The roots of Red Dirt music ran deep on April 13, as four of the genre’s most iconic acts were inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame (OMHOF) during the soldout Boys From Oklahoma concert in Stillwater—a town long recognized as the heart of the Red Dirt movement.
The 2025 inductees—Cross Canadian Ragweed, Jason Boland and The Stragglers, The Great Divide, and Stoney LaRue—were honored for their enduring contributions to a genre that blends country, rock, folk, and blues with the agreed to hire Osburn Surveying to assist with water line easements. GPWA Administrator Jeremy Lane reported 18% water loss, two water leaks, and 29 work orders for the past month.
Staffing, pay raises Following an executive session, the board announced several personnel decisions:
• Lisa Settlemyre was granted a $2 hourly pay raise.
• Ta y l or Felder was hired at $19 per hour.
• Richard Lane will serve as a part-time employee at $14 per hour.
• I s a i ah McGrew joins the seasonal yard crew at $12 per hour.
• No action was taken on Lester Keathley.
The board also appointed Ryan McGee and Cheyenne Haney to the Gore Volunteer Fire Department.
In her mayoral report, Mayor Henry shared a major win for the town: Gore has secured a $1.4 million Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan, with $800,000 of it to be forgiven after successful completion of the Water Treatment Plant rehabilitation project. Additionally, she mentioned a forthcoming meeting with engineers and ODOT regarding a walking trail and sidewalk project. Police Chief Tracy Christenberry reported 82 traffic stops, 33 calls for service, 11 warnings, and eight citations for the month of March. Fire Chief Justin Ohl shared that the fire department responded to 32 calls, including medical, grass fires, and a swift water rescue. He also announced a pancake fundraiser scheduled for May 17 at the fire station.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m., followed immediately by the adjournment of the GPWA meeting at 6:49 p.m.
This news story is based on the unofficial minutes from the board meeting and could be in error if the minutes are changed prior to adoption.
