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Locust Grove Mayor Butler; Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith; Johnny Keener, Council member; Stephanie Wickliffe-Shepherd, Council member; Cherokee Nation Deputy Chief Hastings Shade.

LOCUST GROVE, OK - Water problem? Not any more. The Cherokee Nation presented Locust Grove Public Works with a check for $120,000.00 to construct 24,385 feet of waterline at a recent ribbon cutting ceremony. The Cherokee Nation has provided the engineering, design, and environmental documentation to complete this project. The waterline construction will benefit 45 families, of which 21 are Indian.

Locust Grove Public Works will contribute $12,430.00 and a grant from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for $100,000.00. Cherokee Nation tribal members Tuxie Peoples and June Saffel initiated the project by contacting the Cherokee Nation Engineering and Sanitation department. Both were on well water, which would not consistently provide clean water. The Cherokee Nation and Locust Grove Public Works were able to come up with a solution that would benefit both the Cherokee families and the town of Locust Grove. Locust Grove Public Works will oversee the construction of the new waterline.