— Parent says Middle School

is a great place to learn

Dear Editor

As the parent of a special needs child I was terrified of my daughter going to the middle school this year. It was hard enough for her to stay focused in elementary school, and I thought that middle school would be too hard for her and that she would never be able to keep up.

She got off to a rough start this year as I suspected would happen, but now that the end of the school year approaches I can honestly say i'm extremely pleased with the teachers at Chickasha Middle School. They have helped her when she needed it, stayed in contact with me when they thought she was slipping with her grades and needed help.

Nobody seems to want to tell the world when they do good things, just the bad. Honestly, who in their right mind would want to be a teacher these days? They don't get paid squat, they are treated like dirt by their students, and parents could care less that the kids act the way they do.  I, for one, am glad that my kids teachers put them in their place when they need it. If teachers can't discipline the kids then one of these days they will be running ramped in the school and who's fault will that be? Oh I know, we will say its the teachers fault but really the parents are to blame just as much.

My child had a incident at the beginning of the year, I took it to Mr. Turner and Mr. Ellis and it was dealt with in a timely and satisfactorily manner. I could not be more pleased with the Special Education teachers, the counselors and the administration at Chickasha Middle School. I know there are problems in our school system, I'm not blind. However, if some parents would step up and be volunteers with our schools and put more money into programs at our schools maybe that would help. Maybe if parents would teach their kids to be more respectful they wouldn't be punished for acting out at school.  I just want to say thank you too all the faculty and staff at Chickasha Middle School and Grand Avenue, for being exceptional teachers when I know you are tired, stressed out and at the end of you ropes with our unruly children. I'm sure one day they will thank you too. I for one think you deserve a raise!

Thank you!

Kiesha Baggett



City animal control officer

deserves praise for helping

Dear Editor

We wanted to thank Animal Control Officer Heilman of the Chickasha Animal Shelter and her volunteers for taking such wonderful care of our dogs Elvis and Priscilla, during their recent stay.  We were very impressed with the quality of care and compassion they treat each animal with at the shelter on her working days. We were very grateful to see how clean the shelter stays and the animals are not just a number to them!

Thank You ,

Eddie and Stephanie Cox

Reader congratulates

local college graduates

Entering college freshmen fully expect to finish their undergraduate education within four years time. The likelihood of graduating in four years from many colleges has become so remote that according to Boston Globe Magazine only 32% of public college students accomplish this goal. However, the 2006 Chickasha High School graduating class has a long list of these successful students. As a teacher in the Chickasha Public School System I am very proud to see such an accomplished group of students. Congratulations to:

Jeremy Williams - USAO - Business Administration (April 2009)

Terri Thompson Strutton - OSU - Restaurant and Hotel Administration (Dec. 2009)

Evan Blasingame - OSU - Accounting (May 2010)

Katie Johnson Dudley - OC - Business Adminstration/Interior Design (May 2010)

Taylor Ellis - UCO - Speech Language Pathology (May 2010)

Daniel Hart - OU - Political Science/ Minor in Anthropology and Classical Culture (May 2010)

Jessica Hartman - OC - Business/ Pre-Law (May 2010)

Sarah Herrera - University of Missouri - Journalism - Magazine Emphasis/ Minor in Human Development and Family Studies (May 2010)

Billy Holt - OSU - Industrial Engineering and Management (May 2010)

Amanda Horn - OSU - Nutritional Sciences: Dietetics (May 2010)

Jeris Jeffries - Cameron - Fine Arts in Graphic Design (May 2010)

Corey Mahan - OSU - Business Administration in Management Information Systems (May 2010)

Mindy McLemore - OSU - Animal Science (May 2010)

Amanda Parr - SWOSU - Elementary Education (May 2010)

Chelsea Spencer - OSU - Agricultural Economics with option in International Ad Marketing (May 2010)

Will Wheeler - UCO - Marketing (May 2010)

Jeremy Stapp - USAO - Arts in History and Music/Minor in Liberal Arts (May 2010)

Brian Kessler - OCCC - Associates Degree in Diversified Studies

Brett Wright - OCCC - Associates Degree in Emergency Medical Science

Dana Pyle Duell - OSU - Human Development and Family Science with an option in Pre-Medical Sciences (July 2010)

Camille Adams - OSU - University Studies/Minor in Child Development (Dec. 2010)

Jerome Phillips - OCU - Business Administration/Minor in Biology (Dec. 2010)

Melissa Epperson - UCO - Marketing (Dec. 2010)

Amanda Pace - OU - Finance (Dec. 2010)

Kristyn Abreu - OU - Math (Dec. 2010)

Darci Ladd - OU - Advertising/Minor in Sociology (Dec. 2010)

Patrick Phillips - USAO - Biology (Dec. 2010)

Wade Hair - SWOSU - Parks and Recreation Management/Minor in Wildland Fire Management (Dec. 2010)

    I am sure there are some I have missed and for that I apologize. Congratulations to you all and best wishes for a successful future.

With great pride,

Marilyn Holt, Chickasha, Oklahoma



This  letter is to all residents of Grady County. If you did not attend the May 6 event sponsored by the Grady County TEA Party, you missed an opportunity to meet political candidates who will be elected to serve you. Citizens could visit face-to-face with persons who will be making laws that will affect citizens of Grady County, Oklahoma, and the United States. The cost was a small amount of a person's time. Knowing how a candidate feels about an issue could make a difference in how a person votes for a candidate. That, in turn, could make a difference in laws that we all have to live with.

Pastor Billy Elkins made an outstanding presentation explaining what the founding fathers intended America to be when they wrote the Constitution. I believe the founding fathers would be embarrassed and ashamed of where, We the People, have allowed our country to be. Most of the founding fathers were Christians and they believed our country should be a country based on biblical principles and on the Word of God. Many of them were involved in the Revolutionary War. Many of them lost their lives, families, homes, personal property to defend that they believed. We the People, yes, you and me, have done nothing as we have seen our freedoms being taken away from us. The founding fathers never intended that America would have a state run religion, but that there would be individual rights and liberties.

In 1947 the Supreme Court made a decision that has affected America in ways the Constitution never intended. As a result of that, Christians have become afraid to stand for what they believe. We have kept quiet so we won't offend anyone. We have let others tell us that we have no freedom to speak as a Christian. The Constitution guarantees that we do have that right. And, yes, other religions have the right to believe what they want and to promote their beliefs. However, we are at a place where Christians can no longer defend our beliefs without fear of offending others and of fear that we will wind up in court. God is being taken out of our everyday life.

Christians, I urge you to be involved and know what is going on regarding the Christian faith. As Pastor Elkins closed, he gave words of encouragement. He admonished the audience to "pray and be involved." Know what your elected officials believe and hold them accountable. Contact them when you know a vote is to be taken. Let them know what you believe and how you stand on that issue. Our elected officials work for us. Encourage your pastor and your church to be involved in electing officials who will defend our Christian heritage and will vote the Constitution.

Be an informed voter and vote. We can make a difference. If you don't vote, then you should not complain. If you voted and are not happy with that elected official, then next time vote differently.



Joyce Stockton, Chickasha