Round Ryan September 13 2018

By

-

September 13, 2018

It’s been a really awesome week. We’ve had more rain, our grass is green, and lawns are in desperate need of being mowed (at least my lawn is). I got on my riding lawn mower Sunday afternoon and mowed a 15 foot strip beside my driveway before the mower died. I couldn’t get it started again after numerous tries. It would turn, but, it just wouldn’t start. So, it is still sitting where it died. I moved it about 4 feet off the patch of grass it was sitting on so that I could mow it with my trusty push mower. It makes from a 3 hour job riding to an 8 hour job pushing. I will call Sears and get them to come out and get it going, but, that usually takes about 2 weeks to get that scheduled and I would have a jungle before then. I am getting it done, anyway.

This weekend is the wedding day for Macie Wright and Austin Masoner. Their wedding is to take place just outside of Marlow on Saturday evening.

Ryan has lost another one of our great legends. Raymon West passed away Sunday morning. Raymon was a part of our community for I don’t even know how many years. He served in the military, taught school, and became an administrator in the Ryan Public School, then was employed at ASCOG after he retired from his job as the superintendent of Ryan Public School. Raymon had some very interesting things to tell about what all he went through regarding his life. He fits into the same highly respected class, along with Bob Givens, in my opinion. Even after Raymon’s mind had been invaded by the Alzheimer’s disease, I had gone to visit him while he was a resident of the Cherry Street Assisted Living Facility in Nocona, and he had a photo album in his room that he showed me. He was so very proud of all of his accomplishments and his children and grandchildren, and great grandchildren. His celebration of his life will be Wednesday this week at the First Baptist Church in Ryan. Prayers to the West family during their loss.

I am still being hopeful that someone might want to come into this community and take over my pharmacy so we won’t even have to close our doors at the Ryan Drug Store. I will ask for folks to please be in prayer that the Lord will take care of this situation for this little community. I keep moving the date of closing, thinking that there will be an answer to my prayers, and I will continue to be patient during this time.

Kim’s news for this week:

This week I can’t complain, because of all the needed rain.

Every morning Foxy & I go to the barn together and ride in the nice cool weather.

Summer weather has almost parted and shorter days and longer nights have started.

Everyone have a blessed week. Pray for rain and for each other.

Are New Water Meters in Ryan’s Future?

By

Curtis Plant

-

September 14, 2018

0

The council voted to apply for a grant that will enable the town of Ryan to purchase new electronic water meters that will be more accurate and tamper proof.

If the REAP grant is awarded to the town of Ryan, the new meters will allow city employees to accurately read the meters with electronic equipment. The meters can also notify city employees automatically if anyone tampers with them in anyway.

This will cut down on citizens turning the water meters on and off without notifying city hall. This has been an ongoing problem for some time.

In other business, Dennis Underwood addressed the council about the instillation of a Christmas Tree in the intersection of 5th and Washington during the Christmas Season.

Coach Stan Mueggenborg will be constructing the permanent tree stand that will be embedded in the center of the intersection. He assured the council members that it will be done professionally and will not detract from the aesthetics of the brick street.

The council agreed to let the project go forward.

Some at the meeting were wondering why city employees no longer decorated business downtown with Christmas lights. It was explained that this tradition was stopped because it is a liability to the Town of Ryan for its employees to be decorating private businesses.

Business owners are free to decorate their businesses for the Christmas Season if they so wish.

There was also a vote to allow other members of the city council to sign and receive REAP grant awards.

In other business, it was decided that a calender will be utilized to schedule use of city owned property such as the city park.

Anyone wanting to use the park in the future will need to stop by city hall and reserve the date. At this time there is no cost for using the park.

During the meeting all the bills and claims were paid.

The council also voted to raise the pay of Michelle Mellow $87.50 per pay period.

It was noted during the meeting that Michelle Mellow does not sign checks.

Dylan Sheffield addressed the council on behalf of the Regeneration and Community Beautification Group and informed them of a fundraiser scheduled for Sunday September 16th. The group is also scheduling a Fall Festival in October.

Once all business was dispensed with, the meeting was adjourned.

Cowboys Snap Losing Streak With Victory Over Thackerville

By

Trey Smart

-

February 2, 2018

0

Ryan-Basketball-2 — Photo by Sheree Hanson

While the Ryan Cowboys snapped a long losing streak last Thursday against Thackerville, it was still a difficult weekend for the Ryan squads.

Last Thursday, Thackerville edged the Cowgirls, 36-33, while the Cowboys scored a 42-39 victory over the Wildcats on Raymon West Court to end a six-game skid.

Ryan traveled to Healdton last Friday and fell in both contests. The Lady Bulldogs took advantage of poor shooting by the Cowgirls to gain a 43-26 verdict.

Healdton, 18-2 on the year and ranked 18th in Class 2A, rolled to a 48-13 victory over the Cowboys.

Against Healdton, the Cowgirls got off to a tough start falling behind the Lady Bulldogs, 9-1, after one quarter.

All of Healdton’s first-quarter points came on three converted long range field goals.

The Cowgirls battled the Lady Bulldogs on even terms in the second quarter and were competitive most of the rest of the game trailing by 15 points with just three minutes to play.

Ultimately it was the first quarter deficit that was too much to overcome.

Lily York led the Cowgirls in scoring with 10 points.

Coach Steve Spangler’s Cowgirls are still playing without one starter.

The Cowgirls have lost nine straight to the Lady Bulldogs dating back to the 1993 season.

The Cowboys were short-handed also as two starters were missing against Healdton with illness.

Healdton got off to an impressive start and took a 14-3 lead after the first quarter.

The Bulldogs struggled, however, in the second quarter, but the Cowboys could not trim the margin and trailed 19-5 at the half.

For the second time this season the Cowboys came out of the intermission and could not score a point. The Bulldogs went on a 16-0 run in the period for an insurmountable 35-5 lead heading into the final frame.

The Cowboys broke the scoring drought, but Healdton still managed to outscore Ryan, 13-8, to set the final margin.

The 13 points scored in the game is the second fewest in school history and is the fewest since recording only 15 points in a 1988 encounter with Sulphur.

Dawson Tomberlin was the leading scorer for Coach Judd Matthes’ squad with seven points.

The Cowboys have lost six of the last eight meetings with the Bulldogs dating back to the 1993 season.

In the game with Thackerville, the Cowgirls trailed by a 9-5 count after the first quarter and again it was hot outside shooting by the Lady Wildcats that doomed the Cowgirls.

Thackerville’s nine points came on three treys.

Thackerville was able to increase the margin to 20-15 at the half before the Cowgirls came alive after the halftime break and managed to narrow the score to 26-24 at the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Wildcats sealed the victory by scoring the last seven points from the free throw line. The Cowgirls could not cut into the deficit in the final frame thanks to missing three of five charity tosses.

York finished with 17 points for the Cowgirls and she was responsible for all five of Ryan’s first quarter point total.

Thackerville moved to 15-3 after this win.

The Cowgirls are 25-13 against Thackerville in the last 38 meetings, but have now lost two in a row to the Lady Wildcats.

The Cowboys established a seven-point lead after the first quarter and were able to extend the lead to 20-11 at intermission.

The Wildcats cut into the lead in the third quarter and trailed only 30-24 heading to the fourth quarter.

The Cowboys could not shake the Wildcats mainly because of a struggle at the free throw line.

For the entire game, Ryan only converted on 35% of its free throw attempts.

Skyler Parkhill led the Cowboys in scoring with 14 points and he scored five of the Cowboys’ eight first-quarter points and was the only player for the Cowboys to score in every quarter.

It was the fourth win in a row for the Cowboys over the Wildcats.

The Cowboys and Cowgirls were to have met Geronimo last Tuesday on Raymon West Court.

Both squads return to action tonight by traveling to Burneyville to face Turner for a doubleheader.

Tomorrow night will be Senior Night for the Cowgirl and Cowboy basketball teams as they play host to Temple.

Ryan will finish the regular season on Tuesday as they travel to Empire.

The Class A District Tournament will begin on February 9 at Central High

Round Ryan January 25 2018

By

Mollye Compton

-

January 23, 2018

0

We’ve made it through yet another week of drastically low temperatures, but on the brighter side, was the weekend. It got up into the 70s on Saturday and Sunday. Now, we are not as cold, but a bit cooler than what we saw this weekend.

This Saturday is our Ryan food distribution from the food bank starting at 10:00am.

Brionna and her group from TKRanch made their trip to Dallas and had a really good time. They made it over to Plano and saw Karen, and to their surprise, Karen’s sister was able to take Karen so she could go to the movies with her dorm mates. She and the other women from Dorm #3 had even a better time since Karen was able to be a part with them again. They went to 2 or 3 different places each day, but, one day they went up into Reunion Tower. I don’t know that I would have cared for that too much myself. They got back to the ranch on Thursday afternoon. Then, on Saturday morning, their dorm mother wound up with the flu. I called to talk to Brionna Sunday evening and Dianna answered the phone. I knew from her voice she was sick. She was trying to keep a distance from the women in the dorm. I hope she if feeling better now.

When I woke up Saturday morning and turned the television on, the first thing I heard was that we were in a government shutdown. They announced this morning that our government leaders have come to an agreement and we are okay now until February 8th.

When I woke up this morning, I learned that there was an earthquake just out from Alaska that registered 7.9. This was over 100 miles out from land that the earthquake occurred. In the northeastern part of our country, they are expecting massive floods. But, thankfully, all is quite in Ryan.

This Saturday is Brionna’s birthday. She is going to be 28 years old. Happy Birthday, Brionna! We are planning to go to Wichita Falls with her grandparents and dorm mates and eat at the Red Robin restaurant.

The flu is beginning to work its’ way back around here. I have seen many in town that are ill.

Kim’s news for this week:

Praise God for the weather and Joe Toddy is better.

I’ve been riding in the pasture again, in the sunshine and the wind. Ruffy Tuffy can shake which is nice, I think Foxy has been giving him advice.

Everyone have a blessed week. Prayers to good health and for rain.

Round Ryan July 25 2019

By

Dennis Underwood

-

July 27, 2019

0

Saturday nights dance at the American Legion Post #183 was a success. The music was provided by a five piece band consisting of the regulars. Bill Roberson, Cary Gore and Gene Chesley as well as newcomers Joy and Don McCullough supplied a mix of old country, middle aged country and gospel. The music lovers and dancers don’t equal the days of the Old Ryan Stomp but the numbers seem to be growing. I enjoyed hearing “Go Rest High On that Mountain” and also their version of “Arkansas River” but hearing Joy McCullough sing some old gospel tunes really took me back. If you have not been to one of these get togethers then you are missing out. Besides the music you can visit with your neighbors or even meet some new folks if you are of a mind.

Don’t forget this coming Saturday the Ryan Volunteer Fire Department is hosting a 5K fun run/walk. It will be starting at 8:00 am and they will be serving lunch after the event at the Fire Department. Come out and support the fire fighters and all the participants.

One of the members of the Irving Baptist Church told me that this last Sunday they had their monthly meal at the church. It consisted of fried chicken, various salads, watermelon and home made ice cream. Telling me this on Monday seems a bit mean spirited, but I’m not one to hold a grudge, especially if you tell me in time for the next one.

Monte Wright is refurbishing the benches on Washington. He has the new wood on the first bench and it is back in place. It’s my understanding that the Ryan Beautification Group is providing the material and Monte is donating his time and labor.

The book related section of this article is not about one book alone but about reading in general. How did my fellow readers get started down the road to being bibliophiles? I don’t really remember how it got started for me but there were always books in our home while I was growing up and I had access to the school library. After my folks purchased a set of World Book Encyclopedias, I spent a lot of time reading those volumes that told of far away places or animals and customs that were foreign to me. From there I graduated to books that at times were probably a bit mature for me, some of those I re-read later and then could grasp the nuances that had escaped my young self. Some books and authors were introduced to me by teachers and older siblings. Mrs. Rickard lead me to Shakespeare and Chaucer. My brother Phil gave me the gift of Hemingway. My father fed my love of history, on his bookshelf were stories of the American Civil War by Bruce Catton. On my own (if that is even possible) I discovered James Fenimore Cooper and Emerson. Some of my most prized possessions are volumes of Thoreau and Walt Whitman given to me by my sister Merrianne. Not everything that I read is a classic, I enjoy a good adventure story as much as the next person. Drop me a line and let me known how you got started.

Maybe next time I’ll discuss my musical influences and how my sister Lynn scarred me for life with some her musical tastes.

Garcia Settling in as New Fire Chief

By

Curtis Plant

-

August 2, 2019

0

Randal Garcia has been the Ryan Fire chief since May of this year. However, he has been a member of the fire department since around 2008.

He says everyone has come together and the support he has received has been great.

He is the brother of Stephanie Wesberry and the son of Josey and Mio Garcia of Terral. (Josey is pictured on the back page at her restaurant known as Mama Josey’s in Terral.)

Randal is grateful for how things have progressed and the way Waurika and Ryan have worked together.

We’ve had some training with Waurika he says.

Last Saturday the Fire Department held their first 5K Run fundraiser. Many of the Ryan track teams as well as members of the community participated.

The money will go toward the upgrading and repairing of some of the fire trucks.

Along with the 5K Run the department sold T-shirts that said, “Stop Drop and Run 5K and Fun Run.”

Participants had the option of running or walking the 5K.

There may still be some shirts available. The cost of each shirt is $10 for small through XXL and $15 for #XL.

The hot dogs and hamburgers served at the fundraiser were excellent. Donations were taken for the meal.

Round Ryan July 5 2018

By

Mollye Compton

-

July 6, 2018

0

Praise the Lord! We received some measurable rain Sunday afternoon. The pavement is still wet and conditions are cloudy. I haven’t mowed in 3 weeks now. There is nothing to mow. Our grass is laying dormant on the ground. Plants have had to be watered from the water hoses. God’s blessings of rain far surpass any garden hoses. He just hasn’t seen fit to send much our way yet. Our temperature was 94 degrees around 3:00 pm yesterday and when the front blew in, it was 74 degrees. The temperature stayed there all night. I got out and watered the plants this morning, anyway. We desperately need rain around Ryan. The grasshoppers have really begun to move into town again.

I went over to see Mom Saturday afternoon after going to Wichita Falls. I spent some time with her and was on my way back to Ryan on Highway 81 just north of Ringgold and I could see an animal beginning to cross the highway. It’s body was slim and low to the ground, and I assumed it was a coyote. I was getting closer to the animal and it was slowing down and so was I when we met, face to face, on the highway. It was a tiny baby deer, and I saw no sign of its’ mother. It just stood there looking at me. My car was dead still, and I honked at the baby deer, it didn’t even move at first, then I honked again, and it began running back from the direction it had originally started crossing. Its’ little feet were slipping on the pavement of the highway as it was trying to move quickly to get away from this foreign object that it was facing. I know there are an abundance of deer around our area, but, my heart went out for this little guy or gal. I hope it found a safe place and still has its’ mother to care for it somewhere out there.

Kim’s news for this week:

Yes, it is true Ruffy Tuffy got a straw hat, too.

Every morning I go ride with Foxy by my side.

Then Foxy and I go to the ball park, where she can play ball and bark.

Everyone have a blessed week, a safe 4th of July and please remember to keep praying for rain and for each other.

Round Ryan April 30, 2020

By

Dennis Underwood

-

May 2, 2020

0

Another week of nice weather here in southern Oklahoma. Flowers are in bloom and the birds are all singing. Admiring nature is a good way to take a break from everything that is going on in the world. Eventually though you have to go back and pick up your responsibilities. I’m not talking about myself because without children or grandchildren to worry about, I don’t have to concern myself with all the details and tasks that are a constant for other folks. I can only admire young parents raising children and working jobs that must be important sine they are still going to work during this lock down.

It’s easy to tale a dim view of humanity if all you read and see are news reports about crime and mayhem. If you go looking you can find the stories about people helping their neighbors and in some cases strangers. This week I watched a story about a woman handing out food to truck drivers that at times have had trouble finding food while they were on the road because of all of the restaurant closings, a restaurant owner keeping many of his employees working, cooking meals for anyone that needs them, another man that owns rental property, several of them house restaurants. He waved the lease payment if the business owners agreed to use the money to pay their employees.

Some of the feel good stories are about people that take time out of their day to be kind to someone that needs a pick me up. A teenage girl after having finished her last cancer treatment, is welcomed home by the neighbors lining the street. All of them keeping their distances but they are applauding and cheering and waving their homemade signs, a t.v. actor getting some of his friends to help and using something called Zoom (I’m told that is some more of this social media that old folks like me don’t understand) was able to host a high school prom for a bunch of kids scattered across the country, all in their homes.

One story that caught my attention, more for it’s quirkiness than anything else, was about all the people that had not gotten dressed up and gone out since this all started, did just that and got dressed in their fine formal wear and took the trash receptacle to the curb for pick up day.

That story makes me think about a job that most people don’t want, trash collector. How bad would this lock down be if they were not on the job.

All the time I have on my hands has enabled me to discover that I enjoy watching You Tube videos of people using a band saw mill to make lumber out of trees. I also enjoy watching people make wooden bowls using axes, adzes and chisels. Just in case you think that I am wasting my time, I have also been watching videos about gardening, pruning and grafting trees, starting plants from cuttings and making flower pots and planters out of cement. Just yesterday I watched a video about the ten ways you can tell that your spouse is cheating, on second thought I probably don’t have much use for that information.

All things considered, I guess social media is good for something. Education and staying in touch with far flung family. Now if you don’t mind I am going to listen to Mads Tolling play The Ashokan Farewell on the violin.

Be kind to one another, you never known what they are going through.

Ryan Graduation Video

By

Curtis Plant

-

June 28, 2019

0

Ryan Graduation 2019…..enjoy!

Ryan Graduation 2019

Round Ryan January 3 2019

By

Mollye Compton

-

January 3, 2019

0

Happy New Year to everyone! 2019 started out the year on a pretty cold note with some winds to make it feel even colder. We are in the season of winter, so, this is to be expected. The forecasters are predicting we might get some form of precipitation beginning on Wednesday evening, going over into Thursday, with highs of 34 degrees.

I have had Brionna with me for a good little while and took her back to the Ranch on Sunday after we got out of church. I had a lot of things to tend to at the store and I spent hours there after I got back from taking her. I went back early Monday and picked her up to come back to the store for our last day of business as a drug store. We gave and received a lot of hugs and shed a few tears in the process as we finalized our last day. We have to look forward in our lives when we make decisions that affect our own lives and, also, the lives of so many others, too. I have noticed as time travels along, our bodies and minds can’t take as much as we have grown to be accustomed to. Having an aging parent, a daughter, and a mother-in-law that has just lost her husband of 62 years, and a business that demanded a great deal of my time and efforts, this was what I felt I had to do. I have been blessed with nearly 30 years of business in this town, and Brionna has been a part of it her whole life. She has been part of this business and she has enjoyed being part of it. She hasn’t known any other way of life outside of this drug store. Time will go on and tomorrow’s will come and go, but, we need to be thankful for each day that we’ve been given and look forward to whatever is in store for the future. God has control of the fate of each and every one of us, and, that is comforting to keep in mind.

Kim’s news for this week:

What a wonderful Christmas me, Ruffy Tuffy, and Foxy had. On Christmas Day, Foxy and I went to my Dad’s, and on Christmas Eve I had lunch with Gail and Steve.

A Note from Mollye

For several years, I have made a commitment to Curtis to write an article for ‘Round Ryan News column. I took over writing when my mom’s mind began to fail her. Joyce would call me that she hadn’t gotten Mom’s article, so, there were several occasions that I would write her news for her and nobody ever knew the difference (I don’t think). Mom was at a point that she felt they needed to find another writer for the column, and then, they asked me to write the column. Now, I would like to pass on the invitation to see if there might be another individual from around town that might be willing to take on this task. I have thought of several folks that are connected to the community, but, I will see if maybe someone will come forward to volunteer to keep this column going. If someone out there is interested, please let me or Curtis know. I still plan to be an active part of Ryan, but, I just want to see if someone else might be interested.

Everyone have a Blessed 2019 and ask God to guide us throughout each day of all of our lives. I love you all!

Ryan News

Round Ryan October 12 2017

Round Ryan

Round Ryan November 29 2018

Round Ryan March 8 2018

Round Ryan April 25 2019

Round Ryan September 13 2018

Are New Water Meters in Ryan’s Future?

Cowboys Snap Losing Streak With Victory Over Thackerville

Round Ryan January 25 2018

Round Ryan July 25 2019

Garcia Settling in as New Fire Chief

Round Ryan July 5 2018

Round Ryan April 30, 2020

Ryan Graduation Video

Round Ryan January 3 2019

FOLLOW US

RECENT POSTS

Waurika Chief of Police Report

Sheriff’s Report

Jeffco COOP News

Manger Thought