Claremore Daily Progress

Our View

July 23, 2007

Everyone should have a little fun

Word that a few city officials may have been in attendance at the recent Rocklahoma Festival in Pryor Creek may have raised a few eyebrows around town. It turns out there’s nothing to be concerned about. It was mostly just boys having fun and revisiting their not so recent youth. There will be no city travel claims filed nor request for reimbursement for drinks.

On the other hand, the news report placing a county employee at a Hooters joint in Oklahoma City, ordering pitchers of beer and chili fries, is cause for concern. This person included the tab in their per diem claim sent to the County Clerk’s office.

Kudos to the suspicious eyes that caught this one. There’s nothing like finding out you’ve paid for a party and you weren’t invited.



Make your opinion count, sign it



To the person who wrote the well-worded letter opposing alcohol in the downtown business district. We’d like to print your letter in its entirety, but as we state frequently on this page, no can do without a valid name. It’s too bad others won’t be able to read what you had to say.

If you, or others want to express an opinion, please do so. The Daily Progress will print signed letters, providing it does not libel or slander another individual, business or organization. We do reserve the right to edit the content for style and protect our legal rear end. Otherwise, send in those comments and let’s start a dialogue about the issues that concern our community.



Helm’s away, or is he?



Allen Carter was back in the hot seat at the County Commission this week. He’s the road foreman in District 2, not an elected official, but he’s acting like one.

Commissioner Mike Helm was on another road trip to Oklahoma City to attend the statewide Association of County Commissioners Organization conference. In the meantime, back here, a not-elected District 2 employee is making decisions about spending taxpayers’ money. The question isn’t whether it’s legal or not. It’s a matter of whether it’s the right thing to do. How would voters like it if Congressman Dan Boren decided to let a staffer step in for him?

An elected official who believes a hired employee should have the right to exercise the powers of an elected position does not respect the integrity of the democratic process.

Voters should think twice on this one.

Maybe even ask Helm if he has a successor in mind.



Hillcats hyping it up



Rogers State University is still a few months away from playing their first official basketball game, but the Hillcats are already making the media scene. If the benefit golf tournament held at Heritage Hills this week is any indication of the level of performance future fans can expect from the Hillcats in the sports arena, Claremore better get ready for the spotlight.

It’s just a thought, but maybe Claremore needs to start embracing this newfound image as a university town. The quality of life benefits such a community can offer could be just the direction this town needs to be growing.

Text Only
Our View
  • Randy Cowling First looks are just that — first looks

    No one ever gets to make a second first impression.

    February 6, 2012 1 Photo

  • BAILEYDABNEY8-2009.tif COLUMN: Napalming the Internet

    Try to remember the Internet before we had websites that host user generated content. No eBay. No YouTube. No Facebook. No Twitter. No LinkedIn. No Foursquare. No product reviews, blogs or personal websites where users comment and post links.

    January 18, 2012 1 Photo

  • Burrage, sean.tiff Senate review by Sean Burrage

    Hailey Mathis is studying political science and history at the University of Oklahoma. She’s one of a very select group of college students each year who have the opportunity to learn about government and public service through an internship at the State Senate.  

    April 4, 2011 1 Photo

  • Dr. Mosier’s online success

    Dr. Richard Mosier is nothing if not a visionary.  Over 20 years ago he first had the idea of what was then Rogers State College becoming Oklahoma’s first institution of higher education to offer online instruction.

    January 18, 2012

  • New Year

    Looking back on 2011 brings many things to mind.  It was a busy year traveling the state, actively promoting Oklahoma as a competitive state and supporting strong public policy.

    January 18, 2012

  • BAILEYDABNEY8-2009.tif The Veepstakes and unseating an incumbent President

    The Iowa Caucuses are over. Let the Veepstakes begin.

    January 5, 2012 1 Photo

  • Randy Cowling Will Rogers resourcefulness hard to do but necessary

    Finding a resolution to a long-term problem is never easy.  It requires change and adjustment.

    December 18, 2011 1 Photo

  • BAILEYDABNEY8-2009.tif What’s all the GRDA fuss about?

    At the request of Governor Mary Fallin, State Auditor Gary Jones issued a performance audit on December 8 for the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA),  covering a time period from July 1, 2003 through March 31, 2011.

    December 11, 2011 1 Photo

  • GRDA audit appears to be politically motivated

    When I learned a state audit of the Grand River Dam Authority had been earlier this year, I feared the request was made purely for political reasons.

    December 11, 2011

  • Have a happy holiday season

    It is hard to imagine that we are well into the school year with the Fall term near completion and the Spring term ahead. Claremore School students continue to distinguish themselves on the national and state levels. 

    December 10, 2011