Woodward News

Three survivors from the 1947 Woodward tornado spoke to the Oklahoma Northwest Summer Institute history class on Thursday afternoon.

The two-day celebration to honor America on the Fourth of July and open some major projects at Crystal Beach Park got under way Friday morning.

Joey Chestnut chomped down a record 68 hot dogs, capturing his third straight July Fourth hot-dog eating contest at Coney Island, an annual showcase for hot-dogging contestants eager to show they really are what they eat.

Former President George W. Bush spoke at the July Fourth festival in Woodward, Okla.

Former President George W. Bush, who has turned up in a handful of out-of-the-way places since leaving office, was set to spend part of Independence Day speaking at a remodeled rodeo arena in northwestern Oklahoma.

Kris Day poses at her store, The Cowboy's Tack Shop in Woodward, Okla., on Wednesday, July 1, 2009.

Crystal Beach Park has hosted numerous celebrations in its 80 year history. Next weekend the tradition will continue with Let Freedom Ring 2009.

Kyle Wilson of Mooreland was excited. As a Woodward and Mooreland EMT, he was learning how to safely drive a fire truck during an emergency.

With the large influx of visitors expected in Woodward for the Fourth of July, downtown businesses have decided to stay open that day to provide shopping opportunities.

"A lot of people know we're here, but aren't totally aware of what we do." So that is why the High Plains Outreach Center took up an offer from the Woodward Mid-Day Ambucs to host an ice cream social/open house and invite the public to learn more about this "working shelter," according to the shelter's executive director Thurman Fussell.

A man has been charged with first degree robbery, uttering a forged instrument and petit larceny stemming from a weekend robbery at the Jiffy Trip on 25th Street in Woodward.

The Woodward Fraternal Order of Police is currently selling tickets for a gospel concert to be held in August.

A new business -- Atlantic Wind Energy Services -- has opened its doors in Woodward.

Trustees of the Woodward County Public Facilities Authority have held their first meeting and have been sworn into office.

Woodward City Commissioners breezed through their full agenda Monday evening. The agenda item that took the longest time to work through was an executive session where the commissioners received a report concerning the potential purchase or appraisal of real property.

The community of 12,000 is preparing for a large crowd at their July 4 celebration called "Let Freedom Ring 2009." "I get a phone call and they said a Mr.

Librarian Paula O'Dell likes several popular books, but her favorite one is "The 5000 Year Leap: the 28 Great Ideas that Changed the World" by W. Cleon Skousen.

Police are still looking for a suspect who robbed a Woodward convenience store at gunpoint early Tuesday morning.

A 53-year-old Vici woman and her granddaughter were injured Thursday afternoon on U.S. 60 when the woman's vehicle went off the road and rolled one and half times, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported.

State Rep. Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, will be the guest speaker for Monday's Woodward Chamber of Commerce meeting.