The Interurban existed from 1921 until April 4, 1948, when it was no longer viable on a “yearly basis”. The automobile took to the highways and the “mass transportation” went by the wayside.

Chief Journeycake's Meeting House

Chief Charles Journeycake, a famous Delaware leader and preacher, organized a church of eleven members on November 8, 1871. His dream of building a substantial meeting-house was fulfilled within a year after he and his family moved to this part of northeast Oklahoma from Kansas. A treaty made possible the sale their original tribal lands in Kansas which caused many a Delaware to move to Indian Territory.

Nowata County Courthouse

The Nowata County Courthouse was built in 1912 and is on the US National Register of Historic Places.

American Flag, City of Nowata Seal, Oklahoma Flag

Symbols of our great nation, state and city!

Savoy Hotel

The original Savoy Hotel burned to the ground two days before the grand opening in 1909. The Savoy was rebuilt in 1911 with the capacity for 200 guests. The hotel was well-known for its radium baths which was told could cure multiple ailments. The original sign for the radium baths can still be seen today on the west side of the building with a hand pointing downwards toward the basement. What a site The Savoy must have been!

The Glass Mansion

An early prominent Nowata family, J Wood Glass and his wife, Eva Payne Glass, built their home at 324 W Delaware. When their son,  Julian Wood Glass, Jr, passed away in 1992, the mansion was given to the Nowata County Historical Society. A Scottish architect, John Duncan Forsyth, designed and supervised the building of the home of the Glass family. He also designed the Marland Mansion in Ponca City, Oklahoma. The Glass-Glen Burnie Foundation is still making a positive impact on our area today.

The Oil Derrick

Oil played a huge part in the development of Nowata, both city and county. According to many sources, many millions worth of oil deals were made at the Carey Hotel. Millions does not seem like much money now, but in the early 1900’s, it was wealth only imagined for many.

Iron Mountain Railroad Engine

The Missouri Pacific Railroad was driving onward through the northeastern section of the Cooweescoowee District of the Cherokee Nation around 1886. I am positive that there are many interesting stories about building the railroad in Indian Territory.

Our city and county has such a varied and bountiful history that should be shared with the world as our fellow citizens drive by this mural on their way to another destination! Maybe, just maybe,  some will come back to make Nowata their home and the circle of bountiful history goes on.

The history facts that I have shared in this post has come from many sources, such as the internet, the Nowata County Historical Society Museum, and Links Volume 4, Issue 9, 2007 (published by Community Links, Chelsea, Oklahoma).