Value News June 2014 Rogers County

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What’s Happening on Page 18!

VOL 21 ISSUE 6

JUNE 2014

ROGERS COUNTY NE Oklahoma’s Leading Consumer Newspaper

Feel the Call Golf for Youth to Foster?

The 11th annual Steaks & Sticks Golf Tournament benefitting the Claremore Zebra Sports Foundation and Rogers County Youth Services will be Friday, June 20.

TFI Family Connections offers extensive training and continued support to foster parents. By Carol Beck-Round

Imagine you are a child who has been abused or neglected in the only home you have ever known. Suddenly, you are taken from your “nest” by those who claim they want to help you – but it doesn’t feel that way when you are placed in strange living surroundings and even into a new school. The home you knew before may not have seemed welcoming, but neither does the new world you’ve just entered. And to make it even worse, you have no control over the situation and none of it is your fault. Unfortunately, this is all too common a scenario for

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Kyle Becker and Jason Cecil of TFI Family Connections.

children who are removed from their homes for their own protection. According to Jason Cecil and Kyle Becker of TFI Family Connections, their organization works hard to change all of that, with priorities of restoring families and keeping children in foster homes in their home areas. But the biggest obstacle facing the achievement of this goal is a lack of foster homes. “In the last year in Tulsa County, for example, 1,700 children have been removed from their homes,” said Cecil. “But there are currently only 217 foster homes available.” Becker attributes part of this problem to the fear and misunderstanding that often surround these children’s situations. “Foster care has a lot of negative stigma associated with it, but we’ve found that people who get involved as foster parents realize that these children are not at fault and have just come out of bad situations of abuse and neglect,” said Becker. “They just need a home to care for them and someone to stay with.” The foster care system in Oklahoma was previously regulated by DHS, but due to recent legislative changes, the agency now works hand in hand with the privately owned TFI Family (continued on page 28)

By Lorrie Ward

In June, two organizations will once again join forces to tee off on the golf course and raise awareness for important programs that have a great impact on our

Steaks & Sticks committee members (L to R): Carolyn Swopes, Bret McGuire, Sean Cox, Dave Bethea, Herb McSpadden and Delayna Trease.

(This is a geo-demographic mailing list and delivered to homes in Mid-Town and South Tulsa.)

Bixby, Jenks Glenpool & Sapulpa 23,528 homes Bixby- 74008–7,287 Glenpool–74033–3,753 Jenks–74037–5,071 Sapulpa–74066–7,417

(continued on page 28)

Ballard Brings Experience and Leadership Matt Ballard seeks the position of district attorney of District 12. By Lorrie Ward

Experience and leadership: these are two qualities that Claremore attorney, former prosecutor, and Republican Matt Ballard hopes to bring to the office of district attorney of the twelfth district, which includes Rogers, Mayes and Craig Counties. “I believe the focus of the district attorney’s office should be on putting criminals behind bars and standing up for the constitutional and God-given rights of law abiding citizens,” said Ballard. “It is the responsibility of the district attorney to be the people’s voice in the courtroom and to bring justice to those who break our laws. I will not waiver from these funda(continued on page 28)

www.valuenews.com South Tulsa 37,533 homes

community. The Claremore Zebra Sports Foundation and Rogers County Youth Services are proud to present the 11th annual Steaks & Sticks Golf Tournament on

Friday, June 20 at Claremore’s Heritage Hills Golf Course. The tournament features a four-person scramble. Individuals and businesses can get involved by playing in the tournament (by entering a four-person team for $300 or as an individual for $75), or by donating to a sponsorship. The cost of individual and team entries includes breakfast and lunch. Many sponsorship opportunities are available including: Hole Sponsor, Breakfast Sponsor, Corporate Sponsor and Radio Sponsor. The radio sponsorship includes airtime in which you speak with radio hosts and promote your business. Funds are used to further the missions and goals of both sponsoring organizations, each of which are dedicated to benefiting the youth of Rogers County. “This tournament helps RCYS bridge the gap that is not provided for through state and area grants,” says Steve Blahut,

Paid Mailing Circulation

Owasso/Collinsville 18,531 homes Owasso–74055–12,155 Collinsville–74021–6,376

Rogers County 23,257 homes Claremore–74017–9,004 74019–6,268 Catoosa–74015–2,592 Chelsea–74016–1,785 Inola–74036–2,167 Oologah–74053–1,441

Broken Arrow 34,147 homes 74011–9,515 74012–19,151 74014–5,481

Matt Ballard hopes to bring his extensive experience and leadership abilities to the office of district attorney. Here he is pictured with supporters at the recent Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event supporting Safenet Services.


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