Local News
Senior centers experience crisis
With a national healthcare debate raging and the state continuing to cut its budget, a group of Oklahoma Senators met at the Capitol this week, hoping to ensure senior citizen nutrition is not forgotten.
Sen. Ron Justice, R-Chickasha, was joined by 12 other senators from the Republican Rural Caucus to consider using federal stimulus money to buffer cuts to the Department of Human Resources, which provides many meals to the elderly.
Justice is the chair of the Republican Rural Caucus.
The caucus proposed that Gov. Brad Henry set aside 5 percent, or $5.26 million, of the $105.2 million in stimulus money for the Department of Human Services, which has had it's budget cut by more than $7 million since 2003.
"We're in a critical financial crunch and we're trying to work together to find some ways to solve some problems," Justice said. "Alot of the rural caucus members are concerned."
He said the Department of Human Services has yet to recover from the 2003 budget cuts. His biggest fear is that seniors will go without food and nutritional services.
Citizens at private retirement homes such as Glenhaven Village in Chickasha may not have to worry about daily meals, but their diet is always of concern.
Kami Ratcliffe is a registered dietician for the retirement center, as well as Grady Memorial Hospital.
She said good nutrition helps seniors maintain weight and strength.
A balanced diet also helps prevent disease and infection.
But for those still living at home, a balanced diet can be hard to come by, she said.
"A lot are disabled and can't prepare for themselves," she said. "[The Senior Nutrition Center] is very helpful. It's not just the food that's provided, it's the socialization."
The Department of Human services provides money to its Aging Services Division, which distributes to local governments and Senior Nutrition Centers, said Tara Brown project, director of the Grady, Caddo, Cotton, Jefferson and Tillman County elderly nutrition programs.
She said the centers provide meals and social interaction to help seniors stay active. She said the gatherings give medical workers a chance to keep track of seniors' physical and mental health. Depression is prevalent among the elderly who live at home alone, she said.
"We're more than just a meal; it's just knowing that we can help," Brown said.
While they provide many services, senior nutrition centers across the state are finding it increasingly difficult to acquire funds to buy food and pay staff. Brown said centers have been forced to cut offerings to four meals a week, instead of five.
"We are fortunate at this time that our communities are working closely with our nutrition centers," she said.
"My concern will be for how long we will be able to continue to do that."
Director of the center for 23 years, Brown said this has been the worst year yet. She fears further cuts could make the situation unmanageable.
"If we receive any major funding cuts, we're looking at having to close some of our smaller centers," she said.
"We have gone through challenges without funds, but this is the most drastic."
If Justice and the Rural Republican caucus can make any headway and loosen funds it will be a victory for both bipartisan cooperation and the elderly who are in need, he said.
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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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Sooners' announcer to retire
NORMAN (AP) — Bob Barry Sr. announced Tuesday that he plans to retire as the radio play-by-play voice of Oklahoma football and men's basketball after the upcoming season.
Barry has been the radio voice of the Sooners for the last 20 years and he also had a 12-year stint in the job at the beginning of his career. In between, he handled the play-by-play for Tulsa basketball games and then for Oklahoma State football and basketball. -
NEWS BRIEFS
City offices close Monday
The City of Chickasha's offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 6 in observance of Labor Day. Regular city services will resume on Tuesday.
Waste Connections announced that they will be "business-as-usual" on Labor Day. Customers will receive sanitation services on the regular Monday route. -
GRADY COUNTY FAIR RESULTS
HCE Home
Management
Cross stitch or
Embroidery item
Meridian Happy Home - Mabel Pharis
Lucile-Blue Bonnet - Myrtle Elston
Rural Neighbors - Nona Sherer
Friend - Faith Andrus
Misc. needlework
Spring Creek - Deone Moskayitch
Meridian Happy Home - Mary Spurlin -
around the Areas
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.. -
NHS principal appreciates effort of law enforcement
To the Editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank District Attorney Bret Burns and Chickasha Police Chief Lynn Williams for going above and beyond their job descriptions to help me with a situation that recently occurred at Ninnekah High School.
Chickasha Police Chief Lynn Williams helped in a matter that occurred in the Chickasha city limits, but affected Ninnekah School. I appreciate his assistance. The Chickasha School District is extremely lucky to have a police chief who will go the extra mile to support education and student safety. -
Lawmaker examines state questions
There are going to be 11 state questions on your ballot when you go to the voting booth this November. Last week I covered the first state question that was put on the ballot through the initiative petition process by the teachers’ labor union, therefore bypassing the state legislature, State Question 744.
All of the remaining 10 state questions were put on after being passed by the legislature, so that the people would have a voice in deciding these important issues. - More Local News Headlines
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