Memorial ribbon cutting ceremony held

The community gathered at the City of Grant ball fields on the evening of Friday, August 23 for a ribbon cutting ceremony symbolizing the “opening” of the new Oakley Tjaden Memorial playground. The project was made possible by generous donations from the community following Oakley’s untimely passing in 2021, just before her second birthday. Oakley’s mother Nicole spoke to those in attendance and thanked the community for their generosity and all who put in the work to bring the project to fruition. Melissa Sauder provided cotton candy to the kids following the ribbon cutting ceremony, which in combination with the new playground, made for an exciting evening for them. Benches at the site were donated by Oakley’s grandparents, Mike and Marcia Frerichs. Mother Nicole Tjaden said that the baseball fields are somewhere their family has always been able to find a smile, and their hope is that the playground equipment can be used and enjoyed by children long in to the future.