Nursing Home Week was a blast.We enjoyed dressing up and so very tasty food.
We had a cow chip throw, Opal B. was our big winner in that; Pitched pennies -Sandy C. was our big winner.We enjoyed Hawaiian Fruit Trays on Wednesday.We played Bingo,
Sandy was our black out Bingo winner.On Friday we enjoyed a cook out with grilled burgers and that afternoon enjoyed soda pop ice cream floats and had a drawing for door prizes.We had several merchants donate door prizes: Gaines Quik Mart, Sheltons
Mesquite Blooms, Sonic, JW’s Travel Stop, The Markette, Small Town Creations, Dollar
General, Family Dollar and Daylight Donuts.A Special thanks to all of these merchants.
Also special thanks to Cora and Eric Bailey and Connie Whitsett for all the extra cookingand things they did.Thanks to the staff, residents, and everyone who helped make our
Nursing Home Week so special.
This week we are looking forward to going shopping and redeeming our certificates.
A special thanks to all of our visitors and volunteers. Again thanks to everyone who help make Nursing Home Week so special.
Tonight, the FRIENDS of the Waurika Public Library will have their quarterly meeting at 4:30 pm at the library. Many of the programs at the library are sponsored by the Friends of the Waurika Public Library. The Friends have started their 2018 sponsorship drive. Sponsorship of the Friends starts at just $10. For more information or to become a sponsor, please visit the Waurika Public Library.
On January 11th, the First Baptist Church of Waurika Pre-school class visited the Library. After reading ‘Hide and Snake’, the children did activities including ‘ice-fishing’ and a ring-toss. Next, we toured the Depot museum. The kids had a lot of fun pressing keys on the typewriters. Thanks to Sharon Morgan and Jan Farris for visiting us. We always enjoy field trips!
The Story Of The Boot was a display of family stories in Jefferson County created to
compliment the Smithsonian Institute exhibition at the Rock Island Depot this summer.
These stories have been compiled into a hardback book. Copies of ‘The Story of the Boot’ are $25 and take 2-3 weeks for delivery to the library. If you would like the copy mailed to a location other than the library, please add an additional $5 for shipping and allow for an additional week for mailing.
‘Your Hometown’ is a DVD compilation of videos from the local community. The DVD includes the opening of Veteran’s Park, Brickstreet Classic Car Show, Interviews with residents of Jefferson Co. and more! Copies of the DVD are available at the library for $10 with proceeds going to the Friends of the Waurika Public Library.
Story Time has a new day! Story Time is now on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. Each week, we read stories to pre-k children. After Story Time, we have games, puzzles, and children’s computer games available.
For information about events, activities and more, visit our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/WaurikaPublicLibrary/
We have gotten some much needed rain this past weekend. Our rain started out as a fine mist at about 5:00am Saturday morning.It went into thundering and heavier rain that morning.The sun stayed behind the clouds most of the day and we wound up with nearly 2 inches of rain by the end of the day.Sunday was a beautiful day. We will be looking forward to receiving more rain this week, it looks like starting Wednesday.
I drove to Waurika today, and glory be, we no longer have to go across the by-passes that we have been going across for several months now on Hwy 81 between Ryan and Sugden.We still have a 35mph speed limit at the first section of road construction.
This Sunday, there will be the wedding shower for Morgan Good and her fiancé, at the Ryan Church of Christ.The couple is registered at Dillards, Target, and Walmart.There is also a hostess box at Ryan Drug Store.
Dana Major has the solution to stepping on the scales and being greatly disappointed–she told us to just roll the dial back on the scales before you step on them.We got a good laugh out of her suggestion.I asked what you do if you have digital scales, but I don›t think she heard me.
I attended a meeting concerning the Ryan Cemetery this evening. Plans are underway for the yearly Ryan Cemetery Dinner, scheduled again this coming Father›s Day.More news later on this event as it gets closer to the date.
This Saturday is the day for the Ryan Food Bank food distribution, beginning at 10:00am. This next Tuesday will be the Ryan City Council Meeting at 6:00. It›s hard to believe that it will be May 1st already, this coming Tuesday.
Brionna will be coming home for a few days this week.She looks forward to coming home so she can attend some of our local events and she can visit with folks around town.I am looking forward to her coming, too.
Kim’s news for this week:
Do you know what›s weird?–Dustan tagging his beard.
Foxy loves going to the store, because my co-workers spoil her more and more.
I visited Joe Turner, it was nice, he gave me good horse-training advice.
We have quite a few folks from Ryan that are in need of prayer.Without mentioning names, please lift up folks from our community and ask God to watch over them.
Everyone have a blessed week. Pray for rain and each other.
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) water monitoring staff announced the release of the agency’s 2017 Beneficial Use Monitoring Program (BUMP) reports providing detailed physical, chemical, and biological water data from approximately 1,300 stream, lake, and groundwater well sites across Oklahoma. Created in 1998, BUMP provides data necessary for water quality management decisions by identifying impairments to the “beneficial uses” of Oklahoma’s water resources, as well as determining causes for those water quality impairments.
Oklahoma’s “beneficial uses” form the backbone of the state’s Water Quality Standards, and are assigned to individual lakes, streams, and stream segments based upon the primary public benefits derived from those waters. Currently recognized beneficial uses of Oklahoma water include public and private water supply, fish and wildlife propagation, agriculture, primary body contact recreation (such as swimming), secondary body contact recreation (such as boating or fishing), navigation, and aesthetics.
“The BUMP water quality annual reports are the culmination of a year’s worth of field and lab work,” said OWRB Executive Director Julie Cunningham. “The OWRB’s monitoring programs exist due to the vital economic and social importance of Oklahoma’s lakes, streams, wetlands, and aquifers as well as the associated need for their protection and management.”
The water data contained in the OWRB’s annual BUMP report is collected from about 130 lakes and 100 stream segments at approximately 600 sites throughout Oklahoma. The Groundwater Monitoring and Assessment Program (GMAP), added to BUMP in 2012, consists of a network of approximately 750 wells in Oklahoma’s 21 major aquifers, where the OWRB monitors both water levels and water quality.
“Oklahomans can be proud of the scientific expertise, professionalism, and dedication of the OWRB’s water quality standards staff and water monitoring teams. The BUMP monitors are out sampling during all sorts of conditions, year-round, to make sure Oklahoma’s water planners have the comprehensive water quality data they need,” said Bill Cauthron, chief of the OWRB’s Water Quality division.
For lake sampling, generally a minimum of three to five stations per lake are sampled depending on the size of the reservoir. Sampling stations are located to represent multiple zones of the lake with additional sites on many reservoirs as necessary. The stream monitoring network consists of permanent sampling stations in each of the state’s 82 water planning basins, as outlined by the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan, and a smaller network of additional reference sites. Assessing Oklahoma’s groundwater is achieved through both a baseline monitoring network and a long-term (trend) monitoring network within each of the state’s 21 major aquifers. This provides information on individual aquifer characteristics as well as a more general assessment of the Oklahoma’s groundwater.
The 2017 lakes, streams, and groundwater BUMP reports are available on the OWRB website. Each stream, lake, and well site featured in the report includes a detailed fact sheet and map of data collection sites.
We are so blessed around here.We’ve had several pretty good rains this past week.We’ve been so fortunate not to have any really bad weather around here.You drive north on Hwy 81 up to Duncan, and look at the trees and branches that have been either uprooted or broken off of trees.I don’t know when they had winds that did all of that damage in the park across the street from Homeland Grocery store.There was a big tree laying across a creek there in that park.If we had winds here in Ryan, I must have slept through them.
I missed the hamburger/hot dog feed they had at our county barn this past Saturday afternoon.Ricky Martin was hosting this event to display the barn that they built.They worked hard on it to get it done, but they did a good job. I’m sure Ricky had his hands in on it, too.Ricky, along with his county employees, are all very hard workers.
Kim invited me to attend a church service with her Sunday over at Corum Assembly of God Church.She and I joined Lynn and Joyce Plant, Calvin Hampton, and Stacy Dalton, in Waurika to ride the rest of the way to Corum in their van.When we got to the church, Kay and Jim Shults were there.They have been members of this church since October.Jim played his electric guitar, and later in the service, they sang a song together.It was a blessing to get to listen to their talent, as well as some young girls that sang. Calvin played the piano for the service and he is blessed with a terrific musical talent, too.The main reason I wanted to go though, was that Kim told me that she was going to give her testimony during this service.She got up and did such a great job.Her dad, Rash, was there to witness her during this special occasion.Kim has given her life to Christ, and what an inspiration she is.I wish there had been more young people present for this service to hear her talk about the life she left behind, to find a new life that has been filled with the Holy Spirit. Kay told me that she has retired from teaching now, and looks forward to getting to spend more time with Jim.Kay has been a special education teacher for the Ryan Public School for many years. I hope that they find someone that is as dedicated to their profession and most importantly, that loves and cares about the students as much as what Kay has.It certainly takes a special person to teach students that have special needs. Prayers to Kay as she begins her retirement.
This past week, Ryan teachers had a retirement get-together to honor Frank Holland.He has been a janitor for Ryan Public School for many years.Prayers for Frank as he begins his life of retirement.
This next Monday is Memorial Day and our banks, post office, Ryan Drug Store, Ryan Medical Clinic, Ryan Family Care clinics, and Ryan City Hall will all be closed that day.
On Friday, June 1, our local merchants will be having a sidewalk sale.How long has it been since Ryan had a sidewalk sale?A long time.
This Saturday afternoon, Brionna and I will be going to attend the wedding of Morgan Good and Jim Roberts in Henrietta, TX.Congratulations and God’s blessings on their marriage.
If you missed the Royal wedding this past Saturday morning, it was fantastic.What a wedding!They said that there were more people watching this wedding than did Prince William and Princess Kate’s, or Princess Dianna and Prince Charles’s weddings.Megan was a beautiful bride.It’ll be interesting watching their lives together unfolding over time.She is 36 and Prince Harry is 33.They are very excited about starting a family together.
Kim’s news for this week:
I am blessed to be able to have coffee at the Cowboy College Table.
Taking care of a horse or a cow, sitting there, one can learn how.
Thanks Mollye for riding with me Sunday to Corum to give my testimony. I was also glad to see my dad.
Everyone have a blessed week. Pray for rain and for each other.
It was dry windy morning, May 31st (my sisters birthday) I was in the southern Colorado Rocky Mountains trout fishing when I noticed, over the tops of the mountains south of me, a column of smoke hanging in the air like a thick wall cloud. With no telephone or radio reception I hoped for the best and continued to fish.
Picture taken from southern Colorado. Photo by Mike Floyd
After i wrangled my limit of trout to the shore, on my stringer and in the ice chest, down the mountain and into town I went to call my sister and wish her Happy Birthday.
Once in town, I picked up the local news on my radio to find out that smoke I saw earlier was in the high country of Northern New Mexico, in the Ute Park Mountains.
This is were things get exciting… My Elderly Aunt and Uncle own a cabin in those mountains along with several of their friends (also from Oklahoma). I immediately made a call to them and was able to get through. My uncles voice was calm when he answered his phone, which relieved me. I asked if the fire was close and what he was doing? His reply was… “Well, we are just sitting on the porch watching the helicopters drop water on the fire” and that they didn’t feel they were in danger. I told them I was just an hour and a half away and that I would come help evacuate them if they needed me to. He assured me he would call and we hung up.
Approaching the fire driving south out of Raton New Mexico. Photo by Mike Floyd
The next morning, June 1st, I woke to see the smoke was more intense and covered a larger area…the fire was now a out of control wild fire. I immediately called my uncle, it went straight to voicemail with each call attempt. Thinking he wasn’t up yet, I went ahead and hopped in my truck and headed to Ute Park so that I could sit with them until this fire was out of their area.
The closer I got, the worse it looked, I started to get concerned and so I mashed down on that pedal to get there as soon as I could. As I approached Cimmeron New Mexico, the smoke was thicker in town and air quality was “poor”… Once in town it was an eerie feeling, the only traffic were fire bush trucks that where extinguishing fire ambers in town. I got on highway 64 west ( the only road into Ute Park), at the edge of town I rolled up on a road block stationed by the State Highway Patrol (impossible to negotiate with) and due to trees down, they did not allow me to proceed to Ute Park.
Road block on highway 64 to Ute Park. Photo by Mike Floyd
I then got my hunting maps out that showed every back road in that area… After several attempts, I was unable to get through even on back roads, the fire was too large and intense. Ute Park was surrounded by fire and there were no evacuation routes open, my Aunt and uncle had to ride it out!
I’m getting warmer…. 🙂 Fire is right around the bend in the road, north of Cimmeron (back road). Photo by Mike Floyd
I later found out through a news crew on the scene that the cell tower melted and collapsed. I returned to Cimmmeron only to find the town was in mandatory orders to evacuate the entire town, instead of getting closer to my family in need, I was forced to move further away, miles away to Raton New Mexico (on the only open route out of Cimmeron). As I was in line of evacuating cars on the highway, I spotted another dirt road leading back into the mountains, I whipped it in there and headed back through the fire to Ute Park, the smoke got thicker as I drove, so I stopped for my own safety and just watched. I then noticed a antelope with three babies come running out of the smoke.. I didn’t know they could even have three babies, so I assumed, she was leading the other two to safety that for some reason got separated from their mothers. As I sat there, I received a call that my aunt and uncle were safe and being evacuated.
Game warden in the rearview running me off! Photo by Mike Floyd
It was perfect timing because the game warden pulled up with sirens and lights a blaring, so I mashed down on that pedal and raced him to the gate outa there…. He locked me out.
I returned back to Colorado to my fishing hole, thanked Jesus for a the safety of my family and to watch over the men and women that risk their lives making ours safer! He replied, your welcome, by filling my stringer again with Rainbow trout!
(l-r) Destiny Barnes, Madison Roberson, Madison Christian, and Olivia Ralls
Photo by Tonya Forsyth
by Katelyn Washburn and EagleTalk staff
WHS Senior softball players played their last home game Tuesday, September 11 against the Ryan Cowgirls.While the game ended in a loss for the Lady Eagles, the team still celebrated by recognizing its four senior players:Destiny Barnes, Madison Christian, Olivia Ralls, and Madison Roberson.
Barnes has played softball for WHS since she was a freshman, and has mixed emotions about the season coming to an end. “I am happy it is our last home game and upset we lost.I’m kind of sad that it is over.”Christian agreed, stating “I’m happy that it was the last home game, but sad we lost, and [the season] is almost over. The game didn’t go as well as we wanted.”
As is true with most events during a senior year, senior Lady Eagles girls had mixed emotions about the season wrapping up.Olivia Ralls was also happy that it was their last home game, but added, “I’m sad knowing that I will never be able to play again.”
Madison Roberson summed it up best, saying, “It was sad, but a good night. We may have lost, but we all were in high spirits and that’s really all that matters to me in softball.”
Head softball coach Sloan Roberson spoke fondly of the four Lady Eagles who will be leaving WHS after this school year.“Our last home game was awesome,” Coach Roberson stated.“We honored four seniors for their hard work and dedication during their years of softball.”
Two of the seniors, Madison Roberson and Destiny Barnes, were career Lady Eagles.“Madison Roberson was a 4 year starter for the Lady Eagles and a huge asset to the team. She held pitcher, catcher 3rd base, 2nd base and short stop duties throughout her career. She also had the one of the highest batting averages on the team for each of the four years.
Destiny Barnes was also a 4 year starter for the Lady Eagles. She was a huge asset on the mound. She was penned the name ‘Hoover’ for her amazing skills at 3rds base as well,” Coach Roberson stated.
Roberson also spoke well of the two seniors who came to WHS in the middle of their high school softball careers.
“Madison Christian played for the Lady Eagles for 3 years. She was always there to root for her teammates and did anything and played any position she was asked. She was an amazing center fielder and was always there with a positive attitude.
“Olivia Ralls was a 2 year Lady Eagle softball player. She came to us from Texas and was always willing to give 110% every time she stepped on the field. We will miss her enthusiasm and team spirit”
It’s been a great week, but, this is the first week that we’ve not been blessed with a bit of rain.Maybe this week, we will have a better opportunity for some, if the Lord is willing.The days are now nearly constant for highs in the 90s.I try to get any outdoor work that needs to be taken care of done early in the mornings.It doesn’t take long for our seasons to pass, anymore.
This past week has been a busy week for most folks around Ryan.Brionna and I went up to Waurika to Doc’s Place to eat dinner Thursday evening.Brionna had fried shrimp and I had a grilled pork chop with peach chutney.It was a very good meal.
Saturday evening, we attended the Ryan graduation ceremony/I was surprised that they didn’t have a guest speaker, but, they don’t always have 2 Valedictorians and 2 Salutatorians either.Take Kimbro and McKenzie Lewis shared the spots for the Valedictorian of the class, and Dawson Tomberlin and Cara Williams, shared the spots for the Salutatorian. Each one of them gave a speech.Cara Williams, along with her speech, played her guitar and sang a song.She is very talented young lady.Congratulations to all of the Ryan graduates.Good luck to all of you and God be with you all.
Sunday was Mother’s Day and Brionna and I made it to church.Edna had commented in Sunday School, that she hoped someone from her family would be there at church with her.She did indeed have both Natalie and Leslie with her husband, David. After church, I decided not to go home to cook for use, but, instead, headed to eat out at Bill’s.It seemed like we had to park about a half mile away from the restaurant, but, they were packed.We stood outside for a while, then went inside the entryway and stood for another while.I saw Ramona Bryant and got to talk to her for a little while.She is living in Duncan at an independent living facility that is only about a year old.She really does like it where she is. We also ran into Joyce and Lynn Plant while we were standing outside.They had their kids and some of their families there, too.We finally got to sit on the benches and visit for a little bit.I told Joyce that you have to be really hungry for Bill’s fish to have to wait for as long as we did.Our final wait was about an hour and a half.It was all worth it, though.The fish and hush puppies and the cole slaw, were all delicious.Then, to top off our meal, they brought all the mothers out a chocolate covered strawberry for dessert. I imagine most restaurants were pretty crowded with families, trying to get Moms out of the kitchens.
We didn’t get over to see Mom as I had originally planned.I had a cold and didn’t want to get around Mom or the other residents in the home.I called her and wished her a Happy Mother’s Day, though.My brother, Mel, took her out to eat there in Nocona at Del Rios.He said she really enjoyed her outing.
Our kids will be having their last day of school this Friday.Ya’ll have a great summer!
Kim’s news for this week:
This week I was not alone, my friend, Brionna, was home.She went with Foxy and me to see Ruffy Tuffy. That wasn’t all–me, Foxy, and her played ball.
Ruffy Tuffy got hurt in his stall, but, he’ll be okay after all.
Everyone have a blessed week.Pray for rain and for each other.
On January 11th, the First Baptist Church of Waurika Pre-school class visited the Library. After reading ‘Hide and Snake’, the children did activities including ‘ice-fishing’ and a ring-toss. Next, we toured the Depot museum. The kids had a lot of fun pressing keys on the typewriters. Thanks to Sharon Morgan and Jan Farris for visiting us. We always enjoy field trips!
