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TAKING THE SPOTLIGHT
Stories you’ll find in today’s News-Star
‘HARRY POTTER’ AND ‘WINNIE THE POOH’ ARE AMONG THE MOVIES SHOWING THIS WEEK IN SHAWNEE.
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• Barrel racer reminisces ... 2A • Are you drinking enough fluids? ... 3A • Treat our dinosaurs with respect ... 6A
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THE SHAWNEE NEWS-STAR FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2011 COLUMN
Impressed by effort put forth by competitors
45 COUNTIES
Governor’s burn ban
Declaration supersedes local bans; IFYR bonfire exemptions invalid By Kim Morava kimberly.morava@news-star. com
JOSH BURTON josh.burton@news-star.com
Gov. Mary Fallin has declared burn bans in 45 counties across the state, including Pottawatomie County, with state guidelines superseding countydeclared burn bans already in place.
In Pottawatomie County, commissioners declared a 30-day burn ban Tuesday, with an exemption allowing bonfires this week at Shawnee’s expo center, where the International Finals Youth Rodeo is being held. That exemption is no longer in effect. Oklahoma Forestry Ser-
vices spokeswoman Michelle Finch-Walker said the governor’s burn ban, which is superseding, prohibits outdoor burning and bonfires, so it invalidates the exemption made for the IFYR. Governor Mary Fallin issued the Executive Proclamation banning outdoor
W
ith the International Finals Youth Rodeo going on this week, I can’t help but think about how much time and effort these competitors put in and how they give it their all. It reminds me of how hard I had to practice growing up playing soccer and viola, even though I really didn’t practice either one very well. These competitors here, they not only have to be their best, they have to juggle different aspects of life as well. I was able to juggle from fifth through eighth grades, before realizing I had to give up one or the other. I chose to give up soccer because I didn’t feel like I could make the high school team, (Norman had a strong tradition) and I felt I could make a bigger impact in music. How some of these competitors juggle school, rodeo, sports and other aspects of life is beyond me. I still struggled to find time practicing viola and working a job, etc. Sometimes, I would even forgo practicing, and paid the price the next day. The conductors could tell when someone wouldn’t practice and the whole orchestra paid for it. We would rehearse the same section of music, until we got it right. Sometimes, it was brutal trying to perfect that one section, line, whatever. It took a while, too, to realize how much practice and repetition it takes before something is good enough. Then, is it is good enough for your own standards; then your boss’ standards? That was always the tough one for me in high school, was the boss’ expectations. My grades probably reflected that too, both in high school and my early years of college. I didn’t always do my best in studying, preparing myself for classes or exams. I didn’t always care either, so that was another issue. I didn’t learn a lot about that until my fifth year of college. Yes, I said fifth year of college. Once I learned that, I was able to get serious about things. I remember how difficult it was to do that, so seeing these people knowing that as young as some of them are, just amazes me. They all get my congrats.
burning for much of the state Thursday as drought conditions continue to cause extreme fire dangers. The declaration includes Pottawatomie and Seminole counties. Lincoln County isn’t included, but a county-declared ban is still in place there.
“The number of wildfires we have had over the last few months is extremely tough on our state firefighters,” Fallin said. “It’s a drain on their resources as well as a physical drain. Anything that can be done to minimize fires will help BURN BAN, Page 5A
TUFF HEDEMAN
Son of rodeo legend competes this week By Jason Smith william.smith@news-star.com
Trevor Hedeman, seated, is seen with his parents, Tracy Hedeman and legendary bull rider Tuff Hedeman. Trevor, 15, is competing in team roping and calf roping this week at the International Finals Youth Rodeo. JASON SMITH STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
PROJECT TRACKER
What do you do when you’re the son of a rodeo legend? Easy — you rodeo. Trevor Hedeman, son of bull riding great Tuff Hedeman, is among the hundreds of teenagers who competed this week in the 19th annual International Finals Youth Rodeo at Shawnee’s Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center. Much like his older brother Lane, Trevor competes in calf roping and team roping. Despite Tevor’s brief stint on calves in the 8-and-under age group, the siblings didn’t follow the exact same path as their father. “They didn’t choose (bull riding),” said Hedeman, a three-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) world bull riding champion and the 1995 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) world champion. Trevor said there was never a doubt in his mind
that he would rodeo, and the IFYR is one of those events he’s always had his sights on. The 15-year-old Lipan (Texas) High School sophomore-to-be didn’t mince a single word when asked for his opinion of the IFYR. “I like it,” he said with a smile. “He came here four years with Lane, so he’s been itching to get old enough and come compete himself,” said Trevor’s mother, Tracy. “It’s a great rodeo,” Hedeman said. “It’s really the only one of its kind. From a competitive standpoint, this will be the toughest they face at this age.” Hedeman described the IFYR as “the biggest and toughest” rodeo for these teenagers, based on the abundance of talent and skill represented. “The level of competitiveness and the depth of talent is so much greater,” HEDEMAN, Page 5A
By Robby Short
City removes dilapidated houses • Since January 1, 2011, 29 structures were ordered removed by Shawnee; 23 have been removed to date. • The original budget for 2010-11 was $55,000. Shawnee City Commission authorized the use of additional funds, increasing the year-end amount spent to $95,302. The 2011-12 budget is $100,000.
• The city plans to remove 25 structures during fiscal year 2011-12 and 34 to 37 structures during 2011 calendar year. • Homes that are reported to be used for illegal activity are moved higher on the priority list. Structures that have been burned and that are open for vagrant occupancy are targeted as well.
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BIRTHDAYS
Today is the birthday of ... Joseph Withrow Allison Jones Howard Ball Amy Burris Kalah Gilmore Ronnie Brown Thelma Cox Tarra Kania Sharon Brown Marilee Breedlove Weather. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2A Tri-County Calendar. . . . . 3A
Josephine Sampson Thearl Stanley Kayla Switch Faye Huskins Jessica Jones Eva England Brooke Bailey Mike Wester Jessi Moore Monica Nix Lacey Standlee Zack Stastny Amber Beauchamp
This house at 219 N. Kickapoo is among those the city plans to remove. ED BLOCHOWIAK STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
OBITUARIES
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• Calvin G. James • Nelson Lee Tooman Sr. • Madgelene ‘Madge’ Leona Marker Hallman • Harold ‘Slugger’ Fox • Leo Allen Cloud • Alva Gaines • Benny Leon Morphis • Mildred Margaret ‘Millie’ Huff • Charlie Williams
Three most viewed stories Thursday at www.news-star.com
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Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4A Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6A
Local News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2A Lifestyles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8A
WEATHER Partly cloudy H:103 L: 78 Forecast, 2A
GIRL STILL IN CRITICAL CONDITION
LOTTERIES
CONTESTANT INJURED AT IFYR
Cash 5 01-04-07-19-29 Pick 4 5-4-6-5 Pick 3 7-4-4
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IFYR 2011 UPDATES
Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3B Classifed. . . . . . . . . . . . 4B-8B
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1B Scoreboard . . . . . . . . . . . . 2B
878-4850 Vol. 117 No. 76
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