The Oklahoma Publisher Official Publication of the Oklahoma Press Association
www.OkPress.com Vol. 89, No. 5 www.Facebook.com/okpress 12 Pages • May 2018
INSIDE Register for OPA Convention at the Grand ONF AUCTION: Donate an The Oklahoma Press Asso- Musselman Award and several item for this ONF fundraising ciation’s annual convention is other awards. OPA CONVENTION SPEAKERS event. Auction will be held during going to the Grand – the Grand After lunch, keynote speaker OPA Convention, June 15-16 Hotel & Resort in Shawnee. Jason Taylor will present “Think at the Grand Hotel & Resort in The June 15-16 convention Big and Deliver Results.” Tay- Shawnee. provides great opportunities for lor, who is well-known for his PAGE 3 networking and presentation inspirational and motivational of awards to newspaper profes- presentations, will share suc- NOMINATING sionals in Oklahoma. cess stories that you can take COMMITTEE: The OPA Oklahoma’s 2018 guberna- home and use. Nominating Committee met in torial candidates have been Taylor is president of Gate- Oklahoma City to recommend invited to join OPA members House Media Western US Pub- a new slate of offi cers and on Friday for a moderated ques- lishing Operations, and Presi- directors for 2018-2019. tion-and-answer session. dent of GateHouse Live! Events. JASON TAYLOR BILL OSTENDORF RYAN DOHRN PAGE 5 Other Friday events include He is a highly rated speaker and an ice cream social and the trainer who has presented his WILDFIRES: Newspaper always popular News Flash ses- ideas at more than 65 industry coverage of wildfires in western sion. and related conferences. Oklahoma. Bill Ostendorf, an experi- Saturday’s concurrent ses- OPA CONVENTION SPONSORS PAGE 8 enced newsroom editor and sions will be led by Ostendorf president of Creative Circle and Ryan Dohrn, founder of Media Solutions, will talk about media sales strategy firm Brain print innovations and what you Swell Media. can do to resuscitate your print Ostendorf’s three sessions products in a session titled are “10 of the Dumbest Mis- “Print Isn’t Dead.” takes Newspapers Make – and Put on your favorite Hawai- Why We Make Them,” “New ian shirt for the Welcome Luau Content Strategies” and “Why Dinner Friday night, which Facebook and Google Are Not includes some fun luau themed Our Friends.” games. Dohrn will discuss “Six Ways Saturday starts with the to Sell Web and Digital Like event you don’t want to miss – a Boss,” “20-Minute Sales Pre- the Blooper Breakfast. Enjoy a sentation” and “45 Media Sales breakfast buffet and some good Tips in 45 Minutes.” DONATE TO ONF to receive laughs to start the day. The Awards Banquet begins this Will Rogers print. Details at Next up is the Congressio- at 7:00 p.m. and features the OkPress.com/will-rogers. nal Q&A session. Oklahoma’s presentation of the Milt Phillips congressmen – Sen. Jim Inhofe, Award and the 2017 OPA Better Sen. James Lankford, Rep. Tom Newspaper Contest Awards. Cole, Rep. Frank Lucas, Rep. Register for the convention Markwayne Mullin and Rep. by May 31 to take advantage of Steve Russell – have all been the Early Bird rates. invited to attend. Complete information and Lunch includes recognition online registration is available of OPA past presidents, pre- at www.OkPress.com/conven- sentation of the ONF Beachy tion.
OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION CONVENTION June 15-16, 2018 • Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, Shawnee, OK Don’t miss this year’s convention speakers including Keynote Speaker JASON TAYLOR from GateHouse Media, BILL OSTENDORF of Creative Circle Media Solutions and RYAN DORHN from Brain Swell Media. In addition to educational sessions, the convention provides time for socializing at the Friday night Welcome Luau Dinner. Saturday morning begins with the Blooper Breakfast with awards being presented at lunch and dinner. NO ONE COVERS REGISTRATION & PROGRAM INFORMATION HOMETOWN NEWS AT WWW.OKPRESS.COM/CONVENTION LIKE OKLAHOMA NEWSPAPERS 2 The Oklahoma Publisher // May 2018 Oklahoma governor, DHS On that Oviolated Open Records Act An Oklahoma County district judge “At the core of this controversy is note… has ruled that the governor’s office and whether a delay in producing records Oklahoma Department of Public Safety in response to an open records request violated the state Open Records Act of over a year and a half to two years is when they did not respond to a Tulsa a failure to provide ‘prompt, reasonable’ World request for records in a “prompt access to the records,” Davis wrote in by Brian Blansett and reasonable” manner. her ruling. Publisher of the Tri-County Herald The case involves records requests The judge determined the requests 2017-2018 OPA President filed by Tulsa World and former World were not fulfilled promptly or reason- editor Ziva Branstetter within days after ably. Clayton Lockett’s marred execution on Robert Nelon, attorney for the World April 29, 2014. The lawsuit also sought and Branstetter, said at the time of The stench of a sewer in summer records related to the execution of the records request that the governor’s In communities like the ones we serve at the Tri-County Herald and Stroud Charles Warner. office used a first-in, first-out records American, life revolves around the school. Branstetter is now senior editor for request procedure. That system was Ballgames, band concerts, livestock shows. Fund-raisers. The pace seems to Reveal from The Center for Investiga- abandoned during the course of litiga- accelerate through the year until May, when the last ballgames are played and tive Reporting, a nonprofit based in tion. graduation is but a couple of days away. California. Nelon said that last year a section At the newspaper, the feeling is much like a starship coming out of hyper drive. The World, Branstetter and BH Media of the Open Records Act was amended After months of constant motion in a blurry world, we all blink and look around to Group sued Fallin and then-Public Safe- to suggest a queue system was not an wonder if we all made it ok. ty Commissioner Michael Thompson in appropriate way to handle requests. At a daily paper, with a larger staff and more frequent deadlines, the sense of December 2014 for allegedly violating “In no event may production of a summer being upon you is a little less profound and the daily routine changes less the Open Records Act. current request for records be unrea- in summer. DPS provided some records 11 sonably delayed until after completion Many decades ago, when I was a sports reporter at The Ada News, we observed months after the initial request, and of a prior records request that will take summer by basically taking a couple of months off. It probably violated some labor more documents in May 2016, two years substantially longer than the current laws, but our deal was that we’d work like sharecroppers during the high school after the initial request. The governor’s request,” the statute states. sports seasons, then skate from late May until August, when it was time to start office took 17 months to produce any The system should result in more work on the annual football section. records. effective response to public records After months of 60-hour weeks, we’d show up in the newsroom about 8 a.m., In her ruling, Judge Lisa Tipping questions, Nelon said. put out a couple of sports pages, make fun of the Cubs and then go play 36 holes Davis said that although the World’s Michael McNutt, communications of golf. You can work up a serious golfer’s tan doing that four or five afternoons a request was not formally denied, “it is director for the governor’s office, said week. uncontroverted that no documents were Gov. Mary Fallin has yet to determine Life was different when I was the publisher of a daily paper. Corporate confer- produced prior to the lawsuit being whether she would appeal the ruling. ence calls and near-constant budget forecasts didn’t slack off, so the only real way filed.” to observe summer was to wear Hawaiian shirts and put little umbrellas in the Diet Mtn. Dew. One of the best years of my professional life – except for one week – was the year I worked at the Sulphur Times-Democrat. The John family was wonderful to AG asks judge to allow cameras work for and I enjoyed Murray County. Life was good. Most days, I was the first one to the office and such was the case one July morning when I unlocked the door, stepped inside and thought: smells like in the courtroom during opioid trial someone’s sandwich died. Attorney General Mike Hunter has to further engage in this issue that has I propped open the door, thinking the smell would dissipate. It seemed to, a sent the state’s formal response to affected so many of our neighbors and little, until I opened the door to go down to the basement. Cleveland County District Judge Thad loved ones across the state. While we The stairwell erupted with a stench that was so bad you could almost see it. I Balkman in support of allowing journal- will respect Judge Balkman’s decision, banged the door shut, huffed a few times and went back in. ists to use cameras inside the courtroom we encourage him to allow cameras in In the off chance you’re eating this over a meal, I’ll skip the detailed description during the state’s 2019 trial against the the courtroom for this trial.” of what was in the basement and summarize by saying that a restaurant next to the nation’s leading opioid manufacturers. In the letter, Hunter wrote his office T-D had poured grease down its drain the previous Friday night. The response comes after Judge Balk- agreed with a 1981 attorney general It got to the sewer and hardened, backing up sewage from half of Sulphur into man asked all parties in the case at last opinion regarding the Open Meeting the T-D basement, where it simmered through an entire weekend of 100-degree month’s discovery hearing to respond Act. The opinion says cameras and tape temperatures. to a letter he received from an attorney recorders that improve accuracy in We managed to get the paper out ok that week, which I am sure is on a list representing The Oklahoma Publishing reporting on events may not be categori- somewhere of the top 10 achievements in history of newspapers. I never again ate Company requesting the judge allow cally barred from meetings. at that restaurant. In fact, I am still traumatized every time I drive by it. cameras in the courtroom during the “The ability to tape-record and video- So, whatever summer means to you – endurance golf, corporate conference trial. He gave the attorneys on both tape, film or photograph the proceedings calls, Hawaiian shirts – I hope you have a good one and don’t work next door to a sides 20 days to respond in writing of public bodies greatly enhances the restaurant. before ruling on the issue. accurate reporting of events transpiring Hunter went on record during the at such meetings and public interest in OPA CALENDAR OF EVENTS hearing in April, saying he fully sup- those events will be stimulated by news ported the admission of cameras in the accounts using the products of those courtroom during this trial. instruments,” the opinion says. OPA ANNUAL CONVENTION “Transparency and accountability There are no statutes or rules that Friday & Saturday, June 15 & 16, 2018. are important and allowing cameras in prohibit the use of cameras during trials. Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, Shawnee, Oklahoma the courtroom will provide both,” Hunt- District courts are allowed discretion in er said. “It’s equally important not to their admission. For more information on events, visit the OPA website at www.OkPress.com or contact Membership & deprive Oklahomans of the opportunity Meetings Director Christine Frank at (405) 499-0040, 1-888-815-2672 or email [email protected]. The Oklahoma Publisher // May 2018 3
The Gloria Fletcher named publisher of Tulsa World Oklahoma Gloria Fletcher will oversee newspapers in Oklahoma, World since Maud Lorton served as Publisher has been named Texas and Alabama. publisher in 1949. as the new presi- “We have tried to hire Gloria into “I do have to say, though, the idea
dent and publish- our company in the past, but never of returning to our home state and ISSN 1526-811X er of the Tulsa could quite get that done,” said Terry being closer to our family makes this Official Publication of the World. Kroeger, chairman and CEO of the move, well,… simply exceptional,” Oklahoma Press Association Fletcher, a Tulsa World’s parent company, BH Fletcher said. Woodward native, Media Group. “The lure of returning Fletcher is a graduate of the Uni- PUBLISHER will replace Bill to her home state made this an excep- versity of Oklahoma. She and her Mark Thomas Masterson Jr. Masterson announced tional fit and allowed us to be success- husband, Terry, have two adult sons, his resignation after serving as pub- ful in hiring her this time.” and will be relocating to Tulsa this [email protected] lisher since 2013 when the paper was Fletcher has over 33 years of summer. EDITOR purchased by BH Media. newspaper experience and has held Masterson, who has been in the Fletcher comes to the World after publisher positions at the Woodward newspaper business for 44 years, said Jennifer Gilliland serving as president of Sound Pub- News and the Enid News & Eagle. he and his wife, Julie, decided to take [email protected] lishing, Inc. in Everett, Washington. She also spent time working for CNHI some time to think about the next Along with her position at the Tulsa and GateHouse Media before joining chapter in their lives. OPA OFFICERS World, she will also take over as a vice Sound Publishing, Inc. She will be the Brian Blansett, President president of BH Media Group and second woman publisher of the Tulsa Tri-County Herald Ted Streuli, Vice President The Journal Record OPA members asked Rusty Ferguson, Treasurer ITC to hear newsprint The Cleveland American to donate items for Mark Thomas, ONF silent auction Executive Vice President Native American artist Enoch Kelly tariff testimony in July OPA DIRECTORS Haney’s work, commemorative U.S. Dayva Spitzer, Past President BY TONDA F. RUSH nies that will in turn accelerate a down- coins and OKC Philharmonic and POPS The Beckham County Record concert tickets. NNA | DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY ward spiral in newsprint markets. The case has attracted the attention Ray Dyer, El Reno Tribune Add artwork from some of our own, The critical date for the Stop Tariffs of many members of Congress, who including Oklahoma Publisher colum- on Printers and Publishers Coalition Mike Strain, Tulsa World have standing to testify in the ITC hear- nist Dr. Terry Clark, and that’s only a (STOPP), which is trying to roll back ing. John Denny Montgomery, few of the items donated to the Okla- tariffs imposed upon Canadian news- Letters to Commerce Secretary Wil- The Purcell Register homa Newspaper Foundation’s silent print shipments into the U.S., is July 17, bur Ross have emphasized their concern auction at the June convention. 2018. Mark Millsap, about the impact on newspapers and University sports memorabilia is also That’s the date when the Interna- The Norman Transcript communities. on the list, and the foundation hopes that tional Trade Commission (ITC) will hear NNA President Susan Rowell, pub- Zonelle Rainbolt, newspapers will also donate items. testimony from members of Congress, lisher of the Lancaster (SC) News, said Co-chairpersons of the fundraiser economists, paper producers and others The Cordell Beacon she believed the rising tide of alarm are foundation members Vicki Gourley, on whether tariffs are justified. Alan Herzberger, about newsprint prices and potential ONF vice president, and Barb Walter. The tariffs have been in place since shortages is unlike any she has experi- The Oklahoman If you have items to donate, email January as a result of two complaints enced. Walter at [email protected] or brought by the North Pacific Paper Co. “New threats to our ability to serve call 405-853-1320. (NORPAC) of Longview, Washington, local communities have become almost 3601 N. Lincoln Blvd. You can also contact the OPA office at in August 2017 alleging that Canadian a way of life in this business,” she said. Oklahoma City, OK 73105-5499 405-499-0020 or 1-888-815-2672 (toll-free suppliers receive unfair subsidies and “Community newspapers are made of (405) 499-0020 in Oklahoma). charge prices in the U.S. that are lower strong stuff and have found ways to cope Toll-Free in Oklahoma: Items may be delivered or sent to the than available in Canada. with the challenges aimed at us in recent (888) 815-2672 OPA building at 3601 N. Lincoln Blvd., The preliminary tariffs remain in years. We know our towns need us, and Oklahoma City, OK 73105, before June place until a final determination by the www.OkPress.com that makes us determined to cope with a 1, 2018. Commerce Department and ITC, which [email protected] climate of massive change. If you want to list a minimum bid is based upon the ITC’s formal investi- www.Facebook.com/OKPress “But without paper, we cannot print, amount on an item, let the OPA staff gation. Final action is expected by Sept. we cannot serve and we cannot play the SUBSCRIBE TO know that amount. 17, 2018. role assigned to us in the U.S. Constitu- THE OKLAHOMA PUBLISHER Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation The STOPP coalition, initiated by the tion. $12 PER YEAR members decided on the fundraiser News Media Alliance and joined by the “These tariffs are unjustified and we event at their last meeting. National Newspaper Association, com- believe that the economists who look at THE OKLAHOMA PUBLISHER (USPS 406- Funds will help the foundation con- prises community and large newspa- 920) is published monthly for $12 per year the market forces sweeping our land will tinue to support newspapers by offering pers, printers, suppliers and others, to by the Oklahoma Press Association, 3601 N. see that. workshops, as well as its sponsorship of oppose the tariff. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105-5499. “Our challenge today is to make sure Periodicals postage paid at Oklahoma City, the summer internship program. It alleges that NORPAC is trying to all stakeholders – from people in our OK. The foundation is a non-profit orga- manipulate trade laws for its own profit own business to members of Congress nization with a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt and that its action will cause a loss of POSTMASTER: Send address changes to – understand how grave this threat is.” status. jobs in newspapers and printing compa- THE OKLAHOMA PUBLISHER, 3601 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105-5499. 4 The Oklahoma Publisher // May 2018 Oklahoma photographer OPA-OSU presents scholarships honored with SPJ award
The Society of Professional Journal- ists has awarded an Oklahoma journal- ist with its prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award. David Bitton, photographer and reporter for the Stillwater News Press, won for best feature photography for daily newspapers, magazines and online sites with circulation under 100,000. The winning photo portrays Okla- homa State University student Alicia Johnson participating in a protest wear- after two social media posts within a ing tape over her mouth with the words week showed white students wearing “UNHEARD.” The protests took place black face. All five girls later apologized.” Recipients of the OPA-OSU Endowment Fund scholarships are Wade Huagen, Zach around the 2017 Martin Luther King Jr. This is the second time in three Hake, Hallie Hart, Gabe Gudgel, and Devin Lawrence Wilbert. National Holiday. years that Bitton has won a Sigma Delta “I am honored to be recognized with Chi Award. In 2015, he won Breaking Five students from Oklahoma State dler, Oklahoma. She is a sports media the Sigma Delta Chi Award,” Bitton said. News Photography for his photo of the University’s School of Media & Stra- major and the upcoming summer edi- “The photo of Alicia Johnson was made Oklahoma State University homecoming tegic Communications (SMSC) are tor-in-chief at The O’Colly. when she and about 50 other Oklahoma parade tragedy. the recipients of $5,000 each from the Huagen, a sophomore from Weath- State University students came together To view all 2017 winners, visit OPA-OSU Endowment Fund. erford, Oklahoma, is majoring in for a second day of peaceful protesting www.spj.org. The scholarships were presented sports media. April 18, 2018, in Stillwater. Wilbert is pursuing a double major Receiving the awards were, Gabe in strategic communication and sports Gudgel, Zach Hake, Hallie Hart, Wade media. Wilbert is from Julesburg, Col- FOI Oklahoma presents awards Huagen and Devin Lawrence Wilbert. orado. A long-time library executive, the tant DA, received the Sunshine Award, Gudgel is a junior majoring in stra- The OPA-OSU Print Journalism Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters which recognizes actions of a govern- tegic communication from Stillwa- Endowment Fund trust was created and an assistant Tulsa County district ment official or governmental body. Wil- ter. He serves as content creator at on Nov. 21, 1984, to support print attorney have been named recipients of son was recognized for stopping the Orange House Agency. journalism programs associated with FOI Oklahoma’s annual awards. Tulsa County Commission from con- Hake is a multimedia journalism SMSC. Seed money for the fund came The awards were presented May 5 ducting an apparent illegal executive major from The Woodlands, Texas. from a $100,000 donation to the OSU during a gubernatorial debate sponsored session. A junior, Hake will serve as editor-in- journalism school from Paul Miller by the organization at the University of The group also presented its Black chief of The O’Colly this fall. and matched by members of the Okla- Central Oklahoma’s Constitution Hall. Hole recognition to Sheriff P.D. Taylor Hart is a sophomore from Chan- homa Press Association. Kay Boies, who led the Oklahoma for his refusal to release records and Library Association as its executive emails that The Oklahoman said could director for 34 years, received FOI’s shed light on how a dozen inmates died prestigious Marion P. Opala First in the Oklahoma County jail. Enid News & Eagle, The Journal Record Amendment Award. FOI Oklahoma is a statewide orga- The Ben Blackstock Award, recogniz- nization that for nearly 30 years has receive top honors in AP-ONE contest ing a member of the public or a public promoted education of the First Amend- body, went to the Oklahoma Association ment and openness in government. This The Enid News & Eagle and The Among smaller newspapers, the Tahle- of Broadcasters for its long and success- was the 11th year for the awards. For Journal Record in Oklahoma City won quah Daily Press finished second and ful fight for the release of the Joe Mixon more information on FOI Oklahoma, go the general excellence categories in the the Altus Times was third. video from the City of Norman. to its website, foioklahoma.org. 2017 Associated Press-Oklahoma News Journalists from AP news organiza- Doug Wilson, a Tulsa County assis- Executives contest. The best new jour- tions in Alabama, Colorado, Idaho, Illi- nalist of the year was Jordan Bishop of nois, Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania the Stillwater News Press. and Utah judged the contest. The winners were announced Friday, There was no competition among Tulsa World, Oklahoman honored May 4. larger newspapers in this year’s round The Stillwater newspaper took sec- of judging. ond place in the general excellence A complete list of winners can be at Great Plains Awards on May 4 category for medium-sized newspapers, found at http://discover.ap.org/con- The Tulsa Press Club announced includes Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, while The Norman Transcript was third. tests/oklahoma-newspaper. winners of the 2018 Great Plains Jour- Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, North Dako- nalism Awards on May 4. ta and South Dakota. Tulsa World took home the highest More than 600 entries were received Christy Wheeland named Hometown Hero honor, earning the title Newspaper of this year, with winners and finalists the Year. named in 72 professional and student Christy Wheeland was honored as a news and sports in Wagoner County for The Great Plains Writer of the Year categories. Four student journalists Hometown Hero by Modern Woodmen more than 31 years while working for for 2018 is Josh Dulaney of The Oklaho- were awarded $1,500 scholarships of America. Wheeland is the news edi- the Coweta American, Wagoner Tribune man. named after former Tulsa Press Club tor at the Wagoner County American- and now the Wagoner County American- The Great Plains Journalism Awards president and ONEOK executive Dan Tribune. Tribune. is a regional contest honoring print, Harrison. The award was presented to honor Modern Woodmen is a fraternal finan- web, TV and magazine journalists for For a complete list of winners in the her accomplishments and contributions cial services organization dedicated to outstanding stories, photography and contest, visit http://www.greatplains- to the communities she serves with improving the quality of life for families design. The eight-state competition awards.org/. the newspaper. Wheeland has covered and communities. The Oklahoma Publisher // May 2018 5 Committee meets to recommend OPA offi cers The Oklahoma Press Association who are still active as newspaper execu- The committee also recommended Nominating Committee met March 29, tives and the current OPA president. the renewal of a three-year director term THANK 2018, to discuss the slate of officers and The committee reviewed the OPA By- for Mark Millsap, The Norman Tran- directors for 2018-2019. Laws, nominating committee structure, script. Recommended as a new director Attending were Chairman Jeff Mayo, board policies regarding board service to serve a three-year term was Shauna YOU Sequoyah County Times; Jeff Shultz, and the board positions to be filled by Belyeu, The Eufaula Indian Journal. Garvin County News Star; Jeff Funk, the committee. A general election for new officers Enid News & Eagle; Robby Trammell, Current OPA Vice President Ted and directors will be held at the annual The Oklahoman; Rod Serfoss, Clinton Streuli, The Journal Record, was recom- convention during the OPA business Daily News, and Brian Blansett, Tri- mended to serve as president. Ray Dyer, meeting at 1:00 p.m. Friday, June 15, at County Herald. Rusty Ferguson from El Reno Tribune, was recommended to the Grand Hotel & Resort in Shawnee. The Cleveland American was absent. serve as vice president, and Jeff Shultz, Nominations for officers and direc- The committee is comprised of the Garvin County News Star, was recom- tors may also be made from the floor. six most recent OPA past presidents mended to serve a one-year term as treasurer.
DEATHS to the following individuals SANDRA ‘SANDY’ HART, a former Okla- and later became managing editor of the She is survived by her husband Bob; and organizations for their homa journalist, died April 26, 2018. She Altus Times. son Jerry DeFord and wife Sherry of was 74. Hart and her family moved to El Goldsby; son Jeff Hart and wife Juli recent donations to the Hart was born Dec. 10, 1943, in Mon- Reno in 1984. She joined the staff of the of Walters; daughter Sherri Newport Oklahoma Newspaper roe, La. As a military child, she lived El Reno Tribune as advertising direc- and husband David of Peoria, Ariz.; Foundation: in various places including Nebraska, tor until Hart and her husband, Bob, and numerous grandchildren and great- Puerto Rico and Oklahoma. She gradu- opened their own printing company. grandchildren. ated from Altus High School in 1962 ANDY & KAREN RIEGER LIZ MCMAHAN, a longtime Oklahoma journalist who served the community the “Wagoner County Historical Note- journalist, died April 18, 2018. She was throughout her career,” said Muskogee book.” in memory of 71. Phoenix Executive Editor Ed Choate. Outside of her newspaper career, David Dary McMahan was born March 2, 1947, “I’m sure the journalism community McMahan was highly involved in the and was a lifelong Wagoner resident. will agree: Liz will be profoundly missed Wagoner community. She served as Her journalism career spanned over 40 personally and professionally. assistant director of the Wagoner City A donation to the Oklahoma years with stints at the Wagoner Tri- McMahan’s work earned her recog- Historical Museum, was a member of Newspaper Foundation will bune and Record Democrat, as stringer nition from United Press International, the Wagoner County Historical Society support its efforts to improve the for The Daily Oklahoman and Tulsa the Associated Press, Gannet and the and worked in inventory control for the state’s newspaper industry and Oklahoma Press Association. She was City of Wagoner. She also authored or World and as contributing writer for the quality of journalism. Coweta American and Wagoner County inducted into OPA’s Quarter Century co-authored seven books and booklets. American-Tribune. McMahan also had Club in 2009. She is survived by her husband ONF’s programs include training a nearly 20 year career at the Musk- She retired in 2009 but continued Larry; son James McMahan and wife and education for professional ogee Phoenix, which began in 1973 as working as a freelance contributor. Most Rose; daughter Susan McKinzie and recently, McMahan wrote regular his- husband Adam; and three grandsons. journalists, scholarship and a reporter. internship programs for “Liz was an excellent, dedicated torical columns for the Phoenix called journalism students, and Newspaper in Education efforts. FRED W. SMITH, a longtime employee Media Group newspaper as a classified his time and efforts on the development ONF relies on donations and at Donrey Media Group, died April 29, advertising salesman before moving up of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation 2018. He was 84. the ranks. and to oversee the operations of the memorial contributions to fund Smith was born Jan. 1, 1934, in Peno Smith moved to Nevada in 1960 when family business, Peno Bottom Partners. these programs. he was promoted to general manager of Smith is survived by his wife Maria; Bottoms, Okla. near Fort Smith, Ark. If you would like to make a Following his high school graduation, the Las Vegas Review Journal. During son Fred Wesley Smith, Jr. and wife Sta- he spent a short stint with the FBI in his 43 years at Donrey, Smith served cie; daughter Deborah Smith-Magness; donation, please send a check to: Washington D.C. before moving back as President, COO and CEO. When the son Dr. Jonathan P. Smith and wife to Fort Smith to begin his newspaper company sold, Smith continued working Amy; and four grandchildren and step- career. He worked at the local Donrey through the transition of ownership. He grandchildren. stayed one year before retiring to focus OKLAHOMA NEWSPAPER In Memory of Our Friends & Colleagues FOUNDATION Donn Dodd Herman Ray Wilson Gary Martin Smith William ‘Bill’ Brent Walter April 3, 2017 April 13, 2017 April 18, 2017 May 8, 2017 3601 N. Lincoln Blvd. Dorothy Jo Christy Doris Louise Ring Debra Durbin April 10, 2017 April 16, 2017 April 27, 2017 Oklahoma City, OK 73105 6 The Oklahoma Publisher // May 2018 THE OG&E PHOTO CONTEST
MARCH 2018 WEEKLY WINNER: KAYLEA HUTSON-MILLER The Grove Sun MARCH 2018 DAILY WINNER: BILLY HEFTON Ellie Jarvis, 3, of Bernice, reacts to the bubbles – made with dish washing soap, water and dry ice – during an Extreme Bubbles Spring Break Out event at Grand Lake State Park. Enid News & Eagle Photo by KAYLEA HUTSON-MILLER, The Grove Sun, March 23, 2018
The March 2018 contest was judged by a member of the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame. View all winning photos at www.OkPress.com/ OGE-Photo-Contest ENTER AND WIN A $100 CHECK FROM OGE ENERGY CORP. For more information about the photo contest, visit Seiling’s Karly Gore, Raylee Tautfest and Macy Gore celebrate winning the class A state www.okpress.com/oge-photo-contest championship as Frontier’s Shelby Black walks away at the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City. Tautfest finished with a game high 32 points. Photo by BILLY HEFTON, Enid News & Eagle, March 4, 2018
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The Northwest Oklahoman and Ellis County News received smoke and water damage in a fire that broke out on Main Street in Shattuck around 5 a.m. April 29. Two buildings were destroyed in the fire – a vacant build- ing located at the corner of Fourth and Main and the Pioneer Telephone office. “Pioneer was right next to our office,” said Jeff Schnoe- belen, who along with his father Tim Schnoebelen own the Northwest Oklahoman. The Schnoebelens are also publishers of the Mooreland Leader. Shattuck firefighters – assisted by firefighters from Gage, Woodward, Fargo, Arnett, Higgins, Texas, and Lipscomb, Texas – were able to keep flames from jumping to buildings located further north. “The Northwest Oklahoman building received heavy dam- age to the roof, smoke damage throughout the structure and water damage in multiple spots,” said Schnoebelen. The newspaper has temporarily relocated its office to the old theater building across the street at 304 South Main. “We will move back when the building is ready,” said Schnoebelen, “Hopefully in a few months.” Firefighters battle the blaze on Main Street in Shattuck, Oklahoma. Photo courtesy of The Mooreland Leader.
Board members meet in Meeker for annual OPA Board Retreat
OPA members Jeff Shultz, Garvin County News Star; Mike and Kay Strain, Tulsa World; Ted Streuli, The Journal Record; Shauna Belyeau, The Eufaula Indian Journal, and OPA President Brian Blansett, Tri-County Herald, tour the new North Rock Creek High School during the April 26-27 OPA Board Retreat.
OPA board member Zonelle Rainbolt, The Cordell Kay and Mike Strain, Tulsa World, tour The At the construction site of the new North Rock Creek High School Beacon, and OPA Vice President Ted Streuli, The Marketplace of Meeker restaurant during are Alan Herzberger, The Oklahoman, and Mark Millsap, The Norman Journal Record, at the OPA Board Retreat. the OPA Board Retreat. Transcript. 8 The Oklahoma Publisher // May 2018 Wildfi re coverage in western Oklahoma
2A SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 2018 THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM
Inside today! Up to STATE Teen birth rates (Total births per 1,000 females ages 15-19) ‘Dublin’ CONTINUED FROM 1A 1. Arkansas 34.6 As Oklahomans, we Clark’s Critique the fun 2. Oklahoma 33.4 brag about a state stan- Oklahoma City dard of generosity we like 3. Mississippi 32.6 to claim as uniquely our had two parades 4. Texas 31 by Terry M. Clark Saturday celebrating $519 own. St. Patrick’s Day. In times of crisis we 5. Kentucky 30.9 rally. We extend a hand 46. New Jersey 11 Page 19A to the less fortunate. We in valuable coupons! 47. Vermont 10.3 Journalist support each other. Oklahomans help 48. Connecticut 9.4 Oklahomans. 49. New Hampshire 9.3 But in too many ways [email protected] and by too many mea- 50. Massachusetts 8.5 sures Oklahoma is failing. National average 24.2 In areas of criminal jus-
tice, health, poverty and THE OKLAHOMAN GRAPHICS SOURCE: CENTERS FOR DISEASE education, the state is in CONTROL AND PREVENTION @okieprof crisis, ranking among the Sunday, March 18, 2018 REACHING MORE THAN 475,000 PEOPLE EACH DAY NEWSOK.COM • OKLAHOMAN.COM worst — if not the worst $3 in the nation. Rate of child deaths Consider: Bob Waldrop leads volunteers at the Dorothy Day Center before making deliveries of food (Ages 1 to 14) per 100k residents STATE OF OKLAHOMA Oklahoma imprisons to low-income residents in Oklahoma City. [PHOTO BY BEN FELDER, THE OKLAHOMAN] more women than any 1. Alaska 27 other state and is on pace the nation for the level West Virginia 27 to pass Louisiana as the of mental health fund- Life expectancy age state that imprisons the ing, resulting in a short- 3. Mississippi 26 greatest percentage of age of service providers 50. Mississippi 74.91 4. Arkansas 25 its population, a cycle of and mental health facili- 49. Alabama 75.65 Oklahoma 25 “An Armageddon Sky” screamed the mass incarceration that ties that places a burden Short of the Standard fractures thousands of on families, law enforce- 48. Louisiana 75.82 National Average 16 families, stretches the ment and others. 47. West Virginia 76.03 state’s foster care system “After a while, your From the editor: 46. Oklahoma 76.09 THE OKLAHOMAN GRAPHICS SOURCE: THE ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION and strains the state bud- mind becomes numb to 45. Arkansas 76.18 headline in the Woodward News after We don’t stack of a pickup. I’ve seen neighbor get. these depressing stats up well in Okla- helping neighbor. Only in Arkansas are and your heart despairs 44. Kentucky 76.26 Highest incarceration rate teenagers more likely that things will ever get homa. You’ve seen it too. We know 43. Tennessee 76.33 We find our- what to do when disaster to give birth than in better,” lamented Jim by state (per 100K residents) selves too many strikes. Though we know how Oklahoma. Children Priest, CEO of Sunbeam 42. South Carolina 76.89 the wildfires, the standout of many this times at the bot- to push ourselves, our energy born to teen moms are Family Services, in a 41. Georgia 77.38 1. Louisiana 776 more likely to drop out column for The Oklaho- tom of the list. for excellence wanes when the man 40. Indiana 77.69 2. Oklahoma 715 I enjoy a good laugh, but I find sun is brightly shining. of school, become teen on the importance of 3. Alabama 611 little humor when I hear the Over the next several months, parents themselves and investing in the organiza- National average 79.08 words, “Thank God for Missis- we will take a closer look at remain trapped in low- tions working to reverse 4. Mississippi 609 wage employment. these and other negative month. Here is Rachael Van Horn’s pow- sippi,” when we come in at 49 some of our poor national rank- THE OKLAHOMAN GRAPHICS SOURCE: INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH 5. Arizona 596 and they come in at 50. ings. We will ask questions and Countering a national trends. METRICS AND EVALUATION It’s time to hold up a mirror. try to bring context to our poor trend, the percentage of Today, Oklahoma leads National average 458 As a state, perhaps a little self- performance indicators. Why Oklahoma women seek- the nation for the per- ing prenatal care contin- centage of students who Heart disease death rate examination is in order. are we near last? How did we THE OKLAHOMAN GRAPHICS SOURCE: THE SENTENCING PROJECT, erful lead: “It’s a long drive west from Rankings. We know how to get there? Who can we learn ues to decline, increasing qualify for free and Per 100k residents U.S. BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS cheer our sports teams to top from? How can we all help? the health risk for mother reduced-price lunches ranks. But when it comes to At the same time, we will and baby. Only Alaska, and schools are the pri- 50. Mississippi 233.1 some of the lowest rankings in introduce you to Oklahomans West Virginia and Mis- mary source of food for 49. Oklahoma 228.2 Diabetes death rate sissippi have a higher rate too many children. the country around education, who are pushing themselves to 48. Arkansas 223.7 Per 100k residents Seiling to Vici. And when that whole health, incarceration, mental make our state better. Okla- of children die between That hunger, educators the ages of one and 14. say,in part, helps account 47. Alabama 222.5 health and substance abuse, homans who push to bring our 50. West Virginia 34.8 there is more complacency rankings up. Oklahomans who Too many Oklahomans for why a majority of stu- 46. Louisiana 213.1 are overweight, get little dents score below pro- 49. Mississippi 31.9 than cheering. Almost an eerie truly care. National average 197.2 atmosphere of “that’s good Collectively we must do physical activity or lead ficient in nearly every 48. Oklahoma 30.8 enough.” more than throw up our hands otherwise-unhealthy state-required test. INSULIN drive is charred black and blowing bare THE OKLAHOMAN GRAPHICS SOURCE: CDC/NATIONAL CENTER 47. Kentucky 28.4 But is it? Do we really accept and complain. We must find lifestyles. Oklahoma Since 2008, no other FOR HEALTH STATISTICS coming in near last? Can we momentum. ranks among the five state has cut more money 46. New Mexico 27.2 expect more from our elected Some rankings can be boosted worst states for heart dis- to its public schools. National average 24.7 officials? Can we expect more by legislation. Some can be ease, diabetes and deaths “All this stuff is con- Adults suffering from from ourselves? boosted by stronger personal from drugs and cancer, nected,” said Laura Lang, THE OKLAHOMAN GRAPHICS SOURCE: CDC/NATIONAL CENTER like the floor of Death Valley, it’s even leading to thousands of CEO of Thrive OKC, an serious mental illness FOR HEALTH STATISTICS I’ve seen Oklahomans push responsibility. We hope you themselves. I’ve seen first will join us as we hold a mirror premature deaths. organization tackling the responders keep pushing until to our state. Put simply, Oklaho- high teen pregnancy rate 1. West Virginia 5.48 percent everyone is accounted for Let’s push ourselves to find mans die younger, three in central Oklahoma. 2. Oklahoma 5.24 percent Public school revenue and safe. I’ve seen churches solutions. years earlier than the To be sure in some 3. Washington 5.14 percent per student longer.” organize around families and national average, the fifth areas, the state can point Utah 5.14 percent keep pushing until everyone in Kelly Fry worst gap among states. to economic gains over 51. Idaho need of food or shelter is cared Editor/ And good health care the last few decades 5. Arkansas 5.07 percent 50. Arizona for. I’ve seen volunteers push Vice President can be hard to find. and Oklahoma City has National average: 3.97 percent Bob Waldrop, right, and other volunteers at the Dorothy Day Center, load grocery sacks with food before toward a disaster and take vic- of News The state ranks sec- undergone a transforma- 49. Utah $ [PHOTO BY BEN FELDER, THE OKLAHOMAN] “Western Oklahoma burning,” making deliveries. tims to the hospital in the back ond-to-last in the nation tion that has drawn the THE OKLAHOMAN GRAPHICS SOURCE: SAMHSA, CENTER FOR BEHAVIORAL 48. Nevada in the percentage of pri- attention of cities near HEALTH STATISTICS AND QUALITY mary care providers and and far attempting to 47. Oklahoma Oklahomans help their own, but by some measures the state is falling behind last in the nation in phy- replicateitsurban renais- and economic develop- be endangered without 46. Mississippi sician-to-patient ratio. sance. ment if the poor metrics a skilled and qualified *List includes Washington, D.C. headlined The Cheyenne Star and The BY BEN FELDER “I need some help with these sweet potatoes,” says Only Texas and Alaska, Both Oklahoma City don’t reverse. workforce to fuel them. Staff Writer Waldrop, looking for a few extra hands to help him MORE ONLINE has a higher percent- and Tulsa are included Investments in coveted “Do we think this is just THE OKLAHOMAN GRAPHICS SOURCE: NATIONAL EDUCATION [email protected] separate rotten spuds sprinkled among the mountain- age of residents without on Forbes’ list of the top industries like aerospace ASSOCIATION RESEARCH, 2016 ous batch. One can hardly look at where health insurance. 10 cities for young entre- and biotechnology could SEE STATE, 3A Shaggy white beard Taters that pass the eye, touch and smell test are Oklahoma fi ts into national rankings Oklahoma residents preneurs, and Oklahoma Beckham County Record, grabbing the hanging over his split among the sacks that already hold pinto beans, without asking a simple question – Who suffer from diseases such City appears again on a denim overalls, Bob dry pasta, peanut butter and other kitchen staples. are we? To watch a related video, go as schizophrenia, major list of cities with the fast- THE OKLAHOMAN Waldrop gazes into a Within the hour, the volunteers, who gather once online to Oklahoman.com. depression, bipolar, anx- est wage growth. large cardboard box every four weeks, load the sacks in their cars and iety disorder and other But now even those and knows he’ll need trucks and drive off to distribute the food to homes severe mental illnesses advances could be in OUR PURPOSE STATEMENT essence of the major state news story for reinforcements. across the city. at a rate higher than any jeopardy as state lead- Amid an ever changing world, We strive to create real value for our customers and advertisers by: A steady rain For about 420 of the city’s most-impoverished fam- compassion and generosity are the kind of traits native state other than West ers have groused that one uplifted by achievement 1. Serving as the fabric of our communities and their various interests. drums off the tin roof ilies the delivery will be the only source of food for the Oklahomans often champion as some of the state’s Virginia. Meanwhile, Oklahoma risks undoing yet rife with disappointment, of the Dorothy Day month. Another 1,000 calls to the group for assistance best natural resources. the state ranks 46th in recent gains in business 2. Ensuring a voice for those who need one. Center in northwest will go unmet, Waldrop said. The work of the center is a depiction of two narra- we create a brand new suite 3. Safeguarding our fellow citizens by exposing corruption and injustice. the last half of April as almost 300,000 Oklahoma City and Waldrop manages volunteers at the Dorothy Day tives that have come to define Oklahoma — compas- of products every day with an 4. Providing valuable results for our advertisers. around Waldrop a couple dozen volunteers scurry Center, which is operated by St. Charles Borromeo sion and need. Mental health funding overriding principle in mind: 5. Fostering communities of well-informed citizens. about filling hundreds of paper grocery sacks spread Catholic Church, where Waldrop also plays the organ. (amount per capita) We are Oklahomans. Our SEE STATE, 2A per capita 6. Promoting opportunities for fun and interaction. across the floor with donated food. “I can’t feed the entire city,” said Waldrop, whose goal is to help make our state 7. Helping lead change when change is needed. 51. Idaho $36.64 a better place to live, work acres burned in one deadly fire, among This is our commitment to you, and ourselves. 50. Texas $38.99 and raise a family. 49. Florida $39.55 Years-long struggle Despite frustration, 48. Arkansas $42.02 The Oklahoman®, The Daily Oklahoman®, Oklahoma City Times®, The Sunday Oklahoman® and OPUBCO® are registered trademarks of The Oklahoma Publishing Co. others. precedes walkout 47. Georgia $46.54 House likely to look 46. Oklahoma $53.05 CUSTOMER SERVICE, 405-478-7171 To buy a classified ad, call 475-3000. BY BEN FELDER 5. New York $256.31 Toll free: 877-987-2737 To reach advertising, call 475-3338. Staff Writer INSIDE TODAY 4. Pennsylvania $280.78 the same next year Website: www.oklahoman.com/account [email protected] 3. Alaska $310.01 To reach the News and Information Center, call 475-3231. Western Oklahoma newspapers, How will school For same day redelivery of missed copies in Metro Oklahoma Now in her 23rd year sports be affected if BY CHRIS CASTEEL McCall and the top three 2. Maine $346.92 City, call by 10 a.m. Missed deliveries must be reported within To request reprint permission of newspaper and online content, or to buy a photo or page reprint, call 475-3676. of teaching, Kim Mor- the state’s teachers Staff Writer members of his Republi- 1. Washington D.C. $360.57 2 days to receive adjustments to your account. ris is working in condi- go on strike? [email protected] can leadership team. tions she couldn’t imag- SPORTS, PAGE 1B In all, 40 of the 57 SOURCE: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM WEEKLY SUBSCRIPTION RATES small and large, covered the story both ine when she started her Despite talk of wide- House Republicans seek- DIRECTORS RESEARCH INSTITUTE The Oklahoman (USPS 144-700) career. spread dissatisfaction ing another term do not is published Monday-Sunday by Home delivery Mail Digital Editions: Daily and Sun. $10.00 Mon.-Sun. $14.30 Mannford Early Child- curriculum and had to with the Oklahoma Leg- have an opponent who The Oklahoma Publishing Co., $9.99 per month hood Center, where leave her position as a islature, three quarters of has registered with the Percentage of residents 100 W. Main, Suite 100, Daily only $8.05 Sun. only $11.51 online at Morris teaches prekin- first-grade teacher last the House members run- Oklahoma Ethics Com- without health insurance Oklahoma City, OK 73102-9025. Sun., Sun. Plus (including Wed.) $8.00 Mon.-Sat. $11.44 Oklahoman.com. in breaking news, and in the aftermath, dergarten, sets the ther- year when the school ning for re-election have mission. Candidates Single copy: $1.50 daily, Weekend, Weekend Plus $8.10 Weekend $11.58 Sunday $3. Periodicals Postage mostat at 63 degrees and reduced staff. yet to draw a challenger. must register when they Sunday, weekend subscriptions include delivery in 2018: Jan. 1, Feb. 19, March 26, April 16, May 28, June 18, July 2, Aug. 20, 50. Texas 16.6 percent Paid in Oklahoma City, OK. leaves many lights turned “This is enough,” Mor- Kim Morris, a prekindergaten teacher at Mannford Early Among those who have raised or spent Sept. 3, Oct. 8, Nov. 22 and Dec. 25. Of these dates, Thanksgiving Day’s delivery, Nov. 22, will be charged at the Sunday Postmaster: Send address off throughout the day to ris said. “I live to get up Childhood Center, speaks March 8 during a media confer- don’t have opponents are $1,000. 49. 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Florida 13.3 percent Volume 127, 77 | 6 sections TODAY’S PRAYER Business 1C Opinion 14A Weather, 22A CUSTOMER SERVICE National average 8.6 percent OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCURACY Copyright 2018 Classifi ed 1E Puzzles in Comics Holy God, with thankful hearts Online: The Oklahoma Publishing Co., The Oklahoman seeks to investigate and correct any factual error that appears in the newspaper or online. If you see an item Deaths 20A Sports 1B SHOWERS we boldly proclaim Your good- oklahoman.com/account Oklahoma City THE OKLAHOMAN GRAPHICS SOURCE: US CENSUS AMERICAN papers. Life 1D Stocks 5C COMMUNITY SURVEY, 2016 that may require a correction, please contact the appropriate reporter or editor. Or, go to NewsOK.com/home/support. ness and mercy. Amen. H: 64 L: 45 Phone: 405-478-7171 All rights reserved The Dewey County Record devoted most of three straight front pages to the disaster, including a dramatic photo vice dominated Chad Waters’ full-page City News, Jim Perry. “Local firefight- On page two were charts of those behind its flag, with solid reporting by coverage on evacuations in the Watonga ers go where needed,” The Hooker poor rankings that the paper will report Kevin Farr and Lia Hillman, also writing Republican, The Geary Star and The Hin- Advance, Sheila Blankenship. on: life expectancy, heart disease deaths, for The Canton Times and The Hennessey ton Record. The Moreland Leader devoted • Newspapers reporting firefighters child deaths, highest incarceration rate, Clipper, “Historic wildfire rages across a half page to the fires. “Firefighters arriving from elsewhere – Atoka diabetes death rate, adults suffering NW Oklahoma.” battle blazes across western Oklahoma,” County Times; The Konawa Leader, from mental illness, teen birth rates, Other papers all the way to the other headlined the Woods County Enterprise. Seminole Producer, Kori Little, “Fire- public school revenue per student, men- side of the state reported as more than At the Woodward News, Rachael Van fighters Join Western Oklahoma tal health and substance abuse, decreas- 500 local firefighters traveled to assist, Horn, Johnny McMahan and Alyssa Wildfire Battle”; McCurtain Daily ing graduation rates. labeled “fire warriors” by The Country Lee provided excellent daily writing and Gazette; The Shawnee News-Star; The This is the kind of journalistic leader- Connection News, with large photo and photography. The Enid News & Eagle Ardmoreite, Ari James, “No rest for ship newspapers are supposed to pro- map. reported on evacuations, and a Fairview the West”; Stillwater News Press, Tim vide their communities and democracy. Dominating coverage were dramatic church providing relief story by Ryan Ahrens, “Facing the fire.” And a great source of stories for other up-close local photos from the Okla- Miller. Other angles? Stilwell Democrat Jour- papers to localize in their counties and homa Forestry Service, maps, stories The scope of the fires took most of nal’s Sean Hubbard on a fire cause. towns. about homes destroyed, donations to the front page of The Oklahoman, Matt “Redcedar trees increase the trouble Headlines worth mentioning. fire departments, truckloads of hay, Dinger reporting, Jim Beckel photog- with wildfires.” His lead: “It has more “McCurtain woman accidentally drought, weather and more on the wide- rapher. than four letters, but redcedar is almost sends out nude photos to lots of people.” ranging effects of the fire. The impact on the entire state? “Ag always considered a bad word.” The Meant for her boyfriend, but was up for Some of the coverage, in no particu- industry reeling from massive wild- Allen Advocate showed a truckload of 58 seconds and went viral. McCurtain lar order: fires,” summed up The Journal Record’s hay headed west. Others reported on Daily Gazette. My favorite photo was black-and- coverage by Brian Brus. the imported hay bringing fire ants. “Storm rains bad luck on Friday 13,” white, because of the guts it took to get Smoke filled the skies east of I-35. Carried over from last month Poteau Daily News, Amanda Corbin that close, in the The Vici Vision, a cour- Rolf Clements shot a smoky sunset for because of space: Salute to The Oklaho- event story. tesy photo of a smoke-filled sky right The Ponca City News, and The Norman man and Editor Kelly Dyer Fry for what Headlines from last month: before the fire destroyed a home. Head- Transcript headlined “Smoke on the I think is a first in Oklahoma journalism. The Lone Grove Ledger. “Trouble in line on Jennifer McCormick’s story: Prairie” of a downtown photo by Cody In March, her front-page letter to the West Wing.” About resignations at “Historic Dewey County fire burns 30 Giles. readers, headlined “Short of the Stan- city hall. Fourth paragraph: “It’s as if homes.” Other fires claimed homes and build- dard,” introduced a several-month look the west wing of the White House has Dramatic photos by Drew Spitzer at ings, well covered by Rick Carpenter in “in the mirror” at Oklahoma’s poor rank- moved into the western edge of Lone The Beckham County Record of the fires. The Altus Times and The Cordell Beacon. ings in important social issues. Her lead: Grove and into City Hall.” Here’s Shonda Little’s well-written lead: Scott Rains of The Lawton Constitution “We don’t stack up well in Oklahoma.” The Grove Sun, “Goin’ Fishing, “ Kay- “Beckham County Fire Departments reported on the Jackson County fires. It is a news staff examination of those lea M. Hutson-Miller on local students pulled long hours this week, battling a Firefighters: issues, intending not to complain but entering a bass fishing contest. raging outbreak of wildfires fueled by • “Tired firemen now getting help from to focus attention and seek answers to unrelenting high winds that lead to Gov. afar,” wrote Gerald Green at the Clin- push for change. The series is paired Mary Fallin declaring 52 counties disas- ton Daily News, which provided daily with stories on individuals who are push- ter areas, including Beckham County.” coverage. ing themselves to improve the state. Large photos from the Forestry Ser- • “We’ll be here until it rains,” The Elk See more FRONT PAGES on PAGE 9 The Oklahoma Publisher // May 2018 9
Front Pages of Clark’s Critique Continued from Page 8
God Bless America Cheyenne man dies Nichols family lose fighting Durham Fire 13 cattle heard in fire Photo courtesy of Matt Haney 2 of Leedey Okla. The CHEYENNE ST R The The 75¢ 2ႈFLDO1HZVSDSHURI 75¢ Beckham County Record 5RJHU0LOOV&RXQW\ ComprehensiveComprehensive News News Coverage Coverage foforr SaySayre,re EElklk CiCityty & ErickErick, OK Volume 30, USPS 0004097 Wednesday, April 18, 2018 beckhamcountyrecord.com Number 37 VOLUME 118, NUMBER 32 THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2018 16 PAGES Beckham County Fire Western Oklahoma Burns! +LVWRULF$SULO)LUHV Thursday, April 12, 2018 started like any other day in western Oklahoma, very dry, hot and windy. Our humidity was at an all-time low. Little did Dewey County Record ZHNQRZWKDWLWZRXOGEHRQHRI WKHZRUVWÀUHGD\VLQKLVWRU\7KHÀUVW Departments ÀUHVWDUWHGVRXWKHDVWRI 'XUKDPDQGTXLFNO\VSUHDGQRUWKHDVWFURVVLQJ +LJKZD\MXVWHDVWRI WKH+LWFKLQ·3RVW2XUYROXQWHHUÀUHPHQTXLFNO\ VWHSSHGLQZLWKWKHKHOSRI WKHFRXQW\JUDGHUVDQGNHSWDOORFFXSLHGKRPHV fight numerous DZD\IURPWKHÀUHV6HYHUDOKRPHVWKDWZHUHYDFDQWZHUHEXUQWDORQJZLWK PDQ\RXWEXLOGLQJHTXLSPHQWOLYHVWRFNDQGIHQFHV7KH'XUKDP)LUHFDPH WKURXJKLQWZRZDYHVDQGFRQWLQXHGEXUQLQJLQWR)ULGD\ 2Q)ULGD\WKHZLQGVVKLIWHGRXWRI WKHQRUWKDQGWKHÀUHVTXLFNO\ wild fires PRYHGEDFNWRWKHVRXWKHDVW7KHÀUHPRYHGDFURVVWKH7UDF\)DUPDQG WKDWDIWHUQRRQDÀUHVSDUNHGXSMXVWZHVWRI &KH\HQQH7KH%DWWOHÀHOG ZDVHYDFXDWHGDQGKRPHVZHVWRI WRZQZHUHWKUHDWHQHG7KHÀUHVZHSW Fire danger extreme WKURXJKWKHZHVWVLGHRI WKH&KH\HQQH&HPHWHU\DQGFURVVHGWKHKLJKZD\ ,WEXUQHGPRUHWKDQKDOI DPLOHVRXWKEHIRUHLWZDVFRQWDLQHG+RWVSRWV KDYHFRQWLQXHGWRVSDUNXSEXWKDYHEHHQNHSWXQGHUFRQWURO again for Tuesday 5RJHU0LOOV&RXQW\HPSOR\HH-DFN2VEHQORVWKLVOLIHZKLOHÀJKWLQJWKH by Shonda Little, staff writer ÀUHV-HII +HQVOH\ZDVEXUQHGWU\LQJWRVDYHKLVIULHQG&UDZIRUG)LUHÀJKW- Beckham County Fire Departments pulled HU7LPP\&RFNUHOOVSHQWDIHZGD\VLQDQ2NODKRPD&LW\+RVSLWDOIURP long hours this week, battling a raging outbreak smoke inhalation. of wildfires fueled by unrelenting high winds ´,W·VKDUGWRSXWDÀUHRI WKLVPDJQLWXGHLQWRSHUVSHFWLYH7KH5KHD Historic wildfire conditions prevailed throughout late last week in the western half of the state with numerous large fires raging over ÀUHORFDWHGLQ1:2NODKRPDLVURXJKO\DFUHVLQVL]H+RZGR that lead to Governor Mary Fallin declaring 300,000 acres. The largest fire in the state Thursday was the Deweycounty fire (shown above) that started near Leedey and eventually ZHSODFHWKLVLQWRSHUVSHFWLYHLQDPDQQHUWKDWVKHGOLJKWRQWKHVFDOHRI 52 counties disaster areas, including Beckham forced the evacuation of Vici, Seiling and other small communities. As of press time, task force crews from throughout Beckham county ZLGHVSUHDGVFRUFKHGJURXQG" County. were still fighting the mega fire near Thomas. Staff photo taken Thursday, April 12 by Drew Spitzer 7KLVÀUHVSUHDGDWDQH[WUHPHUDWHRYHULWVÀUVWKRXUV'ULYHQE\ODFN The Beckham County Task Force, which RI UDLQH[WUHPHO\ORZKXPLGLW\DQGUHOHQWOHVVZLQGVWKDWPDGHPDMRUVKLIWV consists of Elk City, Sayre, Erick, Carter, Delhi, GXULQJWKLVWLPH,QWKHVHÀUVWKRXUVWKHÀUHEXUQHGDQDYHUDJHDFUHV Texola, Sweetwater, as well as Foss and Can- Buckin Wild Music Festival hits the Flying W Guest Ranch Thursday SHUPLQXWHDFUHVSHUVHFRQG2QHVTXDUHPLOHHYHU\PLQXWHVDQG ute from neighboring Washita County, have VHFRQGV7KHDYHUDJHUHVLGHQWLDOORWVL]HLQWKH86LV DFUHV0RUH by Sheryl Ponce, staff writer been assisting each other battle fires within square with bon fire and breakfast bar. The Military, whether active or non active, first WKDQ ORWVEXUQHGHYHU\VHFRQG GHWHUPLQHWKHDPRXQWRI GDPDJHDQGVKDOOUHDVVHVVWKHSURSHUW\IRUWKDW $1.00 “Having served at the local, state and Serving Dewey County since 1910 USPS #762-700 See Beckham Co. fire fighters on page 15 \HDUDWWKHIDLUFDVKYDOXHRI WKHSURSHUW\WDNLQJLQWRDFFRXQWWKHDFWXDOORVV national levels for nine years gaining the expe- Incumbent RI IXQFWLRQDOXVHRI WKHSURSHUW\RFFDVLRQHGE\VXFKGDPDJH7KHDVVHVVRU rience of budgets, audits, investments, leader- ship, spending, grants and legislation, I have Gayla Gillie seeks County Calendar found that not only serving positions in the &RQWLQXHG3DJH office style capacity is how you get the job done, Reading Ranger Storytime but going out and meeting and getting to know re-election to -XVWLQ6KHOO\ $PEHU/LWWOH Wednesday, April 18, 4 p.m. the taxpayers and individual families that I will Sayre Public Library be representing is an absolute must,” said Hel- ,6KHOOH\0F'DQLHO/LWWOHZRXOG EHU/LWWOHDWWHQGV&KH\HQQH+LJK Bill Helton with his daughters, Angelina, Assessor post OLNHWRRIÀFLDOO\DQQRXQFHP\FDQGL- 6FKRRODQGP\VRQ-XVWLQDWWHQGV Isabella, and (standing) Samantha. ton. The Beckham County Treasurer candidate I am Gayla GDF\IRUWKHSRVLWLRQRI WKH5RJHU FROOHJHDW6:268 LOCAL BLOOD DRIVES Gillie and I am 0LOOV&RXQW\$VVHVVRU ,FDPHWR5RJHU0LOOV&RXQW\LQ ,JUDGXDWHGIURP(ON&LW\+LJK DQGZRUNHGDW%XVWHU5XUDO Northfork Electric Coop., Sayre the Demo- 6FKRROLQ ,UHFHLYHGD%XVL- +HDOWK&OLQLFDVWKHUHFHSWLRQLVW Thursday, April 19, 9 am to 2 pm cratic Incum- QHVV'HJUHHLQ IURP6RXWK- DQGFRGLQJELOOLQJFOHUNIURP bent seeking Erick Ambulance Service Drive ZHVWHUQ2NODKRPD6WDWH8QLYHUVLW\ WR)RUWKHODVWVHYHUDO\HDUV, re-election P\$VVRFLDWHVGHJUHHLQ$UWVLQ KDYHRZQHGE\RZQFOHDQLQJDQG Breaking news sent straight to your phone and email: Visit www.TheGearyStar.com Erick Community Building for Beckham IURP5HGODQGV8QLYHUVLW\DQG FDUHVHUYLFH April 26, 4 to 7 p.m. County As- D%DFKHORURI $UWVLQ(GXFDWLRQ ,ZLOOEHKRQRUHGWRPHHWHDFK sessor. I have (PSKDVLVIURP$VKIRUG8QLYHUVLW\ YRWHUDQGKHDU\RXUFRQFHUQVDQG LOCAL NEWS LOCAL NEWS LOCAL NEWS been honored LQ ZLOOEHSURXGWRVHUYLFHWKLVJUHDW LOCAL SPORTS LOCAL NEWS Retrop Baptist Church Spring Revival to serve the ,DPWKHGDXJKWHURI WKHODWH FRXQW\,JUDFLRXVO\WKDQNHDFKRI Geary to Bison’s Hit the Oklahoma Oil $SULO QLJKWO\ constituents .HLWKDQG)D\H0F'DQLHORI (ON \RXIRU\RXUYRWLQJVXSSRUW Participate in Road for and Gas Rigs of Beckham &LW\2NODKRPD0\GDXJKWHU$P- Hinton Baseball and Hinton Kiwanis Club County for 'DQ 0DUFHOOD6LGHV the Great District News and Today’s Scripture the past 31 years. The past 12 of those years, American Tourney Reports Softball Teams Prepare Students of the Month I have served as your County Assessor, after . . . in that I command you today to being elected in June of 2006. Being born and ,'DQ6LGHVZRXOGOLNHWRDQ- ,FDPHEDFNWR5RJHU0LOOV&RXQW\ Cleanup for District Tournament love the LORD your God, to walk in His Jillian Jo Schneberger Lauren Elizabeth Shields Emily Bedea raised in Beckham County, I believe in honesty, QRXQFHWKDW,DPUXQQLQJIRU DQGZRUNHGDVDPHFKDQLFDQGZHOG- &KDPEHU6HDUFKLQJIRU SEE CLEANUP >> A4 SEE SPORTS >> A3 SEE OIL & GAS>> A16 ways and to keep His commandments integrity, and hard work. 5RJHU0LOOV&RXQW\&RPPLVVLRQHU er. I also hauled hay and sold feed and His statutes and His judgments, that I am a public servant at heart and feel my 'LVWULFW IRUDZKLOH,QODWH ,VWDUWHGWR you may live and multiply, and that the Canute announces honor students experience in every aspect of my office is a 0\ZLIH0DUFHOODDQG,OLYHDW ZRUNLQWKHRLOÀHOGDQGZRUNHGXSWR 9ROXQWHHURIWKH Local, area The Woodward Civic Opera Group Presents sports roundup WEEKEND - page 10 EDITION Friday, April 20, 2018 rd Arts Theatre 75¢ 75¢ Woodwa The Vici Vision April 6, 7, 8 & 13, 14, 15 For Tickets: WOODWARDNEWS call 580-256-7120 ‘We’ll be here until it rains’ Reserved Seating $25 FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2018 WWW.WOODWARDNEWS.NET $1.00 The Past, The Present, and A Look at Tomorrow Fighting wildfires in western Oklahoma Walkout ends Jim Perry he said, are mostly from Oklahoma. Around Volume 16, Number 22 – Thursday, April 19, 2018 – Vici, Oklahoma Editor “We are resourced to the eastern the area side of the state,” he said. “But as a Fires break out A woman from Elk City, Brian group supervisor, we come wher- Ryles said, left a promising impres- HYHUDÀUHEUHDNVRXW Union sion. ´,WLVE\ODZWKDWZHÀJKWZLOG- FRIDAY “Yesterday 15 of us were at Pizza ÀUHVLQWKHVWDWHµ Woodward High Hut and ordered meals,” Ryles 5\OHVKDVEHHQÀJKWLQJÀUHV School soccer vs. said. “By the time we would pay,” since he was young. His dozer driv- Kingfisher at Boomer switches he said, “a woman from Elk City in er from Arkansas, Justin Hoopen- Stadium. Varsity match- the drive-through had already paid. garner, has been at it for 15 years. es start at 6 p.m. Historic Dewey County Fire Burns ŝƐĂƐƚĞƌZĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ/ŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ “That tells you something about “I’m one of the guys who loved this town,” he said. WKHUXVKRIÀUHVµ5\OHVVDLG´)LUHV focus to +LVÀUVWLPSUHVVLRQRIÀUHÀJKW- have a lot of attraction. It’s a small Arnett Invitational ing was a wild one. But it was family. Baseball Tournament. HQRXJKWRNHHS5\OHVÀJKWLQJ “I could leave here tomorrow and For Individuals: supplies is being combined ZLOGÀUHV head to Montana and I would run Woodward High elections 246,000 Acres, 30 Homes ´,VRUHPHPEHUP\ÀUVWÀUHµ into two or three people who know School softball in Arnett Ryles said. “I started out on a my name,” Ryles said. By Janelle Stecklein An Emergency Response into the OSU Extension- OK YROXQWHHUÀUHGHSDUWPHQWDQGZHQW “You would not believe the peo- Tournament. CNHI State Reporter RXWRQDQHDUO\ÀUH SOH\RXZRXOGPHHWÀJKWLQJÀUHVµ “I saw a bull dozer hanging off a he said. “And it’s a full-time job. Beauty and the Beast, OKLAHOMA CITY — Declaring Disaster Recovery Team plans Wildfire Recovery. Hotline hill. I said, ‘That guy is crazy’ and ‘I “Were I done here tomorrow, Woodward Arts Theatre, victory, the state’s largest teacher’s gotta get me some of that. I’d be headed to the Canadian or 8 p.m. “I’ve been with it ever since.” Mexican border. That’s just the union announced the state’s nine-day to be set up in each Dew- numbers are: (405)590-0106, Ryles, from Red Oak, was the way it is.” educator walkout is over. Expo, Farm Expo at OHDGHURIDJURXSRIPDQ\ÀUHÀJKW- Ryles said his crew has fought Oklahoma Education Association ers who stayed two nights at Sleep ´LQLWLDOUHVSRQVHµÀUHVLQ*XWK- Woodward County President Alicia Priest said educators ey County Community on (405)397-7912, (405)496-9329 Inn and waited for the call. rie, Martha and portion of Caddo Fairgrounds, 11 a.m. to were able to secure $479 million in “We’ll be here until it rains, County. Hoopengarner said three 8 p.m. which hopefully will be this week- things are important. funding for the upcoming school Wednesday to begin assist- for agriculture related needs. year, and will now shift their focus end,” Ryles said Wednesday. “Weather, fuel and topography,” Laverne Invitational Three of his Oklahoma Depart- he said. “The higher the hill the to the upcoming election season and track meet, 11 a.m. ment of Forestry rangers are from IDVWHUWKHÀUHUXQVXSLWµ sending smaller delegations of teach- ing with State and Federal ȱȱȱȱęȱȱ the Red Oak area, in far southeast- Ryles has three children. His ers to continue to advocate at the ern Oklahoma, about 285 miles 6-year-old son already is learning SATURDAY Capitol. from Elk City. the tricks of the trade. Woodward High paperwork of those who lost program available to assist Among those on his watch are a ´,ZLOOOLJKWDÀUHLQWKHZRRGV²D Firefighter Brian Ryles (front row, center) and a host of forestry rangers from Oklahoma, Arkansas and School track in “Our members are saying they’re bull dozer operator from Arkansas small one – and he will go after it. Tennessee lodged at Sleep Inn while waiting for the call to fight wildfires in the Elk City area.Staff photo by Jim Kingfisher Invitational A look north of Woodward on Highway 34 at County Road EW 35 where one of several ready to go back to their classrooms, and two from Tennessee. The rest, He says he wants to be a ranger.” Perry. major wildfires started, this one possibly due to a downed power line. The fires continued and we will continue supporting occupied residences. The Vici with immediate needs. One Beauty and the Beast, into the evening on Thursday. (Photo by Johnny McMahan) them as they come lobby on a daily Woodward Arts Theatre, basis, and we will support their Vision Newspaper will share year loans for $25,000 are 8 p.m. back- Fires burning across several areas home “Our mem- Kiwanis Pitch, Hit and activities bers are detailed information on our available, six months interest as well,” Run, Fuller Park, 10 in Woodward and other counties saying a.m. Priest Facebook page as it becomes free. Contact Woodward’s Redbud Festival next weekend Woodward News staff reports said. they’re Expo, Farm Expo at More ready to As predicted, a spate of extreme fire than available. ȱȱĜȱȱśŞŖȬŘśŜȬ Woodward County go back to Fun for the entire family April 27, April 28 Fairgrounds, 10 a.m. to weather has caused wildland fires through- 500,000 9 p.m. out the area Thursday. students their This OSU website includes 3465. Limited funds available Elk City Chamber of Commerce is hosting If you have pre-registered please pick up The BBQ Cook-Off kicks off April 27 at 5:30 At least two large fires touched off south have been class- its fourth Annual Redbud Festival from 9 a.m. your number and goodie bag between 8 a.m. p.m. with the cooks’ meeting, meat inspection Arnett Invitational of Woodward, but crews were busy across affected to 5 p.m. April 28 in downtown Elk City. and 9 a.m. at Carnegie Hall also. and check-in/set up with a $25 entry fee for rooms.” Baseball Tournament. the state. by the useful information for pro- ȱęȱǰȱęȱǯ There will be plenty of activities for the en- The entry fee is $35 and additional entries each category. Later Thursday afternoon, two large fires school tire family starting with a Cruise Night from are $20 each for pre-registration and $40 per The judging begins at 1 p.m. April 28 with closures. 8 - 10 p.m. April 27. entry with $20 additional entries the morning turn-in times at noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. SUNDAY broke out north of Woodward - one a little - Alicia Priest tecting your home from wild- Help available for orphaned The cars will be cruising down Third Street of the show. Categories are hot chicken wings, pork Beauty and the over four miles northwest of Woodward in Priest to the National Route 66 Museum and down 7KHUHZLOOEHSUL]HVIRUÀUVWVHFRQGDQG ULEVDQGEULVNHW7KHUHZLOOEHSUL]HVIRUÀUVW Beast, Woodward Arts the Reger Hill area and another five miles said the Main to Sixth Street. There will be a group third place in each class along with cash and second place in each category and $250 Theatre, 2 p.m. north of Woodward on State Highway 34. decision fires and removing smoke calves. Orphaned Calf Relief photo opportunity at 6 p.m. at the National SUL]HVIRUÀUVWSODFHGHWHUPLQHGE\DSDQHO Chamber Dollars to the grand champion. The fire on highway 34 apparently started to re-open would be made on a local Route 66 Museum April 27. The chamber asks of judges and a People’s Choice prize of $25 Prizes will be awarded at 4:30 p.m. level. all the vehicles in the cruise be there for the Chamber Dollars for the cars, trucks and Ponce Production will be the DJ/Emcee Expo, Farm Expo at with a downed power line. picture. motorcycles. for the day starting at 10 a.m. They will keep Woodward County Both fires were moving rapidly to the Priest was asked how much of a ȱ ȱęǯ of SW Kansas is willing to Everyone needs to get your lawn chairs and Pre-register and get a free Redbud Festival everyone entertained. Fairgrounds, noon to 6 north and northeast. funding victory teachers could claim, come watch the classic and custom cars. You T-shirt, one Route 66 Museum pass and cou- Lots of shopping will be available also. Those fires were causing evacuation given that the Legislature passed p.m. Some of the heavy smoke from north of ĴDZȦȦ ǯǯǯ take in calves and try to save do not have to register for the cruise. Partici- pons for great shopping and dining. Participating businesses will be open late ‘til alerts and the transportation department most of the revenue and a teacher Woodward from the fire that started around pation is free and anyone can join in. There will be a poker walk for the car, truck 5 p.m. along with many food vendors and be closed State Highway 34 north of raise package prior to the walkout. Participating downtown merchants will be and motorcycle show participants with a prize sure and visit the S & S Amusement Carnival. SUNDAY Reger Hill. (Woodward News photo) open until 8 p.m. April 27. of $25 Chamber Dollars for the best and worst The Chamber’s Redbud Festival Committee Woodward County Woodward late Thursday afternoon. Even before districts closed and edu/news/resource-centers/ them and return to the pro- The car, truck and motorcycle show will be hand. Prizes will be awarded at 4:15 p.m. would like to thank the City of Elk City for Commission meeting, People in those areas were being urged afternoon. teachers headed to the Capitol to April 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. downtown Elk April 28. their help with blocking the streets and the enjoy all the festivities. 10 a.m., Woodward to get out of the way of the fire as soon as The evacuation area around Highway 34 advocate April 2, lawmakers raised emergency-preparedness/ ducer at no cost. If you have City. Participants can register that morning Be sure and visit the information table at use of their picnic tables and the Convention For information, call the chamber at 580- County Courthouse. possible. was from EW 35, 10 miles north to EW 25, more than $447 million in taxes in ȱ ȱȱȱȱȱȱ¢ȱ¢ȱȱȱęǯȱȱ¢ȱȱ - from 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. at Carnegie Hall, 215 West the corner of Main and Broadway to get a & Visitors Bureau for providing some of our 225-0207, email [email protected] No injuries have been reported as of 8 order to fund permanent, average Broadway or pick up an entry form at the People’s Choice voting ballet and help your advertising. plus areas east as far as NS 209. RUÀQGWKH(ON&LW\&KDPEHURI&RPPHUFHRQ Woodward City p.m., officials said. $6,100 raises for all classroom teach- ęȦ¢ŝȏȏ- any calves, call (620)262-1159 &KDPEHURIÀFH 60DLQ favorite win a prize. Bring the family to downtown Elk City and Facebook. Thursday evening the Red Cross set up a ȱ ǯ Commission meeting, 7 By early evening on Thursday the fires shelter at the Faith United Methodist ers. They also increased pay for sup- p.m.,, commission were rolling toward Highway 50 which Church in Woodward, 14th and Texas. port staff and public employees and cy%20Preparedness for information. room, 722 Main St. could eventually affect the Alabaster There were reports of several structures agreed to increase classroom spend- ¢ȱ ȱ and hospitals. ished. Around 8:20 a.m., Vici Caverns and Freedom areas. that were damaged or lost in the blazes. ing by about $50 million. Woodward High Emergency alerts were going out and at Units were being called in from across Priest said educators were able to For Farmers and Ranchers: Livestock placement: Ni- School baseball vs. the request of Woodward Emergency western Oklahoma and parts of Kansas and garner some additional funding with Last week the national From a vantage point just was cleared for residents to Commission the passage of a new tax on online Western Heights at Management, the National Weather Service the Oklahoma Forestry Department was For Dewey County, as- Fuller Park, 4:30 p.m. issued a fire warning for the area Thursday See Fires on page 2 sellers expected to generate $19.6 weather service issued warn- west of town, it did not seem return. Vendors wanted for meets million and legalizing ball and dice See Disaster Recovery Information Jim Perry Mooreland High games in casinos, which will gener- sistance with hay and other Editor School baseball vs. ate about $22 million a year. None of ings for extreme and even possible that our firemen Fire conditions on Friday on page 3 the gaming revenue is available to A short-handed Elk City Commission meeting lasted appropriate for the upcoming school Spring Market Day less than 30 minutes Wednesday at City Hall. Index historic fire danger. The would be able to save the did not improve. Tempera- The board – Ward III Commissioner Larry Muck was year. absent – wasted little time in buzzing through its agenda. “We absolutely have a victory for Tractor Supply hosting event May 12 All items on the agenda passed 4-0. teachers,” Priest said. “Half a billion danger became a reality for town in this David versus tures reached 79 degrees with Included was an agreement between the city of Elk City, Obituaries 3 Cheryl Overstreet with everything from home- register. Vendor registration spotlight the diverse talent that dollars is a victory, but the the Elk City Public Works Authority and Myers Engineer- Opinion 4 Legislature has fallen short on fund- Editor made crafts, candles and soaps closes May 9. makes the Elk City community ing for engineering services for dam improvements in the to honey, eggs, produce, baked Vendors will be able to show- so unique,” said Mary Lawley, amount of $85,535. Classifieds 6 ing the promise for the future of edu- Dewey County on Thursday ȱĴǯȱȱȱ wind gusts over 50 miles per Elk City’s Tractor Supply is goods, gardening and furni- case their wares in tented ar- vice president of store admin- ´7KHGDPZDVEXLOWLQDORQJWLPHDJREHORZWKHODQGÀOO Annie’s Mail 8 cation in our state, and that’s why we seeking growers, crafters and ture. eas near the storefront. There istration at Tractor Supply Community Calendar and it’s starting to crumble,” said City Manager Lee Lit- Comics 9 shift our focus to a movement that is ǰȱȱŗŘǯȱȱęȱ it looked like the fire had hour. Evacuation orders were artisans to showcase home- To register, vendors should is no fee. All vendors will be Company. “From the hobbyist terell. “I think it’s time we did something about it.” beyond just in this building at this made and homegrown goods visit TSCEventPartners.com or responsible for complying with to the professional, not only do Litterell said the agreement was for engineering only. Sports 10 at its spring Market Day on the Elk City store. local and state ordinances. we want to celebrate locally Also on the agenda was the approval or disapproval of a very moment.” May 12. 1RQSURÀWRUJDQL]DWLRQVDQG “Market Day is a way for us produced goods, but also the bid from Bruckner Truck Sales for a 2019 Mach Anthem VOL. 118, NO. 74 - 10 PAGES While the Oklahoma Education that started near Rhea, about crossed to the north side issued for a three mile radius They are seeking vendors food trucks are welcome to to bring neighbors together to people who make them.” See City, p. 2 Association said the walkout was over for it’s members, it’s not known seven miles east of Leedey of First Street and into city of the Iochem Plant east of April if all the teachers will follow the Weather Vol. 116, No. 33 Home delivery View online union’s lead. th tomorrow 52/40 75 cents, 16 pgs. 580.225.3000 ecdailynewsonline.com Many educators have said the along Highway 47, was fu- limits. Minutes turned to Vici. Hot spots ignited on 19 -Vici 12U SB vs Mooreland @ Vici 6:00, 7:30 Oklahoma Education Association A look at the fire in the Sharon area that kicked up late Thursday afternoon. (Photo by doesn’t speak for them, said Senate eled by 100 degree tempera- hours and darkness turned the south side of Vici, again -Vici Lions Club, Vici Restaurant, 7:00pm Alyssa Lee) See Walkout on page 2 tures and winds gusting over to daylight. Miraculously, threatening parts of town. -Masonic Lodge, 7:00pm dEll 10 The Oklahoma Publisher // May 2018 Questions I get asked a lot – and the answers Adobe sells fonts as well. If you have a Computer Notes subscription to Creative Cloud, Typekit fonts are available to you. It increas- from the road es font options by 1,140 type families. by Wilma (Melot) Newby To access, click on the Creative Cloud [email protected] Application then on Assets > Fonts and go As you might imagine, I get a lot of to Browse fonts from Typekit. You can sync questions when I’m on the road. This fonts you chose to your Creative Cloud month, I’m going to answer some of applications. They appear separately but those that might benefit you. in the fonts menu. But don’t go nuts. It requires a lot of syncing and really slows Q: I lost the little guides in InDesign down your work. that make objects line up. How do I get A: Take a quick look around to see Many users think the Typekit fonts it back? if something was accidently installed. cost extra, but several are free as part A: It’s easy. Just go to View menu > Go to the Control Panel (in Windows 10 of your subscription price, which also Grids and Guides > Smart Guides or Ctrl + U just search for Control Panel). Look at includes some great graphics. If this (Windows), Command + U (Mac). the upper right corner of the window area has gone unexplored, look into for the View icons button and change to what they offer. Q: How do I lighten photos after fin- large icons. There’s also an Adobe Stock search ishing the layout in InDesign? Now look for Programs and Features. in the upper left corner of the Creative a few times until you have it mastered. A: Right click on the photo with In the next box, click on the Installed On Cloud InDesign window that brings up The style mapping can be handy if it’s a the white pointer and go down to Edit area so you can view by date. Look for results of free art from Adobe for down- big project and the person sending you Original. This will open the photo in Pho- recently installed programs that aren’t load. It’s an added benefit for having a the type used lots of styles. They can be toshop, if that’s your default program familiar to you. If you right click the pro- subscription. mapped directly into your styles saving gram you don’t want, you can uninstall it lots of formatting. for that file type. Just lighten the photo, Q: How can I tame those files I close and save. When you switch back right there. The Show import options will even let A little known way to see what is run- receive that are filled with extra spaces you choose what page of a PDF to bring to InDesign the photo will automatically and unwanted tabs? update. Don’t use “Save as” and change ning in the background on newer Macs in instead of having to import all of a the name or the link will be broken. is to go to the Go menu from the desktop A: Learn about your new best friend multi-page PDF file. and then to Utilities. From there, go to – the Find Change box under Edit. It’s What is the difference between Q: My photos are opening in some the Activity Monitor. From here you can great to see all the hidden characters Q: POP and IMAP email when used in a other program. How do I make Photo- stop things you don’t want running by that came with the file. To show all the mail client application? shop the default? selecting them and clicking the X button tabs, paragraph returns and spaces, go A: In Windows, right click on the on the far left corner of the dialog box. to Type menu > Show Hidden Characters. A: IMAP and POP are two different type of photo you want to open in Photo- A box will come up and ask if you’re Now that you can see the problems in protocols. The main difference is that shop. Go to Open with… in the next sure. Respond with quit. Then go to Sys- the form of extra spaces, which look like IMAP (Internet Messaged Access Pro- window. Carefully check the box at the tem Preferences and look under User and blue dots, or tabs that look like blue >> tocol) always syncs with the mail server. bottom of the dialog box that says Always Groups > Login items. See what programs arrows, take out the extras under Edit > Any changes you make in your mail use this (app or program) to open .jpg files. are autoloading. This area never gets Find/Change. Just tell it to look for two client (Microsoft Outlook, Mac Mail (The words may be slightly different cleaned out. If there is an unwanted pro- ^t^t (tabs) and replace with one ^t. Keep or Thunderbird) instantly appears on depending on your version of Windows.) gram in there, select it and hit the minus repeating until all the extras are gone. your webmail inbox when you log in on Change the default program to Photo- sign in the lower left of the window. Extra returns show up as ^p^p. At the Chrome, Firefox or the web browser on end of the Find line is a @ sign popup your server. If two devices look at the shop and close. Is there a safe site where I can Q: button that lists all the common things same mail, like your phone and com- On an Apple computer, right click on download free fonts? the photo on the desktop or in a folder you looked for. puter, and an email gets deleted on the in the finder and go to Get Info. This A: Creative Market offers a few Highlight the text you want to search phone, it won’t show up on the computer brings up a dialog box. Look under the free fonts and art packages every week or select all text including the last para- later when you log into it. Open With: section. (Click the arrow to as a way to gain interest in their site at graph return. Go to Type > Tabs and set On the other hand, in POP (Post open this area if it’s not already open.) Creativemarket.com. up the tabs for your report. Remember Office Protocol), your mail client account Change the default program to Photo- Fonts.com has competed with Adobe that the frame containing the report (Outlook or Mac Mail) and mail server shop in the popup menu. Make sure you for years, as far as fonts are concerned. must be wide enough to hold the width are not synced. This means whatever click the little button that says “Change But it’s definitely not free. There are of the copy. Just make sure you keep changes you make to your email account All.” lots of free fonts websites but make the text selected while playing around in the mail client are not transferred to sure you know what you’re download- with it. the web mail. This allows the mail to be Q: What’s wrong with my Windows ing. Sometimes free means it comes It’s helpful to count how many tabs sent to multiple computers or devices. If computer? It’s really slow, and my pro- with unwanted friends that will have to are needed and to format the type size you delete an email on one device, it will grams crash. be uninstalled later. before beginning. still show up on the others as well as in your web browser. Q: How can I remove text format- If one person complains that they ting before placing the document in never get to see some emails it’s because In-Design? the email is set up on IMAP and when LEGAL ADVICE A: The best way is to check the Show one person deletes an email, it’s gone from the server. That can be a good or is just one of the benefits of being a member of the Oklahoma Press import options in the place dialog box. bad thing depending on how many times Association’s Legal Services Plan. Remove the worry of needing This lets you control how the document professional advice by enrolling today. For more information contact: comes in. Check Remove Style and For- you want to delete the same email. matting from Text and Tables. Play with it OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION’S LEGAL SERVICES PLAN OPA Computer Consultant Wilma Newby’s column is brought to you by the Oklahoma Advertising Network (OAN). For more information on the OAN program, contact Oklahoma Press 1-888-815-2672 or 405-499-0020 Service at (405) 499-0020. The Oklahoma Publisher // May 2018 11 OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION A new look at an old sales technique STAFF DIRECTORY BY JOHN FOUST purpose of this phrase is to get in step same opinion. About a month ago, the RALEIGH, NC with others, but it’s an overused state- XYZ Widget Company was concerned ADMINISTRATION ment that can sound mechanical and about our rates.’ That creates a bridge Carla has been selling advertising MARK THOMAS insincere. to the last step – where I talk about for many years. She has researched Executive Vice President “You shouldn’t say you understand what that advertiser found.” and tried a variety of techniques to [email protected] • (405) 499-0033 unless you really understand,” Carla answer objections. 3. THEN THEY FOUND. “Here’s where said. “This is where ‘no one wants to’ “Just about everybody knows the you turn that example into a testimoni- JEANNIE FREEMAN comes into play. It’s a safe statement Feel-Felt-Found formula,” she said. al,” Carla said. “Instead of referring to Accounting Manager that puts me on the same page with “When a prospect makes an objection – all the advertisers who had that same the other person. When there’s a price [email protected] • (405) 499-0027 about price, for example – the response objection, talk about one advertiser’s objection, I say, ‘No one wants to pay is, ‘I understand how you feel. Many positive experience. That has more SCOTT WILKERSON more for advertising than they have to.’ others have felt the same way. Then impact.” It’s as simple as that. In all the times Front Office/Building Mgr. they found that our paper offers good Put it all together to get something I’ve used it, no one has disagreed.” [email protected] • (405) 499-0020 value for their investment.’ like this: “No one wants to pay more for Carla explained that this works with “In theory, it’s sound,” she said. advertising than they have to. Other any objection. MEMBER SERVICES “But most business people have heard people have had the same concern. In “No one wants to schedule more ads it before. As soon as they hear ‘I under- fact, XYZ initially had questions about LISA SUTLIFF than they need. No one wants to plan stand how you feel,’ they know it’s our rates. Then they discovered that Member Services Director more meetings than they need. No one going to be a canned explanation. The we offer more coverage than other wants to sign a longer contract than [email protected] • (405) 499-0026 key is to avoid the words ‘feel,’ ‘felt’ and media choices. As a result, their busi- they need. And so on.” CHRISTINE FRANK ‘found’ and use other ways to say the ness is up ten percent over the same same thing. 2. MANY OTHERS HAVE FELT THE time period last year. This comparison Membership & Meetings Director “The phrase that has been the big- SAME WAY. According to Carla, this chart shows...” [email protected] • (405) 499-0040 gest help to me is: ‘No one wants to phrase is too vague. It’s hard to object to that strategy, _____.’ Just fill in the blank after the “It’s good to reassure other people, isn’t it? ADVERTISING word ‘to’ and you’ve got a great lead-in because we want them to know they’re © Copyright 2018 by John Foust. All rights reserved. LANDON COBB statement.” not the only ones with that opinion. But JOHN FOUST conducts training programs for newspaper Here’s a closer look: this step in the process works better advertising professionals. Many ad departments use his Sales Director with a specific example. I like to say training videos to save time and get quick results from [email protected] • (405) 499-0022 1. I UNDERSTAND HOW YOU FEEL. The in-house training. E-mail for information: john@johnfoust. something like, ‘Others have had the com CINDY SHEA Advertising Director Watonga Republican [email protected] • (405) 499-0023 BRENDA POER names new editor You’ve Got Questions! Advertising Assistant The Watonga Republican welcomes [email protected] • (405) 499-0035 Connie Burcham as its new editor. Burcham will also work as staff • Can I photograph minors without consent? CREATIVE SERVICES reporter for the Republican’s sister JENNIFER GILLILAND papers, the Hinton Record and The • Can police deny access to records Creative Services Director Geary Star. All three papers are owned by issuing a press release? [email protected] • (405) 499-0028 by Wesner Publications. Former Watonga Republican editor ASHLEY NOVACHICH Chad Waters will stay at the newspaper • Should I alter my archives Editorial/Creative Assistant as sports editor while resuming his when a person demands it? position as editor of the Hinton Record [email protected] • (405) 499-0029 and The Geary Star. “I’m excited to bring an experienced • Can I report inaccurate COMPUTER ADVICE editor like Connie to Watonga,” said tesimony given in open court? WILMA NEWBY Wesner Publications Group Publisher Computer Consultant Eric Warsinkey. • What are the laws about liquor advertising? [email protected] • (405) 499-0031 “I think she will enjoy living and working in Watonga as I have for many DIGITAL CLIPPING years.” These are questions answered by the attorneys for the OPA KEITH BURGIN Burcham, a Florida native, comes to Legal Services Plan members in recent months. Newspapers always Watonga with years of newspaper expe- Clipping Director rience including working at newspapers need timely legal advice on issues related to newspaper publishing. [email protected] • (405) 499-0024 in Florida, Montana, Wyoming, and most recently in Fairview, Okla. JENNIFER BEATLEY-CATES She is a graduate of Louisiana Tech You should join OPA’S Digital Clipping Dept. University at Ruston, La. [email protected] • (405) 499-0045 She and her husband have five children – four who are adults and a GENERAL INQUIRIES 15-year-old high school freshman. LEGAL SERVICES PLAN! The family will relocate to Blaine (405) 499-0020 County at the end of the school year. See www.OkPress.com/LSP or contact Lisa Sutliff Fax: (405) 499-0048 at (405) 499-0026 or toll-free in Oklahoma 1-888-815-2672 Toll-free in OK: 1-888-815-2672 12 The Oklahoma Publisher // May 2018 OKLAHOMA NATURAL GAS CONTEST WINNERS CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MARCH 2018 WINNERS March Column: JOHN A. SMALL, Johnston County Sentinel March Editorial: WAYNE TROTTER, Countywide & Sun MARCH 2018 EDITORIAL WINNER WAYNE TROTTER, Countywide & Sun Enter and Win What goes around comes around a $100 Check Most politicians like the phrase “what goes around comes Oklahoma for most of the first 100 years, are reduced to just from Oklahoma around.” It is easy to understand and fits nicely in whatever more than 25 percent of the House of Representatives and Mr. or Ms. Politico may be supporting or opposing this even less than 25 percent of the State Senate. Natural Gas! particular week. If you don’t use it more than two times an What goes around comes around. hour or wisely change audiences every 15 minutes, you can The March 2018 Oklahoma Natural And guess what 640 froze into the state constitution back in make the phrase sound downright intelligent, giving you a Gas Column and Editorial Contest was 1992? That amendment set the approval level at 75 percent, good shot at reaching that political dream of fooling most of judged by a member of the Oklahoma which means that any political party with 25 percent has a the people most of the time. Journalism Hall of Fame. veto. Yeah! You bet! What goes around comes around … and you’d better 1. Each month, send a tear sheet or But when you get down in the wallow of Oklahoma believe it! photocopy of your best column and/ politics, you quickly begin to understand that what goes or editorial to Oklahoma Natural Gas The people of Oklahoma need to understand this: If nothing around really does come around and sometimes packs a Contest, c/o OPA, 3601 N. Lincoln is done about SQ 640, this state will become increasingly terrific wallop. State Question 640, the 1992 constitutional Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105-5499. ungovernable as time goes on. Already Oklahoma has amendment, is a perfect case in point. Entries also may be emailed (full-page suffered through several years of institutional famine. Under tearsheet) to [email protected]. SQ 640 was offered to and adopted by the general public these circumstances, it will not get better. It will only get in 1992 in response to HB 1017, Oklahoma’s landmark worse. 2. Include the author’s name, name of education bill passed by a Democratic legislature in 1990 publication, date of publication and Why? Because a state that is unable to mold a revenue and signed by Henry Bellmon, a Republican governor. category entered (column or editorial). package that will support its programs including its State Rep. Steve Lewis, a Democrat from Pottawatomie schools and pay all its employees decent salaries is an 3. Only ONE editorial and/or ONE column County and speaker of the House at that time, was a strong unsustainable entity. Oklahoma is close to that. At one time, per writer per month will be accepted. supporter of 1017. this state was able to write off its bad years against its good Okay. Got the players down? 4. All entries for the previous month must years — otherwise known as oil boom days. Not any more, be at the OPA office by the 15th of the So two years after 1017 became law, forces which resist friends. Not any more. current month. taxation in practically any form placed SQ 640 on the If Oklahoma isn’t in crisis, it is very close. The firmly 5. Winning entries will be reproduced on Oklahoma ballot. The count was 373,143 in favor and Republican legislature has played around the edges but the OPA website at www.OkPress.com. 290,978 opposed. For several reasons, that decision has yet to take the bold steps that are demanded. Even 26 years ago has tied Oklahoma government and the though Gov. Mary Fallin has offered reasonable taxation Entries must have been previously Oklahoma Legislature in knots. alternatives the last several years, the legislature has not published in print. Contest open to Guess what? We don’t know which way the original responded favorably. At this point, it is not alarmist to say all OPA member newspapers. sponsors of 640 were tilting but odds are they leaned that Oklahoma is on the verge of serious trouble. Republican. After all, they were fighting for lower taxes and Meanwhile, with one seat out of every four, the Democrats Although Oklahoma Natural Gas Company they did something about it. enjoy veto power on taxation measures in the House of selects representative contest winners’ But now, almost three decades later, Republicans control Representatives. Why? Because SQ 640 hands them that. work for use in this monthly ad, the views both houses of the legislature. In fact, the Republicans And you know what else? What goes around comes around. expressed in winning columns and editorials control every state office. The Democrats, who ruled are those of the writers and don’t necessarily reflect the Company’s opinions. Thank you for continued support of “Share The Warmth” Read the Winning Columns & Editorials on the OPA website: www.OkPress.com (Under Contests)