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The Oklahoma Publisher
Official Publication of the Oklahoma Press Association
Vol. 86, No. 12
16 Pages • December 2015
www.OkPress.com
www.Facebook.com/okpress
INSIDE
TECH THE HALLS: Wilma
Newby offers some ideas for
tech themed holiday gifts for
your friends and colleagues.
PAGE 9
PAST PRESIDENTS
REPORT: OPA’s past
presidents share their activities
and travels over the past year.
PAGE 10
POWER OF THE PRESS:
Dr. Terry Clark provides
examples of the important
journalism happening at
Oklahoma newspapers.
PAGE 14
DONATE TO ONF to receive
this Will Rogers print. Details at
OkPress.com/will-rogers.
How much is a copy from the newsrack
Fifty cents is all it takes to buy a single
copy newspaper in 81 Oklahoma towns.
It’s the most common single copy price
of Oklahoma Press Association’s member
newspapers for a weekday publication,
according to data collected in June 2015.
Of those 81 charging 50 cents, 10 are daily
publications.
The next most popular price is 75 cents.
Of the 67 member newspapers charging
that price, 16 are dailies. Twenty-three
newspapers, five of them daily, charge $1
per copy. One newspaper charges $1.25
for a single copy, one charges 35 cents,
and three charge 25 cents.
Daily newspapers charge more for Sunday and weekend issues. Ten newspapers
charge $1.50, four charge $1.25 and four
others charge 75 cents. Other prices show
three sell a single weekend copy for $1.75,
and three others charge $2. Four price
their product for $1.25 and one charges
50 cents.
No matter what price your newspaper
charges for a single copy, it’s a bargain
for readers.
With pages filled with news and advertising, each issue provides a view of the
community, and the services and products
available at local stores.
2
The Oklahoma Publisher // December 2015
OU’s Oklahoma Daily going
to twice a week publication
My Christmas memories
Possibly the best gifts any of us
receive each Christmas are precious
memories.
One of my best memories is from a
Christmas Eve back in the 1980s.
My wife, Linda, and I, along with
our three young sons, were attending a
Midnight Mass at St. Mark’s Episcopal
Church in Seminole. Soon our boys -- the
youngest clutching a teddy bear -- would
be asleep in the pew.
It was a cold, clear night as we entered
the small chapel closed off from the outside world by stained glass windows and
large, red front doors.
Amid red poinsettias and the smell of
fresh evergreen branches, we enjoyed
a traditional Rite I service with incense
burning, candles flickering, Holy Scripture and homily proclaiming the birth of
Jesus Christ.
Right at midnight, we welcomed
Christmas by partaking of Holy Communion kneeling with some 30 other
worshippers at the altar. We sang “Silent
Night” amid candlelight as the service
ended.
But, the “miracle” still awaited.
As we opened the sanctuary doors to
head home, we gasped in surprise and
amazement.
Greeting us was a white winter wonderland.
During the hour and half service –
unexpectedly -- fresh fallen snow had
blanketed Seminole and in the moonlight it was breathtaking -- the scene so
quiet and peaceful – a “Holy Night.”
It was a white Christmas – a time for
me when heaven and earth met – one
that I have never forgotten.
-RTThe month of December is always
a busy time for newspapers covering
various holiday news and events and
pushing to sell as much advertising as
possible. Circulation folks also are very
busy.
Speaking of circulation, I want to
suggest that a year-long newspaper subscription makes an excellent Christmas
gift for friends and relatives. It truly is
a gift that “keeps on giving” all year.
For several years now, I’ve included an
annual subscription to The Oklahoman
as one of the gifts that I give my parents.
-RTI once played Santa Claus in the
annual Seminole Chamber of Commerce
Christmas Parade and then did a firstperson, page 1 story for The Seminole
Producer on the experience.
It was fun waving to the crowds and
“dancing” from atop the big red fire
truck as we snaked our way down Main
Street with the Seminole High School
band leading the way playing lively holiday tunes.
Children and adults alike were ecstatic.
Another highlight for Santa was getting to crown “Miss Merry Christmas”
on back of a flat-bed trailer parked in the
middle of the parade route.
My wife later told me that one of our
young sons pointed out to her that “Santa’s boots look a lot like daddy’s.” Um, I
thought, a future investigative reporter!
-RTBefore I end my Santa story, I also
must confess that you’ve never really
lived until you’ve played Santa for a local
beauty shop’s annual Christmas party
featuring plenty of food and wine.
Imagine, gentlemen, having some 30
“merry” women sit one at a time on your
lap, hug your neck, and tell you what
they want for Christmas while the crowd
laughs and cheers.
I’m certainly glad this was back in the
day -- before cellphones with video cameras and YouTube. Enough said.
-RTFrom my childhood, one of my best
Christmas memories is the morning my
two brothers and I found new bicycles
under our Christmas tree.
I guarantee you that morning was the
“fastest” that I ever delivered my Tulsa
World newspaper route.
-RT-
Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year!
The University of Oklahoma Publications Board voted Dec. 11 to authorize a
reduced schedule for the print edition of
The Oklahoma Daily.
Beginning with the spring semester,
The Oklahoma Daily will be printed
twice a week, on Monday and Thursday.
The final vote was 6 yes, 1 abstention,
1 no and 2 absent.
“This was a student-driven initiative,
but one endorsed by the professional
staff of OU Student Media and President
Boren,” said Nick Jungman, director of
OU Student Media. “We remain committed to a print edition, but we want and
need a print edition that is more than
a dump of the stories we broke online
in the past 24 hours. Our students are
eager to build that.”
Jungman said total advertising revenue for The Oklahoma Daily was
around $350,000. Only four percent of
that comes from digital revenue, with 96
percent from print advertising, he said.
Rob Collins, who serves on the publications board as the Oklahoma Press
Association member representing industry interests, voted against the reduced
print cycle. Collins is executive editor of
the Enid News & Eagle. Lynn Crussell
abstained from the vote.
Tentative minutes of the meeting
show that Professor John Schmeltzer, the Gaylord College of Journalism appointee, was unable to attend the
special meeting but would have voted
against the change.
“This is less of an expense problem
and more of a revenue problem,” said
Collins. “In particular, the OU Daily will
need to improve its online revenue significantly to offset the loss in traditional
display advertising.
“Besides growing online audience
and revenue, I hope to see a commitment in the OU Daily’s print edition to
re-emphasize in-depth and enterprise
journalism. Journalism students are our
future, and we wish them well in their
efforts.”
In a Facebook post, Oklahoma Daily
adviser Judy Gibbs Robinson called it a
“historic day” for the Oklahoma Daily,
which began in 1916.
An online editorial posted Dec. 11 on
oudaily.com concluded with, “We know
its founders started something special
– the independent, student voice of this
university. One hundred years later, our
staff is charting a new course. We treasure The Daily’s past, but now it’s time
to map its future.”
OPA CALENDAR OF EVENTS
MON., JANUARY 11, 2016
DEADLINE FOR NEWSPAPERS’ INTERNSHIP APPLICATIONS
Interested newspapers should complete the application to be considered by a committee of
ONF Trustees. Host Newspaper applications must be postmarked by Jan. 11, 2016. For more
information, visit www.okpress.com/internships.
FRI., JANUARY 15, 2016
WEBINAR: FACT-CHECKING – Cost: $35, 1:00 p.m.
Join Jane Elizabeth of the American Press Institute for an introduction on accountability and factchecking journalism. Learn how fact-checking journalism is different than “regular” reporting and
how to identify factual deception, especially in campaign ads and speeches. Register at www.
onlinemediacampus.com.
MON., FEBRUARY 8, 2016
DEADLINE FOR BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST ENTRIES
Rules for the 2015 OPA Better Newspaper Contest will be mailed soon. If you want to get an
early start, download rules and accompanying pages at www.OkPress.com/opa-betternewspaper-contest.
THURS., FEBRUARY 11, 2016, 9:30 AM
OPA LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT – FREE but please register by Feb. 8
Oklahoma State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City
OPA’s Legislative Summit is free to attend, so all OPA members are encouraged to meet at the
State Capitol on Feb. 11. Lunch will be provided by OPA.
FRI. & SAT., JUNE 10-11, 2016
OPA ANNUAL CONVENTION
DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY SHERATON HOTEL
For more information on upcoming events, visit the OPA website at www.OkPress.com or contact
Member Services Director Lisa Sutliff at (405) 499-0026, 1-888-815-2672 or email LSutliff@okpress.com.
The Oklahoma Publisher // December 2015 3
Judge lifts parts of gag order in OSU parade crash case
An Oklahoma judge partially lifted
the gag order in the Oklahoma State
University homecoming parade crash
case.
The order barred victims, family
members and others from discussing
the murder case against Adacia Avery
Chambers, who is accused of driving
into a crowd of people on Nov. 24 that
killed four people and injured dozens
others.
Associate District Judge Louis Duel
lifted the portion of the order barring
parties in the case and family members
from discussing it. Duel also unsealed
documents in the case except for those
related to Chambers’ mental or physical health.
Chambers’ attorney, Tony Coleman, filed a motion requesting that the
order be lifted.
The Oklahoma Press Association
also requested the order be lifted,
arguing it was overly broad and vague.
The OPA contended that the court
entered a gag order without a proper
hearing and evidentiary foundation.
The OPA also asked the judge to
lift an order sealing future and previously filed documents, arguing that a
proper foundation or sealing records
was never established.
“We felt it was important for us
to make our own points and ask to
be entered as our own party in this
case,” said Mark Thomas, executive
vice president of the OPA.
Oklahoma
Publisher
ISSN 1526-811X
Official Publication of the
Oklahoma Press Association
PUBLISHER
Mark Thomas
mthomas@okpress.com
EDITOR
Alleged open meeting violations result in arrests
The Okemah News Leader recently
reported that three members of the
Okemah City Council were accused of
violating the state’s Open Meeting Act.
Lloyd L. Raimer, Wayne J. Bacon and
Bobby G. Massey were booked into the
Okfuskee County Jail on Dec. 1. Each
council member posted a $2,500 bond.
The three men are scheduled to
appear before Associate District Judge
David Martin on Dec. 15.
The alleged Open Meeting Act violation occurred after a June 22 coun-
The
cil meeting when Bacon, Massey and
Raimer went to the back of the council
chambers and began discussing city
business with other individuals.
Court papers state that after City
Attorney Bruce Coker interrupted the
conversation and informed the three
men that they were violating the Open
Meeting Act, Massey and Bacon immediately left.
After the arrest, Bacon told the News
Leader that he believes the charges and
arrest were politically motivated.
In an interview in the News Leader
in August, Massey told the citizens of
Okemah he was being investigated for
a possible violation of the Open Meeting
Act. After the arrest he told the newspaper that he was glad he will finally have
his day in court.
“When the tapes are released, we
will be able to prove we didn’t break the
law,” Massey told the News Leader.
Violating the Open Meeting Act is
a misdemeanor punishable by up to a
$500 fine and one year in the county jail.
Jennifer Gilliland
jgilliland@okpress.com
OPA OFFICERS
Robby Trammell, President
The Oklahoman
Dayva Spitzer, Vice President
Sayre Record &
Beckham County Democrat
Rod Serfoss, Treasurer
Clinton Daily News
Mark Thomas,
Executive Vice President,
Oklahoma City
OPA DIRECTORS
Tulsa World wins awards from Inland Press
Inland Press Association recently
named the Tulsa World as winner in
three categories for its digital products.
Winners of Inland’s annual Newsroom Contests were announced at an
awards breakfast during the association’s annual meeting in Chicago on
Oct. 27.
OKPrepsExtra.com, the Tulsa World’s
website dedicated to high school sports,
received first place for general excellence for digital journalism.
“OKPrepsExtra is a high school fan’s
delight,” judges wrote. “The layout is
ATTENTION
OPA BUSINESS MEMBERS
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exceptionally well done and the amount
of information provided is impressive.”
The World also earned first place for
creative use of multimedia with its Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial website
at tulsaworld.com/okcbombing. The
site marks 20 years since the terrorist
act and includes chapters dedicated to
the coverage done by the Tulsa World
newsroom.
All-World Football contest, which
gives the public the chance to vote for
their favorite high school players, won
in the best online innovation category.
“This creative online and offline initiative lets the public vote online for the
best high school football players – and
doubled its votes this year to nearly
1.5 million,” the judges wrote. “A key
was aggressive offline, school-by-school
promotion and in social media, including
following each player, school and coach
on Twitter – with a substantial number
of follow-backs and retweets.”
Inland Press Association is a nonprofit organization with more than 1,000
daily and weekly newspaper members in
all 50 states.
Considering a sale?
W. B. GRIMES & COMPANY
has sold over 1,400 newspapers over the
years and appraised thousands of others.
LEWIS FLOYD handles the Southwest and Southern States.
Lewis Floyd – (850) 532-9466; lfloydmedia@gmail.com
What’s Your Paper Worth? Find Out Today.
A Free Confidential Appraisal awaits via our web site.
www.MediaMergers.com
Jeff Funk, Past President
Enid News & Eagle
Brian Blansett, Tri-County Herald
Ted Streuli, The Journal Record
Ray Dyer, El Reno Tribune
Mike Strain, Tulsa World
John Denny Montgomery,
The Purcell Register
Mark Millsap,
The Norman Transcript
3601 N. Lincoln Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73105-5499
(405) 499-0020
Toll-Free in Oklahoma:
(888) 815-2672
www.OkPress.com
news@OkPress.com
www.Facebook.com/OKPress
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THE OKLAHOMA PUBLISHER (USPS 406920) is published monthly for $12 per year
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OK.
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4
New owners at Madill Record
This is tobacco
marketing.
Kids who see it are more likely to smoke.
Mark Codner and Brett Wesner finalize the sale of The Madill Record.
It’s a fact:
Research shows that kids who shop at stores with tobacco
marketing two or more times a week are 64% more likely
to start smoking than their peers who don’t.
Source: Henriksen, Schleicher, Feighery and Fortmann. Pediatrics: The Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics,
July 19, 2010. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2009 3021
You may not notice,
but they do.
Talk with your kids about tobacco –
learn more at StopsWithMe.com.
Mark and Sherry Codner and John D.
and Grace E. Montgomery announced
the sale of The Madill Record, effective
Wednesday, Dec. 2 to Brett Wesner and
the Cordell Beacon Company, Inc.
Mark Codner said, “On behalf of my
wife, Sherry, and the Montgomerys, we
want to thank our friends and neighbors
in Marshall County for their support for
more than 21 years. We send our sincere
thanks to the advertisers that we have
partnered with over the years, and to the
correspondents and contributors who
have graciously provided information on
their communities. Most of all we say
thanks to those who read and support
The Madill Record.”
Wesner is the publisher of 10 other
newspapers located in both Oklahoma
and Texas.
“Because Brett has a group of newspapers, he brings resources to The Madill
Record that will ensure its success well
into the future,” Codner said. “We hope
that you will welcome him with the same
open arms that you did for us nearly 22
years ago.”
The sale of The Madill Record has
been in process for several months.
Codner said he believes Wesner will be
an asset to Madill, Kingston and all of
Marshall County.
Wesner has been publishing newspapers for 27 years, beginning in southwest Oklahoma.
“I was born in Cordell, which has
a wonderful rural weekly newspaper
tradition, and I grew up knowing the
importance of the local newspaper in our
communities,” said Wesner. “In working
with local editorial staff at what are now
11 locations in Texas and Oklahoma, I
have tried to continue that tradition.
“My ties to Madill go back far. I began
working with then-Senator David Boren
soon after graduating from college, and
Jim Pate—the former long-time owner of
the Record, took me under his wing and
taught me a great deal about doing my
job in working with publishers. I have
always been grateful to him, the Pate
family, and John D. and Gracie [Montgomery] for the advice and support they
have given me.
“Madill as a community has always
punched far above its weight, and I’m
honored to get to be a part of it,” Wesner
said.
Roger Pugh sells Piedmont, Okarche
newspapers to ad manager Anderson
The Piedmont-Surrey Gazette and
the Okarche Chieftain are under new
ownership.
Roger Pugh, who owned the two
newspapers for almost 23 years under
the company name of Hometown News,
Inc., sold the two publications to Randy
Anderson.
Anderson, who serves as the newspaper’s advertising director, will operate
the newspapers under the company of
Piedmont Publishing, L.L.C.
Anderson said he has spent the past
eight years studying how the newspaper
business has evolved and will be bringing many of the ideas he has learned to
the Gazette and Chieftain.
“We will soon begin podcasts regarding local issues, we will completely renovate our website and begin utilizing
more Twitter, Facebook and several
other social media outlets to reach readers on the platform they use most often,”
he said.
Anderson also plans to bring a new
monthly glossy women’s magazine to
the area, as well as an area-wide news
magazine called “Piedmont Express,”
which will mail to 25,000 homes starting
in early 2016.
“I have been in the newspaper publishing business for 25 years and am
energized to be right here for 25 more
as we continue to watch the ever-changing world of community journalism,”
said Anderson.
Anderson will continue to serve as
advertising director in addition to taking on the role of publisher. Pugh plans
to stay on at least temporarily as news
editor.
OPA board members meet in Oklahoma City
Board of Directors met Nov. 12, 2015, in
Oklahoma City.
Officers attending were President
Robby Trammell, The Oklahoman, and
Treasurer Rod Serfoss, Clinton Daily
News. Directors attending were Past
President Jeff Funk, Enid News &
Eagle; Ted Streuli, The Journal Record;
Ray Dyer, El Reno Tribune; Mike Strain,
Tulsa World; John Denny Montgomery,
The Purcell Register, and Mark Millsap,
The Norman Transcript. Also at the
meeting were OPA/S Executive Vice
President/Secretary Mark Thomas and
Member Services Director Lisa Sutliff.
Vice President Dayva Spizter from
the Sayre Record & Beckham County
Democrat, was unable to attend.
Trammell called the meeting to order
and asked board members to review
minutes of the Sept. 17, 2015, meeting.
The minutes were approved as presented.
FINANCIAL REVIEWS
Financial reviews included OPA
and LSP financial statements; the cash
consolidated report and OPA and LSP
investment reports all for the period
ending Oct. 31, 2015, as well as a membership dues payment report.
ACTIVITY REPORTS
In activity reports, Strain said the
Education Committee met on Oct. 29 to
plan the 2016 OPA Convention, which
will be held for the second year at
the downtown Oklahoma City Sheraton
Hotel. The board previously approved
the committee’s recommendation to
change the convention schedule starting on Friday and ending Saturday night
with the awards banquet. Strain said
Friday sessions would focus on management with Saturday sessions suited for
all staff members.
The Government Relations Committee report included a review of the legislative interim studies and other issues
Thomas is monitoring.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business, Thomas said the
state’s Office of Management and Enterprise Services has accepted bids to sell
the building that houses the State Publishing Museum in Guthrie.
Board members also discussed a
third-party gag order filed in Logan
County on Nov. 4 in the case against
Ad in Hobart Democrat-Chief asks
drug dealers to snitch on each other
The Hobart Democrat-Chief ran an
ad on Nov. 5 asking area drug dealers to
rat out their rivals.
Todd Hancock, editor of the Democrat-Chief, said his first reaction to the
ad was that it was clever and funny.
“I thought why not?” Hancock said. “I
didn’t see any problem with it.”
Hancock said the ad “stirred up a lot
of conversation” and that Sheriff Bill
Lancaster said they received several
tips.
“I’m not sure if they got any from
competing drug dealers, though,” Hancock said.
But the ad did sell a few papers,
“which is always good,” said Hancock.
The ad ran twice. Lancaster paid
around $60 for the first run.
“I thought it was such a neat idea that
I gave him the second one for free,” said
Hancock.
Hancock said newspapers can help
sheriffs in their efforts to stop drugs.
“We’ve always been willing to run stories that the sheriff provides, even when
it’s not specific to an arrest or case,” he
said.
“I think that helps foster a good rela-
tionship with the sheriff and lets him
know we are all on the same side.”
Similar ads have run in other parts of
the country. In July, NBC News reported
that a Georgia sheriff ran a similar ad in
his hometown newspaper inviting dealers to give the name, address, phone
number and operating hours of their
competitors and their customers.
Adacia Chambers, who is accused of
driving her car through a crowd of
people at the Oklahoma State University homecoming parade on Oct. 24.
The gag order proposed to limit speech
of all relevant parties, as well as “any
persons associated with them” and prohibits them from “making extrajudicial
public comments to news reporters,
media representatives, or in any other
manner or forum reasonably likely to
be publicly disseminated or published.”
After further discussion, board members approved opposing the gag order.
OPS BOARD MEETING
Board members suspended reading of the Sept. 17, 2015, minutes and
approved them as presented.
Financial statements for the period
ending Oct. 31, 2015, were reviewed and
acknowledged by the board.
The Did-Not-Run Advertising report
for September and October 2015 was
reviewed at the meeting. Staff reports
showed 43 DNRs from 31 newspapers.
In an effort to reduce the number of
DNRs, OPS advertising staff increased
the number of ad reminder emails to
newspapers from once to twice weekly.
Board members received an update
on a current advertising buy by Tobacco
Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET)
and its advertising agency, Visual
Image. Personalized letters that included run dates, expected revenue and a
color sample were mailed to newspapers
receiving TSET ads.
OPS is working with the Made in
Oklahoma Program to show how newspapers can work for them by running
2x2 and classifieds ads in the weekly
network advertising program.
The advertising network, which
underwent a rate and zone restructure
in mid-September, now has a dozen
new clients with multi-week contracts
on a frequency discount program. In
addition, OPA-member newspapers sold
several ads.
Following a management review, the
board renewed Thomas’s management
contract for calendar year 2016. Board
members also asked Thomas to draw up
a three-year management contract for
2017-2019 to be reviewed and approved
by the executive committee at a future
time.
You’ve Got Questions!
• Can I photograph minors without consent?
• Can police deny access to records
by issuing a press release?
• Should I alter my archives
when a person demands it?
• Can I report inaccurate
tesimony given in open court?
• What are the laws about liquor advertising?
These are questions answered by the attorneys for the OPA
Legal Services Plan members in recent months. Newspapers always
need timely legal advice on issues related to newspaper publishing.
You should join OPA’S
LEGAL SERVICES PLAN!
See www.OkPress.com/LSP or contact Lisa Sutliff
at (405) 499-0026 or toll-free in Oklahoma 1-888-815-2672
6
Donate
to ONF
A donation to the
Special postage deal fades away
BY TONDA F. RUSH
SPECIAL FROM PUBLISHERS’ AUXILIARY
WASHINGTON – The long struggle
between the newspaper industry and
Valassis Inc. over the direct mail company’s special postage discounts from
the U.S. Postal Service appears to have
ended with a whimper.
In November, Valassis filed a report
saying it had carried out no mailings eligible for the special discount.
It announced it had paid an agreed
$100,000 penalty to USPS last September.
The tension between newspapers
and its long-time insert customer began
in April 2012 when the Postal Service
requested a special contract rate for
Valassis that was designed to pull advertising inserts out of Sunday newspapers
and into a new weekend Valassis direct
mail package.
If the program had launched and
successfully mailed 1 million qualifying
mail pieces, Valassis could have earned
a 22 percent to 34 percent Standard Mail
postage discount.
The newspaper industry fought the
proposal, even taking it to the U.S. Court
of Appeals. But in the end, the market
ruled.
Valassis announced it had launched
programs in May 2013 in Atlanta, Phoenix and Washington. It reported mailing
2 million pieces in 2013, but that these
were not qualifying pieces under the
rules of the contract agreement. There
were no mailings in 2014 or 2015.
NNA President Chip Hutcheson, publisher of the Princeton (KY) Times-Leader, said the $100,000 fine was a fitting
end to an unfortunate chapter.
“We want to think of this whole experience as an episode of recession fever
at the Postal Service,” said Hutcheson.
“They were facing grim markets, as
we all were, and USPS was grasping at
straws. The fever ignited this idea of
picking winners and losers in the advertising marketplace for the sake of maybe
getting in some new mail volume.
“We at NNA didn’t think it would
work, and it didn’t. So USPS got $100,000,
and spent unreported thousands in lawyers and analysts’ time. The newspaper
industry and Valassis spent heavily to
advance their various viewpoints.
“And in the end, there was no new
mail. Newspapers were undoubtedly
hurt in those test markets and Valassis
couldn’t come up with the advertisers.
“There is a moral to this story that
every parent knows: don’t play favorites
in the family. No good comes of it. We
are glad this chapter is over and we
intend to continue to work with Valassis
to develop its markets and with USPS
to improve the mail. Money is tight. We
need to plant our seeds where they can
grow.”
Oklahoma Newspaper
DEATHS
Foundation will support
its efforts to improve the
STEVE BELCHER,
longtime employee
for the Clinton Daily News, died Nov. 25,
2015. He was 64.
Belcher was born Oct. 4, 1951, in
Enid and was raised in Woodward. In
1973 he earned his journalism degree
from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
Belcher’s journalism career began at
the Woodward County Journal before
joining the Clinton Daily News, where
he stayed for the next 42 years. During that time he served as news editor,
covered the education beat and wrote a
weekly column called “It’s a Thought.”
In 2015, Belcher’s health forced him
to retire.
Belcher is survived by his daughter,
Ali Belcher of Edmond, and several
grandchildren.
Education efforts.
IDA KATHERINE ROBERTS, longtime
publisher of the Fairfax Chief, died Nov.
12, 2015. She was 68.
Roberts was born April 10, 1947,
in Shidler and graduated from Shidler
High School in 1965.
She spent about 20 years at the Fair-
fax Chief, as both an employee and
publisher. She bought the newspaper
in 2001.
Roberts was a member of the Fairfax
Hospital Board. She was known for her
organizational skills at the newspaper
and her home.
She enjoyed coffee with her friends,
crossword puzzles and needlework.
She is survived by her daughters,
Carrie Short and husband Jeremy of
Tahlequah, and Roxanne Dixon and husband Ricky of Shawnee; five grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
ONF relies on donations
TONY A. WILLIAMS, a former reporter
standing journalism school graduates by
the Society of Professional Journalists.
During his journalism career, Williams worked as a reporter for The
Oklahoman and United Press International. He also worked on several political campaigns and was a speech writer
for AT&T.
In addition to working for newspapers, Williams put his journalism skills
to good use as a radio personality, news
anchor and traffic reporter in Oklahoma
and Texas.
Williams is survived by his son, Brian
Andrew Tony Williams and wife Carrie
of Oklahoma City; one grandson and
several nieces.
state’s newspaper industry
and quality of journalism.
ONF’s programs include
training and education for
professional journalists,
scholarship and internship
programs for journalism
students, and Newspaper in
and memorial contributions
to fund these programs.
If you would like to make
a donation, please send a
check to:
OKLAHOMA
NEWSPAPER
FOUNDATION
3601 N. Lincoln Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
for The Oklahoman, died Oct. 23, 2015.
He was 63.
Williams was born in Holdenville. He
graduated from the University of Central
Oklahoma in Edmond with a degree
in journalism. While in school, he was
elected as one of the United States’ out-
In Memory of Our Friends & Colleagues
Royal Glen ‘Sonny’ Stone
Nov. 2, 2014
Mac Leone Bradley
Nov. 17, 2014
Walter Joe Hancock
Dec. 3, 2014
Charles ‘Chuck’ Downs
Nov. 7, 2014
Gloria Dee Leatherock
Nov. 18, 2014
David Lee Hall
Dec. 19, 2014
Lisa Rollins
Nov. 13, 2014
Pendleton Woods
Dec. 1, 2014
Maebeth Cain Ray
Dec. 31, 2014
Muskogee Phoenix welcomes
John Newby as new publisher
John Newby has been named as
publisher of the Muskogee Phoenix.
He comes to Muskogee from Illinois
where he served as publisher for The
Times in Ottawa.
Newby began his newspaper career
in 1990 as a circulation district manager at the Omaha World-Herald in
Nebraska. He continued moving up
the management ladder before joining
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.
in 2002. He was promoted to publisher
of the group’s Ottawa Times paper in
2007.
“We are delighted John is coming
aboard to lead our Muskogee Phoenix team in serving this very important Eastern Oklahoma market,” said
Steve McPhaul, chief operating officer
of CNHI, parent company of the paper.
Newby is currently North American board president of the International News Media Association.
Newby and his wife, Kathy, have 9
grown children and 22 grandchildren.
He is a former U.S. Air Force certified
weather forecaster and coached youth
sports for many years.
New director of development at OU
Lee Reynolds is the new director of
development at the Gaylord College of
Journalism and Mass Communication at
the University of Oklahoma.
Reynolds returns to Oklahoma after
three decades in Connecticut and the
New York City area, where she held
positions in fundraising, sales and marketing. Her most recent position was
director of development at CT Challenge, a cancer survivorship not-for-profit based in Southport, Conn.
Reynolds grew up in Norman, where
her family owned an automotive dealership. She is a 1977 graduate of OU’s
journalism program.
“Ms. Reynolds understands how
to nurture a philanthropic culture, by
working closely with donors and corporate associates,” said Ed Kelley, interim
dean. “She has a passion for helping provide as many opportunities as possible
for our students.”
Reynolds fills the position vacated by
Kaneisha Lloyd, who accepted a position
in the OU College of Arts and Sciences.
Gridiron Show falls off the grid
There won’t be a Gridiron Show in
Oklahoma City this year.
The Oklahoma City Gridiron Club,
founded in 1928, voted to end the annual
show that poked fun at local politicians
and current events at a meeting on Dec.
6.
All funds in the club’s checking
account will be transferred to the Oklahoma City Gridiron Foundation, ending
the club as an active 501c4 association.
Problems with recruitment, retention
and leadership involvement contributed
to the decision, said Andrew Harris,
treasurer of the OKC Gridiron Club.
“These issues, coupled with ongoing
decreases in show attendance, gross
profits and an increasingly difficult
donor environment, make continuing on
with the annual show a daunting proposition,” he said.
Foundation trustees also elected to
move forward with a plan to cease its
operations at the conclusion of the 201516 academic year. The foundation is
finalizing plans for divesting its assets.
SEEKING GENERAL MANAGER
The Sentinel-Record in Hot Springs, Arkansas, seeks an experienced leader who is innovative and
results-oriented. He or she will manage all the operations of this seven-day a week newspaper.
This individual must possess exceptional leadership, marketing and communication skills as well as be
dedicated to growing all aspects of a profitable newspaper. The ability to think strategically and work with
managers to develop and execute plans is essential.
We are looking for a proven leader with excellent organizational, financial and management skills.
Community involvement is also necessary and encouraged. Ideal candidates will have experience as a
general manager or advertising sales leader of a newspaper.
The Sentinel-Record is owned by WEHCO Media, an industry leader offering a competitive salary
commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, 401K
and profit sharing.
Please send resume and salary requirements to
Terri Leifeste at terril@newstribune.com
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THE OG&E PHOTO CONTEST
8
OCTOBER 2015
DAILY WINNER:
DAVID
BITTON
Stillwater News Press
OCTOBER 2015
WEEKLY WINNER:
LOUISE
RED CORN
The Bigheart Times
People huddle over a young child while others react in disbelief moments after a speeding vehicle was driven into
two crowds of people during the Oklahoma State University homecoming parade in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday,
Oct. 24, 2015. Four were killed and at least 46 were injured.
Photo by David Bitton, Stillwater News Press, October 25, 2015
The October 2015
contest was judged
by a member of the
Oklahoma Journalism
Hall of Fame.
View all winning photos at
www.OkPress.com/
OGE-Photo-Contest
ENTER AND WIN
A $100 CHECK
FROM OGE
ENERGY CORP.
For more information
about the photo
contest,visit
www.okpress.com/
oge-photo-contest
“I don’t like having my picture taken, Ma’am,” said the boy in the photo, peeking around his cowboy hat at the
Little Britches Rodeo finals in Pawhuska.
Photo by Louise Red Corn, The Bigheart Times, October 29, 2015
It’s time … for OG&E’ss new SmartHours Price Plans.
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Annual Christmas wish list for the newspaper office
Computer Notes
from the road
by Wilma (Melot) Newby
wnewby@okpress.com
I’ve got lots of good suggestions for
Christmas gifts this year including hand
held scanners, wireless hard drives and
new scanners for police news systems.
I know of one person at a newspaper
who gave herself the gift of a new chair
with USB ports on the side
The market for handheld scanners
is a moving target but one popular line
seems to be the VuPoint Magic Wand
Portable Scanner with auto-feed dock.
Coming in at around $100, it comes with
a 32GB SD Card and will scan at 2100
DPI. The auto-feed dock turns it into a
regular scanner that paper can be fed
through. The wand lets you scan things
that aren’t exactly flat.
The WS1080 Digital Scanner is a
newer police scanner with Motorola P25
Phase I, X2-TDMA and Phase II capabilities. All USA/Canada frequencies are
pre-programmed onto the included SD
card making it ready to use out of the
box.
The Motorola P25 is a new brand
that some police departments are using.
Older scanners don’t hear the newer
stations so it forces anyone who wants
to hear what is going on to buy a new
one. Whistler is the leader in these scanners as far as I can tell and has a price
range of $399 to $599. You can check
out their models at www.whistlergroup.
com. Make sure the one you get has the
newer bandwidths.
Wireless hard drives are something
else that are useful and fun. These
drives can be attached to your WiFi system just like a wireless printer. It’s great
to store all those extra photos instead of
filling up your internal hard drive.
A new model that does all this is the
WD 2TB My Passport Wireless Portable
External Hard Drive – WIFI USB 3.0.
USB 3 is one of the fastest ways with a
wire to transfer files. It’s priced at $174.
Also look at the Seagate Wireless Plus
1TB Portable Hard Drive with Built-in
WiFi for $139. There’s also a 2TB model.
Both brands are reliable for any kind of
hard drive.
How about a USB heating pad for
your office chair? ValueRays® Chair
Warmer, for $34.95, is great for a chilly
office. If you get one, plug it into one of
the surge protectors that has a USB port
– not your computer.
Those surge protectors with USB
ports are a great gift. Not only does it
protect your computer, it gives you a
port to charge your phone.
If I can’t convince you to put money
into surge protectors that go under the
desk, how about one that sits on the
desktop? Easy access to USB ports is a
good thing and saves computer ports.
Look for ones with higher voltage ratings that really protect your equipment
when needed.
TURN GRAYSCALE INTO B&W
As I was helping transition a newspaper from paste-up to pagination this
month, I was reminded of an often forgotten Photoshop tip for scanning in
line art.
It’s a fast and easy way to get a
true black-and-white piece of art from a
scanned image.
Generally, when you scan a piece of
text or art it comes in as color, which
you then convert to grayscale. People
often stop at this point, adjust the art and
run it in the newspaper. This can make
your type or artwork look gray instead
of black and white.
But if you use the following steps,
you’ll get true black-and-white art from
your scanned copy.
To start, scan the art in color at a
higher resolution, anywhere from 600
to 1200 DPI.
Now open in Photoshop – even Gimp
would do – and convert it to grayscale
(Image > Mode > Grayscale). If your art
has a lot of gray in it, try going to Image
> Mode > Bitmap.
The trick is to use the option from
the pop-up menu. Hold down the pop-up
menu under Method > Use >, go to 50%
Threshold and leave the Output at least
300 pixels per inch. Now click OK and
see if you like the results.
I’ve had much better luck with OCR
programs reading the text correctly
using this method. You can even use
it to enlarge small black-and-white art
from the Internet.
INTERNET ART
Speaking of art from the Internet, did
you know there’s a way to search for
art on Google that’s public domain or
royalty free?
Just go to Google.com, click on images and type in your search criteria. Now
click on “Search Tools” and another
menu bar will show up. On this one,
click Usage rights > Labeled for reuse. Now
you’ll only see art that you can legally
reprint in your publication. Bing now
has a similar option. Go to Bing.com,
click on images, put in your search criteria and then look for the word License.
You can use Public domain or Free to share
and use. Play it safe and only use artwork
from the Internet that doesn’t have a
copyright.
HACK ATTACKS
Over the Thanksgiving weekend I
heard from three people who had their
computers hacked by the same scam.
All three received a call from someone saying they were from an Internet
provider and that their computer had
been hacked. They were then asked for
permission to log into the computer to
fix the problem.
Two of these people allowed someone to get into their computer. That
person immediately started looking for
passwords and credit card numbers –
they were bold enough to ask for the
credit card numbers as well as other
information.
When they realized it was a scam,
they had to call their credit card company to report a security breach.
I had both of them turn off their Mac
computer, unplug it from the Internet
and turn on the firewall (under Apple >
System Preferences > Security). You may
have to click on the lock at the bottom
of the screen to unlock it. (If your computer is on a network and you need to
share the machine with others look at
the Advanced settings.)
The firewall should help keep out
cyber criminals. But if you already let
them into your computer you need to
run some spyware software such as
Kaspersky, Trend Macro or Norton, to
find out if they left any spyware on your
machine.
Speaking of antivirus software, the
free version of Sophos stopped supporting older OSX systems. It now starts
at OSX 10.8. If your operating system
is older than that, you may not be fully
covered.
EL CAPITON & INDESIGN
What we know so far about El Capiton (Mac OS 10.10) and InDesign CS6
in real production at a newspaper is that
they work. That’s great news but there’s
a very big “but.”
But it needs more than 4GB of RAM
memory to run InDesign, Photoshop
and the Internet at the same time. That
means you need to upgrade to 8GB
despite Apple saying you only need 1GB.
It runs s-l-o-o-o-w on a 4GB Mac.
Also, Adobe needs Java for OSX 2015001 to run its programs, but El Capiton
installs a newer version so you have to
reinstall the correct one. You can download that at Apple’s site: https://support.
apple.com/kb/DL1572?locale=en_US
By the way, this isn’t the Java that
runs within the browsers that has been
declared unsafe.
OPA Computer Consultant Wilma Newby’s column is
brought to you by the Oklahoma Advertising Network
(OAN). For more information on the OAN program,
contact Oklahoma Press Service at (405) 499-0020.
10
O K L A H O M A
P R E S S
A S S O C I A T I O N
Past Presidents Report
NOVEMBER 2015
OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
compiles this annual
Past Presidents Report as a way of
recognizing and keeping in touch
with those who dedicated their time and
efforts to serve the press association.
Past presidents and their guests
gathered Nov. 12 for a reception and
tour at The Oklahoman followed
by dinner at the Colcord Hotel in
downtown Oklahoma City.
1974
MARIBETH PATE (JIM)
Maribeth is celebrating 16 years in
Dallas this year. Other milestones this
year include her last grandchild, Catie
Rose Pate, entering college; the birth
of another great-grandson, Oleg Higs;
and spending the summer with her great
niece, Jacklyn Pate, who is a sports
management grad student.
Bill and Kathe Pate, Maribeth’s
Chicago-based children, are relocating
to the Houston area when Bill assumes
the CEO role for Par Pacific Holdings.
Maribeth recently enjoyed a visit
from great-grandchildren Lane and
Olden Higgs, Jennifer Pate and Jeret
Higgs. Jennifer is the daughter of the
late Herb Pate, who served on the OPA
Board of Directors.
She recently made a trip to Norman
to celebrate OU homecoming with two
of her Oklahoma City area sisters.
Maribeth stays busy in her community, following her favorite sports teams
and with the goings and comings of her
children and grandchildren.
1975
DICK & RHONDA HEFTON
Dick and Rhonda sold one of their
condos at Waterford to former Gov.
Frank Keating in April.
Dick continues to serve as a mentor. He recently finished the program
with Pedro, who he mentored from first
to sixth grade, and has now taken on
Pedro’s younger brother, Edgar.
Another big change in Dick’s life was
cataract surgery. He no longer needs
glasses.
Dick cut the ribbon at a ceremony for
Rose State College’s first on-campus
housing complex, a nearly $10 million project. He also cut the ribbon on
the Beta Theta Pi house remodel at the
University of Oklahoma.
He made his second Civil War/
Golf Trip to Gettysburg-Appomattox
for a week in May. The trip included
stops at Gettysburg, Antietam, Harpers
Ferry, Fredericksburg, Richmond,
Charlottesville (Monticello), Lexington,
Lynchburg, Appomattox, Arlington and
Baltimore.
Rhonda keeps busy with Hope
House in OKC, Shiloh Camp and
the Westminster Church kitchen. She
attended the wedding of a 94-year-old
friend, John Ballard, the former owner
of Ballard’s Design.
The Heftons spent the month of
August at Crested Butte, Colo., with
family, friends and guests including
Dick’s double cousin, a sports columnist
for the Colorado Springs Gazette.
1977
PAT DYER (JACK)
Pat is still working in the church, and
going to basketball games for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She recently had a wonderful trip to
Colorado with her daughter, Kelly Dyer
Fry.
“The aspens were in bloom,” she
wrote. “What a pretty sight.”
Pat said God knew what he was
doing when he gave Jack and her their
children and grandchildren. “They have
been a wonderful blessing in my life,”
she said.
Pat treasures all the memories she has
of the OPA.
“What fun,” she wrote. “Love to all.”
1979
KEN & BILLIE JOE REID
Ken Reid wrote that the year has been
full of tragedy and happiness.
In March, he lost his wife of 67 years,
Phyllis. Phyllis was 81.
On Aug. 14, Ken married Billie Joe,
a friend of the family for 60 years. Ken
and Billie Joe are living in Weatherford,
where Ken’s family has lived for the
past 43 years.
The Reids are looking forward to the
future and are blessed with good health.
They are looking forward to gardening, traveling and redecorating.
Ken said his family is praying for
son-in-law Joe Colley, RuthAnne’s husband, who is currently undergoing treatment at Houston’s M.D. Anderson.
“Our prayers are also for all of
you,” Ken said.
1980
TOM MCCURDY
Tom reports that he’s been busy with
family and friends since last year.
He has three grandkids at OU, one at
East Central, and one granddaughter is
a freshman at Purcell High School and
a standout young golfer. Her name is
Jade McCurdy, and she will be a member of the defending State Champion
girls’ golf team next spring.
Tom enjoyed his OU Basketball
Reunion in August where he re-connected with his former teammates . . .
including Perry “Buddy” Russell from
Ardmore. Buddy missed nearly all of
his senior season at OU because of a
knee injury but that did not keep him
out of the military the next year where
he became a highly-decorated jet pilot
in Vietnam and also was the pilot on
a helicopter/gunship. Buddy was shot
down twice but escaped the Viet Cong.
He was later nominated for the Medal
of Honor for his heroics in going back
to rescue some Marines who were surrounded. Buddy and his wife now live
in Chloride, Ariz. Buddy will be honored as the “Patriot of the Game” at one
of the upcoming OU games, McCurdy
said.
1984
DON & SALLY FERRELL
The big event for the Ferrells this
past year was Sally’s induction into the
Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame.
This came at the annual meeting of
the Oklahoma Historical Society at the
Artesian Hotel in Sulphur.
“She said she didn’t deserve it,”
wrote Don. “I told her I had arthritis and
I didn’t deserve that, either.”
The Ferrells had four “vacations”
to Houston this year for Don’s quarterly checkup and treatment at M.D.
Anderson cancer clinic – all good
reports.
Don had minor surgery to correct a
hernia in October. The problem showed
up in the numerous CT scans he had
over the past three years looking for
cancer.
“I’m on limited duty for awhile,” he
said.
1986
JIM & BECKY MAYO
Jim and Becky still work a little, but
the newspaper operation is now in the
hands of son Jeff and his wife Beth.
In November 2014, Becky was diagnosed with breast cancer. Following a
mastectomy, chemo and radiation treatments, she is doing fine.
Jim suffered intestinal blockages in
March and April, which came to a climax in May with surgery to remove a
few inches of his upper intestine.
“Son Jeff and I travel to Houston
every three months to get my throat
stretched at M.D. Anderson,” wrote
Jim. “These trips were exciting and
worthwhile, but all things considered,
we would rather have gone to a national
park.”
Becky’s cancer treatments precluded
the Mayos from going to Seattle for
Christmas as they normally do, so son
Jack along with his wife Jen and their
four children came to Sallisaw.
“It was a terrific Christmas after all,”
wrote Jim. “They will be coming here
again this Christmas.”
1988
VICKI GOURLEY (J. LELAND)
Vicki said OKC Friday continues to
grow in circulation, although the oil
bust has hurt their revenue.
Devon, Chesapeake and Continental
Resources have pulled back from full
pages in special sections, Vicki said.
She is still running the “Best of
Leland” on the editorial page and
receives many comments on it.
Vicki had the opportunity to travel to
Mexico, Hawaii, Monterey, New York
City and Washington D.C. this year. “If
you want to know about a Broadway
show or opera, ask me,” she said.
The DC trip was to attend the annual
Cheetah Conservation Fund board
meeting. Vicki has become close to Jack
Hanna’s people from the Columbus
Zoo. “They bring one of Jack’s cheetahs
to the DC gala and also to the OKC
‘Meetah Cheetah’ party every year,” she
said. The OKC Zoo party, co-chaired by
Vicki and Carol (Engleman) Sander, has
raised $50,000 two years in a row.
1991
NEVILLE HANCOCK (JOE)
Although Neville wasn’t able to
attend the dinner, she said that Joe and
her “really enjoyed these dinners, getting to see everyone.”
Joe passed away last December.
1992/2005
JOHN D. & GRACIE
MONTGOMERY
John D. got a new hip replacement
this past December and Gracie is facing
a knee replacement.
The Montgomerys vacationed in
New York City for a few days where
they saw “Beautiful, The Carole King
Musical,” did some shopping and went
to restaurants such as Tavern on the
Green.
Son Matt left the newspaper business and is now working at OU in
Development for the President’s
Associates.
The Montgomerys are grandparents
to Jack and Lane Elizabeth and love
everything that goes along with it.
John D. and Gracie were accompanied to the dinner by son John Denny
and his wife Emily. John Denny serves
on the OPA Board of Directors.
1993
ED & MARCIA LIVERMORE
Ed underwent back surgery for a herniated disk in late January and invested
the next five months in recovery.
“Never walked so much in my entire
life!” he wrote.
The Livermores were able to take a
trip to the Puget Sound in August where
they met up with all their children and
grandchildren. This was followed by a
cruise out of Juneau.
“Ours was a small ship with only 80
passengers. We spent the entire time in
the wilderness watching various critters
and visiting glaciers. Amazing time,”
wrote Ed.
Marcia had a great time, although
she almost became an hors d’oeuvre for
a humpback whale! Ed explained that
Marcia was paddling with a group when
the whale lunged up to the surface to
feed about 20 feet behind her kayak.
“It spied Marcia and immediately
dove, almost upsetting the kayak. She
lost her glasses and some other stuff,”
said Ed.
Although Ed didn’t see it, he said others were quite graphic in their report of
the incident. “She definitely has something to remember from Alaska,” Ed
wrote. “Overall, it was a grand trip we’ll
never forget.”
The Livermores weren’t able to
attend the dinner. Ed was scheduled for
Mohs surgery on his nose Nov. 12.
“Best wishes to all at the OPA and
in the newspaper business,” said Ed.
1996
LINUS & LEONORE WILLIAMS
Linus and Leonore completely retired
this summer and turned the business
over to their son, Linus Williams Jr.
The Williams travel several times a
year. At the time of the Past Presidents
Dinner, they were in Italy and Rovinj,
Croatia.
1997
TOM & SHERRY MUCHMORE
Tom wrote that he sold the family
radio station, WBBZ 1230 AM, after it
being a part of the Muchmore family for
more than 65 years.
And, they’re finally auctioning off
Sherry’s mom’s items that have been
stored at the Muchmores’ house on
Central since 2007.
Last Thanksgiving, Tom and Sherry
went to New Orleans and visited family
in Iowa in late summer.
Sherry was reappointed by Gov. Mary
Fallin to serve another three-year term
on the Oklahoma Historical Society
Board of Directors.
Daughter Shannon is engaged and has
taken a job in Washington, D.C., as a
political reporter for Modern Healthcare
magazine.
Granddaughter Taylor Lewis graduated from college and has a teaching job
in San Antonio. She also is engaged.
Granddaughter Gabby just finished her
courses at the Cordon Bleu. The last
semester, when she turned 21, was spent
in Paris, France.
“All kids and grandkids are doing
well, working hard. We’re really proud
of all of them,” the Muchmores wrote.
1999/2009
WAYNE & GLORIA TROTTER
It’s a sad thing when the biggest
event of the year was a broken leg.
Gloria tripped on a sidewalk in March
and broke her right leg above the ankle,
which she discovered after walking
around on it for almost 24 hours before
getting medical attention. It was a very
long four months of recovery, with a
lot of working from home and mobility
challenges.
Wayne is doing pretty well, although
nerve damage in his right hand contin-
ues to slow him down. “It doesn’t keep
him from banging out those prize-winning editorials every week, however,”
wrote Gloria.
On a brighter note, the Trotters
enjoyed a cruise during late January,
the second of two Golden Anniversary
trips. The first was in late October 2014
to New Orleans, so the trips bracketed
their 50th anniversary on Dec. 26.
Just after last year’s Past Presidents
Dinner, the Trotters had to say goodbye
to their beloved Mr. Black, cat extraordinaire. A longtime kidney disorder
finally claimed him, and he is greatly
missed. His sister, Miss Patches, continues to take care of the family, however,
carefully dividing her time between
Gloria and Wayne so no one feels
neglected.
Although they’re slowing down,
both Trotters are still active in the community. Wayne is on the board of the
Tecumseh Growth & Development
Authority, the city’s economic development body, and Gloria is on the
Tecumseh Chamber of Commerce
board, as well as the Tecumseh Together
board. They took something of a back
seat on running Frontier Days this year,
since their staffers Aaron McDonald and
Suzie Campbell did most of the work.
The OPA Convention in June was
a special treat, since their part-time
reporter Virginia Bradshaw was recognized for 50 years in the business, with
her children looking on.
“It was a special time for them and
for us,” said Gloria.
“But we sure miss those summer
conventions when we had time to relax
with our newspaper friends, share stories and help each other with advice.
What precious memories!”
2000
JERRY & CAROL QUINN
Carol said there’s not much to tell
about the past year.
“Jerry still knows me, which is
good,” she wrote. Jerry has frontotemporal dementia and is in the Claremore
VA home.
Carol attended the Past Presidents
Dinner with her son, Dave.
2001
SEAN & DONNA DYER
The Dyers said they love coming to
the Past Presidents Dinner. However,
Nov. 12 is the birthday of their late
grandson who passed away in a car
accident.
“My son is planning a family dinner
in memory of Jesse so we want to be
there for support,” wrote Donna.
“We would really like to be there and
would if we could. We miss everyone!”
2002
BARB & BILL WALTER
Barb won the National Newspaper
Association’s Emma C. McKinney
Award this year.
“I was proud to accept the McKinney
Award (thanks to some great letter-writing recommendations from Glo [Gloria
Trotter], Mark [Thomas] and others),”
wrote Barb. “It was wonderful that
Mark was there because we didn’t know
anyone, and we really weren’t in shape
to go to any of the sessions except for
the luncheon.”
Bill’s son and his wife were able to
attend and the Walters enjoyed going to
dinner with them.
Barb said that on the way home they
took a cab to the airport and everything
was going well until they reached security.
“When we started to go through
security, Bill couldn’t find his photo ID
that he’d just had minutes before,” said
Barb. “Lines were long, and they finally
did accept two other forms of ID: his
Medicare card and his Conceal and
Carry Gun Permit ID card.”
The health of Barb’s son Nick has
been an ongoing concern this past year.
Nick was admitted into ICU in Enid
on Feb. 9 and was there for 50 days,
which set a record. Nick had just started
a new and better job about four weeks
before that and had a sinus infection. He
went to the doctor who prescribed an
antibiotic.
The medicine resulted in a clostridium difficile infection (CDI), which gave
him a mega-colon, and his colon was
removed three days later. The skin died
around the ostomy, so a second surgery
was needed, and then a third for the
same reason. He has had five surgeons
and been to both Enid and major OKC
hospitals.
Before being released from Mercy on
Oct. 9, he injured a ligament in his left
foot and was put in a hard cast.
Nick recently graduated to a boot
and is grateful not to be on crutches.
He’s still on a nutrient drip every other
day, and a saline solution on alternating
days.
“It’s been a tough time, but there have
been a couple of good things that most
of us wouldn’t think would be a big
deal but are to him,” wrote Barb. “He
can now drink water at some times, and
can sleep at night for up to seven hours.
He calls the sleep a ‘life changer’.”
2003
RAY & JENNY LOKEY
Ray says not a whole lot has changed
since this time last year, other than
another year older.
He and Jenny have both been keeping
their nose close to the grind.
They did pick up a couple of great
nephews during the past year and are
still enjoying a houseful of four-legged
canines that think they are human.
12
Past presidents, board members and their spouses gathered Nov. 12 for a reception & tour at The Oklahoman followed by dinner at the Colcord Hotel in downtown Oklahoma
City. Past presidents attending the event were: Front row: John D. Montgomery, Gracie Montgomery, Barb Walter, Gloria Trotter, Ben Blackstock, Ken Reid and Don Ferrell. Back
row: Jeff Shultz, Steve Booher, Jeff Funk, Dick Hefton, Rusty Ferguson, Tom Muchmore, Ray Lokey, Rod Serfoss, David Stringer, Jeff Mayo, Wayne Trotter and Robby Trammell.
2004
JOE & LIS WORLEY
Joe retired as executive editor at the
end of 2014, but is a part-time Tulsa
World staff writer compiling a daily A-2
feature, “Way back when: Today in history.”
“It’s fun because I dig in the paper
and digital archives to find stories that
Tulsans may remember and that I enjoy
re-visiting,” he wrote.
The most exciting 2015 development
is his marriage to Lis Exon, a television reporter/producer for Oklahoma
Education Television Authority. Her
reporting is usually televised on OETA’s
“Oklahoma News Report” each Friday.
2006
DAVID & SAUNDRA STRINGER
David and Saundra are still loving life
in Tyler, Texas.
“Great job, great community,” said
David. “Life doesn’t get any better.”
A trip to Cancun for a few days was
the highlight of their travels this year.
There have also been lots of trips to
Oklahoma to see the kids and grandkids, lots of OU games, and jaunts to
Vegas, San Antonio, Savannah, Ga., and
Charleston, S.C.
David’s son, Chris, was promoted to
Sergeant First Class, then was selected
for Warrant Officer in the U.S. Army.
Daughter Melissa gave the Stringers
their fifth grandchild, Sloane Olivia
Swanson, born in July this year.
the organization and put out some of the
finest publications,” Steve said.
2008
STEVE & SONYA BOOHER
2010
ROD & JODY SERFOSS
The Boohers made their annual pilgrimage to Red River, N.M., although
they put it off until late September hoping to take in some of the fall foliage,
but they were a week to 10 days early.
Their children and grandchildren are
doing well. One son, Alan, is program
manager for a couple of Enid radio stations; the other, Mike, is a teacher and
coach at El Reno. Daughter Amanda
has worked at Autry Technology Center
for a number of years. She’s earned a
masters and has obtained a teaching certificate. Daughter Shannon is a managing partner with Chili’s and is currently
running the Yukon store.
“I had the privilege of representing OPA on postal and public notice
issues with member newspapers,” Steve
wrote. “It gave me an opportunity to not
only visit with good newspaper friends
around the state, but also a chance to
help out some of the problems all of us
experience occasionally as we deal with
the USPS. I hope I get the opportunity
again some time in the future.”
Steve said he continues to be proud
of the OPA and the work it does to
advance the print industry.
“Of course, you and I know some of
the finest people in the world belong to
Rod and Jody left the farm life in
April and moved to town. They are
enjoying life with their children and
grandchildren.
Rod continues to serve as publisher of
the Clinton Daily News.
2011
RUSTY & DEANA FERGUSON
“We’d like to say we raised the roof
this year celebrating our 96th year of
publishing the Cleveland American,
but it actually was the year our roof
collapsed … and there was little to celebrate about that!” reported Rusty.
On a Sunday morning in February,
Rusty stopped by the office before
church and felt a cold breeze as he
entered the building. He was soon walking in inches of water.
“Our plant is comprised of two sideby-side buildings and what I quickly
discovered was that the roof was laying
on the floor in our north building,” said
Rusty.
The print shop, break room, morgue
and Rusty’s office are on the north side.
Authorities arrived and turned off all
utilities. After church, friends joined
Rusty to begin a “rescue” mission.
The good side of the building quickly
became storage for anything salvageable.
The “front office” was quickly moved
two doors down in the front corner of
Deana’s gift and flower shop so walk-in
customers could easily read a sign on
the newspaper’s front door and walk a
short distance for service.
Computers, printers, etc. were moved
to the American’s sister newspaper, the
Hominy News-Progress, 10 miles away,
where the American was published for
the next three months.
When the crew returned to Cleveland,
they slowly reclaimed the south side
of the building while the rebuild of the
north side began.
“Even at this writing, things are still
somewhat of a mess,” Rusty wrote. “We
do have a new roof and power has been
reinstalled, but we have little use of the
building as walls, ceiling and HVAC are
being made new. In the meantime, my
computer is set up in a make-shift tiny
corner near the front where I regularly
get sympathetic comments suggesting I
should do something about the size of
my office.
“It will happen … sooner rather than
later, I hope.”
The Fergusons were able to get away
in June when they joined a tour group
and visited Israel for 10 days.
“It was definitely one of those trips of
a lifetime as the Bible seemed to come
to life with each leg of the journey,”
said Rusty. “Other than being stuck on
a tiny hotel elevator for nearly an hour
with seven other non-English speaking
people, we felt safe and secure in our
travels and would love to return one day
with our children.”
Speaking of children, the Fergusons’
youngest, twins Landon and Layne,
graduated from the University of
Oklahoma in May. “Putting four children through OU was a challenge,
but it’s gratifying to have a family of
Sooner grads!” said Rusty.
Rusty and Deana are enjoying life as
grandparents with their two grandsons,
Sully, 3, and Sawyer, 8 months. Rusty
said he and Deana are thankful they live
in Cleveland with their daughter and
son-in-law, Libby and Sol Bayouth, who
are both teachers there. Son Lincoln and
his wife Lauren live in Oklahoma City
where Lincoln works as deputy press
secretary for the Attorney General’s
office.
Now that Rusty’s dad, Larry, is out
of state politics, he is enjoying keeping
an eye on the family’s third newspaper,
The Pawnee Chief. Larry and his wife,
Nina Gay, grew up in Pawnee so they
both enjoy being there when they can.
“In summary, we have a roof over our
heads,” wrote Rusty. “Life is good.”
2012
JEFF & NANETTE SHULTZ
Jeff and Nanette Shultz reside in
Pauls Valley, where Jeff is the publisher
of the Garvin County News Star and
Nanette is an administrative assistant for
the OSU Extension Service.
Both are active in their church where
Nanette teaches a third and fourth grade
Sunday School class and Jeff teaches a
Sunday evening men’s Bible Study.
Jeff is also active as a member of the
Toy and Action Figure Museum Board
of Directors.
Their oldest son, Jonathan, recently
was married to Kelly Kiorpes and
the couple are making their home in
Madison, Wisc. Chris, their second son,
lives in Oklahoma City where he and
his fiance are planning a wedding in the
near future.
Their daughter, Liz, lives in Denver,
Colo., where she works for Habitat for
Humanity.
2013
JEFF & BETH MAYO
Things got busy for Jeff and Beth
last year right after the Past Presidents
Dinner. Jeff and his brother Jack
bought the Okmulgee Times and
Henryetta Free-Lance.
Among the many changes that took
place were updating the computer
systems for both news and advertising.
They also sold the building housing
the Okmulgee Times to the City of
Okmulgee. The former newspaper office
will now be the new police station.
Jeff became a novice general
contractor as he bought and updated
a smaller building in downtown. The
office moved in late June.
Daughter Madolyn is active in band
and choir and was captain of the sixth
grade academic team. She was accepted
into the Junior Symphony at the
University of Arkansas at Fort Smith as
a percussionist this fall.
While Beth is driving Madolyn to
symphony practice on Monday nights,
Jeff is driving Maddox to hockey
practice in Tulsa. After a trip in April to
a Tulsa Oilers game with the Cub Scout
pack, Maddox declared he wanted to
play hockey. Now seven months later,
Maddox is on the Tulsa Jr. Oilers Squirt
Minor team as a wing.
The family traveled to Disney World
and met Jeff’s brother Jack, his wife
and four kids on what could have been
the hottest 10 days of the summer. The
vacation was great with the highlight
being two days at Universal Studios to
visit Harry Potter World – Madolyn and
Maddox are huge fans.
If you’re looking for Jeff or Beth this
year, they are probably in their cars,
driving the kids somewhere.
2014
JEFF & LYNNDE FUNK
Jeff continues to serve as publisher
of the Enid News & Eagle. The job
requires a more diverse set of skills
as the Enid staff produces not only
the regional daily newspaper but also
seeks to reach new readers through a
website, community magazine, weekly
base newspaper, text alert service, email
news blasts, non-subscriber publication,
specialty publications and event marketing. The downtown Enid location also
is a regional printing hub for four daily
and two weekly newspapers.
LynnDe serves as executive secretary
of the Enid Rotary Club.
Jeff and LynnDe enjoyed hosting the
OPA Board of Directors retreat in Enid
in April.
“It was fun to show off part of what
we love in our hometown plus Vance
Air Force Base,” wrote Jeff. “After our
group experienced the flight simulators
at Vance, I’m thankful those jets overhead have trained pilots and not editors
at the controls!”
The Funks spend their spare time
with family – a daughter and 7-yearold grandson in Nebraska and a son,
daughter-in-law and 2-year-old grandson in Enid, plus LynnDe’s parents in
Nebraska and Jeff’s parents in Kansas.
“Thanks to the assistance and support
of our children and grandchildren our
family was united and peaceful as we
made this transition in life,” he said.
Fortunately, with the help of his children, a few doctors and excellent massage therapy treatments, Ben’s chronic
back and hip pain of the past 40 years
now ranges from manageable to undetectable.
On March 9, Ben moved to Epworth
Villa into their newly built Assisted
Living Center.
“My son Sam did a great job of moving enough of my personal belongings
to make my apartment feel comfortable
and just like home – without bringing
along all the crap that Bonnie had been
saving for as long as I can remember,”
Ben wrote.
Ben said his life is rather routine living in his apartment (with the door open
most all the time) with the other 30 men
and women that live in the second floor
“neighborhood” (Epworth’s term for the
secure floor).
“The newspaper arrives at my door
each morning, we eat breakfast at 7:45
a.m., lunch at 11:45 a.m., and dinner is
served at 4:45 p.m., although I’m generally the last to arrive and depart because
4:45 is too damn early for dinner and
I enjoy a FULL glass of Merlot before
dinner while reading the New Yorker
Magazine,” said Ben.
Ben enjoys an occasional visitor or
phone conversation (same number 405936-9236).
He celebrated his 90th birthday on
Sept. 4 with a family gathering that
included his children and grandchildren
along with his brother Bob’s family.
“2015 is winding down to be memorable, peaceful and mostly pain free,”
Ben said.
Ben has kicked the cigarette habit,
although he says it wasn’t easy nor was
it his idea. He learned to smoke ciga-
rettes so he could get a job as a campus
marketer for Phillip Morris at OU in the
late 1940s.
He divulged that the reason he quit
had to do with Epworth Village having
an entire smoke free campus, “which I
believe should be outlawed as a criminal act to take my individual American
freedoms,” he added.
His family is doing well. Son Sam
and his partner Jeff live in the historic
neighborhood of Heritage Hills and
are constantly repairing and restoring
their 90-year-old house. Sam is in his
22nd year as executive vice president
of the Oklahoma Academy of Family
Physicians and Jeff is the general manager of the new Ambassador Hotel in
Midtown OKC. Sam’s daughter, Jessica
Blackstock, now lives in Los Angeles.
She earned a master’s in Sustainability
and Environmental Management from
Harvard and is employed with Thrive
Consulting Group. Sam’s son Beau
graduated from OSU with a degree in
journalism and worked at the ABC and
CBS affiliates in OKC. Beau has now
found his passion in the creative department at News 9 creating and producing
promotional pieces for the news department.
Ben’s daughter Melissa lives in
Edmond. Her daughter, Tiffany, graduated from UCO with a degree in Art and
is a freelance artist. Dan’s son Brian
graduated from OU law school last year
and successfully passed the Oklahoma
bar exam. He is employed as a defense
attorney at Sweet Law Firm, which
focuses on medical and insurance law.
“I’m proud to say ALL of my children and grandchildren (ages 59-27) are
now self-sustaining and independent of
my financial support,” wrote Ben. “I
do still provide them free unsolicited
advice on most every topic and directions on how to run their life.”
FORMER OPA EVP
BEN BLACKSTOCK
Ben wrote that 2015 has been one
“hell of a year.”
Sadly, Bonnie, his wife and life partner for 62 years, passed away Feb. 9.
“Of course on her own terms, at home
in her own bed with her family nearby
during her final weeks of life,” wrote
Ben.
Mike Strain and Ray Lokey visit at a reception at The Oklahoman’s office in downtown
Oklahoma City prior to the OPA Past Presidents Dinner.
14
Spotlight shows power of the press
Clark’s Critique
by Terry Clark
Journalism Professor,
University of Central Oklahoma,
TClark@uco.edu
Why newspapers?
Go see the movie “Spotlight,” about
the Boston Globe uncovering the pedophile priest scandal that rocked the
world in 2001-2002.
It’s a powerful, exhausting film that
will remind us all about the power and
importance of the press.
It’s probably just me, but I almost
teared up when the presses started. For
those of us who have heard and felt that
singular rumble, you understand. The
power of the press is visceral.
On a smaller related note, I recently
found and bought a book I wish I’d
written, “The Main Streets of Oklahoma
– Okie Stories from Every County,” by
Kristi Eaton.
The short chapters, some with photos, feature four newspapers, The Sayre
Record & Beckham County Democrat, Garber-Billings News in Garfield County, The
Seminole Producer in Seminole County,
and The Cordell Beacon in Washita County. Each of the publishers is interviewed.
What an idea for even local articles.
Both The Oklahoman and Tulsa World
have done in-depth stories in the past,
featuring certain streets. This could be
a year-long, weekly feature in any town.
Pick a street, take a photograph, interview someone.
Also, did you see the front page editorial in the New York Times about the
gun violence crisis? First front page
editorial since 1920! http://www.nytimes.
com/2015/12/05/opinion/end-the-gun-epidemic-in-america.html
Yes, I believe in front page editorials
and columns – clearly labeled. They
were an American tradition. They show
leadership and involvement, not bland
detachment.
LOOKIN’EM OVER. Important journalism happens in Oklahoma on a scale
much smaller than Boston.
Michael Pineda of The Ardmoreite
writes a story every paper could localize,
Ice, Ice, Baby!
READY TO RUMBLE: Wrestlers open regular season, 7 p.m. tonight 1B
Mustang News
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2015 • MUSTANGNEWS.INFO • 50 CENTS
Resolutions
Tweet lands
local mom in ordered for
sales tax vote
SPOTLIGHT
Serving Northern Caddo Country and the surrounding area for over 32 years- Hydro, Eakly, Ft. Cobb, Gracemont, Lookeba, Binger, Hinton, Colony, Corn, Sickles, Oney-Albert and in between
ON
Commissioners debate for nearly 2 hours
ballot language, Hader’s ballot proposals
By VICTORIA MIDDLETON
vmiddleton@mustangnews.info
“It has been the
craziest 36 hours
I’ve ever had.”
vmiddleton@mustangnews.info
Barbie Battershell became an
instant celebrity when she tweeted a picture of a sheet of ice
melting off a speed limit sign this
past Sunday.
The mom of Mustang North
Middle School eighth-grader
Katie, said she was driving into
her subdivision, Timber Creek
Estates, when both she and her
daughter did a double-take.
“We were just coming home,
knowing we had no electricity,
and we saw it. I turned the car
around and we both took pictures.”
Technically, though, Battershell
has a Yukon address but she considers herself from Mustang since
her daughter attends Mustang
schools and that is why she tweeted the photo as being from
Mustang, she said.
While Katie first posted her picture on the popular “SnapChat”
app, Battershell posted it on
Twitter. Within the hour,
Continued to SIGN, Page 11A
Fi fi h
Commissioners inched
closer to calling an election on reducing the
county sales tax dedicated to the Gary E. Miller
Children’s Justice
Center. But it took a
nearly two-hour discussion to move the issue
forward.
The Tuesday meeting
had to be moved from
the normal meeting
room at the Canadian
County Administration
building in El Reno
because power had not
been restored. Power
was knocked out by the
weekend ice storm that
hit the area. The meeting was moved to the
District 1 Shop.
Dist. 2 Commissioner
David Anderson in
October introduced
reduction scenarios, but
commissioners had not
taken action on the matter until now.
Commissioners debated the reduction amount
and the possibility of
using the county’s use
tax to supplement the
center’s budget in case
of a shortfall.
Dist. 1 Commissioner
Marc Hader presented
five ballot proposals that
suggested a re-authorization vote every six years
that would allow taxpayers the opportunity to
renew the tax.
Commissioners voted
Photographer/Victoria Middleton
Dist. 1 Commissioner Marc
Hader explains his ballot proposals he presented during
Tuesday’s meeting.
Voluume 35 Number 12
December 1, 2015
to have the District
Attorney draft two resolutions, one asking for a
.30 county sales tax and
the other for a .275. The
county sales tax was
established by voters in
1996 and set at .35 cents.
Both resolutions
would include a list of
all the programs funded
at the center, another
suggestion by Hader.
“Words mean things
and this would help
avoid misunderstandings or differences in the
future, and insure all the
programs continue so as
to relieve concerns about
programs being ended,”
he wrote in his ballot
proposals.
Continued to TAX, Page 12A
k
The Piedmont-Surrey
Gazette
Your Hometown Newspaper For More Than 39 Years!
THURSDAY
December 3, 2015
PNO PiedmontNewsOnline.com
Vol. 40, No. 34
Follow us on Facebook
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3 Sections, 48 Pages
On Twitter @PiedmontGazette
Oklahoma City University
volleyball team visits
Mustang Elementary for
some reading fun.
PAGE 10A
Roger Pugh/Gazette
Bent and broken tree limbs leaned and fell everywhere last weekend throughout the Piedmont-Surrey Hills area. In this scene along 164th/Washington,
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branches leaning into the road, weighted down by heavy layers of ice. The ice did the same to power lines and poles, causing numerous power outages.
Ice storm wreaks havoc on entire area
Roger Pugh
News Editor
A better name for the Piedmont-Surrey Hills area last
weekend might have been Bent Tree, or Broken Tree.
This is because countless trees or tree branches from
huge to small were snapped in two or bent to the ground
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the year in the area.
Streets throughout the area were littered with debris
from fallen branches or trees, and in some cases power
poles and lines.
Piedmont Emergency Management head Andy Logan,
who is also Piedmont Fire Chief, said he was not aware of
any major injuries or other damage caused by the storm,
other than tree damage, but said a number of people were
still without power as late as Tuesday evening.
The power outages were cause when lines, covered in
ice fell due to the weight of the ice, or power poles simply
toppled due to the ice.
In Piedmont, Logan said multiple power poles were
down in the Vails Ranchette area, in the area of 206th and
Terry Lane, 234th and Piedmont Road and around Susanna Rd and Mustang Rd.
In all, Logan said over Saturday and Sunday, the worst
WZR GD\V RI WKH VWRUP WKH ¿UH GHSDUWPHQW UHVSRQGHG WR
using state statistics, headlined “Scourge
on the rise” about Carter County venereal disease rates exceeding the state
rates.
Parker Perry of the McAlester NewsCapital interviews a mother and relatives
about the recent drug related homicide
of their son, headlined “’I want some
good to come from my son’s death.’”
Joy Hampton of The Norman Transcript, headlined “Overcrowded,” writes
about the city animal shelter after a
puppy mill raid.
Kaelynn Knoernschild, managing editor of the OSU O’Colly reports that Oklahoma State University routinely keeps
secret the names of students, faculty
or anyone else arrested for committing
crimes on campus.
The Canton Times covers local controversy, “Canton Town Meeting gets
bumpy.”
LEGAL ADVICE
is just one of the benefits of being a member of the Oklahoma Press
Association’s Legal Services Plan. Remove the worry of needing
professional advice by enrolling today. For more information contact:
OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION’S
LEGAL SERVICES PLAN
1-888-815-2672 or 405-499-0020
LAST MAN STANDING. What keeps one tree standing while the rest of the row bow down to ice? This mystery unfolded at the home of Donnie and Kaye Sodders south of Hydro
(Staff photo by Rusty Carney)
Featured newspapers this month: Mustang News. The Piedmont Surrey-Gazette, The
Country Connection News, El Reno Tribune, The Canton Times, Woods County Enterprise,
The Shawnee News-Star, Weatherford Daily News, The Ardmoreite, Wynnewood Gazette
and Owasso Reporter.
Holiday ideas for next year – Cydney
Baron of The Times in Pryor, headlined
“Real vs Fake,” writes about Christmas
trees and fire dangers.
Dara Welchel of The Newcastle Pacer
writes about the police taking 26 children shopping for clothes, headlined,
“Newcastle PD keeps kids warm.”
Hunter Lane of the Tahlequah Daily
Press, headlined “Sugar and Spice,”
writes about the cooking supplies people
buy for the holidays.
Gloria Trotter of the Countywide &
Sun, on holiday scams, “Look Out For
The Scams What Am!”
Also worth mentioning: Great tribute
story by Vicky O. Misa on page one of
The Shawnee News-Star about veteran
photographer Ed Blochowiak.
Weatherford Daily News’ “Chocolate”
edition, “Do you dream in chocolate?”
The Wynnewood Gazette’s clean makeup and flag.
Story by Patty Miller of The Edmond
Sun on a Pearl Harbor survivor.
Fantastic photography and writing
in the Owasso Reporter. Haylie Smart’s
photo and Christian Favalora’s story
on neighbors building some poor folks
a home. Here’s his lead: “Ron Siens’
miracle has a front door./ It has a roof,
and that’s as good as gold for Ron and
his family of five./ On Sunday, rain will
likely return, and Siens and his fam-
ily will dodge rain drops./ They will
scoot buckets across the floor and they’ll
move Brandon so he doesn’t get wet./ At
the north end of ninth street in Collinsville, Siens and his family of five eagerly
await the completion of their new home.
They spend each day in a run down sort
of pink shack, a low dwelling with tires
scattered over a leaky roof, while volunteers hustle a few feet away to get the
floors down and the lights installed and
the power turned on.”
This month’s major story? Ice and
flooding. Hugo News head on meteorologist’s story said it all, “The Pandora’s
Box of weather – November floods,
tornadoes and ice wreak havoc across
Oklahoma.”
There was great coverage in lots of
papers, including the El Reno Tribune,
The Country Connection News in Eakly
and The Piedmont-Surrey Gazette.
Several papers changed their flags
including The Canton Times and Woods
County Enterprise.
Good headlines: The Cordell Beacon:
“Beauty and The Beast – winter storm
whallops Washita County”. (And thank
you for using “whallops” in a headline!);
The Kingfisher Times and Free-Press:
“Weekend ice-capades dazzle, devastate.”
Continued on Page 15
Clark’s Critique Continued from Page 14
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Woods County Enterprise
1900
A Weekly Newspaper Published In The Interest Of Waynoka And Vicinity
2015
Covering the Tri-County Area Since 1894
1893
54 PAGES
$1.50
122ND YEAR — NO. 28
INSIDE
By EMILY KINDIGER
Contributing Writer
Photographer/Glen Miller
Ice enclosed this tree
branch and its leaves.
Bobbi Worthington
said she hated not
being able to see the OU
vs. OSU football game
Saturday night, but she
was thankful for the
warmth and food she
found inside Jenks
Simmons Field House.
The Red Cross shelter
was set up quickly after
the area was hit by a
devastating ice storm
Friday and Saturday.
The storm knocked out
power to thousands of
Electrical issues
force El Reno, RCC
to cancel classes
The power outages are
creating extra holidays for
area schoolchildren as well
as students at Redlands
Community College.
Superintendent Craig
McVay said several El Reno
school buildings are without
electricity and power lines are
down on every rural bus route.
McVay said he has been told it
Continued to SCHOOL, Page 5A
El Reno residents and
several of them found
refuge inside Jenks
Simmons.
Grace Rivers, Red
Cross shelter manager,
said the shelter opened
Saturday evening and
has seen close to three
dozen people, including
15 children, find comfort
and food there.
Rivers said she
arrived in El Reno
on Monday morning
from Ardmore and the
Continued to SHELTER, Page 5A
Photo/
Aliki Dyer
Frozen
tree
branches
lay over
the top
of
electrical
lines all
over the
city,
causing
more
than
5,000
residents
to lose
power.
Some three dozen
people spent Sunday
night inside Jenks
Simmons Field House
where the Red Cross set
up a shelter following
the devastating ice
storm that hit the area
over the weekend.
Ken Garcia, Red Cross
spokesman, said the
number of people
seeking shelter at Jenks
Simmons jumped to 36
after seven had spent
Saturday night there.
The shelter was
expected to remain open
through Tuesday, El
Reno Mayor Matt White
said at a Sunday afternoon press conference.
About a dozen city and
county officials gathered
at the El Reno Public
Safety Center on SW
27th Street to provide
information about
cleanup and what kind
of assistance would be
available.
The number one
concern was getting
power back on for homes
and businesses. Jim
Stengle of OG&E said
as of Sunday afternoon,
around 5,000 people in
El Reno were without
power.
“If you don’t have
power now, there’s a
good chance it could be
a day or two before it is
restored,” White said
Sunday afternoon.
Crews from OG&E,
Caddo Electric and
Cimarron Electric as
well as several from outof-state were working
across Canadian County
to restore power. The
Canadian Square
Shopping Center parking lot was transformed
into a staging area for
the utility trucks.
Stengle said by
STATE BRIEFS
CHRISTMAS PARADE
More than 80,000
without power
Holiday event Thursday
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)
— More than 80,000 electric customers are without
power in Oklahoma as a
slow-moving storm brings
ice, sleet and wintry precipitation to the state.
Oklahoma Gas & Electric
reported more than 75,000
outages about 5 p.m. Saturday, with more than 26,000
in Oklahoma City and about
15,000 more outages in suburbs of the metro area.
Public Service Company
of Oklahoma had more than
5,000 outages in southwestern Oklahoma. More than
1,500 outages were in Caddo
County, more than 1,200
in Washita County and
about 1,000 were in Grady
County.
The National Weather
Service said an ice storm
warning would remain in
effect in central Oklahoma
until noon Sunday and a
winter weather advisory is
in effect until noon Sunday
for the remainder of the
western half of the state. A
Àood warning is in effect
until 11:15 a.m. Sunday for
southeastern Oklahoma.
Photographer/
Glen Miller
Above, trees
on South Dille
Avenue were
frozen and the
weight of the
ice broke off
limbs several
inches thick
in diameter.
At left is a
bicycle frozen
to a driveway
and layered in
ice. The view
of the El Reno
water tower
on Highway 66,
top left, is
blocked by
frozen trees.
By Vicky O. Misa
(SEFF) will be out in full
force Thursday, preparing
for the Shawnee’s main winter celebration, the annual
Now that Thanksgiving Christmas parade.
Residents can jumpstart
has wrapped up, it’s of¿cial; the Christmas season their Christmas spirit on
parade day by attending
is here.
Safe Event For Families the annual “Cans Festival”
Vicky.misa@news-star.com
Twitter: @Vicky_NewsStar
downtown, where Jones
Theatres will host a special
4:30 p.m. showing of the
classic holiday ¿lm, “Home
Alone,” at the Carmike
Hornbeck & Penthouse
Twin, 125 N. Bell St.
Admission for one person is a donation of two
Note: An in-depth look at
the life and work of News-Star
photographer Ed Blochowiak
and the impact his career has
made on the community.
By Vicky O. Misa
Vicky.misa@news-star.com
Twitter: @Vicky_NewsStar
As the old
newspaper
adage says,
a picture is
worth 1,000
words. If that
proves true,
longtime photographer Ed Blochowiak
Blochowiak’s
work has done an astounding
amount of talking.
While he allows his work to
do most of the speaking, he
isn’t opposed to the occasional
smart remark.
Perplexed that he’s so often
asked how to spell his name, he
simply spells out E, D.
For ¿ve decades Ed, 65, has
gathered visual information,
capturing the essence of the
community where he was born
and raised.
For nearly all of those years
he’s done it for the Shawnee
News-Star. In fact, while working in Tom Coffey’s drugstore
as a teenager, Ed said he often
took photos for the daily — until he went into the military a
year after high school.
But four years later, Nov.
19, 1973 — just six days out
of the air force — Ed entered
into his new role as a professional photographer, just like
he predicted he would. He said
he had told the folks at the
paper they needed to hire him
— and he bugged them until
they did.
Ed said he liked seeing his
work printed in the daily.
His love for photography
started in his teens, he said,
and — though he worked on
TULSA, Okla. (AP)
— The director of resettling
refugees in eastern Oklahoma says the United States
should pause the admission
of Syrian refugees until the
government can ensure the
safety of Americans.
Deacon Kevin Sartorius
of Catholic Charities in the
Diocese of Tulsa said that
it’s the government’s job to
keep citizens safe. Sartorius
said that after a safe way of
accepting Syrian refugees is
established, some should be
accepted into the U.S.
He told the Tulsa World
that Catholic Charities
brings refugees to Tulsa to
reunite with family already
in the community.
Concern about Syrian
refugees jumped following
deadly terrorist attacks in
Paris.
Catholic Charities in the
Diocese of Tulsa and in the
Archdiocese of Oklahoma
City are the two agencies in
Oklahoma that work to resettle refugees in the state.
Instagram
75¢
The Canton Times
Victoria Middleton of the Mustang
News wrote about a local woman’s tweeted photo that went viral.
COMING IN PRINT
• Holiday events
Look in future papers
for coverage of the
Christmas Parade
canned goods. Donations Christmas Parade, set for 7
will be given to the Salva- p.m. Thursday.
Dell Kerbs, SEFF presition Army.
dent, said there are some
MAIN EVENT
new additions to the parade
The Parade of Lights pres- this year.
ents “Christmas through
A ¿reworks display will
the eyes of a child,” this
PARADE, Page 5A
year’s theme for Shawnee’s
SCOURGE
By Michael Pineda
michael.pineda@ardmoreite.com
LONE GROVE
ROUTS LOCUST
GROVE 64-0
NATION,
PAGE 11A
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RELATED
PHOTOS,
PAGES 2 & 4
the yearbook staff in school
— most everything he has
learned about photography has
been trial-and-error through
his own experience.
He apparently was an excellent teacher and student,
as evidenced by the countless
awards he’s won.
His photographs have
earned him three Photo of
the Year designations — two
from the Oklahoma Press
Association and one from the
Associated Press. He also has
been merited with more than
two dozen ¿rst-place awards
as well as a bunch of others,
he said — more than 100 from
various contests — as well as
being inducted into the Journalism Hall of Fame in 2014.
If the number of awards isn’t
convincing enough to believe
the man has mastered his art,
his range of subject matter
will. Whether it’s catching a
trail of slobber slinging from
an agitated bull’s mouth or
a rider’s abnormal posture
while being Àung through the
air, Ed’s summer shots of the
International Finals Youth
Rodeo (IFYR) are an annual
favorite. He said rodeo events
are among his most challenging subjects.
The action doesn’t stop
there. Ed has been on scene to
capture countless ¿res blazing
out of control and he’s been up
front and center during football plays so intense that he’s
actually been mowed down on
the sidelines.
During his tenure, he said
the Shawnee Wolves high
school football team has won
the state championship three
times.
“I got to shoot it twice — once
in 1973, then again in 2003,”
he said.
Some of his favorite events
to shoot have been policerelated incidents and ¿res, and
anything to do with Àying, Ed
said.
“As part of the job, I’ve gotten
to ride in a B-17 Bomber twice;
an AWACS from Tinker Air
Four Golden
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Darlene and Dennis Medrick check out TVs at Walmart. MELANIE PLEMONS/THE ARDMOREITE
■ Ardmoreite.com:
Check out the features on our up-todate website
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By Melanie Plemons
melanie.plemons@armdoreite.com
FIND US ONLINE...
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The Ardmoreite
Third place, tie, The Carnegie Herald
and Stillwater News Press. Carnegie:
Drones, drawings and Dear Santa
And Stillwater, on Michelle Charles’
story about shutting down wells because
of earthquakes:
Shakedown
Honorable mentions? All the ones
mentioned earlier in this column.
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SEE BLACK FRIDAY, PAGE 5A
ENERGY
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By Marsha Miller
INDEX
marsha.miller@ardmoreite.com
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Comics
Digest
Lifestyles
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Please see Chocolate,
Page 9A
School Board Filing
is Monday, Dec 7
through Wednesday,
Dec 9 at 5pm
America’s Hometown Newspaper
River which was built in 1959.
ODOT Spokesman Cody Boyd
VWDWHG WKDW ´VWUXFWXUDO GHÀFLHQFLHV
on the bridge deck and structure
warrant replacement.” He did say
the bridges were all “safe for travel
but are outdated and do not meet
current guidelines for roadways
and bridges.” He added that the
other two bridges are “just too
narrow for modern vehicles and
WUDIÀFÁRZVµ0U%R\GHQFRXUDJHV
all Wynnewood resident to attend
the meeting because this will give
them a chance to voice their input
concerning the projects. Important
aspects such as environmental
impact, roadway alignment and
whether the bridge could be built
adjacent to the existing bridge,
which would allow access to Pauls
Valley and points north, will be
discussed. Please make time to
attend this meeting. Thursday, December 3, 2015
Seven Bodies from the
USS Oklahoma Found and
in Process of Identification
Since the December 7th
1941 bombing of the USS
Oklahoma, many of its crew
are still reported as missing in
action. Recently there have been
seven bodies that have been
recovered from the capsized
vessel in WWII and these are in
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Considering the amount of time
that has passed, the bodies can
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records.
Since June of this year, the
'HIHQVH32:0,$$FFRXQWLQJ
Agency started digging up some
of the graves of nearly 400
VDLORUVDQG0DULQHVIURPWKH
8662NODKRPD0HPEHUVRIWKH
agency had traveled to Honolulu
to the Veterans cemetery where
the bodies of the unknown were
buried after the disaster.
2IÀFLDOVKRSHWKDWZLWKLQÀYH
years they can identify almost
80% of the crew members that
are still considered missing.
The reason the military has
started the identifying process
is because of the advanced
technology the forensics teams
now have available to them.
7KH\FDQÀQDOO\LGHQWLI\WKH
remains so they can be returned
to their families and be laid to
UHVWSURSHUO\WKH0DLO2QOLQH
reports.
-XVWUHFHQWO\RIÀFLDOV
exhumed the last four of the 61
caskets that are still considered
XQLGHQWLÀHG$ORWRIWKHFDVNHWV
actually have more than one
body in them, making the
UHPDLQVDELWPRUHGLIÀFXOW
to identify. The families who
are receiving remains have the
option of taking the remains as
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until there are more body parts
or skeletons to make up a
FRPSOHWHLGHQWLÀFDWLRQ
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process is being done in
Honolulu and Nebraska;
everything is done through the
Armed Forces DNA Laboratory
in Dover.
There were about 429 men
killed on the battleship; only 35
RIWKHVHZHUHLGHQWLÀHGLQWKH
years immediately following
the bombing. Altogether, more
than 2,400 sailors, marines, and
soldiers were killed in the Pearl
Harbor attack.
Reprinted with permission
from warhistoryonline.com.
50¢ A COPY
Is There a
New Mill
Coming
To Town?
In the next couple months you’re
likely to hear a lot about mills,
millages, and millage rates. But
if you’re like me you might be a
little confused, and wondering why
local governments use a term hardly
anybody uses or understands.
Is Wynnewood getting a new grain
mill? We already have windmills out
west so that’s not it either.
The millage rate in local
government language is used in
conjunction with the property tax
UDWH ´0LOODJHµ LV EDVHG RQ D /DWLQ
word that means “thousandth.” So 1
mill is equivalent to 1/1000th.
Applied to taxes, that means 1 mill
is equivalent to $1 in taxes per $1,000
in taxable value. If your property has
a taxable value of $100,000, and
you’re assessed a 1 mill tax rate,
you’ll pay $100 in taxes. Well now
that that’s clear as mud, why are we
voting to increase our millage for the
Wynnewood School District?
The millage you pay on your
property is broken up into four
separate independent portions. The
school bond proposal will be asking
voters to increase the number of
mills currently being assessed from
2.29 to 10 mills. This would result
in a tax increase of 9.98%. At my
house, I just received my tax bill
for $1,034 dollars, which means if
the bond passes my tax will go up
about $103 dollars a year. So does
that mean our taxes will be higher or
lower than someone who lives in one
of the towns around us? Here is a list
of the current millages for school
districts close to Wynnewood. As
you can see Wynnewood currently
has the lowest millage rate and if
voters approve the bond we will be
MXVWEHORZ0D\VYLOOHDQGDERXWKDOI
what our neighbors in Stratford pay.
I included this list to put our tax
bills in context with other cities.
OWASSO REPORTER
$1.00
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015 | VOL. 51 NO. 20
day!
Enroll To
The Western Plains Library
System’s Weatherford branch is
showing off the building’s recent
renovations with a Weatherford
Area Chamber of Commerce
ribbon-cutting ceremony followed
by an open house 10 a.m.
Thursday.
“We’ve done a lot of remodeling
in the last four months,” Western
Plains Library System director Tim
Miller said. “We were closed 11
days for the renovations.”
Miller said the remodeling project
focused on ripping up and replacing
the carpet in the entire building.
The carpet was original to the 1984
building and after thirty years of
traffic on it, Miller said the carpet
was “in rough shape.”
He said moving the bookshelves
to install new carpet presented the
opportunity to rearrange the library
and create a more open look. The
nonfiction was originally arranged
in six, long rows, and Miller and
the library staff wanted to open the
space up to look more inviting. The
library rearranged the shelves into
an open-square formation with a
reading area in the middle of the
space.
“We did that with fiction about
five years ago, and the public really
responded well to it,” Miller said.
Shelving in the children’s
section was also replaced and new
furnishings were added throughout
the library. Miller said the project
was a joint effort and funds
provided by the City of Weatherford
and the Friends of the Weatherford
Library organization helped make
the renovations possible.
The library will also host the
Groundbreaking has begun on the new Pioneer
Weatherford Area Chamber of
Cellular retail store in Towne Centre. The company is
Commerce pictures with Santa from already getting involved in activities by sponsoring
5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.
carriage rides with Santa Thursday evening.
LISA (POTTS) SUTLIFF
Member Services Director
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CREATIVE SERVICES
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Creative Services Director
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Siens of
Love
WILMA (MELOT) NEWBY
Computer Consultant
Santa is a definite attendee
Staff Reporter
MEMBER SERVICES
& weekend
for evening
path. Sign up
Make your own
ech.edu today!
classes at tulsat
Library decked for holiday open house
Heather Harmon
Front Office/Building Mgr.
swilkerson@okpress.com • (405) 499-0020
ASHLEY NOVACHICH
Christmas in Towne Centre features carriage
rides, baking contest, caroling and more
a cooking contest, hot chocolate and
Christmas carolers. The Christmas
in Towne Centre event will also host
special guests Mr. and Mrs. Claus
and free carriage rides, sponsored
by Pioneer Cellular.
In Weatherford’s historic old
German bank building at 118 West
Main Street, residents will put old
family recipes to the test—grandma’s
chocolate cake and pie recipes
passed down from generations will
give contestants a chance to win
big. Only with this contest—people
SCOTT WILKERSON
Advertising Director
'21·7)25*(7
of Transportation (ODOT) in
cooperation with the Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA) is
proposing to improve highway US77 between SH-29 West junction
and Long Avenue in Wynnewood
in Garvin County, Oklahoma. There
are three narrow 28-30 foot wide
bridges . The existing highway is a
two-lane facility with two, 12 foot
wide driving lanes and 8 foot wide
shoulders between the Highway
29 junction and Long Avenue
on the west side of Wynnewood.
The current travel on the highway
averages 6,900 vehicles a day and
SURMHFWHG WUDIÀF RQ WKH KLJKZD\
approximately 10,000 vehicles per
day warrants construction of four
lanes. The proposal is divided into to
separate construction projects. The
ÀUVWSURMHFWZLWKFRQVWUXFWLRQVODWHG
to begin in 2018 would replace
the truss bridge over the Washita
Do you dream
in chocolate?
indt Lindor Chocolate
has trademarked the
phrase, “Do you dream
in chocolate?” Today’s
edition may make you think you’re
dreaming in chocolate as we present
you a newspaper printed with
chocolate-scented ink.
Under the glowing Christmas
lights in Towne Centre Weatherford
Thursday, Infinite Grace Ministries
will ring in the holiday season with
their first-ever holiday bazaar with
jfreeman@okpress.com • (405) 499-0027
CINDY SHEA
The Oklahoma Department of
Transportation is hosting a public
meeting to present information
about two very important projects
concerning
Wynnewood
and
access to and from town this
Thursday, December 3 at 6:00 pm
in the Wynnewood High School
Auditorium.
As part of our efforts to keep the
public informed and involved in the
decision-making process, ODOT
has scheduled a public meeting. The
purpose of the public meeting is to
present the proposed improvements
and the results of the environmental
studies, and to solicit public input
before completing the design.
Engineers and planners will present
information about the project and
will be available to answer questions
and receive input from members of
the public at the meeting.
The
Oklahoma
Department
Staff Reporter
Rate*
158.2
206.9
n/a
54
51.2
144
92.7
By Marsha Miller
tickets to discover
When a customer buys any item
on the “top ten” list, they will
instantly receive a chocolate
bar—and a chance at a $100 gift
certificate.
Customers who unwrap a winner
can take the golden ticket to the
WDN office to collect their prize.
JEANNIE FREEMAN
Accounting Manager
Gonorrhea
Where
Oklahoma
Carter
Jefferson
Johnston
Love
Murray
Marshall
Executive Vice President
mthomas@okpress.com • (405) 499-0033
marsha.miller@ardmoreite.com
ONLY ONLINE
11/29/15 12:05:10 AM
Heather Harmon
Rate*
532.6
551
397.3
333.2
358.1
413
420.2
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HgrhnkfZkd%`^ml^m'''
SUSPECT IN
COLORADO
ATTACK SAID
‘NO MORE
BABY PARTS’
ODOT Seeking Input on Bridge
and Highway Projects for Wynnewood
Four golden tickets still remain in
the Willy Wonka-style hunt for five
chocolate bars containing special
golden tickets worth $100 each.
During the holiday promotion
merchants will feature their “top
ten” gift ideas for the holiday
season in stores.
Where
Oklahoma
Carter
Jefferson
Johnston
Love
Murray
Marshall
*per 100,000 residents
Downtown Movie Night,
see banner below for details.
11292015 A01.indd A1
Chlamydia
SEE DISEASE, PAGE 5A
THE POLAR EXPRESS
Officer spotted
hauling ass home
There’s gnome place like Lawton
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CAREER, Page 5A
HEAD’EM UP AWARDS. Every once in a
Just wow! Thank you, Kate. A New
York Post editor saw it and said he was
jealous. It got national attention. The
photo went international. Copy chief
Mia Chism helped approve it to be published.
(A follow up story was headlined,
“Man reunited with ass.”)
Makes you proud of today’s students.
Second place, Lawton Constitution, on
Scott Rains’ story about mysterious
wood art, painted with gnomes, appearing around town on power poles:
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MARK THOMAS
NARCOTICS
"Home Of CVR Energy/Wynnewood Refining"
while a headline just knocks your socks
off. If there was an annual headline
award – and there may be next month as
I compare 12 months of first places – OU
journalism student Kate Bergum will
probably get the award.
First place, this month – The Oklahoma Daily. The story by Tanner Osborne,
and photograph of a Norman cop taking
a stray donkey home in the back seat of
a patrol car brought this single column,
four liner:
Certain sexually
transmitted diseases
in Carter County
exceed state rates
BLACK FRIDAY
Refugee director
says pause
admitting Syrians
Continued to ICED, Page 6A
WEBSITE
$1.50
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2015
By RAY DYER
rdyer@elrenotribune.com
ARDMORE, OKLAHOMA
S U N DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 9, 2 0 1 5
hgma^kbl^
THE SHAWNEE NEWS-STAR
City blanketed
blanked with
withice
icefrom
fromearly-season
early-seasonstorm;
storm;
wide power outages
outages bring
bring El
El Reno
Renoto
tostandstill
standstill
ADMINISTRATION
SINCE
SPORTS,
PAGE 1C
Jenks Simmons Field House
annex converted to shelter
STAFF DIRECTORY
SPORTS, PAGE 1C
OU-OSU PLAY
(580) 223-7771 IN ANNUAL
903 Grand Ave. BEDLAM SERIES
wnewby@okpress.com • (405) 499-0031
“I’m not
perfect, I don’t
even try to be,
I don’t plan to
be, at least not
until I go to
Heaven”
Ron Siens and Clara Hamilton were born and raised in Collinsville, now Collinsville is trying to give them a warm new home. HAYLIE SMART/Owasso Reporter
DIGITAL CLIPPING
KEITH BURGIN
Clipping Director
kburgin@okpress.com • (405) 499-0024
The NEW Metro Creative Connection
More Intuitive. Streamlined. Inspirational.
KYLE GRANT
Digital Clipping Dept.
kgrant@okpress.com
We've redesigned our
web experience to help
you make even more
money with easier
access to Metro's
creative imagery and
compelling ad solutions.
Metro brings you new material each month to support your
ad sales efforts. Our new SearchBooks™, combined with
new search tools, make it easier than ever for creative and
sales pros to find and use art, photo and design resources
that will be effective and profitable for your advertisers.
GENERAL INQUIRIES
newmcctour.com
Metro Creative Graphics, Inc.
www.metrocreativeconnection.com • service@metro-email.com
Digital Clipping Dept.
jbeatley-cates@okpress.com • (405) 499-0045
Take a tour now and
experience all of the
incredible improvements.
800.223.1600
JENNIFER BEATLEY-CATES
SearchBooks give you instant access.
Images, designs and ideas in a
unique presentation designed to inspire.
(405) 499-0020
Fax: (405) 499-0048
Toll-free in OK: 1-888-815-2672
16
OKLAHOMA NATURAL GAS CONTEST WINNERS
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE OCTOBER 2015 WINNERS
October Column: BRIAN BLANSETT, Tri-County Herald
October Editorial: FAITH WYLIE, Oologah Lake Leader
OCTOBER 2015 EDITORIAL WINNER
FAITH WYLIE, Oologah Lake Leader
Are we biased? You bet!
The Newseum Institute™’s latest State of the
First Amendment national survey, published on
July 4, showed that 70% of respondents disagreed with the statement that “overall, the news
media tries to report the news without bias.”
Is the Oologah Lake Leader biased?
Of course, and that’s what you expect of us.
We’re biased in favor of our community. We’re
advocates for the students, adults and senior citizens who live in Oologah, Talala and northwest
Rogers County.
We’re biased in favor of open government,
whether it be the local school board or the state
legislature.
We’re biased in favor of listening to a variety of
opinions on local, state and national issues.
We’re biased in favor of victims, and strive for a
law enforcement and justice system that is fair
and effective.
We’re biased in favor of local young people, and
will gladly report sporting events from a Mustang
fan’s point of view.
We’re biased in favor of quality education and
give thanks every day for our outstanding educators who work with our children.
We’re biased in favor of our local businesses that
provide jobs and tax revenues to keep our community economically healthy.
We’re biased in favor of our local churches, which
offer a range of worship styles and theologies but
come together in community service.
We’re biased in favor of lovers who are successfully married for 25, 50 or 60 years.
We’re biased in favor of Oologah Lake, local
scenery, and wildlife that make a drive into town
a delight.
We’re biased in favor of Will Rogers, our local
hero.
For 33 years, the Leader has been an advocate
for this community.
The Leader began as a black and white newspaper that distributed about 800 copies.
Now, the Leader has color pages, special sections and more than three times the distribution.
Most copies reach more than one reader. The
tattered one on top of the stack in the local store
has probably been borrowed and read by a
dozen people.
In addition, readers looked at 34,072 pages
online at Oologah.net in September.
Our Facebook reach last week was 11,482.
Our methods of communication have expanded,
but we’re still biased in favor of you.
Enter and Win
a $100 Check
from Oklahoma
Natural Gas!
The October Oklahoma Natural Gas
Column and Editorial Contest was
judged by a member of the Oklahoma
Journalism Hall of Fame.
1. Each month, send a tear sheet or
photocopy of your best column and/
or editorial to Oklahoma Natural Gas
Contest, c/o OPA, 3601 N. Lincoln Blvd.,
Oklahoma City, OK 73105-5499.
2. Include the author’s name, name of
publication, date of publication and
category entered (column or editorial).
3. Only ONE editorial and/or ONE column
per writer per month will be accepted.
4. All entries for the previous month must
be at the OPA office by the 15th of the
current month.
5. Winning entries will be reproduced on
the OPA website at www.OkPress.com.
Entries must have been previously
published in print. Contest open to
all OPA member newspapers.
Although Oklahoma Natural Gas Company
selects representative contest winners’
work for use in this monthly ad, the views
expressed in winning columns and editorials
are those of the writers and don’t necessarily
reflect the Company’s opinions.
Thank you for continued
support of “Share The Warmth”
Read the Winning Columns & Editorials on the OPA website:
www.OkPress.com (Under Contests)

To the December Publisher, click here.

Transcription

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