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Local woman paralyzed by falling branch
By JEREMY STEVENS
Staff Writer
Tragedy struck on Monday after an icy tree branch fell on Michelle Watson at her home in Ninnekah.
Watson, who works as a custodian at Southern Oaks Church of Christ in Chickasha, was left paralyzed from the chest down and will be unable to walk for the rest of her life.
She had gone to help her father, Dale Pope, carry water to a neighbor on Dec. 10. A tree limb, heavy with ice from the storm, fell and struck her on the back of the neck, seriously injuring her spine and crushing the bones around it. Surgery has been performed and steel plates were inserted to hold it in place.
“It has been an emotional time for me since the accident because she is such a good friend to me,” said Richard Hoover, a member of Southern Oaks who is also Watson’s neighbor.
Hoover was present when the accident occurred and along with Watson’s father helped lift the branch off of her.
“It has impacted me because I still visualize the scene over and over in my head,” said Hoover.
Watson has worked at Southern Oaks as their custodian the past five years and has also helped with the prison ministry in her time there.
Steven Parker, Pulpit Minister at Southern Oaks, spoke of how much she has meant to the congregation the past few years.
“To say that she works as maintenance or custodial would be unfair because there is nothing that goes on at this church that she doesn’t have a part in. She takes care of this place as if it were her home,” said Parker. “There really is no way to describe the role that she plays in this congregation because she touches everybody.”
This has not been the first time Watson has fallen on hard times though. A few years back she had to have bypass surgery on the arteries in her arm after losing all feeling and strength in it.
She has also had to watch as her father has battled cancer and heart problems .
“That family has been through so much,” said Parker. “I think everyone’s first response when they heard the news was why her, why this family again.”
Because of all this, Parker has no doubts that Watson will be a stronger person.
“She’s gonna be a stronger person from this because her faith in God has gotten her family through so many things,” said Parker. “The family is really pulling together right now.”
Watson has a tough road back to recovery. She is without medical insurance and will have to learn to live life in a wheel chair. It is still unknown whether she will be able to fully see again as well.
Many members of Southern Oaks and other residents of Chickasha have already begun to help Watson in many ways.
Hoover has helped by watching the house for the family and checking the mail. The church has also helped by paying any bills they can while she is in the hospital.
Also, more than 35 people in the church signed up to help take part of her duties so she would not lose the income.
Along with the medical issues, her house will need to be made wheelchair accessible. Carpenter and electricians around town have also come to Southern Oaks and said they would help make any modifications to the house that is needed.
The Chickasha Elks Lodge and the Chickasha Eagles Lodge are joining together to put on a fund-raising pancake/sausage breakfast and Silent Auction. The event will be held Jan. 5 from 7 a.m. unitl 1 p.m. at the Elks Lodge.
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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
