Grass Fire and upcoming events

We had a large grass fire a couple of miles from where I live yesterday. Burned one vacant house and came close to burning a double wide mobile home and some other houses. Fire departments from all across the area responded and fought the fire through the afternoon and into the night. Still some fires flaring up today. Likely that a cigarette thrown out of a vehicle caused the fire from what I was told this morning.

Had a very good men's breakfast at the First Baptist Church this morning with 13 men in attendance.

Next Saturday the FFA is having their annual breakfast at the school and on Sunday, February 24 we will be having FFA Recognition Day at our church with a lunch.

If you have news that is Sweetwater related of any kind email me at wrather@dobsonteleco.com. News will be added all through the day as it is received. The Sweetwater, OK webpage is located at www.theburningbush.org/Sweetwater.html.

01.12.08

Things are going well in Sweetwater with more people moving into our community. Reconstruction is moving along on the school gym. The steeple and new roof are up on the Baptist Church. The construction has been finished on the Post Office and has been reoccupied. What a wonderful place to live!

If you have news that is Sweetwater related of any kind email me at wrather@dobsonteleco.com. News will be added all through the day as it is received. The Sweetwater, OK webpage is located at www.theburningbush.org/Sweetwater.html.

School Starts

The Sweetwater School began the fall semester yesterday. It was originally planned to begin on August 8, however, a little more finishing touches of the construction was necessary. According to KWTV 9 report last night enrollment is up from 59 students last year to 89 this year.

Congrats to Supt Don Riley and all the school staff on their example of perseverance and excellence!!

If you have news that is Sweetwater related of any kind email me at wrather@dobsonteleco.com. News will be added all through the day as it is received. The Sweetwater, OK webpage is located at www.theburningbush.org/Sweetwater.html.

RENT FREE MOBILE HOMES

Sweetwater, Oklahoma Schools is still providing rent free mobile homes for families with school age children attending Sweetwater Schools. You can contact the school for more information at 580.534.2272.

The planned date for the school to begin for the 2007-2008 year is August 8.

If you have news that is Sweetwater related of any kind email me at wrather@dobsonteleco.com. News will be added all through the day as it is received. The Sweetwater, OK webpage is located at www.theburningbush.org/Sweetwater.html.

May 11, 2007

The clean up continues with much being accomplished this past Wednesday. Thanks to all who have helped!!

There are several families in the community who have been severely affected by the disaster and some are still needing financial aid.

This afternoon is the Sweetwater School award assembly at the First Baptist Church and tonight at 8pm is the HS graduation also at the church.

Sunday graduating seniors will be recognized at the First Baptist Church.

If you have news that is Sweetwater related of any kind email me at wrather@dobsonteleco.com. News will be added all through the day as it is received. The Sweetwater, OK webpage is located at www.theburningbush.org/Sweetwater.html.

Tuesday, 05.08.07

It is now the end of the third day following our latest tornado in Sweetwater. We are all still in shock but progress is being made in cleaning up and moving forward.

Life goes on and we are all very thankful to be alive and able to clean up the mess. We are thankful for all those who have reached out to try to help us and it is very much appreciated!!

Hopefully, the rain will go away tomorrow as a major effort toward cleaning up debris is planned with several crews.

The Baptist Disaster Relief feeding crew is here to feed all the workers and those affected by the disaster at the Baptist Church fellowship hall. A Baptist Debris cleanup crew will also be here tomorrow. Several DOC crews are scheduled to be here along with county workers.

The graduation ceremony for Sweetwater Schools will go on at 8:00pm Friday night at the First Baptist Church of Sweetwater.

I still believe it is true that I pray harder when I am in a closet with a tornado coming than when I am in a storm shelter. However, while we were in our storm shelter Saturday night with the roar of the tornado above and our house shaking from the force of the tornado I believe I was praying very hard! Praise God for sparing the lives all those in our community!

If you have news that is Sweetwater related of any kind email me at wrather@dobsonteleco.com. News will be added all through the day as it is received. The Sweetwater, OK webpage is located at www.theburningbush.org/Sweetwater.html.

Sunday, 01.21.07

It is now after the snow storm of January 2007. We had seven inches of snow at Sweetwater that was measurable. Some to the north also had seven inches and had one report of six inches. J.E. McGuire reported that they had nine inches of snow at their house.

Sent several photos of the snow to the local TV channels and one of the huge snowflakes to CNN. CNN showed the photo of the huge snowflakes repeatedly Saturday afternoon and evening. However, by the end of the day Rick Sanchez was doubting that the snowflakes were very large. You can judge for yourself how large the snowflakes were by looking at the photo at http://www.theburningbush.org/sweetwaterphotos.html

Toward the top of the photo against the background of the bricks of the house you will see very plainly two huge snowflakes. Other large flakes can be see above the house and to the right side of the house.

KOCO also showed the photo I took Friday of the Haliburton truck trapped on our church parking lot on the ice that still was there Friday morning. The truck had attempted to turn around and had become trapped. He was spinning his wheels again and again but was unable to escape until later in the day.

No church this morning and most likely not tonight although Don Roberts and Bennie Wayne are clearing off the parking lot.

If you have news that is Sweetwater related of any kind email me at wrather@dobsonteleco.com. News will be added all through the day as it is received. The Sweetwater, OK webpage is located at www.theburningbush.org/Sweetwater.html.