CYAN
MAGENTA
PAGE 9A
YELLOW
BLACK
COMING IN PRINT
TAKING THE SPOTLIGHT ENTER SOMETHING FROM YOUR GARDEN IN THE POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY FREE FAIR.
Help Rotary Meet The Challenge www.rotary.org/EndPolio
• Coming to Shawnee Look in Friday’s paper to see what movies will be showing in Shawnee. ONLY ONLINE • K-9 training See video of officers training K-9s.
Covering the Tri-County Area Since 1894
THE SHAWNEE NEWS-STAR 75 cents
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2014
COLUMN
ELECTION RESULTS
Finding my own beat
Mayor gets second term Tecumseh voters retain incumbents on city council By Kim Morava Kimberly.morava@news-star. com
LINDSEY ALLEN lindsey.allen@news-star.com
I
like to think of myself as a product of musical lineage. While I wouldn’t compare my family to the folksy Carters or soulful Jackson 5, the DNA of my kin contains a dollop (or at least a dash) of groove. My distant cousin is Dolly Parton. I have never met her, though some aunts and uncles more closely related to her have. It’s mostly a novelty fact we like to throw around at gatherings. Significantly more immediate to me, my great-grandmother is a piano aficionado. This skill seems common among her generation, but I find her playing especially beautiful. My grandmother plays the accordion with ease. My mother is drawn to the French horn and initially went to school to pursue a vocal career. In third grade, I learned to play “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” on the recorder. That’s the extent of my musical talent. I use the word “talent” loosely. A staple in my movie collection is 1979’s “The Jerk,” featuring Steve Martin. One scene showcases a catchy tune played on a ukulele. When I saw this, I thought, “That’s it! That’s the instrument I need to finally join the musical ranks.” I immediately went with a friend to a guitar store and purchased a ukulele. Because I selected the small instrument based solely on its red color, I’m certain the salesman had me figured out as an amateur. Still, I was confident in my musical destiny, so I also bought an instructional video. Surely I would be jamming in no time. Nearly two years have passed and I can churn out “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” though the pauses for finger adjustments make it a 45-minute rendition. I’ll keep trying my hand at various instruments, but I’ve come to accept the melodious gene skipped me. I love music, but I’m not musical. I think art and music education in grade school is important for everyone, but especially for those who lack a natural knack… because, at least now, if my family ever forms a band, I’ll be right there in the background, rocking out on the recorder.
In what was a landslide victory Tuesday night, Tecumseh Mayor Eddy Parker was re-elected to another four-year term while appointed Ward 4 Councilor John Collier also retained his seat.
In the mayor’s race, Parker tallied 370 votes — or 87.5 percent — to defeat opponent HuBert Poole, who had 53 votes, or 12.5 percent. The mayor was collecting campaign signs when hearing the final totals Tuesday night. “I really want to thank
to fix all problems for residents, said he’s always tried to figure out ways to help. “I’ve tried to be a listening ear for them,” he said. The mayor said he appreciates all those who supported him by encouraging residents to get out and vote on Tuesday. Collier, a former mayor
who was appointed to the Ward 4 seat when Gene Crnkovic moved, also retained that seat with a majority vote. Collier tallied 272 votes, or 66.3 percent, to defeat Patrick S. Lemmings, who had 138 votes, or 33.7 TECUMSEH, Page 5A
BETHEL ACRES
Ballot box check-in
Sales tax passes By Lindsey Allen lindsey.allen@news-star.com
Voters of Bethel Acres marginally passed a proposition that imposes a 2.5 percent town sales tax. Tuesday’s election resulted in 152 favoring votes, 55.9 percent of the total votes cast. Mayor Neal Davis expressed gratitude to the Board of Trustees for spreading the message of tax benefits. “I’m also very appreciative of the town,” he added. “I don’t think anyone is ever excited about paying more taxes, but it’s going to a very good cause.” The new revenue is expected to support capital improvements and the
Tammy Hasbell, an official with the Pottawatomie County Election Board, at left, checks in the Precinct 18 ballot box Tuesday night from Precinct 18 Official Glenna Chambers, at right. Area voters on Tuesday decided several local races. ED BLOCHOWIAK STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
BETHEL ACRES, Page 5A
RUNOFF RACES
ASHER
Candidates advance to November elections By Kim Morava Kimberly.morava@news-star. com
Voters on Tuesday decided several runoff races to select candidates to advance to the November general election. U.S. Senator In the race for an open U.S. Senate seat being vacated with the retirement of Sen. Tom Coburn, Connie Johnson defeated Jim Rogers in the Democratic primary runoff election. Johnson will now face Republican nominee James Lankford in the Nov. 4 general election.
Pottawatomie County Democrats voting in that runoff favored Johnson with 58.4 percent of the vote. Statewide, Johnson tallied 58 percent of the votes. U.S. Representative, District 5 In the race for Lankford’s U.S. Representative seat in District 5, Democrats and Republicans nominated their candidates to advance to the general election. Democrats chose between Tom Guild and Al McAffrey, with McAffrey winning the statewide bid
to advance to November with 54.2 percent of the votes. Locally, Pottawatomie County voters favored Guild. Republicans decided a runoff between Steve Russell and Patrice Douglas, with Russell winning the GOP nomination with 59.3 percent of the votes. Here in Pottawatomie County, voters also favored Russell. McAffrey and Russell now advance to November. RUNOFF, Page 5A
Tom Duncan Nicole Kidwell Angela Morris Slaten Barnett Katherine Adams Alyssa Coriz Ann Fullbright Kristi Barnett Caileah Blanchard A.L. Thomas
Mackenzie Gregg Caira Kennedy Gary Jones Emily Whiteman Jesse Whitefield Jimmie Lou Bly William Warrick Derrick Dixson Dylan Brady Dewayne Watson Mary Brimm Cecil Johnston Bessie Baker Jimmie Bly Charlie Shepherd Randy Flores
Larry Capps James J. Miller A-yo Jones Angela Watson Courtnie Treadaway Betty Sikes James Murdock Chelsea Sneed Latisha Woods Julio Sanchez Darrol Davis Rob Warner
Weather. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2A Tri-County Calendar. . . . . 3A
Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4A Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6A
Local News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2A Lifestyles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3B
BIRTHDAYS
Today is the birthday of ...
2533 North Harrison, Shawnee • (405) 273-5050
Vol. 120 No. 113
the citizens for continuing to have confidence in me,” Parker said. “We’ve done a lot of great things the past four years and made good progress,” Parker said, adding he’s ready for the next four years. The mayor, who said he might not always be able
School safe room included in passed bond issues By Ben Luschen ben.luschen@news-star.com
Asher voters Tuesday supported two propositions to benefit area schools. Proposition No. 1, a $1.74 million plan to enhance the high school gymnasium that would also include a storm shelter with the capacity to hold more than 300 people, passed with 84.2 percent of the vote. Proposition No. 2, which would allow the school system to purchase two new school busses, passed with
——— To submit a local birthday, e-mail the month, day
www.fredstire.net
and name to reita.easley@ news-star.com or call 214-3939, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
85.6 percent of the vote. Both propositions needed more than 60 percent of the vote to pass. Asher Superintendent Terry Grissom said he was impressed by the large margin in which both issues passed. “The community has always been supportive of bond issues in the past, but if you look at the final numbers, that’s a lot of support,” Grissom said. ASHER, Page 5A
WEATHER Sunny H: 96 L: 73 Forecast, 2A
LOTTERIES
OBITUARIES • Claud Melvin Chappell Jr. • Frances B. ‘Fran’ Meyer • Denisha Janine Lathrop • Claude L. Wood
Cash 5 01-07-17-22-34 Pick 3 2-6-2
4A Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3B Classified . . . . . . . . . . . 4B-8B
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1B Scoreboard . . . . . . . . . . . . 2B
16 West Highland, Shawnee • (405) 273-8500
WE’VE GOT TIRES