The short drive to Oak Grove Baptist Church could net a good citizen a nice new ride.
A bloodmobile from the Oklahoma Blood Institute will set up at Oak Grove Baptist on Sunday for a blood drive. Those who donate blood will become eligible to win a 2008 Saturn Astra from Bob Moore Saturn.
The blood drive at Oak Grove coincides with similar events in Stillwater. Anyone who donates to OBI between Dec. 1 and Feb. 6 will be entered into the drawing for the car or $15,000 cash.

Footings were being poured Thursday on a vacant lot in Cushing. One could almost breathe in the aroma of steaks on a grill.
“It will be a general restaurant,” Daryl Williamson said of his new business venture. “An American menu.
“We will have smoked ribs and brisket … numerous sandwiches and salads. But steaks are our specialty.”
Williamson lives in Oklahoma City and said he has owned and operated “a few restaurants” in the metro area. He set his sights on Cushing, Williamson said, to be nearer family.

Seeing the Great Wall of China was more than thrilling for Cushing’s Willetta Shields. She told Cushing Rotarians last week it was a heart strings experience, as well.
“It was big excitement for me,” Shields told the Rotary Club membership during its weekly meeting at Steer Inn Restaurant. “It was actually rather emotional.”
Shields was part of a group of Cushing residents on the journey to the Far East. She said another member of the group, Jerry Cooper is confined to a wheelchair because of health reasons.

Yes, Virginia, it’s that time again.
All are welcomed to set calendars and clocks to attend the annual Downtown Cushing Old-Fashioned Christmas Open House Dec. 4.
Stop by Kids’ Town at the Lion’s Den, 124 W. Broadway St., at 4 p.m. No need to up the allowance for kids to partake. As the name suggests, Kids’ Town is an affordable shopping opportunity for children only. Downtown merchants will have stocked the shelves with affordable, fun gift ideas guaranteed to fit all half-pint budgets.

Better late than never, an old axiom says. For Love In the Name of Christ, better at all than never.
“We did our launch party in February and everything has taken off so fast,” Linda Ewen said. “We’ve just now been able to get to our office.”
Ewen, executive director, and Love INC of Greater Cushing board members on Monday hosted an open house and dedication of their clearinghouse at 213 N. Cleveland Ave. So what if they moved into the place in March.

By Rick Reiley
Special to the Citizen
“Ridiculous,” John Fullbright would say when asked the question.
But the facts remain: Fullbright is one of Oklahoma’s brightest new rising stars. Friday night in downtown Cushing, his sound had others believing.
Fullbright, 21, captivated a capacity crowd at the Buckhorn Bar for more than two hours with a repertoire that ranged from classical to acoustic to contemporary. His music and his stage presence endear him crowds of all ages.

A small but appreciative audience listened Friday evening when Sean Kelly and Bruce Knoch performed on the stage of Cushing Downtown Centennial Park.
Kelly, local voice of KUSH radio is a singer-songwriter who most recently performed at the Red Dirt Festival at the Grape Ranch Winery in Okemah. Knoch, a Stroud native who works in Cushing, has been a voice to be reckoned with for many years in this area. Knoch recently performed at Greenfield Winery, Hastings Hard Back Café and Papa’s BBQ in Chandler.

Tibs, a large, friendly male cat about 2 years old, is the Cimarron Valley Humane Society’s Pet of the Week. Tibs has been declawed and is comfortable with children, dogs and other cats. He looking for a family with lots of love to share. The Cimarron Valley Humane Society also is in need of dog food donations. Those interested can call Lenora Webb at (918) 225-2140. More adoptable pets are viewable online at www.cimarronvalleyhumane.org.

Bert, a friendly, neutered mixed male, is the Cimarron Valley Humane Society’s Pet of the Week. He is a cross between a retriever and a cattle dog and is about 5 months old. Bert is current on his shots is looking for a family with a good fenced yard and lots of love to share. Those interested can call Lenora Webb at (918) 225-2140. More adoptable pets are viewable online at www.cimarronvalleyhumane.org.

Fans of Carol Round’s weekly column can put her latest book on their Christmas wish lists.
The book “A Matter of Faith” by Round, an Oklahoma columnist, is available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. It is a compilation of Volumes 1 and 2, and recently was released by Buoy Press of Denton, Texas.