The Woodward News

Local News

Related Photos

  • The elementary students of Fort Supply sing the "Star Spangled Banner" during the dedication of the new gymnasium Friday night. Photo by Johnny McMahan

    dedicationweb.jpg
December 4, 2010

Fort Supply christens new gym

Dave Matthews Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — “Thank you for coming to the very first basketball game in the new Fort Supply gym.”

That is how Fort Supply Superintendent Pat Howell greeted community members at the dedication of the new gymnasium Friday evening.

Howell said the new gym wouldn’t have been possible without members of the Fort Supply community who overwhelmingly passed a bond issue with 80 percent positive votes.

According to Howell, the new gym “is everyone’s gym.”  It belongs to the people in the Fort Supply area and to all those who helped make the gym a possibility.

“The turnout is great, we about filled it (gym) up,” Howell said, noting the new gym the (fire marshal) capacity of 800 people.

Basketball Coach David Tune said he is looking forward to playing in the gym.

“We are ready to kick off the season (in the new gym,)” he said.

Tune added the new gym would also help the basketball teams in practice.

“The teams have been practicing in the smaller gym with only 2 goals, and the new gym has 6 goals,” he said, noting this will help players to “get more shooting in during practice.”

Many former Fort Supply alumni were in attendance for the dedication ceremony Friday night.

Woodward Mayor Bill Fanning, a 1975 graduate, said the new gym is awesome.

“I grew up playing in the old gym that they have been using the past couple of years,” Fanning said.

He described the old gym as “dark and dungy” when he played basketball in it, but said the new gym is completely opposite of that.

“This (new) gym is bright and it's very nice in here,” he said, noting he would have liked to have played in it himself.

There is a lot of pride in the Fort Supply community, and this gym shows it, by the donations made to make this gym possible, he said.

Marty Weder, a 1985 graduate, said he used to play basketball in the old gym that had a carpet floor instead of a wooden floor. He then described the brand new, updated gym as "incredible."

In addition, where Howell said the new gym was made possible through community support, Weder said the school wouldn't have been able to build it and make other upgrades without Howell.

“He has a done a nice job with the school and he has brought it a long way,” he said.

Text Only
Local News
  • Thunder routs Celtics

    OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Russell Westbrook scored 31 points, Kevin Durant added 28 and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Boston Celtics 119-104 on Wednesday night for their 11th straight win at home.

    February 22, 2012

  • Comment period open for new rules

    The A-F School Grading System law that was passed last year is now open for public comment  before the State Department of Education votes to implement it as a rule statewide.

    February 22, 2012

  • Municipal election filing period opens Monday

    The filing period for declarations of candidacy for municipal office in the City of Woodward begins next week.

    February 22, 2012

  • Series of Lent services begins Wednesday

    This is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Lenten season.

    February 22, 2012

  • School needs substitutes

    The Woodward Public School system is need of substitute teachers for the remainder of the school year.

    February 22, 2012

  • County hires secretary

    Woodward County Commissioners approved an applicant for the commissioner's secretary position on Monday during their regularly scheduled meeting.

    February 22, 2012

  • Gas prices expected to keep rising

    When it comes to high gas prices, experts are saying you ain't seen nothin' yet.
    "As we continue to move toward warmer weather, gasoline prices will follow, with prices accelerating higher at a faster pace come late March or April," said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com. "So if motorists think this is bad, they should really hold onto their chairs."

    February 20, 2012

  • WCA plans fundraisers

    The students of Woodward Christian Academy (WCA) have a couple of different fundraisers coming up.

    February 20, 2012

  • websmith.jpg Local auctioneer inducted into OSAA hall of fame

    Auctioneer Ira Smith, a Mooreland native, is the 28th member to be inducted into the Oklahoma State Auctioneers Association (OSAA) Hall of Fame.

    February 18, 2012 1 Photo

  • City to act on construction matters

    Woodward City Commissioners will consider a construction related matters at the airport and Siemens Building during their next regular meeting.
    The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall as city offices will be closed Monday in observance of the President's Day holiday.

    February 18, 2012