Monday, December 3, 2018

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2018

DEFYING THE ODDS Alton carter overcame a difficult childhood and hopes his story will inspire others.

PHOTO BY ADAM LUTHER/O’COLLY

ALTON CARTER

cover s t o ry

Defying the odds: Carter escapes life of abuse, inspires others as youth director Kor bin Bau er Staff Reporter @ o c olly

As Alton Carter opens the boxes full of letters written to him, the emotion starts to show in his eyes.

The letters are written full of truth, anger and pain. These are emotions Carter has felt growing up.

While he reads, Carter recalls the memories from his past.

Waking up to the feeling of cockroaches in his bed and his uncle screaming at him.

The memory of the boys ranch then slips into his mind with frustration tagging along.

Carter remembers the red bricks, piles and piles of them. The feeling of the bricks digging into his hands is something he’ll never forget.

This is the life of a foster child with no home.

Carter is a 48-year-old from Cushing. He is a foster child who experienced 17 foster homes, three institutions and a boys ranch. During these times, he suffered many instances of child abuse.

“Life was pretty tough,” Carter said. “I was going through life angry, frustrated and heartbroken. I used to think people didn’t care about me.”

Carter is one of few who successfully navigated through the pain child abuse brings upon a person. He grew up with four siblings. Each of them had a different

dad, but they didn’t have a relationship with their fathers.

“Our mom was poor, and she struggled with depression,” Carter said.

“Other kids could find their moms cooking or cleaning, but mine could be found on the couch with pills falling out of the pill bottle. She even threatened to kill us and then herself at one point.”

In 2015, the number of children reportedly abused in the United States was 683,000, according to a United States Department of Health and Human Services study.

After Carter and his siblings were taken away from their mom, they moved in with his grandparents, three uncles and two cousins.

The abuse didn’t end there.

“I had one uncle who would beat women and sell drugs,” Carter said.

“My uncle Stevie would use us to get gas money from others so he could buy whiskey. Once we got home from thieving, our uncle would make us kids drink the whiskey.”

After years of this abuse, Carter couldn’t take it any longer. Carter, then 10, ran away from home.

After bouncing from foster homes and an institution, Carter was sent to the Oklahoma Lions Boys Ranch in Perkins. But the abuse still didn’t end.

“If you got in trouble at the ranch, our ranch dad would make you carry bricks for two hours,”

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2018

Carter said. “If we got bad grades in school, he would make us run three to five days a week.”

Carter spent three years at the ranch before running away and moving from foster home to foster home. He eventually became the first person in his family to graduate high school.

Homeless students have an 87 percent increased risk of discontinuing high school, according to a study in the Journal of Social Service Research.

Carter overcame the odds.

Following high school, Carter pursued an education at Oklahoma State, ADAm LUTHER/O’COLLY where he met his wife Alton Carter reads a thank-you card he recieved after speaking at an elementary school.

Kristin. They have five “He has such a charpression symptoms in his fourth book, The Boy kids, and three of them ismatic personality that adulthood, according to Who Went to the Library, are adopted. draws kids to him,” a study that Qinglu Wu Kelton, Carter’s oldest another children’s book Chaffin said. “He also and other researchers son, admires his dad and that encourages kids to helps our kids who find conducted. Carter never the way he leads their go to the library and read. themselves in challenging experienced those sympfamily.

Carter continues to travel “I am impressed at how situations. They feel more toms. to different states sharing comfortable going to him, He has written four much effort he puts into his story and encouraging books on the differbeing a good dad when he knowing the paths he has the youth who might not walked down.” ent stages of his life. didn’t know how,” Kelton Megan Comstock, a His books are intended feel love at their homes. said. “He had no role student member of the to reach those who are models in his life. It’s “One thing I do know church and youth minisstruggling with the same impressive that he knows is that my books aren’t try, said Carter is a fun obstacles he faced growwhat he is doing when written that well,” Carter leader and role model. ing up. His works have he had nobody to show said. “They are just writ“Any time I feel sad, I been met with success him.” want to come see him beand a large audience from ten in a way that is transAfter college, Carter parent, and those reading cause he can easily cheer around the country. became a police officer can see my pain and me up,” Comstock said.

“When I first wrote the for OSU. Shortly after “Whenever I need advice, books, I wanted people to insecurities. I hope they that, he began his career he is the first person I go read it, connect and feel at First United Methodcan connect and think, to because he knows the like they weren’t alone,” ist Church of Stillwater ‘Maybe if Alton could do answer to everything. His Carter said. “I didn’t exas the youth director. it, so could I.’” story really makes me pect the books to do that Michael Chaffin, his boss well, so it’s been amazing Korbin Bauer is a multimeand the senior pastor, also look up to him and shows dia journalism junior from me how strong and caring and overwhelming to see admires the way Carter Owasso. He can be reached he is for others.” them making a big differleads and encourages the at korbin.bauer@okstate.

Child maltreatment is ence.” youth in the church with his story. connected with deCarter recently released edu.

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SP O R TS

c owg i r l bas k et ball

Tennessee hands OSU first loss of season Sam H en der s on staf reporter

@ samhend erson 44

Braxtin Miller dribbled out the clock, and the fans at Gallagher-Iba Arena erupted with joy as the Cowgirls left the floor Sunday.

The scoreboard showed a result that favored the home team.

The problem for the Cowgirls, though, is that was just devin lawrence wilber/O’COLLY OSU’s Braxtin Miller drives to the basket as the Cowgirls the end of the first half. take on No. 11 Tennessee in Gallagher-Iba Arena on Sunday.

Coming out of the locker room after halftime, the TenThat allowed the Cowgirls Tennessee (6-0) took a nessee women’s basketball 61-49 lead into the fourth, but to gain the momentum and team outscored Oklahoma OSU kept fighting back. The take their first lead of the State in the third frame and game with six minutes and 27 Cowgirls cut the lead back rode that momentum to vicdown to six, but Tennessee’s seconds left in the half. tory, winning 76-63. athleticism was just too much.

The two teams then traded Miller led the Cowgirls The final buzzer sounded, and three lead changes, but OSU with 29 points, but Evina the Cowgirls had their first (6-1) won the battle and took Westbrook, a Tennessee loss of the season. a three-point lead into the sophomore, tied her as she “Our kids were competing half. reached her career high. and doing everything they Braxtin Miller had 22 “I felt going in that we had could,” Littell said. “That’s points, and sophomore Jaden to play flawless to beat them,” something we can definitely Hobbs was 3-for-3 from long Jim Littell, OSU’s coach, build off of.” range with nine points. The said. “We did for 20 minutes Warlick said she was Cowgirls’ backcourt put up . . . but the difference in the impressed with what she saw a fight, trying to maintain ball game was 21-6 in the from OSU. OSU’s undefeated record. third quarter.”

“They’re going to beat a “We did a good job of No. 11 Tennessee began lot of teams,” Warlick said. the game efficient offensively, keeping our composure in the “They’re very well coached, first half,” Hobbs said. starting 5-for-5 from the field and they play hard.”

Holly Warlick, Tennessee’s and shooting 60 percent in the Despite the loss, Littell said coach, wanted her team to first quarter. it was important for his team stop OSU’s guards, especially “Every time they shot the to play at Tennessee’s level of Miller, in the second half. ball, it was going in,” Littell “We told them (Miller) was competition. said. “That happens when you “This game did us more on course to score in the 40s have good players.” good than the other six games if she continues to touch the To slow the Lady Voluncombined,” Littell said. “It ball,” Warlick said. “(Miller) teers’ offense, Littell made will be able to drive some was a priority for us.” some defensive adjustments. points home to our kids about The Lady Volunteers’ “We were trying to change things that are important to defensive focus worked in defenses a little bit, playing their favor, as they held Miller win in tight games.” some zone and playing some scoreless in the third quarter. man,” Littell said. “We tried Sam Henderson is a With their leading scorer to keep them off-balance.” sports media sophomore held in check, the Cowgirls from Muldrow. He can be The alterations went well went cold. OSU had as many reached at in the second quarter, as turnovers as points in the third sam.henderson@okstate. the Lady Volunteers started edu. struggling with their shots. quarter.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2018

FIRST TO THE LORD! (Part #1) “...they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.” (2Co.8:5 NIV) There is an old saying; “First things, First!” The apostle is commending theseMacedonian Christians because “they got it right”. They gave themselves first to the Lord! Our steady relationship with Christ himself is of first importance. The Bible makes clear that as true Christians, those who are trusting and following Christ, we have been set free from the old life of sin and selfishness and are now joined to Christ to walk in a new life. The apostle challenges us to be definite and “count it so”. Think this way now! Then he tells us to “offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life...For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”(Ro.6:3-4,11,13-14) Law speaks of rules and commandments.

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These may be good commandments, but weare not able to keep them in our own strength. Grace speaks of God’s strength, unmerited favor, that is ours through Christ. As we humbly offer ourselves to Christ, he will work in us that which we cannot do. “For it is God who works in you to will and act according to his good purpose.” (Phil.2:12 NIV) All kinds of sin need not control us because grace is available to us in Christ.

Again, Paul tells us because of God’s mercy, “offer your bodies as living sacrifices to God.” (Ro.12:1NIV) All things are possible with God. You and I will see God lead and accomplish his pleasure in and through us. We can do as the Macedonian Christians did two thousand years ago. They gave themselves first to the Lord!

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2018

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SP O R TS

C OWB OY FOOT BALL

FOR RELEASE DECEMBER 3, 2018

CowboyS to face Missouri in Liberty Bowl H ALLIE HART Sports Editor @ halliehart

They haven’t played against each other since the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 3, 2014.

But on New Year’s Eve, the Oklahoma State football team will take on former Big 12 opponent Missouri in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Cowboys will face the No. 23 Tigers in the 60th annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl Classic, the bowl’s representatives announced Sunday. t.c. brewster/O’COLLY Oklahoma State quarterback Taylor Cornelius receives The game is set for 2:45 p.m. a snap as the Cowboys take on TCU in Amon G. Carter on Dec. 31 in Liberty Bowl Stadium.

Memorial Stadium.

Cowboys appeared one season The Tigers ended the regular at OSU, once served as the Tigers’ offensive coordinator. season 8-4 with a 4-4 record in ago.

OSU finished the regular the Southeastern Conference.

No. 24 Iowa State will face season 6-6, and each of the six “They’ve (the Tigers) done Washington State on Dec. 28 great things, come a long way,” losses were against a Big 12 in the Alamo Bowl. opponent.

Mike Gundy, OSU’s coach, Baylor will stay in its home Most recently, the Cowboys said in a teleconference. “We’ll dropped a 31-24 game to Texas state as it takes on Vanderbilt have our hands full, but I’m Christian University in Amon looking forward to a good on Dec. 27 in the Texas Bowl, G. Carter Stadium. That hapgame.” and TCU will play against pened one weekend after OSU Missouri defeated OSU California on Dec. 26 in the 41-31 in the 2014 Cotton Bowl secured bowl eligibility with Cheez-It Bowl. matchup. The Tigers hold a 29- a 45-41 home victory against 23 record against the Cowboys. West Virginia.

Hallie Hart is a This season, OSU averaged “We had a lot of good times sports media junior from 38.42 points per game, 192.1 back in the old Big 8 days Chandler. She can be rushing yards per game and and then even in the Big 12,” reached at sports.ed@ 307.92 passing yards per game. ocolly.com.

Gundy said. “I’ve made that Tickets to the Liberty Bowl pretty obvious that I hated to Editor’s note: In the Nov. are available on Ticketmaster. see when that league broke up 30 edition of the paper, com. with Nebraska and Missouri an article incorrectly The Cowboys are one of and (Texas) A&M departstated that Jordan Murseven Big 12 teams to earn a ing, so I think it’s pretty cool phy ranked fourth in the slot in a bowl. No. 4 Oklahoma that we get to play a team that NCAA with 12.2 defenwill face No. 1 Alabama on we’ve been accustomed to sive rebounds per game.

Dec. 29 in the Orange Bowl playing for a long, long time.”

That statistic reflected his for a College Football Playoff Along with history as contotal rebounds, not solely game. ference rivals, there are other defensive rebounds. Also, No. 15 Texas will meet connections between OSU and Michigan, not Minnesota, No. 5 Georgia on Jan. 1 in the Missouri. Baron Odom, an is not the No. 1 team in Allstate Sugar Bowl.

OSU redshirt freshman, is the the Big Ten. Sports editor No. 16 West Virginia will nephew of Barry Odom, MisHallie Hart regrets these souri’s coach. Josh Henson, the match up with No. 20 Syracuse errors and apologizes for on Dec. 28 in the Camping Cowboys’ offensive line coach them. and a former offensive lineman World Bowl, in which the MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2018

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

ACROSS 1 “Agreed!”

5 Rose from a chair 10 Free ticket 14 Sicilian resort city 15 Houston baseballer 16 Salon coloring 17 Passenger train’s suitcase carrier 19 “Otello” solo 20 Single-celled creature 21 “Platoon” setting, briefly 23 Texter’s soul mate 24 Former Yankee manager Joe 25 Turned down an invitation 28 Victorian, for one 29 Puerto Rico, to the U.S. 31 Harlem Renaissance author Zora __ Hurston 32 Hissing sound 33 Jets or Sharks, in “West Side Story” 35 Filled completely 36 Guy acting more maturely 39 Some corporate jets 42 Japan is in it 43 Actress Ryan 46 Prenatal test, for short 47 U. of Maryland athlete 49 Affirmative vote 50 Cross between a Boston terrier or boxer and a beagle 53 In one’s stomach 55 French summer 56 Pub pint filler 57 America’s has 100 seats 58 Euros replaced them in Italy 60 Carriage outings 63 Tied, as a game 64 Continental divide?

65 Jazzman Allison 66 Cincinnati team 67 Golfer’s “pitching” iron 68 Art Deco icon

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12/3/18

By Kurt Krauss

DOWN 1 Arguments with teams 2 Captivates 3 Some woolen sweaters 4 Bar beer 5 Story spanning generations 6 Mao __-tung 7 Like stocks not sold on an exch.

8 Sumatran ape 9 Hip-hop headgear 10 “Everychild. onevoice” org.

11 Everglades transport 12 Nasal cold symptom 13 Supplied with personnel 18 Assist with a heist 22 Brainy bunch 25 Sonia of “Moon Over Parador” 26 Che Guevara’s first name 27 Campus bigwig 30 It’s often broken at breakfast 34 “Peer Gynt Suite” composer

Saturday’s Puzzle Solved

©2018 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

36 Naval hoosegow 37 Sicily, to Sicilians 38 Scratch or dent 39 Shipping department gizmo 40 Like tearjerkers 41 Made irate 43 Fighter with a cape 44 Exam that involves reading letters

12/3/18

45 Rochester brewery or its river 48 Jury member 51 Curved macaroni shape 52 A trey beats it 54 Cartoon genre 57 “Auld Lang __” 59 “Star Trek” rank: Abbr.

61 H.S. equivalency exam 62 Prank PAGE 6

h o ros cop e

Daily Horoscope

By Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency

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12/3/18

Solution to Saturday’s puzzle

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9.

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk

© 2018 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2018

Available throughout campus in print MWF, inside the Stillwater News Press TWF

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Today’s Birthday (12/03/18). Set long-term plans this year.

Satisfaction comes with disciplined financial management.

Navigate unexpected work and health circumstances. Winter brings a financial bonus, before new educational horizons call.

Summer profits benefit collaborative efforts, leading you to pursue other income sources. Love feeds your spirit.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Attend to shared finances today and tomorrow. New income is possible. Make a delightful discovery. Count your blessings. Visualize perfection.

It could get blissful.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 9 -- Develop strong partners today and tomorrow. Invent a sweet collaboration.

Stay flexible with unexpected interruptions. Follow your heart.

Romance is a distinct possibility.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is an 8 -- There’s plenty of work over the next few days. The pace quickens. Maintain health and fitness routines for energy and strength. Your heart grows stronger.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Love blossoms.

Discover someone fascinating. Reserve time for fun today and tomorrow. Weave beauty and harmony into a romantic adventure. Creative arts flower.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Take care of home and family. The gentle approach works best. Start from a point of balance. Share your love, energy and talents.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- You’re especially brilliant for a few days. Get into an intensive learning phase. Study new developments. Write your discoveries and perspectives.

Creative expression flows.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Compute expenses and income. Produce valuable services, and generate satisfying results. Focus on making money today and tomorrow. Form an unlikely connection.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- Use your power responsibly. Take advantage of a two-day self-confident phase.

You’re creating a buzz; don’t overlook a friend’s support. Share the love.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 6 -- Concentrate on clean up over the next few days. Organize and plan what’s next.

Find a peaceful spot for introspection and contemplation. Your greatest strength is love.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is an 8 -- Confer with allies today and tomorrow. Your friends are your inspiration.

Conversations provide insight, solutions and resources. Share and contribute for a common cause.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Consider new career opportunities over the next few days. Begin a testing period. Compete for more responsibilities. If you focus, winning is a distinct possibility.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Get into an adventurous phase. Conditions are better for travel over the next two days. New opportunities present themselves. Discover unexpected beauty.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2018

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