We need groups to volunteer their time cleaning up residential areas including limb and debris removal tree trimming, mowing, etc. Any equipment such as trailers, mowers, weed eaters, etc would be a tremendous help. We will supply work gloves, trash bags, bottled water and work vests.
Earth Day is a perfect chance to get out and put a little love into your town!
During this time residents will be able to dump limbs behind the street barn and tires in front of the street barn located in the 800 block of Meridian.
TISHOMINGO, Okla. – Historically accurate craftsmanship of Native American weapons has made Chickasaw citizen Eric Smith recognized among Hollywood movie-makers.
In December, he will add another accomplishment to his resumé – published author.
“The Warriors tools: Plains Indian bows, arrows and quivers” will hit bookstores and retail businesses Dec. 4. It is published by Roadrunner Press.
“I am very excited about it. Roadrunner Press is out of Oklahoma City and has published many Native American-themed books,” Smith said. “It is written from a Native American perspective. So many books concerning (Native American) history are written by Europeans and they had a completely different perspective from that of Native people,” he added.
Smith most recently found nationwide acclaim for crafting Native weaponry for the Oscar-winning movie “The Revenant.” The 2016 motion picture was nominated for a dozen Oscars, taking home three; Best Actor, Best Cinematography and Best Director.
He is still crafting weapons for movies but is unable to say much about his endeavors until studios and movie executives are ready to make announcements.
For Children
The book is written at a high school level and Smith’s greatest desire is to make it available to students. Children are the keys to preserving Native culture, in Smith’s opinion.
“The things that we do, our cultural ways, they must continue. The key to that is reaching children. We must inspire our youth or we are in trouble,” Smith intoned, adding “with everything I do, I try to inspire our younger generations to take up some of these techniques.”
“As a youth, when I was learning to make Native weapons, people were telling me ‘this is irrelevant’ and ‘there is no use for these things in the modern world.’ Well, I am a walking testament that isn’t true. Here are these ancient methods so needed and highly sought after today,” Smith said. “That just shows the relevance of our people and our culture.”
He has been crafting Native weapons since age nine. That is when he made his first bow. “No, it wasn’t a very good one,” Smith recalls with a sly grin, “but I was so proud because it actually worked.” By the time Smith entered his teens, his craft was honed to such a high degree he was asked to make bows for friends and for hunters.
The Next Level
Making weapons came naturally to Smith, but a curiosity nagged his soul. Not only did he wish to make quality weapons, but he also wanted them to be historically and culturally pure.
For guidance, he turned to Native elders and made frequent road trips to consult with them.
“Elders always have a story to tell. If you sit down with an elder, listen and let them talk to you, it is amazing the information they will share. Everywhere I went, whether it was Pine Ridge (South Dakota Oglala Lakota) or Tuba City in the Navajo Nation, I listened and learned.”
With the visits came an epiphany – all ancient cultures worldwide used archery.
No culture, however, excelled at it like Native Americans.
In the book, Smith devotes two chapters to weapons made from the horns/antlers and sinew of animals. “Native Americans made some of the most complex bows in the history of the world,” Native American “horn bows” are among them.
“Mountain sheep horns, elk antlers, caribou antlers, and sinew were all used. I’ve replicated many of those bows. For me, it was a lot of trial and error and a lot of mistakes. For our people to figure out this complicated technology, it is almost unbelievable,” Smith explained. “It shows great skill, great ingenuity, and dedication to work with material available to them in their natural environment. So, I share that knowledge in the book for people who want to try to do it.”
Winning the Battle
Smith is an expert in Native American weaponry. He has successfully replicated all kinds of weapons from many different tribes, including his own tribe. However, his specialty is weapons of Plains Indians at around the time they acquired horses. Most historians put the date at around 1680, following the Pueblo Revolt.
He was recently a trifecta winner at the Southeastern Art Show and Market (SEASAM) sponsored by the Chickasaw Nation during its Annual Meeting and Festival celebration. Smith entered two categories and placed three times – first place in cultural clothing; second place in weaponry and third place in cultural clothing.
Sometime in the near future, he will move from his Lawton home to Pauls Valley. He has spent a year restoring a home once owned by a family member who is now deceased.
Sharing his knowledge, research, philosophy, and skills appeal to Smith because the book “will be around forever.”
Eric Smith greets visitors from his booth at the Southeastern Art Show and Market during the 2018 Chickasaw Nation Annual Meeting and Festival.
“It took about four months to write the book,” he said. “I did some research to make sure all the facts were correct, but primarily I wrote about what I have learned from elders and by doing it. I had friends read the manuscript and they said ‘it makes me want to build a bow,’” he said. “And, I consider that a great compliment.”
“The Warriors tools: Plains Indian bows, arrows, and quivers” will be available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other major bookstores. Amazon will make the book available for Kindle download.
Twenty-five members of Waurika FCCLA traveled to Oklahoma City on September 28 to volunteer at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.The group was assigned to pack food items for the Back for Kids program.While there, they packaged over 600 bags, or over 2,000 pounds of food.Waurika Public Schools benefits from the Back Pack for Kids program.The students said they enjoyed volunteering and knowing that their efforts will benefit Waurika school children.
Descendants from Vermont, California, Tennessee, Texas, and Oklahoma met on Saturday, September 21st at the Grady Community Center. This celebration was started for my Aunt Willa Dean (Evans) Johnson, in Lawton, 17 years ago.
Ancestors
I need to go back, a number of decades, and give credit to my grandad and grandmother Evans named Joesph Edward and Detla Jane (Mac Gregor) Evans from the states of Virigina and Tenessee.
Listing the relations attending were: Carol Willner, Stephanie Sutherland & Cooper; Willa; Liz Adams and Clio Hall from Claremont, California, Knoxville, Tennessee, Barbara Cline.
Then from Texas- North Richard Hills, came my sister Levna Beth (Evans) Cline and David Charles Read; and still from Texas- Sam Antonio to be exact! Came my sister, Helen Caines two children, David & his wife Kathy, and Bernella Cain Haden, and still another of Helen’s son from Oklahoma City- came Bernest Cain, Jr. and his wife Joan.
Oh yes, two of the special hostess Carol William’s brothers, Glen Johnson from a subway of Tulsa; and from Healdton Gary Johnson, and his wife Anita from Moore, OK. All attended and were all host.
And from Healdton, Ok. came Ticky J. Smith; also Larry & Cheryl Church from Newalla, OK; Bill and Billy Smith, and a second non- Brent Smith, all from Ringling.
From Grady, and he was the “Local Special help was Tim (Evans) Smith. Then listing my children, who attended was Nancy Smith Ward, who did a beautiful job- decorating the Grady Community Center. Another daughter, attending was Deborah and her husband Bruce acted as the large group picture taking.
I almost forgot me- Orbie (Evans) Smith- attended! (Oh, and I’m from Claypool.)
The biennial Terral All School Reunion will be held on Saturday, October 6, 2018, on the grounds of the Terral Community Center.Registration will begin at 10:00 AM with lunch being served at 12:00 noon.Note:Class pictures will be taken at 11:00 AM again this year.Be sure to tell everyone you see who is associated in any way with Terral School or Union Valley to come early and join us that day.
Lunch will be catered again this year and you will need a reservation.Reservations MUST be received no later than September 21, along with a check for $12.00 per meal.
Due to very generous donations the Terral Alumni Association was proud to award four $1,500 scholarships and one $529 scholarship in 2017, and four $2,500 scholarships in 2018.The scholarships go to deserving persons who reside in the Terral school district, to assist them in continuing their education.Selling brass nametags for the memorial plaques also assists in funding the scholarships.The brass nametags are available for $20 and the plaques are permanently displayed in the Terral Community Center.
Please remember there is no membership fee charged to anyone.The All School Reunion is funded every two years solely on the donations of people who love Terral School and want to enjoy the fellowship of visiting and remembering old times.
If you would like to contribute to the scholarship fund or assist with reunion expenses, you can include that on the registration form, even if you are unable to attend.
We plan to tour Terral School again this year.Raffle information is enclosed.
We hope to see you on October 6th.
If you have questions or need additional information call or email:
Ronnie Ewing @ 940-928-2278 or ronnie.ewing@sbcglobal.net
Karen Gunter @ 580-437-2347 or karengunter.1950@gmail.com
Jefferson County Hospital was chosen as the "Business of the Year"
(l-r) Jay Johnson-CEO Duncan Regional Hospital, Richard Gillespie - JCH Administrator, Jon Waid - Waurika Chamber of Commerce president
Editor’s Note: This is a story continued from last week.
“Southern Rain” performed throughout the evening, especially why those who attended enjoyed the Italian meal provided by the Duncan Regional Hospital.
After Monica Bartling and she presented those who had helped during the historic exhibit titled “The Way We Worked,” Chamber President Jon Waid recognized some of the new businesses that were created in Waurika during 2018.
The Attic opened on D Street across the street from Shelton’s Grocery. It is owned and operated by Stephanie Snider.
There is a new restaurant just east of the 70/81 intersection in Waurika called Doc’s Place owned by Dr. Susan Howard.
Dee McMahan and her husband Jerry are owners of the exquisite Red River Valley Fine Art Gallery on Main Street right next door to City Hall.
Red River Fine Art Gallery is one of the new businesses in Waurika. (l-r) Jerry McMahan, Cody Simmons-Chamber of Commerce Vice President, Dee McMahan (Owner of Red River Fine Art Gallery)
A new portable building outlet is open on the south end of main street called The Shed Man owned by Jon Hunt. He is also the pastor of Trinity Holiness Church on D Street in Waurika.
Jon Hunt, owner of the Shed Man, with Jon Waid
Cody and Traci Simmons opened the Eagletown Academy a— preschool day care— located on south main street. Cody is also the Elementary Principal.
Traci Simmons (along with her husband Cody) is the owner of Eagletown Academy.
A Special Service Appreciation Award was given to Craig Williams for all of his hard work in beautifying Waurika with his gifted talent of landscaping and horticulture. His talents can be seen on both main street and at Veterans park as well as various other locations. In the upcoming year he would like to add wildflowers to the entrance areas of the city.
Craig Williams, a master landscaper, has beautified Waurika in many ways.
The Organization of the Year Award was presented to the Waurika High School Alumni Association.
Last, but definitely not least was the Business of the Year Award presented to Jefferson County Hospital.
Duncan Regional Hospital CEO Jay Johnson and Jefferson County Administrator Richard Gillespie was presented the Award.
Jefferson County Hospital was chosen as the “Business of the Year” (l-r) Jay Johnson-CEO Duncan Regional Hospital, Richard Gillespie – JCH Administrator, Jon Waid – Waurika Chamber of Commerce president
Others were recognized for all the hard work during what is considered a very successful year for Waurika.
Before the evening came to an end, Jon Waid was given a gift of appreciation for all his work as Chamber President during 2018.
It will be a part of Harmon Park and the land behind the Waurika football field stadium (see photo at left).
Disc golf!
The game is growing in popularity and is coming to Waurika very soon, possibly by May.
Monica Bartling presented the idea at Monday evening’s Waurika City Council Meeting. The council approved the addition of the Disc Golf Course so work should begin soon.
Monica explained a bit about Disc Golf.
The game is much like the traditional golf. However, instead of using a ball and clubs, the participants use a flying disc that closely resembles a Frisbee.
Historically, the game was formalized in the 1970s.
The object of the game is much the same as it is in traditional golf. Attempting to complete each hole (goal) with the fewest attempts as possible.
Both sports began at a location called a “Tee”.
The target is a basket (see picture above).
After beginning at the “tee” the player will continue to toss the flying disc down a fairway until he successfully lands one of them in the basket.
Disc Golf Tee (Source: https://www.allentownpa.gov/Home/News-Details/ID/744/Disc-Golf-Course-Tees-Improved)
Here are some of the advantages to disc golf.
No golf cart rentals or fees to play.
Fun and challenging for all ages.
Great exercise.
According to the notes Monica Bartling presented at Monday evening’s meeting, the Waurika Disc Golf Course was designed by Anderson Dark, Esq.
He is an in-house counsel for Allstate Insurance in Oklahoma City, and – most importantly- an avid disc golfer since high school. His thoroughness is in designing this course is admirable and exactly what we need to ensure the best golf experience.
He has visited the course with multiple people throwing from different places on the course at the same time. His design ability allows for 18 holes of challenging golf and adheres to the standards of the Professional Disc golf Association (PDGA). this allows us to qualify for multiple tournament opportunities. He is donating his valuable time to design this course for Waurika.
The new disc golf course could potentially bring many visitors to Waurika and thus, much revenue.
The total estimated cost for completion of the project is $8,700.00 and will be paid for through fundraising efforts.
Ron Howard is more than just a famous actor (Happy Days and the Andy Griffith Show), and a director from Hollywood. He is also related to Waurika’s Elementary Principal, Mrs. Patricia Cook, by marriage.
Cook’s husband Bill is a cousin of Howard. He called during December and said he wanted to visit Duncan and see the hospital where he was born and other places related to his childhood.
The Cooks picked up Howard from the airport and brought him back to their home in Duncan.
They spent an afternoon together.
Cook said Howard is down to earth, very thoughtful and pleasant to talk to.
On September 12, seven officers from Waurika FCCLA attended the LEAD Conference at the Great Plains Technology Center in Lawton. The state conference provides leadership training for chapter officers. In the morning session, students heard keynote speaker, Rameil Sampson, who informed them how they could be a H.E.R.O. to their chapters by being honest, energizing, reliable and optimistic.
He motivated the group to identify obstacles to reaching their goals and figure out a way to overcome them. The afternoon sessions were hosted by Oklahoma Challenge, a teen traffic safety program, where materials were provided for students to take home and share with their schools. Students enjoyed a traffic trivia game show format that concluded the conference. Waurika FCCLA Adviser, Mrs. Bruner, said the conference is a great experience for officers because they come back super motivated to start planning activities for the school year.
