The Oklahoma Publisher Official Publication of the Oklahoma Press Association www.OkPress.com Vol. 88, No. 1 www.Facebook.com/okpress 12 Pages • January 2017 INSIDE Register for the February 9 Legislative Summit MUSSELMAN, QUARTER Members of the Oklahoma & HALF CENTURY Press Association are encour- CLUBS, OTHER aged to attend the Feb. 9 OPA CONTESTS: Nominations Legislative Summit at the State due by Monday, February 13. Capitol in Oklahoma City. Take a look and see if you This is an opportunity for know someone who should be publishers, editors and report- nominated. ers to speak with legislators PAGE 4 about the many bills affecting newspapers and newspaper NEWS RACKS STOLEN: interests. The Choctaw Times has had “Visiting your legislator at four news racks stolen over the their Capitol office really makes past few weeks. an impact,” said Mark Thomas, PAGE 7 vice president of the OPA. The summit begins with a NATIONAL NEWS brief group meeting at 9:30 a.m. COVERAGE: Enid News & in room 206, located in the Eagle featured in The New York south hallway of the second Times. floor. At 10 a.m., OPA members PAGE 8 will split up to visit their leg- islators’ offices. Lunch will be DONATE TO ONF to receive provided in the Capitol Rotunda this Will Rogers print. Details at at 11:30. At 12:30 p.m., OPA OkPress.com/will-rogers. members will meet again in room 206 to hear from legisla- tive leaders. A survey of legislators showed that the most effec- tive contact with legislators is a personal visit. Email ranked fourth and phone calls ranked fifth. According to the survey, legislators make time to listen to people who come to the capi- tol to express their concerns. Every organization, includ- ing those that oppose newspa- cials. Newly elected legislators need to be dom of Information issues, and business per interests, go to the capitol to demon- visited at the capitol by their local newspa- issues affecting newspapers, such as public strate commitment to their legislative goals per to make sure there is an established notice, taxation of advertising and circula- and desires Those voices must be offset by relationship that can be called upon when tion, workers’ compensation reform, etc. the presence of newspaper publishers and it is time to vote on issues critical to our Although the OPA Legislative Summit editors at the capitol early in the legislative industry. is free, please register in advance at www. session. Newspapers have several important leg- okpress.com/legislative-summit. Term limits guarantee a constant turn- islative principles they support and defend, over of legislative power and elected offi- including First Amendment issues, Free- Postmark Better Newspaper Contest entries by February 13 Entries in the Oklahoma Press Asso- ing Series, In-Depth Enterprise, Editorial Winners of the 2016 Better Newspaper ciation’s Better Newspaper Contest must Comment, Personal Columns, News Writ- Contest will be announced on June 10 at be postmarked by Monday, February 13. ing, Feature Writing, Sports Coverage, the OPA Convention in Oklahoma City. The contest is open to current OPA Photography and Community Leadership. Complete contest rules, entry forms Business and Sustaining members in good Every event will be awarded first and mail labels are available on the OPA standing, and all college newspapers. through fourth place and receive points website at www.okpress.com/contest. The contest recognizes the best based on the event and place. For rule clarification or other contest work of OPA member newspapers in 13 Points are tallied for each division to information, contact Lisa Sutliff at 405- events – News Content, Layout & Design, determine the Sequoyah Award, the high- 499-0026 or Jennifer Gilliland at 405-499- Advertising, Sales Promotion, Advertis- est honor in the contest. 0028. 2 The Oklahoma Publisher // January 2017 front to back with excitement to hear Reunion, which bring thousands of folks about family and friends. One of our back to Cheyenne. The unique reunion CIMARRON TEXAS BEAVER HARPER readers says it is like a letter from home commemorates the 1892 land run of the every week,” she added. area and will be celebrated April 17-22, ELLIS Every five years Cheyenne hosts 2017. the Cheyenne-Arapaho Old Settlers ROGER MILLS BECKHAM BY OPA PRESIDENT DAYVA SPITZER GREER Co-Publisher, Sayre Record & Beckham County Democrat HARMON Cheyenne Star still shining bright over Roger Mills County In the heart of Roger Mills County cate (1916-1964) and, most recently, The is Cheyenne, a county seat town whose Leedey Star, which printed from 1934 to newspaper serves as the only remaining 1986. publication in Oklahoma’s third least The Star’s ownership began with C.C. populated county. Pritchard & J.P. Johnson, then passed on Roger Mills County’s population was to A.H. Carter and W.W. Rakes for just estimated at 3,743 residents in 2013. one year before being owned for over 50 The Cheyenne Star is the oldest con- years by John C. & Klina Casady from tinual operating business in the county 1911 to 1966. W.J. Redden and Oran Red- and the subject of this month’s Weeklies den owned the paper from 1967 to 1973. Out West column. It was purchased by Rollin and Linda Roger Mills County possesses some Reimer in 1974, who operated it until unique assets, not only to the state, but 1986. Casey and Karla Paxton acquired also to the nation. The county and sur- it next and published until 1999 at which rounding area sits atop the petroleum- time the present publisher, Melanie A. rich geology that is part of the largest Anspaugh, bought the paper. Cheyenne Star publisher Melanie Anspaugh shows Dayva Spitzer one of the few volume gas fields in the nation. Anspaugh tells of some interesting antique pieces of equipment remaining from the old Star office building, a Graphotype Cheyenne, specifically, is home to history regarding previous publisher addressing plate maker. the Washita Battlefield National Historic John Casady, who used to keep artifacts Site. The site, established in 1996, pro- such as skulls, bones and other items tects and interprets the setting along found at the Washita Battlefield Site to OPA CALENDAR OF EVENTS the Washita River where Lt. Col. George display in the windows of The Cheyenne Custer led the 7th U.S. Calvary in an Star office. Another story is that during THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017 attack against Peace Chief Black Kettle’s elections, a runner would be hired to OPA LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT Southern Cheyenne village on Novem- bring results from the courthouse to 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM.– FREE, but please register in advance ber 27, 1868. This unit of the national Casady, who would post the outcome park system has a wonderful museum on a large chalkboard outside the news OPA’s Legislative Summit is free to attend, so all OPA members are encouraged to meet at the State Capitol on Feb. 9. After a short group meeting in room 206, which is in the South Hallway facility and well-maintained battleground office before it was published that week. of the 2nd floor, members will split up to visit their legislators’ offices. Lunch provided by OPA. environment worthy of anyone’s time. The Star was also the gathering place The Cheyenne Star is the only news- during the holidays for the annual tur- paper still publishing in a county that key toss, where live turkeys were tossed MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2017 at one time had several publications from the roof of the building to those DEADLINE FOR OPA CONTESTS & AWARDS in existence beginning with the Chey- eager and tough enough to chase down All contest entries and award nominations must be postmarked or delivered to OPA by Monday, enne Sunbeam, birthed in 1892. Only their holiday dinner. February 13, 2017. This includes Better Newspaper Contest, Digital Media Contest, Print Quality two years after the Oklahoma Run, the Melanie does a tremendous job of Contest, Outdoor Writer of the Year Contest, Beachy Musselman Award, Half Century Club and Sunbeam was chartered by W.G. Morris covering not only her community of Quarter Century Club. with its chief source of income being Cheyenne, but also news from Rey- publication of homestead title legals. don, Leedey, Hammon and Sweetwater. SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017 Just eight years later the newspaper School news and sports are the mainstay became The Cheyenne Star and has of her coverage, as is true with most NEWSTRAIN WORKSHOP never missed publishing an issue since small town newspapers, with basketball APME’s NewsTrain workshop will be held at the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Com- its inauguration. capturing much of the coverage time. munication at the University of Oklahoma. More information will be posted when the NewsTrain Other short lived newspapers in the Cheyenne/Reydon and Hammon have agenda is finalized and the workshop is open for registration. county include The Western Star (1900- been regulars in the high school state 1904), Roger Mills Sentinel (1907-1908), tournaments over the last several years. FRI. & SAT, JUNE 9 & 10, 2017 The Strong City Herald (1912-1924) and Melanie also maintains a dedicated OPA ANNUAL CONVENTION The Cheyenne & Roger Mills Sentinel, list of contributors who provide news which published from 1918 to 1929. The from their communities allowing her Mark your calendars to join us for OPA’s Annual Convention, held at the Skirvin Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City. More information will be posted later this year. Cheyenne News published a short time to serve the whole county. “We always from 1935-1938. Besides The Cheyenne strive to bring only local news to our For more information on upcoming events, visit the OPA website at Star, the longest publishing newspapers readers,” says Melanie.