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Dave Says

By
Dave Ramsey
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Think of an emergency fund as insurance

Dear Dave,

I have decided it’s time to get control of my money. Your plan sounds workable, but I talked to some friends about it, and they think I would be better off using a credit card for emergencies. Can you explain why you advise saving a separate emergency fund?

Leslee

Dear Leslee,

When bad, unexpected things happen, like a job layoff or a blown car engine, you shouldn’t depend on credit cards. If you use debt to cover emergencies, you’re digging a financial hole for yourself. My plan will walk you out of debt forever, and a strong foundation of any financial house includes an emergency fund.

Putting together a fully funded emergency fund is Baby Step 3 of my plan for getting out of debt and gaining control of your money. Before you reach thispoint, however, steps one and two should be completed first. Baby Step 1 is saving $1,000 for a starter emergency fund. Baby Step 2 is where you pay off all debt, except for your home, using the debt snowball method.

A fully-funded emergency fund should cover three to six months of expenses. You start the emergency fund with $1,000, but a full emergency fund can range from $5,000 to $25,000 or more. A family that can make it on $3,000 per month might have a $10,000 emergency fund as a minimum. 

What is an emergency? An emergency is something you had no way of knowing was coming—an event that has a major, negative financial impact if you can’t cover it. Emergencies include things like paying the deductible on medical, homeowners or car insurance after an accident, a job loss, a blown automobile transmission or your home’s heating and air unit suddenly biting the dust.

Something on sale you “need” is not an emergency. Fixing the boat, unless you live on it, is not an emergency. Want to buy a car, a leather couch or go to Cancun? Not emergencies. Prom dresses and college tuition are not emergencies, either. 

Never rationalize the use of your emergency fund for something you should save for. On the other hand, don’t make payments on medical bills after an accident while your emergency fund sits there fully loaded. If you’ve gone to the trouble of creating an emergency fund, make sure you are crystal clear on what is and isn’t an emergency.

Also, keep your emergency fund in something that is liquid. Liquid is a money term that basically means easy to access with no penalties. I use growth-stock mutual funds for long-term investing, but I would never put my emergency fund there. I suggest a money market account with no penalties and full check writing privileges for your emergency fund. 

Your emergency fund account is not for building wealth. It’s an insurance policy against rainy days!

* Dave Ramseyis a seven-time #1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host of The Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. Hehas appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

The Most Important Educator

By
Tom Deighan
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This is second in a series of ten summertime articles mapping the common ground upon which parents, educators, and communities can unite regarding one of the most divisive topics in America: public education. 

The leader of a major school software company once claimed he can predict the success of any student in his system. He did not need any of the demographics, grades, or other records stored in his vast computers. He just needed to know if anyone logged in to check on a child’s progress – not daily, weekly, or even monthly. Just once, he claimed, to check on that child. To think, all my nagging as a parent, wasted!  

Although an infinite number of factors impact a child’s education, we know children excel most when a supportive adult is actively involved, and they don’t always need helicopters circling overhead. They just need to know that their education matters to someone – anyone. I cannot responsibly reduce educational success to a click of the mouse, but I can confidently summarize troves of educational research as well as my entire experience as an educator into one simple principle: The parent is the most important educator in a child’s life. 

The parent is the educational foundation and backbone of not only a child’s education but the entire educational system. This is true for public school, private school, and home school, from preschool to university. Schools can assist in a child’s education, and we can advise and support parents, but we can do very little without parents’ support. Such a statement would not have been controversial just a few years ago, so before you cancel me, let me explain. 

When I use the term parent, I obviously mean parent in the traditional sense, but parent also includes the countless grandparents, relatives, and others providing the invaluable service of nagging their beloved children to get their homework done, to get to school on time, and to behave. We don’t think of it as nagging, but that’s how our kids see it, and children generally know who loves them most by who nags them to be their best, even if it is a simple click of the mouse. (Despite some students’ claims, it is not cyberbullying to check their grades.) Sometimes, however, parents need some help, because without someone gently nagging these kids, none of this works.

I am the youngest of seven, and my dad died before I could know him. My single mom cared deeply about my education, but she did not nag me much because she was either at work (often nights) or too tired, despite how much she deeply loved me. From the earliest age, I took full advantage of the situation to become a very accomplished delinquent, so to most teachers I resembled a feral cat more than an actual child. Nevertheless, in each of the fifteen schools I attended before graduation, at least one adult lovingly nagged me. Sometimes it was my teacher, but sometimes it was the custodian, the cook, or the bus driver. Even when my mom needed a nap, I knew someone was watching over me. 

When I assert that the parent is the most important educator in a child’s life, I understand that the definition of parent varies greatly. I also understand that the smallest contribution of a caring adult can exponentially multiply a parent’s efforts. We educators can assist parents but only with their support, and if we ever forget this, we have lost our way. Thankfully, 80% of parents and 80% of educators agree on 80% of the issues, making this partnership possible. Exceptions exist to any rule, but parents and educators working together can rule any exception, especially when we focus on a child’s needs before politics. Most importantly, however, we must never forget who is the most important educator in a child’s life. 

Tom Deighan is a public educator and currently serves as Superintendent of Duncan Public Schools. He may be reached at deighantom@gmail.com

John William Henderson

By
Curtis Plant
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November 16, 1947 – June 18, 2018

Age: 70

John was born to Herbert Guy Henderson & Sally Katherine Love in Waurika, OK. He proudly served his country in the Army during Vietnam. John owned Superior Concrete Construction for over 30 years. John was also a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and a great friend.  John was preceded in death by his parents & 2 brothers. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; daughters, Michelle Gray & fiancé Billy Gilmore; Vanessa Walker & husb. Jeff; Andrea Henderson; Jessica Henderson & fiancé June Williams; grandchildren, Zachary, Ayden, Brennan, Calen, & Jaidyn, great granddaughter, Norah & many extended family & friends. A visitation will be held at Vondel Smith Mortuary at South Lakes 4000 sw 119th st OKC, OK 73173.  Thurs. & Fri. 4-8pm with family greeting friends 6-8pm on Fri. Services to celebrate his life will be 1PM Sat June 23, 2018 at First Baptist Church of Newcaslte with burial to follow at Fairview Cemetery in Tuttle. Memorials may me made to: Veterans Corner PO BOX 722160 Norman, OK 73070. Please visit www.vondelsmithmortuary.com to leave condolences for the family.

Toby Dawn Throws Angry Apples

By
Tom Deighan
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January 14, 2022 by Tom Deighan

Peanut, our chihuahua, must always visit the backyard first thing in the morning, especially since his bladder surgery. So, when an apple landed next to him in the grass the other morning, he sniffed it and hiked his little leg.  When the second and third apples landed in our yard, however, he ran for the pet door. “Shame, shame, shame!”  My lifelong friend and childhood hero, Toby Dawn McIntyre, was throwing apples over the fence at me. “Shame on you, Mr. Superintendent, for closing schools!” Apples are in short supply, so I immediately began gathering them up (except Peanut’s apple, of course). 

Like all of us, Toby Dawn McIntyre runs hot and cold on this issue. He has shamed me for opening schools, and he has now shamed me for closing them. But in fairness to Toby, I released a book this week about open schools, so I might deserve a few apples tossed my way. (Sweet irony!) Nevertheless, my book is not about shaming schools for opening or closing.  It is about raising awareness of the thousands of unknown schools in our nation that never closed preemptively or indefinitely due to COVID, so fearful districts can reopen permanently with confidence.  Eventually, Toby ran out of apples and calmly sat on our back porch, and Peanut happily hopped on his lap.

This is the first time Duncan voluntarily closed due to COVID, but we closed due to actual conditions, just as we have done for the flu, but this week was a triple-whammy of Flu, COVID, and other illnesses. On Wednesday morning, we hit critical mass. Staff and student absences were growing, and dedicated employees all over the district were coughing. Staying open was courting disaster, so I closed schools.  I am 100% accountable for this decision, so any apples tossed my way are understood. (Just don’t hit Peanut.) 

High profile educational leaders, from both sides, are tossing apples, too.  Some are fearfully demanding schools close preemptively.  Others castigate schools for closing even due to actual sick people, as Duncan did this week.  Both sides of the debate obsess about schools that preemptively close, but they say little about schools that have been open this whole time. Instead of pointing fingers, maybe they can find answers from the “open” schools, so we can end this plague of school closures.

I started my book, The Lonely Struggle for Open Schools, on December 18th last month after hearing about more preemptive closures. Thousands of schools in our nation never closed preemptively or indefinitely, and by telling Duncan’s story, I hoped to raise awareness that open schools are not only possible but also safe as we prepare for the 2022-23 school year. All proceeds will be donated to the DPS Foundation.

I can forgive people who have never run school districts for throwing apples at those of us who do; that’s part of the job.  As we prepare for our fourth school year with COVID, however, parents and educators need hope. We have enough models, data, and examples at this point to empower schools instead of throwing apples. It is time to reassure and support parents with the hope of open schools for the 2022-23 school year. The political theater of shaming schools for opening and/or closing has not gotten us anywhere. This is a new year, so maybe we can finally empower schools to permanently reopen by studying the schools that have been open safely and successfully.  

Toby Dawn, Peanut, and I sat there silently for a moment on the back porch, when he finally spoke up. (Toby, not Peanut.) “I’m sorry, Tommy Boy,” he said, “I was mad and just wanted to throw something . . . I also knew you liked apples.”  For future reference, that’s what Toby calls a win-win, and Peanut certainly agrees.  Meanwhile, keep throwing apples.  Soon, I may have enough for a pie! 

Tom Deighan is superintendent of Duncan Public Schools. You may email him at  deighantom@gmail.com and read past articles at www.mostlyeducational.com

It’s Land Evaluation Time Again

By
Curtis Plant
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0

Penny Edwards, Jefferson County Assessor’s Office data collector, will begin the revaluation cycle in the Terral School District this week.  She will be doing the country first starting in the south part and then will finish in town.  She is driving a 2015 burnt orange Chevrolet Silverado  4 door pickup with the tag number FBF-793.  There are signs on her vehicle and she is carrying business cards.

Every school district in Jefferson County goes through the revaluation process once every four years.  This announcement is to make taxpayers aware that Edwards will be going from house to house in the employ of the assessor’s office.  

Edwards is checking to see if there are any new improvements or improvements that have been torn down or blown away by storms on properties that haven’t been reported by the taxpayer.  She will measure the improvements and take pictures, and this data will be entered into the assessor’s office computer.  The rate used for appraisals is set by the Oklahoma Tax Commission.  These changes will not affect 2018 taxes. But will change for the 2019 taxes.

For information call 580-228-2377 or email jeffersonassr@sbcglobal.net

4H News Roundup February 22 2018

By
Caity Ramsey
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L-R: Isaac Gholson, Jaci Gholson, Cody Ramsey, Kynlee Waters, Caity Ramsey, Kaylee Morris, and Kim Morris.

L-R: Isaac Gholson, Jaci Gholson, Cody Ramsey, Kynlee Waters, Caity Ramsey, Kaylee Morris, and Kim Morris.

The Waurika 4-H Club had a meeting last week to elect officers. Members also made Valentine’s Day Cards for the nursing home.

Junior 4-H Officers are the following: President Cody Ramsey, Vice-President Jaci Gholson, Secretary Caity Ramsey, and Treasurer Kynlee Waters. Senior 4-H Officers are President Kaylee Morris and Vice President Isaac Gholson. The 4-H leader is Kim Morris.

Upcoming events include a Culinary Club meeting on Feb. 21st and the Local Livestock Show at 1 pm on Feb. 22nd. The Jefferson County Livestock Show is March 1st-3rd. Please come out and support your local 4-H and FFA Show Team!

ATTACHED IS A PHOTO OF THE NEW OFFICERS AND LEADER. Under the photo should read, “L-R: Isaac Gholson, Jaci Gholson, Cody Ramsey, Kynlee Waters, Caity Ramsey, Kaylee Morris, and Kim Morris.”

Cole Statement on Retirement of NIH Director Francis Collins

By
Tom Cole
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Moore, OK – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) issued the following statement after it was announced that Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will retire at the end of 2021 after a 12-year tenure under three consecutive presidential administrations. Cole is the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that provides funding for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the NIH. 

“It is with very mixed emotions that I learned of the retirement at the end of this year of Dr. Francis Collins, long-time director of the National Institutes of Health,” said Cole. “Naturally, I am pleased that someone who has worked so long and hard for the American people and for all of humanity is going to have an opportunity to take some time and smell the roses along the way. However, as a strong supporter and advocate of the NIH, I know how much he will be missed at the Institute, by the biomedical community, in the halls of Congress and amongst his scientific peers around the world.

“Dr. Collins has served with exceptional distinction. The only person appointed by three different presidents to directorship of the NIH, I have often called him the ‘best politician in Washington, D.C.’ Who else could be appointed by President Barack Obama, President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden? The fact that Dr. Francis Collins holds this unique distinction is a testament to the high regard in which he is held across the political spectrum.

“A brilliant scientist in his own right, no one matches the ability of Dr. Collins to marshal and focus the scientific community. His concentrated attention to the well-being and health of people all over the world are literally unmatched. During his tenure, Dr. Collins advocated for greater federal investment in the NIH’s budget, and he worked to advance many biomedical research initiatives focused on such ailments as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Indeed, his crowning achievement was probably the critical role he played in coordinating private and public efforts to produce the coronavirus vaccines that were the product of Operation Warp Speed. That effort alone has already saved millions of lives in America and around the world. 

“I do not believe we have heard the last of Dr. Francis Collins. I have no doubt that future administrations of both parties will call upon him for his wise counsel, brilliant insights and exceptional public credibility. While I wish my good friend well in his retirement, I would suggest he not go far because I suspect his country will call upon his services again.”

Eagles Host Southwest Covenant in Playoff Grid Opener

By
Trey Smart
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After last season’s injury problems that hampered the Waurika Eagles throughout the 2021 season, Waurika finds itself in a familiar position in recent years – the post-season.

The opening game of the Class B playoffs for the Eagles will be Friday when Waurika will play host to Southwest Covenant. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Norman West Field.

The last playoff victory for Waurika came against Southwest Covenant in 2020. The Eagles fell in the second round of the playoffs that season.

Last year, the Eagles suffered through a bevy of injuries that resulted in a 3-7 record and no post-season activity in 2021.

The 2022 season has been an exciting one for the Eagles as they have compiled a 6-3 mark against another tough schedule.

Two of the losses came at the hands of traditional Class B powers Laverne and Seiling and the other loss was to district foe Velma-Alma.

In the six victories, the Eagles were rarely tested.

The Eagles have used a powerful rushing game to earn the runner up position in District B-4 and host a first-round playoff game.

Treyton Torrez, the veteran Waurika quarterback has been the ringleader of the offense with over 1,400 yards rushing in the nine-game season.  Torrez has rushed for 21 touchdowns and has tossed 13 touchdown passes.

Complementing Torrez in the backfield has been Jake Smart, another senior who played with Temple the last three seasons. Smart, who missed a couple of games because of injury, has 597 yards rushing for the season on 67 carries – just under 10 yards a carry.

You should not let the Patriots’ 5-4 record deceive you. Southwest Covenant competed in a tough district and three of the four losses have come to teams ranked in the top 10 among Class B schools.

The Patriots will also bring a potent offensive attack to the first-round playoff game. They have scored 50 or more points in three of their last four outings.

The winner of this first-round contest will face the winner of Oklahoma Bible and Balko-Forgan one week from Friday.

If Oklahoma Bible wins, they will host the winner of Waurika and Southwest Covenant. If Balko-Forgan upsets Oklahoma Bible and Waurika wins its first round game, the game would be played at Balko.

Here’s a preview of tomorrow night’s contest:

SW Covenant at Waurika

Time and Place: Friday at 7 p.m. at Cy Sloan Stadium

Ticket Information: Tickets are available for $7 plus $1.35 service fee at gofan.com. You can pay cash but the tickets are $10. Veterans and one guest will be admitted free to the first round of the playoffs.

Records: Southwest Covenant is 5-4 on the year following last week’s loss to Seiling; Waurika brings a 6-3 record into the game after a 36-8 victory over Cyril last week.

District Standing: Southwest Covenant is the third place team from District B-3, while Waurika was the runner up in District B-4.

State Rankings: Neither team is ranked.

Coaches: John Jensen is in his second year at the helm of the Patriots and has a record of 8-10; Joe Allen has been the Eagles’ mentor for five seasons and is 39-17. Allen will not be on the sideline for this game after last week’s ejection against Cyril.

Series History: Waurika leads, 1-0.

Last Meeting: The only meeting with the Patriots was a 58-36 victory by the Eagles in the second round of the 2020 Class B playoffs.

Playoff History: Southwest Covenant is making their ninth appearance in the post-season and the Patriots have a 6-8 record in playoff action. The Patriots have advanced to the state championship once – losing to Tipton. Southwest Covenant has made one other appearance in the semifinals.

Waurika will be making its 30th appearance in the post-season and has a record of 30-28-2. Waurika has one state title and has made a total of five appearances in semifinal action. The Eagles are 1-3-1 in those games.

Team Capsules: Southwest Covenant has rebounded from last year’s 3-6 mark to get into post-season for the first time since 2019. The Patriots will bring a high-powered offense to Waurika as they have scored 50 or more points in four of the five victories. The biggest threat for the Eagle defense will be receiver Gabe Ross, who also has a number of carries rushing. Another receiver, Trace Brunk, has eight catches for 219 yards on the year. The Patriots have struggled a bit on defense as they have surrendered 40 or more points four games.

Waurika’s season has gone just about by the script that could have been written before the season. The Eagles’ offense is led by a trio of talented runners Torrez, Smart and Trent Arellano. Smart and Arellano are also threats catching the ball along with receiver Isaac Camarillo. Smart has been an excellent addition to the Waurika offense and Torrez has rebounded from a serious injury he suffered a year ago. The offensive line has been a strength for the Eagles all season. The defense for Waurika has also been steady throughout the season and will have to be performing at a high level to halt the Patriots’ offensive threat.

Outlook: The key to this game will likely be the play of the defense. Whichever team can stop the other will have a great advantage. It is likely the scoreboard will be lit up and certainly both teams will have to avoid giving extra possessions on turnovers. A special teams score or big play will likely be a factor during the game. Look for the Eagles to advance to round two if they can dominate the game on the defense.

Patriots’ 2022 Results

Ok. Bible 48, SW Covenant 20

SW Covenant 36, Alex 8

SW Covenant 70, Summit Chr. 40

Davenport 20, SW Covenant 18

Cov.-Douglas 50, SW Covenant 14

SW Covenant 52, Okeene 28

SW Covenant 54, Canton 52

SW Covenant 52, Waukomis 14Seiling 54, SW Covenant 8

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