The Town of Gore and the Gore Public Works Authority (GPWA) held back-to-back regular meetings on April 15, addressing a wide range of issues from infrastructure improvements to public safety appointments and employee compensation.
In a show of continued confidence, the board unanimously re-elected Robin Henry as mayor and Larry Pack as vice-mayor. Trustees Joni Couch and Randy Foley also took their oaths of office during the session.
Infrastructure, development in focus Much of the meeting focused on critical infrastructure. The board held its first public hearing for the 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Engineering Application—though no public comments were made—and subsequently approved a Citizen Participation Plan required for the grant process. Resolution 0415-2025-1 was also passed to formally apply for the grant, aimed at sewer pump station improvements.
Additionally, the board approved Ordinance No. 0415-2025-1, which updates the number of volunteer firefighters, and passed it as an emergency measure to take immediate effect.
Meanwhile, the GPWA meeting, called to order at 6:46 p.m., saw swift action on utility matters. The board approved a $5,600 bid from Two States Overhead Doors for new overhead doors and distinct soul of Oklahoma.
“These four inductees were all in the same place, on the same stage, at the same time for four nights,” OMHOF Executive Director Tony Corbell said. “We could not be more proud to induct these fantastic talents into our Hall of Fame. I guess you could say Red Dirt music is not just alive and well—it is thriving in Oklahoma.”
The event was more than an induction—it was a musical homecoming. Each of the honorees performed live, sharing the stage not only with each other but also with fellow Red Dirt torchbearers, The Turnpike Troubadours, who were inducted in a previous year.
Special guest appearances by The Red Dirt Rangers—John Cooper, Brad Piccolo, and Ben Han—highlighted the generational bridge between past and present legends. The Red Dirt Rangers were inducted in 2017.
The celebration also marked a triumphant reunion for Cross Canadian Ragweed, whose original lineup—Cody Canada, Grady Cross, Randy Ragsdale, and Jeremy Plato—played their first show together in over a decade just months earlier in October 2024.
Formed in 1994, the band helped define the Red Dirt sound before going on hiatus in 2010.
Jason Boland and The Stragglers includes two former Vian residents, Roger Ray and Grant Tracey. Ray left the group in 2014 and Tracey is still a current band member.
The group broke onto the scene in 1999 with the song, Pearl Snaps, and continues to be one of the genre’s most enduring acts, with a discography including 10 studio albums and three live records, such as their 2024 release Live from Cain’s Ballroom.
Also honored was The Great Divide, the Stillwater-born band that originally formed in 1992 and recently reunited to release Providence— their first album in two decades.
Their return was celebrated as a full-circle moment for fans and fellow musicians alike.
Stoney LaRue, a cornerstone of the Red Dirt community for over 20 years, was recognized for his relentless touring and influence. Known for his electrifying live shows and chart-topping albums, LaRue’s impact is deeply intertwined with Stillwater’s music scene—especially during the time he lived and collaborated with both Cody Canada and Jason Boland.
The Hall of Fame ceremony underscored Stillwater’s role in shaping a sound that is uniquely Oklahoman, yet universally resonant.
“We’re not just looking back,” said Corbell. “We’re celebrating a tradition that continues to grow, evolve, and inspire.”
