Roosevelt News

-- East Coast Edition –

 

-- Printed in Loving Memory of Wanda J. Jackson 1934 - 2011 –

 

News Center

Read old/current issues and send news or comments online at:

http://www.234enterprises.com/RooseveltNews/newscenter.htm

 

Editors:

E-mail: mmay@234enterprises.com

 Carolyn Niebruegge May                      Michael L. May

Vol. 2, Is. 5                                                                                        Aug. 17, 2012

 

 

From the Editor

 

It’s a wonderful rainy morning here in Virginia this morning.  We’ve had several of these recently, but the water tends to be cut off at ¼ of an inch.  We do need more, but we’ll take what we can get when we can get it--especially when strong storms are not involved. They say we could have some of them this afternoon.  Most certainly hope not.  I know that our friends back in Oklahoma would take what we’re getting and be most thankful.

 

You’ll see more below, but we are so pleased to have added the “Cooperton Valley” PictureTrail site to the “Roosevelt News -- East Coast Edition.”  This was one of Wanda’s PictureTrail accounts that we were not aware of.  Our sincere thanks to Karen (Johnson) Mason for inquiring about the site leading to us turning it up on a PictureTrail archive server.  My biggest concern is the fact that there are so many photos in which the faces look so familiar, but I just can’t put a name with the face.  As you view these photos, I would encourage each of you to go into the individual pictures and add names of those you recognize in the comment section.  That would be so helpful for all.  Please help us out if you recognize any of these people.  I went through the 2010 reunion photos and the only obvious ID to me was Ronnie Sheets.  Ronnie, “You can run, but you can’t hide.”  The site can be accessed at:  http://www.picturetrail.com/coopertonvalley. 

 

I just have to comment on Romney’s pick for VP (Paul Ryan).  Although, I really think I would have preferred Chris Christie, I’ll “just go with it.”  I share the feelings of Joe Scarborough (Morning Joe) who said (and I paraphrase), “This is the first thing that has excited me from the Republicans in this campaign.”  This is all good, but I fear too little, too late.  For the life of me, given his record, I don’t understand why Obama is in the lead.  Oh, I do understand why, I just don’t feel comfortable explaining it in this forum.  That said, if for some reason Obama is unable to carry his lead into the election with the current Democratic ticket, I could suggest the “trump card” that would most definitely carry him there on a “magic carpet” -- drop Biden and pick up Clinton as his VP.  Jus sayin’

 

Enough of politics for now.  Feel I’m in need of another infusion of caffeine so I believe I’d better head for another cup of coffee.  Later…

 

mlm

 

 

 

Letter to the Editor

 

We encourage all of you to send us letters, etc., for inclusion in the newsletter.

 

Modern Day Heroes and Miracles in Cooperton Valley

 

Recently I was reminded of my childhood heroes.  I learned all about them from the movie theater in Hobart.  I looked forward to seeing them every Saturday because my grandfather and I went to the movies while my grandmother sold her eggs and cream from their farm and bought her groceries that she would need that week.  My favorite movie hero was Lash Larue but I also liked Roy Rogers, The Lone Ranger and Tonto, Gene Autry and Sky King.  Every week they were solving new problems.  As time passed and I grew up, I realized one of my heroes was my Grandfather.  He didn't need a gun, a guitar, nor a whip.  He could use his brain to solve most any problem I caused!  In July I was reminded of those childhood heroes and found myself with a new set of Oklahoma Heroes to admire.

 

July was a very hot month this year and that day wasn't any different.  We were returning from Hobart to our family farm located two miles south and two miles east of Cooperton when I noticed a huge plume of smoke near Indiahoma.  I kept my eye on the smoke cloud, and after starting to grill our dinner out on our new deck I noticed ash falling all around me.  The possibility of our evacuation was the topic of discussion around the dinner table and about half way through dinner we heard a loud knock on the front door.  That was when we found our first hero.  He was from the Sheriff's Department and advised us to evacuate as soon as possible.  We are not sure but we think he was from the Kiowa County Sheriff's Department.  We quickly gathered our most cherished possessions along with our daily necessities and left our home.  We knew there was no way to stop the fire before it got to our home because of the furious wind blowing the flames in our direction.  As we drove down our lane, lots of memories of the 104 years our family has owned the farm flashed in our minds.  None of those memories included a fire like this one.

 

We drove to the parking area for the Cut Throat Gap Historic Marker on Highway 54 and watched as the veil of smoke quickly moved north and soon covered the mountain behind our house.  Then we began to see the flames shoot up where our property is located.  Sadly, we went back to our home expecting everything to be burned.  Before starting down the lane we could see a miracle had happened.  The house and barn had survived.  When we pulled up closer to the house, we could see several more heroes with two tanker fire trucks, one from Mountain View and one from Hobart.  The fire had come within 40 feet of our new deck so saving our house had not been easy.  The fire was smoldering all around us, but the firemen told us not to worry because they would be spending the night to make sure no new fires would have a chance to start.

 

Our next heroes were our Cooperton friends, a couple who wanted us to stay at their house overnight and other friends who dropped by to make sure our things were safe.  When we returned early the next morning we were counting our blessings.  The fire had swept over most of our land but the things we couldn't replace were still there.

 

We are so grateful to those heroes from the Hobart and Mountain View Fire Departments who saved all of the buildings on our farm.  We offer our thanks also to the Cooperton Fire Department and all of the other fire departments that sent men and equipment to help battle the flames in Cooperton Valley.  Thanks to all of their efforts no one lost their home.  We have a new list of heroes who created a miracle for us, and for each one we offer our thanks and want to express how blessed we are to be a part of the Cooperton community.

 

Leland and Bonnie White

(Leland is a 1959 graduate of Cooperton High)

 

Editors’ note:  Thanks so much for sending this letter.  You so wonderfully expressed what we are sure many felt about the heroes and miracles after the Cooperton Valley fire.  We are sure that many in other areas of Oklahoma wished they had had such miracles and heroes.  Even though we live far away in Virginia, we try to follow the activities in southwest Oklahoma.  We did follow the Cooperton fire with much interest.  We know that many area farmers who are not regular volunteer firefighters also help fight all of these fires.   We pray that the entire country can get some rain to help with the drought and help prevent the many wildfires plaguing the entire country. cnm

 

 

 

Content Contributors for the Week

 

Austilene (Turner) Borum, Class of 1962

Charles Curtis, Class of 1965

Frances (Roberts) Herod, Class of 1945

Jack Whitson, Class of 1953

All those who sent messages to the Email “Bag”

Thank you all!

 

 

 

Remembering…

 

The following poem—a fitting tribute to the great state of Oklahoma-- appeared on the opening pages of Volume 3 of Pioneering in Kiowa County.

 

Oklahoma

 

Oklahoma, Oklahoma

How I long to see you now

To get my feet down in your earth

Behind a turning plow,

To gaze across your sunkist plains

On granite mountains blue

Where fortune hunters often panned

For sparkling residue,

To smell the sweet alfalfa

Fresh cut for summer hay,

To gather in some roasting ears,

To ride ‘Old Dan’ all day,

To find a place of rest at night

In the brick house on the hill

And hear the romp and laughter

Of voices long since still;

Lovely land of sweet beginnings—

Childhood joys—young love’ dream—

When in distant lands I wander

Thoughts of you are cool—serene.

 

--Jenie Lee Burke, Jr.

 

 

 

Thoughts from the Squirrel Lair

 

An Inspirational Message

 

“Watch it, Brother”

 

Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston, Texas.  Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area.  When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change.  As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, “You’d better give the quarter back.  It would be wrong to keep it.”  Then he thought, “Oh, forget it, it’s only a quarter.  Who would worry about this little amount?  Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it.  Accept it as a ‘gift from God’ and keep quiet.”

 

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, “Here, you gave me too much change.”

 

The driver, with a smile, replied, “Aren’t you the new preacher in town?”

 

“Yes,” he replied.

 

“Well, I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship.  I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change.  I’ll see you at church on Sunday.”

 

When the preacher stepped off the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, “Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter.”

 

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read.  This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians, and will put us to the test!  Always be on guard—and remember—you carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself “Christian.”

 

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

 

God bless you.

 

********

 

Global Village 12

 

This is an inspiring message about our world.

 

Click on the arrows at the bottom of the page to advance the slides.

 

http://www.slideshare.net/HBCUkidz/global-village-12

 

 

 

Alumni Website

 

We have renewed the account that Wanda Jackson had set up at the photo sharing website, picturetrail.com for the Roosevelt Alumni:  http://www.picturetrail.com/rooseveltalumni.  She had posted many pictures from past reunions, class panels, and old schools buildings along with write ups about them.  We thought you might find these interesting if you haven’t visited this site in the past.

 

 

 

Cooperton Valley Picture Trail

 

At the request of Karen (Johnson) Mason, we “tracked down,” removed from PictureTrail archive, and renewed the “Cooperton Valley” site for all to enjoy.  Thanks to Karen for funding this site for the coming year.  This site has many pictures from past Cooperton School reunions.  We hope that you will find these photos interesting if you haven’t visited this site in the past (or if you have and wondered where it went).  Karen, again thanks so much for bringing this site to our attention.  Go to http://www.picturetrail.com/coopertonvalley to visit the site.

 

 

 

Interesting Tidbits

 

The Making of Florida One

 

Boeing is making a new airplane for Southwest Airlines.  This is very interesting especially the painting of the plane.

 

Turn on the sound, run in full screen (left click the little box at the lower right of the You Tube screen)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=zKnsyYbfC60&feature=popular

 

********

 

A Brief Walk in Washington, D.C.

 

This is very interesting.  Please watch the video with a very good surprise at the end.

 

Turn on the sound, click on the box in the lower right hand corner of the video for full screen, click on the arrow in the box to start the video.

 

http://www.citizenlink.com/2012/06/27/stoplight-a-walk-for-the-president/

 

 

 

News

 

Fire Storm 2012

 

The Southern Kiowa Chamber of Snyder, Mountain Park, and Roosevelt issued the following letter announcing Fire Storm 2012, a fund raiser to support the local volunteer fire departments

 

“Due to the severe drought that our country is in, Farmrail has pulled all passenger trains out to haul cargo, which means we were unable to book the train for this year’s Fall Festival.  The Southern Kiowa Chamber has voted to turn our efforts and attention to help our local volunteer fire fighters instead of Fall Festival this year, an idea given to us by Brent Ervin, Ag Advisor at Snyder Public Schools.  We will be holding Fire Storm 2012 on August 26 at the Snyder School Cafeteria.  The event will include a Spaghetti Dinner (donations only) and a live and silent auction.  If you would like to donate items for the auctions, please deliver auction items to the Bank of the Wichitas or the Snyder Ag Building by August 24.  Perishable items such as desserts can be brought the day of for the silent auction.  We also have t-shirts for sale for $12 that can be purchased from the Rose cottage or Snyder Public School Ag Building in Snyder.  All proceeds will go to Snyder, Mt. Park, Roosevelt, Cooperton, and Con 8 volunteer fire departments.  Please come out and help support our volunteers!

 

Thanks!

 

Southern Kiowa Chamber”

 

The Spaghetti Dinner is Sunday, August 26, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  The Silent Auction begins at 11:00 a.m. and the Live Auction will begin at 1:30 p.m.

 

Come out and join the Southern Kiowa Chamber in their effort to support the wonderful work the volunteer fire departments of the locality are doing to protect the area from the many wildfires that have plagued the area.

 

********

 

Denton and Harris Families Plan Joint 50th Anniversary Reception

 

Tommy and Karen (Shelton) Denton were married on August 19, 1962, in Snyder.  AC and Norma Harris were married on August 21, 1962, in Fort Cobb.  The children of these two couples would like to invite everyone to a joint reception celebrating each couple’s 50 years of marriage.  The event will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m., Sunday, August 19th in the Washington Street Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Hobart.  No gifts are requested—just your presence will be a gift and a blessing.

 

 

 

Birthdays and Anniversaries

 

We have compiled all of the birthday and anniversary information we could from Wanda’s files.  We are sure we are missing some.  Please send us the birthdays and anniversaries for your family and friends so that we can have as complete as list as possible.  We are going to start with what we have from Wanda’s files so if we miss you, please send us the information so we have it for the news next year.  In addition, should any of the birthdays we list be wrong, also please let us know.

 

Happy Birthday To:

 

August 17 -- Galeen Chain

August 17 – Betty (Block) Broadus, Class of 1951

August 20 – Krista Chain

August 21 – Barbara Kimray

August 23 – Weldon Johnson -- 87 yrs. young

August 23 – Paula (Miller) Block, Class of 1961

 

Happy Anniversary To:

 

August 19 – Tommy & Karen (Shelton) Denton, Class of 1963, 50 years in 2012

August 23 – Dick & Barbara (Miller) Pederson, Class of 1966, 39 years in 2012

 

 

 

Humor

 

The Tomato Garden

 

An old gentleman lived alone in New Jersey.  He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, as the ground was hard.  His only son, Vincent, who used to help him was in prison.  The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament.

 

Dear Vincent,

 

I am feeling pretty sad because it looks like I won’t be able to plant my tomato garden this year.  I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot.  I know if you were here my troubles would be over.  I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days,

 

Love, Papa

 

A few days later he received a letter from his son.

 

Dear Papa,

 

Don’t dig up that garden.  That’s where the bodies are buried.

 

Love, Vinnie

 

At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies.  They apologized to the old man and left.  That same day the old man received another letter from his son.

 

Dear Papa,

 

Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now.  That’s the best I could do under the circumstances.

 

Love you,

 

Vinnie

 

 

 

From the Email “Bag”

 

Editor’s note:  Our dear friend Marilyn Lester became concerned  after sending the following email fearing that her reference to my “coke bottle” glasses might offend some of the readers and especially me.  So, she sent another saying maybe you might not want to publish in the paper.  I assured her that I knew where she was coming from, appreciated her message, told her that her email would not be taken wrong, and that it WOULD be in this week’s paper.  Well, Marilyn here it is…

 

August 8, 2012

 

Dear Mike,

I didn't include Carolyn's name in the greeting because actually, Mike, this is about YOU!  I just finished reading Carolyn's and your editorials.  Couldn't read anymore of the news before emailing you.  Now, Mike, I love you, remember the fun our families had together when we were kids, enjoy the Roosevelt News every week and appreciate all the time and effort you and Carolyn put into it.  But, when I read where you said "I loved sports and participated in most of them except football" my eyes widened and I scooted a little closer to the computer to make sure I was reading things right.  My thought was I didn't know Mike ever played ball!  You see, I have this picture in my head of you at about 8 years of age in those striped overalls and coke bottle glasses tagging along side your dad.  But, you, Mike May, a jock! ! !  Something just wouldn't compute.  The story of your earning that shoe with wings to pin on your letter jacket--well, when you said "And I heard someone from the top seat in the stands calling out, 'keep on, son, you can make it!'"--I started laughing so hard and kept laughing out loud for a minute or two.  (Sorry, Mike.  It just struck my funnybone!)  And then, a big lump came into my throat--I fought back a tear.  You, obviously, weren't too noticeable sitting on the end of the bench during the basketball games.  I didn't even remember that you played.  But, I remember the stories that my mom used to tell about your difficulties when you were very, very young--a baby, I think.  The things you and your folks overcame for you to be able to SIT on that bench--to even be able to SEE the ballgame, let alone play.  Your folks had fought so hard for you.  It was victory for them to see their son running on that track a half lap behind the others.  All parents love and believe in their kids; but, praise the Lord, we've not all had to fight the battles quite like your mother and dad did. 

The essays that you've written about "big names" from our past in Roosevelt have been so enjoyable to me.  Many details would come back to memory while reading your accounts.  Many I'd forgotten.  Some I didn't even know.  It seems those coke bottle glasses and the battles you've won have given you an appreciation for life and attention to detail. 

Thank you for putting yourself out there for us to laugh at your expense.  The picture you painted of your "jock" years was so vivid.

Excuse me!  I have a paper to read!

Marilyn Morgan Lester, Class of 1964   

 

********

 

 August 9, 2012

 

Mike,

 

This is Karen Johnson Mason from Cooperton.  How much would it cost me to get the Cooperton picture trail back in the paper?

 

Thanks,

 

Editor’s note:  This was the beginning of our quest to find the Cooperton Valley PictureTrail site.  mlm

 

 

 

Political Fodder

 

Upside-Down Land

 

You know you live in an upside-down land if…you can get arrested for expired tags on your car but not for being in the country illegally.

 

You know you live in an upside-down land if…your government believes that the best way to eradicate millions of dollars of debt is to spend trillions more of our money.

 

You know you live in an upside-down land if…the Supreme Court of the United States can rule that lower courts cannot display the 10 Commandments in their courtroom, white sitting in front of a display of the 10 Commandments.

 

You know you live in an upside-down land if…children are forcibly removed from parents who appropriately discipline them while children of “underprivileged” drug addicts are left to rot in filth infested cesspools.

 

You know you live in an upside-down land…if working class Americans pay for their own health care (and the health care of everyone else) while unmarried women are free to have child after child on the “State’s dime” while never being held responsible for their own choices.

 

You know you live in an upside-down land…if hard work and success are rewarded with higher taxes and government intrusion, while slothful, lazy behavior is rewarded with EBT cards, WIC chicks, Medicaid, and subsidized housing.

 

You know you live in an upside-down land if…the government’s plan for getting people back to work is to provide 99 weeks of unemployment checks (to not work).

 

You know you live in an upside-down land if…politicians think that stripping away the amendments to the Constitution is really protecting the rights of the people.

 

You know you live in an upside-down land if…the rights of the government come before the rights of the individual.

 

You know you live in an upside-down land if…parents believe the State is responsible for providing for their children.

 

You know you live in an upside-down land if…you pay your mortgage faithfully, denying yourself the newest big screen TV while your neighbor defaults on his mortgage (while buying iPhones, TV’s and new cars) and the government forgives his debt and reduces his mortgage (with your tax dollars).

 

You know you live in an upside-down land if…being stripped of the ability to defend yourself makes you “safe.”

 

You know you live in an upside-down land if…you have to have your parents signature to go to a school field trip but not to get an abortion.

 

You know you live in an upside-down land if…an 80 year old woman can be stripped searched by the TSA but a Muslim woman in a burka is only subject to having her neck and head searched.

 

 

 

Obituaries

 

Velma Miller, 85, Clinton

http://www.rayandmarthas.com/CurrentObituary.aspx?did=a8ef6b91-5439-400b-94a9-8ccfcd7d000f

 

Shirley Miller, 78, Roosevelt, Class of 1952

http://www.peoplescooperativefuneralhome.com/obituaries/Shirley-Miller6/

 

Lucille Hash, 95, Oklahoma City (Sister of longtime Con 8 resident Oren Baden)

http://www.peoplescooperativefuneralhome.com/obituaries/Lucille-Hash/#!/Obituary

 

Useful Links:

 

Becker Funeral Home of Snyder, OK

http://www.beckerfuneral.com/?page=snyder

 

Peoples Cooperative Funeral Home of Lone Wolf, OK

http://www.peoplescooperativefuneralhome.com/

 

Ray and Martha’s Funeral Home of Hobart, Mt. View, and Carnegie, OK

http://rayandmarthas.com/

 

Roosevelt Cemetery Layout

http://www.234enterprises.com/Roosevelt%20Cemetery%20Layout.htm

 

Roosevelt Cemetery Markers (Picture Trail)

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/listing/user/rooseveltcemetery

 

Roosevelt Cemetery on Find A Grave

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=99397&CScn=roosevelt&CScntry=4&CSst=38

 

Hobart Rose Cemetery on Find A Grave

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=99399&CScn=Hobart+Rose&CScntry=4&CSst=38

 

Hobart Resurrection (Catholic) Cemetery on Find A Grave

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2246374&CScn=Resurrection&CScntry=4&CSst=38

 

Mountain Park Cemetery on Find A Grave

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=99042&CScn=Mountain+Park&CScntry=4&CSst=38

 

Snyder Fairlawn Cemetery on Find A Grave

 

 

News Center -- Always Available Online

 

Remember--past, current, and all future editions of “Roosevelt News -- East Coast Edition” can be viewed online from any computer at: http://www.234enterprises.com/RooseveltNews/newscenter.htm.  We highly recommend that you bookmark this link.

 

In addition to viewing all copies of the paper, you can use this website to send comments or news items to us for publication.  Simply enter your name, your class year (if a Roosevelt graduate), your email address, and the comments you want to make or the news item you want to send and click on “Submit Information” button at the bottom left of the page.  The information that you submitted will show on your screen under a title of “Form Confirmation”—confirming that what you entered was sent to our email. 

 

 

 

Email Addresses

 

This newsletter is an email edition.  The only way for you to receive it and keep up-to-date with your friends from Roosevelt is for you to keep us informed of changes to your email address.  So please be sure to notify us at mmay@234enterprises.com should your email address change.  We also encourage you to send us email addresses for friends and family who might also like to receive the newsletter so that we can include them on our list.

 

 

 

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