The 2019 Summer Reading Program is just around the corner. The program kicks off on Monday, June 3. This year’s theme is ‘A Universe of Stories’ and a focus on space – with 2019 marking the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landing.
The public library, community organizations and individuals care about your children. Together we’ve raised funds to offer daily educational programs and lunches to help keep your children’s minds and bodies fed this summer. Whether keeping track of the amount of time your children spend reading or the number of books they’ve read this summer, children who attend the Summer Reading Program keep their minds active and enter the new school year ready to succeed.
All children attending the program must be registered. The program will run each weekday through Friday, July 27 – with the exception of the July 4 holiday. Reading and activities will start at 10 a.m. and lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. Children attending the Summer Reading Program must be picked up by their parent, guardian or designee by noon each day.
The Summer Reading Program is free to attend for children entering first grade through fifth grade in the fall. Age limits have been established and must be enforced to ensure one teacher can plan and successfully deliver a program for all. Older school-aged children are welcome to participate as helpers – as space allows, and all school-aged children are welcome to join us for lunch.
For more information or registration forms, please visit the Waurika Public Library or call 580.228.3274.
What a week we have had around Ryan in regards to our weather.We’ve had some really beautiful weather. We’ve had some great days to get outside and work on the yard, or whatever pleasurable things are to get us outside because it was so pleasant.Well, after Friday afternoon was upon us, all of that changed.The winds turned around and began blowing from the north, and they were really hard winds.The kind of winds that, if you were sitting in your home, you could hear the shingles flapping around just a few feet above your head.If the wind wasn’t enough, then, on Saturday morning, it was 30 degrees until around noon.There was a bit of precipitation that turned to ice for a little while.Sunday it was a bit warmer.It made it up to around 60 degrees.That was our heat wave for the weekend.Today, the sun has been shining and it is very pleasant again.I got on Facebook after I had received a message from a friend and the season we are in is being referred to is now Sprinter.We don’t know if it is spring or winter, so, this catches whatever the condition is at the time.We are still going to receive some pretty cool temperatures this coming weekend.Our mesquite trees are even bearing leaves now, so, they think it is Spring.
Our high school kids had their junior-senior prom this past weekend.It was certainly cold that evening.
We have a few folks in our community that needed to be lifted up in our prayers.Joe Turner is still in Duncan Regional and is having some more surgery.Please keep him and Fern in your prayers.David Wingfield had surgery last week and prayers for him and his family that he will be restored to good health soon. Please remember Carlie Southard in our prayers.Pat Bussey made it back home last week and she is going to Tulsa to the Cancer Center to get their opinion on what approach she needs to take in regards to the cancer she has.Prayers for her and her family during this time.
Terri and Chuck Sheffield will be making a trip to London, England this week.Terri has been very successful in her insurance business and Farm Bureau is paying for their trip.Prayers for them that they have safe travels there and back.They will spend 9 hours on the plane before they get to their destination.
Kim’s news for this week:
Before I got to the big flashing sign by the bridge, I look over my shoulder cause it sounded like I was getting pulled over.
In Shelton’s parking lot I ran over my foot with a shopping cart..
Sunday afternoon, it was all I was hoping, me and Ruffy Tuffy turning back at the Cowboy Church roping.
Everyone have a blessed week.Prayers for rain and for each other.
The Waurika High School Band, under the direction of Everett Hodges, made a First Division Superior rating at the OSSAA District 8 Band Contest held last Wednesday, February 28th. The contest was held at Duncan High School. All three judges gave the band the highest rating possible. The band qualifies for State Band contest to be held at East Central University in Ada on March 27th.
The 62-member group played 2 selections, Majestica and Pinnacle. This marks the 2nd consecutive year and the 6th out of 7 years the band has qualified for state. Hodges said, “I am really proud of this group. To start with, we lost 14 seniors last year. Then we missed 4 days in the last month to flu and weather. They handled the adversity well and responded like we needed them to.”
The band also sight-read at that portion of the contest and made a 2 rating. Hodges continued, “There are 224 schools in Class 2A in Oklahoma. Of those, some don’t have bands, but even at that, to be one of 10 or 12 schools that go to State on a regular basis makes me feel good about what we are doing. It is fun to have success.”
This year’s student council is putting forth an effort to help the victims of the Hurricane Michael in Florida. Any kids or adults can participate in this school supply drive. We are collecting school supplies to help all those who lost everything to get back into learning. Shelly Morgan, a high school graduate from Waurika in 2001, lives in the impacted region in Florida and is helping to organize relief efforts. Her mom Lupe Edwards, an employee at WES, is going to drive all the supplies to Florida during the Thanksgiving break. The supplies that will be taken up there will be pencils, paper, crayons, notebooks, and other school supplies. They will try their best to help these kids back into their routine. The faster they start learning the happier and better they’ll be. Currently, students in the impacted area of Florida are having school in transportable pods to get them back to a classroom setting. Some of the members helping thrive this supply drive are student council members, Gatlin Black a senior, Landry Forsyth a sophomore, and Madison Roberson a senior. They say they are happy to help and want all the support and care for these kids. Anybody who wants to donate to this school supply drive is welcome to do so. See Magen Allen or Jessica Cornelison at Waurika High School. Students were asked to have supplies turned in by November 14th, but donations will be accepted until Friday, November 16th. The student council appreciates everyone who donates.
This year’s winner of the Waurika Ranch Rodeo is the Thompson Ranch of Munday, Texas. They have competed in all 14 Waurika Ranch Rodeos.
Coming in Second was the 3B/Infinity Cattle Company.
Third Place went to the Slash W. Cattle Ranch.
Fourth Place was Burns Ranch.
The Top Hand was Quincy Carlton
of the Slash W. Cattle Ranch.
The Thompson Ranch will now get a chance to compete in the World Championship Ranch Rodeo in November.
The Top Horse, Seven S Crazy Horse, owned and ridden by Robert Forst of the Stuart Ranch. The Stuart Ranch is located both here in Waurika and in Caddo County. Award presented by the American Quarter Horse Association.
Photo by Curtis PlantGrady Martin won the Calf Scramble. Grady lives in Comanche, Oklahoma.
Photo by Curtis PlantPhoto by Curtis PlantPhoto by Curtis Plant
There was not an empty seat at the monthly Ryan Town Council meeting held this past Tuesday evening at Ryan City Hall.
Of all the items discussed, perhaps the one that caused the most excitement was the possibility of Fiber Optic Internet coming to homes and businesses in Ryan.
Dick Segress, the owner of Terral Telephone addressed the council seeking cooperation in beginning the process of laying fiber optic cable within the city limits.
Terral Telephone has already surveyed Ryan and is willing to share their engineering details with the city to ensure that the cable laid will not interfere with existing infrastructure.
Dick Segress can be seen in the lower right corner of the picture. Photo by Curtis Plant
The council will consider the matter more fully at the next meeting but the prospect looks positive.
After his address, we asked if he was interested in bringing high speed internet to Waurika and he said, “most definitely!”
The usual business of approving the minutes of previous meetings and the paying of bills were approved.
The treasurers report was approved.
Members of the Ryan School Board and Superintendent of Schools, Marcus Chapman, were present.
They asked the council if the town would consider serving as the authority having jurisdiction for the purpose of outsourcing fire and building permit inspections.
A representative of the construction company working on the school was present to explain the process of applying for jurisdiction and the benefits of doing so.
The state does allow third party inspections.
The state Fire Marshall will come in and complete his own inspection once fifty-percent of the construction is completed.
Allowing the town of Ryan to conduct the inspections will save time and money. It sometimes takes up to four months for a state Fire Marshall to come and inspect a building. If a third party completes the inspection, it can be done in a couple of weeks.
It was explained that the town can apply for the authority to conduct these inspections through a qualified third party.
This is a process that many communities across Oklahoma are adopting to speed up the construction process.
The construction company representative assured the council that they would cover all the town’s expenses in applying and acquiring the proper paperwork to assume jurisdiction.
A question the council members had, of course, was liability. Their concern was if an issue were to arise after the construction was complete, who assumes liability?
There was not an empty seat at the council meeting for the month of October. Photo by Curtis Plant
The construction representative assured the council that the third party inspector is not relaxing the state codes in any way. They would just be speeding up the inspection process.
It was decided that the council would investigate the issue and get back to the school as soon as possible. It was stated they could even have a special meeting if necessary.
The company is wanting to begin work on the school foundation in ten days.
Next, Dylan Sheffield representing the Ryan Community Regeneration asked for permission to use the Ryan Public Park on October 13th.
On that date they will hold the first annual Fall Festival.
The Ryan FFA will be serving hot dogs at the festival as a fundraiser. There will be live music and games. It will be a time of getting together and celebrating the fall season creating a sense of community.
Dylan is also the newest member of the New Jefferson County Development Authority.
Ater that, Resolution 2018-07 was passed that forbids any changes to city owned property without first obtaining permission.
During the Ryan Public Utility Authority meeting the council members passed resolution 2018-08 to establish guidelines and fines for manipulation, tampering, disconnection, etc., of town property and facilities, including utility meters by an unauthorized individual.
According to the resolution anyone tampering with an electric or water meter if they are not authorized to do so will be fined up to $50 per day of occurrence.
This brought many questions from the audience.
One such question concerned what to do if a residence had a water leak? The council members suggested installing a water shut off valve on the residence side of the pipe leading from the meter to the building.
If one is not installed, city hall will need to be notified during a water leak and they will come and shut off the water.
The same would be true if an electrical meter needed to be shut off. Only city employees can fix or adjust meters.
Mayor Grantham advised that this measure was being taken because in the past meters have been broken by home owners who then expected the city to pay for damage.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
On October 31st, members of WHS FCCLA dressed up in Halloween costumes and went to the elementary school to talk to the students about how to be safe on Halloween night.
FCCLA members split into groups and visited all the classes in the elementary school and talked to the children about safety while trick or treating. They also asked the children Halloween jokes and riddles and passed out pieces of candy.
The children and teachers thoroughly enjoyed FCCLA’s visit.
Waurika FCCLA offers Halloween safety instructions to students.
Voters in Jefferson County who want to have absentee ballots mailed to them for the June 26 State & County Primary & Special Election for City of Waurika should apply now, County Election Board Secretary Tammy Richardson said today. Although the County Election Board can accept applications for absentee ballots until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20, Richardson urged voters who want to vote by absentee ballot to apply early.
Absentee ballot application forms are available at the County Election Board office located at 220 N. Main Street, Rm #203. An online version of the form can be filled out and submitted electronically at: www.elections.ok.gov. A print form can also be downloaded at that address.
Ballots must be in the hands of County Election Board officials by 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
Richardson said any registered voter may vote by absentee ballot in any election in which he/she is eligible to vote. However, a voter must be registered and reside at an address within the geographical boundaries of a school district or a municipality to be eligible to vote in school district or municipal elections. It is not necessary to give a reason for voting absentee.
“While anyone can vote absentee without giving a reason, the law still provides several advantages to absentee voters in some categories,” RichardsonSt said.
By stating one of the following reasons on their applications, absentee voters can activate special conditions that make it easier for them to use absentee ballots. The reasons are:
• Voters who are physically incapacitated and voters who care for physically incapacitated persons who cannot be left unattended may vote absentee. They may apply only by mail, by fax, by email, online or via an agent who is at least 16 years of age and who is not employed by or related within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity to any person whose name appears on the ballot.
• Voters who are confined to nursing homes in the county may vote absentee. An Absentee Voting Board actually goes to the nursing home a few days before the election, sets up a small polling place and allows these persons to vote under circumstances similar to those at a regular precinct polling place. They may apply only by mail, by fax, by email, online or via an agent who is at least 16 years of age and who is not employed by or related within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity to any person whose name appears on the ballot..
• Military personnel and residents of the county living overseas and the spouses and dependents of each group are eligible receive absentee ballots. These voters may apply only by mail, fax, or by email. Military personnel should contact the Voting Service Officers in their units for application forms and additional information or visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program website (www.fvap.gov/oklahoma) for more information and instructions. Residents of Oklahoma living overseas can obtain the same materials from any United States military installation and from United States Embassies and Consulates as well as on the FVAP website.
