Local News
Ninnekah reinstates music program
NINNEKAH - Students at Ninnekah Schools will soon hear the sound of music in their classrooms. After several years without a music program, the Ninnekah School Board voted at its May 15 meeting to reinstate the program, including elementary music and, ultimately, a student band.
According to Ninnekah School Superintendent Todd Bunch, Lindsay music teacher Heather Bridwell, who has had success rebuilding Lindsay’s music program, will teach elementary music in Ninnekah, on an every-other-day basis, with students alternately attending music classes and physical education classes.
“We’re excited about it,” said Bunch. “Research data shows that students perform better academically when they are exposed to music. It enables them to use different parts of the brain and increases their aptitude.”
Starting fall 2008, music will be a full-time class, with one to two music periods at the elementary level expanding to an hour or two at the secondary level for band.
According to Bunch, the school newspaper surveyed Ninnekah students to see which classes they would most like to see added or reinstated. Art came in first with music coming in second.
“Art’s a little tougher; it’s hard to find certified art people,” said Bunch. “But we want students involved in the decisions we make.”
While non-certified teachers may teach art classes, students do not receive credit for the classes. Therefore, school officials opted to reinstate the music program for now.
“Music brings a broad spectrum and it brings students another option to participate in and hopefully more incentive to be at a passing grade point average and be academically eligible,” said Bunch. “Kids more and more need incentives, whether its athletics or FFA, we hope music brings competition and incentive.”
In addition Bunch said the reinstated music program, vocal music, show choir and band, will increase the number of school assemblies for students, parents and the community.
“We’re really excited. We have not had one negative comment, it’s been overwhelmingly positive among the kids, teachers, the administration and parents,” said Bunch.
Classes were dropped after several years of low carry-over funds for Ninnekah Schools, with a low of $42,600 carry over in 2002-2003 and $61,790 carry over in 2003-2004.
A full-time teacher with benefits requires $40,000 a year.
Today, however, the school system is more financially stable with a carry over of $612,000 in 2004-2005 and $640,000 carry over in 2006-2007.
“We are at this point fiscally stable enough to reinstate school programs,” said Bunch. “We felt like we can more than afford it.
Bunch credits several factors with the increase in carry-over revenue, including a change in budgeting structure, an increase in Gross Production revenue, an increase in state and local revenue and, lastly, a change in administration.
Another class, Family Consumer Science, better known as Home Ec, was dropped along with the music program. Today, the class has been reinstated with students currently attending half days. The class will expand into full days in the fall.
Also approved was the beginning of construction on a new softball complex. The land for the project has already been donated with the specification that baseball and softball fields be installed.
The board approved starting dirt work, concrete work, sprinkler systems and sod work.
“Our goal is to have girls fast pitch in the spring,” said Bunch.
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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
