Henryetta merchants are throwing open their doors (so to speak) Saturday for a town wide open house. They are not only offering refreshments, but have special holiday prices on gift items just waiting for you! ‘The Open House takes place this Saturday, November 22 with these participating merchants: Joe-Ann Shop, Linda’s Fashions and Craft Mall. Memories in Lace, Fourth Street Station, Rheba’s House of Flowers and Gifts, Sports ‘n More Sweet’s Carpet and Interiors, Triple J Lawn and Garden Center, Wal-Mart, Warehouse Outlet, Wastbourn’s Western Wear, AQ Indian Smoke Shop, Bob’s Clothing, Burnett Furniture, Burnett Hardware, Cave’s Jewelry, Country Touch Craft Mall, Country Sunshine, 4th Street Craft Mall, Imperial Jewelry and Music, It’s Christmas, Little Blue House of Crafts and C.R. Anthony’s.

Santa Claus will make an appearance at Rheba’s Flowers from 10 a.m. – until 2 p.m. Jim Hays will be there to take children’s photos with Santa.

ECU FALL CONCERT

Local students attending East Central University will perform music from spirituals to contemporary pieces Monday, November 24 in the fall concert of the University Chorale and the University Chorus. The free concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the First Christian Church, 100 E. 13th, in Ada.

Dr. Steven Walker, ECU professor of music, directs both the Chorale and the Chorus. The Chorale’s program includes “Contra Qui, Rose” and “De Ton Reve Trop Plein,” both by Morten Lauridsen; “E’en So Lord Jesus Quickly Come” by Paul O. Manz and “Me and None But Me” by John Dowland.

Two spirituals, “Hold On!” and “Steal Away,” both by Chester L. Alwes, will open the University Chorus’ program, followed by “The Wedding Cantata” by Daniel Pinkham and “Remembrances of Love” by James McCray.

“The Wedding Cantata,” with organ accompaniment by DR. Starla Hibler, ECU associate professor of music, features passages on marriage taken from Bible’s Song of Solomon. Hibler will provide accompaniment on synthesized harp for “Remembrances of Love.”

50 YEARS AGO – 1972

DEDICATION ‘RAIN OR SHINE’

The Mike Crawford helicopter dedication ceremony will go on Saturday “rain or shine” according to John Morris, Publicity director for the event.

The weatherman has indicated that showers may be due in this area tonight and tomorrow, but in case of rain, the dedication, set for 10 a.m., will be moved from the Dewar school grounds to the gymnasium.

Military color guards, the Henryetta high school band, VFW and American Legion members, and relatives and friends of Mike Crawford, who lost his life in a helicopter crash in Vietnam last November, are expected to attend the dedication.

A small helicopter has been obtained through the Agency of Surplus Property, largely through the efforts of US Senator Henry Bellmon and Okmulgee attorney Dale Rainey.

District Judge Kirk Woodliff will act as master of ceremonies at the dedication.

Homer B. Carter, head of the Agency of Surplus Property, and his assistant, Lonnie Ponder, are also expected to attend. A new basketball scoreboard bought by donations from area people, will also be officially dedicated to Crawford Saturday.

TRUCK EXPLODES

A truck loaded with 41,000 pounds of detonator fuses slammed into a bridge on Interstate 40 early today, burst into flames and exploded.

The driver, John Hines 32, of Chickasha, Okla., was injured and taken to Okfuskee Memorial Hospital in Okemah. Hospital officials declined comment on his condition.

The highway patrol said the truck was en route to Oklahoma City from Lone Star, Tex., when the driver apparently went to sleep. He was driving alone.

Authorities said the fuses still were exploding almost three hours after the 3:30 a.m. crash six miles west of this east central Oklahoma community. Traffic on the cross-country Interstate 40 had to be rerouted.

A patrol spokesman said officers were warned to keep firefighting equipment at least 1,200 feet from the burning truck and the public a minimum of 2,000 feet away.

Several communities responded with firefighting equipment, but none was able to squirt a stream 1,200 feet so the fire was allowed to burn at will, a patrol dispatcher said.

75 YEARS AGO – 1947

‘EVER SINCE EVE’ TO BE PRESENTED NOV. 24

Ever since Eve, plays have been written, but never since Eve has such a clever play been written as “Ever Since Eve, “which will be presented by the speech class at the high school auditorium on Nov. 24.

It is a comedy dealing with a group of young people, their parents and teachers. The comedy is devoted to the problems, both of love and business, which beset Johnnie Clover, the editor of the high school paper. The background touches problems of importance to the young folks.

The characters are true to life, humorous and vivid. These well drawn characters, plus the novel situations which arise, make “Ever Since Eve” refreshing fare in the theater. It is at once Gleeful and pathetic, tender and hilarious, probing and elusive. This play, written in 1941 has already attained success in England and America. It is produced in Henryetta by special arrangement with Samuel French Company. It is one play you can’t afford to miss.

100 YEARS AGO – 1922

MAN WHO KILLS 11-YEAROLD BOY IS DISCHARGED

Justice of the Peace Edgan Johnson heard the testimony for and against young Ed Lack, yesterday, on a charge of manslaughter growing out of the death of Jimmie Palmer under the wheels of Lack's car, November.

After deliberating for a time, the justice held that the charge was not sustained by the evidence, and therefore dismissed the defendant.

There is much feeling manifested in discussing the findings of the justice. There are, of course, two sides. Many people feel that Lack should be punished. Others argue that his punishment is already severe in the consciousness that he has, even inadvertently, taken a life.

The defense sought to show that the thing was unavoidable. It was said that the boy was holding to a wagon and suddenly let go his hold, and crossed the street just ahead of the auto, and that it was utterly impossible to stop in time to avoid striking him.

The prosecution sought to show that Lack was driving at a rate of speed which made the accident possible, and that if the speed had been reasonable it might have been possible to stop the car in time to save his life. Thus do two theories contend. Justice Edgan Johnson evidently felt that the accident was not avoidable, judging from his findings.

That there will be, and is all adverse criticism is sure. One thing might be found useful in the sad affair – and that is the great need for more moderate speed. No matter what amount of claims to the contrary may be made, the public will always believe that Lack was driving too fast. The official measurement of the marks in the pavement where the car had slid on a locked wheel, 126 feet, is sufficient to convince the public that the speed was a menace to public safety.

JUSTICE SAYS KEEP THIS MAN IN JAIL

Of a man tried in justice court here a few days ago, the Okmulgee Times of this morning says: Claud Bowen tasted a bitter pill yesterday. He was put in the county jail, which wasn't so bad. He was put there to spend 30 days, which wasn't so much worse. He was put there until he paid a fine of $100 and $20 costs, which also he could easily overlook. But the stinging rebuke that was written at the foot of the commitment paper by Justice of the Peace Davis, of Henryetta, from where Claud hails.

Claud was convicted there of assault and battery on a few of his closest relatives including his wife and his sister-in-law. At the trial it was brought out that his family life was divided between several homes, and that he was not what the justice of the peace considers a moral map.

So in sending Claud to jail, the judge wrote on the commitment paper: “Mr. Sheriff: Please do not let this man out under any circumstances as he should be exterminated from the face of the earth judging by what his wife and sister say about him.”

WILL MEND LEAK

County Commissioner elect Earl Morgan and Leslie Martin have been designated as a committee to bring about the fixing of the “missing link” in our road system – that mile of street reaching from the end of the pavement on Cummings street east of the high school block to the beginning of the paved county road.

The chamber of commerce has undertaken to accomplish this thing for the reason that no other way offers.

The section of the city traversed between these two points is such that ordinary paving cannot be done by assessment against abutting property.

The unusual value of the road is such that some other method must be adopted – the road simply must be fixed in order to get the fullest value from our heavy expenditures in the county-federal highway leading to Okmulgee.

Mr. Morgan and Mr. Martin have figured it all out, and Mayor Hawes has been made the trustee for the fund that is to be accumulated for the work.

The plan is to lay nine inches of burnt shale on a thirty foot roadway, and then treat this with boiling crude oil.

The city has agreed to bring the streets to proper grade, and this chamber of commerce committee will undertake to put down the burnt shale and put the hot oil on it.

Several citizens without solicitation offered a hundred dollars each toward such a fund, and the committee feels sanguine that the entire amount may be accumulated at once.

Time is the essence of this movement and every day is costly as the matter stands.

Free-Lance suggests that this committee proceed at once to the starting of the work, and get the money in advance of every pay-day. This method will have the advantage of moving everything at once, and that may readily be seen to be of prime importance.

Every man in business – in fact every man who owns a home or a car in Henryetta is vitally interested in the building of a good street in this link.

STRUCK BY AUTO

Bob Broaddus, who lives on North Thirteenth street, was struck by a car Friday evening on Fifth street.

He was taken to the Henryetta hospital where his injuries were attended to.

The man who drove the car was arrested, but afterwards was discharged from custody.

The injuries were not of a serious nature. His nose was cut and bleeding when he arrived at the hospital. He suffered a bruise on one leg.

BRIDGE PARTIES

Prominent among the social events of the past week were the bridge parties given Thursday by Mrs. R. L. Foster and Mrs. W. H. Matthews at the former's home, 1211 West Broadway.

Baskets of variously colored chrysanthemums were used effectively in decorating the rooms.

There were eight tables of play in the afternoon at which Mrs. J. Forbis Eubank made high school and Mrs. J. P. Rossiter low. At the evening party were seven tables and high score was made by Mrs. G. W. Burroughs and low by Miss Margaret Embree. A salad course and individual pumpkin were served.

PAVING ON 7TH STREET

There was an adjourned meeting of the city council Friday night at which bids for the paving of North Seventh street were opened. There were three bids, as follows: The Western Paving company, of Oklahoma City, $54,859.

Park & Moran, $54,714. The Klingesmith Construction company, of Drumright, $58,301.

Park & Moran being the lowest bidders, the award went to them, their bid being $145 less than the next bidder.

The contractors are to have 150 working days in which to complete the work and work is to begin within fifteen days after the execution of the contract. Except the allowing two estimates on work completed, no other business was transacted at the meeting Friday night.

IN POLICE COURT

When Mayor Hawes returned from Oklahoma City he found one case awaiting him in police court, that of Bonnie Russell, charged with speeding. The defendant had put up a check of $10 for an appearance bond and failing to come into court the bond was forfeited.

Yesterday morning there was only one case in court, that of a man charged with being drunk. He paid a fine.

DANCING PARTY

Miss Virginia Butterly celebrated her thirteenth birthday anniversary last evening with a dancing party at her home, 607 West Gentry street.

The rooms were attractively decorated with chrysanthemums and the dining table was centered with the pretty birthday cake with its candles.

Punch was served throughout the evening and at the close an ice course was served.

Each guest received a favor. The guest list included Misses Virginia Vaughn, Genevieve Wilson, Catherine Whitenton, Veta Tate, Lois Sheridan, Rosemary Hinton, Frances Sullins, Pauline Ray, Gladys Warren, Gladys Robertson, Frances Robertson, Lottie Mea Hughes, Marguerite Lindley, Zella Bell, Cleo Clark, Peggy Whitenton, Anna shelton, Videlle Lantz, Jane O'Kane, Catherine Paterson and Margaret Paterson, Messrs. Bland Warren, Raymond, Gaughan, Glenn Hughes, Woody Hunt, Festus Clausen, Alfred Diamond, Lawrence Eyerly, John Paxton, Joe Hunt, Will David Martin, James Hinton, Clarendon Holmes, John Syeton and Billy Sheridan.