Local News
Chickasha to get Regional OSSM school
CHICKASHA — State lawmakers voted Wednesday to provide funding for a new regional program of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics that will be based in Chickasha.
“OSSM offers our most gifted students academic opportunities they cannot otherwise enjoy,” said state Rep. Susan Winchester, R-Chickasha. “The students from Chickasha who've gone to OSSM in Oklahoma City have enjoyed tremendous success. I am pleased that this regional program will now allow many more students in western Oklahoma this opportunity as well. This is exciting for Chickasha.”
The Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (OSSM) was created in 1983 and graduated its first class of 44 seniors from across the state in 1992. Based in Oklahoma City, it is designed as a two-year residential public high school for academically gifted students in mathematics and science. The school currently has 71 juniors, 63 seniors and an ultimate enrollment estimated at 300, according to the school's Web site.
“Our students in western Oklahoma are some of the best in the state and now they'll have the chance to prove it,” said state Rep. Phil Richardson, R-Minco. “OSSM opens a lot of doors for high school students as they prepare for college and I'm proud to offer those opportunities to students in my district.”
Of the over 900 students who have graduated from OSSM since its creation, 41 have been from Grady County. Senate Bill 194, which passed out of the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Wednesday, provides funding for OSSM, including money for a new regional OSSM program to be located in Chickasha.
“This is an excellent opportunity to bring together two of the state's finest educational institutions to offer local students new avenues in their education,” said Sen. Ron Justice, R-Chickasha. “We have so many gifted students in Oklahoma, and it's important that we provide them with as many tools and opportunities to excel as we can.”
The regional program will be operated in conjunction with Canadian Valley Technology Center. Although there are already 15 existing regional centers in Oklahoma that served 229 students last year, most have been in urban areas or eastern Oklahoma. The Chickasha program will be the most accessible for students in western Oklahoma.
“The OSSM-Chickasha program will allow students in western Oklahoma who have completed all available curriculum at their local high school to take advanced classes in science and math and still live at home with their parents, participate in their current school and graduate with their school class,” said state Sen. Don Barrington, R-Lawton. “This is a great opportunity.”
Students participating in OSSM have enjoyed great success compared to their counterparts across the nation. “The OSSM Classes of 1998 and 2000 had the highest ACT composite scores of any high school in the United States,” said state Rep. Tad Jones, a Claremore Republican who chairs the House Education Committee. “That's no small accomplishment and its time we increased access to the program.”
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Transformations
What comes to mind when you think of the word, “Transformation”?Do you have fantastic thoughts of people or things changing into something amazing for example, Clark Kent turning into Superman or Bruce Banner becoming the Incredible Hulk or possibly something a little more down to earth like a caterpillar miraculously changing into the beautiful butterfly?
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GRADY COUNTY FAIR RESULTS
Plants
Potted Plants
(Several varieties combined)
First: (Adult) Ann O'Bar
Second: (Adult) Joyce Riker
Third: (Adult) Jallane Link -
AROUND THE AREA
SEPTEMBER 2
Poetry Reading
• When: Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
• Where: Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant, Private Room, 3127 S. 4th St., Chickasha
• Details: Featured Poet is Carol Hamilton, writer, storyteller and Poet Laureate of Oklahoma 1995-97Hamilton’s website is www.carolhamilton.org. There is no admission fee to attend the Poetry Reading, and refreshments are available for purchase. For more information, contact Rockford Johnson, 224-0160 or 317-7506. -
Duncan nips Chicks for straight-game win
Duncan got their eighth match win of the season Tuesday, beating Nancy Waters’ Lady Chicks in straight games at the Activity Center.
The Chicks looked like they had a little hangover from Monday night’s tough road loss at Tecumseh, coming out flat again and dropping their first two games by identical 25-17 scores.
They came out firing on all eight cylinders for game three, running out to a 15-9 lead on the strength of a 7-0 run with Shelby Crosley serving, but the Demons battled back to tie it late and the Chicks let it slip away, 25-21. -
STATE SPORTS BRIEFS
NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has named walk-on Patrick O'Hara as the starting place-kicker for the seventh-ranked Sooners.
Stoops said on his radio show Tuesday night that O'Hara won the competition with Jimmy Stevens, freshman Michael Hunnicutt and redshirt freshman Bryce Easley. -
OSU's Gundy still learning on job
STILLWATER (AP) — Mike Gundy hasn't lost his love for dialing up the right play to keep Oklahoma State's offense purring along.
That passion, which he has called the most enjoyable part of his job as head coach, was bred into him as an offensive coordinator. And he is a former starting quarterback for the Cowboys. -
Whimsical metal work, jewelry part of big art show at USAO
A showing of whimsical metal work and jewelry is scheduled to be on display at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma during Helen’s Show Sept. 10-Oct 1.
The show will feature the work of USAO graduate Helen Shafer. The exhibition will be open daily during normal business hours in the Davis Hall Third Floor Art Gallery on the USAO campus. The show is free and open to the public. An opening reception is scheduled Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the gallery. -
High-speed chase lands 1 in jail
A high-speed motorcycle chase down Highway 81 last Wednesday landed a Ninnekah man in jail and a felony charge of eluding a police officer.
Court records show that James William Hutchins, 21, blew by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy Parrish at U.S. Highway 81 and County Road 1460 and was clocked going 144 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone.
Parrish reported that he was sitting stationary at that location at about 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 25 when he observed a red motorcycle traveling southbound. He engaged his emergency lights and siren and pulled onto the roadway behind the Triumph motorcycle. -
5 inmates denied parole
Parole was recently denied for five Grady County inmates serving sentences with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The following individuals were denied at the August Pardon and Parole Board meeting:
• Jeremiah Daniel Cline, who is serving a five-year sentence for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and a five-year sentence for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, began his sentence in August 2008.
• Warren P. Diego, who is serving a 15-year sentence (10 years PTS) for lewd molestation, began his sentence in February 2009. -
Judge recuses herself from pharmacy case
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state district judge has stepped aside from the first-degree murder trial of a pharmacist accused in the fatal shooting of an unconscious would-be robber.
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Transformations
