The Duncan Banner

Local News

Related Photos

  • Tammy Johnson, Main Street Duncan director, recognized Micah Harper as one of the Main Street Duncan Board members of the year. Johnson doted on Harper's contributions to the program. Derrick Miller/The Duncan Banner

    Tammy Johnson, Main Street Duncan director, recognized Micah Harper as one of the Main Street Duncan Board members of the year. Johnson doted on Harper's contributions to the program.
September 19, 2012

Main Street recognizes volunteers

Derrick Miller The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — Main Street Duncan recognized it wouldn’t have had as successful of a year if it wasn’t for numerous volunteers in the community.

And Tuesday night’s Main Street banquet gave the non-profit organization an opportunity to recognize those people and groups who helped Main Street Duncan along the way.

“It’s very exciting to partner with people to make improvements in downtown,” Tammy Johnson, Main Street Duncan director, said.

The organization has been in existence for 26 years. And in that time, the Main Street Duncan program has stayed with state and national Main Street guidelines. This has allowed the program to maintain its Main Street program recognition.

Johnson said the Main Street program is designed to rebuild downtown areas, create relationships with the community and businesses, increase commerce, and enhance the flow of information about the program.

Among the awards handed out during the banquet, Johnson recognized two Main Street Duncan board members. These members included David Yeager, who is the Duncan Power director, and Micah Harper, who is the board chairman.

Johnson said Yeager and Harper are prime examples of individuals who provided unwaveringly support for the Main Street program while volunteering their time to make the program successful in all its endeavors.

And they weren’t the only individuals to receive awards.

In fact, Tara Harper, who is the wife of Micah Harper, was recognized as the volunteer of the year.

Johnson said Tara Harper has been essential to the Main Street Duncan program because she is always willing to help out.

“She is always at my side,” Johnson said.

Aside from recognizing volunteers, Johnson also spent time recognizing people who have made contributions to historic downtown Duncan by renovating or re-purposing buildings.

David and Donna Duwe received an award for their renovation to a building in downtown Duncan. Johnson said the Duwe project help win a top three Main Street state award.

Additionally, Johnson recognized Kelsey Avants for re-purposing a building that hadn’t been used in 50 years. Johnson plans to submitting Avants’ project to the state Main Street awards next year.

While much of the banquet focused on recognizing people who made significant contributions to Main Street Duncan in the past year, the event also helped the program raise money for a few projects. These funds will help purchase rope lights to wrap around light poles during the holidays on Main Street, and will go toward installing cigarette receptacles by Main Street benches.

“We want you to come downtown and feel welcome,” Johnson said about the projects. “We want you to see we care about Main Street.”

Another reason for the banquet was to push for more membership. Johnson said the program has 110 members, but she would like to see an increase in membership to help increase the number of things the program can do for the City of Duncan.

“We can do so much more with more money,” Johnson said.

Text Only
Local News
  • Moore Tornado Showcases Advancements in Warnings

    Despite the utter devastation left in the wake of the massive tornado that tore through Moore, Okla. on Monday, the deadly storm, in many ways, helped showcase how far scientists have come in providing communities early tornado warning signs.

    May 23, 2013

  • ODOT efforts hampered by general public traffic

    Oklahoma Department of Transportation is requesting that motorists avoid I-35 through Moore, S. 19th Street because the ramp is closed and emergency and clean-up crews are hampering their efforts.

    May 23, 2013

  • 5-23 EMS Week.jpg National EMS Week shines spotlight on rescue workers

    The Air Evac helicopter was sitting on the helipad at Duncan Regional Hospital Wednesday, but not for emergency reasons.
    National EMS Week, May 19-25, is about connecting with the community and the Air Evac Lifeteam was doing just that.
    “Every base we have is doing something like this during the week,” said Heather Taylor, Air Evac program director. “We want to show appreciation to our community.”

    May 23, 2013 1 Photo

  • Restaurant rumors remain on the hot plate

    From IHOP and HomeTown Buffet to Chili’s and Olive Garden, restaurant whisperings have been running rampant in the community since the arrival of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar.
    Although there are a few open spaces such as the old Golden Corral location and the soon-to-close Honda site, none of these rumors can be confirmed at this point according to Chris Deal, Duncan Chamber of Commerce president. No information on any of the businesses’ websites points to them opening a new location in the area.

    May 23, 2013

  • 5-23 Pham tree Vertical_9168.jpg DMS plants a tree for custodian

    Tam Pham left a lasting impression on Duncan Middle School, and the school has returned the favor.
    On Wednesday, the middle school, along with Duncan Public Schools administrators, recognized Pham for his 28 years of service as head custodian at Duncan Middle School. Pham retired earlier this school year. To honor Pham, the district planted a Chinese pistachio tree in front of the middle school. A base plaque was included to commemorate Pham’s dedication to Duncan Public Schools.

    May 23, 2013 2 Photos

  • List of Moore deceased released

    Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office released today, the confirmed and unconfirmed list of fatalities.

    May 22, 2013

  • 5-22 Will Rogers Grad1.jpg Will Rogers graduates pre-k students

    Duncan High School’s graduation may be Friday, but the high schoolers won’t be the first group of students to graduate this year in Duncan.

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • Safe room procedures under review

    Duncan elementary schools dismissed at 3 p.m. Monday, but it wasn’t until almost 5 p.m. that students who remained at the schools were released to go home.
    Because of two storm systems moving through the area, the school district chose to keep students at the school as a precaution if their parents had not already picked them up. Superintendent Sherry Labyer said the plan was to keep students at the schools until the storms passed or moved away from the area as a way of keeping students safe. Buses didn’t start running until 4:45 p.m.

    May 22, 2013

  • Marlow goes on alert

    Marlow Elementary went to load its buses twice before students were finally able to leave Monday.
    Rotation nearing the city made it impossible for students to leave initially, and the school enacted its inclement weather procedures to ensure the safety of its students. Assistant Principal John Smith said the procedures were performed well by students and faculty members.

    May 22, 2013

  • Harrowing scene inside school

    Kelly Law and other teachers marshaled students into the main hallway and central bathrooms at Plaza Towers Elementary School just before Monday’s tornado ripped apart the building with winds up to 200 mph.
    “It sounded like somebody was going through with a mower and hitting a tin roof,” said Law, a teacher’s assistant. “… I had my eyes shut. All of us teachers were covering as many heads as we could.”

    May 22, 2013