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Troopers out in force for holiday weekend
Sports, Page 5b
By Marsha Miller marsha.miller@ ardmoreite.com
Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers aren’t taking the holiday weekend off. In fact, Capt. Ronnie Hampton, commander OHP Troop F headquartered in Ardmore, says there will be more troopers than usual on area roads, highways and Interstate 35. “We will have increased patrols throughout the seven-county (Carter, Johnston, Love, Marshall, Murray, Garvin and Pontotoc)
area,” Hampton said. And that’s not the only place those enjoying the holiday weekend should expect to encounter troopers. Hampton said there will also be a special Point of Last Drink operation conducted Saturday in Carter County. “We are planning another large scale DUI saturation patrol in Carter County focusing on the areas where our Point of Last Drink data shows to be a problem,” the troop commander said. Troop F troopers conducted a similar POLD operation during the July 4th holiday. That
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The autumn issue of southern Okla. Living magazine has something for everyone
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See troopers, Page 3a
With help from a local foundation, Dickson has a viable year-round greenhouse to use for horticultural class, FFA
Coming in print n Community: Each year, people in our community pick out their favorite recipes, best crafts projects, brightest vegetables and more in hopes of blue ribbons and glory at the Carter County Free Fair.
concentrated effort resulted in 22 DUI arrests. “So people need to make good decisions now,” Hampton said. In addition to specific area efforts, Troop F troopers will also be participating with their counterparts throughout the state in two nationwide safety campaigns. Oklahoma Department of Public Safety officials said OHP is participating in Operation Combined Accident Reduction Effort, known as “Operation C.A.R.E.,” as well as “Drive Sober or Get
Growth in the right direction
Lady Eagles win big over Empire INSIDE
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Dickson High School juniors Victoria Chapman and Taner Hale examine radish plantings Thursday at the school’s greenhouse. Horticulture students planted a variety of vegetables and flowers as part of the first class project in the newly revitalized greenhouse. Laura Eastes/The Ardmoreite By Laura Eastes laura.eastes@ardmoreite.com
W
hen agriculture teacher and FFA advisor Zack Gradberry first arrived at Dickson High School in August 2013, he noticed pretty quickly the district’s greenhouse used as a teaching tool in the horticulture class and an aid for FFA projects was not in the most ideal condition. The plastic-shell was no longer clear, but an aged-yellow. Holes and cracks in the shell prohibited the facility from any sort of temperature control. It was also not the place to be when a rain storm came though, and, at times, insects could be seen on the plants, he said.
In an effort to rehabilitate the greenhouse, the school district purchased a new shell, and Gradberry turned to the Noble Foundation to ask about who to hire for installation. “I was just asking for a recommendation,” Gradberry says of speaking with a Noble Foundation employee at a training event. “He said he could do one better.” Following that initial conversation with Frank Hardin, Noble Academy education and outreach manager, Noble Foundation volunteers took on the greenhouse project, not only installing the new shell, but transforming the greenhouse into a viable year-round plant production factory. The transformation took place during the summer, with the greenhouse ready for
students when academic classes began earlier this month. “If it wouldn’t have been for them, I don’t know how long it would have taken us to get it where it is now,” Gradberry says. Gradberry points to the perimeter of the greenhouse first in explaining all the efforts made by the Noble Foundation volunteers, who dug a trench around the greenhouse to end drainage problems. Additionally, the building’s plumbing, electrical and lights were updated thanks to the Noble Foundation, which has a long-history of supporting community projects and being proactive in educational outreach in area schools. Thursday marked the first day students See dickson, Page 3a
ardmore city schools
Efforts to bolster GT numbers falter EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the sixth in a series looking at Ardmore City Schools’ community relationships, performance and chain of command. By Michael Pineda michael.pineda@ardmoreite.com
Ardmore City Schools caught the attention of the Oklahoma State Department of Education during fall 2013 when it reported only 120 gifted and talented students in the system during the Oct. 15 reporting period.
Carter County FREE
The number fell well short of the 506 reported during the previous school year, and failed to include any high school students. Leading in to the reporting period, the high school had presented 20 students. Even with the 20, ACS would have had only Missy Storm 140, which was a sharp decline from years past. Information provided by Ardmore City Schools showed the following number of stu-
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dents identified as gifted and talented during the past fiscal years: • 506 — FY 2013 • 681 — FY 2010 • 599 — FY 2012 • 639 — FY 2009 • 551 — FY 2011 “Not knowing about other years, in order for State Superintendent Janet Barresi to accept a student, there has to be documentation,” Ardmore City Schools Superintendent Sonny Bates said. “Where we could find no documentation, we could not accept the student, and that was one of the reasons for See school, Page 3a
markets, Page 1b
ukraine conflict weighs on markets; retailers fall