September 14, 2018 OKLAHOMA CITY – The accomplished Oklahomans being inducted into the 2018 Oklahoma Hall of Fame class each have selected a friend or colleague to formally present them at the November banquet and induction ceremony.
The 2018 Oklahoma Hall of Fame presenters are: Dave McLaughlin, Oklahoma City, presenting Paul Allen; John Davis, Austin, TX, presenting Mo Anderson; Ladd Drummond, Pawhuska, presenting Ree Drummond; Clayton I. Bennett, Oklahoma City, presenting David Rainbolt; David L. Boren, Norman, presenting Jon R. Stuart; Bryan White, Nashville, TN, presenting Carrie Underwood; Freddy Jenkins and Anita Arnold will accept the medallion on behalf of Charlie Christian, who is being honored posthumously. The 2018 Class will be formally inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame on Thursday, November 15, in Tulsa.
A limited number of individual tickets to the 2018 Oklahoma Hall of Fame Banquet & Induction Ceremony are on sale now and exclusively available by contacting Brenda Schwartz, Director of Honoree Relations, at 405.523.3209, or at bbs@oklahomahof.com. The 91st class will be inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame on the evening of November 15 at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center. These accomplished Oklahomans will join the cast of 691 individuals who have been inducted into the Hall since 1928. In celebration of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame’s 91st Induction Ceremony, past Inductees Becky Dixon and Jane Jayroe Gamble will serve as Mistresses of Ceremonies.
For more information about the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Banquet & Induction Ceremony, including pricing information and a description of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Patron levels, please visit OklahomaHoF.com.
Being inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame is Oklahoma’s highest honor. The portraits of the 2018 Inductees will be added to the permanent collection held by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum in Oklahoma City. Their biographies, photos and videos can be viewed through interactive exhibits in the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Gallery, along with stories of all Honorees.
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 have given outstanding service to the state during their lifetime and to provide educational programming for students of all ages. 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.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Mary Fallin has reappointed Kevin Potter of Bartlesville to represent District 1 on the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission.
District 1 encompasses all of Tulsa, Wagoner and Washington counties, as well as small portions of Creek and Rogers counties in northeastern Oklahoma. Potter’s term will expire Dec. 31, 2024.
“I have learned a great deal during my tenure serving on the Aeronautics Commission,” said Potter. “Due to a statewide study in 2017, we now know that aviation and aerospace is the second largest industry in our state with a $44 billion annual economic impact. Because of these new findings, Oklahoma aviation has been energized. The Aeronautics Commission is positioned to facilitate continued aerospace commerce growth. I am proud to be part of the team to help the State of Oklahoma advance the aviation and aerospace sector.”
Potter is president and general manager of Bartlesville Radio. A licensed private pilot who has flown for nearly 30 years, Potter and his wife, Dorea, have owned and operated Radio Broadcasting since 1980, which consists of four radio stations located in and around the Bartlesville area, and four radio stations in Coffeyville, Kansas. Prior to their move to Bartlesville, the couple owned and operated two radio stations for 15 years while living in Monmouth, Ill.
Potter currently serves on the board of directors for the Oklahoma Broadcasters Association, Salvation Army and the Oklahoma Wesleyan University Foundation. He is also an active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Rotary Club.
Potter played college football at Cameron University in Lawton, Okla., where he also earned his bachelor’s degree.
The mission of the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission is to promote aviation, which includes ensuring that the needs of commerce and communities across the state are met by the state’s 108 publicly owned airports that comprise the Oklahoma Airport System, and helping ensure the viability of the state’s aerospace industry.
Aviation Industry Facts:
The Oklahoma Aviation & Aerospace Industry produces just under $44B in annual economic activity, making it the second largest economic engine in our state. Three segments account for the $44B total: Military aviation, $19.3B; off-airport aviation and aerospace businesses, $13.9B; and the 108 commercial and general aviation airports, $10.6B. Aviation & Aerospace supports 206,000 jobs totaling an $11.7B payroll. The average salary in the industry is $73,300 making it one of the highest average salaries in the state.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Killing Pain, a seven part documentary series chronicling the state’s opioid addiction epidemic launched this week and is available to view, free of charge, on https://www.killingpain.com/.
The in-depth documentary explores the public health crisis in Oklahoma from its origin to steps the state is currently taking to stem the epidemic. The series is presented by Fighting Addiction Through Education (FATE) and produced by Lampstand Media.
The series also features personal stories of addiction, the economic cost of the crisis and the biology of addiction.
Attorney General Mike Hunter appears in multiple episodes to discuss the state’s response and the lawsuit filed by his office last July.
“Killing Pain is a pioneering series that shines light on the tragic story of how our state got in this position and why we are close to ground zero in terms of the addiction epidemic,” Attorney General Hunter said. “I encourage all Oklahomans watch this gripping documentary that covers the many tragic aspects of the crisis and how it impacts all of us. Although the reality of the story is painful, the good news is, Oklahoma is rising to meet this challenge. State officials, business leaders and community organizers are tired of watching our families suffer and are stepping up and doing something about it.
“I appreciate Reggie Whitten and his organization, FATE, for presenting this project and Lampstand for the wonderful care and craftsmanship in which they took in producing it.”
Whitten, who is also a law partner at Whitten – Burrage, founded FATE after the tragic overdose death of his son, Brandon.
“This documentary is part of my ongoing personal mission to show Oklahomans this epidemic is real and it is on our doorstep,” Whitten said. “I also want people to know there is hope and there is help for those who are struggling. No parent should ever have to go through the pain and suffering of losing a child. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about Brandon. I want people to know his story and the thousands of other stories that are similar. The more people we can get to understand the realities of the crisis, the more lives of Oklahomans we will save.”
Other prominent Oklahomans interviewed for the series are U.S. Sen. James Lankford, Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater, Commissioner for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Terri White and Assistant Clinical Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences at Oklahoma State University-Center for Health Sciences Dr. Jason Beamon and more.
Founded in 2010, Lampstand tells powerful stories through film to move people to action and change the world around them. Lampstand works with a variety of clients from corporations to nonprofits, long form docs to social campaigns. The company’s work has been featured on Netflix, PBS, National Geographic and with client around the world in over 30 countries and on six continents.
FATE is a nonprofit educational outreach program that seeks to shed a light on the dangers of addiction and substance abuse in Oklahoma. FATE also focuses on motivational efforts to encourage individuals who are suffering from addiction to get help.
Story Time returns to the Waurika Public Library every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.We read stories to the children and after Story Time there are games and computers that the children can use.Next week, we’ll read “Our Day at the Zoo” released by the Oklahoma City Zoo and Metropolitan Library System.
The Oklahoma City Zoo and Metropolitan Library System rolled out a new, statewide literacy program called Read for Adventure. This program aims to promote literacy within families, increase their contact with the outdoors and provide an outlet for invaluable, nature-inspired discoveries.Educating Oklahomans about wildlife and wild places has always been central to the OKC Zoo’s mission and through this partnership, are inspiring children to read about wildlife and connect with those same animals and plants at the Zoo.
For this program the OKC Zoo and Metropolitan Library System introduced the children’s book “Our Day at the Zoo”.The story is about children that visit and imitate a variety of animals on a trip to the OKC Zoo and Botanical Garden.The book is available for check out at the Waurika Public Library and patrons that check out “Our Day at the Zoo” will receive one free voucher good for general admission for four people to the Oklahoma City Zoo good through March 31, 2019.
The FRIENDS of the Waurika Public Library Fall Used Book Sale is coming soon.The Used Book Sale is currently scheduled for Saturday, Oct 27th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the annex across from the library.We’ll have lots of books to choose from at great prices.Don’t miss it!
The Waurika Public Library increases our selection every week.Recent additions include books from authors such as Sue Grafton, James Patterson, Nora Roberts, Stuart Woods, David Baldacci and more.Come check them out!
For information about events, activities and more, visit our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/WaurikaPublicLibrary/
The council voted to apply for a grant that will enable the town of Ryan to purchase new electronic water meters that will be more accurate and tamper proof.
If the REAP grant is awarded to the town of Ryan, the new meters will allow city employees to accurately read the meters with electronic equipment. The meters can also notify city employees automatically if anyone tampers with them in anyway.
This will cut down on citizens turning the water meters on and off without notifying city hall. This has been an ongoing problem for some time.
In other business, Dennis Underwood addressed the council about the instillation of a Christmas Tree in the intersection of 5th and Washington during the Christmas Season.
Coach Stan Mueggenborg will be constructing the permanent tree stand that will be embedded in the center of the intersection. He assured the council members that it will be done professionally and will not detract from the aesthetics of the brick street.
The council agreed to let the project go forward.
Some at the meeting were wondering why city employees no longer decorated business downtown with Christmas lights. It was explained that this tradition was stopped because it is a liability to the Town of Ryan for its employees to be decorating private businesses.
Business owners are free to decorate their businesses for the Christmas Season if they so wish.
There was also a vote to allow other members of the city council to sign and receive REAP grant awards.
In other business, it was decided that a calender will be utilized to schedule use of city owned property such as the city park.
Anyone wanting to use the park in the future will need to stop by city hall and reserve the date. At this time there is no cost for using the park.
During the meeting all the bills and claims were paid.
The council also voted to raise the pay of Michelle Mellow $87.50 per pay period.
It was noted during the meeting that Michelle Mellow does not sign checks.
Dylan Sheffield addressed the council on behalf of the Regeneration and Community Beautification Group and informed them of a fundraiser scheduled for Sunday September 16th. The group is also scheduling a Fall Festival in October.
Once all business was dispensed with, the meeting was adjourned.
A look at Jefferson County’s Fair —according to the information that I’ve obtained.The 1925 fair was held in Ryan, (So it has been going on in our county for 93 years!).
The very first county fair that I remember attending was held in Waurika, under the “Football
Stadium —- and the “Home Demonstration Agent was Miss Dora Bolinger (notice the Miss –you see the agents were then required to be single!!)Ok, the only other, or first Home Demonstration agent was Miss Jeffie Thompson (she was Bennie Ruth Robertson’s aunt!).
Now to fast forward to 2018 County Fair.I want to personally Congratulate the three Extension County Educators for a tremendous job they did -working overtime to get all the “Fair Entries” labelled and in place – and they are: Tara Brown, Leland McDaniel, and Linda Goodwin.
This years Fair was the best (in my opinion) that we have had, in a long time!!!!
ACCORDING TO WAURIKA NEWS-DEMOCRAT, THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1985
This marks the 60th year of continuous fairs in Jefferson County.Early fairs were held in 1919 and
1920, with a gap of five years before establishing a once-a-year show of Jefferson County exhibits.
The 1925 Fair was held in Ryan with a total budget of $1000 including premiums, judging and advertising.We’ve come a long way to this point with our budget for judging alone almost as much as the total budget for the 1925 event.
Two contests that were introduced at last year’s fair are the Pie Day and Cookie Jar Contests
The Pie Day Contest is to be held August 27 beginning at 11 a.m. Pies will be judged on flavor, texture
of crust, texture of filling and general appearance, individuals will enter pies in one of the following divisions: apple, cherry, peach, other fruit, pecan, chocolate, coconut, custard, lemon, pumpkin, cheesecake and other pies.
The aim of the contest is to recognize that person that has the greatest number of blue ribbons following judging.If a tie exists, ribbons will be counted for each place until the tie is broken.
The Jefferson County champion pie baker will be awarded trophy which has been donated by
Shelton’s Grocery.The Cotton Cooperative will also present the champion with an ice cream freezer (electric) and an enlargement of a color photo of the winner with the awards.
The Cookie Jar Contest will be held Tuesday. Just like the pie day, the judging will be based on
a variety of cookies.Entrants will prepare a wide-mouthed cookie jar filled with an assortment of at least six different types of cookies.Cookies should be of different types (molded, bar, drop. rolled) and should be a variety of colors.For judges convenience, one cookie of each type (in a plastic bag) should accompany entry, so judges won’t have to open jar.
A trophy will be presented to the winning entrant by Shelton’s Grocery.The Cotton Cooperative will also be presenting a space saver can opener and a color photo of winner with a cookie jar.
As a special treat to get viewers involved in these new contests, we are sponsoring a drawing for the Champion Cookie Jar.So be sure to drop by the exhibit and sign up.The drawing will be held Tuesday night at the lamb show.
For details on these and other contests, drop by the extension office to pick up a fair catalog or call the office at 228-2332.
It’s been a really awesome week. We’ve had more rain, our grass is green, and lawns are in desperate need of being mowed (at least my lawn is). I got on my riding lawn mower Sunday afternoon and mowed a 15 foot strip beside my driveway before the mower died. I couldn’t get it started again after numerous tries. It would turn, but, it just wouldn’t start. So, it is still sitting where it died. I moved it about 4 feet off the patch of grass it was sitting on so that I could mow it with my trusty push mower. It makes from a 3 hour job riding to an 8 hour job pushing. I will call Sears and get them to come out and get it going, but, that usually takes about 2 weeks to get that scheduled and I would have a jungle before then.I am getting it done, anyway.
This weekend is the wedding day for Macie Wright and Austin Masoner. Their wedding is to take place just outside of Marlow on Saturday evening.
Ryan has lost another one of our great legends. Raymon West passed away Sunday morning. Raymon was a part of our community for I don’t even know how many years. He served in the military, taught school, and became an administrator in the Ryan Public School, then was employed at ASCOG after he retired from his job as the superintendent of Ryan Public School. Raymon had some very interesting things to tell about what all he went through regarding his life. He fits into the same highly respected class, along with Bob Givens, in my opinion.Even after Raymon’s mind had been invaded by the Alzheimer’s disease, I had gone to visit him while he was a resident of the Cherry Street Assisted Living Facility in Nocona, and he had a photo album in his room that he showed me. He was so very proud of all of his accomplishments and his children and grandchildren, and great grandchildren. His celebration of his life will be Wednesday this week at the First Baptist Church in Ryan. Prayers to the West family during their loss.
I am still being hopeful that someone might want to come into this community and take over my pharmacy so we won’t even have to close our doors at the Ryan Drug Store. I will ask for folks to please be in prayer that the Lord will take care of this situation for this little community. I keep moving the date of closing, thinking that there will be an answer to my prayers, and I will continue to be patient during this time.
Kim’s news for this week:
This week I can’t complain, because of all the needed rain.
Every morning Foxy & I go to the barn together and ride in the nice cool weather.
Summer weather has almost parted and shorter days and longer nights have started.
Everyone have a blessed week. Pray for rain and for each other.
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.
After almost nine years of serving the citizens of Waurika, Police Chief Gary Whittington has stepped down to pursue other opportunities.
He was surprised by friends, colleagues, and family with a special going away party this past Friday at Waurika City Hall.
Many members of the community were present to express their love and appreciation for his many years of faithful service.
He will be missed.
Whittington is being replaced by Justin Winslett, an officer who has been serving the city of Waurika as an officer full time since March of 2011.
Winslett grew up in Comanche and Rush Springs.
He became a reserve police officer for the city of Waurika in 2010.
He became a full time reserve officer in 2011 and then earned his full-time officer CLEET certification in 2012.
Winslett left Waurika for 9 months to be the Assistant Chief in Rush Springs and then returned to Waurika in 2015 to become the Assistant Chief of Police.
He has a wife named Bali and a daughter namedKinzlee.
Winslett looks forward to the challenges and opportunities that await him.
