Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black Vol. 109, No. 164 Inside Sports: Rebels heading back to State Entire contents copyrighted 2010 www.durantdemocrat.com SUNDAY, MAY 9, 2010 See Sports, page 1C Durant Daily Democrat$1.00 Big Five kicks Goodbye to Yuba: Elementary school to close off National Memories return at farewell event Community BY MATT SWEARENGIN MANAGING EDITOR Action month BY KEVIN DUKE People came to say “goodbye” STAFF WRITER to Yuba Elementary School during a farewell event held Saturday May is National afternoon at the school. Community Action month Photos lined the walls and cafe- and Big Five Community teria tables were covered with old Services and director Carol yearbooks, scrapbooks, photo Ammons is trying to get the albums and school bulletins. word out. Yuba Elementary School T- “We like to increase pub- shirts were for sale emblazoned lic awareness of all of our with the “Roadrunner” mascot programs and services we and the dates 1929-2010. This is provide,” Ammons said, the final semester for the school “and what it takes to quali- that is closing due to budget cuts. fy. Eight teachers are employed at “A lot of people don't the school and approximately 60 know that they may qualify students are enrolled in grades for our programs and may Kindergarten through sixth grade. not even know what we Earlier this year, officials learned offer.” that the elementary school would Programs offered be closing due to a loss of state through Big Five include funding. developmental disabilities Tonya Wade is not only a grad- services, emergency servic- uate of Yuba School, she has DURANT DAILY DEMOCRAT: MATT SWEARENGIN es, Head Start for kids, taught there for 20 years. housing, weatherization of “I was devastated,” she said, SHOWN ABOVE, looking at old scrapbooks and bulletins from Yuba School are from left, Mike homes, inexpensive trans- when asked about her reaction to Dyson, Sallie Loftis and Frankie Englutt. A “Farewell to Yuba School” event was held at the school portation and workforce the school’s closing. “I’ve been Saturday with former and current administrators, teachers, workers and students attending. The school development, among oth- here 20 years. It is like being is closing due to budget cuts. Below, twin brothers Shannon, left, and Shonnon Hoaglen look at pho- ers. evicted from your home. tographs on the wall. The Hoaglens attended Yuba from 1987-1991. Shown below is a T-shirt from In conjunction with “The kids are great and the the event. National Community teachers are great. We are like one Action month, Big Five is big happy family down here.” hosting an agency-wide Wade, who teaches third grade, conference, May 26, 27 said she will be transferring to and 28 at Southeastern Achille Schools. She said five of Oklahoma State University. Yuba’s eight teachers will transfer to Achille, and the other three will See BIG FIVE, page 2A lose their jobs. Twins Shannon and Shonnon Hoaglen attended Yuba from 1987 Durant City to 1991. “It was kind of a shock,” Council meeting Shonnon said, about the school closing. “It was really unexpected. set for Tuesday I thought it would grow more than Durant City Council years and then went to Achille from Achille in 1996. but it’s sad that it has to happen.” it has. It’s really sad to see it go.” meets at 4 p.m. Tuesday at after the high school closed in “I hated to see it go,” Daley The last day of school is May Shannon said he had the same Durant City Hall for its 1991. He said he has been not said. “These were great kids and 20. Most of the students are reaction. regular monthly meeting. only a teacher, but a coach, bus the people here were wonderful. expected to transfer to Achille for Jim Daley is a former teacher The council will con- driver and principal. He retired “It’s sad. I knew it was coming the next school year. who taught at the school for 21 sider the following agenda items: VVA volunteer raises awareness for veterans to receive benefits — Appointment of Quinton McLarry and BY KEVIN DUKE The couple finally got come in, for example, and “The Secretary of Lemmones. “We had an Mike Lee to the Airport STAFF WRITER through the mounds of have no clue about Agent Veteran’s Affairs has just 89-year-old man come in Advisory Committee forms required and he got Orange and that they added five more illnesses to and cry because he had no — Appointment of Because her husband is a his benefits. So now she should be on an Agent the list, which will take idea why he had been the Whitney Kerr and Stewart Vietnam vet, Debbie spends her time helping Orange registry,” effect in June,” she said. way he was for the last 65 Hoffman to the Board of Lemmones volunteers all other veterans sift through Lemmones said. “They’ve Older veterans from years ... and nobody could Adjustment her time to the Vietnam the paperwork required to never been to a V.A. hospi- World War II and the help him. — Appointment of Veterans Association in get their aid from the tal. It amazes me because Korean War also come “People need to know no Bobby Story, Dr. Jason Durant, acting as an advo- Veterans Administration. some of these guys have through the V.V.A. looking matter what conflict they Simeroth and Ross cate to those who come in Recently she has noticed already had at least one of for help, totally unaware were in, even if they were Walkup to the Durant seeking help. a trend with the veterans the 11 illnesses on the that they could have been stateside, that there are so Community Facilities “We’re all a family,” coming in. They are simply Agent Orange list.” receiving aid from the time many benefits available to Authority Lemmones said. “The guys not aware that they have The chemical compound they got back home from them, all they need to do is — Appointment of are like brothers to us. My been eligible for benefits, in used by the U.S. military as the battlefield. to contact us.” Erica Corbett and Hal husband had a hard time spite of the fact that they a herbicide and defoliant “A lot of these guys Lemmones can be Johnson to Keep Durant getting his benefits, and we have had conditions that are has been shown to cause returned home, went back reached at the V.V.A. in Beautiful basically learned how to do covered by the V.A. numerous illnesses in those to work and never talked Durant at 580-920-1191 or — Appointment of it on our own.” “We have guys that who were exposed to it. about the war again,” said at 580-367-0649. Juliet Cathey and Dennis Garrett to the Library SE, city of Durant receive Economic Development partnership recognition Board — Appointment of BY UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS highlight successful part- Vinny Cacace, Amy Tubbs nerships between higher and Blake Wright to the DURANT— The city of education institutions and Organized Sports Durant and Southeastern businesses and to further Committee Oklahoma State University cultivate the higher learning — Appointment of have been recognized by environment through State Jason Campbell to Parks the Oklahoma State Regents’ Economic & Recreation Advisory Regents for Higher Development Grants. Board Education’s Economic Institutions involved in — Appointment of Development Partnership these partnerships provide Kevin Keener and Eddie Program. $500 for tuition waivers to Wagoner to the Planning Twenty-two business employees of the partner- Commission and higher education part- ing businesses, internships — Resolution in sup- nerships throughout the for current students of the port for the application of state were recently recog- institutions to work at the a tax credit and construc- nized for their innovative partnering businesses, fac- tion of a housing develop- collaborations that further ulty externships with the ment east of 2904 N. First the education of partnering businesses, Ave. Oklahoma’s workforce. and/or enhancement of the — Match for Red River The Oklahoma State partnership with additional Arts Council application Regents for Higher equipment, materials or to Oklahoma Arts Council PHOTO PROVIDED Education’s Economic supplies. The State Regents to Local Government Development Grant for the provide a $500 match to the Challenge grant ACCEPTING THE AWARD were Kathy Hendrick, city manager James Partnership Recognition Dunegan, mayor Jerry Tomlinson, and SE president Larry Minks. Program is designed to See PARTNERSHIP,page 2A See COUNCIL, page 2A DAILY BIBLE VERSE LOOKING AHEAD INSIDE TODAY’S DURANT DAILY DEMOCRAT “Be wise in the way you act toward out- Hill to speak at OREA meeting Friday OBITUARIES .............................................. 2A siders; make the most of every opportu- BUSINESS .................................................. 3A The Bryan County chapter of the Oklahoma Retired Educators Association will hold its monthly meeting OPINION .................................................... 4A nity. Let your conversation be always full at the Raymond McKinney conference room at the Medical Center of Southeastern Oklahoma at noon ANNIE’S MAILBOX...................................... 6A of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you Friday.All members and interested persons are invited to attend.The speaker will be Joe Hill, the local LIFESTYLES ........................................ 1-2, 4B may know how to answer everyone.” representative for Congressman Dan Boren.Those wishing to eat should arrive at 11:30 a.m. For more COMICS .................................................... 3B SPORTS .............................................. 1-4, 8C - Colossians 4:5-6 information, call Jerry Combrink at 745-9679. CLASSIFIED ............................................ 5-7C 2A THE DURANT DAILY DEMOCRAT Obituaries SUNDAY, MAY 9, 2010 National Women’s Susan D. Hancock, 51 Jerry Dollar Health Week kicks A service will be at 10 a.m.