SERVINGLEFLORE LEFLORECOUNTY COUNTY SERVING DailyNews.com Wednesday, June 11, 2014 S A LU T IN G O U R S U B S CRIBE RS L A J U N E TU C KE R 3 Obituaries, Weather, Calendar 4 Opinions 5 Agriculture 7-9 Comics & Classifieds 6 High school basketball Summer Hoops Sports Briefs Choctaw Country Club golf clinic Also Inside: Marvin s IGA, Atwood s 75 Daily Edition Volume 118 No. 247 10 Pages Pool School Wister water study to start Public meeting set Tuesday By Kim Ross PDN Editor Water in Wister Lake will soon be the focus of the Valley Improvement Authority and ecologists as they begin tests for improvement. According to Steve Patterson, restoration ecologist at Bio x Design, several streams and rivers will be tested along with the lake to determine what actions, if any need to be taken to improve the water for all who use it. According to PVIA board members, the lake is not only a source of drinking water for LeFlore County residents, but also some in Latimer and Haskell counties. In past years, PVIA members say there had been a decline in the water quality in the lake. That decline has led to studies over the past few years to determine what improvements need to be made. Several years ago, the water treatment facility began new practices to make improvements and began searching for causes to problems at the lake. With the help of the Choctaw Nation, city of, U.S. Geological Survey and AES Shady Point, data has been gathered from inlets to the Young people participate in the opening day of the lake and the lake as they Kiwanis Club s Learn-to-Swim Program Tuesday morning at Twyman Pool. The sessions are (See WATER, page 2) an hour-long beginning at 9, 10 and 11 a.m. Tuesdays, Golf Clinic Thursdays and Fridays. The program continues this week and the next two weeks. PDN photo by David Seeley Regents OK tuition hike By Amanda Corbin PDN Intern A hike in tuition and meal plan costs for Carl Albert State College students was approved by Regents Tuesday. Tuition fees are expected to increase at the college by 6.9 percent to help offset the shortfalls the college has taken in regard to low enrollment numbers, CASC President Garry Ivey said during the meeting. However, even with this increase, the college will continue to have the lowest cost in tuition and other fees in comparison to other two-year educational institutes in the state, according to regents. According to data from the (See REGENTS, page 2) Benefit dinner set for local woman By Trayce Kerbow PDN Reporter It is hard to imagine in this day and age with all the advancements in medical technology that someone could be misdiagnosed for 10 years. That is what happened to an area woman. Dana Lee, of, was misdiagnosed for about 10 years and had seen doctor after doctor in many major medical facilities without relief. About two years ago doctors at Mayo Clinic told her she suffered from a condition known as cutaneous T cell lymphoma. The illness is a form of nonhodgkin s lymphoma, which is a type of cancer that attacks the immune system. Unlike most non-hodgkin s lymphoma [which are (See BENEFIT, page 2) Sales tax receipts show decrease By Amanda Corbin PDN Intern Garrison Whitworth, Bryant Thomas and Nicholas Ford, from left, watch as Choctaw Country Club Professional Golf Association professional Matt Brown, far right, uses a lining mechanism to help Thomas line up his putts during the first day of the 2014 Junior Golf Clinic on Tuesday morning at Choctaw Country Club. The clinic takes place from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays and will last eight weeks. PDN photo by David Seeley SERVING LEFLORE COUNTY Sales tax receipts in several LeFlore County communities showed a drop in May compared to the same time last year, according to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. received $403,691 in sales taxes this month compared to $428.418 the same time last year. The county sale s tax was $421,956.88, an increase from $399,094.95 of last May. The May distribution of sales tax collections by the Oklahoma Tax Commission primarily represent local tax receipts from March business. To 510 cities and towns statewide, more than $135 million in sales tax was returned, an increase of $9,590,190 from the $125,460,643 distributed last year. The use tax disbursement of $11,680,729 was distributed between 374 cities and towns. In county returns, 76 counties shared in a $29,885,794 sales tax disbursement. The use tax disbursement of $3,463,222 was distributed among 73 counties. Will Be Running A Vacation Coupon Page... Which will be inserted into the Daily News on Saturday, June 28th and will also be available at the Chamber of Commerce, The Vistor s Center and Local Area Motels Advertising deadline for this publication will be Wednesday, June 25th at 5:00 p.m. Don t delay. Get in on this special section today! Come by 804 North Broadway,, OK or Call (918) 647-3188 and ask for Lisa
PAGE 2... WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014 Area POTEAU DAILY NEWS Sales Tax Comparisons for Area Towns REGENTS U.S. Department of Education, reported costs for tuition to attend the college was $1,764 for the 2012/13 academic year. That is $4,938 cheaper than the national two-year colleges whose tuition typically ranged at $6,702. To live on the CASC campus, it s reported to cost $3,860 per year. Along with the tuition increase, the Regents approved of a $50 hike for student meal card plans to further help offset increased May 2014 May 2013 Town Rate Amount Rate Amount ARKOMA 0.03 $6,759.71 0.03 $7,881.92 BOKOSHE 0.03 $3,907.71 0.03 $3,777.75 FANSHAWE 0.03 $314.38 0.03 $337.25 HEAVENER 0.035 $60,422.93 0.035 $64,680.57 LEFLORE 0.01 $550.17 0.01 $270.09 PANAMA 0.03 $15,729.82 0.03 $14,662.04 POCOLA 0.03 $54,944.58 0.03 $44,177.99 POTEAU 0.03 $403,691.98 0.03 $428,418.27 REDOAK 0.02 $7,370.91 0.02 $7,650.96 ROCKISLAND 0.015 $1,401.87 0.015 $1,769.43 SHADYPOINT 0.035 $7,243.93 0.035 $7,345.34 SPIRO 0.03 $50,837.04 0.03 $40,286.92 TALIHINA 0.03 $85,219.89 0.03 $38,712.34 WISTER 0.03 $20,901.90 0.03 $27,085.33 TOTAL 719,296.82 $817,056.2 Related Story on Page 1 costs. Again due to the lack of enrollment and tuition, the regents discussed and approved of a small decrease in their budget. Even though Ivey said that the college was in great shape budget wise and it was still a budget well in confines. Also on the agenda for discussion was CASC Board of Regents officer renewal, approval of the doctoral program candidates and action on Summer Poker League 12 Weeks Starting June 5th through August 14th 2014 Thursdays at 7:00 pm. $13.00 Weekly League/Prize Fund Fee Incredibowl Crazy Fun! Kids Bowl Free This Summer Thursdays & Fridays 2:00-5:00 p.m. Starting June 5th 1/2 Price Laser Tag 1914 N. Broadway, OK the approval of an external auditor. Regents approved former board officers to remain in position for the next year. Belva Barber will remain chair, Ron Lawson vice chair and Carroll Huggins as secretary. They also approved hiring Hinkle and Co. of Tulsa as external auditors for the college. Two CASC employees who are candidates seeking doctorates, Jay Falkner and Mark Willis, were approved for aid in the continuation of their education, with Ivey recommending both men without any hesitation. After advancements in both men s education, they are expected to move into administrative positions at the college. The next regents meeting will be July 15. WATER prepare for the next step in raising the water quality. In August, PVIA plans to add alum into the lake. The chemical is regularly used to treat water but has never been used in such a large-scale experiment. The plan is to reduce the growth of blue-green algae, which is harmful to humans and aquatic life. If the alum works and reduces the algae, the treatment costs are expected to decrease and water standards will improve. In the days to come, Patterson said a team of researchers will be in the area as they take water samples from about 20 BENEFIT generally B-cell related], Lee s illness is caused by a mutation of T cells. T Cells are a type of lymphocyte which is a white blood cell that help protect the body. The malignant cells in the body initially migrate to the skin, causing various lesions to appear. These lesions change shape as the disease progresses, typically beginning to appear as a rash which can be itchy and form plaques and tumors before metastasizing to other parts of the body. Lee has been hospitalized at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas for the past two weeks. She underwent a full body scan radiation treatment and was released from the hospital Monday. Lee will remain in Houston for out-patient treatments for two more weeks before she is allowed to return home. Prior to traveling to the Houston she Superintendent s Honor Roll Kindergarten Kaitlyn Blaylock, Madison Bloxham, Kaitlynn Burney, Nathaniel Castleberry, Stephen Dixon, Johnnie Ellis, Jacob Fowler, Destinee Griffith, John Mott, Drake Rarick, Natalia Sanchez, Alyssa Spearman, Anna Treat, Lexus Whitecotton, Josephine Williams, Dylan Woodall, Kathryn Yandell. First grade Aaisic Crase, Chelsey Crutchfield, Kaylee Traux. Second grade Hunter Jones, Abbiegail Sharp, Kaden Williams, James Yandell. Third grade Seth Stout. Fifth grade Connor Crow, Rebekah Stout. Seventh grade Chloe streams that contribute to the lake. The team of researchers will be led by Dr. Brian Haggard from the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department of the University of Arkansas. While Haggard is collecting samples, which will help determine areas of concern, another lake project will be taking life at the University. Dr. Thad Scott with the Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Department of the university is directing the creation of a computer model of the lake that will help set goals for improvement, options for testing the lake and other Carver, Emily Carver, Hannah Stout. Ninth grade Logan Carver, Sarah Stout. 10th grade Andrieka Warner. 11th grade John Culwell, Sarah Sales. 12th grade Nathan Orton, Dalton Looper. Principal s Honor Roll First grade Bryanna Urchison, Seagi Giradot, Aidan Self, Kenlee Moss, Austin Ralls. Second grade Macy Dennington, Boone Downing, Nathanial Girardol, Alora management options such as fences, watersheds, ponds and soil erosion improvement along the streams that feed the lake. A public meeting will be held Tuesday, June 17, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Lake Wister. The meeting will be held on Quarry Island at the main picnic pavilion. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting where your questions can be answered by PVIA staff, scientists and other representatives of the project. For more information visit PVIA s website at www.pvia.org or call (918) 655-7500. traveled twice a month to the Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City for photopheresis. It is a procedure in which blood is removed from the body and treated with ultraviolet light and drugs that become active when exposed to light. There will be a benefit spaghetti dinner and pie action to help the Lees on Sunday, June 15, at the First United Methodist Church located at 109 South Harper in. The benefit will be held from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. and will be $6 a plate for adults and $4 for children 10 and under. All proceeds will benefit the Lee s as they work to win Dana s battle with cancer. This benefit is co-sponsored by Heavener Masonic Lodge No. 154 and Masonic Lodge No. 46. Bokoshe Honor Rolls Beenblossom, Kody Lockhart, Tyler Sanderson, Jackson Walters. Third grade Dylan Stites, Kuston Summers, Krista Dotson, Austin Treat. Fourth grade Haley Reiter. Fifth grade Heaven Moss, Kassperlyn Woods- Mott, Matthew Weaver, Nikayla Carter. Sixth grade John Oliver, Brayden Treat. Eighth grade Alex Dixon, Talia Cox. Ninth grade Rica Beam, Lily Girardot, Shawnee Gibson, Casey Price, Jackson Reiter, Kalina Warner. 10th grade Rosa Vazquez, Brooke Morrison. 11th grade Ragan Abernathy. 12th grade Kailyn Hollie, Danyale Price, Montana Walker, Andrew Wallbaum, Kassandra Warner, Jacob Watson. Vote in our weekly poll at poteaudailynews.com. This week s question: Do you think Bowe Bergdahl be tried as a deserter or be hailed as a hero? American Castings, in Pryor, has immediate openings & advancement opportunities: Grinder, 3rd shift $13.29 - $17.20/hr + shift Experience preferred but not required Full Time or Part Time positions available. Iron Pourer, 3rd shift $13.29 - $17.20/hr + shift Experience preferred but not required Maintenance Tech, 2nd & 3rd Shift up to $25.60/hr Electrical, Mechanical and/or Welding background required. Previous Industrial experience required. 3rd is a 12 hour shift. Not rotating. 2100 S. Broadway, 918-647-2228 Check out our website at www.riversideautoplex.com Starting pay depends on experience and/or education. Please see our website for the entire list of openings. American Castings offers the following benefit package: Medical Insurance Dental Insurance Life Insurance Flexible Spending Account 401K Paid Holidays Vacation Tuition Reimbursement Program Employee Referral Program Internal Promotion Program Monthly Bonus Program Apply at American Castings, Oklahoma Workforce or on-line at www.americancastings.com & click on Contact Us & Careers link. Apply by 06/15/2014 to be considered. An Equal Opportunity Employer Minority/Female/Disabled/Vets
Today's Weather Local 5-Day Forecast POTEAU DAILY NEWS Area Today is King Kamehameha Day TO D A Y S c i e n c e Safari with Susan Campbell, 10-11 a.m., Patrick Lynch Public Library Community Room. Teens learn skills for surviving and thriving in a primitive environment, presented by Thomas Long, 11:30 a.m., Patrick Lynch Public Library Community Room. Needleworks summer program begins, 10 a.m., First Baptist Church. Info: (918) 649-0465 or (918) 647-3474. JUNE 12 Blood drive, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Rubin White Health Clinic. Greenhill Cemetery Association asks that flowers be picked by today. Kiwanis Club s Learnto-Swim Program, 9, 10, 11 a.m., Twyman Pool. Grand opening, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Cavanal Tire and Auto, 2501 N. Broadway. Ribbon cutting, 10 a.m., R&R Animal Clinic, 27272 Oklahoma Highway 59, Shady Point. JU N E 13 Kiwanis Club s Learn-to-Swim Program, 9, 10, 11 a.m., Twyman Pool. Book signing by Denessa Baters McPherson, daughter of the late Jackie Baters, who wrote Tell Them So, 2 p.m., Talihina Public Library. Ribbon cutting, noon, Hammond Family Dental, 204 Robert. JUNE 14 Hamburger cookout to benefit Chelsea Spearman, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sidewinder Signs parking lot, 2409 N. Broadway. Gateway to the Mountains car show, dog show, music crafts, food, 8 a.m., Panama Elementary School. LAM 5k, Running Toward a Cure, registration 5 a.m. run 7 a.m., Choctaw Nation Senior Center, Talihina. The Glendale-Mount View Cemetery Association asks that all flowers and decorations on the graves be removed by today for mowing. Today's Wed Thu Weather Fri 6/11 Local 5-Day Forecast Wed 6/11 86/64 Generally sunny. High 86F. Winds light 86/64 and variable. Generally sunny. High 86F. Winds light and variable. 8:32 PM 8:32 PM Thu 6/12 80/65 sible. Scattered thunderstorms possible. 8:33 PM 8:33 PM Fri 6/13 83/64 Times of sun and clouds. Highs 83/64 in the low Times 80sofand lows sun and in the mid clouds. 60s. Highs in the low 80s and lows in the mid 60s. 8:33 PM 8:33 PM Oklahoma At A Glance Enid Sat 6/14 8:34 PM 8:34 PM Enid Oklahoma 93/65 City 89/66 Lawton Oklahoma 94/66 City 89/66 Lawton 94/66 Sun 6/15 8:34 PM 8:34 PM Tulsa 86/66 86/64 Ardmore 91 69 sunny Okmulgee 87 66 sunny Area Bartlesville Cities 86 65 sunny Pauls Valley 89 68 sunny Broken City Bow 88 Hi Lo 64 Cond. sunny Perry City 90 Hi Lo 66 Cond. sunny Claremore Antlers 87 90 66 68 sunny Sallisaw Oklahoma City 85 89 63 66 sunny Cordell Ardmore 92 91 66 69 sunny Sapulpa Okmulgee 87 66 sunny Duncan Bartlesville 91 86 69 65 sunny Shawnee Pauls Valley 89 67 68 sunny El Broken RenoBow 89 88 65 64 sunny Snyder Perry 94 90 67 66 sunny Elk Claremore City 91 87 66 sunny Stillwater Sallisaw 90 85 66 63 sunny Enid Cordell 93 92 65 66 sunny Tahlequah Sapulpa 83 87 63 66 sunny Guymon Duncan 92 91 61 69 pt sunny sunny Tulsa Shawnee 86 89 66 67 sunny Lawton El Reno 94 89 66 65 sunny Watonga Snyder 90 94 65 67 sunny McAlester Elk City 87 91 68 66 sunny Weatherford Stillwater 90 65 66 sunny Miami Enid 84 93 63 65 sunny Wewoka Tahlequah 88 83 68 63 sunny Muskogee Guymon 86 92 66 61 sunny pt sunny Woodward Tulsa 92 86 64 66 mst sunny sunny Lawton 94 66 sunny Watonga 90 65 sunny McAlester 87 68 sunny Weatherford 90 65 sunny National Miami Cities 84 63 sunny Wewoka 88 68 sunny City Muskogee 86 Hi Lo 66 Cond. sunny City Woodward 92 Hi Lo 64 Cond. mst sunny Atlanta 82 66 t-storm Minneapolis 81 57 mst sunny Sudoku Puzzle #3240-M Boston 65 58 pt sunny New York 71 63 cloudy National Chicago Cities 70 58 rain Phoenix 100 71 sunny Dallas City 92 Hi Lo 73 Cond. sunny San City Francisco 61 Hi Lo 52 Cond. mst sunny Denver 1 Atlanta 80 2 3 82 53 66 t-storm Seattle Minneapolis 73 81 54 57 pt mst sunny Houston Boston 95 65 74 58 mst pt sunny St. NewLouis York 79 71 62 63 rain cloudy Los Chicago Angeles 73 70 59 58 pt rain sunny Washington, Phoenix DC 100 91 71 t-storm 3 4 5 1 sunny Miami Dallas 87 92 76 73 t-storm sunny San Francisco 61 52 mst sunny Denver 80 53 t-storm Seattle 73 54 pt sunny Houston 6 95 74 mst sunny7 St. Louis 4 79 62 rain8 Moon Los Angeles Phases 73 59 pt sunny Washington, DC 91 71 t-storm Miami 87 76 t-storm Moon Phases 6/12 80/65 Scattered thunderstorms pos- 6/13 Oklahoma At A Glance Sat 6/14 88/70 Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 88/70 80s and Mix of lows sunin the andlow clouds. 70s. Highs in the upper 80s and lows in the low 70s. Sun 6/15 89/74 Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 89/74 80s and Partly lows in the cloudy. mid 70s. Highs in the upper 80s and lows in the mid 70s. Tulsa 86/66 Do You Need New Siding? New Windows? Or A New Roof? 93/65 86/64 Area Cities City Hi Lo Cond. City Hi Lo Cond. Antlers 90 68 sunny Oklahoma City 89 66 sunny 8 7 9 7 6 4 5 First 8 Full 1 2 Last New Jun 5 Jun 13 Jun 19 Jun 27 5 4 3 1 UV Index First Full Last New Jun 59 Jun 13 1 Jun 19 3Jun 276 Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 6/11 6/12 6/13 6/14 6/15 UV Index 10 18 10 102 7 10 Very High Very High Very High Very High Very High 2009 Hometown Wed Content Thu Fri Sat Sun 6/11 6/12 6/13 6/14 Medium The UV Index is measured on a 0-11 number scale, 6/15 with a higher 10 UV Index showing 8 the need10 for greater 0 11 10 10 skin protection. Solution Very Highto June Very High 10 puzzle Very High Each Very puzzle High is divided Very High into nine sections, and each section 2010 Sudoku The UVAmerican Index Solution is measured Profile #3240-D Hometown on a 0-11 Content number Service has scale, nine with a higher UV Index showing the need for greater 0blank squares. Fill in 11all 81 squares on the puzzle with skin 8 protection. 1 7 4 6 2 3 5 9 9 3 4 1 8 5 6 2 7 numbers 1 to 9. You may not repeat any numbers in any one of 2010 6 5American 2 7 Profile 3 9Hometown 8 1 Content 4 Service the nine sections that you've 5 8 6 3 9 1 7 4 2 already used elsewhere in that 2 9 3 5 4 7 1 8 6 section. Also, you can use each number 1-9 only once in each 7 4 1 6 2 8 5 9 3 horizontal line of nine squares, 4 6 5 2 1 3 9 7 8 and in each vertical column of 1 2 8 9 7 6 4 3 5 nine squares. The puzzle is completed when you correctly fill 3 7 9 8 5 4 2 6 1 2009 Hometown Content every square. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014... PAGE 3 OBITUARIES Franklin Moore Stubs Berry Franklin Moore Stubs Berry, 85, of died Wednesday, May 28, 2014, in Oklahoma Veterans Center in Talihina. Frank was born Dec. 19, 1928, in Michigan, the son of the late Mark O. and Alta (Moore) Berry. Frank served in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Roswell, N.M. He was a retired carpenter, a member of Eagles in Spiro. He loved racing and riding motorcycles. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jim Berry; sisters, Frances Root, Mabel Vanorman, Evelyn Parker and Helen Manning all of Michigan; grandson, Ian Berry of Maryland; and son-in-law, Jackie Dyer. He is survived by a son, Edward K. Berry and wife Patricia of Maryland; daughters, Dorothy Hartley, 87, of Bokoshe died June 7, 2014, in Spiro. She was born Jan. 2, 1927, in Oklahoma to B.O. and Alice (Robertson) Jones. She was a homemaker and retired cosmetology instructor for a beauty college. Dorothy was a lifetime member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, VFW Ladies Auxiliary and Rebecca Lodge. She is preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Bill Hartley; and son, Robert Hartley. Dorothy is survived by two sons, Tom and wife Carol Hartley of Panama and Richard and wife Brenda Hartley of Spiro; a daughter, Belinda and husband Thomas Burns of Fort Smith, Ark.; two brothers, Blood drives set at sites Three blood drives are scheduled in in the coming days. The events will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Rubin White Clinic, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 17, at the Department of Human Services and 1-4:30 p.m. Friday, June 20, at Walmart. All Oklahoma Blood Institute donors will receive two admissions to the Oklahoma City Zoo. A T-shirt featuring the zoo s snow leopard will also be given to each donor and two admissions to the Tulsa Zoo. Dorothy Louise Hartley Deborah G. Shetter and husband Randy, Pamela K. Dyer, Teresa E. Bratcher and husband Randy all of Oklahoma; three sisters, Fern (Burkett) Starr, Carol Ann Newberry and Kathy Anderson all of Michigan; 12 grandchildren; 13 greatgrandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, loved ones and friends. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Evans Chapel of Memories,. You may leave an online message at evansandmillerfuneralhomes.com. John Jones of and Harold Jones of Fort Defiance, Ariz.; a sister, Velma Ferguson of Kansas; 11 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and many more family members, friends and loved ones. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 12, at Old Bokoshe Cemetery with Pastor Wesley LeFlore officiating. Services are under the direction of Grace Manor Funeral Home of. You may leave an on-line greeting to the family at www.gracemanorfh.com. Thank you The family of Joe Duncan deeply appreciates the kindness and support of friends and neighbors during our time of loss. 100% FINANCING! NO MONEY DOWN 30,000 COMPLETED JOBS IN THE AREA If You Own Or Are Buying Your Home And would Like A Free Estimate From Our Company, Here Are Just A Few Reasons TO CALL NOW: 1. $30 Gas Card Absolutely Free with Every Estimate 2. 30% Discount (June Only) 3. NO Charge for Under Layment under Roof 1-800-NEW-RO (639-7663) 479-649-2600 A+ Rating
PAGE 4... WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014 Opinions POTEAU DAILY NEWS Editorial Roundup After repeal of Common Core in state, need for higher standards remains Editorial Excerpts from The Oklahoman, June 8, 2014: For reasons having little to do with reality, Common Core Academic Standards have become politically toxic. Virtually all problems in America s education system are being blamed on the standards, including problems that long preceded creation of the standards. Thus, it s not surprising that Gov. Mary Fallin chose to sign legislation repealing Common Core in Oklahoma. But what comes next? Fallin said the goal is to create new state-developed standards better than Common Core. That s a goal we endorse as well. But the provisions of the repeal legislation, House Bill 3399, make such an outcome unlikely. Under the new law, the State Board of Education will be required to adopt new academic standards in language and math by Aug. 1, 2016. The process must involve consultation with a wide range of experts and interested parties. However, as we ve noted before, the legislation also includes provisions allowing state lawmakers to then unilaterally rewrite the academic standards themselves, thoroughly politicizing the process. Those provisions are most likely unconstitutional. A court challenge is expected. The National Association of State Boards of Education recently told Fallin about the bill s constitutional problems. The state constitution grants the State Board of Education authority over the supervision of instruction in the public schools. The board is clearly part of the executive branch since its members are either gubernatorial appointees or the state superintendent. Past court rulings have declared, One constitutional body may not exercise a function expressly set apart to another constitutional body. And the Oklahoma Constitution prohibits legislative intrusion upon the functions assigned by the constitution to the executive. Thus, state lawmakers attempt to co-opt the board s authority regarding academic-standards development appears a clear constitutional violation. But even if the courts uphold the bill s constitutionality, there is little reason to believe lawmakers will actually support rigorous, state-developed standards. This year, both chambers of the Legislature voted to reject statedeveloped science standards (although that repeal effort ultimately fell short). The new Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science are the product of more than a year of work by a committee of more than 60 members. More than 500 people ultimately helped write, review, comment or offer input. The new science standards were considered a solid improvement over the prior standards, which received an F grade in a 2012 Fordham Institute study. Yet lawmakers still came close to rejecting those standards, despite the fact they were developed under the statedirected process legislators claim to champion. The Oklahoma Science Teachers Association notes many lawmakers objections focused on the presentation of climate science in early grade levels. Apparently, those politicians assumed any mention of climate was a de facto endorsement of the theory of man-made climate change. In reality, education officials felt it was important for students living in a state known for tornados and other natural disasters to have some working knowledge of weather and climate. The Oklahoma Science Teachers Association notes Oklahoma s prior science standards also included references to weather and climate. Thanks to HB 3399, Oklahomans may not have to worry about the alleged nefarious influence of national groups on Oklahoma schools. Instead, they must now worry that state lawmakers will wreck the system for purposes of political posturing. In this case, the cure to purported problems with Common Core may be as bad as the disease. EDITORIAL CONTENT POLICY: Columns, cartoons and letters to the editor published in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Daily News or its management. LeFlore County s Newspaper Since 1895 The Daily News (USPS 440-200) is published daily by Horizon Oklahoma Publishing Company Inc.,, OK 74953. Periodical privileges paid at, OK. POSTMASTER: Send change of addresses to Daily News, P.O. Box 1237,, OK 74953. The Daily News publishes Tuesday through Saturday. Terry Erwin, Publisher...Ext. 25 publisher@poteaudailynews.com Kim Ross, Editor... Ext. 17 editor@poteaudailynews.com Cheryl Thornburg, Business Manager... Ext. 13 business.mgr.pdn@gmail.com Melanie Potter, Circulation Director... Ext. 27 circulation@poteaudailynews.com Sharon Poor, Classifieds/Legals... Ext. 11 classifieds@poteaudailynews.com Letters to the Dear Editor, If I m being completely honest, advocating for my son and others can, at times, be exhausting. Sure, it s one of the most rewarding things I ve done, but the hours of research, networking, conferences, meetings, etc. can begin to get monotonous. There are other times though, times when I read a great book, or hear an awesome speaker that revives my passion and rejuvenates my understanding of why I do this. The keynote speaker at the recent Governor s Conference on Developmental Disabilities did that for me. I actually didn t look the agenda, so I wasn t aware of the speaker s name. However, when I arrived the first morning I was talking to one of my mentors, Ann Trudgeon, director of the Oklahoma Developmental Disabilities Council, and she explained how excited she was to hear Jonathan Mooney speak. I recognized the name, but couldn t place it. As I thumbed through my program I saw his picture and MEMBER: I just wanted to make some clarifications concerning third-grade reading test scores that were printed in a letter addressed to your newspaper on June 7. The letter was written by a citizen who was concerned that legislation altering the requirements originally written in the Oklahoma Reading Sufficiency Act has recently been enacted. The purpose of my letter is not to debate the pros or cons of the RSA or the recent changes made to it. I simply would like to provide community members correct information and test percentages. The article listed the percentages of proficient and advanced scores of each school within LeFlore County. What your contributor was apparently not aware of was that some scores were redacted due to FERPA. The law prohibited the State Department of Education from publishing percentages in any category in which fewer than 10 students had received that score. This affected the overall proficient score published on the SDE website and in your newspaper for several school districts. In the Wister school district, for example, 10 percent of our students scored advanced. However, this 10 percent was made up of fewer than 10 students; therefore, this percentage was redacted due to FERPA. Wister s actual proficient and advanced average should have read 77 percent. The letter also stated that several school districts had not submitted data. In reality, these school districts had fewer than 10 students scoring in each category so no percentages could be published due to FERPA. Fanshawe school district, for example, had a 100 percent passage rate on the third-grade reading OCCT. realized he was the author of on of my favorite books, The Short Bus. I had done a review of this book a little over a year ago, and began to get excited myself. The ideas in this book were awesome as Mooney gave a first-hand account of traveling around the United States in an undersized bus to talk to people and families coping with disabilities. Within moments we were introducing ourselves to the author as he sat down at our table. He asked what brought us to the conference and I got to share with him information about my family and the work I ve been doing with the center. This was only a brief conversation as he then made his way to the stage for his speech. This is where the magic began for me. Mooney began to speak about the school systems and how he overcame the idea that, if you have a disability you are broken and either need to be fixed or cease to be different. He spoke of his own To Contact Us: Mail: P.O. Box 1237,, OK 74953 Location: 804 N. Broadway, Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday Friday Telephone: 918-647-3188 Fax: 918-647-8198 Website: www.poteaudailynews.com You can expect delivery of your paper by 6 a.m. Please call by 10 a.m. for prompt replacement delivery. If your paper is damaged or missing... 918-647-3188, Ext. 27 To Subscribe: Phone 918-647-3188 1 month.......................................$9.50 3 months....................................... $25 6 months....................................... $42 1 year......................................... $75 Out-of-County, Out-of-State 1 month... $12 3 months.... $35 6 months.... $66 1 year... $129 EDITOR The Magic Bus struggles with dislexia and ADHD, and how he was made to, Feel less because of a diagnosis. Mooney went on in life to overcome these issues and attended Brown University, an Ivy League school, major in English, write two books and become a successful entrepreneur despite, as he put it, still having dislexia, still having ADHD and having The attention span of a gnat. So how did he do all of this even though he writes on what he says is a thirdgrade level? He had help from people who believed in him. They encouraged him, worked with him, made accommodations to help with the positive issues and lessen the negatives. He had teachers and professors who saw his potential and do what they could to make him a better student. When he faced difficulties he found ways around them. Despite not being able to spell very well he writes books. He jokingly said he married his spell-checker. I didn t overcome dislexia, said Mooney. I overcame disteachia. His problems began in kindergarten when a teacher made him feel like a bad kid because he couldn t sit still in the desk due to his ADHD. She would say things like, What is wrong with you? and, What is your problem? These sentences are uttered all too often in our classrooms because a child doesn t conform to the normal activity. Mooney was told he was dumb, and even contemplated suicide at the age of These are only two school districts I am aware of where FERPA impacted the overall percentage of proficient or higher scores presented to the public. Thank you for allowing me to use this forum to share more complete information concerning third-grade reading test scores. Teachers and administrators across this county are working diligently to ensure students are receiving the skills necessary to be successful in college, career, community and beyond. I believe it imperative that the efforts of those students, teachers and administrators be accurately reflected to your readership. Warmest regards, Pervasive Parenting Kodey Toney Debbie White, Elementary Principal Wister Public Schools 12. He had to learn that, as he put it, We don t have a disability. We experience disability in factors of our environment everyday. That experience is in the way disabilities are treated by others. I didn t need someone to fix me, said Mooney. I needed someone to fight for me. He needed someone to change the environments and stand up to the ideas that there is something wrong with people with disabilities. He had a professor in college who encouraged him to major in English. Another English professor told him he should probably look for another career path. Mooney said that second professor has signed copies of each of his books sitting on his desk. We just have to unearth.. what is right, said Mooney. Everyone has something to contribute, every single person in the world. We just have to find a way to tap into that gift and bring it out. I agree with Mooney when he says that we have to fight against the myth of normal and let persons with disabilities hear that they are not broken. What s broken is the idea that we should all be the same, said Mooney. Kodey Toney is a parent of a child with autism. E-mail him with questions or ideas at pervasiveparenting@hotmail.com. You also can find all columns archived at blogspot.com.