Friday, December 5, 2025
‘Red Dirt’s original home’
his performances at the Wormy Canada said. “We’re at the Wormy Wormy Dog but Dog would play a huge part in Dog where there’s sawdust on the establishing the Red Dirt genre. peanuts and broken bottles Saloon returns Canada became the frontman floor, and spit. There were nights that Raynee Howell
CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
In the early ‘90s, 17-yearold Cody Canada somehow maneuvered his way onto the stage in a low-lit bar, complete with a peanut-covered floor and saddleback bar stools. It was the Wormy Dog Saloon — a bar that’s name is etched into Red Dirt history. Canada didn’t know at the time,
for Cross Canadian Ragweed and played weekends at the Wormy Dog with bandmates Randy Ragsdale, Grady Cross and Matt Wiedemann. During the week, he played with other names such as Stoney LaRue, Jason Boland and Mike McClure. Canada credits Wormy Dog for giving him the training to hit the ground running with the band. “There were 1,000 nights I couldn’t believe happened,”
were just debaucherous, throwing bottles against the wall and people in the crowd throwing bottles past our heads, until we finally have to be like ‘Look, that’s good.’” Canada will slip back into his old habit of playing to a crowd of rowdy folks in a bar on The Strip on Dec. 13. A new version of The Wormy Dog Saloon is reopening in the same building as the former Wormy Dog Concert Hall.
See WORMY on page 7A
Illustration by Katie Lehew
Photos by Payton Little, Chance Marick
MORRIS TAKES OSU JOB
SECTION B
Gospel on the Ground
Students chalk the book of John across OSU’s campus
Theta Pond,” Luschen said. “We are trying to write the entirety of the gospel to make Jesus’ name known.” A familiar face on Oklahoma Luschen, widely recognized on State’s campus has taken his ministry campus as the man who holds a sign from a handwritten sign to hundreds reading “How can I pray for you?” of handwritten Bible verses. said the chalk project isn’t sponsored Cameron Luschen, a staff member by BCM. Instead, it began with a with OSU’s Baptist Collegiate video he saw on social media of a Ministry, has spent the week similar effort at another university, kneeling on cold pavement in front then grew into a rotating group of Edmon Low Library. of volunteers from different faith “We are writing the entire Gospel backgrounds. of John on campus in front of Edmon Low, stretching all the way toward See GOSPEL on page 8A Bryson Thadhani
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
Audie Martin, The O’Colly
Wings of Hope Family Crisis Services serves victims of domestic violence, abuse, sexual assault and stalking across five counties.
Outrage over Butler case prompts response from victim advocacy leaders Butler was granted youthful offender status, waiving what would have been a 78-year prison sentence. Two victims of abuse are picking Instead of jail time, he was ordered up the pieces of their lives while the to complete an approved youthful perpetrator walks away freely. offender rehabilitation plan until Stillwater gained national attention reaching 18 years and six months old, when 18-year-old Jesse Butler, a according to court documents. Stillwater High School student, faced To Oklahoma resident and former 10 charges against two victims for lawyer Ronald Durbin, it appears as if various forms of rape and attempted hope for justice for victims has been rape. He also faced an additional lost in the Oklahoma courts. charge for violating a protective order. See ADVOCACY on page 6A Audie Martin
STAFF REPORTER
Connor Fuxa,The O’Colly
Cameron Luschen kneels onto pavement to write the Gospel of John in chalk.