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Local volunteers are needed as bell ringers for The Salvation Army’s season of giving, which kicked off Saturday. Show Saturday in front of Dunn’s Food Center are, from left, are Rosie Vestel, bell ringer Jason Hawpe, Martha Baldonado Ethan Baughn, Lt. James Biddix, Emma Tucker and Pat Mann. The kids are the grandchildren of Pat Mann.
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Salvation Army kicks off kettle campaign; goal set at $40,000
With hundreds of area families in need this Christmas, a situation made worse by high unemployment, the local Salvation Army launched its Christmas Kettle Drive on Saturday with a $40,000 goal for 2009 here.
The very first kettle in Chickasha opened for business on Saturday morning at Dunn’s Grocery, 208 S. 5th Street. The local Salvation Army (TSA) Corp serves both Grady and Caddo Counties.
“The need is great,” said Lt. James Biddix, who with his wife Lt. Teresa Biddix, leads the local corp. “The number of children on the Angel Tree in Caddo County has doubled. Recently, a family drove more than an hour for a food basket and an average of 25 people are turned away for services each month and the numbers continue to grow. The food pantry is near bare which means it will be difficult to fill the needs for those who come to The Salvation Army for food when their family is hungry.”
Additional bell ringers and new locations are needed, Biddix said. “We welcome the help of local volunteers. It makes a significant difference.”
So far, locations in Chickasha include Walmart, the U.S. Postal Office, Dunn’s Grocery Store, Homeland, and Walgreens. Locations in Anadarko include Walmart and Williams Grocery Store.
“Everyone is feeling the pressure of this depressed economy, “Biddix said, “none more than the homeless and needy. We truly expect that when change goes into the kettles, change will come out in the form of assistance.”
In addition to the Red Kettles, a key provider of Christmas joy to area children is TSA’s Angel Tree Program, which has been part of TSA’s mission since the 1990’s. Already 400 children are on the list needing local Angel Tree sponsors. Angel Tree kickoff begins Nov. 30.
The Red Kettle tradition began in 1891in San Francisco. This year, the National Kick-off will be held during the Dallas Cowboys’ game against the Oakland Raiders on Thanksgiving Day.
Locally, TSA provides holiday assistance programs in order to meet the needs of families in
Grady and Caddo counties. “People may wonder, as the familiar red kettles pop up at local stores, “what does The Salvation Army do with the donations?” Biddix asked.
The answer is all-local: all donations made to a red kettle in Caddo and Grady counties stay in these counties to help TSA’s ability to provide assistance to local neighbors in need.
Civic Groups, Sunday Schools, School Groups and more are needed to assist with Bell Ringing and other holiday needs. Additional information on programs and services in Caddo and Grady Counties provided by The Salvation Army is available from the Biddixes at 405-224-5647.
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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
