Applications deadline March 30 for graduation honor cords

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February 23, 2022

All Chickasaw citizens who are seniors in high school are eligible to apply for honor cords to display while graduating.

Braided in yellow, purple and blue rope, the honor cords feature a medallion displaying the Great Seal of the Chickasaw Nation. The application deadline for these honor cords is March 30.

Chickasaw seniors may also apply for a one-time reimbursement of graduation expenses.

Approved high school senior expenses include graduation announcements, caps and gowns, class rings, letterman jackets, and senior pictures. Up to $150 will be reimbursed for costs associated with these purchases.
For more information, contact Chickasaw Nation Youth Services Division by phone at (580) 310-6620, email at YouthSupportReimbursement@Chickasaw.net or visit

Chickasaw.net/Services/Children-Youth/Youth-Support-Reimbursement-Program.

OU Researchers Receive Department of Energy Grant to Become First in the World to Repurpose Retired Oil Wells into Geothermal Wells

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January 26, 2022

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NORMAN – University of Oklahoma associate professor Saeed Salehi is leading a team of researchers from the Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering in the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy to turn abandoned and retired oil and gas wells into geothermal wells that they hope to eventually heat two Tuttle, Oklahoma, schools.

The OU team will be one of the pioneers in the world to put theory into practice and demonstrate the efficacy of this model.

“Researchers from around the world are doing simulations, doing calculations to show that this concept may work, but this is the first time somebody is going to go and do it,” said Salehi.

UNDERSTANDING GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Geothermal energy uses the Earth’s natural heat to create energy. There are two methods for gathering and using geothermal energy. Both involve tapping geothermal hotspots deep below the surface that contain water heated by the Earth’s core. Engineers can harness steam to create energy, a principle similar to wind or water turbines. They can also pipe up hot water up from deep within the Earth and use it to heat buildings. This project will use utilize the latter option.

“The core of the earth is more than 5,000 degrees Centigrade, equivalent to the surface temperature of the sun,” explained Salehi. “It is a clean-energy resource beneath our feet.”

While people may be familiar with shallow geothermal heat pumps made for consumer use to power an individual home, the geothermal wells Salehi works with are categorized as deep geothermal wells and have the capacity to power cities or several thousand homes.

OU RESEARCH PROJECT

In a project anticipated to last three years, Salehi and his team will retrofit four retired Tuttle oil wells that range between 10,000 and 11,000 feet deep to determine the viability of geothermal production of the wells.

After the wells are modified to produce geothermal energy, researchers will spend the next year measuring the energy production to see if actual output aligns with their estimates and models, and if the wells will create enough energy heat two nearby schools.

The project has a number of partners. Runar Nygaard, director of the Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering, is part of the research team, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory is partnering to provide expertise. The wells were donated to the project by OU alumni-led Blue Cedar Energy. Baker Hughes also donated state-of-the-art software necessary for the project’s complicated computational work.

While the Department of Energy grant is expected to be $1.7 million, the involvement of Blue Cedar Energy, NREL and Baker Hughes puts the project value close to $3 million.

Grant funding will allow the team to hire graduate students, post-doctoral students and technicians for the duration of the project, and will fund research opportunities for undergraduate students at the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy.

“The mentorship opportunities with this project are endless,” said Salehi.

The Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy is one of the only colleges in the United States to house both petroleum engineering and geology programs. Salehi sees this project as a perfect integration of both disciplines.

“At the University of Oklahoma, we pride ourselves on the pursuit of energy solutions that are both reliable and environmentally sustainable,” said Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy dean J. Mike Stice. “Geothermal energy is a prime example of a zero-carbon technology that complements our other areas of energy expertise. Dr. Salehi’s project will provide a real-world application of the technology that can be leveraged within the state and nation, as a whole.”

OKLAHOMA CAN BECOME THE GEOTHERMAL CAPITOL OF THE NATION

According to Salehi, deep geothermal drilling is not at scale in the United States, and he sees several reasons:

First, it has long been the belief that the western hemisphere states and Hawaii have better potential for geothermal energy because the Earth’s heat can be tapped at much shallower depths in those areas.

Second, there is financial risk involved with drilling geothermal wells. Drillers can inadvertently enter hot pockets where the extreme temperatures can destroy the drilling equipment. Geothermal wells have a higher risk of dry holes – wells that prove to be unfruitful – than traditional oil or gas wells.

Salehi believes these constraints are both negated by unique factors in Oklahoma, and indeed position the state to become the capitol of geothermal energy in the United States.

Constraint 1: Region

“The largest geothermal operations are currently in California and Nevada,” Salehi explained. “In those regions, geothermal wells generally only need to be half the depth as wells in Oklahoma. However, they are drilled through solid rock, making it a longer, riskier, and more expensive process. In Oklahoma, though the wells are deeper, they are drilled through sedimentary basins – softer rocks.”

It is not just Oklahoma’s rocks that make a difference but its workforce. “Oklahoma’s long history in the oil industry has created a skilled local workforce. We have decades of experience drilling Oklahoma’s sedimentary basins and can drill an 11,000-foot well in a week. That cannot be done in other places, even at shallower depths,” said Salehi.

Constraint 2: Risk and Cost

The risk, cost and environmental impact of drilling geothermal wells becomes obsolete when utilizing retired fossil fuel assets.

“The largest expense in geothermal energy is drilling the well. We’re eliminating it,” said Salehi.

It is also the abundance of retired wells in Oklahoma that makes this model highly appealing.

“We are blessed with so many of these wells throughout the state. They are close the schools, close to factories, close to farms. In Oklahoma, we do not need to invest in miles of pipelines to deliver energy to end users,” Salehi said.

He imagines a future where Oklahoma hospitals have access to geothermal wells for emergency power.

THE NEXT STEP

The wells for this project were strategically chosen because of their proximity to two Tuttle schools. The scope of this project does not include the next step of heating the schools with geothermal energy, but rather ensuring that it is possible. Salehi and his team hope that once their current project is completed, they can apply for new grants and state matching funds to make heating the schools with geothermal energy a possibility.

If that happens, the Tuttle elementary and middle schools would be the first buildings in the world to be heated by geothermal energy from repurposed deep oil wells.

While researchers around the world will be following the project with interest, it is the students at the Tuttle schools who will get up-close opportunities to interact with the OU research team. This includes OU students and faculty visiting the schools with updates about the project and guest lectures about geothermal energy.

The project comes at an exciting time for the Mewbourne School, which plans to launch a new geothermal-focused undergraduate degree, GeoEnergy Engineering, in fall 2022.

Oklahoma Homeowner Assistance Fund Offers Grants to Assist Homeowners with Mortgage-Related Delinquencies Due to COVID-19

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January 26, 2022

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OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma homeowners who have experienced financial
setbacks stemming from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for
up to $20,000 in grant assistance through the Homeowner Assistance Fund
(HAF). Grant uses include delinquent mortgages, property taxes, home
insurance, and homeowner association dues.

Made available through the American Rescue Plan Act and administered by
the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency (OHFA), the Oklahoma HAF program has
nearly $74 million available to help Oklahoma homeowners at risk of losing
their homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications and more
information are available at www.ohfa.org/haf. Individuals in need of
assistance in completing the application can call (833) 208-2535 or (405)
419-8202.

The Oklahoma HAF portal opened Jan. 10 as one of the first 10 states to
begin accepting applications.

“Homeowners impacted by COVID-19 are often finding it difficult to keep up
with mortgage payments,” said Valenthia Doolin, director of the HAF
program in Oklahoma. “We want to make sure our neighbors have the
resources to recover and restore homeownership stability.”

Homeowner eligibility criteria
* Homeowners in Oklahoma who occupy the property as their primary residence
* Homeowners who have experienced a COVID-19 qualified financial hardship
after Jan. 21, 2020
* Homeowners who are United States citizens or those who can show proof of
a green card
* Homeowners who are at or below 100% of the Area Median Income or
homeowners who are socially disadvantaged and are at or below 150% of the
Area Median Income

Lionel Richie to Receive the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song

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January 25, 2022

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Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden today announced that pop music icon Lionel Richie will be the next recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Richie will be honored with an all-star tribute concert in Washington, D.C., that will be broadcast nationally on PBS stations May 17 at 9 p.m. ET.

A songwriting superstar of the first order, Richie is known for his mega-hits such as “Endless Love,” “Lady,” “Truly,” “All Night Long,” “Penny Lover,” “Stuck on You,” “Hello,” “Say You, Say Me,” “Dancing on the Ceiling,” and he co-wrote one of the most important pop songs in history, “We Are the World,” for USA for Africa. His song catalog also includes his early work with the Commodores, where he developed a groundbreaking style that defied genre categories, penning smashes such as “Three Times a Lady,” “Still,” and “Easy.” Richie achieved the incredible distinction of writing No. 1 songs for 11 consecutive years.

Beyond his own impressive music career, Richie has mentored young artists as a judge on ABC’s “American Idol” for the past four seasons and is set to return for the show’s 20^th season.

“In so many ways, this national honor was made for Lionel Richie whose music has entertained and inspired us — and helped strengthen our global connections,” Hayden said. “Lionel Richie’s unforgettable work has shown us that music can bring us together. Even when we face problems and disagree on issues, songs can show us what we have in common.”

Richie’s songs are part of the fabric of pop music and American culture. The Tuskegee, Alabama, native has sold more than 125 million albums worldwide. He has won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, four Grammy Awards, the distinction of MusicCares Person of the Year in 2016, and was a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2017.

“This is truly an honor of a lifetime, and I am so grateful to be receiving the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song,” Richie said. “I am proud to be joining all the other previous artists, who I also admire and am a fan of their music.”

Bestowed in recognition of the legendary songwriting team of George and Ira Gershwin, the Gershwin Prize recognizes a living musical artist’s lifetime achievement in promoting the genre of song as a vehicle of entertainment, information, inspiration and cultural understanding. The honoree is selected by the Librarian of Congress in consultation with a board of scholars, producers, performers, songwriters and other music specialists. Previous recipients are Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Sir Paul McCartney, songwriting duo Burt Bacharach and the late Hal David, Carole King, Billy Joel, Willie Nelson, Smokey Robinson, Tony Bennett, Emilio and Gloria Estefan, and Garth Brooks.

Richie will receive the Gershwin Prize at an all-star tribute concert in Washington, D.C., on March 9. PBS stations will broadcast the concert — “Lionel Richie: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song” — at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 17, (check local listings) and on PBS.org and the PBS Video App as part of the co-produced Emmy Award-winning music series. It will also be broadcast to U.S. Department of Defense locations around the world via the American Forces Network.

Please visit our virtual newsroom for additional materials and media assets related to this announcement.

“Lionel Richie: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song” is a co-production of WETA Washington, D.C.; Bounce, a division of Concord Music Group; and the Library of Congress.

“As producer of the vibrant series since its inception, we are excited to bring this new concert honoring Lionel Richie to the American people in collaboration with the Library of Congress,” said Sharon Percy Rockefeller, president and CEO of WETA. “This special production exemplifies WETA’s ongoing commitment to showcasing arts and culture in the nation’s capital and honoring leading artists who have made extraordinary contributions to popular music.”

“We’re thrilled to partner with the Library of Congress, WETA and our member stations to celebrate Lionel Richie and his extraordinary artistic contributions,” said Paula Kerger, president and CEO of PBS. “As America’s largest stage for the arts, PBS remains committed to bringing the best of music, theatre and dance to our audiences.”

Major funding for the broadcast is provided by the PBS and public television viewers. Wells Fargo is the presenting sponsor. Additional funding is provided by the Ira and Leonore Gershwin Fund and the Leonore S. Gershwin Trust for the benefit of the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board, Michael Strunsky, trustee; AARP; Universal Music Group; the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers; and William C. Burton. Air transportation is provided by United Airlines.

About Lionel Richie

International superstar Lionel Richie has a discography of albums and singles that are second to none. With more than 125 million albums sold worldwide, he has been awarded an Oscar, a Golden Globe, four Grammy Awards, the distinction of MusicCares Person of the Year in 2016, and was a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2017. In March 2018, Richie put his handprints and footprints in cement at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX in Hollywood, one of the oldest awards in Hollywood. He recently received the Ivor Novello PRS for Music Special International Award.

Richie sold out arenas worldwide with a set list of his brightest and best anthems on his All The Hits, All Night Long Tour. In recent years, he also headlined festivals including Bonnaroo, Outside Lands and Glastonbury, drawing the festival’s biggest crowd ever with more than 200,000 attendees.

Richie took fans on a spectacular musical journey with his latest album, Live from Las Vegas along with his most recent tour, the “Hello” tour, which kicked off in summer 2019. The album, which was released on August 16, 2019 was No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart. The album also marks the legendary artist’s first release on Capitol Records.

Richie was a judge on ABC’s “American Idol” for the past four seasons and is set to return to the judge’s chair for the show’s 20^th season. He launched his Las Vegas headlining residency show, Lionel Richie — All the Hits in April 2016. In an unforgettable evening featuring his brightest and best anthems that have defined the music icon’s unparalleled career, Richie took his fans on a spectacular musical journey, performing a variety of his seminal hits. Richie recently extended his “Back to Las Vegas” residency at Wynn Las Vegas’ Encore Theater with a 12-show engagement in 2022.

About the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song

The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song honors living musical artists whose lifetime contributions in the field of popular song exemplify the standard of excellence associated with George and Ira Gershwin, by promoting the genre of song as a vehicle of cultural understanding; entertaining and informing audiences; and inspiring new generations of musicians.

In making the selection for the prize, the Librarian of Congress consulted leading members of the music and entertainment communities, as well as curators from the Library’s Music Division, American Folklife Center and Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division.

The Gershwin name is used in connection with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song courtesy of the families of George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. GERSHWIN is a registered trademark of Gershwin Enterprises.

The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States — and extensive materials from around the world — both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.

Graham Greene portrays Governor Douglas H. Johnston in “Te Ata”

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Tony Choate

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December 15, 2021

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Graham Greene portrays Chickasaw Nation Governor Douglas H. Johnston in Chickasaw Nation Productions’ feature film “Te Ata” (pronounced TAY’ AH-TAH). The film is based on the inspiring, true story of Mary Frances “Te Ata” Thompson Fisher, a woman who traversed cultural barriers to become one of the greatest First American performers of all time. She was born in Indian Territory and raised on the songs and stories of her Chickasaw culture. Governor Johnston was Te Ata’s uncle.

Te Ata’s journey to find her true calling led her through isolation, discovery, love and a stage career that culminated in performances for a United States president, European royalty and audiences across the world. Yet, of all the stories she shared, none are more inspiring than her own.

Chickasaw Nation Governor Douglas H. Johnston was the first Chickasaw governor to be appointed by the president of the United States in 1906. He served as governor for more than 30 years until his death in 1939.

Governor Johnston’s administration had several legal victories that helped the Chickasaw Nation prosper.

Greene’s many stage credits include “The Crackwalker,” “Jessica,” “History of the Village of the Small Huts” and “DY Lips Oughtta Move Kapuskasing,” for which he won the Dora Maver Moore Award for Best Actor.

Greene co-starred in “Dances with Wolves,” which garnered an Oscar nomination. Since then, his many film credits include “Die Hard with a Vengeance,” “North,” “Green Mile,” “Maverick” and “Snow Dogs.”

His many television credits include “Exhibit A,” “Rocket Science,” “Wolf Lake,” “The Red Green Show,” “North of Sixty” and “Dudley the Dragon,” which earned Greene two Gemini awards and a recurring role on the Netflix original drama, “Longmire.”

Some of Greene’s other projects include “Spirit Bear,” “We Are Boats” “The Shack” and “Wind River.”

Greene resides outside of Toronto with his wife, Hilary, where he continues to write, build boats and work in the entertainment industry.

For more information about Chickasaw Nation Productions, visit ChickasawFilms.com.

“Te Ata” is now available to stream on Netflix.

Michelle Dyer Wins Top Hand at Rodeo

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Curtis Plant

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November 18, 2021

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Michelle Dyer competing in the WRRA Finals Rodeo in Pawhuska in October.
Dyer was named Top Hand of the Rodeo and her horse, Dixie, was named the Top Horse.

Only the top 12 teams make it to the Women’s Ranch Rodeo Association Finals Rodeo. The team Michelle Dyer competed on was one of them. Around 48 women competed. Only 1 can be named the Top Hand. This year that just so happened to be Michelle Dyer. Her Horse, Dixie, was named the Top Horse.

Dyer says she has been competing in rodeos since she was around 12 years of age. Growing up around Newalla, OK, she was exposed to the rodeo way of life early. She was raised in a family with a rich rodeo history on her father’s side.

It was during her senior year that Dyer began to take rodeo competition seriously. It earned her a scholarship to Tishomingo. That’s where she met her husband Jared. They now have two sons, Ace and Jet.

Above: The Spurs awarded to Michelle for being Top Hand at the Pawhuska WRRA Finals Rodeo and the buckle for her horse Dixie – Top Horse.
(Submitted Photo)

Waurika Students of the Month

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November 18, 2021

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Above: The Citizens of the Month of October.
In no particular order: Emerson Capes, Rogers Forst, Kyana Torres,
Angelina Castro, Brantlei Allen,
Camdyn Morris, Amzlee Daily,
Kooper Austin, Bobby Mitchell,
Jantzey Simmons, Jasmine Alvarez,
Cassidy Shea, Jaxon Torrez, Alli Eck, and Ava Beck

Above “Students of the Month” October
Mateo Matamoros, Coral Fox,
Brycen Ramsey, Kylee Tedford,
Braxton Busby, Lynden Pangus,
Kamdyn Thompson, Brisa Martinez
Cache Taylor, Lily Poage, Brooklynn Reed,
Jade Stallcup, Gavin Bohot,
Lundee Brackett, and Landon Brackett

Terral School Students Visit Jefferson County Courthouse

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November 18, 2021

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Terral School’s 6th-8th grade Civics and History students took a field trip to the Jefferson County Courthouse to see how a real courtroom functioned. Kiarra Christenson, Reagan White, Hannah Smith, Jasmarie Cruz, December Harper, Cayden Griffin-Stagner, Luimar Aponte, Wrangler Wickware, Adrian Morales and Luis Olan attended the learning opportunity.

Judge Dennis Gay hosted the group by putting on a “mocked up” preliminary hearing of a criminal case. Judge Gay assembled a team just like you would see in the Courtroom during a hearing. Local attorneys Andrew Benedict, Missy Benedict and Jamie Phipps assisted Sheriff Jeremy Wilson, Undersheriff Jimmy Williams deputies Phillip Wolfenbarger and Derrick Durbin playing the roles that would be seen in a real court setting. During the “hearing” attorneys presented their case for Judge Gay just as they would in a real hearing.

After the completion of the hearing all of the participants fielded questions from the students about their experiences being a part of the judicial system. Judge Gay noted that while many of the reasons someone should have to come to court are negative, there are some really good things that happen in court such as marriages and adoptions. When the group was asked about their career path choices the whole panel agreed that their career choices in the legal and law enforcement fields comes from a desire to help others.

Visiting the courtroom was only half the trip. The students were dismissed from court and went downstairs for a tour of the Jefferson County Jail. Sheriff Wilson and Undersheriff Williams walked the students around the facility and explained the procedures and processes that the Sheriff and his deputies work through when bringing and managing inmates. The trip to the jail was completed with a trip to the dispatch and communications center.

Civics and History teacher Bret Foster stated “I really appreciate everyone at the courthouse for taking time out of their day to talk with our students. I can teach them from a book how our system works but it really sinks in when they get to observe first hand.” Eight grade student Wrangler Wickware noted that “the trip was a lot of fun, it was neat to really see how a judge and attorneys did their jobs.”