About the Carney Betterment Association

The Carney Betterment Association (CBA) started with a small group of community members who were concerned about the welfare of our community. We believe our community consists of more than our Town limits. The CBA includes any one that resides in the fire district or school district. The CBA has one goal, making Carney a better place. The only condition of being a CBA member is bringing a positive attitude. Meetings are scheduled on the first Thursday of every month at the Ruth’s Carney Café.

As a group, we feel that the most important thing we can do to keep Carney vital is to help our school. We approached the board about bringing back a music department, art department and for the first time in nearly 90 years a football program. The second most important thing to develop new business and support the business we have in town; we are currently lobbying several chain department stores, Dollar General, The Dollar Store, etc. The shortage of housing in the area is a deterrent to growth with many of our teachers living in Perkins and Chandler. People trying to move into the area are often turned away for lack of housing. The CBA is researching grants to help improve the currently vacant properties as well as develop new housing.

Our first project was to bring Gary Ridley, Director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to Carney. Growth and survival of Carney is somewhat dependent on Highway 177. Rumor had it that 177 would be routed around town. This meeting was set up so that our area citizens had the opportunity to be heard about the possible relocation and to make ODOT aware of the dangers involved in traveling 177 from Perkins to Highway 66. This meeting was a huge success with standing room only in the Ruth’s Carney Café meeting room.

From there we set out to raise funds to field our first Little League Football Team. From that came the first annual Ice Cream Festival. This turned out to be more popular than we could have imagined. With a homemade ice cream contest, ice cream and brownies, hot dogs and drinks, all for a donations we filled Main Street on a beautiful first Saturday in August. There were vendor booths that were fun for all. The booths included a dart throw, water balloons, a cakewalk, dunk tank, football skills contest and lots more. This event raised $3,000.00. With this money, we were able to purchase enough equipment to outfit 24 aspiring football players and a little league cheerleading squad. Pictures are posted on the events page of the Town of Carney’s web site. townofcarney.org

The CBA then took on the publishing of a monthly newsletter. Our first edition was October 2007. While this is a fundraiser as well, we felt the most important thing was to publish a schedule of events. Anyone is welcome to contribute to the newsletter with news, history or upcoming events that all can attend. Subscriptions are available to the newsletter.

The next project the CBA took on was helping the Fireman’s Festival. The CBA had several booths and handled the vendor booths. Vendors were restricted to Carney organizations, churches and non-profit groups that operate in Carney. In short, let us keep our money here.

Our group was able to contribute a thousand dollars to the Carney School music program though our fundraising efforts. One of our members with an extensive background in music volunteered his time to rebuild band instruments that had been in storage for a number of years. From this effort the music department performed live for the first time in years at the Christmas Program in 2007.
The CBA sponsored a Halloween Costume Contest in conjunction with the Fireman’s Auxiliary. Again, we had a huge response to this event with over a hundred entries. The contest was divided into 4 age groups with a $50.00 savings bond donated by the CBA for first place in each age group. Pictures are posted on the events page of the Town of Carney’s web site. townofcarney.org

Once again, Karla Dimick and Maria Cox held the Christmas stocking auction at the Café. The money earned from this project goes to help fund the towns children’s Christmas Party. With the help of those that purchased Christmas stocking and ornaments, we were able to purchase six bicycles in three sizes, a tricycle and a red wagon given out at the party. With the help of one person’s anonymous donation, the CBA was able to provide Christmas Dinners and presents for three families that would of otherwise had a bleak Christmas. From this effort, the CBA Secret Santa project was born and is now slated to be an annual event.

The CBA was also able to help fund the Carney High School’s Fine Arts Show by providing funds for the refreshments. We would like to thank Mrs. Turner for all her efforts to reach out for grants to help develop the arts department in the school.

Our next undertaking was the Chili Cook Off held in March. Once again, the community turned out in force to make this a huge success, so successful that the ten entries ran out of chili in an hour and a half. Jason White (2003 OU Heisman Trophy winner) lent his fame to the cook off not only as a judge but stayed to autograph photos and memorabilia for his fans. HotCo Oil Well Fishing and Rental Tools sponsored the trophies, Lowe’s of Stillwater donated a new gas grill that given away and Cedar Ridge Blue Grass band played free.

The CBA is currently in the process of establishing our non-profit status with the IRS. We have been assured by them that any donations made before this process is finished will be tax deductible. As good stewards of the funds we receive though donations and fundraisers, the CBA board members are working to complete this process as inexpensively as possible.

The CBA hosted the Town Wide Yard Sale, providing advertising, yard sale signs and maps. Fundraising came from the sales of food and drink at the fire station. The auction of donated items held following the yard sales brought in $1,650.00. Over all total for this event was $2,150.00.

The little league football program has inspired our school to join in and hope to field a Junior Varsity team this year. In order for either of these programs to move forward, we have to have a place for them to play home games. The concept of a sports complex was born. The land was donated by Paul and Betzy Kuhn and Georgia Lee Schuning.

Construction of the sports complex has gotten off to a good start (the dirt work on the East side of the fire station). The Railroad Yard in Stillwater has donated the tin horn for the new driveway. With the donation of the bulldozers by Luke Simon, David Knox (Classic Fab) and Jim Kinder (Kinder Dozer), fuel from Joe Simon, Kinder Dozer, Luke Simon, Sonny Pickett and Raymond Hemphill. Operating hours donated by Luke Simon, Greg Wilson, Bob Womack and Jim Kinder. Altex Energy Corporation has donated the use of their road grader and an operator as well. The complex is starting to take shape. The CBA would like to express a huge Thank You to each of them for their many hours of hard work.

The plan is to have a multi-use field with a track around it. Bleachers and locker rooms that can be utilized as community tornado shelters, a concession stand and a press box are also included in the plans. Quite often, we refer to it as “Carney’s Field of Dreams” because we believe that if we build it they will come. With our central location in Oklahoma, it is possible that in a few years we could be hosting playoffs for eight man football games.

Many positive things will come with this field; it is not just for football. Being next to the new senior center with a track will give our seniors and citizens a nice safe place to walk. The field may be used in the future for youth soccer as well as holding festivals and other events. If we can get the funds to build the locker rooms well enough to be used as emergency storm shelters they will be centrally located and right next to the fire station, which incidentally is where many of our emergency personnel are during bad weather.

Due to our efforts, we have had statewide television coverage by News 9 in Oklahoma City in an attempt to help us find contributors to our cause (video can be seen on the internet at news9.com, search term Carney). Any donor, whether individual, group or company that contributes to our sports complex will receive recognition on our donors’ wall or walk of fame, which will be located at the entrance to the Carney Sports Complex. Contributors will also be featured on this site. If you, your company or your organization can contribute, or can provide any of the necessary equipment or supplies, please contact us.

Due to the wide variety of projects we are involved with if you would like to contribute specifically to any one, we are capable of making sure your funds go directly for that purpose.

If you would like to help in any way, please attend the next Carney Betterment Association meeting, the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm at Ruth’s Carney Café or contact the CBA at P.O. Box 118, Carney, Ok 74832 or use our contact page to reach any board members.