december 2012 oklahoma publisher

Official Publication of the Oklahoma Press Association

The Oklahoma Publisherwww.OkPress.com

www.Facebook.com/okpressVol. 83, No. 12

20 Pages • December 2012

INSIDEEXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE: Gov. Mary Fallin fights the release of emails related to her refusal to create a state health care exchange.

PAGE 3

DONATE TO ONF – RECEIVE THIS PRINT: Donate $500 or more to the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation and receive a framed, matted print of this Will Rogers painting. More information available at okpress.com/will-rogers.

Merry Christmas &Happy New Year!

from your friends at the OKLAHOMA PRESS

ASSOCIATION

Oklahoma Attorney Gen-eral Scott Pruitt released an opinion on Nov. 13 saying mug shots of people arrested by law enforcement agencies are open records under the Okla-homa Open Records Act.

These records must be released to the media or any citizen upon request, the opin-ion states.

State Sens. Ron Justice and Jim Halligan requested the opinion, asking if mug shots are open records and whether they must be released in an electronic format.

Pruitt’s answer to both was yes.

David Reid, publisher of OK Jailbaords, pushed for the opinion after he had trouble getting mug shots from sher-iffs in some cases, the Tulsa World reported.

“They’re wonderful human beings and in most cases they’ve been very cooperative,

and I think most of them would have been cooperative regard-less,” Reid said.

OK Jailbirds publishes mug shots of all prisoners arrested in 55 rural Oklahoma coun-ties. Reid said the publication is available in 850 locations around the state.

Halligan said he was pleased with the attorney general’s opinion. “The public pays for these mug shots,” he said. “They ought to have access to the mug shots.”

The Open Records Act states that a physical descrip-tion of the arrestee is consid-ered a record that must be released if requested.

“The inclusion of a picture within the term description has long been recognized by law,” the opinion states. “In the case of a person’s physi-cal appearance, a mug shot provides not only a description but one of the most accurate

descriptions of an arrestee’s physical features. Because a mug shot is one of the best physical descriptions on an arrestee, it is a type of record that must be disclosed.”

Justice and Halligan also asked whether releasing mug shots would be an invasion of privacy. Pruitt said the only time that could happen is if the records are released in a way that implies guilt.

The opinion also said that if mug shots are kept in elec-tronic format, they must be released electronically on request.

Mark Thomas, executive vice president of the Okla-homa Press Association, said police mug shots have always been public records and he thinks public sentiment is on the side of keeping them that way.

AG RULES MUG SHOTS ARE PUBLIC RECORDSA substitute route driver

for the Enid News & Eagle helped saved the lives of a family in Garber on Nov. 19.

Frank Hakel, who has held a number of positions in the paper’s circulation department over the past eight years or so, spotted the fire at about 12:30 a.m. as he was driving newspa-per bundles to rural carri-ers.

“I was just coming into Garber and saw what looked like a bright light off to the east of Highway 74,” Hakel said.

That light was a burn-ing house on Main Street, which was completely engulfed by flames, and hot cinders were blowing toward the next house.

Although Hakel didn’t

Newspaper route driver alerts family to fi re

Continued on page 2

2 The Oklahoma Publisher // December 2012

Francis Church was a veteran edito-rial writer. His editorials on city gov-ernment and the big bosses of the day sometimes had a bite in them.

He was a veteran newspaperman and was known in New York for his hard-nose reporting.

He and his brother, William Conant Church, had established the The Army and Navy Journal in 1863 and Galaxy magazine in 1866.

Francis later became the editorial writer for his brother’s newspaper, the New York Sun.

He also had served as a war corre-spondent during the Civil War.

So, when a little girl’s Letter to the Editor asked “Is there a Santa Claus?” Church became the editor of choice to author a reply when no other editor wanted to tackle the subject.

Church also huffed at the idea, his managing editor Edward P. Mitchell recalled. But he took the assignment back to his desk and began to write.

At the time Church was 58 years old and he and his wife had never had children.

His 500-word response to Virginia O’Hanlon’s question was an instant Christmas classic.

While the letter and Church’s reply have become holiday literary classics, many people don’t realize both were printed in the New York Sun in Sep-tember of 1897 – nowhere close to the holiday season.

Also, the editorial appeared buried on the front page among other editori-als and news stories such as British ships found in American waters, prob-lems with Connecticut’s election laws

and how the chainless bicycle was going to be unveiled in the next year.

It wasn’t until after his death in 1906 that it became publicly known that Francis Church had written the edito-rial reply to Virginia O’Hanlon’s 1897 letter.

Nanette and I want to wish all of our fellow newspaper publishers and owners a Very Merry Christmas with a reprint of possibly the most famous editorial ever written.

Is There A Santa Claus?We take pleasure in answering at

once and thus prominently the com-munication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of THE SUN:

“DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.“Some of my little friends say there is no

Santa Claus.“Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN

it’s so.’“Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa

Claus?“VIRGINIA O’HANLON.“115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET.”VIRGINIA, your little friends are

wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see.

They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, wheth-er they be men’s or children’s, are little.

In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intel-ligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.

Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS.

There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light which child-hood fills the world would be extin-guished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove?

Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see.

Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the won-ders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world, which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest man that ever lived, could tear apart.

Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beau-ty and glory beyond.

Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank GOD! He lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

FRI., JAN. 11ONF – APPLY TO HOST AN INTERNGet connected with a student who wants to work at an Oklahoma newspaper this year. Host newspaper applications to the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation internship program are due Jan. 11. At least 19 newspapers will receive funding to host a journalism student for eight to 10 weeks in summer 2013. For more information and to download an application, go to OkPress.com/internships.

MON., FEB. 4OPA – DEADLINE FOR ANNUAL CONTEST ENTRIESContest entries must be postmarked by Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, for the Better Newspaper Contest, Website Contest, Print Quality Contest and the Outdoor Writer of the Year Award. For more information, visit www.okpress.com/awards.

FRI., FEB. 15ONF – APPLY FOR AN INTERNSHIP OR SCHOLARSHIPThe Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation awards several internships and three $1,500 scholarships to Oklahoma journalism students each year. Applications for the 2012-13 school year are due by Feb. 15. University of Oklahoma students are also eligible to apply for the Breeden scholarship. View eligibility requirements and download all applications at OkPress.com/ONF.

JUNE 13-15, MIDWEST CITYOPA ANNUAL CONVENTIONThe OPA annual convention will be held June 13-15, 2013, at the Sheraton and Reed Center in Midwest City.

For more information on upcoming events, visit the OPA website at www.OkPress.com or contact Member Services Director Lisa Potts at (405) 499-0026, 1-888-815-2672

or email [email protected].

OPA CALENDAR OF EVENTSComplete Listing of Events at

www.OkPress.com

UP, UP AND AWAY!By Jeff Shultz, Garvin County News Star

know if anyone was in the house, he didn’t take any chances.

“I didn’t know if anyone lived there, but I went and knocked on the door,” Hakel said. “The family had four kids at home – a little girl and three little

boys. Once I got them awake, their dad moved their van over by my car and they sat in the van. All over the sides and top of the van, you could see ash where the fire had been blowing hot ashes on the van.”

That fire was the first of two fires on the same city block, said Garfield County Undersheriff Jerry Niles.

Brad Nulph, circulation manager for the News & Eagle, said he is proud of Hakel’s fast thinking during the fire.

“The grandmother of the family next door called us and wanted Frank to know the family really appreciated his quick actions,” Nulph said.

“She wanted to express her heartfelt thanks.”

Fire Continued from Page 1

The Oklahoma Publisher // December 2012 3

The Oklahoma Publisher

PUBLISHERMark Thomas

[email protected]

EDITORJennifer Gilliland

[email protected]

OPA OFFICERSJeff Shultz, President

The Garvin County News StarJeff Mayo, Vice President Sequoyah County Times

Gracie Montgomery, TreasurerThe Purcell Register

Mark Thomas, Executive Vice President,

Oklahoma City

OPA DIRECTORSRusty Ferguson, Past President

The Cleveland AmericanJeff Funk, Enid News & Eagle

Robby Trammell, The OklahomanDayva Spitzer, Sayre Record &

Beckham County DemocratBrian Blansett, Shawnee News-Star

Mike Brown, Neighbor NewsTed Streuli, The Journal Record

SUBSCRIBE TO THE OKLAHOMA PUBLISHER

$12 PER YEAR

THE OKLAHOMA PUBLISHER (USPS 406-920) is published monthly for $12 per year by the Oklahoma Press Association, 3601 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105-5499. Periodicals postage paid at Oklahoma City, OK.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE OKLAHOMA PUBLISHER, 3601 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105-5499.

ISSN 1526-811X

Official Publication of the

Oklahoma Press Association

3601 N. Lincoln Blvd.Oklahoma City, OK 73105-5499

(405) 499-0020Toll-Free in Oklahoma: (888) 815-2672

[email protected]

www.Facebook.com/OKPress

Open government advocates criticize Gov. Fallin’s ‘executive privilege’ claim

Although Gov. Mary Fallin’s office stated they would comply with The Oklahoman’s open records request for emails regarding her decision to reject the creation of a state health insurance exchange, the governor defended her “executive privilege” to withhold cer-tain documents.

The request will include more docu-ments than all other records requests combined filed at Fallin’s office since she began her term in 2010, said Fal-lin’s spokesman Alex Weintz.

The email records will be reviewed individually by Fallin’s legal advisers, but the governor will have final say as to which documents will be considered privileged and which will be opened for review, said Weintz.

Fallin’s office previously refused to publicly release emails that could shed light on her decision to change her mind on creating a state health insur-ance exchange.

In 2011, Fallin accepted $54 million from the federal government to set up a state health insurance exchange.

She later rejected the money after receiving criticism from her Republican colleagues.

On Nov. 19, Fallin said she would not set up the state exchange, meaning the federal government will set one up for the state.

In response to The Oklahoman’s records request, Fallin’s general coun-sel, Steve Mullins, said the emails involve the governor’s decision-making process and would not be released.

The governor’s office has been criti-cized for its open records policy.

“Your legal advisers have claimed that records requested by various media outlets are protected by privi-leges that far exceed what the state Legislature and the state Supreme Court have granted government offi-cials,” Lindel Hutson, president of FOI Oklahoma Inc., wrote in a letter to the governor.

Other open records advocates say that there is no exemption in the state Open Records Act for these emails.

Mullins also cited executive privi-lege and attorney-client privilege as reasons to not release the documents, saying that electronic communications that pertain to state deliberations on public policy decisions could hurt poli-cymakers’ abilities to have productive internal discussions.

Weintz said Fallin did not believe the act was meant to allow access to “conversations between executive branch employees working on draft documents, brainstorming on public policy ideas, offering advice and coun-sel to the governor, or otherwise acting in an advisory role.”

A 2009 opinion from the Oklaho-ma attorney general’s office seems to counter this reasoning saying, “Emails, text messages, and other electronic communications made or received in connection with the transaction of pub-lic business, the expenditure of public funds or the administration of public

property are subject to the Oklahoma Open Records Act.”

Mullins cited federal law and U.S. Supreme Court decisions in explain-ing his rejection. He also said certain verbiage in the act allows exemption for attorney-client communications.

“The privileges that are in litigation in Oklahoma are no different from the privileges that are in litigation in the federal courts,” said Mullins.

Critics of Mullin’s decision say that the state Open Records Act does not allow for executive privilege as an exemption under the law.

“Our statute is very clear: If there’s not a state statute that applies directly to those records, then it’s open,” said Joey Senat, media law professor at Oklahoma Sate University.

Senat also claims that Fallin’s policy would shift the burden of proving the record is exempt from disclosure from the record holder to record requester.

Mark Thomas, executive vice presi-dent of the Oklahoma Press Associa-tion, is concerned by the rejection.

“Historically, when legal counsel throws up a phalanx of privileges to protect the executive branch, there is something amiss,” said Thomas. “We would think, knowing the financial ram-ifications of the health care exchange, that she would be pushing out every scrap of information, factual and delib-erative, to help the public understand why she is right on this issue.”

The Hinton Record’s editor of seven years has retired.

Susie Boling, who joined The Record in August 2005, retired on Nov. 7, 2012.

“It’s been a great pleasure to work with a professional as wonderful as Susie,” said Brett Wesner, owner of the Hinton Record. “She’s an excellent writer and editor and her love for the community has made her an invaluable asset to the newspaper. She will be missed.”

Hinton Recordeditor retires


The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has released documents they previously refused to make public regarding the Nov. 9 arrest of a Semi-nole teenager charged with murder.

Jonathan Weaver, 15, is charged with the stabbing death of Nick Tilley, 16. Seminole Police Lt. Branon Bowen said investigators believe the incident might have been gang related.

OSBI Director Stan Florence said he is looking into possible solutions to a dispute over open records that began when the agency’s general coun-sel refused to release records about the arrest of Weaver.

The OSBI took over the investiga-tion at the request of Seminole police.

After a judge sealed an arrest affi-

davit in the case, The Oklahoman requested those records. The judge cited concerns that witnesses named in the document had been threatened.

OSBI General Counsel Jimmy Bunn denied The Oklahoman’s request. Bunn argued that a law making records relat-ed to OSBI investigations confidential exempted the agency from the Open Records Act’s requirement to release records containing facts concerning an arrest and other basic information.

Open government advocates said Bunn’s interpretation of the law goes against the foundation of the state’s openness laws and that it would allow the agency to arrest people without tell-ing the public who they arrest or why.

OSBI releases records in Seminole case

State Auditor and Inspector Gary Jones recently confirmed that the town of Beaver will be audited by the state.

The auditor and inspector’s office received a petition with 110 verified signatures asking for the audit. Only 90 verified signatures were necessary for the audit to be performed.

The petition sites six items the citizens would like audited: possible irregularities in city purchasing poli-cies and procedures; possible irregu-larities and a review of costs associated with the Beaver Public Works Author-

ity’s operation of a local recreational area; possible irregularities and/or misuse of public funds and review of costs associated with the Beaver Public Works Authority’s water billing prac-tices, operations and usage reporting; possible irregularities and violations of the Oklahoma Open Records Act; possible irregularities and violations of the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act; and possible misappropriation of public property, equipment and/or resources for personal use.

Beaver will have to pay for the audit.

City of Beaver to be audited by state

OPA Executive Director Mark Thomas, right, congratulates U.S. Rep. James Lankford on his election as Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee for the 113th Congress. Thomas met with Lankford in his Washington D.C. office on Dec. 4 during the Newspaper Association Manager’s Legislative Conference. Thomas and Lankford also discussed the status of the United States Postal Service and their efforts to compete directly with newspapers through a negotiated service agreement with direct mailer Valassis.

Muskogee County’s chief prosecu-tor was recently named in a lawsuit alleging he and his office violated the Open Records Act.

The lawsuit was filed by Leif Wright, who operates MuskogeeNOW.com, an online news service.

Wright filed a records request seek-ing internal communications regarding courthouse security and surveillance.

The request was filed by lawyers representing Wright after the Musk-ogee County Bar Association filed a complaint against District Attorney Larry Moore. The complaint alleges that Moore and others in his office had access to live audio and video feeds of courtrooms while defense lawyers con-sulted with clients.

In Wright’s petition, he alleged Moore initially denied the existence of the requested records. Two weeks

later, Moore provided some of the doc-uments.

Wright alleges that Moore is with-holding more documents regarding the matter.

“We are looking for anything that was recorded in some way, related to the courthouse security and surveil-lance issue,” Wright said. “We know for a fact he held out because he turned over emails he had said didn’t exist.”

Muskogee County Bar Association members have expressed concern that prosecutors could have eavesdropped on attorney-client conversations in the Muskogee County courthouse.

Moore says his office never engaged in anything illegal or unethical. He has requested an OSBI investigation to uncover any wrongdoing. The FBI is also looking into the possibility of federal violations.

Muskogee DA named in lawsuit


OPA receives applications for membership

The Eastern Times Register has applied for a business membership in the Oklahoma Press Association and the Cherokee Phoenix has applied for a sustaining membership.

The Eastern Times Register, a week-ly newspaper published in Sequoyah County, lists Jeff Mayo as publisher. The Register’s periodical mailing per-mit has been in effect since March 24, 2010, according to the application.

The application lists the Eastern Times Register’s address as 100-B Davis Lane in Roland, Okla; phone (918) 427-3636 and email as [email protected].

The Cherokee Phoenix is seeking to renew its sustaining membership. Its past membership lapsed due to budget-ary constraints, said Bryan Pollard, Phoenix executive editor.

The Phoenix lists its address as P.O. Box 948, Tahlequah, Okla.; phone (918) 453-5269 and email as [email protected].

The Oklahoma Press Association Board of Directors will vote on the busi-ness application of the Eastern Times Register and the sustaining member-ship application of the Cherokee Phoe-nix at their next meeting on Jan. 17, 2013. Any current member wishing to object to either application must do so in writing to the OPA at 3601 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105-5499, by Jan. 7, 2013.

PROMOTIONS, NEW HIRESOKLAHOMAN PROMOTESBUNYAN, MECOY

Clytie Bunyan, The Oklahoman’s business editor, has been promoted to director of business and lifestyles.

Finance reporter Don Mecoy will take over as business editor.

Bunyan joined The Oklahoman as a metro reporter in 1989.

She later moved to the business beat and has covered real estate, small business and retail.

Bunyan was named business editor in 2003.

“Bunyan is a demonstrated leader in this newsroom,” said Kelly Dyer Fry, editor of The Oklahoman and vice president of news and information for OPUBCO Communications Group.

“She has led with a calm, assertive resolve that inspires confidence in those around her. She’s a champion for journalistic integrity. I think she will bring a wealth of talent to this position.”

Mecoy is an award-winning report-er who has worked for The Oklaho-man for 26 years. He has won awards for features, news and business stories and for headline writing. Mecoy has covered Oklahoma’s financial industry and public companies for the past 11 years. He will continue to cover finan-cial matters.

“Mecoy has previously served as city editor for us. He’s a proven leader with solid news judgment and a firm grasp of business and finance,” Fry said.

LAWTON CONSTITUTION NAMESKIM DODDS AS AD DIRECTOR

Kim Dodds, a Lawton native with years of media experience, has joined the Lawton Constitution as advertising director.

Dodds is a graduate of Lawton High School and earned a business degree from Cameron University in Lawton.

This is not her first time in the newspaper business. During her last semester in college, Dodds interned with the paper.

After school she worked in sales for local radio stations KLAW, Z94 and

My107.3. She was later named sales manager and served as general man-ager for the stations for 13 years.

Dodds took several months off after leaving the radio world before decid-ing to try the newspaper industry.

“I thought it was a great oppor-tunity to work for an institution that has such a legacy in Southwest Okla-homa,” she said.

Although her professional experi-ence is in radio, she believes that expe-rience will transfer to a new format.

“You want to help your clients devel-op the best advertising plan that’s going to work for them,” she said. “It’s all a matter of knowing your client and knowing what their needs are and helping them meet their needs.”

DUNCAN BANNER NAMESMEGAN BRISTOW AS REPORTER

The Duncan Banner has added a new reporter to its staff.

Megan Bristow, a Cameron Univer-sity graduate, comes to the paper from The Lawton Constitution where she covered Arts & Entertainment.

“She comes highly recommended and has already been out in the com-munity covering Main Street events and has met several of our local lead-ers,” said Tony Hopper, Banner inter-im managing editor. “We know she will make a significant contribution not only to The Banner, but the com-munity as well.”

Bristow will also write stories for “Duncan…the magazine” and will assist Hopper with online duties for duncanbanner.com.

ART LAWLER JOINS STAFF AT ADA NEWS AS REPORTER

A 42-year newspaper veteran has joined The Ada News as a reporter.

Art Lawler, who has experience in papers in Texas and Idaho, is rejoin-ing his former editor, Gene Lehmann. Lehmann, who is managing editor at The News, and Lawler both worked together at the Athens (Texas) Daily Review in 2004-2005.

Lawler has worked as either a reporter or editor for the Abilene

Reporter-News, the Plano Star Cou-rier, the Idaho Statesman in Boise, the Garland News, The Dallas Morning News, the Athens Daily Review and the Longview News Journal.

He has won numerous Associated Press first-place awards and other awards from the Texas Press Asso-ciation and the Texas Sportswriters Association.

“Not only is Art a great investiga-tive journalist and writer, he’s one of the best columnists I’ve had the plea-sure to work with,” Lehmann said. “It is certainly a pleasure to have Art on staff doing what he does best – telling and writing stories that engage read-ers.”

MIAMI NEWS-RECORD NAMESPATRICK MULLIKIN AS EDITOR

Patrick Mullikin has been named as editor of the Miami News-Record.

Mullikin will oversee the writing staff at the News-Record as well as some of its sister publications, said Publisher Cheryl Franklin.

Mullikin is a 1982 graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. He is a former U.S. Navy journalist and has worked in newsrooms in California, Indiana, Nevada, Utah and Vermont.

“I look forward to working with the staffs of these great publications and meeting members of the community,” said Mullikin. “And I do have a con-nection with Oklahoma: My father was born in Tulsa in 1909.”

OU’S DAILY HAS NEW EDITORThe University of Oklahoma’s stu-

dent-run newspaper, The Oklahoma Daily, has a new editor-in-chief.

The Student Media Publications board announced that Mary Stanfield would replace current editor Laney Ellisor, who recently retired for health reasons .

Stanfield started working at The Daily in 2009 as a columnist. She spent the next three semesters as a columnist and copy editor. In the fall she began work as the opinion editor, a position she still holds.

Does your newspaper have new staff members or have current staff members been promoted? Let us know by emailing information to [email protected].

If you stop by The Review’s office in Shidler, Okla., spend a little time shop-ping.

Housed in the newspaper office is owner and publisher Sheila Wilhelm’s retail store, She’s All That.

Wilhelm created the one-of-a-kind retail shop to serve Shidler and the sur-rounding area. She encouraged local crafters and artisans in the area to place their goods in her retail space on consignment.

The result is a boutique-style retail shop offering unique baby gifts and novelty toys as well as stylish purses, wallets, bags and jewelry.

Shopping in Shidler


LIBERTY BELL AWARDTulsa World reporter Ginnie Gra-

ham was honored in November with the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Lib-erty Bell Award.

The award is presented annually to a non-lawyer or lay organization for pro-moting or publicizing matters regard-ing the legal system.

Graham was recognized for her

series of investigative articles titled “Oklahoma Crisis: Child Abuse and Neglect,” which documented Oklaho-ma’s efforts to identify and treat the state’s abused and neglected children. The series ran in the World from April to August this year.

Graham has been a reporter at the World for 18 years, covering education, criminal justice and social issues.

MOST POWERFUL WOMENKelly Dyer Fry, editor of The Okla-

homan and vice president of news for OPUBCO Communications Group, was one of the top 10 women named in OKC Friday’s “Most Powerful Women” poll.

Christy Gaylord Everest, former CEO of OPUBCO, also was among the top ten on the list.

The poll dealt specifically with the greater Oklahoma City area. This is the first year that OKC Friday has done the poll.

The paper mailed more than 350 bal-lots to prominent and informed leaders in business, education, finance, govern-ment, media and civic organizations. The ballots had 110 names of promi-nent women to choose from as well as space to write in names.

PATHMAKER AWARDAnthony Shadid has become the

youngest Oklahoman ever to be named Pathmaker of Oklahoma City/County by the Oklahoma City/County Histori-cal Society.

The award was given “In recognition of outstanding service in the field of journalism and the documentation of his rich family heritage in Oklahoma.”

The late Pulitzer Prize winning jour-nalist had worked at the New York Times, Washington Post, Associated Press and Boston Globe.

He was posthumously awarded the honor in November of this year.

PLAYER PROFILEName: VICKIE LEE HOGAN, Owner, GARBER-BILLINGS NEWS

EDUCATION: ITT Business Institute

SPOUSE/CHILDREN: Husband - Matthew Hogan, Painter at Ditch Witch; son - Bobby Hogan, attorney for NOAA; daughter - Kimmi Hogan, oral surgery assistant

NEWSPAPER BACKGROUND: Garber-Billings News, owner/editor since 1993

Each month, The Publisher will profile a newspaper executive in this space. Learn more about your peers from all corners of the state. To request the questionnaire for your Player Profile, email [email protected].

Q: What’s something most people don’t know about you?

A: I love hearing old stories from senior citizens.

Q: What’s the best/most unusual part of your job?

A: Hearing how excited the kids are when they see themselves in the paper.

Q: What civic activities are you involved in?

A: All.

Q: Who’s had the biggest influence on your career?

A: My family.

Q: What would you describe as the three most important responsibilities of your job?

A: Honesty.

Q: What about newspaper publishing gets you out of bed in the morning? What makes you want to stay in bed?

A: The deadline and the deadline.

Q: What’s the biggest obstacle you’ve overcome in your career?

A: Self-confidence

Q: What are you most proud of?

A: My family.

Q: What are your hobbies?

A: Spending time with family.

Q: How does your newspaper play an important part in the community?

A: Keeping community informed.

Q: In what ways has the newspaper positively impacted your community?

A: Oldest business (110-years) in town.

Q: What challenges are facing your newspaper today and in the future?

A: The economy.

Q: What are some area attractions in your community visitors shouldn’t miss?

A: The school.

NEWSPAPER & PUBLICATION BINDINGBefore you have your next issue bound, give us a call. We offer exceptional quality, competitive pricing and fast turnaround times. With three generations of experi-ence, we have the knowledge and skill to get your job done. Other services include Bible binding and restoration, embossing and much more.

ACE BOOKBINDING CO.825 N. Classen Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73106

E-mail: [email protected] • www.AceBookBinding.com(405) 525-8888 or Toll-Free at 1-800-525-8896

Anschutz buys Colorado paper; Hight named editor

Phillip Anschutz, owner of the Okla-homa Publishing Co. (OPUBCO), recently purchased the Colorado Springs Gazette.

Joe Hight, a veteran reporter and editor for The Oklahoman, was named The Gazette’s new editor after the acquisition.

The Gazette is the second largest daily newspaper in Colorado with a daily circulation of 74,172.

Hight led efforts at The Oklahoman that include the “Know It” online com-munities, as well as the award winning “Your Right to Know” projects.

In 1995, Hight served as team leader for victim coverage after the Oklaho-ma City bombing. The coverage won two Society of Professional Journal-ists awards, a national Dart Award for Excellence in Coverage of Violence and several other awards.

He also served two terms as presi-dent of the Dart Center for Journal-ism & Trauma, an international orga-nization based at Columbia University. There he authored and co-authored print and online booklets and columns that are still in use today.

“Joe has been a tremendous asset to us. We will miss him, but we are thrilled with this new opportunity,” said Kelly Dyer Fry, editor of The Oklahoman and vice president of news for OPUB-CO Communications Group. “We are looking forward to working with The Gazette’s newsroom under Joe’s leader-ship. It also opens up career advance-ment and mobility opportunities for our staff that we have not had in the past. Having three newspapers within the same family will afford myriad partner-ship possibilities. ”

Three Oklahoma journalists receive state honors


ANN KELLEY WEAVER, a longtime Oklahoma journalist and reporter at The Oklahoman, died Nov. 28, 2012. She was 41.

Weaver was born in Dos Palos, Calif. She

was a graduate of Fresno State Univer-sity and East Central University and worked as a social worker and legal assistant before beginning her career in journalism.

Weaver was a reporter at The Ada Evening News and The Shawnee News-

Star before she began her career at The Oklahoman in 2002.

Throughout her journalism career Weaver won numerous awards for breaking news, investigative and gov-ernment reporting.

In 1999, she was an Associated Press sweepstakes winner for her stories about two wrongfully convicted men. Her work is featured in John Grisham’s book “The Innocent Man” and was also used as a source in “Actual Innocence,” a book co-authored by the founder of the Innocent Project, Berry Scheck.

Weaver was part of a team of report-ers from The Oklahoman and Tulsa

World that won a Great Plains Journal-ism Award for their project about group homes. That project also won awards from the Associated Press/Oklahoma News Executives and the Society of Professional Journalists.

She is survived by her husband, Bob, of the home; children, Austin Weaver, Molly Weaver Forsythe and husband Colt, Bobby Weaver and wife Kristen; parents Victor Barron II and Georgia Uremovic; sister Courtney Bullen and husband Brian; brother Victor Barron III and wife Kandi; grandmother Mary-Lou Bertoloti; and five grandchildren.

DEATHSJEROME A. ‘JERRY: LAIZURE, an award-winning news and sports photojournal-ist and senior staff photographer for The Norman Transcript, died Dec. 3, 2012. He was 59.

Laizure was born Nov. 13, 1953, in Oklahoma City. He grew up in Bartles-ville and began working for the local newspaper at age 14. He later worked for newspapers in Pawhuska, Norman, Oklahoma City and Noble. His sports

photography was widely published and won numerous awards.

He attended the University of Okla-homa School of Journalism and worked for the student newspaper for many years. He married Peggy Nelson on Feb. 11, 1972.

Laizure was co-founder and co-pub-lisher of the Cleveland County Record, a weekly newspaper in Noble. The Nor-man Transcript purchased the Record in 1989 and retained Laizure as the newspaper’s editor.

Laizure was The Transcript’s senior photographer at the time of his death. His photos have been honored with

awards from the Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists and Oklahoma Press Association.

Survivors include his wife Peggy of the home; daughter, Jennifer Laizure and her husband Richard of Edmond; sons Phillip Laizure and his wife Kao of Norman, and Jackson and his wife Amy of Norman; seven grandchildren; three brothers, John Laizure and his wife Debi of Broken Arrow, Joe Laizure and his wife Marjie of Mankato, Minn., and Tony Laizure and his wife Brenda of Tulsa; and a sister, Linda Laizure of Tulsa.

In memory of our Friends and ColleaguesDec. 10, 2011 – Mandell Matheson

Dec. 18, 2011 – Robert H. ‘Bob’ ScullyJan. 1, 2012 – Roberta Jean Parker

Jan. 6, 2012 – Verner John SalamoneJan. 6, 2012 – Betty Watson

DONATETO ONF

A donation to the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation will support its efforts to improve the state’s newspaper industryand quality of journalism.

ONF’s programs include training and education for professional journalists, scholarship and internship programs for journalism students, and Newspaper in Education efforts.

ONF relies on donations and memorial contributions to fund these programs.

If you would like to make a donation, please send a check to:

OKLAHOMA NEWSPAPER FOUNDATION

3601 N. Lincoln Blvd.Oklahoma City, OK 73105

Several Oklahoma newspapers pro-moted “Shop Small Saturday,” an event created by American Express in 2010 to help small businesses get more expo-sure during one of the biggest shop-ping weekends of the year.

The event is held the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

The logo for Shop Small was spot-ted in the pages of the Oologah Lake Leader in 2x2 ads that promoted “Small Facts,” such as “Mustang Fitness in Oologah is open seven days a week,

24 hours a day.” Oologah also ran sig pages with ads promoting Shop Small. It also listed Shop Small Saturday on the paper’s Community Calendar, along with other upcoming events.

Publisher Faith Wylie promoted Shop Small in her Reflections column on Nov. 15. In that column, Wylie said she had been posting to Facebook about shopping at local businesses and urged her readers to “give our local businesses an early Christmas gift and get some buzz going.”

In conclusion, Wylie urged readers to “do something big. Shop Small, and spread the word to your friends. It may seem like a little thing, but it makes a big difference for our community.”

Also promoting Shop Small Satur-day were the Guthrie News-Leader and Blackwell Journal-Tribune. Both papers ran a story about the event on page one.

The Norman Transcript ran some ads offering 20 percent off on Black Friday and Shop Small Saturday.

Papers urge readers to Shop Small


Because of their polling, Mitt Rom-ney, his family and campaign people were confident of victory and then liter-ally stunned and shell-shocked as the election night results rolled in.

http://www.tnr.com/blog/plank/110597/exclusive-the-polls-made-mitt-romney-think-hed-win#This link explains why they were so

wrong. What they really needed was this Prof’s Primer on Polling, especially this editor’s checklist for evaluating polling, or any research.

Americans are justifiably suspicious of polling, and not just for political reasons. Some of the fault lies with newspapers and broadcast that have reported off-beat “research” to try to snag audience. Last month I referred to USA Today once carrying a Women’s Day poll of its readers showing they wouldn’t marry the same man. That poll was loaded with faults, and the media failed to point them out. Then Fox picked up the myth in September and continued with it. That’s just one example.

So below is this editor’s checklist for evaluating polls. I think this should also be every American’s checklist, too.

If you’re an editor and can’t answer those questions satisfactorily, you shouldn’t print the story, unless you explain the faults to your readers.

A few of the faults of the Women’s Day poll and article: 1. It’s not ran-dom for all women in America, only subscribers. 2. Women’s Day has more

than one million subscribers. About 100,000 responded. 3. The results were clipped out of the magazine and sent in (pre-Internet). 4. Once the magazine got the results, some of them were not counted.

Bottom line: Reporting misleading

polls misleads your readers, and hurts credibility of the newspaper.

So, a responsible newspaper report-ing polling results should include an explanatory item with every story. It should be written along these lines:

“The Daily Geezer poll of 1,200 reg-istered voters in Geezer County was conducted Oct. 31, 2012, and asked two questions: ‘Will you vote Nov. 6?’ and ‘Which presidential candidate will you vote for?’ The results have a margin of error of plus and minus three percent.”

A final note: Newspapers have an obligation to explain all this to their readers – no other media is doing it. Feel free to take last month’s column and this one and make them into a nifty two-part commentary piece on your editorial pages. All I ask is a byline.

LOOKIN’EM OVER: Have you done a story on “open carry” yet? Michael Cox of the Cherokee Messenger & Republi-can interviewed the police chief. Head: “Chief says open carry about attitude.” Todd Brooks of the Marlow Review found not much had changed locally. The Daily Elk Citian and The Tribune in Bethany also carried stories.

Pearl Harbor gets less coverage as

EXPLAIN POLLS TO YOUR READERS

Continued on Page 9

Clark’s Critiqueby Terry Clark

Journalism Professor,University of Central Oklahoma,

[email protected]

1. Who sponsored the polling? Is there a conflict of interest? Political polling is especially suspect if it’s loaded with distrust for the other side. Beware any polling done by a PR firm for a client. I understand the Republicans with their distrust of the so-called “liberal media” wanting to conduct their own polls. But they fell victim to the same faults they suspected from the other side.

2. Who was included in the polling? If you poll certain age groups or geographic areas or don’t reach likely voters, your results will not be valid. See number three.

3. How were the people chosen? Was it a true “random” sample? If not, the results will be skewed (as with Romney’s poll-ing).

4. How many people were in the sample? If the poll has fewer than 1,100 respon-dents, your margin of error is going to be more than three percent.

5. What was the response rate? If your sample was 1,000 and only 400 answered, you get results like the Wom-en’s Day article, which threw out more than it counted. Don’t seriously consider any response rate less than 60 percent.

6. How accurate are the results? Always compute the margin of error – if results were within it, then “it’s too close to call.”

7. Who were the interviewers? Were they professionally trained and neutral? If not, prejudice, inflection of the voice and other factors can affect results.

8. How was the polling conducted? Robo-call? In person? If it was a call in or send

in, the results are worthless because they’re not random.

9. When was the poll conducted? Results can change overnight.

10. What were the actual questions asked? Wording can influence results, and can lead to opposite results on the same matter, depending on wording.

11. Are the results cause and effect or just correlation? I saw a headlined story once: “Want to live a longer life? Marry yourself a younger wife.” The poll found that men with younger wives lived lon-ger. But – this might not be cause and effect because there are many other factors involved – health, wealth, etc.

12. Does the headline match the polling results?

CLARK’S CHECKLIST FOR EVALUATING POLLS

This month, Oklahoma newspapers covered the new open carry law, veterans, local politics and more. Featured this month are The Claremore Daily Progress, Muskogee Phoenix, The Bethany Tribune, Weatherford Daily News, El Reno Tribune, Daily Elk Citian and The Countywide & Sun.


the years go by, But the Seminole Pro-ducer, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise, Eddie A. Owens at Clayton Today, King-fisher Times & Free Press, Hominy News Progress and The Eakly Country Con-nection carried stories. Wendy Burton of the Muskogee Phoenix talked to local vets.

Several papers carried veteran’s sto-ries. The Chelsea Reporter carried a story by the Vinita Daily Journal’s Den-ton Thomason about a local vet on the honor flights. Headline: “It’s never too late to welcome a WWII veteran home.”

But it will be too late if you don’t do the stories now. Ben Fenwick of the Oklahoma Gazette reports that WWII vets in Oklahoma are dying at the rate of 740 a day. Headline: “Twilight’s Last Gleaming.” Jeanne Grimes of The Pur-cell Register photographed and report-ed on a veteran’s day assembly.

At The Countywide & Sun, here’s Johnna Ray’s excellent lead on “PTSD – the lasting cloud of combat”: “The four-lane highway quickly narrowed to two as red and white lights from front and rear illuminated an otherwise black night. / “Thick, solid concrete barri-ers on either side amplified the heavy feel of rapid compression, tightening muscles that pressed the brake pedal and gripped the wheel for control. / “Suddenly, as if in a dream, Mark Con-ley was no longer passing through a construction zone on a safe American highway. As he fought to steady his breathing, in his mind he was again trapped in the middle of a security check in Iraq, hoping he could escape

but feeling closed in from every angle – a sitting duck. / “It had been almost four years since he last touched desert soil but in that instant, it was as if he never had left the Middle East. / “That initial thought of ‘I’m in America, I’m safe,’ gets pushed to the back… .”

If you need guaranteed readership, do what Carmen Bourlon of the Shaw-nee News-Star did. Under the headline “Marriage Debate,” she interviewed locals about the upcoming Supreme Court case on gay marriage. Jenna Mariani of the Weatherford Daily News interviewed people getting ready for the predicted doomsday. Everett Brazil III of the Hollis News wrote about state efforts to encourage adoption under “Families grow with adoption.”

A tip of the editor’s hat to Claremore Daily Progress editor Randy Cowling and reporter Salesha Wilken for hav-ing the guts to cover a hostile county commission in reporting and editorials. Headline: “Helm, Thacker: Caught and Warned.” And that allowed neighbor John M. Wylie II at the Oologah Lake Leader to get ‘flatulence” in a headline. It’s great to see collaboration between journalists – on this, or as at Chelsea and Vinita.

Another such instance is at Madill and Marietta. Mark Codner of the Madill Record investigates a story of statewide significance – the decline of Lake Texoma because of silting and nutrients, showing maps of change in just the past eight years. Headline: “Sustaining Texoma – Sedimentation – water becomes land.” Marietta Moni-

tor carries it on page one, too. Headline, “Trouble at Texoma?”

Nothing like good writ-ing. Rose Lane at OKC Fri-day: “What constitutes a pot-hole just got smaller in The Village. / “The City Council has approved a revision… .” Headline: “Potholes, potties, pinpointed under re-codifi-cation.”

The Hennessey Clipper: “The Hennessey Board of Education spent 2 hours and 15 minutes in closed session Monday night to discuss the rehiring of the superinten-dent, but who was count-ing the hours? / “Supt. Joe McCulley. / “He was rehired in open session in a 3-2 vote on a three-year contract... .”

Russell Hixson of the Still-water NewsPress, headlined,

“Man on the move”: “It’s hard to imag-ine how Bob Johnson finds time to run. In addition to being mayor of Perkins, Johnson pastors church, volunteers as a reserve police officer and does other odd jobs around the city. / “But when he does run, few can catch up. / “At the Oklahoma City Marathon in July, the 76-year-old ran a half marathon….”

Ray Lokey of the Johnston County Capital-Democrat in a front page col-umn about hometown country music star Miranda Lambert opening a Pink Pistol restaurant in town, which includ-ed a page on pink newsprint: “In pre-vious years, Tishomingo has turned into a ghost town during Thanksgiving weekend as folks headed for the woods to deer hunt, are gone to grandma’s

house, or skipped town to do some early Christmas shopping. / “Not this year. / “Instead of Tishomingo being a place to leave behind, it became a destination.”

Finally, disturbing news that affects us all from the Guthrie News-Leader reporting that the Oklahoma State Cap-ital Publishing Museum is shut down. Why? The state can’t afford to replace a $150,000 boiler.

HEAD’EM UP AWARDS. First place, tie: Okarche Chieftain, on a Matt Montgom-ery story about a vineyard owner:

Dow turns water into wineOologah Lake Leader on a John M.

Wylie II news analysis of the Claremore Daily Progress battle with county com-missioners:

Thacker says The Progress spews ‘written flatulence’

Second place, The Bigheart Times, on a Louise Red Corn story about a blood splatter analysis course:

The Bloody TruthThird place, Eufaula Indian Journal

on a Jerry Fink story localizing the federal threat to cutback school lunch programs, and quoting Oliver Twist:‘Give me more,’ hungry students plead.

Honorable mentions not mentioned or pictured earlier: Woodward News, on photo of Christmas light vandalism, “Bah humbug”; Weekly Express, on a John Morse story, “Shoot a gun, go to jail”: Spiro Graphic, on a Jim Fienup story, “Escape artist faces charges – Drives off in sheriff’s unit”; Chicka-sha Express-Star, on Lauren Carter’s story about a new casino, “Gambling in Grady.”

Clark’s Critique Continued from Page 8

Looking for a CompleteCombination Solutionfor Print and Online Special Sections? Now you can get

fully-templated, full-colorprint special sections &companion, ready-to-post online MicroSitesections from MetroEditorial Services!

1.800.223.1600Metro Creative Graphics, Inc.

www.metrocreativeconnection.com

View samples and getmore information frommetrocreativeconnection.com,call Metro Client Servicesat 1-800-223-1600,or send an e-mail [email protected]

+


It’s time … for OG&E’s new SmartHourss ™ Price Plans.™

1-877-898-3834 OGE.COM

12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 PEAK OVER. START SAVING …MONEY-SAVING OFF PEAK

M I D N I G H T M I D N I G H TN O O N

PEAK TIME, WATCH YOUR USE© 2012 OGE Energy Corp.

Alva Middle School students and teachers show off their anti-bullying t-shirts Wednesday morning. Students seated on the floor form the letters “STOP BULLYING” Photo by LYNN MARTIN, Alva Review-Courier, Oct.. 19, 2012

Moore High’s Hannah Lynch (19) dives for home as she tries to avoid being tagged out Friday during the Lions’ game against Broken Arrow during the 6A state softball tournament at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.

Photo by KYLE PHILLIPS, The Norman Transcript, Oct. 13, 2012

THE OGE PHOTO CONTEST

OCTOBER 2012 WEEKLY WINNER:

LYNN MARTIN Alva Review-Courier

OCTOBER 2012 DAILY WINNER:

KYLE PHILLIPS The Norman Transcript

The October 2012 contest was judged by a member of the

Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame.

ENTER AND WIN A $100 CHECK FROM

OGE ENERGY CORP.View contest rules and

all winning photos at www.OkPress.com/OGE-Photo-Contest


The Oklahoma Press Association Board of Directors met Nov. 15 in Okla-homa City.

Officers attending were Presi-dent Jeff Shultz, The Garvin County News Star; Vice President Jeff Mayo, Sequoyah County Times; and Trea-surer Gracie Montgomery, The Purcell Register.

Directors attending were past presi-dent Rusty Ferguson, The Cleveland American; Dayva Spitzer, Sayre Record & Beckham County Democrat; Robby Trammell, The Oklahoman; Brian Blan-sett, Shawnee News-Star; Mike Brown, Neighbor News; and Ted Streuli, The Journal Record. Jeff Funk, Enid News & Eagle, was absent.

Also attending were OPA staff mem-bers Mark Thomas, executive vice president/secretary, and Lisa Potts, member services director.

After calling the meeting to order, Shultz asked the board to review min-utes of the Sept. 20, 2012, meeting. The board approved the minutes as presented.

OPA and LSP financial statements for the period ending Oct. 31, 2012, were reviewed and the board acknowl-edged receipt of the statements. The board also reviewed and acknowledged receipt of OPA and LSP investment reports for the period ending Oct. 31. The board approved the proposed OPA and LSP budgets for 2012-13.

DAMAGE CLAIM TO BE FILEDIn other business, Thomas recom-

mended the OPA file a claim against the City of Oklahoma City to replace the front driveway at the OPA building, which was damaged when a water pipe burst under the city-owned sidewalk on July 3, 2012, and caused cavities in the soil under the driveway. The board unanimously authorized Thomas to file the property damage claim.

MEMBERSHIP SURVEYOn Oct. 16, an online survey was dis-

tributed to all OPA business members to determine their satisfaction with OPA services, inquire about topics for training and determine the need for

industry promotion. Sixty-two respons-es were received. The survey deter-mined the following eight items on which to focus and consider possible changes:1. Promote/advocate for newspapers2. Promote/advocate for newspaper

advertising3. Promote idea sharing between

members4. Promote Online Media Campus

webinars and other affordable, industry webinars

5. Workshop topics for Education Committee’s consideration: Adver-tising sales, digital strategies, social media efforts, circulation tactics

6. Analysis of website redesign options7. Find balance between materials

mailed and emailed to members8. Promote content exchange signup

again

OPS BOARD MEETINGAt the OPS board meeting, board

members approved the minutes of the Sept. 20, 2012, meeting as presented.

The board reviewed OPS financial

statements for the period ending Oct. 31, 2012, and acknowledged receipt of the statements.

Board members also discussed the proposed OPS budget for 2012-13, which includes a salary for a new OCAN/2x2 salesperson beginning in 2013. The budget also includes plans to produce the 18th edition of the Open Meetings and Records book in the sum-mer of 2013 after the conclusion of the legislative session. The board approved the proposed budget as presented.

Following the management review, Shultz said the board was pleased with results of the membership survey and the action items the staff plans to review and adopt. The board also expressed appreciation for the prepara-tion Thomas has made for the coming legislative session.

Thomas reported that the Texas Daily Newspaper Association has decided to cease operation and that its members are joining the Texas Press Association.

A visual history told through post-cards awaits visitors to the Oklahoma State Capitol who enter through the west corridor.

Awaiting them are giant 40x60 inch (3.5x5 foot), high resolution, digitally copied and printed postcards from orig-inal 1920s to 1950s Linen Era cards.

The cards are on display for at least two years and then are replaced with newly sponsored cards, said Stu Ostler, Legislative Service Bureau photo divi-sion manager at the Capitol.

“The original cards are from my per-sonal collection that I started about 10 years ago,” Ostler said.

The “Linen Era” postcards were pro-duced on paper with a high rag content, which gave them a fabric-type look and feel. The technique allowed for very vibrant ink colors and were less expen-sive to produce.

Friends of the Capitol, which is devoted to providing private funds to maintain and improve the beauty of the Capitol building and its works of art, started the exhibit in 2005.

The project is now starting its Sec-

ond Edition and is looking for sponsors for the new cards that will be displayed. Ostler said there is space for as many as 34 big postcards along the west cor-ridor.

Postcard sponsors can choose from over 175 cards from many parts of the state. The $425 donation for each postcard includes the cost of printing, mounting and hanging the card. Each sponsor is acknowledged by printing their name in the lower edge of the card.

The collection contains postcards from Altus, Antlers, Alva, Ardmore, Bartlesville, Chickasha, Claremore, Clinton, Cushing, Davis, Durant, El Reno, Enid, Fort Sill, Guthrie, Hobart, Hugo, Kingfisher, Lawton, Miami, Muskogee, Newkirk, Norman, Oklaho-ma City, Okmulgee, Ponca City, Shaw-nee, Sulphur, Tahlequah, Tulsa and Vinita, as well as others.

For more information about the State Capitol Big Postcard Project, con-tact Ostler at (405) 521-4071 or email [email protected].

OPA board reviews membership survey at November meeting

SPONSOR A GIANT POSTCARD AT THE STATE CAPITOL

The Oklahoma State Capitol Big Postcard Collection project is embarking on its second edition. For a donation of $425, you can sponsor a giant 40x60 inch postacard that will hang in the west corridor of the Capitol.


1959 – ED & MELBA LIVERMOREEd and Melba celebrated the birth

of their sixth great grandchild, Hudson Camack Altwise, this year. They recom-mend life at Inverness Village in Tulsa, and see their family often.

“We are blessed with a loving family who visit often and have a strong allegiance for each other,” they wrote.

“We have always looked forward to this dinner and the opportunity to greet old newspaper compatriots and meet new mem-bers. We do keep current by avidly reading The Oklahoma Publisher,” they wrote.

Ed attended the dinner with his son, Ed Jr.

1972 – HELEN (D. JO) FERGUSONHelen celebrated her 90th birthday in

April with a big community party at the Christian Church in Pawnee, where she still plays the organ.

“I gained two new great-grandsons and had two granddaughters get married, oth-erwise things are pretty calm in Pawnee,” she said. “I do miss seeing our old friends.”

Helen was unable to attend this year’s dinner.

1974 – MARIBETH (JIM) PATESince losing Jim last year, Maribeth has

been spending time with family. She’s also in outpatient therapy after she suffered two falls, fracturing her right arm and dislocat-ing her left elbow.

“I feel like a football player,” she wrote. She traveled from Dallas to Norman with

her son Bill and his family – Kathe, Emily

and Catie – to see some actual football play-ers in the OU-Iowa state game. She visited Oklahoma City for the holidays as well. Her grandson James Gallardo, son of Marti Pate Gallardo and Armando Gallardo in New York, joined the ranks of Pate newsmen. He graduated from Southern Methodist Uni-versity in 2011 and is now a market analyst for Barron’s magazine.

Maribeth wrote, “Spending time besides family visits at usual interests: music choir, chimes, leading sing-alongs, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and now my first art class! All at our Grace Presbyterian Village Center. Many new (old) friends.”

Maribeth regrets she could not attend this year’s dinner.

1975 – DICK & RHONDA HEFTONDick and Rhonda are well and keeping

busy. Dick has been able to mentor a third-grader and still find time for plenty of golf.

Dick wrote, “In February I drove to Savannah, stopping for visits with old pilot pals and a modicum of genealogy. From there, I pulled a trailer with two Porsche 356s for a car show in Lakeland, Fla., and stayed in a restored boutique Terrace hotel.

“In March, I got involved in the pur-chase and development of a restaurant, ‘Gabriella’s,’ on the site known in early OKC as The Kentucky Club and more recently County Line BBQ. Gabby’s is an operation of offspring of an old Krebs, Okla., Italian restaurant family who had been serving the South Padre Island clientele for years and wanted to ‘come home.’ As of this date the plan seems to be successful. I purchased a

Condo at Waterford, which is under resto-ration. Haven’t decided what to do with it as yet, live-in, sell or rent? I met Rhonda in NYC for a few days later in the month. Then we both flew to Boston for the Association of Community College Trustees meeting, preparing for the search for a new president at Rose State College this coming year.

“Not much else new in this dull world, except in the past two weeks I broke my record for overnight stays in the hospital. Former record was one night! Was held some 8 of 10 days alternately at Mercy and OK Heart Hospital. Doing fine but certainly received much deserved ‘comeuppance!’”

The Heftons enjoyed seeing everyone at the dinner.

1977 – PAT (JACK) DYERPat wrote, “The Tribune moved after 63

years in one location. If you don’t need it and it can’t be of use, get rid of it. Hard work but worth the effort.

“Geoff, my oldest grandson, and his wife, Holly, are expecting their third child, a boy due in March. He will be my 17th great-grandchild.”

Pat attended this year’s dinner.

1979 – KEN & PHYLLIS REIDThe Reids are well and staying busy. Phyllis recently published her book,

“She Was a Good Mommy While She Last-ed,” a collection of quotes from children. The Reids still travel to their cabin on Lake Ouchita in Arkansas, and Ken took his 22nd trip to Alaska this year. They also went elk

hunting with son-in-law Joe Colley in north-west Colorado.

Eight of their 12 grandchildren have graduated from college. One grandchild, a high school senior, plans to major in music (pipe organ) at Rice University.

Ken sent this message to fellow past presidents: “We are confident newspapers fulfill a major role in our society providing we are willing to work hard, provide leader-ship and give of ourselves to the communi-ties we serve. PROFIT comes from doing a good job.”

The Reids weren’t able to attend this year.

1980 – TOM McCURDYTom lives in Norman but travels to Pur-

cell to visit his children and grandchildren a few times a week. He went to his grandson Brian Bajema’s wedding in Las Vegas in March.

“First time to Vegas in a number of years and the growth/changes are tremendous,” he wrote. “Still fun, despite not winning in the casinos.” Tom has two grandchildren at OU. Jake Sheehy is a sophomore and his sister Kaitlyn is a freshman who is a mem-ber of the President’s Leadership Class and a sorority.

Tom wrote, “I’ve turned the clock back 50 years as I have reconnected to two Army buddies from my months in 1962-63 at Fort Benning, Ga. Howard McAlister of Weatherford and Gary Vance of Pawnee are distinguished medal winners for their service as pilots in Vietnam. Howard was a helicopter pilot shot down twice, wounded. He’s now on oxygen 24/7 as a result of the wounds to his lungs. Gary was a fixed-wing pilot and flew over 800 missions in his three tours in Vietnam. Following his military service, Gary became a career pilot with Delta Airlines.”

The three friends plan to meet in Weath-erford or Oklahoma City soon, but first Tom looks forward to attending the presidents’ dinner.

“Sure will be great to see my OPA friends that are so special to me.”

1981 – JIM & LOUISE BELLATTI

Jim and Louise wrote that their children and grandchildren are doing well. Jim lost his brother, Lawrence ‘Chub’ Bellati, on Oct. 3.

Jim still enjoys being executive pres-byter for Cimarron Presbyter, which is composed of 14 Presbyterian churches in northern Oklahoma.

Jim and Louise were unable to attend this year’s dinner.

1982 – MARY (BILL) RETHERFORDMary’s grandson William Retherford

recently got married after graduating from Oral Roberts University. She regrets she was not able to attend this year’s dinner.

O K L A H O M A P R E S S A S S O C I A T I O N

Past Presidents ReportNOVEMBER 2012 OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

The Oklahoma Press Association

compiles this annual

Past Presidents Report

as a way of recognizing

and keeping in touch

with those who dedicated

their time and efforts

to serve the press association.


1984 – DON & SALLY FERRELLDon and Sally have been walking for

exercise. Then Don “lost his head” and signed up for the half marathon with the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. Six other members of his family ran the 13.1 mile race. Don was in the 75 to 99 year class. Out of 29,000 participants, there was only one man older than him. Don said if it had been a hundred yards longer he wouldn’t have made it.

Sally is a new member of an old club in Chandler, Grandma’s Trunk Antique Club. She is giving the program next month on how to shine copper and brass. Don is still messing with old cars. They took a fall foli-age trip up the Talimena Trail with 50 other Model A Fords. In September, they hosted a trip to Lincoln County for the Horseless Carriage Club of OKC.

Sally is still working with Miss Fay’s Historical Marionette Theater to teach Oklahoma history to 3rd and 4th grade students from Lincoln and Pottawatomie county schools. They just finished a month of puppet plays and artist-in-residence ses-sions with area schools.

Don is a buck private in The Salvation Army and represents Lincoln County on the advisory board for TSA in Shawnee. He took the disaster services course, but the local unit was not called to the Gulf Coast for the last hurricane. He was all ready and trained to pour coffee and hand out sandwiches.

Don has an office and hobby shop near the newspaper in Chandler and welcomes any newspaper friend traveling the turn-pike, or Highway 66, to come by.

Don and Sally enjoyed seeing their friends at this year’s dinner.

1985 – DONN DODDDonn regrets he will not be able to

attend this year’s dinner.

1986 – JIM & BECKY MAYOAsked about life changes, Jim wrote,

“We went through the change of life sev-eral years ago. At 70, we aren’t interested in going through it again.”

“Becky’s high school class had a big birthday party to celebrate their 70th birth-days. I’m younger than her, so I didn’t go,” Jim continued.

“Our annual trip to visit children and grandchildren in Seattle was fun once we got there after almost being snowed in at the Denver airport, again. This year, we’re going through Houston to avoid bad weather. Thanksgiving is easier since we celebrate at Jeff and Beth’s, which is about a mile from our house over flat ground.

“Becky’s skill at parenting our two boys has paid off again. Older son, Jack, was named one of four award winners for out-standing career achievement by his college, Rose Hulman Institute of Technology. Jack works for Microsoft. We look forward to Jeff’s term as OPA president next year.”

Jim and Becky enjoyed seeing everyone at this year’s dinner.

1987 – JOE & CAROLYN McBRIDELast June, Carolyn had seven hours

of lower back surgery to fuse the fourth and fifth vertebrae. A week later, she had another surgery to adjust the first. A week after that, she had a pacemaker installed,

Joe wrote. She is still recovering and hopes to be well in six months to a year.

“We can’t come this year, enjoy,” Joe wrote.

1988 – J. LELAND & VICKI GOURLEY“The Gourleys are up and running in

2012 with Leland’s new knees,” Vicki wrote. She and Leland still work at OKC Friday every day.

They spent February in Hawaii with friends Carol Engleman and Gary Sander. At Easter, Leland and Vicki hosted 18 for brunch and met son Jay’s girlfriend from D.C.

“Her name is Sudeen Kelly, a hot-shot lawyer with Patton-Boggs and a former Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner,” Vicki wrote. “She served for eight years, appointed by Clinton and Bush. Kelly Clark is getting married for the first time (at age 45) on March 30 to Jennifer Starsovich Easton. They dated in high school and reconnected at a party a couple of years ago. We love both Jennifer and Sudeen and are so happy for our guys.”

In June, Leland and Vicki traveled to Africa for almost a month, again with Carol and Gary. They stayed at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe; Johannesburg, Sabi Sands and Capetown, South Africa, before traveling to Namibia to visit Dr. Laurie Marker at the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF). They had four cheetahs in their backyard! Vicki is now on the CCF-USA Board of Trustees with the editor of National Geographic and several famous scientists.

“After the Sanders left, we continued on to the Namib Desert on the Atlantic Coast on our own. Red sand dunes a thousand

feet tall! Magnificent,” Vicki wrote. “Back at work through the long hot summer, we are trying to make a few bucks with the Christ-mas season upon us and you can find us at the office every day.”

Leland and Vicki enjoyed seeing every-one at the Past Presidents Dinner.

1989 – NANCY (TED) PHILLIPSNancy wrote she still loves her condo

in Port Aransas, especially the view of the lighthouse. She’s also working with a local organization.

“Right now I’m president of our local historical group, which has received some widespread (some national) publicity on our newly opened Farley Boat Works. The Farley brothers built boats in this building in the early part of the last century. We have acquired the building and have turned the front half into a boat museum. The back half is a working wooden boat building facility.”

The group found an expert in build-ing wooden boats to train the Farley Boat Works crew. The crew now teaches people to build their own boats. “Everyone is hav-ing so much fun and the boats are beauti-ful,” she wrote. “You must come visit.”

Nancy said her children and grandchil-dren are well. “My son Stu, I’m sure you’re keeping up with as he’s involved with the OPA. I am so proud of him, as was his dad. My son Ted Steven and his wife are still liv-ing in Reston, Va., where their two children are in school. The older one is in college, the younger one in grade school. They are such a great family and I am proud of all of them, too!”

Nancy has no travel plans due to her

Attending the annual Past Presidents Dinner on Nov. 15 at the Waterford Marriott in Oklahoma City were (front row) Ed Livermore Jr.; Ben Blackstock; Ed Livermore Sr.; J. Leland Gourley; Joe Hancock; Gracie Montgomery; Barb Walter and Gloria

Trotter. Back: Jim Mayo; Steve Booher; Jeff Shultz; Joe Worley; Rod Serfoss; John D. Montgomery; Tom Muchmore; Dick Hefton; Rusty Ferguson; Sean Dyer; Don Ferrell and Wayne Trotter.

Continued on Page 14


worsening rheumatoid arthritis, and regrets she was not be able to attend this year’s din-ner.

1991 – JOE & NEVILLE HANCOCKJoe and Neville say there are no major

changes, they’re just another year older. They are excitedly waiting to become great-grandparents – son Todd is a grandfather-to-be.

They traveled to Dallas for the OU-Texas game and enjoyed this year’s Past Presi-dents Dinner.

1992 & 2005 – JOHN D. & GRACIE MONTGOMERYJohn D. and Gracie kept up their tradi-

tion of attending OU football games this year and traveled to the Cotton Bowl for the OU-Texas game.

They visited with Gracie’s parents, Rich-ard and Ruth Evans, and entertained six of Matt’s friends from Boston. Maribeth Pate’s grandchildren, James and Jessica Gallardo of New York City, also visited. John and Gra-cie are enjoying their new grandson, Jack.

“His favorite song is Boomer Sooner,” they wrote. “At 17 months old, already brainwashed. He claps and dances when it’s playing.”

John and Gracie enjoyed the Past Presi-dents Dinner.

1993 – ED & MARCIA LIVERMORELast year, Ed and Marcia said 2011 was

the year of Texas’ Dreadful Drought. On that point, 2012 is much improved. Rainfall is almost average, which makes life pleas-ant.

Ed wrote,“The old farmer’s lament that ‘if it ain’t the hogs, it’s the windmill’ should have included drought! For now, we’re doin’ betta! Marcia and I are in good health, and this year has allowed a goodly amount of travel. We go up to Oklahoma often to see mom and dad, always fun.”

Ed and Marcia have also visited Cali-fornia this year, and spent several days in Yosemite hiking and enjoying incredible views and thundering waterfalls in May.

“Leaving Yosemite, we visited Bishop, Calif., in the Owens Valley on the east side of the Sierras. It’s a quite remote town and scenically wonderful,” Ed wrote.

They spent three weeks traveling from Texas up to Wyoming and then west to Seattle, Vancouver Island and San Juan Island in the Puget Sound. Ed and Marcia also went down to Oregon to visit the Ever-green Flight Museum in McMinnville and then on to the Pacific coast.

“A few days later, we continued on south to Santa Rosa, Calif., to visit Marcia’s sister, had a hike in the Redwoods, and from there flew back to Kerrville. It was an exhilarat-ing trip, and we enjoyed a great deal of America’s natural beauty,” Ed wrote.

“Our grandchildren remain a joy. Jake, Will, Kaylee, Brock and Chloe are always fun, and we wish we could see them more. All are healthy and doing well.”

Son-in-law Paul Jagodik now works with a chip design company in Silicon Valley. He and Christy live in Austin, and Paul com-mutes to Santa Clara every other week, working from home in between. Son John Livermore is a software designer in the Dallas area.

“In these hard economic times, these fellows, engineers both, have always had challenging, productive employment and numerous companies seeking their servic-es. We are most thankful,” Ed wrote. “Chris-ty has gone to half time as a counselor in the Leander school system near Austin. She and Paul have a number of rental hous-es in Lakeway which she manages along with raising her daughters. Daughter-in-law Christi, in Dallas, continues as a wonderful mom and homemaker dedicated to the rais-ing of her three young men.

“My passion with general aviation con-tinues. Last month, I logged my 5,000th hour in the air, all single engine. With three parents enjoying life in Oklahoma, our small plane cuts the journey north from eight hours to less than two.

“We miss the newspaper business from time to time, particularly during election years. It would’ve been exciting to see this one from across the editor’s desk once again. Marcia and I continue to believe in newspapers and are avid readers. We wish all our former colleagues in the OPA much success in 2013.”

Ed attended the dinner with his father, Ed Sr.

1996 – LINUS & LEE WILLIAMSLinus wrote, “Lee and I are still involved

in the business daily, but receive more and more help from my son and his wife Kelly. My son has helped expand our printing business so that now printing (web and digi-tal), graphic services, direct mail services and mail room services are the overwhelm-ing part of our business.

“We continue to enjoy traveling a few times a year but also enjoy spending time with our grandchildren who visit us regu-larly. We hope everyone is in good health and doing well.”

Linus and Lee were not able to attend this year’s dinner.

1997 – TOM & SHERRY MUCHMORETom wrote that Gov. Mary Fallin recent-

ly appointed Sherry to the board of direc-tors of the Oklahoma Historical Society. Sherry also took over presenting the annual Herb Festival, which had 15,000 in atten-dance this year.

Tom has kept busy as well. He hired a managing editor for the Tonkawa News, and still spends several days each week working there.

The Muchmores attended their niece’s

wedding in Atlanta in June. They wrote about the Muchmore family, “We had our eighth grandchild in January. Daughter Laura welcomed her fourth child, son Gray-son. Her oldest child graduated from Colo-rado State University. Our daughter Shan-non has won several awards for excellence in reporting while working at the Tulsa World. Our beloved aunt, JoAnn Much-more, died last November.”

Tom and Sherry had a good time at this year’s dinner.

1999 & 2009 – WAYNE & GLORIA TROTTER

It’s been a pretty great year for the Trot-ters, all things considered. Gloria wrote, “Of course, the previous year was pretty terrible, so it’s all relative.” Wayne and Gloria moved to their new office and cel-ebrated with a community-wide open house in December. Mark Thomas and past presi-dent Rusty Ferguson visited the new office on their “Scouting Report” road trips.

Wayne’s nerve problem that disabled his right hand for more than a year is almost completely well, but now he has developed some small ulcers and an acid problem.

Gloria said she is in relatively good shape except that her hearing is getting worse. “Please speak up when you see me. Isn’t getting old grand?”

They took an end-of-the-year trip to their favorite place, New Orleans, in late Decem-ber and had a great time except for Wayne cutting his hand and Gloria’s feet hurting so badly she had trouble getting around.

Son Greg continues to live in Tecumseh and help out with the newspaper comput-ers. He’s still running the computers at the National Severe Storm Lab in Norman. The family’s beloved cats, Mr. Black and Miss Patches, continue to entertain.

“So we’re gearing up for a post-election trip to a Mexican resort with Bill and Barb Walter in a few weeks to celebrate and rest, but not before we see all of our ‘family’ at the Past Presidents Dinner, our favorite OPA event.”

2000 – JERRY & CAROL QUINNUnfortunately, we did not hear from

Jerry and Carol this year.

2001 – SEAN & DONNA DYER“I highly recommend that everyone

move at least once every 63 years,” Sean wrote. “We are in our new Tribune home, 102 E. Wade Street. Things have settled down and we are adjusting to the new location. Tribune staff did a great job in transitioning.

“Our children are healthy and our six grandsons are growing up much too fast. We still find ourselves in the bleachers watching grandsons play ball.

“We are looking forward to attending the OPA Past Presidents Dinner.”

2002 – BARB & BILL WALTERBill and Barb are planning on taking an

entire week off after Thanksgiving and are going to Puerto Vallarta with the Trotters.

“With any luck, we won’t get kidnapped by banditos, or if we do, that we’ll get back to the USA intact and can write about it,” Barb wrote.

“We will be there and will love, love, love to visit with old friends and tell and retell stories at the Past Presidents Dinner. Can’t wait. We need a day off.”

2003 – RAY & JENNY LOKEYNot a whole lot has changed since a year

ago. Ray is still slugging away at the paper and Jenny continues to do the bookkeep-ing. Probably the biggest change at the office is that they have joined other state newspapers in offering an online edition of the paper.

“I’ve been kicking and screaming for years trying to put it off, but it’s time,” Ray said.

Ray continues to enjoy stamp collecting and has renewed an old friendship with one of his buddies from his days as a student at the University of Oklahoma who now owns a cabin on Lake Texoma and needs a fishing partner. “I hope not to let him down in the years ahead,” Ray said.

Jenny spends most of her time at home, but enjoys getting out to get her hair done and visit with friends.

“Our four-legged ‘kids’ continue to keep us busy, including four mutts at the house and a cat at the office that spends most of its time hogging my keyboard while I’m trying to work on the paper,” Ray said. In other family news, brother Tom’s son Alex is living in Kyoto, Japan, for the next year as an international student through the University of Oklahoma.

“Seems like a long way to travel to learn Japanese, but he is having a wonderful time,” Ray said. “I will really miss seeing my old friends at the Past Presidents Dinner as we have another conflict that will keep us from attending. Wishing everyone a great year!”

2004 – JOE & MYRA WORLEYThe newspaper business has been excit-

ing in this election year and keeping Joe busy. Myra has been riding herd on the dog crew that comes and goes through the house.

Joe and Myra are both working with Pets Helping People, which trains female felons to groom pets so the women have jobs after they’ve been released.

Joe and Myra enjoyed this year’s dinner.

2006 – DAVID & SAUNDRA STRINGERDavid wrote, “I was named Regional

Publisher for GateHouse Media and take care of three different locations. Due to that, plus my dad being diagnosed with can-cer and subsequently passing away, we’ve

PAST PRESIDENTSContinued from Page 13


spent an unbelievable amount of time on the road.

“In fact, we haven’t been at home two consecutive weekends since mid-June. Saundra also works for GateHouse as a regional ad director and has worked in at least a half-dozen locations this year. We were able to squeeze in a cruise to Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta. It was a great trip and some well-needed rest. Of course the trip to Dallas to see OU thump Texas was a highlight all its own.

“We have a beautiful house in the trees adjacent to a golf course (which we never get to play because we’re gone), but enjoy time on the deck watching the deer, rac-coons, bats and getting buzzed by the hum-mingbirds as we’re obviously in their flight path. It’s a true oasis at the end of a long newspaper day.

“We’re sorry we won’t be able to attend the dinner. There’s just been way too much time on the road and home’s looking like the best vacation ever.”

2007 – STU & CHERYL PHILLIPSUnfortunately, we did not hear from Stu

and Cheryl this year.

2008 – STEVE & SONYA BOOHERThe Boohers have been working hard

since last year’s dinner. “Sonya has retired for the second time

– this time without any pension – from the newspaper,” Steve wrote. “I hired her to work 10 to 15 hours and she was putting in 25 to 40. She just didn’t think that sched-ule worked out well with her retirement duties.”

Steve and Sonya weren’t able to go on their usual trip to Red River, N.M., this year. “I can’t seem to find any help and the oil boom – God bless the oilees – has kept us hopping.”

Renovations on the Booher home just finished. Steve joked, “I guess any hope of retirement was lost in the form of checks to the carpenter, plumber and flooring store.”

Steve and Sonya enjoyed seeing every-one at this year’s dinner.

2010 – ROD AND JODY SERFOSSRod said, “Jody and I are looking for-

ward to being with our friends at this year’s dinner.”

2011 – RUSTY & DEANA FERGUSONShortly after the OPA summer conven-

tion, immediate past president Rusty Fergu-son and his wife, Deana, took a few days of R&R and traveled to the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia.

Since then, life in Cleveland, Okla., has pretty much returned to normal for the Fergusons.

Rusty wrote, “Sons Lincoln, Landon and Layne continue to love life as Sooners at the University of Oklahoma where they are actively involved on campus. Lincoln is a journalism senior and the twins are sopho-mores. As OPA’s representative on the OU Publications Board, I use my monthly trip to OU to check up on the boys, take them to lunch...and leave with an empty wallet!”

After teaching three years in the Oklaho-ma City area, the Fergusons’ oldest, daugh-ter Libby and son-in-law Sol, surprised their

parents when they announced they were moving home. Seems they wanted to be closer so their first child could enjoy his grandparents!

Sullivan Bayouth (Sully) was born Oct. 31 at 1:23 a.m. He was 7 pounds 11 ounces, 21” long.

To say Rusty and Deana are excited about their first grandchild would be an understatement. It’s anticipated that visitors to Deana’s gift and flower shop or to The Cleveland American may be surprised to find a cradle or play pen added to the mix!

Rusty and Deana had a good time at this year’s dinner.

OPA RETIRED EXECUTIVE VPBEN & BONNIE BLACKSTOCK

Both Ben and Bonnie have reached 87. Bonnie is well, and Ben is in treatment for skin cancers on his right leg.

“None of my family had cancer, now I’ve had four, but they are healing,” Ben wrote. “There are some things about growing old that hurt, but the memories feel good.”

Ben and Bonnie were able to attend this year’s dinner.

The Oklahoma Newspaper Founda-tion board of trustees met Nov. 15, 2012, in Oklahoma City.

Attending were President Steve Booher, Cherokee Messenger & Republican, and Treasurer Gracie Montgomery, The Purcell Register. Trustees attending were Terry Clark, University of Central Oklahoma; Rusty Ferguson, Cleveland American; John Hruby, Marlow Review; Derek Man-ning, Daily Elk Citian; John D. Mont-gomery, Purcell Register; Tom Much-more, Ponca City News; Mike Strain, Tulsa World; Wayne Trotter, County-wide & Sun; Barbara Vice, Drum-right Gusher; Barb Walter, Hennessey Clipper; Joe Worley, Tulsa World; Jeff Shultz, Garvin County News Star; and Jeff Mayo, Sequoyah County Times.

Staff attending was Executive Vice President-Secretary Mark Thomas; Member Services Director Lisa Potts and Accounting Manager Robert Wal-lar. CPA Carol Oliver, external auditor, was a guest at the meeting.

Absent from the meeting were Ray Lokey, Vice President, Johnston Coun-ty Capital-Democrat; Sean Dyer, El Reno Tribune; Carolyn Estes, Oologah Lake Leader; Kim Lehenbauer, Nor-man Transcript; Stu Phillips, Seminole Producer; and Jerry Quinn.

Booher called the meeting to order

and asked the board to review minutes of the June 7, 2012, meeting. A motion to suspend reading and approve the minutes as presented passed unani-mously.

Board members reviewed and acknowledged receipt of the ONF prof-it and loss statement, expense summa-ries, investment report and donation reporting for the period ending Oct. 31, 2012.

Oliver reviewed the ONF audit at the meeting. The financial state-ments fairly represented the financial position of the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation on June 30, 2012, said Oliver. Board members acknowledged receipt of the audit as presented.

Board members also reviewed the proposed ONF budget for 2012-13, which includes a $50,000 grant from the Ethics and Excellence in Journal-ism Foundation for the 2013 internship program; donations from the fundrais-ing campaign for Will Rogers prints; and Pages for Tomorrow ad sales. The board unanimously approved the pro-posed budget.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMSTrustees reviewed a calendar of

completed and pending workshops planned by the education committee as well as materials and registration

numbers for several workshops held between July and October 2012. Twen-ty-four people from 10 state colleges attended a college newspaper meeting on July 17, which included both advis-ers and student editors for the first time.

Staff members from Attorney Gen-eral Scott Pruitt’s office conducted six regional seminars this fall on the Open Meeting and Records Acts.

Multiple workshops are being planned for the first half of 2013.

INTERNSHIP PROGRAMGrants from the Ethics and Excel-

lence in Journalism Foundation fund-ed 18 internship positions in 2012 and 2013.

Trustees reviewed student interns’ columns and best clips as well as evalu-ations completed by the host newspa-pers and interns that participated in the 2012 program. Applications for the 2013 summer program were mailed to state colleges and student news-papers in October. Host newspaper applications are due Jan. 11, 2013. Student applications are due Feb. 15. Potts said the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation requested that multimedia training be included in all interns’ newspaper experiences.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMThe Oklahoma Newspaper Founda-

tion awards three $1,500 scholarships each year. Scholarship applications were mailed to all Oklahoma colleges with internship applications. Applica-tions for the Bob and Marion Breeden University of Oklahoma Journalism Student Aid Fund Scholarship were mailed to the OU newspaper, advising and career services offices. Its award amount is $1,000. The deadline for all scholarship applications is Feb. 15, 2013.

WILL ROGERS PAINTING At the previous meeting, trustees

decided to order 200 prints of the Will Rogers painting by Charles Banks Wil-son, which is owned by OPA. The print size will be 16x20 on 20x24 paper.

Donations of $100 to $499 will receive one print; donations of $500 or more will receive one framed print. Trustees reviewed a donation/order form that will be distributed to all OPA members and friends of the founda-tion.

The next scheduled meeting of the ONF Board of Trustees is June 13, 2013, before the annual OPA Conven-tion at the Reed Center in Midwest City.

ONF board discusses education, internships at November meeting


Merry Christmas everyone. I hope the new year brings much joy to your life and money to your coffers.

If you’re looking for something that makes that new device in your life work better with your old equipment, I’ve found a good source for doodads. Point your browser to www.cyberguys.com to find things that make old technology work with new technology.

At cyberguys.com, you’ll also find a great selection of stands for iPads and other tablets plus good prices on 1000-base T switches. And if there’s a kid on your list who likes to take computers apart, they have every imaginable tool for the job.

Another good place to look for cool items to fill those Christmas stock-ings hanging by the fireplace is at www.thinkgeek.com.

How about a USB 2.0 16-port hub for all that USB mess in your office? I see all kinds of USB devices lying around on desks or stuffed in drawers. This little hub cleans up that mess. It lets you share devices – such as a USB print-er or external backup drive – between two computers. Although it doesn’t allow both

computers to use the device at the same time, this probably wouldn’t be a problem in small offices. The 16-port hub sells for $79.99 at thinkgeek.com. Just think of all the things you can plug into one station to recharge every day – with no lost cords – including iPods, iPads, tablets and printers. It even has a built-in 22.5 watt power supply to keep your USB hubs from being overloaded.

While you’re out shopping, don’t forget to pick up some new surge protectors for the office.

I’ve discovered many crashed computers plugged into very old or not working at all surge protectors. Even a surge protector with low voltage protec-tion is better than no voltage protec-tion at all.

Although you may think this is an unnecessary expense, it’s cheaper than having to replace your computer or its hard drive or the router and modem. Put a bow on a surge protector and let your computer know you love it.

STOP TRACKING IN FIREFOXOnline privacy isn’t just

about keeping others from knowing what sites you’ve been to on your computer. It’s also about trying to block hackers, who seem to be bringing us lots more viruses.

And it’s about stopping those ads they try to force-feed you so

they can track you. Maybe you enjoy the ads, but it slows down browsers in a big way. Often someone will tell me

their computer is slow, when what they really mean is

that their brows-er is slow.

M a r s h a Tucker at the

Cherokee Mes-senger & Repub-

lican found a good tool to stop some

of that ad tracking. If Firefox is the web

browser of choice in your office, look for a

plug-in called “DoNot-TrackMe.”

To find it go to Tools > Add on’s. You’ll know you’re in the right

place if you see “Get Add-ons” to the left. To find the tool, type “DoNot-TrackMe” in the search bar at the top of the window. This brings up the plug-in. Click the install button and it will download. When you restart Firefox, a window will come up and explain the new plug-in. This will help your browser run faster by stopping little programs used to give feedback to other sites.

If you want to go one step further, go to Firefox menu > Preferences, then click on the Privacy tab. In this window you can clean up cookies, which are small files stored on your computer, and set your settings to clear lots of things that Firefox tracks every time you use it. Look for the “Settings...” button on the lower left. Here you can tell Firefox to automatically clear all the data it tracks each time you quit the program. Firefox stores some passwords in the cookies so make sure you know them all before you delete all cookies.

MORE WINDOWS 8 TIPSWindows 8 tips for this month are all

about how to make it your own. Don’t forget that with this new oper-

ating system, right clicking makes everything easier.

Let’s start by making a shortcut on the new start screen.

1. Go to the normal desktop (Win-dows + D) and right click to bring up the menu, then >New>Shortcut.

2. Hit the browse button and go, for instance, to Network. Locate the

network folder you use the most and choose it. Hit next and finish.

3. Then right click the shortcut you just created and choose Pin to the start menu. Now it shows up in the Windows 8 start menu. Any program or folder can be added in this manner, but not single files.

To make the icons move to better locations, right click the new icon in the Windows 8 window and drag it to where you would like it to appear on the start screen. If you have a touch screen computer or tablet, hold down on the icon and then you can move it.

Now that I’m able to customize Win-dows 8, I’m starting to like it a little better. Customization gives you a quick way to access files and programs.

Click the ‘minus’ icon in the bot-tom right corner of the start screen to zoom out and you’ll now find you can drag and drop the new group around as a block. When you right click on the block and then on the lower left, you can give the group a name like Net-work Folders or Shared Files.

Right-click in the bottom left corner where the windows tiled start screen is (or hold down the Windows key and press X) for a text-based menu that pro-vides easy access to Device Manager, Control Panel, Desktop, the search dialog and lots of others. This is almost as good as the start menu.

To find most of the applications on your computer hold down the Windows key and press Q. You can also right-click an empty part of the Start screen and select ‘All Apps’ to reveal a scroll-ing list of all your installed applications.

Most of these tips are under the Help menu, but getting to that or the shutdown button takes another couple of steps. Drag your cursor over to the right side of the screen and a bar pops up with icons on it, called charms. If you choose Setting > it will take you to the shutdown icon. This is also where you’ll find the help menu, as well as wifi and printer settings.

With the help of shortcuts you can get back to most of your old ways of working while trying to adapt to the new way of things.

OPA Computer Consultant Wilma Melot’s col-umn is brought to you by the Oklahoma Adver-tising Network (OAN). For more information on the OAN program, contact Oklahoma Press Service at (405) 499-0020.

Holiday gift ideas for the computers in your offi ceComputer Notes

from the roadby Wilma Melot

[email protected]

NATIONALASSOCIATES

EDIA

When the time comes to explore the

sale of your community newspaper,

you can count on us. We offer

decades of experience and a record

of success in community newspaper

sales.

Community newspapers still have

good value. If you’re ready to sell, call

us for a confi dential discussion.

NEWSPAPER BROKERS, APPRAISERS, CONSULTANTS

Serving the Newspaper Industry Since 1966

THOMAS C. BOLITHOP.O. Box 849, Ada, OK 74821

(580) 421-9600 • [email protected]

EDWARD M. ANDERSONP.O. Box 2001, Branson, MO 65616

(417) 336-3457 • [email protected]

www.nationalmediasales.com


Adieu from Bill

It’s time I bring my time of work-ing for or dealing with the Post Office to a close.

It has been an amazing 53 years in which I have made many friends and would like to think that I have contributed in a positive way.

The past 14 years I have had an amazing opportunity to work with people that are truly dedicated to their trade, journalism. I have been challenged many times and the trust the newspaper people have placed in me has made it all worthwhile.

My time with OPA I would not trade for anything. It is an experi-ence that can’t be matched.

A community newspaper family is, I have found, just that – a family. They will reach out and help their fel-low publishers in some pretty stress-ful times. I want to thank this family for taking me in and showing con-fidence in me to help them address the many obstacles that have been placed before them.

This is my final writing for the Oklahoma Publisher. Effective Janu-ary 6, 2013, I will be one that will look forward to receiving my news-paper by mail and by my front door. It has been a great experience and I want to thank all of you for making it so.

Bill Newell

Postal Notesby Bill Newell

OPA Postal [email protected]

Much of the current media attention on records requests concerns Gover-nor Mary Fallin’s invocation of “Execu-tive Privilege” to deny access to public records under the governor’s custody and control.

Most evidentiary privileges are cre-ated by statute. (See 12 O.S. §§ 2501-2510.1.) Oklahoma has no statute that creates an “Executive Privilege”. The phrase “executive privilege” is not men-tioned in the Oklahoma Constitution or in any reported Oklahoma case law.

When the phrase “executive privi-

lege” was invoked during the Nixon presidency, Raoul Berger, a noted legal scholar, wrote a book called “Executive Privilege: Constitutional Myth”. After 371 pages of analysis, Berger conclud-ed that “Executive Privilege” “needs to be lifted from the field of legal esoteric and viewed in terms of underlying real-ity; as a shield for executive unaccount-ability.”

In reaching this conclusion, he quot-ed James Iredell, “if the officers of the government – the President included – are the ‘servants and agents of the people,’ it is contradiction in terms to conclude that the agent may dole out information to his principal.”

The claim of “Executive Privilege” is usually asserted by the executive when receiving document requests

from the legislature. The present Okla-homa controversy arises from citizen requests for access to governor-con-trolled documents.

These requests arise under the Oklahoma Open Records Act, which does not include “Executive Privilege” among the list of privileges recognized as valid reasons for denying access to public documents. 51 O.S. § 24A.5(1)(a) (“state evidentiary privilege, such as the attorney-client privilege, the work product immunity from discovery, and the identify of lawyer privileges”).

In any event, the “Executive Priv-ilege” issue will not be determined unless and until a suit is brought chal-lenging the refusal of the governor to release the requested documents.

Legal Notesby Michael Minnis

OPA Attorney

Does governor have executive privilege?

After more than 14 years of service to newspapers, Bill Newell, OPA’s post-al guru road warrior, is retiring.

Before taking the postal consultant position at OPA, Bill spent years work-ing in quality control for the United States Postal Service’s Oklahoma dis-trict. He retired from USPS in January 1999 and ended up at the OPA, almost by chance.

At that time, Bill’s wife, Sue, worked at the Oklahoma Horse Racing Com-missioner. Bill happened to ask one the commissioners if the OPA had any programs to help its members mail their papers.

“He said they didn’t know so he took me down and introduced me to Mark (Thomas),” said Newell. “We (Newell and the commissioner) were kinda talk-ing about maybe trying to start a job like this and come to find out they were looking to start a job like this. I walked into it blindly.”

Since then, Bill and Sue have logged more than 150,000 miles traveling around the state helping newspapers navigate through the postal system so they can get their papers out to readers.

“I’ve really enjoyed meeting with them and visiting with them so much and getting the satisfaction of having helped them get their papers out,” said Newell. “I’m not gonna miss having to deal with the post office and what

they’re doing to the postal system. That just doesn’t sit well with me.”

With all of his new free time, Bill hopes to get some projects done around his house and maybe get back out on the golf course.

While Bill is leaving the newspaper business, the newspaper business has left an impact on Bill.

“One of the things that has impressed me the most is the dedication that small

town newspaper people have toward providing the news to their citizens. They have to jump through hoops to get their newspaper delivered but they still try to do it. With all the odds stack-ing up on them, they are still working hard to do it. I couldn’t have asked to have met a finer group of people than the people in Oklahoma’s newspapers.”

Bill’s last day with OPA will be Jan. 6, 2013.

OPA postal consultant to retire in January

For the past 14 years, Bill Newell has served as the Oklahoma Press Association’s postal consultant. His wife, Sue, has traveled with Bill to every corner of the state. Bill has saved many newspapers hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars by showing them ways to cut postal costs. His last day with OPA will be Jan. 6.

LEND US YOUR ERRSSeen any bloopers inyour newspaper –or someone else’s?

Send us a copy! Share the fun at the annual Grand Blooper Award show at the Annual Convention.

E-MAIL PDFS OF BLOOPERS TO:[email protected]

or send tearsheets or photocopies to:GRAND BLOOPER AWARD

c/o Oklahoma Press Association3601 N. Lincoln Blvd.

Oklahoma City, OK73105-5499


On Nov. 8 and 9, I was able to visit some papers in the Stillwater area. Here is my report.

DAVID REID – CUSHING CITIZEN

David Reid, owner and publisher of the Cushing Citizen, was raised in the newspaper business. His father, Ken Reid, was the publisher of the Pauls Valley Daily Democrat when the Demo-crat became the first daily newspaper in Oklahoma to go offset.

David said his father is still his men-tor.

“When I do something at the paper or in the community I’m always asking myself, ‘Would Dad be proud of me?’ To this day he’s still my mentor,” Reid said.

Finding other revenue sources is the goal of many newspapers today. Sometimes it’s tough just relying on newspaper income alone.

Many newspapers across our state also dabble in job printing or publish several special sections throughout the year to gain more revenue in a strug-gling economy.

For David, he’s come upon a unique and unconventional revenue source – a publication know as Jailbirds.

Jailbirds is delivered to most of the state and showcases the mug shots of people who have been arrested for vari-ous criminal activity.

What makes it unique is that each issue is specific to each county Jailbirds is delivered to.

David is the co-owner and co-pub-lisher of Jailbirds and he admits it is, at times, a logistical challenge.

“It’s sometimes a nightmare,” he said. “Having to collect all of that data in a short amount of time and get each county’s publication delivered to the convenience stores can be a huge undertaking. But so far it’s worked out for us.”

David said, for the most part, the various county sheriffs in the state have been working with him.

When he started the Jailbirds project his goal, he said, was not to compete with other papers in the areas Jailbirds is sold in.

“It was never our intention to be a competitor to any newspaper. We just saw this as a viable business venture and took the opportunity to do some-thing different,” he said.

He and his business partner also seriously considered whom they would let advertise in the new publication.

“We won’t let strip clubs, bars or gambling casinos advertise in it. Those are considered enablers and that’s not what we are about.

“We will let the casinos advertise their entertainment venues but not the gambling. We also offer law enforce-ment organizations such as Crime Stop-pers free ads in Jailbirds,” he said.

Knowing Jailbirds could be some-what controversial, David said he’s always kept one goal in mind.

“No matter what we do, whether it’s Jailbirds or the Citizen,” he said, “we

want to be part of the solution, not the problem.”

BARBARA VICE – DRUMRIGHT GUSHER

Barbara Vice, owner and publisher of the Drumright Gusher, takes her role in the community seriously.

Barbara won much acclaim from her peers, and more importantly her community, for her valiant coverage of a couple of major grass fires that threat-ened area homeowners.

Barbara was helping some family members at their school uniform store in Tulsa when she heard about the fires last August.

“This is a school uniform store and it was tax free weekend, which was right before school starting,” she recalled.

She had her laptop with her and began giving her readers updates on the fires on the Gusher’s Facebook page.

“That day I was on Facebook till about two a.m.,” she said. “I couldn’t get to Drumright because the roads were all closed due to the fires.”

She began monitoring the Gusher’s email, which was getting updates from the Creek County Emergency Manage-ment Office. She would then post the updated information on the Gusher’s Facebook site.

“I was also monitoring other Face-book sites just to compile every bit of information I could get to keep our readers informed where the fires were and what direction they were heading,” she said.

She finally made it back to Drum-right around 2 or 3 the next morn-ing. She was still on Facebook try-ing to keep the residents and readers informed when she received a message from a woman who lived in the area.

“She asked me if I would tell her where the fires were at. She was home alone with her two children and could see the glow from the fire and she could smell the smoke but couldn’t get any information from anyone on where the fires were at and where they were headed in relation to her location.

“She was scared to death,” Barbara said.

Barbara went to the fire station and inquired about the fires. Fortunately, the fire department told her the woman was safe, that the fires were moving away from her.

She gladly messaged the woman back, telling her she had nothing to worry about.

The Drumright Gusher may be a small, hometown newspaper but acted

ADVENTURES IN

PART 5… it’s a bird …it’s a plane …

it’s OPA President Jeff Shultz visiting superheroes at Oklahoma newspapers.

Barbara Vice, left, is owner and publisher of the Drumright Gusher. Helping her put out the weekly newspaper is her assistant, Tara Boswell.

Continued on page 19

LEGAL ADVICEis just one of the benefits of being a member of the Oklahoma Press Association’s Legal Services Plan. Remove the worry of needing professional advice by enrolling today. For more information contact:

OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION’S

LEGAL SERVICES PLAN

1-888-815-2672 or 405-499-0020


ADMINISTRATIONMARK THOMAS Executive Vice [email protected] (405) 499-0033

ROBERT WALLAR Accounting [email protected](405) 499-0027

SCOTT WILKERSON Front Office/Building [email protected](405) 499-0020

MEMBER SERVICESLISA POTTS Member Services [email protected](405) 499-0026

ELI NICHOLS Member Services [email protected](405) 499-0040

ADVERTISINGCINDY SHEA Media [email protected](405) 499-0023

LANDON COBB Account [email protected](405) 499-0022

COURTNI SPOON Advertising Assistant & OCAN/2X2 [email protected](405) 499-0035

CREATIVE SERVICESJENNIFER GILLILAND Creative Services [email protected] (405) 499-0028

MORGAN BROWNE Creative [email protected](405) 499-0029

COMPUTER ADVICEWILMA MELOT Computer [email protected] (405) 499-0031

POSTALADVICEBILL NEWELL Postal [email protected](405) 499-0020

OPEN (DIGITAL CLIPPING)KEITH BURGIN OPEN [email protected] (405) 499-0024

KYLE GRANTDigital Clipping [email protected] (405) 499-0032

OPEN (CONT’D)NELSON SOLOMONDigital Clipping Dept. [email protected] (405) 499-0045

CRYSTAL FOREMANDigital Clipping Dept. [email protected] (405) 499-0030

OPA STAFF DIRECTORY

GENERAL INQUIRIES(405) 499-0020 • Fax: (405) 499-0048

Toll-free in OK: 1-888-815-2672

like a large metro paper when it count-ed.

Barbara’s mother started the Gusher in 1989 after the longtime Drumright paper at the time was going out of busi-ness.

Barbara’s mother, who was a CPA in Drumright at that time, decided Drum-right couldn’t be without a newspaper and set her sights on starting a new paper.

“The last week the former paper published a paper was the first week the Gusher was published,” Barbara recalled.

Then in 1998. Barbara took over the management of the paper and has been the paper’s publisher and editor since.

Barbara heavily credits the OPA for giving her the training and education she needed to take over the paper.

“I started here in August of 1996, knowing nothing about newspapers. Shortly after that I got involved with the OPA,” she recalls.

“I went to every workshop, training session and convention the OPA was offering at that time. I read every edi-tion of the Publisher and learned even more about the newspaper industry from it.

“If it wasn’t for the OPA, I wouldn’t be doing this today.”

Today her employee Tara Boswell aids Barbara each week.

“I’ve often said if she leaves me then the paper is up for sale,” she said with a hearty laugh.

Like most small town newspaper publishers, one of Barbara’s biggest challenges is to be fair and honest in her news coverage – no matter whom it may offend.

“There are some business people in town that I can’t go into their business because of something I’ve printed about them or a family member. That’s rough sometimes, especially when you’re a fourth generation Drumrighter,” she said.

Barbara recalled a column a former employee had written several years ago.

“She said in that column that our job as a newspaper is the fair, factual and fearless. And that’s what I strive to do each week.”

DAVID AND KITTY LEBOW – THE PHOENIX (YALE)

Taking over a paper that was already somewhat controversial in the com-munity while overcoming your own controversial past was the challenge of David Lebow, owner of The Phoenix in Yale.

“Several years ago I started a little weekly paper here in Yale and I didn’t hold any punches, so to speak, on my editorials,” David said.

He later stopped his little newspaper venture and had decided his newspaper career was over.

“I was ready to take it easy,” he said.Then last year the owner of the Yale

News called him and wanted him to buy the paper. She was ready to call it quits and wanted David to carry the paper on.

“I told her in an email that my paper days were over. I’m sitting by the lake fishing and didn’t want to be a newspa-per publisher again,” he recalled.

The only problem, he said, was, “I didn’t hit send.”

That’s when his wife, Kitty, talked him into taking the offer.

“He needed it,” she said.However, David said there were still

some people in town who didn’t care for him and his opinions from the earlier newspaper venture and the Yale News, under its former owner, had also left a bad taste in many people’s mouths.

“So I had two things going against me right off the bat,” he said.

But David and Kitty had a passion for Yale and, despite the past differ-ences between them and some in the community, took over the Yale News.

“The first thing we did was change the name of the paper,” David said. “We felt the paper needed a facelift and that would be a good start.”

In January of this year they intro-duced The Phoenix.

Since then they’ve managed to make some improvements to the paper.

“We started out with about 200 sub-scribers, now we have a little over 500,” he said.

Another hurdle they had to over-come was simply getting people to send them news.

“There are some people in the schools who won’t work with us because of our past with the school board and the old Yale News’ past,” said Kitty.

“However, several parents are turn-ing stuff into us now. We’ve had to find ways to go around some of the school officials to get school news,” she said.

The Lebows give a lot of credit to the OPA in helping them get a fresh start in Yale.

“There at the first it seemed like I was calling Mark (Thomas) on a daily basis. He really helped me through some tough times then,” David said.

Kitty adds that Wilma Melot and Bill Newell also gave them valuable advice and training in dealing with computer and postal issues.

“I’d have to say without the OPA’s

help we wouldn’t have last this long,” David noted.

REX MAYNARD – STILLWATER NEWSPRESS

Rex has been with the NewsPress for a little over a year now and has worked for Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc., the parent company of the News-Press, for 13 years.

Rex said the biggest challenge he faces managing a paper that is cor-porately owned is the general public perception the paper isn’t a local news-paper.

“What people don’t realize is that we have a local payroll here of almost a million dollars per year and just about everyone in this building, with the exception of a couple of people, are local people who have lived in Stillwater all of their lives,” he said.

Rex said his rule is to have his front page filled each day with local news – no wire copy at all.

Though the NewsPress is corporate owned, Rex said he appreciates the OPA and the continued educational opportunities the OPA and ONF pro-vide.

“We’ve sent several members of our staff to the workshops and training ses-sions offered by the OPA. They have really been helpful,” he said.

Rex said that despite the new tech-nology our industry is facing today, he feels there will always be a need for a regular, hard copy newspaper.

“I’ve always said, ‘We’re a newspaper today and a history book tomorrow.’ Doing away with the hard copy of the paper scares me because so much could happen to a digital image these days.

“I think we’ll always have a need for a hard copy of the paper,” he said.

ADVENTURESContinued from page 18


OCTOBER 2012 COLUMN WINNER PATTI MARSHALL, THE COUNTYWIDE & SUN

Karaoke machine, video finally convince her

Thank you for continued support of “Share The Warmth”Read the Winning Columns and Editorials on the OPA website: www.OkPress.com (Under Contests)

The October 2012 contest was judged by a member of the

Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame

Enter and Win a $100 Check from ONG!

1. Each month, send a tear sheet or photocopy of your best column and/or editorial to ONG Contest, c/o OPA, 3601 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105-5499.

2. Include the author’s name, name of publication, date of publication and category entered (column or editorial).

3. Only ONE editorial and/or ONE column per writer per month will be accepted.

4. All entries for the previous month must be at the OPA office by the 15th of the current month.

5. Winning entries will be reproduced on the OPA website at www.OkPress.com.

Entries must have been previously published. Contest open to

all OPA member newspapers.

Although Oklahoma Natural Gas Company selects representative contest winners’ work for use in this monthly ad, the views expressed in winning columns and editorials are those of the writers and don’t necessarily reflect the Company’s opinions.

At one time I could dance, but lack of practice and 30 plus years (and pounds) has created a lumbering graceless image of my former self. Unfortunately, this painful realization was made after my husband videotaped my public terpsi-chorean attempt, and then privately replayed it for me before I let it go to my head. I don’t dance anymore.

You’d think I would have learned my lesson, but no, I’m back out there attempting another guilty pleasure that I really cannot do. The first time someone hinted that I could not sing was in fourth grade chorus. I opened my mouth and all the other kids went off key. The teacher moved me further and farther away from the group. Finally, after placing me in the hall and closing the door, he decided I was still too close. He handed me a hall pass and sent me to the school library on the other side of the building for the rest of the school year. I still sang the songs, but the librarian kept shushing me.

Not one to give up easily, I spent half my life singing in my car, in the shower, at concerts, all places where I couldn’t be heard by others. I did sing once in front of my husband right after we were first married, that delicate time when new-lyweds are especially vulnerable of each other’s words.

“Stop singing,” he told me as I mopped the kitchen floor of our first dwelling.

“You don’t like the song?” I asked. “You can’t sing.” He replied, and then added,

“Sorry.” “I like to sing,” I explained, dipping the mop

into the bucket. “That isn’t singing. It’s screech-ing.”

“Really?” I smiled and swung the mop. It hit him full in the chest, drenching him from head to knees.

A few years ago I joined the choir at church because I wanted to sing with them at the Christmas Eve service. They were happy to have me. No audition necessary. I sat with the altos, just behind the basses and next to the tenors. After the first few rehearsals, the tenors began leaving an ever-widening gap between me and them. The basses moved forward away from me, but my fellow altos must have taken pity because they didn’t move away. They just stuck fingers in their ears nearest me. I recipro-cated the pity and from then on, only mouthed the words. Christmas Eve they complimented me on my singing and I never went back. Then again, they never asked me back either.

Recently, I stood in front a crowd of strang-ers and sang. It was a courageous choice for me, but by the time I chose a song and took the microphone, many others had already sung before me. The reality is that with the advent of karaoke, a plethora of tone-deaf people have marched across a stage in search of just having fun in song.

I didn’t need all those earlier people in my life to tell me that I cannot carry a tune. All I needed was a karaoke machine and my husband with a video camera – again. I swear, I will never sing again.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE OCTOBER 2012 CONTEST WINNERSColumn:

PATTIMARSHALL

The Countywide & Sun

Editorial:

ZANETHOMASWagoner Tribune

december 2012 oklahoma publisher

Documents