Do you like cookies? How about free cookies AND a chance to win some fun prizes? If the answer is, YES, to both of the questions, then come to Downtown Waurika on Friday, Nov. 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and visit some of your favorite merchants and you will get a free cookie and Christmas Stickers to play the Cookie Crawl game. If the business has a Shop Local Sticker in their window, then they will have cookies and stickers. “The cookies may run out, but we will have plenty of stickers so you can play the game,” according to Jena Good, Shop Local Committee Member and Cookie Crawl Chair. The game cards for the Cookie Crawl will be the same as for the regular Shop Local Waurika game cards, however, the stickers for this one-day game will be Christmas stickers and you will not place the entries in the red Shop Local containers at each business. When shoppers have finished getting cookies and filling game cards, they will take them to the Red River Fine Art Gallery at 124 South Main in Waurika. There will be a special drawing hopper at the Gallery and all prizes for this one day event will be drawn from that hopper. Shoppers have to have game cards to the gallery by 4 p.m. Prizes will begin being given away shortly after 4 p.m. The Gallery will have more cookies and some other goodies as well as hot spiced cider and coffee. Fun prizes including five $20 Waurika Bucks will be given away as well as fun Waurika Coffee mugs full of Christmas Candy, a couple of surprises from Shelton’s Grocery and some other fun items. All game cards will also be placed in the hopper for the Grand Prize drawing of $500 cash that will be given away after the Christmas Parade on Dec. 14. Golden Game Cards will be given away which are entries ready to be filled out and put in the hopper for the Christmas Parade Give-away. The Golden Game Cards have all the spots for stickers filled in and all the winner has to do is fill in their name and drop it in the Hopper. If you want extra chances to win, keep your receipts for purchases made during the Cookie Crawl (no purchase is necessary to get a cookie and a sticker) and you will get extra chances for the Gold Game Cards. If you take pictures of your Cookie Crawl adventure and post them on Instagram for Facebook and add the hashtag #ShopLocalWaurika, you can get extra Christmas Stickers at 4 p.m.. This event is sponsored by the Waurika Chamber of Commerce as part of the Shop Local Waurika program.“Cookie Crawls are great events to do with family and friends! They’re also fun for all ages. Make an afternoon of visiting your favorite shops around town and collect delicious cookies while playing for your chance to win some prizes and extra entries in our Shop Local Waurika giveaway in December.,” Jena Good, said.
The latest production of the Duncan Little Theatre is a Pulitzer Prize winning play called You Can’t Take it With You written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart.
Many are probably familiar with the film version staring Jimmy Stewart and Lionel Barrymore.
The play is a hilarious comedy that was first performed on Broadway in 1936.
Carter Waid and Justin Sullivan are appearing in the play.
Waid will appear in the November 23rd performance as Mr. Kirby, a serious business man.
Waid is intrigued with his part. His participation in this production is as a fill-in for Derrick Miller who is both a producer and an actor in this play. He also plays Mr. Kirby. However, he has to absent on the 23rd, thus the reason Waid is filling in.
Carter Waid and Derrick Miller
“Don’t let life get the better of you and steal your relationship with your family,” is Waid’s impression of the plays overall theme.
Waid has been performing plays with the Duncan Little Theatre for years. He really likes this play and believes audiences will love it.
Justin Sullivan appears in all the performance as Paul Sycamore, the man who manufactures fireworks in the basement.
Sullivan enjoys acting and particularly loves this play and its sentiment—money isn’t everything.
Like Waid, he too has been performing with the Theatre for many years.
Sharon Burum is the director for the play. Burum has a long history with Duncan Little Theatre. She was the Stage Manager for the play “Oklahoma”, which was the first large production performed at the Simmons Center.
Other cast members include:
Derrick Miller plays Mr. Kirby and serves as one of the producers of the play. He is currently teaching journalism at the Duncan Middle School. Before teaching, he was a reporter for the Duncan Banner for nine years.
Carra Spigner, plays the role of the prim and proper Mrs. Kirby. Her biggest challenge will be keeping a straight face.
Cara Spigner and Derrick Miller
Rick Rogers, an eighty-five year old practicing attorney in Duncan, is playing the role of the IRS agent. In his spare time, which is limited, he carves and serves on the City Appeals Board.
His wife, Carolyn is also performing in the play. Not only does she love performing, she started the Duncan Trust Authority and helps with beautification of Duncan.
Rick Rogers and Carolyn Rogers
Kathrine Farrow serves as the co-set designer along with Michael Harris. Farrow has a role as a ballerina dancer.
Kathrine Farrow
Floyd Wininger has been working with the Theatre since 1981. He has not only acted in plays, but he has also directed. In this production he is playing the role of Grandpa.
Floyd Wininger
Opening night is this Friday evening, November 15, beginning at 7:30 pm.
The next performance will be on the following night at 7:30. Additional performances will be on the November 22 & 23rd also at 7:30 pm.
A scene from “You Can’t Take it With You”.Another scene from rehearsal .
Editor’s Note: A special thank you to Sharon Burum , the director, for allowing us to attend the rehearsal and take pictures as well as interview the cast.
Come join us at the Rock Island Depot for Santa’s Workshop on Saturday, December 14th from 11:00 am to noon. The Friends of the Waurika Library will have crafts and activities for children of all ages!
#1 New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown combines heart-stopping suspense and forbidden passion in the psychological thriller ‘Outfox’ about an FBI agent’s hunt for a ruthless conman turned serial killer.
FBI agent Drex Easton is relentlessly driven by a single goal: to outmaneuver the conman once known as Weston Graham. Over the past thirty years, Weston has assumed many names and countless disguises, enabling him to lure eight wealthy women out of their fortunes before they disappeared without a trace, their families left without answers and the authorities without clues. The only common trait among the victims: a new man in their life who also vanished, leaving behind no evidence of his existence… except for one signature custom.
Drex is convinced that these women have been murdered, and that the man he knows as Weston Graham is the sociopath responsible. But each time Drex gets close to catching him, Weston trades one persona for another and disappears again. Now, for the first time in their long game of cat and mouse, Drex has a suspect in sight.
Attractive and charming, Jasper Ford is recently married to a successful businesswoman many years his junior, Talia Shafer. Drex insinuates himself into their lives, posing as a new neighbor and setting up surveillance on their house. The closer he gets to the couple, the more convinced he becomes that Jasper is the clever, merciless predator he’s sought–and that his own attraction to Talia threatens to compromise his purpose and integrity.
This is Drex’s one chance to outfox his cunning nemesis before he murders again and eludes justice forever. But first he must determine if the desirable Talia is a heartless accomplice… or the next victim.
Check out ‘Outfox’ at your Waurika Public Library.
Don’t forget to use smile.amazon.com to support the Friends of the Waurika Library when you use Amazon. It works just like Amazon with your existing account. When you login, simply choose ‘Friends of the Waurika Public Library’ as the charity you would like to support. Many events and programs at the library are supported by the Friends of the Waurika Public Library. Sponsorship of the Friends starts at just $10. For more information or to become a sponsor, please visit the Waurika Public Library.
Story Time is 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.
or information about events, activities and more, visit our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/WaurikaPublicLibrary/
Quote of the Day– We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated. Maya Angelou
Public Notice– Due to Veteran’s Day falling on our regular scheduled meeting date, the Town of Terral Regular board meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 12th at 6:00pm. at the Terral City Hall. City Hall will be closed on Monday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. Special thanks to all of our veterans “Thank you for your service.”
Terral First Baptist GA’s– We are now studying the New Testament books of the Bible. Results from our Halloween Costume Contest on Wednesday October 30, 2019 was most scary was Jasmarie Cruz. The costume for non-scary went to December Harper. Congratulations to you both, you looked great. Our upcoming events are a Craft show on December 7th from 9:00 to 2:00 p.m. and bingo will start at 5:00 p.m. on the same day. Snack bar will be provided.
Craft Show– The Terral First Baptist Church Girls in Action Group will be having a Craft Show on Saturday, December 7th from 9:00 to 2:00 p.m. To reserve your table call Shirley at 580-437-2337. Tables are $10.00 each. We will also have our annual bingo starting at 5:00p.m. Cost of bingo is $1.00 per game or a one-time pay of $25.00 for the night. Baked goods and a Snack Bar will be provided. All proceeds go to the Girls in Action for crafts and outings. Thanks in advance for your support.
FBS Girls in Action Mission Work– The GA’s will be decorating trees for the residents at the Westbrook Care Center in Waurika and will be delivering them on December the 6th. We will also do Christmas gifts for the Grace Center in Nocona, Texas before December the 18th.
Happy Birthday to you– Happy Belated Birthday to Santos Castilla celebrated “71” years on November the 3rd.
Happy Anniversary– Valton & Shirley will celebrate “46” years of wedded bliss on November 8th.
Community Prayer List– Teresa Sexton, A.R. and Martha Jane Goates, Wayne Wyler, Pat Bussey, Tony Rodriguez, Scotty Day, Sue Linton, Martin Villarreal, SR., Joe Martin, Adam White, Mary Loo Duke, Virginia Tanner, Darlene Hall, T.K. Delaney, Manuel Villarreal, Shawna Reed, Hardy Johnson and our military stationed around the world- Kurtis Morgan & Chris Cox. Our prayer is for God to Keep you in his loving care.
I was introduced to Ernest Hemingway while still a school boy by my brother Phil. “A Farewell to Arms”, “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “The Sun Also Rises” were what lead me on to further exploration of Mr. Hemingway’s writing. Although A Farewell to Arms and For Whom the Bell Tolls deals with different wars, WWI and the Spanish Civil war, for me they both had much the same feel. The protagonist in the first was an American driving an ambulance for the Italian army and in the second a demolition expert for a Republican guerilla unit that was fighting the fascists that were backed by the Nazis and the Italians lead by Mussollini. In The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway writes about American and British ex-patriots living in Paris and Spain in the 1920’s.In all probability, had I read The sun Also rises first, I might never have read the others. After these three I bought a copy of “The Old Man and the Sea”. In my opinion this is one of Ernest Hemingway’s better works. It is every bit as good on the tenth reading as it was on the first. The story of Santiago the fisherman and his struggle with old age and meaning is the last major work published by Ernest Hemingway and I can’t help but see some parallels with the writer’s own life. This is one of the few Hemingway stories that were successfully turned into a quality movie and it was done twice. Once with Spenser Tracey and the second time with Anthony Quinn. Ernest Hemingway novels do not seem to translate well onto the screen, in part I believe it’s his style and in part it’s not being able to find a screen writer able to make the transition. Later on I discovered Ernest Hemingway’s novellas and magazine stories. Short fiction is in itself a difficult art form. You are telling the same story in a much shorter period of time. I had a conversation with Bill Roberson once and we were discussing song writing and the ability of some people to tell a story in a few verses, to me that talent and writing short fiction are very similar. The genre of music where this seems most prevalent is country music. For the sake of clarity, when I say country music, I mean classic country, mountain music, bluegrass and some forms of folk music. If you listen to some of the traditional music out of Ireland and the British Isles and then listen to some sure enough old time mountain music from the Appalachians, you can see where country and bluegrass get their start. Bill always said if you didn’t like country music then you didn’t like life, because that is what it is about. Maybe in my next life I will learn to play the banjo and the bagpipes, just not at the same time.
Thus ends this weeks book report and music tutorial.
Waurika’s latest addition to the police department is a young man who was born in Duncan, Oklahoma in 1987. Duncan has been Matt Peck’s home all of his life, except for the six months his family lived in Guymon because of his dad’s promotion as an Oklahoma Highway Patrol Officer. Afterwards his family moved back to Duncan.
Officer Matt Peck comes from a family of law enforcement. Not only is his father, Roger Peck, an OHP officer, his brother Andrew is an officer for Chickasha PD.
Along with his commitment to law enforcement, Matt has a fondness for military life. He joined the Army Reserves on August 5, 2004, a week before he started his senior year of high school in Duncan. During that year he drilled with his unit and went to basic training after graduation.
In 2008 Matt was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq conducting Route Clearance operations. After a year’s tour of duty he returned home to work for the Cotton County Sheriff’s Department. After a year and a half he transferred to Stephens County Sheriff’s Department where he served for five years.
In 2012 Matt transferred from the Army Reserves to the Oklahoma National Guard. While serving in the National Guard he was deployed to Lviv, Ukraine as a part of a NATO mission. Matt serves as a Staff Sergeant of a nine-soldier squad. He is 1st Squad Leader and regularly fills in as the Platoon Sergeant of 1st Platoon, Alpha Company of the 545 Brigade Engineer Battalion. He holds a dual MOS as a Combat Engineer and Horizontal Engineer. When deployed he finds himself embedded with the infantry as a subject matter expert in mobility and dealing with obstacles that may come across their path.
Matt while deployed to Iraq
While serving in Ukraine he was privileged to meet soldiers and civilians and learning about their culture. He has fond memories of the 7 months he spent helping train soldiers in defense military tactics, explosives and locating mines.
Matt says Lviv is a beautiful part of Ukraine. It was an experience of a life time, enjoying their food, coffee—they consume lots of coffee, and learning to navigate through four feet of snow at -8 degrees.
During Easter he and his fellow staff members were honored to celebrate the resurrection at an old church that had been damaged by invaders in years gone by.
Lviv has an interesting past. This appealed to Matt’s interest in WWII history.
Matt has many stories about his time in Ukraine. (If you see him out and about ask him about Bubble Waffles).
He enjoyed Ukraine so much that he and his fiancé, MiKayla may spend part of their honeymoon there. Their plan is to marry in May, 2020. The two have known each other for several years and are looking forward to spending many fulfilling years together.
As much as he enjoys military life, he is just as happy to be back in the states wearing a police uniform. He’s enjoying his time in Waurika. He likes community policing, helping others and keeping the peace.
He does have a personal life. Along with a wonderful fiancé, he has a six-year old son named Stetson Roger. He loves to hunt and fish. He especially loves duck hunting. He loves Mexican food as well as seafood. His favorite color is blue. Like most police officers, he has a few pet peeves.
His biggest pet peeve is parents who threaten their children with the police taking them to jail if they don’t behave. He believes it teaches children to be afraid of officers.
The other pet peeve involves children as well. Children who are not properly buckled with a seat-belt while riding in a car that is.
Other than that, he is very approachable and doesn’t mind answering law-enforcement related questions. He doesn’t even mind if someone takes time to say hello.
A focus on Insurance – Part 1 – Jefferson County Farm Bureau & Bartling Insurance
Ninth in a series of stories about Waurika businesses. #ShopLocalWaurika
JEFFERSON COUNTY FARM BUREAU
The Oklahoma Farm Bureau was organized in 1942 by Oklahoma farm and ranch families. Terri Sheffield has been the Agent for Jefferson County Farm Bureau for the past 4 ½ years. “Our agency has one focus and that’s serving Oklahoma. Customer Service is our top priority. My team enjoys working hard for our customers and our company. We want to connect with our customers like neighbors, but offer the assurance that we are professionals looking out for their families,” Terri stated.
Dylan Shefield Sub-Agent,, Fay Foster-Secretary, and Terri Sheffield-Agent
Oklahoma Farm Bureau (OKFB) has certainly grown since 1942. In 1946, OKFB members and their families loaned a total of $35,000 to help capitalize Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Casualty Company so they could extend the lines of insurance they offered. Shortly after that, members of OKFB worked to expand even more and added Farm Bureau Mutual Fire Insurance to their members. “In 1949, the two companies merged to form Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company,” Terri explained.
In 1957 Life insurance was added to their offerings. “Today we offer insurance for Auto, Home, Farm & Ranch, Commercial, Life and Annuities,” Terri stated. “A lot has changed in the world of insurance throughout the past 70 years, but one thing that has stayed the same is our unending commitment to serve Oklahomans.”
While the OKFB’s roots are in the farming community, they also provide coverages to everyday Oklahomans. “We provide coverage for teachers, oilfield workers, nurses, and clerks. We have insurance for all Oklahomans,” Terri explained.
While agents may have changed through the years, Fay Foster has been the Jefferson County Farm Bureau Secretary for 18 years. Terri’s son, Dylan Sheffield, is a sub-agent and is finishing up his last year at Midwestern State University majoring in Management Information Systems.
Terri grew up in Waurika and Ryan. Prior to insurance she worked 23 years in banking. “Insurance has been the most challenging career,” Terri stated. When Terri was offered the agent position, the one thing she was apprehensive about was writing life insurance policies. It turns out that is one of her favorite products to offer. “I have actually seen the relief in a client’s demeanor once we have completed an application. The relief in knowing they have taken another financial step in protecting their families,” Terri said.
“I have enjoyed meeting new people and reconnecting with others through this position.” She and her husband, Chuck, have been married 30 years. In addition to their son, Dylan, they have one daughter, Cherish Sheffield, who teaches kindergarten in Waurika and a daughter-in-law, Marisa. Dylan and Marisa recently had a son, Winston. Terri enjoys traveling and her new grandson, Winston.
“I am pleased to be a member of the Waurika Chamber,” Terri commented. “I view the Chamber as a network of business minded individuals working together to promote and advocate on behalf of the business community.” “What makes Waurika special is that its Chamber takes it to a higher level in promoting and supporting its community,” Terri continued. “Whether it’s a charitable or restoration project or promoting shopping local they just seem to push it to the next level which is excellent for the community and for Waurika businesses.”
“I am extremely proud to represent Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company. The company truly promotes and believes in taking care of and protecting our people,” Terri stated.
BARTLING INSURANCE
Bartling Insurance has been owned by Margie Ball since 2012. Bartling Insurance has locations in Waurika and Comanche.
Bartling Insurance, we can take care of all your insurance needs including, but not limited to, General Liability, Business Auto, Personal Auto, Homeowners, Farm, BOP, Bonds, Health Accident and Life insurance.
Candace Walling, Meagan Bryant-Brackett and Christine Lambert-Turner.
Margie began her insurance career in January of 1981 at the age of 22. Not long after, she joined the Bartling Insurance Agency team.
In September of 2012, Margie purchase Bartling Insurance Agency. Her love of insurance and her community is why she strives to be the best at what she does.
To Margie, insurance is much more than a job, it’s her passion. She has instilled this same passion for customer service in her entire team.
“We strive to give every customer our utmost attention and support,” according to Waurika Agent Christine Turner. “We try our best to make ourselves accessible whenever our customers need assistance, even if it’s after hours. We want our customers to know they come first.”
“We are like one big family and we want to make each of our customers feel that they are part of the family as well,” Christina continued. “When you visit our Waurika office you will be greeted by either Christine, Rinda, Meagan or Candace. When you visit the Comanche office you will be greeted by Margie, Ida, Ann, Kelsey and Robin.”
We feel it’s important to participate in the Waurika Chamber of Commerce because of the support it gives our wonderful little town,” Christine said. “Waurika Chamber promotes pride and solidarity of local businesses that aid in the growth of our community.”
“Our business would not exist without customers like each of you. Thank you all for shopping local and supporting Bartling Insurance Agency. We are blessed to be part of such a wonderful community,” Christine concluded.
A focus on insurance Part Two will run next week and will feature Farmer’s Insurance
Members of Waurika FCCLA recently attended the South 4 District Leadership Meeting in Duncan. Approximately 500 students from southwest Oklahoma attended the meeting held at the Simmons Center. This year’s meeting, called “The Great Leadership Adventure”, centered on an outdoor camping theme. Members wore their new chapter tshirts, which followed the theme. FCCLA chapters collected 400 pounds of aluminum pull tabs to donate to their service project, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Oklahoma. The highlight of the meeting was the Oklahoma City dance troupe, Generation Why, which entertained the students, as well as delivered messages about anti-bullying, suicide prevention and overcoming adversity. Family, Career and Community Leaders of America is the student leadership organization that accompanies the Family and Consumer Sciences program at Waurika High School.
Waurika is honored to have as its special guest for this year’s Memorial Day Parade, a WWII veteran who was born west of Waurika in the Hooperville community and went on to serve his nation with distinction, Odell Hooper.
Hooper is related to Gary and Sharon Duncan;Gary and Jane Carter; and Roy and DeeAnn Himebaugh.
Of the16 million Americans who served in WWII only about 496,000 were still alive in 2018. Odell Hopper is one of them.
During the years towards the end of the great depression, Hooper realized he didn’t want to be a farmer like his father. Instead, he made the trek to California where he eventually found a job working for Douglas Aircraft. Odell had no idea how much his life was about to change. Instead of a steady life as a farmer, his life was about to be filled with adventure.
Recently, Hooper related the story of his time in WWII to his great niece, Jill B. Jones. Her article appeared in the May 26th edition of the Duncan Banner.
Like most young men of his time, he joined the military after the United States entered the war after the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. Hooper joined the Army Air Forces and was trained as an aerial gunner.
Eventually, Hooper was assigned to a B-24 crew. The B-24 was also known as the “Liberator”. At the age of 19 he found himself headed to war. He landed near Ipswich, England at Buckingham Field in February 1944 as part of the 453rd Bombardment group. The 453rd would take part in 259 missions and 58 crew members would give their lives to win the war. In the article that appeared in the Duncan Banner, Hooper is quoted as saying that on one day of combat they lost 60 planes with 600 men being shot down.
Hooper’s own plane was shot down on March 8, 1944. The plane crashed near Balkbrug, Holland. Before crashing, Hooper and his co-pilot put on their parachutes, shook hands, and jumped.
After jumping things didn’t go as well as planned. After attempting to pull the rip cord three times, he realized that his chute was on upside down and the cord he had been pulling on was just a strap. The rip cord was on the other side. Hooper grabbed the correct cord and was able to land safely.
Only four of the ten who bailed out that day were able to avoid capture by the Nazis. Hooper lay in a ditch for several hours covered with his chute and weeds trying to stay warm and avoid capture. Once it was dark he was able to locate a haystack, dig a hole under it and hide until found by a local farmer.
Over the next four months he would move from one location to another with the help of strangers and the use of fake passports and identities to avoid capture. Eventually, he was able to find a train that would take him from Antwerp to France. France was an ally with the US. His plan was to make it to France and reclaim his identity as well as his freedom. However, that was not to be the case.
Hooper was surprised and surrounded by the enemy and taken into custody before he could make to France. That was August 1944. It is his belief one of those pretending to help him possibly betrayed him to the enemy.
During the following six months he spent time in a POW camp in Poland where he survived on very little food and water and was subject to interrogations but avoided the torture many of his fellow soldiers faced.
Germany began to realize in early in 1945 the war was closing in on them. In February of that year many POWs died during forced marches. Because Hooper had contacted diphtheria, he was sent to a camp in Barth, Germany by train.
May 1945 victory was declared in Europe. Hooper’s camp was liberated by the Russians and by July he was back home and was discharged in November.
Although Hooper didn’t become a farmer he was glad to be back in his home State of Oklahoma. He spent the next thirty-two years working for Montgomery Ward in Duncan, Oklahoma. Not only was he become the manager of the tire department for the store, he also venture into a second career in real estate. Over the next twenty years he sold lots of land around the Waurika lake.
Waurika is grateful for Hooper’s service to his country and proud to honor him as a special guest of this year’s Veterans Parade.
