Travel r us Tahlequah

Linda Spyres, Tahlequah city councilor for Ward 4, recently announced her plans to seek re-election.

Spyres has served the community of Tahlequah since 2011, and said she hopes to continue serving for the next four years at voters’ pleasure.

Spyres said she learned the importance of service to others early in life, as the only child of a career U.S. Army chaplain. She said she was taught to help others, have discipline, be proactive, think for herself and be tolerant as she lived around the world and in different cultures.

She and her late husband, Lloyd, moved to Tahlequah in 1989, and she began volunteering with the Salvation Army, Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce, Tahlequah Area Tourism Council, Tahlequah Main Street Association, Kiwanis Club, Daughters of the American Revolution, Tahlequah Community Playhouse, Court Appointed Special Advocate of Cherokee Country, and recently, Feed My Sheep.

Spyres is a graduate of Tahlequah Leadership Class XIII and a lifetime member of the Northeastern State University Alumni Association. She and her husband have partnered with Reasor’s to sponsor and prepare the annual NSU basketball spaghetti benefit, which raised over $30, 000 for the teams through the past nine years.

Spyres graduated from Northeastern State University in 1992 with a major in psychology and minors in sociology and humanities. At the time, she was also employed with the Department of Human Services. She became a social worker and worked with families before retiring in September 1999.

Spyres, along with her late husband, operated Vacations R Us travel agency since 2000. She has served on the Tahlequah Industrial Authority since being elected in 2011, and has assisted in making decisions about bringing new businesses into the Tahlequah Industrial Park.

“I am so excited to see the new quality of life improvements the city has built and approved thanks to the voters, ” said Spyres. “When I took office four years ago, the splash pad, ice rink, Tahlequatics facility, Anthis-Brennan Sports Complex, the new police station and jail, NSU Event Center and other enhancements were not in existence. I look forward to being involved with the planning of the future growth and innovations in the city. This is an exciting time in Tahlequah. I would like to continue serving Ward 4.”