2017 awards program

OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION

AWARD WINNERS

PRESENTED AT THE OPA CONVENTION • JUNE 16, 2018

Honoring Oklahoma Journalists since 1971

Congratulations on your excellent journalism and leadership serving the citizens of Oklahoma.

We’re grateful for all you do.

Thank You.

Dedicated to Education and Excellence in Journalism

TABLE OF CONTENTS MILT PHILLIPS AWARD, Presented to Jeff Mayo......................................................... Page 3 ONF BEACHY MUSSELMAN AWARD, Presented to Jeff Mullin ................................. Page 3 HALF CENTURY CLUB Inductees................................................................................ Page 4 QUARTER CENTURY CLUB Inductees ....................................................................... Page 5 BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST WINNERS Sequoyah Award Winners ................................................................... Page 7 Division 1, Dailies, Circulation more than 6,500 ................................. Page 8 Division 2, Dailies, Circulation 3,500 – 6,500 ................................... Page 10 Division 3, Dailies, Circulation less than 3,500 ................................. Page 12 Division 4, Weeklies, Circulation more than 2,000 ........................... Page 14 Division 5, Weekies, Circulation 1,400 – 2,000 ................................ Page 16 Division 6, Weeklies, Circulation 850 – 1,399................................... Page 18 Division 7, Weeklies, Circulation less than 850 ................................ Page 20 Division 8, Semi- and Tri-Weeklies ................................................... Page 22 College Newspapers ......................................................................... Page 24 OTHER AWARDS........................................................................................................ Page 27 PERFECTA AWARD WINNERS .................................................................................. Page 28 OPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS ................................................................................... Page 29

2017-18 OPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS

DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT BRIAN BLANSETT, TRI-COUNTY HERALD (MEEKER)

RAY DYER, EL RENO TRIBUNE

VICE PRESIDENT TED STREULI, THE JOURNAL RECORD (OKC) TREASURER RUSTY FERGUSON, THE CLEVELAND AMERICAN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT MARK THOMAS, OPA PAST PRESIDENT DAYVA SPITZER, BECKHAM COUNTY RECORD

MIKE STRAIN, TULSA WORLD JOHN DENNY MONTGOMERY, THE PURCELL REGISTER MARK MILLSAP, THE NORMAN TRANSCRIPT ZONELLE RAINBOLT, THE CORDELL BEACON ALAN HERZBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN

“A newspaper is not just for reporting the news as it is, but to make people mad enough to do something about it.” m a r k t wa i n “In the English language, it all comes down to this: Twenty-six letters, when combined correctly, can create magic. Twenty-six letters form the foundation of a free, informed society.” john grogan “We journalists make it a point to know very little about an extremely wide variety of topics; this is how we stay objective.” d av e b a r r y

Because of you, our readers are better informed, our advertisers are better represented, and our own lives are greatly enriched for having been a part of it. You work with pride, humor, and generosity, and it shows.

Congratulations, to the best little newspaper staff in Oklahoma.

ted streuli

2017 MILT PHILLIPS AWARD WINNER

JEFF MAYO Publisher, Cookson Hills Publishers

Jeff Mayo’s first career was as an attorney negotiating contracts for T-Mobile USA in Bellevue, Washington.

He returned to Oklahoma in 2003 to help his parents, Jim and Becky Mayo, at the Sequoyah County Times and because he wanted to experience a greater connection to the community in which he lived.

It wasn’t long before Jeff and his brother Jack, a program manager for Microsoft, formed Big Basin Enterprises LLC and purchased four weekly newspapers, later adding two more to the company.

Big Basin Enterprises merged with its sister company, Cookson Hills Publishers Inc., in 2016. Jeff Mayo is president of Cookson Hills Publishers and publisher of the seven newspapers under its umbrella – Eastern Times Register, The Eufaula Indian Journal, Henryetta Free-Lance, McIntosh County Democrat, Okmulgee Times, Sequoyah County Times and Vian Tenkiller News.

A 1990 graduate of Sallisaw High School, Mayo received a degree in community journalism from the University of Kansas in Lawrence in 1994 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School in

Minneapolis in 1997. Prior to passing the Oklahoma Bar examination, he worked as a reporter for the Boulder, Colo., Daily Camera.

Mayo served as president of the Oklahoma Press Association in 2013, following in the steps of his father, Jim, who was president in 1986, and his grandfather, Wheeler, president in 1944. The National Newspaper Association presented Jeff Mayo with the 2010 Daniel M. Phillips Leadership Award.

Jeff Mayo promoted newspapers as the primary news authority during his year as OPA president.

“Our printed products remain strong, and our websites are sometimes the only place to get the facts of a story.”

Mayo and his wife Beth, who also works for the company, have two children, daughter Madolyn and son Maddox.

2017 ONF BEACHY MUSSELMAN AWARD WINNER

JEFF MULLIN Enid News & Eagle

Jeff Mullin left his mark at the Enid News & Eagle.

In 2017, he retired as senior writer after 41 years, although he still writes a Sunday column each week.

Mullin attended Oklahoma State University, working as a staff mem-

ber for the Daily O’Collegian and graduating in 1975 with a degree in journalism. He briefly worked as a sports writer at the Manhattan (Kan.) Mercury before moving to Enid.

The first 17 of his 41 years at the News & Eagle were spent as a sports writer and then sports editor.

He shifted to news in 1993, serving as news editor and associate editor before being named senior writer and resident columnist. Mullin was also editor of the Vance Airscoop publication.

In December 2016, Mullin was interviewed by The New York Times after a man threatened to beat him for the News & Eagle’s endorsement of Hillary Clinton.

Mullin told The Times the confrontation disturbed and puzzled him. He and his wife, Janice, still attend Willow View United Methodist Church, as do members of the man’s family.

“I thought this is crazy. This is a newspaper endorsement. Some of the people almost seemed hurt.

Like, ‘How can my newspaper’ — in a small town like this, it’s their newspaper — ‘do this to me?’ I think there was almost a sense of betrayal.”

Mullin is also an award-winning columnist. Ads in the News & Eagle promoting his column stated “he makes you laugh, cry and think.” In 2016, Mullin earned his sixth Oklahoma Natural Gas-OPA Column Sweepstakes award.

OPA CONVENTION AWARDS

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2018 HALF CENTURY CLUB INDUCTEES HAROLD GLEASON Harold Gleason, owner and publisher of The Thomas Tribune, began his career in the mailroom at the Clinton Daily News in 1966.

He continued working at the Clinton newspaper while attending Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

After graduating, Gleason was named associate publisher of The Thomas Tribune. He left the Tribune about a year later to return to the Clinton Daily News as production manager.

Eighteen months later, Gleason bought The

Thomas Tribune and has served as publisher since that time.

Gleason and his wife, Donna, have three daughters, three sons-in-law and seven grandchildren.

He has served many years in public service including his current position as chairman of Thomas Economic Development Authority and of the Custer County Excise and Equalization Board.

JOE LANSDEN Joe Lansden has been working at the HeraldDemocrat in Beaver for more than 50 years.

Lansden migrated production of the newspaper from Compugraphic to computer.

He began working at the family newspaper as a printer’s devil when he was nine years old.

He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in journalism.

In the 1990s, Joe and his son, Brent, purchased the family newspaper from Joe’s sisters, Cheley and Kathal.

After discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1965, Lansden returned to Beaver and joined his parents, Willis and Merlee Lansden, at the newspaper. After his parents died in the ’60s,

Lansden and his first wife, Eva, had two children – Brent and Lisa. After the death of his wife in 1996, Lansden married Darlene (Stewart) VanDeburgh.

TOM MUCHMORE Tom Muchmore is the third generation publisher of The Ponca City News and also publisher of The Tonkawa News.

Muchmore graduated from Ponca City Senior High School and earned a degree from the University of Oklahoma.

He’s involved in a multitude of professional organizations in Oklahoma and has served as chairman of the Ponca City Area Chamber of

Commerce and other civic organizations. He is currently a trustee on the Lew Wentz Foundation at OSU and a member of the OSU Student Media Board. Muchmore received Ponca City’s Outstanding Citizen Award in 2001. He served as president of the Oklahoma Press Association in 1997, and was honored with OPA’s highest honor, the Milt Phillips Award in 2009.

ROD SERFOSS Rod Serfoss began his newspaper career as a paperboy for the Clinton Daily News in 1965.

Since then, he has served in all areas of the newspaper’s operation.

He was named general manager of the Daily News in 1983 and served in that position for five years before leaving for a three-year stint as general manager of the Sand Springs Leader.

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OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION

He returned to Clinton in 1991 as associate publisher and part owner of the Daily News, and was named publisher in 2003 following the death of Charles Engleman.

Serfoss and his wife, Jody, have two children, daughter Amber Turney and husband Brandon, and son Dr. Kyle Serfoss and his wife Katie.

2018 QUARTER CENTURY CLUB INDUCTEES STEVE BOLTON

JOHN D. FERGUSON

Steve Bolton’s hero since youth has always been Will Rogers, which led to his dream of being a country newspaper editor/publisher. That dream became a reality when he moved to Comanche in 1992 and began publishing The Comanche Times. In high school, Bolton was a member of the yearbook staff. He also served on the Oklahoma State University Redskin Yearbook staff as a paid staff editor while attending OSU as an accounting/business major. Since opening the newspaper, Bolton has received numerous local awards for his reporting. He also received the Marshal Gregory State Award from the Oklahoma Education Association for his school reporting.

John D. Ferguson began his journalism career working as assistant sports editor at the Enid Morning News and Daily Eagle. He joined the Tulsa World staff in 1974, working there 30 years as a sports writer and five years as a photographer. After leaving the World, Ferguson went to work at the Broken Arrow Ledger as news editor. Six months after the Ledger ceased operation in 2017, he joined the Wagoner County American-Tribune as a staff writer. One of his biggest achievements is the creation of a historical computer database that includes every Oklahoma high school football game played since 1893 and all of the State basketball playoffs with most of the scores since 1918.

LINDA M. CRAUN Linda Craun began working at The Hennessey Clipper in 1991 inserting and labeling the newspaper.

It wasn’t long before she was proofreading, answering the phone, handling legals, posting billing, making bank deposits, filing newspapers, working as the receptionist, and being an awardwinning columnist and writer. Craun also writes a series on the history of downtown buildings that has turned her into one of Hennessey’s town historians. A farm wife for more than 40 years, Craun is the mother of one daughter, Lori, and also has two grandsons.

SHERRY MUCHMORE Sherry Muchmore writes a weekly Lifestyle page, “The Neighborhood Chef,” for The Ponca City News and Tonkawa News. She has been active in Ponca City for more than 20 years, serving as president of the Marland Estate Commission, Friends of the Pioneer Woman Statue and Museum and Ponca City Herb Festival. She was on the steering committee for the Standing Bear Statue and twice chaired the Gala at the Marland Mansion. Prior to marrying Tom Muchmore, publisher of The Ponca City News and Tonkawa News, Sherry worked at the Oklahoma Press Association.

CHRIS DAY Chris Day, editor of the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise, has been a journalist for 38 years. Since graduating from Oklahoma State University in 1980, he has worked in newsrooms in Arkansas, Kansas, Texas, Alabama, Florida and Oklahoma. Day began his journalism career at the Lawton Morning Press as a crime reporter before moving to the sports department. He was also sports editor at The Duncan Banner for two years. After working at various newspapers, Day returned to Oklahoma in 2010 to work for the Stillwater News Press where he was assistant managing editor, sports editor and managing editor. Day has been editor of the Examiner-Enterprise since September 2015.

WILMA NEWBY Wilma Newby joined the Oklahoma Press Association as a traveling computer consultant in July 1999. Her job consists of traveling throughout the state assisting OPA member newspapers with many types of computer problems as well as software training.

Prior to joining the OPA staff, Newby worked at The Norman Transcript for 15 years, 10 as a layout artist and five as composing manager. She also worked for Computer Associates and for the Moore Norman Technology Center. In 2015, she married Dan Newby. Wilma has one daughter, Jennifer Melot of Boston, Mass.

OPA CONVENTION AWARDS

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2018 QUARTER CENTURY CLUB INDUCTEES (CONTINUED) TED STREULI

ELLEN WORKMAN

Ted Streuli has worked at newspapers in California, Texas and Oklahoma over the past 30 years. He joined the staff of The Journal Record as editor in 2004 and is now associate publisher of the daily publication. As a child, Streuli recalls “playing newspaper” using his mother’s typewriter. He started his elementary school’s first newspaper, the Hillwood Star, and was a staff member of his high school and college newspapers. Streuli received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Sonoma State University in 1972. Streuli is the recipient of numerous journalism awards, and has received national recognition for his work in mental health. Streuli and his wife Betsey have two sons, Raymond and Ryland.

Ellen Workman began writing “The View from Here” column for the Stilwell Democrat-Journal in 1989. A few years later, she started her “Then and Now” column in the Westville Reporter.

Workman has received several awards for her columns in the OPA’s annual newspaper contest. She also covered school board and town council meetings for both papers and has made an annual trip to cover the Adair County Fair for over 25 years. Workman lives in the Piney Community south of Westville with her husband Ernie and has two children, Jessica and Nathan.

MIKE TUPA Mike Tupa has been the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise’s sports editor since 1996 — a 22-year run at a single newspaper. He began his newspaper career in December 1987 as a general assignment reporter for the newspaper in Ely, Nevada, and also worked for two newspapers in California. Tupa graduated from Weber State College in 1981 with a degree in political science and a minor in communications. He also served in the Marine Corps. His focus always has been on high school and community recreational sports, which has earned him the respect of athletes and readers.

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OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION

2017 OPA BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST

SEQUOYAH AWARD WINNERS DIVISION 1

DIVISION 2

DIVISION 3

DIVISION 4

DIVISION 5

Dailies, Circulation more than 6,500

Dailies, Circulation 3,500 - 6,500

Dailies, Circulation less than 3,500

Weeklies, Circulation more than 2,000

Weeklies, Circulation 1,400 - 2,000

DIVISION 6

DIVISION 7

DIVISION 8

DIVISION 9

Weeklies, Circulation 850 - 1,399

Weeklies, Circulation less than 850

Semi- and TriWeeklies

College Newspapers

OPA CONVENTION AWARDS

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2017 OPA BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST DIVISION 1 RESULTS, DAILIES, CIRC. MORE THAN 6,500 NEWS CONTENT

PHOTOGRAPHY

NEWS STORY

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

The Norman Transcript

The Norman Transcript

SECOND PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

Cass Rains Enid News & Eagle

Enid News & Eagle

Enid News & Eagle

“Fraud arrest” SECOND PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Muskogee Phoenix

SPORTS COVERAGE

Mack Burke The Norman Transcript “Former state seismologist testifies”

FIRST PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

The Norman Transcript

Cass Rains Enid News & Eagle

SECOND PLACE:

Enid News & Eagle

“Sheriff, 5 others indicted in inmate death”

LAYOUT & DESIGN FEATURE STORY

FIRST PLACE:

Enid News & Eagle

FIRST PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

Steve Metzer The Lawton Constitution

The Norman Transcript

“Marlow man had hand in bomb that ended World War II”

SALES PROMOTION FIRST PLACE:

Enid News & Eagle “Candy Cane Cash”

ADVERTISING

“Effects of a childhood scourge remain”

The Norman Transcript

THIRD PLACE:

“Discover Norman”

Grace Leonhart The Lawton Constitution

Muskogee Phoenix “Dog Days of Summer”

The Norman Transcript

Sheila Robinson The Lawton Constitution

SECOND PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

“Belgian family gets taste of SW Oklahoma hospitality”

SECOND PLACE:

Muskogee Phoenix THIRD PLACE:

Enid News & Eagle

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP Endorsement controversy teaches us some lessons Newspapers have been endorsing presidential candidates since at least 1860, when The New York Times supported “Mr. Lincoln, of Illinois, familiarly known as ‘Old Abe.’” That’s part of what newspapers do.

In Enid, the News & Eagle endorsed Jeff Funk Republican Marco Rubio during Oklahoma’s presidential preference primary last March. The endorsement prompted virtually no comment locally. Starting last August, editorials took candidate Donald Trump to task for his comments on NATO, Muslims and women. That resulted in very few comments from readers.

Then, on Oct. 9, we wrote and published an editorial endorsing Hillary Clinton for president. Wow! Reaction came like a shock wave. From the phone calls and emails coming into the newspaper office, you would think we had burst into a Catholic church during Mass and accused the pope of high crimes and malfeasance. What we thought was a well-reasoned stance on a critical political issue was flat-out offensive to a significant number of readers. They didn’t want “their newspaper” making such a statement, and some readers were determined to seek vengeance for our words. In all, 162 people canceled their subscription and several advertisers stopped their advertising.

We discovered some readers thought we were biased if our opinion didn’t reinforce their personal viewpoint.

The ripple effects con-

much the opposite effect, with people from across the nation offering to subscribe to the News & Eagle as a way of supporting our newspaper’s right to express an independent and locally unpopular opinion. Many shared, like these words from a woman in Oregon: “The reason we love this country is because we have the right to express our opinion without negative repercussions.” Or from a retired attorney, also out of state: “I also think that the diligent mainstream media will have a fundamental part to play in keeping this a great nation.”

That’s a lesson we’d like to take away from this.

Newspapers are critical to healthy communities, healthy states and a healthy nation.

The election was eight weeks ago. Trump will be our new president, and we fervently want him to be successful for the good of our nation. The News & Eagle will continue to comment editorially on President Trump, just as we’ve commented on the actions of his predecessors. That’s part of what newspapers do.

We also know we need to do a better job of educating Oklahomans on the three important — and independent — roles of a newspaper: (1) News. A consistent source of reliable, fact-based reporting on topics of local interest, including current events.

(2) Opinion. An assortment of commentary from people of diverse perspectives, all appearing on

PUBLISHER

EDITORIAL WRITING FIRST PLACE:

The Lawton Constitution SECOND PLACE:

A D I s m w i f o t a s o a d T T o m t R h t p b h t a c o a m a b c t C c t C e o g O c D t I t r t b g c F g b i o m i e a g i

SPORTS STORY

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

Enid News & Eagle

Tyler Palmateer The Norman Transcript

“Community engagement efforts” SECOND PLACE:

The Norman Transcript “Renaming DeBarr Avenue”

“Baker Mayfield’s journey to the top captivates” SECOND PLACE:

Dave Ruthenberg Enid News & Eagle “A phone call and a coach’s offer helped turn life around for Enid’s Augie Prichett” THIRD PLACE:

The Norman Transcript

John McKelvey The Norman Transcript

THIRD PLACE:

“OU takes second straight national title”

Enid News & Eagle

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We seek to be a local newspaper of record for people of all backgrounds, ages and opinions. We publish information every day that makes people smarter, helps them be better citizens, saves them money and exposes them to different opinions and activities.

Newspapers also serve as a watchdog, keeping an eye on the actions of government and people in power or those spending public tax dollars. Recently, the News & Eagle informed readers when: • Enid city commissioners were negotiating privately to sell city park land for construction of a casino.

• Enid Public Schools leaders were developing a huge tax-funded building plan. When we reported details of the plan and public reaction hit, school leaders altered the building plan into a bond issue proposal that voters finally approved.

• Hundreds of earthquakes shook Northwest Oklahoma. The News & Eagle reported on scientific research linking the outbreak of quakes to oil and gas production, and state officials placed a series of restrictions on production wastewater reinjection in selected areas.

• Faced with water rationing and restrictions on future industrial development, the city of Enid proposed a 70-mile-long pipeline to pump in water from Kaw Lake. Voters ultimately approved a sales tax to finance the project.

• In November 2015, some city commissioners secretly planned a vote to potentially fire the city manager while the mayor and another commissioner were traveling out of state.

To do that type of reporting, a newspaper must be independent — not a public relations arm of government or beholden to certain

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OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION

IN-DEPTH REPORTING

NEWS PHOTOGRAPH

SPORTS PHOTOGRAPH

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

James Neal Enid News & Eagle

Jeff Dixon The Lawton Constitution

“Separated by skin”

“Snowstorm socks Lawton”

Kyle Phillips The Norman Transcript “Westmoore leaping catch

SECOND PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

James Neal Enid News & Eagle

Cody Giles The Norman Transcript

“Teacher pay”

“Up in smoke”

SECOND PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Ryan Miller and Janelle Stecklein Enid News & Eagle

Kyle Phillips The Norman Transcript

Kyle Phillips The Norman Transcript

“Ready to respond”

THIRD PLACE:

“Overextended Oklahomans”

COLUMN WRITING

“Baker’s revenge”

Kyle Phillips The Norman Transcript

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPH

“OU loses big lead in loss”

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

Clay Horning The Norman Transcript

Jeff Dixon The Lawton Constitution

“Sports columns”

“A dirty game”

FRONT PAGE DESIGN FIRST PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

Abbie Sears The Norman Transcript

Jeff Mullin Enid News & Eagle

“Merry Christmas from The Norman Transcript”

“Sidelines” THIRD PLACE:

Jamie Berry The Norman Transcript “Norman Citizens’ Police Academy series”

SMALL SPACE AD FIRST PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

Steve Miller The Lawton Constitution “Pumpkins are aplenty at Pumpkin Hill” THIRD PLACE:

Kyle Phillips The Norman Transcript “Summer fun for a good cause”

SECOND PLACE:

Jamie Berry The Norman Transcript “Lifesavers” THIRD PLACE:

Dillon Hart The Norman Transcript “OU Softball National Championship”

Rebekah Collins and Rebecca Howe The Norman Transcript “Spark’s Clinic - Reader’s Choice” SECOND PLACE:

Rebecca Howe The Norman Transcript “Bryan’s Car Corner” THIRD PLACE:

Marise Boehs and Rebekah Colllins The Norman Transcript “Mitchell’s Jewelry”

LARGE SPACE AD FIRST PLACE:

Marise Boehs and Rebecca Howe The Norman Transcript “Rose Rock Vet Hospital”

SECOND PLACE:

Stephanie Elswick, Cindi Lennier, Charlie Meggyes and Erin Shriver Muskogee Phoenix “Warner School” THIRD PLACE

Rebecca Howe The Norman Transcript “Mel’s Kloset”

FIRST PLACE, FEATURE PHOTOGRAPH: Jeff Dixon, The Lawton Constitution

OPA CONVENTION AWARDS

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2017 OPA BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST DIVISION 2 RESULTS, DAILIES, CIRC. 3,500 – 6,500 NEWS CONTENT

PHOTOGRAPHY

NEWS STORY

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

McAlester News-Capital

Stillwater News Press

SECOND PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

Beau Simmons Stillwater News Press

The Ardmoreite

McAlester News-Capital

THIRD PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Stillwater News Press

The Shawnee News-Star

SPORTS COVERAGE FIRST PLACE:

The Ada News

LAYOUT & DESIGN

SECOND PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

Stillwater News Press

Weatherford Daily News

THIRD PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

“City leaders decry lack of mental health treatment options” SECOND PLACE:

Tim Ahrens and Jordan Bishop Stillwater News Press “OSU coach Lamont Evans charged” THIRD PLACE:

David Bitton Stillwater News Press “Student teachers bolt for better pay”

Weatherford Daily News

McAlester News-Capital

FEATURE STORY

THIRD PLACE:

The Shawnee News-Star

FIRST PLACE:

Eric Swanson The Ada News “Marine’s remains to be buried in Oklahoma”

SALES PROMOTION FIRST PLACE:

Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise

ADVERTISING FIRST PLACE:

“Dewey Blizzard”

Weatherford Daily News

SECOND PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

The Shawnee News-Star

Stillwater News Press

“Our Native Traditions”

THIRD PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise

The Ardmoreite “Honoring our local firefighters”

SECOND PLACE:

Randy Spicer ll Weatherford Daily News “World War ll veteran reflects on his time in war-torn Europe” THIRD PLACE:

Michelle Charles Stillwater News Press “A dog’s second life”

SPORTS STORY FIRST PLACE:

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP Hales named Student of Year Winters, Archambo selected top athletes nthompson@examinerenterprise.com

B

EDITORIAL WRITING FIRST PLACE:

Weatherford Daily News SECOND PLACE:

McAlester News-Capital

artlesville High School senior Abigail Hales was named the 2017 Examiner-Enterprise and Patriot GMC Hyundai Student of the Year Thursday night, and walked away with the keys to a 2017 Hyundai Elantra.

Hales was awarded the car, $2,000 in cash from the Examiner-Enterprise and $500 in gas from Phillips 66 during the inaugural ExaminerEnterprise Night of Scholars and Champions presented by Patriot GMC Hyundai banquet at the Hilton Garden Inn. Despite the ominous weather outside, the ballroom of the hotel was filled to capacity to honor Hales and 50 other students during the event.

She was one of 16 students from seven different high schools from across the area named as a student of the month.

After being presented the keys to the car, Hales said she was in total shock.

“It’s a lot newer than a lot of other things I’ve ever driven, I was very surprised,” Hales said. “I’m really grateful to Patriot and Tatton for being able to donate this and being able to get this.”

Hales is a senior at Bartlesville High School, Throughout her gifted career as a high school student, she has been able to maintain a lofty 4.2222 weighted GPA and being named as a National Merit Scholar semifinalist. But that’s not all that drives her.

SEE HALES, A7

FIRST PLACE:

Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise

By Nathan Thompson

Tatton Manning, Patriot GMC Hyundai, hands the keys to a 2017 Hyundai Elantra to Examiner-Enterprise Night of Scholars and Champion Student of the Year Abigail Hales. Hales also won a $2,000 cash award from the Examiner-Enterprise, and a $500 gasoline card from Phillips 66. MARK BLUMER PHOTOGRAPHY

“Night of Scholars and Champions”

Online See highlights of the Night of Scholars and Champions banquet at the Examiner-Enterprise’s website — www.examinerenterprise.com.

SECOND PLACE:

Inside

The Shawnee News-Star

See more photos from the Night of Scholars and Champions banquet on page A3 More about the Athletes of the Year B1 A special section about the Night of Scholars and Champions students and student athletes inside this edition

Winter Williams, a three-sport athlete at Copan High School, and A.J. Archambo, a three-sport athlete at Bartlesville High School, were selected as the female and male Athletes of the Year at the Night of Scholars and Champions. MARK BLUMER PHOTOGRAPHY

THIRD PLACE:

Stillwater News Press Abigail Hales with her new 2017 Hyundai Elantra. Hales was selected as Student of the Year at the Night of Scholars and Champions Thursday. MARK BLUMER PHOTOGRAPHY

Former University of Oklahoma and National Football League grid legends Greg Pruitt, left, and Joe Washington were the keynote speakers at Night of Scholars and Champions Thursday. MARK BLUMER PHOTOGRAPHY

“2017 Firefighter of the Year awards”

Mike Tupa Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise “Red Murrell imparted legacy of hoops, charity” SECOND PLACE:

Adam Ewing The Shawnee News-Star “Nichols overcomes cancer, fulfills football dream”

THIRD PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Weatherford Daily News

Adrian O’Hanlon III McAlester News-Capital

“Christmas in the park”

“What really happened in the Texas A&M bullpen prank call video”

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OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION

IN-DEPTH REPORTING

LARGE SPACE AD

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPH

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

James Beaty and Adrian O’Hanlon III McAlester News-Capital

Julie Strain Stillwater News Press

David Bitton Stillwater News Press

“Lakeview Pointe Shopping Center”

“Boomer Blast”

SECOND PLACE:

Richard Barron The Ada News

“State Auditor: More than $1.7 million from city of Hartshorne never deposited”

Brenda Sheikh Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise

SECOND PLACE:

James Beaty McAlester News-Capital “Longtime Expo Center manager, city tourism manager dismissed”

Randy Spicer ll Weatherford Daily News

THIRD PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Kevin Harvison McAlester News-Capital

SPORTS PHOTOGRAPH NEWS PHOTOGRAPH FIRST PLACE:

COLUMN WRITING

David Bitton Stillwater News Press

FIRST PLACE:

“The Reel Dish” SECOND PLACE:

James Beaty McAlester News-Capital “Ramblin’ Round” THIRD PLACE:

Kent Bush The Shawnee News-Star “Publisher’s Column”

“Miss McAlester crowning”

“Agri Center”

“Meeting to feature annexation debate, again”

David Dishman McAlester News-Capital

“Ada Indivisible – Health care protest”

“Glamour Pets”

Jill Hunt Stillwater News Press

THIRD PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

“Unheard” SECOND PLACE:

Chris Day Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise “Polar Plunge bellyflop” THIRD PLACE:

Randy Mitchell The Ada News

FIRST PLACE:

Mike Tupa Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise “Loose ball” SECOND PLACE:

Josh Burton Weatherford Daily News “Eagles suffer first loss” THIRD PLACE:

Jason Elmquist Stillwater News Press “Hill’s touchdown dive”

“Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter landing”

FRONT PAGE DESIGN FIRST PLACE:

SMALL SPACE AD

Dawnyal Hill McAlester News-Capital “Eclipse 2017” SECOND PLACE:

Josh Burton Weatherford Daily News “SportsDay Unleashed” FIRST PLACE:

Brenda Sheikh Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise “Glenn Security Systems”

THIRD PLACE:

Samantha Spears The Ada News “ECU Graduation”

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Julie Strain Stillwater News Press “Lazenby Landscaping” THIRD PLACE:

Brenda Sheikh Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise “Flowerland”

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2017 OPA BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST DIVISION 3 RESULTS, DAILIES, CIRC. LESS THAN 3,500 NEWS CONTENT

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The Journal Record (Oklahoma City)

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The Altus Times

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Tahlequah Daily Press

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“Annual Newcomers Guide”

Tahlequah Daily Press

Clinton Daily News

“Collins finds kinship with birds of prey”

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The Journal Record

Rick Heaton Claremore Daily Progress

“2017 Woman of the Year”

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“Just another journey for Parker Price”

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“Home for the Holidays”

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Brian Brus The Journal Record

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Tahlequah Daily Press

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The Journal Record

“River Connections: Regatta”

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The Duncan Banner

Brian Brus The Journal Record

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“World champion fencer visits OKC as sport ambassador”

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Woodward News

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Clinton Daily News

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FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2017

“The modern black plague: Oklahoma’s opioid epidemic”

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Potential tough road games for OSU - page 10

WOODWARD NEWS

The Journal Record

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IN-DEPTH REPORTING

“Locked out: Affordable housing still scarce in OKC” SECOND PLACE:

Rachael Van Horn Woodward News “The killer inside: Local family sickened by malfunctioning home furnace” THIRD PLACE:

Tes Jackson Tahlequah Daily Press “Man arrested for murder in Daisy Doe case”

FRIDAY

75 CENTS

What we found in the fire

By Rachael Van Horn Staff Writer

Grace Ministries kids They were named the sack lunch program.

Northwest Oklahoma Complex Pick up locations at Blue fires by the Oklahoma Forestry Service.

Sage Apartments, Tara But that name just doesn't do Apartments and Lincoln justice or adequately describe Avenue Baptist Church, noon to 12:20 p.m., and the human life, animal life, livelihoods, property and, at at Horace Mann the time, even hope that was Elementary and Head consumed in the flames that Start, 12:30 p.m. swept Northwest Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas on March 6.

Woodward Travelers For the rest of the United 16-under baseball in States, the fires seemed just a Mickey Mantle World Series in Waterbury, CT. blip on their radar, if they heard about them at all. National media simply didn't pick up the Woodward Youth Arts news that seven people had Camp, Woodward Arts perished, that 1.4 million acres, Theatre.

8,000 head of cattle, 7,000 hogs, countless wildlife and Fairview Wrangler thousands of miles of fence had Rodeo, 8 p.m. been turned to ash.

There is just no explaining Woodward Farmer’s to anyone who was not here in Market, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. this catastrophe, what a fire that is 2,000 degrees and is SATURDAY traveling at 75 miles per hour Woodward Youth Arts feels like when you are trying Camp, Woodward Arts to save your cattle, or your home or your life.

Theatre.

But on Thursday morning, with a welcome drizzle of rain Woodward Farmer’s falling on the roof of Laurie’s Market, 7:30 a.m. to 1 Cafe in Gate, a group was p.m. brought together by Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Jim Book signing for Reese to tell stories before they “Relentless” author are lost and to reconnect and Lakin Ragins Castle. share in a way there simply Plains Indians and hasn't been time for until now.

Pioneers Museum. 9 Area ranchers sat down with a.m. to 4 p.m. a Michigan group who over the days, weeks and months folWoodward Travelers lowing the killer fires, brought 16-under baseball in hundreds of loads of hay from Mickey Mantle World their home state to shore up Ranchers and many who hauled relief supplies and hay in all the way from Michigan gathered Series in Waterbury, CT. people who they had never met Thursday morning at Laurie's Cafe in Gate listen intently as Beaver County rancher Brad Marshall before, but knew were hurting. (top) and Lonnie Bailey tell their own stories about what happened on March 6, when the Fairview Wrangler And so, under the rumbling Northwest Oklahoma Complex fires bore down on the Knowles and Gate region.

Rodeo, 8 p.m. hum of an air conditioner and in the comfort of Laurie’s Cafe, mon theme that prevailed dust and I thought, well is that water and I go back to Forgan MONDAY and fill with water. And just each told his or her stories of through the morning. And it dust or is it smoke?

Woodward County And it was smoke. So I go like Brad said, the wind just survival, of heroism, of was not so much about what Commission meeting, bale into an old transport the switched to straight out of the despair, of terror and of what they lost in the fire.

Woodward County It was all about what they county has, that I can outrun on north instantly. I get back to 64 they lost in the fire.

Courthouse, 10 a.m. foot. But I load that up with and it has crossed 64 and howlMen and women, ranchers found.

5,000 gallons of water and I ing. I head south." of the toughest kind, five Guy Payne was now very Guy and Jan Payne - take to them fire trucks," Guy Woodward High School months ago would have told concerned about his ranch, you they had seen it all. Now Ranchers located west of Payne said. softball at Firelake At this point, the wind is located west of Knowles, along they described a kind of savage Knowles on the Beaver River Scrimmage Festival in "I remember that day. When steady at about 50 to 60 miles the Beaver River. No fire fury in a fire they had never Shawnee. trucks had been called for witnessed and hope to never I left the house, I told Jan, per hour and our of the west.

'Baby, I hope we don't have a "And I thinking, these boys structures at this point. Indeed, again.

Grace Ministries kids But really, at the foundation fire today.' So just about 11:30 east of here, they're done - all three fires that were a part of sack lunch program.

See Found on page 2 Pick up locations at Blue of the conversation, was a com- I looked up and I could see the they're done. So I run out of Sage Apartments, Tara Apartments and Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church, noon to 12:20 p.m., and

By Sarah Nishimuta The Excise Board ruled Berry said in an interview Berry said. "And the Excise at Horace Mann and Rachael Van Horn with the Woodward News that Board agreed." against Taloga Wind and Elementary and Head Staff Writers the initial assessment for their According to laws put in upheld the second assessment.

Start, 12:30 p.m.

Berry is pleased with the property was valued at around place several years ago, alterOn Wednesday a wind ener- $187 million which the compa- native energy companies have board's decision which could gy company with a wind farm ny is required to pay taxes on to several tax breaks offered to have had a negative impact on located in Dewey County filed the county. Following an infor- them through the state of the economy for the small, an official protest to challenge mal protest a second assess- Oklahoma. One of those is a rural area, especially schools.

3 the county's assessed value of ment was completed and the five year moratorium on payObituaries Berry said it is disingenuous 4 their property.

Opinion value was lowered by $10 mil- ing any ad valorem tax to coun- for Taloga Wind to protest their A hearing including the ties where their property has property assessment when they lion, making their final 5 Classifieds 8 Dewey County Excise Board, assessed value about $177 mil- been constructed. On average, did not protest it when the Annie’s Mail County Clerk, County Assessor, lion. the state compiles about $39 Oklahoma tax payer was pay9 and Comics District No. 1 County the company is asking million per year of general ing their tax bill.

10 Commissioner Dillon Berry forNow Sports "I am thrilled that the excise the value to be lowered to funding to pay those property took arguments from Taloga around $60 million. taxes for the wind companies board chose to uphold what I VOL. 117, NO. 149 - 10 PAGES Wind attorneys regarding their Commissioner Berry is so that counties can continue to think is the correct assessment assertion that their property skeptical about the change. function. of the wind farm," Berry said. value was assessed too highly.

Now a trend has been "This is something we will "I just have a hard time Taloga Wind is owned by believing they were depreciat- appearing in other counties as watch closely. It was a gimparent company NRG Energy ing at four or five percent and well, which points to compa- mick on their part, trying to who also owns Buffalo Bear, now it's suddenly 60 to 70 per- nies protesting their valuations pull a stunt to save some LLC, a wind farm in Harper cent now that the state has when the tax burden reverts to money. Our assessor had a fair County. stopped paying those taxes," them after their five years is up. and honest assessment."

Assessment upheld in wind farm hearing

FIRST PLACE:

Rachael Van Horn Woodward News “Wildfires series” SECOND PLACE:

Catherine Sweeney The Journal Record “The cost of cuts: Agency to cut child abuse prevention programs”

Index

THIRD PLACE:

Sheri Gourd, Kim Poindexter and Sean Rowley Tahlequah Daily Press “Markwayne Mullin forums”

COLUMN WRITING

NEWS PHOTOGRAPH

SPORTS PHOTOGRAPH FIRST PLACE:

Rick Carpenter The Altus Times “Layup over the back” SECOND PLACE: FIRST PLACE:

Tom Fink Claremore Daily Progress SECOND PLACE:

Ted Streuli The Journal Record

FIRST PLACE:

Brent Fuchs The Journal Record

“Leaping catch”

“Remove”

Kevin Farr Durant Daily Democrat

SECOND PLACE:

“Periscope”

Amanda Corbin Poteau Daily News

THIRD PLACE:

“Lifesavers”

Rick Heaton Claremore Daily Progress

THIRD PLACE:

“The Heat Index”

Brent Fuchs The Journal Record “Oklahoma has a big toothache ”

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Kevin Farr Durant Daily Democrat THIRD PLACE:

“Silo wins 13th state title”

FRONT PAGE DESIGN FIRST PLACE:

Bryan Richter The Journal Record “Raising the Barres”

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPH

SECOND PLACE:

Stacey Neal The Altus Times “Nov. 30, 2017” THIRD PLACE:

Bryan Richter The Journal Record “Looking at the big picture” FIRST PLACE: FIRST PLACE:

Juanita Lewis Tahlequah Daily Press “Aerofit” SECOND PLACE:

Sarah Barrow, Jordan Mazuranic and Laura Watts The Journal Record “Geno’s Furs” THIRD PLACE:

Keith Foster Poteau Daily News

Amanda Corbin Poteau Daily News “Mardi Gras” SECOND PLACE:

Shawn Yorks Guymon Daily Herald “Kremlin-Hillsdale wins state championship” THIRD PLACE:

Rick Carpenter The Altus Times “Don’t look now!”

“LeFlore County Museum”

LARGE SPACE AD

FIRST PLACE:

Laura Watts The Journal Record “Oklahoma History Center: Welcome home” SECOND PLACE:

Dana Boyles The Duncan Banner “Marlow Mercantile” THIRD PLACE:

Laura Watts The Journal Record “Oklahoma History Center: The wall that heals”

FIRST PLACE, SPORTS PHOTOGRAPH: Rick Carpenter, The Altus Times

OPA CONVENTION AWARDS

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2017 OPA BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST DIVISION 4 RESULTS, WEEKLIES, CIRC. MORE THAN 2,000 NEWS CONTENT

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FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

The Purcell Register

The Purcell Register

SECOND PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

The Stilwell Democrat Journal

Mustang Times THIRD PLACE:

Choctaw Times

THIRD PLACE:

Mustang Times

FIRST PLACE:

Mike Ray OKC Friday “Nichols Hills beaches channel surfing�

SPORTS COVERAGE

SECOND PLACE:

The Madill Record

Anita Reding Stigler News-Sentinel

SECOND PLACE:

“Attorney: Use of sales tax for jail debt legal�

FIRST PLACE:

LAYOUT & DESIGN FIRST PLACE:

Stigler News-Sentinel

THIRD PLACE:

The Purcell Register

THIRD PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

The Purcell Register

Molly Raley The Madill Record

Mustang Times THIRD PLACE:

“State Could Cut County Budget�

FEATURE STORY

Choctaw Times

FIRST PLACE:

Molly Raley The Madill Record

SALES PROMOTION FIRST PLACE:

Stigler News-Sentinel “Honor, A Salute To Our Veterans�

ADVERTISING FIRST PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

Choctaw Times

OKC Friday

SECOND PLACE:

“Celebrate Oklahoma�

“Second Lieutenant Cain returned home�

SECOND PLACE:

Darrell Neale The Stilwell Democrat Journal “Rock retiring from scrap business after 64 years�

Stigler News-Sentinel

THIRD PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Choctaw Times

THIRD PLACE:

The Madill Record

“Oktoberfest 2017 Guide�

Becky Clark Nowata Star “Blind veteran creates artistic, handcrafted wooden bowls�

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP Building plans on

HORIZON EDITORIAL WRITING

Purcell Schools close to calling for bond election

JeanneGrimes The Purcell Register $IWHU OHQJWK\ GLVFXVVLRQ 0RQGD\ HYHQLQJ WKH 3XUFHOO 3XEOLF 6FKRROV %RDUG RI (GXFDWLRQ LV SRLVHG WR DGRSW D UHVROXWLRQ FDOOLQJ IRU D PLOOLRQ ERQG LVVXH 7KH ERDUG ZLOO PHHW LQ VSHFLDO VHVVLRQ DW S P 0RQGD\ WR FDOO IRU WKH HOHFWLRQ RQ 2FWREHU

FIRST PLACE:

The Purcell Register

,QFOXGHG ZLOO EH WKUH SURSRVLWLRQV 7KH ODUJHVW DW PLOOLRQ ZRXOG SD\ IRU EXLOGLQJ D QHZ MXQLRU KLJK VFKRRO VRXWK RI WK KLJK VFKRRO 7KH OLEUDU\ PHGLD FHQWHU L WKH QHZ VFKRRO ZLOO DOVR VHUY DV D VWRUP VKHOWHU 3OHDVH VHH School EDFN SDJH

SPORTS STORY FIRST PLACE:

Tom Firme Stigler News-Sentinel “Brooks breaks career rushing mark�

FIRST PLACE:

“Passage of school bond issue�

The Purcell Register

SECOND PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

Mustang Times

SECOND PLACE:

Choctaw Times

“Food drive�

Molly Raley The Madill Record

THIRD PLACE:

The Madill Record

THIRD PLACE:

The Madill Record “Marshall County Junior Livestock Show�

“The last hoorah!�

THIRD PLACE:

Tom Firme Stigler News-Sentinel “Kinta Eagles make second straight state semifinals run�

14

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IN-DEPTH REPORTING

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FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

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Tina Firquain, Karen Maple and Molly Raley The Madill Record

Molly Raley The Madill Record

Molly Raley The Madill Record

“Two-vehicle accident”

“Marshall County Fire Departments”

SECOND PLACE:

“Kingston’s second place steal”

Mike Bryant Nowata Star

COLUMN WRITING FIRST PLACE:

Charles Keim The Stilwell Democrat Journal “Keim’s Korner”

Tom Firme Stigler News-Sentinel

THIRD PLACE:

“Safe at home plate”

Darrell Neale The Stilwell Democrat Journal

Tom Firme Stigler News-Sentinel

“Tornado hits Greasy community”

SECOND PLACE:

Molly Raley The Madill Record

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPH

“Single Mom”

SECOND PLACE:

“Oops, trailer snags low line”

THIRD PLACE:

“Parker lights up homecoming night as Keota beats Porum”

FRONT PAGE DESIGN

THIRD PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

Joy Richardson OKC Friday

Mike Bryant Nowata Star

“Excursions”

“Blind veteran creates artistic, handcrafted wooden bowls”

Tina Firquain and Molly Raley The Madill Record

SMALL SPACE AD SECOND PLACE:

Tina Firquain The Madill Record FIRST PLACE:

“Welcome Home”

LaGayla Eakle Stigler News-Sentinel

THIRD PLACE:

“Sockey Insurance”

Frankie Duncan The Stilwell Democrat Journal

SECOND PLACE:

“One year old at Bell Pow Wow”

“Halloween” SECOND PLACE:

Molly Raley The Madill Record “August 3, 2017” THIRD PLACE:

Karen Holt Stigler News-Sentinel “February 23, 2017”

LaGayla Eakle Stigler News-Sentinel “Methodist Church Holy Week services” THIRD PLACE:

Chris Fuson The Stilwell Democrat Journal “Cane Hill Harvest Music Festival”

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LaGayla Eakle Stigler News-Sentinel “Team Roping Fundraiser” SECOND PLACE:

LaGayla Eakle Stigler News-Sentinel “Skin Deep, sun & water safety” THIRD PLACE:

Vicki Gourley OKC Friday “Nazih Zuhdi, M.D.”

FIRST PLACE, SALES PROMOTION: Stigler News-Sentinel

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2017 OPA BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST DIVISION 5 RESULTS, WEEKLIES, CIRC. 1,400 – 2,000 NEWS CONTENT

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FIRST PLACE:

Wagoner County American-Tribune

Wagoner County American-Tribune

SECOND PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

The Beckham County Record

Countywide & Sun

FIRST PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

The Delaware County Journal

Oologah Lake Leader

Brandi Ball The Cleveland American

SPORTS COVERAGE FIRST PLACE:

Wagoner County American-Tribune

LAYOUT & DESIGN

SECOND PLACE:

“Hominy hatchet murder suspects to stand trial�

SECOND PLACE:

Brandi Ball The Cleveland American “ICES Corporation looks to uncertain future after fire�

THIRD PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

Owasso Reporter

Eric Warsinskey Watonga Republican

Countywide & Sun (Tecumseh)

THIRD PLACE:

“Local woman found dead in Greenfield�

The Cleveland American

SECOND PLACE:

FEATURE STORY

The Eufaula Indian Journal THIRD PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

Wagoner County American-Tribune

Brandi Ball The Cleveland American

SALES PROMOTION

“Local landmark celebrates 60 Pioneer Days�

FIRST PLACE:

Countywide & Sun “2017 Graduation�

ADVERTISING

SECOND PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

Wagoner County American-Tribune

Rusty Ferguson The Cleveland American “Thankful for the village where it all began�

FIRST PLACE:

“Wagoner County Hometown Guide�

The Eufaula Indian Journal

THIRD PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

The Marlow Review

Shonda Little The Beckham County Record

“Football Preview�

“Breast cancer awareness series: A life cut short�

Owasso Reporter

THIRD PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Tuttle Times

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP There is Hope and Healing at One Safe Place

SPORTS STORY

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

Countywide & Sun

Brandi Ball The Cleveland American

“Domestic violence awareness�

EDITORIAL WRITING FIRST PLACE:

The Delaware County Journal

Artist Rendering of entrance to One Safe Place Family Justice Center

By GLORIA TROTTER You’re beaten, bloody, abused.

Your babies are harmed or endangered by someone who’s supposed to love them.

You’re frightened, broke. You feel helpless and hopeless.

You are a victim of domestic or sexual violence, and you have to do something.

Now there is hope and healing — at One Safe Place Family Justice Center.

Not so long ago, an abuse victim seeking help had to travel 15.8 miles, making 14 stops at various agencies — if you had transportation and if you had the courage

one roof, dramatically easing the WUDXPD DQG GLIĂ€ FXOW\ RI GHDOLQJ ZLWK child and adult abuse situations. “We wanted to make it simpler to get our services,â€? said Cathy Adams, the assistant district attorney who is in charge of the operation. “It’s a place of safety.â€? $ERXW VTXDUH IHHW RI RIĂ€ FH space provides examination rooms, interview rooms, living spaces, RIĂ€ FHV DQG EDWKURRPV GHGLFDWHG to helping child victims of sexual abuse as well as adult victims of sexual and domestic abuse.

Although the center primarily serves the 23rd Judicial District (P tt t i d Li l

SECOND PLACE:

Wagoner County American-Tribune

including four SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) nurses, safety planning, forensic interviewing and medical examinations, mental health referrals, child advocacy and court advocacy; • Law enforcement, including Scott Hawkins of the Pottawatomie County Sheriff ’s Office and a representative of the Shawnee Police Department. They work with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Police Department, Dist. 23 DA investigators and other local agencies. • Legal Aid Services, with two tt h h dl l d ti

victims.

Brittanie Weatherford is the program director at One Safe Place, concentrating on “the wrap-around services we offer.� She stressed that “This couldn’t happen without the community support and donations; we couldn’t survive without them.�

Supporters bring quilts, snacks, gift cards and other items to help and comfort victims.

They work closely with the Dept. of Human Services, Hope House, Project Safe and other agencies as needed. “It’s one place for everything,� Adams said. “It’s not where we will always be, but it’s h ill b f hil �

“CHS grad buckled up and headed to rodeo nationals�

SECOND PLACE:

Wagoner County American-Tribune “Food from Fans food drive�

THIRD PLACE:

Oologah Lake Leader

SECOND PLACE:

“Fishing Derby�

THIRD PLACE:

Brandi Ball The Cleveland American

The Eufaula Indian Journal

“Tigers want to knock Bucks off their throne�

THIRD PLACE:

Christian Favalora Owasso Reporter “Lineman culture: Owasso’s big uglies power Ram offense�

16

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IN-DEPTH REPORTING (INCLUDES DIVISION 6)

NEWS PHOTOGRAPH (INCLUDES DIVISION 6)

SPORTS PHOTOGRAPH FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

Brandi Ball The Cleveland American

Todd Brooks The Marlow Review

Marea Breedlove The Delaware County Journal “Bulldogs face double loss to Fort Gibson”

“Burglary suspects arrested following manhunts”

“Earthquakes” SECOND PLACE: SECOND PLACE:

Gloria Trotter Countywide & Sun

Jessica Davis Vian Tenkiller News

“Officer Justin Terney, Our Fallen Hero”

SECOND PLACE:

“Accident claims life of truck driver”

THIRD PLACE:

Kaylea Hutson-Miller The Delaware County Journal

THIRD PLACE:

Chad Waters Watonga Republican “Gay man files lawsuit against Hitchcock residents and Blaine County sheriffs”

“John ‘The Ice Box’ Culver cradles the Delaware County Bowl trophy”

Tim Carman Oologah Lake Leader “NW firefighters prevent huge property loss”

THIRD PLACE:

Jennifer Hertel Oologah Lake Leader

COLUMN WRITING FIRST PLACE:

Kaylea Hutson-Miller The Delaware County Journal

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPH (INCLUDES DIVISION 6) FIRST PLACE:

Judy Keller The Marlow Review

“Bits & Pieces” SECOND PLACE:

Aaron McDonald Countywide & Sun “Life In The Little Red House” THIRD PLACE:

Rusty Ferguson The Cleveland American “Standing Tall”

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“Happy Easter”

“Softball intensity”

FRONT PAGE DESIGN FIRST PLACE:

Joseph Fasano Owasso Reporter “State Champs!”

SECOND PLACE:

Kaylea Hutson-Miller The Delaware County Journal

Brad Spitzer The Beckham County Record

“Memorial Day”

“November 8, 2017”

SECOND PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Tim Carman Oologah Lake Leader

Joseph Fasano Owasso Reporter

“Santa Claus is coming to town”

“Picking up the pieces ”

FIRST PLACE:

Caleb Head The Cleveland American “Westport Baptist Church” SECOND PLACE:

Caleb Head The Cleveland American “Hickory House” THIRD PLACE:

Caleb Head The Cleveland American “First Christian Preschool”

LARGE SPACE AD FIRST PLACE:

Rusty Ferguson The Cleveland American “Overman Insurance” SECOND PLACE:

Faith Wylie Oologah Lake Leader “Redbud Marina” THIRD PLACE:

Susi Yount The Delaware County Journal “RFC Music Fest” FIRST PLACE, NEWS PHOTOGRAPH: Todd Brooks, The Marlow Review

OPA CONVENTION AWARDS

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2017 OPA BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST DIVISION 6 RESULTS, WEEKLIES, CIRC. 850 – 1,399 NEWS CONTENT

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FIRST PLACE:

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FIRST PLACE:

Midwest City Beacon

The Carnegie Herald

The Fairfax Chief

SECOND PLACE:

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Garvin County News Star

Midwest City Beacon

THIRD PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

McIntosh County Democrat

McIntosh County Democrat

Save your seat!

We can’t wait to tell you our exciting news...

“Tall Chief Theater Art Market”

Fairfax Community Foundation 301 S. 4th Fairfax, OK 918-642-3814

SECOND PLACE:

The Hennessey Clipper “School bond election for dome” THIRD PLACE:

Skiatook Journal “Photo sought for Skiatook veteran”

LAYOUT & DESIGN FIRST PLACE:

SPORTS COVERAGE

NEWS STORY

Midwest City Beacon

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

Lindsey Renuard Skiatook Journal

SECOND PLACE:

McIntosh County Democrat

McIntosh County Democrat

SECOND PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Midwest City Beacon

The Hennessey Clipper

THIRD PLACE:

The Hennessey Clipper

“Officials, city employees cleared after investigation” SECOND PLACE:

Steve Bolton The Comanche Times “Jakaycee In D.C.” THIRD PLACE:

Steve Bolton The Comanche Times

ADVERTISING

SALES PROMOTION

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

McIntosh County Democrat

McIntosh County Democrat

SECOND PLACE:

“2017 Gridiron Guide”

The Hennessey Clipper

SECOND PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Skiatook Journal

Midwest City Beacon

“Reader’s Choice Awards” THIRD PLACE:

Midwest City Beacon “Midwest City, 75th Anniversary”

“Rattle Tale”

FEATURE STORY FIRST PLACE:

Steve Bolton The Comanche Times “When Teddy and Pam met Harvey and Irma” SECOND PLACE:

Carol Conner The Fairfax Chief “Robert Clark, Fairfax legend”

EDITORIAL WRITING FIRST PLACE:

The Hennessey Clipper SECOND PLACE:

Midwest City Beacon THIRD PLACE:

The Fairfax Chief

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THIRD PLACE:

Morgan Smith The Hennessey Clipper “Sisterly love gives brother a new life”

SPORTS STORY

LARGE SPACE AD

SPORTS PHOTOGRAPH

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

Jesse Haynes Skiatook Journal

Sharon Lee The Fairfax Chief

“End of the road”

“Here comes Santa Claus”

SECOND PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

Steve Bolton The Comanche Times

Sharon Lee The Fairfax Chief

“Friday night lights”

“Osage Oil & Gas Summit 2017”

THIRD PLACE:

Steve Bolton The Comanche Times “Campbell races 65 yards for TD on senior night”

THIRD PLACE:

Eric Guillermo McIntosh County Democrat “Eufaula Indian Community”

FIRST PLACE:

Rodney Haltom McIntosh County Democrat “Hall takes State runner-up” SECOND PLACE:

Amy Garner Skiatook Journal “Head coach Vance Miller” THIRD PLACE:

IN-DEPTH REPORTING COMBINED WITH DIVISION 5

Rodney Haltom McIntosh County Democrat

NEWS PHOTOGRAPH COMBINED WITH DIVISION 5

COLUMN WRITING FIRST PLACE:

Barb Walter The Hennessey Clipper “Couldn’t help but notice” SECOND PLACE:

Judy Baker Garvin County News Star “Black and white and read all over” THIRD PLACE:

Lindsey Renuard Skiatook Journal “Personal columns”

“Eufaula Round-Up Club Rodeo”

FRONT PAGE DESIGN FIRST PLACE:

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPH COMBINED WITH DIVISION 5

Joseph Fasano Skiatook Journal “Still country: The future of Oklahoma’s family farms” SECOND PLACE:

Casey Beartrack and Carol Conner The Fairfax Chief “Trumpeting the season: Swans on Shidler’s lake” THIRD PLACE:

Steve Bolton The Comanche Times “Summer storm huffed and puffed”

SMALL SPACE AD

FIRST PLACE:

Sharon Lee The Fairfax Chief “bags bags bags” SECOND PLACE:

Sharon Lee The Fairfax Chief “Garrett Pumpkin Patch” THIRD PLACE:

Eric Guillermo McIntosh County Democrat “Smith Construction”

FIRST PLACE, SALES PROMOTION: McIntosh County Democrat

OPA CONVENTION AWARDS

19

2017 OPA BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST DIVISION 7 RESULTS, WEEKLIES, CIRC. LESS THAN 850 NEWS CONTENT FIRST PLACE:

Minco-Union City Times SECOND PLACE:

Eastern Times-Register (Roland) THIRD PLACE:

The Chronicle (Elgin)

EDITORIAL WRITING Editorial

Considering a new kind of manager :RQGHU ZKDW LW ZRXOG EH OLNH LI WKHUH ZDV RQH IXOO WLPH DGPLQLVWUDWRU IRU VHYHUDO RI WKH VPDOO WRZQV DQG FLWLHV LQ WKLV DUHD" 6HHPV OLNH PD\EH D QRYHO LGHD EXW LW DSSHDUV LW VXUH PLJKW EH ZRUWK VRPH FRQ VLGHUDWLRQ 7KLQN RI VRPH RI WKH EHQHÂżWV UDWKHU WKDQ WU\LQJ WR FRPH XS ZLWK DOO WKH SRVVLEOH QHJD WLYHV DQG WU\LQJ WR VKRRW KROHV LQ DQ LGHD WKDW PLJKW KDYH D ORW RI SRVLWLYHV ,I VHYHUDO FRPPXQLWLHV ZHUH ZLOOLQJ WR EDQG WRJHWKHU DQG SD\ WKH VDODU\ DQG EHQHÂżWV IRU RQH IXOO WLPH DGPLQLVWUDWRU WKH\ PLJKW ÂżQG D SURIHVVLRQDOO\ WUDLQHG PDQDJHU WKDW FRXOG JXLGH DQG GLUHFW WKH VWDŕľľV RI HDFK FRPPXQLW\ WKDW ZRXOG EH EHQHÂżFLDO WR HDFK 7KLV PLJKW VRXQG OLNH D ZLOG LGHD EXW LW UHDOO\ GRHV KDYH VRPH PHULW 7KH WRZQ RI 0HHNHU KDV EHHQ ZLWKRXW D WRZQ DGPLQLVWUDWRU IRU PRUH WKDQ WZR PRQWKV IROORZLQJ WKH UHVLJQDWLRQ RI 0LNH 0HOWRQ 7KH 0HHNHU 7RZQ %RDUG KDV WULHG ZLWKRXW VXFFHVV WR KLUH D VXFFHVVRU WR 0HOWRQ 7KH %RDUG KHOG D VSHFLDO PHHWLQJ RQ $SULO DQG DPRQJ WKH DJHQGD LWHPV ZDV DQ DW WHPSW WR KLUH D QHZ WRZQ DGPLQLVWUDWRU )RXU

SALES PROMOTION

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

Tri-County Herald

Eastern Times-Register “Four school tabs�

SECOND PLACE:

Eastern Times-Register

SECOND PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

The Newcastle Pacer “Pigskin Press Pass�

Minco-Union City Times

THIRD PLACE:

Tri-County Herald “Play by Play: Fall sports guide�

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

PHOTOGRAPHY

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

Tri-County Herald (Meeker)

The Chronicle

SECOND PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

Minco-Union City Times

Tri-County Herald

THIRD PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Eastern Times-Register

The Newcastle Pacer

TEACHER OF THE WEEK

FIRST PLACE:

LAYOUT & DESIGN

Tri-County Herald “Education funding�

SECOND PLACE:

The Chronicle “Winter Wishes�

THIRD PLACE: Amber Rudek Creek: 3 (this is the 3rd year) Hometown: Chandler, OK Currently teaching: Pre-K College: Oklahoma Baptist Degrees: Bachelor of Science Family: Husband, Kyle Rudek, twin 8-year-old girls in Education Makenna and Makayla, Years taught: 12 Years taught at North Rock and11-month-old Josiah

Eastern Times-Register “Ahimsa Rescue Foundation�

Who have been your role models: My parents are two of my biggest role models. My dad is a math teacher, and I grew up watching my mom teach children’s classes at church. They have taught me the value of investing in the lives of others.

Why is teaching important to you? I see so many students HYHU\ GD\ ZKR QHHG VRPHRQH WR EH D SRVLWLYH LQĂ€XHQFH LQ their lives. I like that I can be that person who gives that posiWLYH LQĂ€XHQFH DQG RSHQV XS D ZRUOG RI OHDUQLQJ WR WKHP 7KHUH is nothing better than seeing a child light up when they realize they have learned something!

Favorite teaching memory? I had a little boy who was struggling with writing his name. I had spent a lot of time helping him trace it and go over the letters. One day, he wrote it all by himself. He looked at me with the biggest smile and said, “You taught me that!� That was an awesome feeling.

SPORTS COVERAGE FIRST PLACE:

ADVERTISING FIRST PLACE:

Minco-Union City Times SECOND PLACE:

Tri-County Herald THIRD PLACE:

Eastern Times-Register

NEWS STORY

Tri-County Herald

FIRST PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

Debi DeSilver The Chronicle

The Chronicle

“Chickasha Police meet barrage of gunfire�

THIRD PLACE:

Eastern Times-Register SECOND PLACE:

Mike McCormick Tri-County Herald “Caught: Authorities bag two of four escapees�

THIRD PLACE:

Chad Waters The Hinton Record “Hinton Schools adopt new learning module�

20

OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION

FEATURE STORY

COLUMN WRITING

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPH

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

Ellen Workman Westville Reporter

Brian Blansett Tri-County Herald

“Then and Now”

“Football time!”

SECOND PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

Clarence B. Wright The Newcastle Pacer

Lisa Carroll The Chronicle

Chad Waters The Geary Star

“Musings from the Morgue”

“Small town kids meet country music star”

“Altus dedicates former Geary wrestler center”

Leslie Durham The Chronicle

FIRST PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

“Take A Hike”

Debi DeSilver The Chronicle “Diversity drives Leadership Oklahoma class” THIRD PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Jennifer Pitts Tri-County Herald “Solar smiles”

SMALL SPACE AD FIRST PLACE:

Debi DeSilver The Chronicle

SPORTS PHOTOGRAPH FIRST PLACE:

Gina Cato Eastern Times-Register

“Founder of Blues Ball honored”

Brian Blansett Tri-County Herald

“Muldrow Spring Cleanup”

“Wild week in area hoops”

SECOND PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

Jennifer Pitts Tri-County Herald

SPORTS STORY

Jennifer Pitts Tri-County Herald

“Fish Fry at St. Michael’s”

“Safe!”

THIRD PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Jennifer Pitts Tri-County Herald

Brian Blansett Tri-County Herald

“Red Rock Shelters”

“Dale storms into baseball finals”

FIRST PLACE:

Trey Smart Waurika News Journal & The Ryan Leader

LARGE SPACE AD

“West brothers have great impact on Jefferson County”

Jennifer Pitts Tri-County Herald

FIRST PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

Debi DeSilver The Chronicle

“Dobson Telephone Company”

“17-year-old high school student stuns C Flight card”

SECOND PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Clarence B. Wright The Newcastle Pacer

Emily Poindexter The Chronicle

“Tri City Mart/Conoco” THIRD PLACE:

“Owls’ wings soared faster than the Racers’ engines started”

Jennifer Pitts Tri-County Herald “Dale Public Schools”

IN-DEPTH REPORTING

FRONT PAGE DESIGN FIRST PLACE:

Clarence B. Wright The Newcastle Pacer “Are you ready for some football?”

SECOND PLACE:

Chad Waters The Geary Star “Geary finishes as runner-up at Dual State” THIRD PLACE:

NEWS PHOTOGRAPH FIRST PLACE:

Chad Waters The Hinton Record “On the Red Rock”

Debi DeSilver The Chronicle “Drug dog sniffs motorcyle”

FIRST PLACE:

Chad Waters The Geary Star “Cracking Geary City Codes”

SECOND PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

Lisa Carroll The Chronicle

Chad Waters The Hinton Record

“Kindness and donuts”

“NextEra Energy Lawsuit”

THIRD PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Brian Blansett Tri-County Herald

Staff Eastern Times-Register

“Show time! For livestock show”

“Christian Mayberry, Gray/Brannon trials”

OPA CONVENTION AWARDS

21

2017 OPA BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST DIVISION 8 RESULTS, SEMI- AND TRI-WEEKLIES NEWS CONTENT

PHOTOGRAPHY

NEWS STORY

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

The Miami News-Record

El Reno Tribune

SECOND PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

The Grove Sun

Alva Review-Courier

Roy Faulkenberry Sequoyah County Times

THIRD PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Henryetta Free-Lance

The Grove Sun

“Sheriff fires shot killing suspect” SECOND PLACE:

Terry Groover Yukon Review “Yukon teacher accused of rape, child porn”

SPORTS COVERAGE

THIRD PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

Yukon Review

LAYOUT & DESIGN

Kelsy Schlotthauer The Grove Sun “Grove 3-year-old’s roller coaster life”

SECOND PLACE:

The Edmond Sun

FIRST PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

The Edmond Sun

Alva Review-Courier

SECOND PLACE:

FEATURE STORY FIRST PLACE:

The Miami News-Record

Austin Litterell The Express-Star (Chickasha)

THIRD PLACE:

The Grove Sun

“Brendan Laub making plays on and off the field” SECOND PLACE:

SALES PROMOTION FIRST PLACE:

Kelsy Schlotthauer The Grove Sun

Sequoyah County Times

“Officially American”

“Women’s Expo: Recipe for Success”

ADVERTISING

SECOND PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

El Reno Tribune

El Reno Tribune

THIRD PLACE:

Kaylea Hutson-Miller The Grove Sun “Wrapped with memories”

“Easter Ham Give-a-way contest”

SECOND PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

The Edmond Sun

Henryetta Free-Lance

THIRD PLACE:

“Retirement Fair: Rockin’ into Retirement”

The Miami News-Record

SPORTS STORY FIRST PLACE:

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP Advocating for children DCCSAN provides services for abused children Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller khutson@grovesun.com

EDITORIAL WRITING

Editor’s Note: This is part of a series looking at child abuse, and the services available to children, in honor of April’s distinction as Child Abuse Awareness Month. Today’s story examines DCCSAN, the Delaware County Children’s Special Advocacy Network.

Delaware County District Judge Barry Denney gets emotional when he recalls how his involvement with DCCSAN, the county’s child advocacy center, began.

As an assistant district attorney within Delaware and Ottawa Counties, Denney saw first hand how children were impacted by abuse — be it physical, emotional or sexual.

FIRST PLACE:

In fact, one case, which involved a young girl testifying against her rapist, served as a turning point for Denney.

During cross examination by the man’s attorney, Denney said, the girl, who was 10 at the time, became so upset she was “literally vomiting on the witness stand.”

Denney said by that point, the girl had told

her story more than four times — first to detectives, then the examining physician, and later the both the prosecuting attorney and defense attorneys.

Denney said that experience showed him the need to minimize the number of times a child was interviewed during a traumatic event.

It also taught him to look for other ways for children to testify — be it by a monitor with

attorneys only at DCCSAN — or by strengthening the amount of evidence that collaborates the child’s testimony.

“We don’t want to leave this all on the shoulders of the little kids,” Denney said. “We need to get confessions, and evidence. So we can get past the preliminary hearing, so the only time they have to testify is at the trial.”

How it began Denney said, he knew a centralized method — which SEE DCCSAN, A9

SECOND PLACE:

Bristow News

SECOND PLACE:

The Grove Sun

Kyle Salomon Yukon Review

“DCCSAN series / Child abuse awareness ”

The Edmond Sun Hellp is Available E eryoone Ev n , regardlesss of joob, b, rel elatio atio at ions nshi ns hipp or hi o agee, iss man anda date da tedd byy Okl te klah ahom ah omaa la om laww to rep epoortt ab abus abus use. e e.

In Tititle le 10A 0 , th thee st stat atee st stat attut u e sa s ys y “an anyo yone yo nee suusspeect ctin ingg chhild ab abus busse or neg egle l ctt mus le ust repo reepo p rt it.” t.”

If you ou,, or som omeo eone eo ne you kno now, w, is a vi vict cttim m of ph phys y ical iccal al,, se sexu xuall or me xual m nttal abu b se se, cont ntac tactt th thee Okla Ok laho la homa ho maa Chhiild ld Abuse buuse Hot otli tlilinne ne att 1-80 800-52 5222 35 3511 11.

F r mo Fo m re inf nfor orma matitition on aboout the ser ervi vice ces es off offer ered er ed at DC DCCS DCCS CSAN SAN A — the h Del elaw awarre Co aw C un unty ty Chi h ld ldre ren’ re n’ss n’ Spec Sp ecia iall Addvooca cacy cy Net etwo work wo rk — per e so sons ns int nter e es er este tedd ma te mayy caalll 918 18-2 -253 -2 53-4 53 --4453 5399 or o visi it www ww.d .dcc .d ccsa cc san. sa n.or n. org. or g.

THIRD PLACE:

The Edmond Sun

KAYLEA M. HUTSON-MILLER / GROVE SUN

A giant pinwheel stands in front of the Delaware County Children’s Special Advocacy Network building in Jay. Pinwheels are often used as a symbol of hope during April, which is child abuse awareness month.

“Debilitating disease affects young siblings” THIRD PLACE:

El Reno Tribune “Blue Out Night”

22

OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION

“State Bound”

FIRST PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

The Miami News-Record

Darin Hinman The Grove Sun

“Yukon’s X-Factors” THIRD PLACE:

Michael Swisher Kingfisher Times & Free Press “Top of the Heap”

IN-DEPTH REPORTING

LARGE SPACE AD

SPORTS PHOTOGRAPH

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

Kaylea Hutson-Miller The Grove Sun

Carrie Carberry Sequoyah County Times

“DCCSAN series / Child abuse awareness”

“Forever Memories Funeral Services” SECOND PLACE:

Staff Yukon Review

SECOND PLACE:

Patty Miller The Edmond Sun “Museum exhibit focuses on children who were ‘making a difference’”

“BancFirst”

FIRST PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Glen Miller El Reno Tribune

Staff The Grove Sun

THIRD PLACE:

“Grand Lake Association”

Melinda Stotts The Miami News-Record

“Collision at home plate” SECOND PLACE:

Kaitlyn Dillard Okmulgee Times

“GRDA’s relicense request to FERC”

NEWS PHOTOGRAPH

“Off and running” THIRD PLACE:

Larry Owen Henryetta Free-Lance

COLUMN WRITING

“Shot blocked”

FIRST PLACE:

Roy Faulkenberry Sequoyah County Times “Observations”

FRONT PAGE DESIGN

SECOND PLACE:

Dorothy Ballard The Miami News-Record “Personal columns”

FIRST PLACE: FIRST PLACE:

Kari Tompkins The Edmond Sun

Glen Miller El Reno Tribune

“July 8, 2017”

J. D. Meisner Bristow News

“Gun firing”

“Chaos Theory”

SECOND PLACE:

Bob Markham The Grove Sun

Patrick Ford Okmulgee Times

“Playing for leads: Cold cases”

THIRD PLACE:

SMALL SPACE AD

SECOND PLACE:

“Officer-involved shooting”

THIRD PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Lyndsay Bayne-Luton and Glen Miller El Reno Tribune

Glen Miller El Reno Tribune “Robot arm”

“Eyes toward the sky”

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPH

FIRST PLACE:

Paula Oakes Alva Review-Courier “Farmers Cooperative Association” SECOND PLACE:

Wes Stout Okmulgee Times “Jandebeur’s Motor Sports Park” THIRD PLACE:

Lyndsay Bayne-Luton El Reno Tribune “Eleven Five Salon and Shave Parlor”

FIRST PLACE:

Roy Faulkenberry Sequoyah County Times “‘Mommy’ a ‘rise and shine’ surprise” SECOND PLACE:

Shirley Todd Bristow News “You’re going to feel a little pinch” THIRD PLACE:

Kaylea Hutson-Miller The Grove Sun “Creative minds at work”

FIRST PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHY: El Reno Tribune

OPA CONVENTION AWARDS

23

2017 OPA BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST DIVISION 9 RESULTS, COLLEGE NEWSPAPERS NEWS CONTENT

PHOTOGRAPHY

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP T H E O ’ C O L LY

FIRST PLACE:

The Southeastern Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Special Issue

“Community group issues”

PROUD

SECOND PLACE:

The Oklahoma Daily The University of Oklahoma

SECOND PLACE:

Pioneer “Homeless in college”

Staff, students discuss their experiences in the lgbt community at Oklahoma State University

PHOTO BY BENSON KUA/FLICKR

THIRD PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

The Oklahoma Daily

The Oklahoma Daily

“Mental health”

9\jk J\c\Zk`fe >lXiXek\\[

THIRD PLACE:

Pioneer Oklahoma City Community College

8i`qfeX $ 8mX`cXYc\ `e Xcc Zfcfij

SECOND PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

2020 N. Perkins Rd., Lakeview Pointe Shopping Center (Next to Best Buy)

D\eËj Nfd\eËj DXpXi` $ 8mX`cXYc\ `e Xcc Zfcfij

>iXeX[X $ 8mX`cXYc\ `e Xcc Zfcfij

NEWS STORY

The O’Colly

LAYOUT & DESIGN

THIRD PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

15th Street News Rose State College

Anna Bauman and Kayla Branch The Oklahoma Daily

The Oklahoma Daily SECOND PLACE:

Collegian Cameron University

FIRST PLACE:

The O’Colly O C o l ly . c o m April 19, 2017

“All I know is America”

SPORTS COVERAGE

SECOND PLACE:

Dekota Gregory The O’Colly

FIRST PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

The O’Colly

The O’Colly Oklahoma State University

SECOND PLACE:

“OSU students escape unharmed after violent road rage encounter”

The Gazette THIRD PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

The Oklahoma Daily

Stetson Payne The O’Colly “Undocumented immigrants fearful of deportation while attending OSU”

ADVERTISING FIRST PLACE:

The Oklahoma Daily SECOND PLACE:

SALES PROMOTION

The O’Colly

FIRST PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

“Heisman issue”

Pioneer

The Oklahoma Daily SECOND PLACE:

The O’Colly “Homecoming issue”

FEATURE STORY FIRST PLACE:

Cheyenne Cole Collegian (Cameron) “The whiskey of our discontent” SECOND PLACE:

Tallorial Bonds The Gazette “Family man by day, head coach by night” THIRD PLACE:

EDITORIAL WRITING FIRST PLACE:

Collegian (Cameron) SECOND PLACE:

Pioneer THIRD PLACE:

The Gazette Langston University

24

OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION

Cheyenne Cole Collegian (Cameron) “Social justice: Michele Norris and social discourse”

SPORTS STORY

LARGE SPACE AD

SPORTS PHOTOGRAPH

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

FIRST PLACE:

George Stoia The Oklahoma Daily

Austin Childers The Oklahoma Daily

Caitlyn Epes The Oklahoma Daily

“Stoops tackles retirement”

“Epic Pops”

“Basketball height”

SECOND PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

Joe Buettner The Oklahoma Daily

Austin Childers The Oklahoma Daily

Paxson Haws The Oklahoma Daily

“Baker Mayfield: Heisman”

“OU Graduation Office”

“Touchdown celebration”

THIRD PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Kelli Stacy The Oklahoma Daily

Hayden Barzditis The Vista

“Caleb Kelly: Taking heart”

“NCAA’s leading receiver”

NEWS PHOTOGRAPH FIRST PLACE:

Cara Johnson The Vista University of Central Oklahoma

IN-DEPTH REPORTING FIRST PLACE:

Dana Branham The Oklahoma Daily

“Students gather peacefully”

“Confronting history: DeBarr Avenue” SECOND PLACE:

Kayleigh Thesenvitz Collegian University of Tulsa

THIRD PLACE:

“Goddard Health Center: Waiting game”

Jasmine Mayes The Gazette

Stacie Larsen Collegian (Cameron)

“Lions dominate the gridiron”

“Halloween carnival”

SECOND PLACE:

THIRD PLACE:

Dana Branham, Jesse Pound and Megan Ross The Oklahoma Daily

“PRIDE remembering Matthew Shepard”

Emma Keith The Oklahoma Daily

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPH FIRST PLACE:

“Boren: Ending an era” THIRD PLACE:

Paul Pugh The Gazette “Student Government elections ”

Kimberly Thompson The Gazette

COLUMN WRITING FIRST PLACE:

“Track star twin”

Payton Williams Collegian (Cameron) “Voices columns”

FIRST PLACE:

SECOND PLACE:

AnneMarie Altman and Cheyenne Cole Collegian (Cameron)

“CSAS policies and procedures”

FRONT PAGE DESIGN

SECOND PLACE:

Stacie Larsen Collegian (Cameron) “CKI chapter retreat” THIRD PLACE:

Adam Lux Collegian (Tulsa)

SMALL SPACE AD

“Bleachers concert” FIRST PLACE:

Alyxandria Butt The Oklahoma Daily “The Baked Bear” SECOND PLACE:

Amelia Kinsinger The Oklahoma Daily “Qdoba”

FIRST PLACE, SPORTS PHOTOGRAPH: Caitlyn Epes, The Oklahoma Daily

OPA CONVENTION AWARDS

25

Locally owned and serving Greater Southwest Oklahoma

Jay DeSilver, Sports Editor Debi DeSilver, Managing Editor

The Chronicle

Lisa Carroll, Reporter

The Chronicle

Page 1 • Friday, July 14, 2017

Page 1 • Friday, July 14, 2017

MAY SERIES

Easter Event

Each Friday in May we will feature Graduates from around the area!

Friday 5 - 7 p.m.

Hilliary Communications (OJLQ 2ႈFH

FREE PHOTOS with the Easter Bunny and live rabbits 5DႉH IRU D EXQQ\ DQG FDJH

THIS WEEK: Cement HS Cyril HS

See pages 4A & 5A FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2018

2 SECTIONS

TAKE COVER! After a mild April, Mother Nature

As of 9:25 p.m. Wed., May 2, the Oklahoma Mesonet reported the following rain totals:

suddenly remembered it is Spring, after all ... and it is Oklahoma, after all

Acme .66 Altus .36 Apache 1.45 Chickasha 1.05 El Reno .69 *UDQGÂżHOG Hobart .25 Medicine Park 1.46 Norman 1.09 OKC North 1.03 Tipton .40 Walters .27 Waurika .86

VOLUME 25, ISSUE 18

Locally owned and serving Greater Southwest Oklahoma

Preliminary rainfall totals

By Debi DeSilver Managing Editor The Chronicle

MEDICINE PARK - Oklahomans will take every drop of rain possible, even if it means rocking and rolling through a round of severe weather.

Preliminary rain totals from the Oklahoma Mesonet website show that the Medicine Park area received the most precipation in southwest Oklahoma Wednesday evening, recording LQFKHV LQ WKH ÂżUVW ZDYH Apache was a very close second, recording 1.45 inches.

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018

50 Cents

AREA NEWS

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It’s a family affair at 8th St. Realty

Chronicle photo by Melaney Bonnette

Grants making local gun range possible

AREA NEWS

Photo provided

7KH SKRWRJUDSK VKRZV OHIW WR ULJKW /DZWRQ )RUW 6LOO 5LĂ€H DQG Pistol Club president Al Barber accepting the grant check from Joe Charles, club treasurer, with the range site in the background.

Chronicle photo by Cheyenne Belew

ment and Closure (BRAC). He began working in property management in 2010 for Elgin Area Realty and as a real estate agent in 2013.

When Elgin Area Realty closed its doors, Johnson worked out of his home, operating as

Ulysess Group Property and earned his broker’s license.

Upon moving his business to downtown, he renamed it appropriately, 8th St. Realty.

Johnson gives credit to his 8th St. Realty

PAGE 3A

PAGE 6A

(continued on page 3A)

50 Cents

zation, has big plans to expand

By Lisa Carroll LW V FXUUHQW \DUG ULÀH DQG 6WDႇ :ULWHU 25-yard handgun range to inThe Chronicle clude an entire complex that PARADISE VALLEY provides trap and skeet pracA new all-inclusive outdoor tice for youth groups in the shooting range is currently surrounding areas. being developed just north of "We would like to eventualParadise Valley and progress O\ KDYH D \DUG ULÀH UDQJH is well underway. The LawWRQ )RUW 6LOO 5LÀH DQG 3LVWRO GUN RANGE (continued on page 8A) Club, a local private organi-

sel and an increase on the oil DQG JDV SURGXFWLRQ WD[ IURP SHUFHQW WR SHUFHQW $PLG D IXULRXV ODVW PLQXWH OREE\LQJ HIIRUW E\ WKH KRVSLWDOLW\ LQGXVWU\ +RXVH DQG 6HQDWH OHDGHUV DJUHHG WR SDVV D VHSDUDWH PHDVXUH WR UHSHDO WKH SHU QLJKW KRWHO DQG PRWHO WD[ WKDW ZDV SURMHFWHG WR UDLVH DERXW PLOOLRQ $ VHSDUDWH ELOO WR LQFUHDVH WHDFKHU SD\ E\ DQ DYHUDJH RI DERXW DOVR FOHDUHG WKH Senate on Wednesday, along ZLWK DQRWKHU PHDVXUH WR FDS LWHPL]HG LQFRPH WD[ GHGXFWLRQV WKDW ZDV SURMHFWHG WR JHQHUDWH DQRWKHU PLOOLRQ 7KH WD[ KLNH SDVVDJH FDPH GHVSLWH ÂżHUFH RSSRVLWLRQ IURP WKH WREDFFR DQG RLO DQG JDV OREE\ DORQJ ZLWK DQWL WD[ JURXSV ZKR YRZHG WR ODXQFK D VLJQDWXUH GULYH WR RYHUWXUQ WKH KLNHV $PRQJ WKH PRVW YRFDO RSSRQHQWV ZDV IRUPHU 8 6 6HQ 7RP &REXUQ ZKR XUJHG FLWL]HQV WR FKDOOHQJH LQFXPEHQWV ZKR VXSSRUW WKH SODQ

Cruising in the Park

Chronicle photo by Lisa Carroll

Olive Buys, 2, from Choctaw, rocked her own mini Volkswagen bus during V-Dubs in the Park on 0DUFK 7KH ÀDVK\ OLWWOH EXV UHPRWH FRQWUROOHG E\ KHU IDWKHU -LP %X\V DOORZHG 2OLYH WR HIfortlessly cruise around Medicine Park in style. SEE MORE PHOTOS INSIDE - PAGES 4A AND 5A.

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Feed Sacks for Trash Day

The Chronicle

The Chronicle

Ulysess Johnson poses with his wife, Felicia, and daughters Mckenzie Johnson and Sherronda Walker after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

VOLUME 25, ISSUE 13

China’s defunct space lab hurtling toward Earth for re-entry

Walk for Life set for May 12 at Lawton Elmer Thomas Park

By Lisa Carroll 6WDႇ :ULWHU

By Cheyenne Belew 6WDႇ :ULWHU

ELGIN - The Elgin Chamber of Commerce welcomed new business member, Ulysess Johnson, owner of 8th St. Realty with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Friday.

The event was attended by several Chamber members and Johnson’s friends and family.

Wife Felicia Johnson, Vice-President and daughters, Mckenzie Johnson and Sherronda Walker, ERWK VWDŕľľ PHPEHUV ZHUH RQ hand to support the family business and new membership in the chamber.

WK 6W 5HDOW\ KDV RŕľśFLDOO\ EHHQ RSHUDWLQJ RXW RI LWV RŕľśFH next to Kid Central in downtown Elgin since January of this year.

Johnson is a disabled veteran who was originally brought to the Lawton-Fort Sill area by the Congressional Base Realign-

Oklahoma Legislature passes tax hikes for teacher pay

Correction

This photo of an ominous, dark, scary looking cloud was taken Wednesday evening in Walters. Any possible damage reports from southwest Oklahoma through central Oklahoma weren't available at press time.

Warning sirens were activated in several communities during the severe weather event.

Chronicle photo by Cheyenne Belew

Locally owned and serving Greater Southwest Oklahoma

The Chronicle The Associated Press re- Felder posted an article on The VWDWHPHQW WKDW PRUH ZRUN LV VWLOO VLJQ WKH ELOO DW SUHVV WLPH LW LV $ ÀXUU\ RI SUHVV UHOHDVHV OHDVHG D RQH VHQWHQFH QHZV EXO- Oklahoman's ZHEVLWH 1HZ- QHHGHG WR JHW WKH /HJLVODWXUH WR VWLOO QRW FOHDU LI HYHU\WKLQJ LV VHW DQG QHZV ZLUH UHSRUWV EHJDQ OHWLQ HDUO\ 7KXUVGD\ PRUQLQJ V2. FRP WKDW WHDFKHU ZDONRXW LQYHVW PRUH LQ WKH FODVVURRPV LQ SODFH WR WULFNOH LQWR H PDLO ER[HV simply stating: Oklahoma Sen- SODQV DUH VWLOO XQNQRZQ IROORZ- DQG WKDW WKH ZRUN ZRXOG FRQ)ROORZ The Chronicle Face:HGQHVGD\ HYHQLQJ DIWHU WKH DWH JLYHV ¿QDO DSSURYDO WR EURDG LQJ WKH 6HQDWH YRWH WLQXH 0RQGD\ ZKHQ HGXFDWRUV book SDJH IRU XS WR GDWH GHYHOOklahoma Senate reportedly WD[ KLNHV WR IXQG WHDFKHU SD\ Felder reported that the Okla- ZRXOG GHVFHQG RQ WKH &DSLWRO RSPHQWV

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Ulysess Johnson cuts the ceremonial ribbon for the grand opening of his business, 8th St. Realty, on Friday, April 27. Elgin Chamber of Commerce members holding each end of the ribbon are, left, Matthew Brown, Chamber Vice-President, and, right, Chamber Member Teresa Cowin, Branch Manager at Liberty National Bank, Elgin. 8th St. Realty is located at 8259 State Highway 17 in Elgin.

2 SECTIONS

DONE DEAL? TEACHERS RECEIVE RAISE?

Easter at the Medicine Park Questions still remain? Statewide teacher walkout averted few days before April 1 deadline?

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By Debi DeSilver $OWKRXJK *RYHUQRU 0DU\ Aquarium Managing Editor WHDFKHU UDLVHV +RZHYHU UHSRUWHU %HQ President, Alicia Priest, said in a )DOOLQ KDV LQGLFDWHG VKH ZLOO

The day had a mix of all the right conditions and storms started forming in the southwest late in the afternoon.

Even by early afternoon, however, tornado chasers and storm spotters had begun to stake out locations all across the western part of the state, from north (into Kansas) and south (into Texas).

A map posted on the Tornado Hunters Facebook page showed so many red dots on the map it looked like a measle outbreak across Oklahoma, not a severe SPRING IN OKLAHOMA

LAWTON - A spring fundraiser for the Pregnancy Resource Center in Lawton is in full swing and all community participation is encouraged to help make it a success.

Every year since 1999, the QRQ SURÂżW RUJDQL]DWLRQ KDV KRVWed a two mile, non-athletic, Walk IRU /LIH LQ DQ HŕľľRUW WR UDLVH $50,000 so they can continue to provide pregnancy tests, limited basic ultrasounds, peer counseling and pregnancy education to the public free of charge.

"It's more about the spirit of the event than it is an athletic event," said LeAnne Prochniak, PRC Center Assistant. "It is a fundraiser so the goal is to ask friends, family, and co-workers if they'll sponsor you".

People who register automati-

Chronicle photo by Lisa Carroll

Cement's FFA held their 3rd Annual Feed Sacks for Trash Day on March 24, 2018. Nineteen FFA members, along-side several parents, spent the morning collecting trash along Hwy 277 between the rodeo arena to the curves that stretch out on the east side of town.

WALK FOR LIFE (continued on page 3A)

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HOW COMMON IS MAN-MADE SPACE DEBRIS? 'HEULV IURP VDWHOOLWHV VSDFH ODXQFKHV DQG WKH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 6SDFH 6WDWLRQ HQWHUV WKH DWPRVSKHUH HYHU\ IHZ PRQWKV EXW RQO\ RQH SHUVRQ LV NQRZQ WR KDYH EHHQ KLW E\ DQ\ RI LW $PHULFDQ ZRPDQ /RWWLH SPACE LAB HURTLING (continued on page 3A)

Quote of the week: ,W LV EHWWHU WR R௺HU QR excuse than a bad one." ~ George Washington

The Chronicle

Page 1 â&#x20AC;˘ Friday, July 14, 2017

The Chronicle

Page 1 â&#x20AC;˘ Friday, July 14, 2017

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Why buy at Nissan of Lawton?

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LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS STAY BUSY

BULLFIGHTING - Page 8B FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018

2 SECTIONS

VOLUME 25, ISSUE 16

Locally owned and serving Greater Southwest Oklahoma

AREA NEWS

SADDLE MOUNTAIN &DOI IULHV FKLFNHQ DQG ÂżVK DUH RQ WKH PHQX DW WKH 6DGGOH 0RXQWDLQ )LUH $VVRFLDWLRQ )XQGUDLVHU WR EH KHOG )ULGD\ $SULO IURP WR S P 7KH IXQGUDLVHU ZLOO EH KHOG DW WKH 6DGGOH 0RXQWDLQ 6WRUH &RPPXQLW\ %XLOGLQJ $OO SURFHHGV WR WKH ÂżUH DVVRFLDWLRQ Directions: 'ULYH PLOHV VRXWK RI 0RXQWDLQ 9LHZ RQ 2. +LJKZD\ WR 6DGGOH 0RXQWDLQ 6WRUH RU -XQFWLRQ RI 2.

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HOUSTON (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Barbara %XVK WKH VQRZ\ KDLUHG ÂżUVW ODG\ ZKRVH SODLQVSRNHQ PDQQHU DQG XWWHU ODFN RI SUHWHQVH PDGH KHU PRUH SRSXODU DW WLPHV WKDQ KHU husband, President George H.W. %XVK GLHG 7XHVGD\ D IDPLO\ The Chronicle 5RQ 2UI DOVR NQRZQ DV )DQJPDVWHU KDV EHHQ ELWWHQ ÂżYH WLPHV WKURXJKRXW KLV OLIHWLPH DQG VWLOO VKRZV QR VSRNHVPDQ VDLG 6KH ZDV $3$&+( 5DIWHU * 5DQFK IHDU ZKHQ KDQGOLQJ YHQRPRXV UDWWOHVQDNHV Mrs. Bush brought a grandZLOO EH SUHVHQWLQJ LW V WK $QQXDO PRWKHUO\ VW\OH WR EXWWRQHG GRZQ <RXWK 5RGHR DW WKH $SDFKH )DLU:DVKLQJWRQ RIWHQ DSSHDULQJ LQ JURXQGV 5RGHR $UHQD RQ $SULO KHU WUDGHPDUN IDNH SHDUO FKRNHUV DW S P .LGV XQGHU DQG GLVSOD\LQJ QR YDQLW\ DERXW WKH DJH RI FDQ HQWHU WR FRPKHU ZKLWH KDLU DQG ZULQNOHV SHWH LQ EXOO ULGLQJ EURQF ULGLQJ :KDW \RX VHH ZLWK PH LV EDUUHO UDFLQJ DQG PXWWRQ EXVWLQ

ZKDW \RX JHW , P QRW UXQQLQJ IRU :H WU\ WR GR DV PXFK DV ZH president â&#x20AC;&#x201D; George Bush is," FDQ WR IRFXV RQ WKHVH NLGV VR WKH\ VKH VDLG DW WKH 5HSXEOLFDQ FDQ KDYH D IXOO URGHR H[SHUL1DWLRQDO &RQYHQWLRQ ZKHUH KHU HQFH VDLG 6X]DQQH *DLQHV KXVEDQG WKHQ YLFH SUHVLGHQW 7KLV ZLOO EH WKH ÂżUVW \HDU WKH 5DIWHU * 5DQFK <RXWK 5RGHR KDV FR VDQFWLRQHG ZLWK WKH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 0LQLDWXUH 5RGHR $VVRFLDWLRQ WR SURYLGH D QDWLRQZLGH Chronicle photos by Lisa Carroll

TIME FOR 35TH ANNUAL APACHE RATTLESNAKE FESTIVAL SNAKES

SNAKES!

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PAGE 3A

Mrs. Bush was one of only WZR ÂżUVW ODGLHV ZKR KDG D child who was elected president. The other was Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams and mother of John Quincy Adams.

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By Lisa Carroll 6WDá&#x201A;&#x2021; :ULWHU The Chronicle

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PAGE 2B

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PAGE 8B

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THIS WEEK:

Elgin HS Sterling HS FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2018

2 SECTIONS

Locally owned and serving Greater Southwest Oklahoma

VOLUME 25, ISSUE 19

Heath Sanders, Oklahoma State University SW Area Extension Agronomy Specialist, leads an educational tour of the various wheat varieties planted at the demo plot in Elgin.

50 Cents

Chronicle photo by Lisa Carroll

Oklahoma wheat production could be lowest in nearly 40 years

By Lisa Carroll 6WDá&#x201A;&#x2021; :ULWHU The Chronicle

ELGIN - Local wheat producers gathered at the demo plot near 1st and G St. in Elgin on May 4, for the Oklahoma State University 2018 Wheat Variety Tour.

Funded by the Oklahoma wheat industry with the use of Led by Heath Sanders, Okla- view the planted crop up close.

"This is the only plot we Wheat Commission, the Elgin genetics, ever striving to prohoma State University Southwest Area Extension Agronomy have in Comanche County," said plot was planted on Oct. 30, duce an even more adaptable and Specialist, the educational tour Greta Meisner, OSU Extension ZLWK GLŕľľHUHQW YDULHWLHV marketable winter wheat.

Wheat producer, Joe McMaprovided farmers with research Educator. "It gives producers an of wheat, some of them experiEDVHG LQIRUPDWLRQ DERXW VSHFLÂżF opportunity to look at and learn mental breeds. han from Flower Mound, comes With the Wheat Improve- to to the OSU tour every year plant structure, growth, yields, WKH GLŕľľHUHQW FKDUDFWHULVWLFV DQG resistance and disease, while traits of the varieties we have ment Team at OSU, scientists to see what's been newly develare strengthening the Oklahoma oped. For farmers like Joe, who also giving them a chance to planted."

graze cattle on it, combine it, and cut it to sell for hay, dry weather can have a huge impact on wheat production.

"Our main problem was we had a dry winter and wheat didn't grow much," said Joe. "We're al:+($7 9$5,(7< 7285 (continued on page 3A)

(continued on page 4A)

Elgin educators honored at POE Foundation Banquet

ANNUAL YOUTH RODEO (continued on page 3A)

AREA NEWS Page 1 â&#x20AC;˘ Friday, July 14, 2017

(AP Photo/Doug Mills, File)

By Lisa Carroll 6WDá&#x201A;&#x2021; :ULWHU

By Lisa Carroll 6WDá&#x201A;&#x2021; :ULWHU The Chronicle

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2018

The Chronicle

Q WKLV ÂżOH SKRWR ÂżUVW ODG\ Barbara Bush poses with her dog Millie in Washington. A family spokesman said Tuesday, $SULO WKDW IRUPHU ÂżUVW lady Barbara Bush has died at the age of 92.

(AP Photo/Bob Daugherty, File)

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Rafter G Ranch presents annual Youth Rodeo

Turnpike wreck leaves Lawton man injured

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Saddle Mountain Fire Association fundraiser planned

NISSAN OF LAWTON Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;ǤÂ?Â&#x2039;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2018;Ď?Â&#x17D;Â&#x192;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2018;Â?ǤÂ&#x2026;Â&#x2018;Â?

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By Lisa Carroll 6WDá&#x201A;&#x2021; :ULWHU The Chronicle

IT'S TIME FOR CRAWDS N RODS! ELGIN - MAY 12, 2018

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2XU LQWHQW LV QRW WR ZULWH WUDŕľśF FLWDWLRQV 2XU (/*,1 $ URXWLQH WUDŕľśF VWRS E\ WKH (OJLQ Police Department led to the arrest of two Law- intent is to inform the person with a violation so that violation can be corrected, ton residents on May 6, 2018. but we're always looking for 2ŕľśFHUV 5DOSK 3DUVRQV DQG RWKHU VWXŕľľ DV ZHOO VDLG 2ŕľśFHU James Vanderpool conducted a Parsons. general safety stop on a white :LWK QHZ HTXLSPHQW FDOOHG PT Cruiser around 12:24 a.m. to CrimeStar, purchased through issue a warning for a non workthe City Council, the Elgin Poing tag light. lice Department has gained an Upon making contact with additional tool when it comes to the three individuals in the veÂżJKWLQJ ORFDO FULPH KLFOH RŕľśFHUV TXLFNO\ EHFDPH This new program is carried suspicious about potential narcotic use. The cruiser was then Photo courtesy of Elgin Police Dept. LQ WKH YHKLFOHV DQG DOORZV Rŕľśsearched, unveiling 50 grams A presumptive test was conducted FHUV TXLFN DFFHVV WR D GDWDEDVH of crystal methamphetamines by the Elgin Police Department on of useful information.

"With the Crimestar, we're able (worth about $5,000), scales the sample removed from a vehicle and other various drug para- during a search on Sunday after- to instantly access information noon. The blue chemical reaction about the suspects in the vehicle," phernalia.

Event Schedule FRQÂżUPV VXVSLFLRQV WKDW WKH VDPSOH VDLG 2ŕľśFHU 3DUVRQV :H FDQ JHW 8:00 - 11:00 Car Show RegistraSteven Christopher Morriis crystal methamphetamine. vehicle information and suspect tion VRQ LQIRUPHG (OJLQ RŕľśFHUV WKDW information without a long delay 9:00 - 11:00 Poker Run Registrahe was on his way to his girlIULHQG V KRXVH LQ 6WHUOLQJ DW WKH WLPH RI WKH WUDŕľśF waiting for the standard radio communication." tion 1RW RQO\ GLG WKLV VWDWH RI WKH DUW HTXLSPHQW SOD\ 8:00 - 2:00 Burnout Registration VWRS 2ŕľśFLDOV EHOLHYH WKH PHWKDPSKHWDPLQHV ZHUH a key role in Sunday's drug bust, but Elgin K-9 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm Burnout intended to be sold in the local area.

0RUULVRQ ZDV DUUHVWHG IRU GUXJ WUDŕľśFNLQJ ZKLOH Valdemort, is also a vital police assest.

Contest 6WDUW 6HUYLQJ &UDZÂżVK DQG other Food 10:30 - 12:00 1st band Gannon Freeman &CC Rev

By Cheyenne Belew 12:30 - 2:00 6WDá&#x201A;&#x2021; :ULWHU 2nd band GRAGEMAHAILIX The Chronicle 3:30 - 5:00 3rd band DOLLAR 98 FLETCHER - Elgin VFW and Fletcher Amer5:00 ISH Car Show Awards and ican Legion hosted an awards ceremony Thurs1st 2nd and 3rd place trophies in Truck Giveaway day, May 3, for local middle and high school 33 classes students who participated in recent competitions. &UDZÂżVK %RLO The event was held at the Chandler Bilyeu Poker Run $25.00 All you can eat American Legion Post 306 in Fletcher and the $20.00 per hand )UHVK /RXLVLDQD FUDZÂżVK categories were art, writing and speech.

Best hand $1000.00 Food Choices Awards included Patriotic Arts for high Worst hand $250.00 We will also have Hamburgers schoolers, Patriot Pen award for 6-8th graders Route and Hot Dogs (essay contest) and an award for a speech. StuTo be Determined GHQWV ZKR HDUQHG ÂżUVW SODFH UHFHLYHG D FKHFN IRU Car Show $100, second place $75, and third place $50. %XUQRXW &RQWHVW $25.00 Registration Voice of Democracy Speech contestants read Free Entry Best in Show their speeches for the crowd who packed the Prizes for 1st,2nd and 3rd Best Paint building, leaving no seats empty. The art entries Best Interior lined nearly the entire wall of the room and it Chronicle photo by Cheyenne Belew 7 6KLUWV Best Engine 678'(17 $:$5'6 Jaden Pebeahy proudly displays the piece of art which Car Show Classes (continued on page 3A) earned her First Place in the Patriotic Art Contest.

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Students win awards for art, writing and speech

All the proceeds from CRAWDS N RODS go to VXSSRUW RXU ÂżUH SUHYHQWLRQ HŕľľRUWV LQ ORFDO VFKRROV You can contact Elgin Fire at 580-512-7014 , Elgin City Hall 580-492-5777 or any Elgin )LUH )LUHÂżJKWHU &DUQLYDO STARTS THURDAY NIGHT MAY 10TH AND RUNS UNTIL SATURDAY NIGHT Arm Bands Will be Friday Night 6-10 p.m. and Saturday 4-8 p.m.

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PAGE 6A

PAGE 1B

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NISSAN OF LAWTON Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;ǤÂ?Â&#x2039;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2018;Ď?Â&#x17D;Â&#x192;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2018;Â?ǤÂ&#x2026;Â&#x2018;Â?

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Chronicle photo by Debi DeSilver

Elgin Community Champions serve free lunch

By Cheyenne Belew 6WDá&#x201A;&#x2021; :ULWHU The Chronicle

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Chronicle photo by Debi DeSilver

See more photos from the Oklahoma Teacher Walkout on pages 4 and 5 of this issue.

Chronicle photo by JJ Francais

Oklahoma teachers say it's not just about the raise

Chronicle photo by JJ Francais

ELGIN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS are shown at the state capitol building in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, April 3, participating in the Oklahoma Teacher Walkout. Shown is a small group from a larger delegation that made the trip. From left to right are Anita West, Mike Evon, Tina Martin (back row), Kelli Anglley (back row), Melissa Evon, Emily Erwin (student, back row), Laurel Hughes (student) and Rebekah McAnally (front, far right). Melissa said that students Emily and Laurel are new voters and wanted to participate in the event at the capitol because they care about the process.

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PAGE 8A

How did we get here?

1990 - Thousands of Oklahoma teachers strike 1992 - Oklahoma voters approve a state question requiring three quarters of the legislature approve new taxes.

2016 - Hit with a budget shortfall Oklahoma City Public Schools eliminates 208 teachers despite Feb. 2018 - Teachers a rise in the number in West Virginia stage of students. a nine day walk out.

The state approves more than HPHUJHQF\ FHUWLÂżFDWLRQV for teachers March 2 - â&#x20AC;&#x153;Time is Now FB page reaches over 50,000 folowers.

April 2, 2018 - Walkout

PAGE 1B

PAGE 5B

ELGIN - While some students may be happy to have a few days Rŕľľ VFKRRO GXULQJ WKH 2NODKRPD 7HDFKHU :DONRXW RWKHUV ZKR UHO\ RQ UHFHLYLQJ VFKRRO OXQFKHV DUH QRW DV HDJHU WR VWD\ KRPH <HW ZKLOH WKLV FRXOG EH D GHWULPHQW WR VRPH FRPPXQLWLHV WKLV LV QRW WKH FDVH KHUH $V ZLWK VR PDQ\ FKDOOHQJHV WKH FRPPXQLW\ KDV VWHSSHG XS WR ÂżOO WKH JDS IRU WKRVH LQ QHHG 6RPH FKXUFKHV OLNH )LUVW %DSWLVW (DVW DUH VHUYLQJ OXQFK IRU VWXGHQWV GXULQJ WKH WHDFKHU ZDONRXW 2Q 7XHVGD\ FKXUFK PHPEHUV EURXJKW OXQFKHV WR WKH 3DUN /DQH 6FKRRO SDUNLQJ ORW IRU VWXGHQWV LQ WKHLU FRPPXQLW\ 0DQ\ GLVWULFWV VXFK DV /DZWRQ DQG :DOWHUV 3XEOLF 6FKRROV UHFHLYH IHGHUDO DLG IRU IHHGLQJ VLWHV GXULQJ WKH VXPPHU PRQWKV EDVHG RQ WKH QXPEHU RI VWXGHQWV ZKR TXDOLI\ IRU IUHH DQG UHGXFHG OXQFKHV 7KH /36 ZHEVLWH ERDVWV RI WZHQW\ FDPSXVHV WKDW RŕľľHU IUHH OXQFKHV IRU VWXGHQWV LQ WKH VXPPHU /36 KDV RSHQHG WKHVH IHHGLQJ VLWHV GXULQJ WKH WHDFKHU ZDONRXW WR VHUYH EUHDNIDVW DQG OXQFK DQG :DOWHUV 3XEOLF 6FKRROV ZLOO VHUYH VWXGHQWV EUHDNIDVW DQG OXQFK DV ZHOO (OJLQ 3XEOLF 6FKRROV GRHV QRW TXDOLI\ IRU IHGHUDO DLG WR IXQG IHHGLQJ VLWHV :DQWLQJ WR ÂżOO WKLV QHHG (OJLQ WHDFKHU 0LVV\ 9DXJKQ FRQWDFWHG FREE LUNCH (continued on page 8A)

PAGE 8B

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Quote of the week: â&#x20AC;&#x153;What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.â&#x20AC;? ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

VOLUME 25, ISSUE 14

Locally owned and serving Greater Southwest Oklahoma

Teachers, students take message to capitol

Chronicle graphic by JJ Francais

PAGE 1B

Why buy at Nissan of Lawton? â&#x20AC;˘

NISSAN OF LAWTON Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;ǤÂ?Â&#x2039;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2018;Ď?Â&#x17D;Â&#x192;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2018;Â?ǤÂ&#x2026;Â&#x2018;Â?

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Why buy at Nissan of Lawton?

JJ Francais, Special Projects

26

OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION

â&#x20AC;˘

â&#x20AC;˘ Í&#x201C; ͡;ͳ;͸ͳ Í&#x201C; ;ͺ͸ͳ͚ Í&#x201C;

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NISSAN OF LAWTON Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;ǤÂ?Â&#x2039;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2018;Ď?Â&#x17D;Â&#x192;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2018;Â?ǤÂ&#x2026;Â&#x2018;Â?

580-353-2244 Â&#x2019;Â&#x2021;Â? Â&#x2C6;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2018;Â? ͚ǣ;Ͳ ͚ǣͲͲ ÇŚ ͺǣͲͲ

Steve Booker, Photographer

ADDITIONAL AWARDS 2017 DIGITAL MEDIA AWARDS DAILY DIVISION

WEEKLY DIVISION

COLLEGE DIVISION

1ST PLACE

1ST PLACE

1ST PLACE

THE JOURNAL RECORD

THE PURCELL REGISTER

THE OKLAHOMA DAILY

2ND PLACE

2ND PLACE

2ND PLACE

THE ARDMOREITE

THE EDMOND SUN

THE Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;COLLY

3RD PLACE

3RD PLACE

3RD PLACE

ENID NEWS & EAGLE

SKIATOOK JOURNAL

PIONEER

2017 ONG EDITORIAL SWEEPSTAKES WINNER

J. D. MEISNER, Bristow News Seems an Obvious Choice, May 2017

2017 ONG COLUMN SWEEPSTAKES WINNER

DOROTHY BALLARD, The Miami News-Record Shake the Disease, October 2017

2017 OGE DAILY PHOTO OF THE YEAR

JASON ELMQUIST, Stillwater News Press Wrestler Victory, March 2017

2017 OGE WEEKLY PHOTO OF THE YEAR

KAYLEA HUTSON-MILLER, The Grove Sun WWII Veteran, January 2017

2017 JOSEPH H. EDWARDS OUTDOOR WRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD

KELLY BOSTIAN, Tulsa World 2017 PRINT QUALITY AWARD

CLINTON DAILY NEWS 2017 RAY LOKEY MEMORIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN REPORTING

JAMES NEAL, Enid News & Eagle

OPA CONVENTION AWARDS

27

2017 OPA PERFECTA AWARD WINNERS The Perfecta Award honors OPA member newspapers that achieve 100 percent accuracy on advertising orders from Oklahoma Press Service in the previous year.

The American (Afton)

The Gage Record

The Oklahoman

The Apache News

Garber-Billings News

Okmulgee Times

Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise

The Geary Star

The Paper (Pryor)

The Grove Sun

Pawhuska Journal-Capital

Henryetta Free-Lance

The Pawnee Chief

The Herald-Democrat (Beaver)

The Perkins Journal

Buffalo Weekly News The Canton Times

The Hobart Democrat-Chief

The Carnegie Herald

The Hominy News-Progress

The Chelsea Reporter

The Hooker Advance

The Cheyenne Star

Hugo News

Sayre Record & Beckham County Democrat

Choctaw Times

The Journal Record (OKC)

Sequoyah County Times

Clayton Today

Kiowa County Democrat

The Seminole Producer

The Cleveland American

The Konawa Leader

The Sentinel Leader

Clinton Daily News

Latimer County News-Tribune

Stroud American

The Black Chronicle (OKC) Broken Bow News

The Cordell Beacon The County Democrat (Shawnee)

The Lincoln County News

The County Times (Lawton)

Marietta Monitor

Cyril News

The Marlow Review

The Delaware County Journal

McAlester News-Capital

The Duncan Banner

28

The Lawton Constitution

McCurtain Daily Gazette The Mooreland Leader

Eastern Times-Register (Roland)

The Newcastle Pacer

El Reno Tribune

OKC Friday

The Ellis County Capital

The Okeene Record

The Fairfax Chief

Okemah News Leader

OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION

Perry Daily Journal The Rush Springs Gazette Sand Springs Leader

Sulphur Times-Democrat Talihina American The Tonkawa News Tri-County Herald (Meeker) Tulsa Beacon Tulsa World Vian Tenkiller News The Walters Herald Woods County Enterprise Woodward News Yale News

Congratulations The Oklahoma Press Association congratulates all Award Winners for their pursuit of excellence.

OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION 3601 N LINCOLN BLVD, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73105 (405) 499-0020 – 1-888-815-2672 (TOLL FREE IN OK) • WWW.OKPRESS.COM