The FRIENDS of the Waurika Public Library Fall Used Book Sale is less than a month away!On Saturday, October 20th from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., we will have a wide selection of used books for sale at the annex across from the library.Proceeds from the Used Book Sale support programs like Summer Reading, Dr. Seuss’ Birthday, Santa’s Workshop and more.If you would like to volunteer for events and programs or make a donation, visit the library or call us at 580-228-3274 for more information.
Among the books added to the Waurika Public Library this week is ‘The Strange True Tale of Frankenstein’s creator Mary Shelley” by Catherine Reef.
On the 200th anniversary of the publication of Frankenstein, comes this riveting biography of its author, Mary Shelley, whose life reads like a dark gothic novel, filled with scandal, death, drama, and one of the strangest love stories in literary history.
The story of Frankenstein’s creator is a strange, romantic, and tragic one, as deeply compelling as the novel itself. Mary ran away to Lake Geneva with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley when she was just sixteen. It was there, during a cold and wet summer, that she first imagined her story about a mad scientist who brought a corpse back to life. Success soon followed for Mary, but also great tragedy and misfortune.
Catherine Reef brings this passionate woman, brilliant writer, and forgotten feminist into crisp focus, detailing a life that was remarkable both before and after the publication of her iconic masterpiece.
Story Time is held every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. for children and toddlers.Each week we read stories, and have games and puzzles for the children to play with after reading.
For information about events, activities and more, visit our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/WaurikaPublicLibrary/
WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today praised the important work in the US Senate to honor Black History Month and to continue to address improving race relations in the US. This week, Lankford cosponsored a Senate resolution to formally commemorate Black History Month. Lankford also joined Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Tim Scott (R-SC) to finally address the crime of lynching through theJustice for Victims of Lynching Act.
“In February, our nation pauses to reflect on the achievements of so many black Americans who have courageously, inspiringly, and often in the face of great adversity paved the future for our nation and helped heal the wounds of racism we still sadly face,” said Lankford. “As Americans, I believe we can and should highlight members of our communities who lead and serve others. In Oklahoma, leaders in the black community from businessmen and women to government leaders to teachers help improve our communities and work to inspire young Americans.
“Our work is ongoing even today to address the stain of racism on our nation’s history. Most of the issues associated with racism in our nation cannot be solved by legislation; they are heart issues. However, there are some areas in which government can and should step forward and provide a solution. I cosponsored the Justice for Victims of Lynching Act because I believe we should once and for all condemn and criminalize lynching as ‘a pernicious and pervasive tool’ that ‘succeeded slavery as the ultimate expression of racism in the United States.’ This bill seeks to right a wrong and provide a tool that DOJ needs to fully prosecute this type of crime. I am grateful for the work of Senators Scott, Harris, and Booker to bring this bill to the floor.”
OKLAHOMA CITY, June 15 – For the eighth year, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame will award one Oklahoma high school senior the $6,000 Oklahoma Hall of Fame Scholarship. The scholarship, which is dispersed to the winning student over four years, is based on the student’s leadership roles, civic and community involvement, academic achievement and knowledge and pride of our great state. Students must commit to attending an Oklahoma college or university to be considered; and students must be nominated for this scholarship by a teacher, administrator or any other adult not related to the student.
The scholarship fund was created by the personal donations of Oklahoma Hall of Fame Members and others who wanted to encourage and inspire the next generation of Oklahoma leaders. A committee of Oklahoma Hall of Fame Members participate in the selection of the scholarship recipient.
The $6,000 Oklahoma Hall of Fame Scholarship is just one of the scholarships included in the statewide scholarship opportunities offered annually by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Each April, the Oklahoma Scholarship Competition provides an opportunity for Oklahoma high school students to earn cash scholarships and tuition grants for college. With at least 8 scholarships in each county available, students compete based on their knowledge of Oklahoma history, our people, and geography.
Scholarship applications are due Friday, September 7th after downloading and completing the nomination form at https://oklahomahof.com/scholarships.
For more information about the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Scholarship and other scholarships offered by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and Gaylord-Pickens Museum, contact Gini Moore Campbell, vice president, at 405.523.3202 or gmc@OklahomaHoF.com.
The Oklahoma Hall of Fame preserves Oklahoma’s history by telling Oklahoma’s story through its people. Founded in 1927, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame was created to honor Oklahomans who had given outstanding service to the state during their lifetime and to provide educational programming for students of all ages.
Being inducted to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame is Oklahoma’s Highest Honor. Through exhibits and experiences at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame stands to preserve Oklahoma’s unique history while promoting pride in our great state. For more information about the Oklahoma Hall of Fame or Gaylord-Pickens Museum, visit oklahomahof.com or call 405.235.4458.
Quote of the Day- “I think it is important to begin with a statement in your speech that grabs the attention of the audience. I try to make my opening line 15 words or less.” -Charles R. Swindoll.
First Baptist Church Vacation Bible School is set for July 16-20. Our theme this year is “Game On”. Buses will run nightly. Theme Verse: His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3
Terral Volunteer Fire Department– Will be selling t-shirts until June 15th. Cost os $15.00 for regular sizes and $17.00 for 2XL to 4XL. All proceeds go to the Volunteer Fire Department. You may pick up an order for at City Hall and Drop it back by City Hall. If you have ordered a T-shirt and not paid for it please stop by City Hall and pay for your shirts.
FBC Girls in Action- GA’s end-of-the-year Pool Party is set for Wednesday, June 13th. We will leave from the church at 6:00pm to go to the Bowie Pool. Pool party is from 7:00 to 9:00 afterwards we will have pizza at the pavilion. Girls will be delivered home after we return to Terral. Hope to see you there!
Happy Birthday To You– Donna Wesberry partied on the 3rd. Brilee Caldwell celebrated on the 4th. Barry P. Alsup will have cake on the 12th. Adan Uribe will have cake and ice cream on the 12th also. Lindsey Caldwell will celebrate on the 19th. Happy Birthday to all our birthday persons and may God bless you with many more.
Happy Anniversary– Jan & Cedar Campsey will celebrate on the 12th.
Community Prayer List– The family of Robert Harnois, Tony Rodriguez, Brenda Bryant, Archie Fulton, Scotty Day, Tom Baysinger, Sue Linton, Martin Villarreal, Sr., Joe Martin, Adam White,Mary Loo Duke, Florita Villarreal, Shana Reed, Hardy Johnson and our military stationed around the world. May God keep you in his loving care.
OKLAHOMA CITY, April 19 – The Oklahoma Hall of Fame will launch its popular Summer Thursdays Free Family Fun series of events on Thursday, May 31, at 10:30 a.m.with a Summer Celebration that features many new exhibits and guest experiences at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum.
“As the Official Museum of Free Family Fun, we are proud to showcase four new exhibits that help us celebrate our mission-to tell Oklahoma’s story through its people”, said Marissa Raglin, Director of Museum Experience. “These exciting additions to our existing attractions will provide guests of all ages a chance to experience inspiring and impactful stories of Oklahomans in new and powerful ways”.
Summer Thursdays take place every Thursday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Starting at 10:30 a.m., guests can enjoy story time, feature movies, a craft creation, and special themed stations. Daily themes range from Cowboy Day to Hoops Day, and you can be assured to see and experience new and exciting activities every week.
The Summer Celebration on May 31st will not only launch the start of Summer Thursdays, but also showcase new museum amenities. The line-up of new experiences provides immersive interaction with Members of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and inspiring connections to the impact of art in a community. New museum features are highlighted below:
NEW Makerspace – A permanent installation by Oklahoma City artist Kris Kanaly will be featured in the remodeled Makerspace on the second floor of the Gaylord-Pickens Museum. This amazing artist has created a bright and intricate work that represents all of Oklahoma and the images that unite us. The Makerspace also features new STEAM activities and hands-on creativity exercises. In addition, there will be an opening reception for this space, which is free to the public, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with an exclusive artist talk with Kris Kanaly at 6:00 p.m.
NEW Picture Yourself! – The third installment of the immensely popular Picture Yourself exhibit will feature interactive displays that highlight In the Cockpit, Energy and Superstar Spotlight. In Picture Yourself, you step inside the gilded frames of Members of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and create your own viewpoint of being a proud Oklahoman.
NEW Reveel.it Portrait Exploration – Using your smartphone, you now will have a chance to explore the biographies, photos, videos, and books of every Hall of Fame portrait in the building. This URL-based technology allows you to learn more about Members of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and dig deeper into the fascinating stories of these inspirational Oklahomans.
GRAND OPENING of IKBI – IKBI: Chickasaws and Choctaws Sharing Our Culture and History Through Art is the new exhibit in the Tulsa World | Lorton Family Gallery and will be on display from May 31st to September 22nd. In the Choctaw and Chickasaw languages, “Ikbi” means “to create”. The concepts of creation, identity, and culture unite in this gallery exhibit. Artists of both tribes implement various mediums to express their cultural roots and individual understandings of what it means to create. In this exhibit, Ikbi serves as a commonality for artists of many different backgrounds, practices, and mediums.
The Oklahoma Hall of Fame preserves Oklahoma’s unique history and promotes pride in our great state. Through each of its programs and the Gaylord-Pickens Museum, we tell Oklahoma’s story through its people. For more information about the Oklahoma Hall of Fame or Gaylord-Pickens Museum, visit OklahomaHOF.com or contact Jeff Jacobsen at jpj@oklahomahof.com, or 405.523.3208.
A man who has not only secured his place in local sports history, but has also secured a place in the hearts and lives of those who knew him and played for him passed away Sunday.
Raymon West will be remembered for his impact on the world of sports in Jefferson County.
He will be remembered for his contribution as the principal at Ryan High School.
He will remembered for championships.
He will be remembered as a great husband and father.
He will be remembered for being a great man.
Next week, Trey Smart will be writing a proper memorial to this coaching legend.
Until then, we just want to say that you will be missed Coach West.
Thank you for the memories and your contributions to our lives.
Kenny Smith presents Rubye Benson of the Waurika Sr. Citizen’s Center with a check for $1,800.00 from the Masonic Lodge #41 of Comanche, Oklahoma. Also pictured is Jerry Houston (far left), Terry Bullard (behind Rubye and Kenny), and Bill Greer.
The Comanche Masonic Lodge #41 presented Rubye Benson and the Waurika Senior Citizen’s Center with a check for $1,800.00 Wednesday February 21st.
The generous donation will help the center with various expenses.
In a recent interview, Kenny Smith said the lodge was happy to donate the money and believes that the Waurika Senior Center is providing a vital service to the citizens of the community.
Masonic Lodge #41 of Comanche has donated to Center in the past and has also donated time and money to the Summer Reading program at the Waurika Library.
To kick off the 2018 “Click It or Ticket” seat belt campaign, the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office is partnering with St. John Health System, law enforcement partners, AAA Oklahoma, and other local groups to highlight the dangers of not wearing a seat belt.
This highly visible seat belt enforcement period begins on May 21 and runs through June 3, covering the busy Memorial Day holiday weekend. In 2016, 47.5 percent of all vehicle fatality victims in Oklahoma were not using safety belts or child restraint devices. Among the almost 34,000 people injured in crashes in Oklahoma during 2016, 2,500 were not restrained.
“In 2016, we lost 224 Oklahomans because they weren’t buckled up,” said Cody McDonell, communications manager for the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office. “To us, that’s 224 too many. Something as simple as clicking your seat belt can save your life.”
During the 2017 “Click It or Ticket” campaign in Oklahoma, nearly 300 agencies participated, resulting in 8,057 seat belt violations and 244 child passenger restraint violations.
“Past ‘Click It or Ticket’ campaigns have shown how helpful it can be to our overall goal of spreading the message about the importance of buckling up,” said Director Paul Harris of the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office.
“Wearing a seat belt is the number one thing anyone can do to help prevent death or injury during a vehicle crash,” said Harris.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 56 percent of vehicle occupants nationwide who were killed between 6 pm and 6 am were not wearing their seat belts, which is why one focus of this year’s “Click It or Ticket” campaign is nighttime enforcement. During the week of “Click It or Ticket”, participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt enforcement, writing citations day and night.
A campaign kickoff press event will be held at St. John Health System in Tulsa on Monday, May 21 at 11 am. For a complete list of speakers and more details, please visit ohso.ok.gov/clickit.
There seems to be a misconception among those who drive and ride in pickup trucks that their large vehicles will protect them better than other vehicles would in a crash. The numbers say otherwise: 61 percent of pickup truck occupants who were killed in 2016 nationwide were not buckled up. That’s compared to 42 percent of passenger car occupants who were not wearing seat belts when they were killed. Regardless of vehicle type, seat belt use is the single most effective way to stay alive in a crash.
“Our goal isn’t to write citations, but we do know tickets talk,” said Lieutenant Joe Williams with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. “The ‘Click It or Ticket’ program gives us a chance to get out there on the roads and really focus on drivers and passengers who aren’t buckled up.”
“If you know a friend or a family member who does not buckle up when they drive, please ask them to consider changing their habits,” said Lt. Williams. “Help us spread this life-saving message before one more friend or family member is killed as a result of this senseless inaction. Seat belts save lives, and everyone—front seat and back, child and adult—needs to remember to buckle up — every trip, every time.”
For more information on the “Click It or Ticket” campaign, please visit www.ohso.ok.gov/clickit
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.
QUOTE OF THE DAY – “You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving,”-Robert Lewis Stevenson.
TERRAL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT – The Terral Volunteer Department – is having a Toy and Food Drive for Christmas. Donation boxes are located at the Terral City Hall. The Drive will begin on November 1st through December 15th.All donations will be given to those in need in Terral at Christmastime.For more information, you may call 437-2337.
CRAFT SHOW & BINGO – The FBC Girls in Action will be holding a Craft Show and Bingo on Saturday, December 1, 2018, at the Terral Community Center.The Craft Show will be from 9:00 to 2:00 p.m. Come on out and select some unique gifts for Christmas.Gift Wrapping will be available.Bingo will start at 3:00 p.m. Tables will reserve for $10.00 each.If you would like to reserve a table call Shirley at 437-2337 or 437-2545 after 5:00 p.m. All proceeds go to the FBC Girls in Action for activities, crafts, and outings for the group.Hope to see ya there!
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN- Santa will arrive in Terral, OK on Saturday, December 22 at the Terral Volunteer Fire Department around 3:00 pm. Immediately following will be singing around the Christmas Tree. Coffee, Hot Cocoa, and Cookies will be available at City Hall for those who participate. Mark your calendars and make plans to attend this annual event. Donation of cookies will be appreciated. For more info, you may contact City Hall at 580-437-2337
COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST – A.R. and Martha Jane Goates, Wayne Wyler, Amy Alsup, Pat Bussey, Tony Rodriquez, Carrie Villarreal,Archie Fulton, Scotty Day, Tom Baysinger, Sue Linton, Martin Villarreal, Sr., Joe Martin, Adam White, Mary Loo Duke, Esther Grimes, Virginia Tanner, Darlene Hall, T. K. Delaney, Manuel Villarreal, Shawna Reed, Hardy Johnson and our military stationed around the world.
