Butterflies Are Free! Are Hummingbirds?

Hummingbirds are Free! With the opening of one of our irrigational canals towards mid-week, we have also seen, April 24, 2008, our first Hummingbird scouting out our sweetened Hummingbird feeders that we put out a few days earlier.

Types of Hummingbirds -- Durango, Colorado has only 3 common hummingbirds, and a few uncommon ones: Broad Tailed, Black Chinned, and Rufous. I’ve heard there are occasional visits by the Blue Throated hummingbirds (Lampornis clemenciae), and Calliope hummers (Stellua calliope).

The Broad Tailed hummingbird is the easiest of all the hummingbirds to recognize, since the male emits a constant chirpy whistle from his wings during flight. He is mostly green with a rose-red gorget. The female has tinges of brown throughout her green, she does not make a constant noise, in fact, she tends to be quite stealthy. The female’s gorget is speckled slightly, but not the brilliant red of the male. In 1997, the broad tails showed up at the end of April here in Durango.

The Black Chinned hummingbirds are a tad smaller than the Broad tails, but no less spectacular, they have a black chin, hence the name... Under the black on their chin is a iridescent streak of purple on the males. The males also have a wing whistle, but it is much less pronounced and a lot more silent than the Broad Tail. The females are very similar to the Broad Tailed females, with a white underside and greenish brown top. Again, there is not much on the throat.

The most aggressive of the three, Rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) arrives a bit later in the summer. Again a wing whistle for the males, but it’s more of a buzz than a whistle. Don't be fooled by popular images of hummingbirds as symbols of peace and tranquility in the garden, these are among the most aggressive, malicious creatures on earth, and if they were the size of pigs, we'd all be in grave danger. The males are rufous (reddish rusty orange) on the sides, and top with a patch of white on the chest, and an Orange-red gorget. The female is similar again to the Broad Tailed with he exception of more brown, and an Orange-Red Gorget. Each year these guys make the trip from Mexico to as far as Alaska. It’s nice to help them along their way with lots of FLOWERS.
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July, 1944 Woods County Newspaper

We have recently come upon an old 1944 Northwest Oklahoma newspaper, Woods County News, published 20 July 1944 by Frank M. and Eunice Estle every Thursday at 317 College Avenue, Alva, Oklahoma, phone 14.

Subscriptions rates in Woods and adjoining counties in Oklahoma and Kansas, was $1.50 per year. Elsewhere, $3.00 per year. It was a member of the Oklahoma Press Association and American Press Association.

Also... There was news of 31 County men In Pre-Induction Call July 26; Funeral Held For Dacoma Resident; To Aid Soldiers In Readjustment.
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Once Upon A Warwick

Once upon a time very long ago, William Fechtig Warwick was born 11 August 1822 in Augusta County, Virginia to Robert Craig & Esther (Hull) Warwick. [See WARWICK Genealogy.]

Sometime in William Fechtig Warwick's early thirties, he meet and married a young girl from the Pray (Prey) family, Phoebe Anthea Pray. Phoebe was born 3 May 1833 and died 1 May 1905.

To the union of William F. & Phoebe Anthea Warwick eleven children were born: Amelia E., born 16 July 1853; Paul McNeel, born 1856; John Robert, born 9 April 1857, Frost (Dunmore), Pocahontas County, WV; Charles Fechtig, born 31 August 1865; Amanda Gabrielle "Gabie", born 1871, marr. John Landis; James, Louisa Catherine; Nelson Pray; Peter "Pete" Hull, born 1862, in Virginia; Sallie.

From the third offspring born, John Robert Warwick, begins our journey from the Virginia countryside to Oklahoma Territory. BUT... First, the 25-year-old John Robert from Pocahontas County, WV, meets and marries a 22 year old girl from Vanderpool, VA. Signora Belle "Sigga" Gwin and John Robert Warwick were married 16 January 1882 in Harpers Ferry, WV. [See John R. Warwick's Obit]

Around nine (9) months later in Monterey, Virginia, John and Signora Belle's oldest child, Constance Estella Warwick, came into the world, 20 October 1882. About five years later a second offspring, Robert Lee, made his debute 5 November 1887, in Monterey, VA.

Sometime between the second child (1887) and the third child (1895), in 1893, John & Signora Warwick made their trek westward towards Kansas with a ten (10) year old daughter and a five (5) year old son. They settled around the Coldwater, Kansas area where John Robert Warwick was a teacher for a brief time before they settled permanently in the Cherokee Strip Outlet, known as Oklahoma Territory.

Eight years after their second child, a third child (Wilbur "William" Warwick) was born 13 October 1895, in Alva, Oklahoma Territory. John Robert "JR" & Signora "Sigga" Belle's third offspring, Wilbur, died in infancy, 26 May 1896 and is buried in the Alva Cemetery, Block 08-028-08, Woods County, Oklahoma. Wilbur's lonely little grave is located on the South & West side of the cemetery while his parents and siblings are buried on the South & East side of the Alva cemetery.

Of John & Signora's remaining two childern, Constance Estella Warwick, continued the Gwin/Warwick lineage when Constance, age 28, married William Jacob (John) "Bill" McGill, age 30, 23 March 1910, Woods County, Oklahoma.

After four years of marriage, William & Contance's oldest son, Gene M. McGill was born 27 December 1914, Alva, OK. Two years later a second son, Robert Lee McGill, was born 23 August 1916, in Alva, OK.

The marriage of William J. McGill & Constance E. Warwick lasted 30 years when they divorced and went their separate ways in 1940. Constance never remarried, but W. J. "Bill" McGill married his second wife Blanche Rankin Miller in 1945.

Bill McGill died at the age of 79 years, 7 August 1959, Alva, OK. Constance Estella Warwick McGill died 19 August 1968, two months short of her 86 birthday, in Alva, OK.

The youngest son of Bill & Constance McGill, Robert Lee McGill, was married twice, but no offsprings were born of either marriage. After serving in WWII, Robert L. McGill died of lung cancer, 21 February 1954, at the age of 37 years, in Alva, OK, while he was married to his second wife, Dr. Mariam Felicia Monfort (marr. 21 June 1950 'til Bob's death Feb. 21, 1954). Bob and is first wife, Helen Louise Soper (marr. 1 June 1944), were divorced 22 June 1948.

That brings us to the four daughters of Gene M. McGill & Vada Eileen Paris. I was the third daughter of four. My name is Linda Kay McGill Wagner (a.k. a. NW Okie). That is me on the left with Dorthy in the middle and baby Amber on the right.
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1943 - Highlander Recorder, Monterey, VA

We recently have discovered another treasure of my Grandma McGill's. It is the Highland Recorder newspaper, published in Monterey, VA, Friday, July 9, 1943, Vol. 65, No 28. It stated in 1943 that for over 60 years it was the home paper of Highland County "The Switzlerland of Virginia."

On the front page of the Highlander Recorder some of the headlines read: News of 40 Yrs. Ago (1903); News of Twenty-Five years Ago (1918); Church Appointments; A Weekly Sermon; Science Discovers New Miracle Drug; Highlander Honored. There was also a cartoon by Kreb concerning the U. S. Marines during 1943.

This July, 1943 newspaper of Monterey, Virginia was published almost 2 months before my sister Dorthy was born, August 31, 1943.
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1944 - Whitehorse Township News

This July, 1944 article in the Woods County News was written by Dorothy Snoddy with tidbits of the Whitehorse community in northwest Oklahoma.

"The United Neighbors club met at the home of Mrs. Ralph Smith Wednesday with the new home demonstration agent, Miss Berry Brown, present with the club for the first time.

Members present were: Mrs. Pearl Benningfield, Mrs. Irene Smithson, Mrs. Willahmean Gumm, Mrs. Mary Murrow, Mrs. Frances Brown, Mrs. Littie Lyon, Mrs. Rose Lyon, Mrs. Edna Brown, Mrs. Lourene Barnes, Mrs. Maudie Steward, Mrs. Lonnie Wilson, and the hostess, Mrs. Ralph Smith.

Guests were: Miss Wanda jean Benningfield, Miss Vada Jean Smithson, Miss Maxine Wagoner and Mrs. Dorothy Parker. Mrs. Parker entertained them with several lovely piano selections. Dainty refreshments were served. Their next meeting will be August 9 with Mrs. Irene Smithson.

Mrs. Boyd Graves sends word that their son, Pfc. Boyd LeRoy Graves, is OK and in New York City.

Mrs. Ralph WAdkins and daughter Ramona Faye made my mother a lovely gift and sent it to her this week. Mrs. Nettie Piper, former woods county resident now of Enid, sent us a dandy photograph of her 18-months-old grandson, Tommy Hugh Smith. He is a fine-looking little chap and seems nearly large enough to go to school. Mart Benson said he saw her son, Robert Piper, while in Enid this spring, when he went to a cafe to eat. Robert was looking well and had a good position with a jewelry company in Enid, where a number of Woods county residents trade while in Enid.

Mart Benson stopped by on his way home from Alva, Saturday. He has a fine spring crop and wonderful grass for his cattle.

Mrs. Bert Case called on us this week. We were chocked to learn of the fire that destroyed the home and everything her daughter and son-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Bill McEwan had, at the home of Mr. McEwan's father near Cherokee.

The fire was thought to have resulted from an exploding oil stove, but it was not known for certain how it started, as Mrs. McEwan was sorting clothes in a bedroom when her small son called her to come quick from another bed room near the kitchen and the smoke was then so thick she could hardly see the baby daughter and son. All their electrical appliances were lost, separator, refrigerator and washing machine. A kitchen shower was held for her at the home of her sister, Mrs. Floyd Dart in Alva Friday.

Mrs. Bert Case informed us that Buel Thurman, son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. George Case, is home from the Italian theatre of war, after having lost three fingers on his right hand. She said George Case's other son-n-law, Foster Ealey, had received a broken arm while serving with the armed forces in England and her son-in-law Floyd Darr had a broken wrist.

Everett Carberry had his wheat ground one-wayed and is waiting for the volunteer wheat to start so he can plow.

Cpl. George hardy, former Freedom boy, will be home on a furlough July 17 (1944) to visit his folks, Mr. and mrs. J. A. Hardy, of Mooreland, and other relatives, according to his sister, Mrs. Ralph Wadkins.

don Smith is learning to be a real farmer this summer, as he can handle a tractor as good as his brother Bob. Don had received a severe leg injury recently and he wrote his brother Ralph A. (Delbert) Smith, with the armed forces in England, that his folks thought he might have to take some stitches in the wound. he had a reply from his brother the past week stating that he was in more danger of getting hurt on the home-front than he was on the war-front.

Joe Max Beam, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Beam, returned to his home in TExas Thursday, after having helped Ralph Smith and Bob Smith during harvest. Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Yohn spent Sunday afternoon with her mother, Mrs. Maudie Steward, and sisters, Mrs. Frieda Thomas and Mrs. Pearl Benningfield and families.

Hix Lyon has been working night and day nearly getting his son harley Lyon's tractor repaired, helping us with our tractor, and getting Gloyd Lyon started plowing, and in his spare time, getting his new all-steel threshing machine separator ready to thresh bundle oats, barley and wheat. Leslie Lyon hauled wheat for Jack Kilmer.

Al Brown was forced to haul the election ballot box to Highway 64 on a tractor and get a neighbor to drive him to the Whitehorse election polls because of muddy side roads, on election day.

Mrs. Hugh Sharp is able to be up this week. She received some lovely cards from friends.

Owen Davison, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Davison, and Miss Mary Tidwell were married Saturday at 5 o'clock in Alva. he received his call to report for duty with the armed forces July 30 (1944). He expects to be put in the navy.

Mr. and Mrs. Charley Hiett spent Sunday afternoon with Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Rader, at Whitehorse.
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Hummingbirds In SW Colorado

Thursday, April 24, 2008, morning & afternoon, our first hummingbird visited our feeder. On Friday, April 25, 2008, around the same morning & afternoon times the hummingbird scout return to the feeder. You can't tell in the photo, but the hummingbird's head was dark with a white ring around the neck.

Hummingbird Links: Photos of Hummingbirds -- Hummingbirds.net -- Wikipedia On Hummingbirds
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NW Oklahoma Visit - Alfalfa County/Goltry -- My Hometown

"Linda, I returned today (Sunday, 20 April) from my hometown of Goltry where I attended my high school's annual Alumni Banquet. All classes were represented and those that graduated in a year ending with "8" were singled out for recognition. I write you this because during the weekend a dedication of a memorial was made for the Liberty Church, a Cumberland Presbyterian Church. This church was located northeast of Goltry and was established in 1906 and went through several transformations due to the destruction of the church by fire and windstorm.

I did not attend this church, but many of my classmates and friends from school did attend there. Many of the families that were members of the church were friends of my father and his family. One of these families was a relative by marriage of one of my father's cousins. So, even though I was not a member, nor was any of my family, I still had a tie to the history of the church.

I just thought it might be of interest to some of your readers." -- Jim Bradley
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Bananas On the Brain

Have you heard about the "Banana On the Brain" theory?

"A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of bananas on the brain.

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!! This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the & nbsp;pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school (England) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted; blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work lead s to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking & Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!" -- Roy
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The Stranger

"The Stranger... A few years after I was born, my dad met a stranger who was new to our small Alva, Oklahoma town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on.

As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger... he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries, and comedies.

If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future!

He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.

Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)

Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home... not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush.

My dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly, and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing.

I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked.. And NEVER asked to leave.

More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. If you could walk into my parents' den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures. His name?

We just call him "TV."

He has a wife now...We call her "Computer".

What a sad story! It is not really MY story. We did not get TV until after I had left Alva for the big city. Would you believe that was when "Cable" came to town ... 1957." -- Steve N.
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1944 - Herb Gold Says

In Vol. 4, No. 12 of the Woods County News, dated July 20, 1944, on the front page under the heading, "Herb Gold Says," we learn lots of goings on in the Nortwestern community of Woods County and Alva, Oklahoma. Who was Herb Gold, anyway?

Herb Gold Says... The first paragraph began, "A Shower, accompanied by strong wind, struck Alva Sunday night. The park was littered with branches broken from the trees."

It goes on to state, "Radio Reports this Monday morn is that Russian troops are on German soil in the Suqalki district of East Prussia."

"Martin and Max Hall of Waynoka, brothers in the armed services, recently met unexpectedly in France after several months out of touch with one another.

"Major Floyd Welch visited his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Welch, Saturday evening and Sunday.

"J. J. Hood has a letter from his son, Capt. Robert Hood, saying he is about to get a 30-day furlough but hopes that he will be allowed to return to the fighting front rather than being stuck on to a training job. bob says flying on the fighting front is less dangerous.

"Lt. Craig Barker of Arkansas City is reported missing in action over France. The young flyer is a grandson of former county Commissioner Will H. Barker of Waynoka. His father is the original "Tire Bill" of the tire repair service in this area, having featured that trade name for 30 years. It is hoped that Craig landed safely.

"Two former residents of this area passed from mortal realm last week L. S. (Solomon) Cott died at Eugene, Ore., The body was returned to Alva for interment. He was a cousin of Mrs. Frank Hatfield and while living here owned a farm two miles north of Alva.

"Earl Gore died at Albuquerque, where he had been railroading for many years. he was a brother of Mrs. Willard Dunning and son-in-law of Steve Stech.

"Hal Clinkenbeard and family are visiting at the parental home during his vacation. He is in the Railway mail Service on a run between memphis and McAlester. In a chat with Hal, his memory harked back to the time when we were dispensing gas and oil for Dunn Wilkinson and he plied me with questions regarding the whereabouts of Olin and Phylllis chase and Merle Lewellen. He also brought me the good news that his father was well enough Monday to be brought down town a little while Monday.

"Ran on to my old friend Ed Winterburg of Carmen last midweek. he had come from the Masonic home at Guthrie to vote and naturally had to visit his friends in Alva.

Also met my friend Raymond Pugh, formerly of Lookout; but now residing about 30 miles south of Ft. Smith in Eastern Oklahoma. He told me that area used to grow much cotton but is turning to truck farming, dairying and poultry. Raymond has a bunch of good milch cows.

"Elbert Ernest was down from Wichita sunday eve; his first day off since he became a guard in a war production plant six months ago. Elbert says his work isn't hard; but he is constantly on his feet and going for eight hours at night. He was headed for the ranch when he espied me and stop to say "hello."

"Ezra Blackmon was in from the Salt Plains on business Tuesday.

Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Shaw of Ponca city are visiting their daughter and son-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Harry Webb near Hardtner. Last Sunday Mr. and mrs. Shaw celebrated their 63 wedding anniversary. they received many visitors on this occasion at the Webb home. They are Woods county pioneers, having homesteaded southeast of Capron and have a host of friends in this area who appreciate and love them. The writer joins with these friends in felicitating the dear old couple on this happy and unusual attainment. may the good Lord vouchsafe them yet many more happy returns of the day.

"Theo Wagner informs me that the storm sunday night wrecked his garage and damaged the barn on the Karge place. As a good landlord he has some repairing to do. The grove on the place was also badly mauled by the windstorm.

"I saw herman rink out on the street sunday, the first time since he shot himself in the left leg six months ago. Still hobbling painfully on crutches. The bullet shattered the bone, hence the wound is slow in healing. Herman told me that nothing would suit him better than to be whole and sound again and able to help Aaron doctor in the iron yard.

"Roy Graves of Hardtner, was a business visitor in Alva Tuesday. he told me that his town is booming with everyone having plenty of money. Most farmers have their plowing done.

"Will Derrick, former Woods and Barber county stockman, was in Alva Wednesday on business and visiting friends. he now has a ranch in the Flint Hills near Eureka. Will was in poor health when he left here ten years ago, but has since fully recovered from his ailment, and looks twenty years younger than the last time I saw him. Met him this morning at breakfast talking cattle and race horses a=with acquaintances.

"Elmer Fraker of Mangum, a candidate for U. S. Senator in the Primary, is a former Woods county man. His parents homesteaded about three miles east of Dacoma. Fraker attended College here and taught school in Woods and Alfalfa counties. I read in the papers that Chief Justice Corn of the Supreme court has appointed him to membership on the pardon and parole board, created by constitutional amendment in the recent primary election.

"First District Demos nominated an Indian of famous lineage for congress to succeed Wes Disney. Dennis Busyhead's grandfather was chief of the Cherokee Nation, and his great grandfather was Chief Justice, which reminds me that Ed Thomas who worked here for the O. G. and E. is a cousin of the nominee. His mother was a Bushyhead.

"One of the Most satisfying results of the primary election is the nomination of W. J. Oten for U. S. Senator. What a relief that the mass of rubberstamps, Tories and F=freaks is discorded and we've named a man, whose soul is his own and his heart is in, for and with Oklahoma.

"The acquaintances Mr. Otjen made in the campaign two years ago aided his race materially, they being imprest with his quiet demeanor and the logic of his talks. Okla. Reps. did a good days' work in nominating him for the Senate.

"Anti New Dealers proclaim that the farmers are not entitled to any more government subsidies. I'll agree that with good crops at present prices we could well dispense with the New Deal props and crutches. They've learnt a lot about farming in the last twelve years. They've learnt the value of summer fallowing and resting the ground for a season. They've learnt the worth of deep tillage, terracing , cover crops, etc. They can now afford to pay for building farm ponds, sowing alfalfa and clover and making other improvements.

"But yet prices of grain, beef and milk are below parity compared with what the farmer must byy. The returns on his investment and his work don't measure up with the wages of organized lav=bor; they don't even come within sight of the profits of big corporations in war work. If the crutches are not needed at present, they should be put away safely for possible future. If Morgan and Mellon, Rockefeller and DuPont can acquire enough "rubberstamps" we may experience another something like what happened in 1929. They are already talking of easing the income tax by one half in the high brackets and enacting a Sales Tax to enable the "Old Age Pensioners" to help pay off the National Debt.

"A big ado is being made over organized labor taking an active part in the campaign. I deem this activity a good omen for our country. When citizens think, inform themselves, watch and act, the country will not be overrun and robbed by thieves, big or small. Only when the citizenship become lethargic, or is prevented as in the south from performing its duty, is the Nation in danger of becoming a robbers roost.

"Labor's interest in the election is a healthful sign, but past performances of some of its bosses menace both the welfare of labor and the well being of the country. The organized employers and plutocrats are also taking an interest in the campaign; spending a lot of money in an effort to shape the election to their liking and for their benefit. Why not channel the activities of both outfits to a safe course thru a law licensing both labor unions and trade associations and making them file annual reports of money collected and how disbursed? such a law has been talked about for years; but never enacted for fear it would embarrass the trade associations.

"That big business is really determined to discourage all "progressives" in this campaign is shown in the treatment of Wendell Willkie by the New York delegation at the Rep. convention. Heretofore it was customary to invite the previous standard bearers of the party to attend the convention with the delegation from his home State. The New york bunch said in effect, "Let Willkie go to hell." They didn't want anyone with modern ideas in the crowd....."
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More About Newburg, MO

"When I returned to Oklahoma (from Newburg, MO) to attend college on the G. I. Bill, I began working as a projectionist at the Lakeside Theatre in OKC (Oklahoma City) which was a large suburban indoor theatre near Lake Hefner; a few miles west of the Britton, Oklahoma area where I'd been born and had spent much of my youth.

My youngest brother Allan also worked there. I had begun training him to be a projectionist at the tender age of 11. At that time he was too short to peer out the port-holes to see the 'cue marks' on the screen (that are located 8 seconds apart) to change from one reel to the next, so we stacked spare seat cushions upon the floor so that he could see the screen.

At the appearance of the first cue-mark he would flip on the motor switch to start the projector motor, and as it gathered speed he would then open the arc-lamp 'dowser' to permit the bright light to reach the opening into the projector, and then at the appearance of the second 'cue' he would switch the sound from the one projector to the other while simultaneously jumping off the stack of cushions onto the changeover pedal which caused a secondary 'light-gate' in the second projector to open while the 'light-gate' in the first projector would be closed (by automatic relay electro-magnetic solenoids).

A side-note: Child labor laws did not apply to family members working in a family operated business, but even though he was too young to work in a 'hazardous' occupation, so was I at the time, and we never got caught by any government inspector! My brother was put on the payroll as a projectionist by the time he was 13 years of age, and I had already trained him to service all the projection equipment in order to prevent a 'dark' screen for more than 15 to 30 minutes.

We could almost completely dis-assemble, inspect and clean, most parts of a 35mm projector and have them re-assembled within 10 to 15 minutes. That meant that we could do it and have the projector 'threaded up' and ready for the next 'changeover' during the 18 to 20 minutes that a reel of film was playing. The reason that the Lakeside Theatre folks hired me (as a projectionist while attending college full-time) was because I was the one who had trained their 18-year-old chief projectionist.

I'd majored in electronics engineering in college and shortly after leaving school was offered a job as a film editor at the OKC (local CBS affiliate) television station, KWTV (channel 9) and I worked there (as my daytime job) for nine years." -- Roy
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McKean Family Inquiry

"Hi, I am interested in Dr. Morton McKean's connection to Minerva Jane McKean. I believe Dr. McKean's father, John McKean, was Minerva's brother. Is it possible to find out if this is a family connection? I would love to find out more about the McKeans. Thank you." -- Heather Speas - Email: churchandcannon@gmail.com
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Southern Oklahoma Hummingbird Arrivals - 2008

"We're in a much warmer climate here (Southern Oklahoma). I have 5 hummers already. They showed up on April 15, 2008 right on schedule. It looks like they are all males. They are fighting and jockeying around to see whose gonna be king of the feeder. LOL..." -- Ken U.
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1944- Hopeton News

This July, 1944 article in the Woods County News was written by Mrs. Frank Rolf concerning the news of Hopeton, in northwest Oklahoma.

Mr. and Mrs. Tony Hass and famly of madison, Wisc., came Tuesday morning via train to visit at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Haas, and mr. and Mrs. Fred Haas and other relatives.

cpl. James Nusser will report back to Temple, texas, Saturday after spending several weeks with his parents, mr. and Mrs. Charles Nusser and family and his wife's parents mr. and Mrs. Crate Heaton north of Alva. James was granted a month's leave from the hospital at Temple to help in the harvest here. Mrs. Nusser and small daughter are making their home with Jams while he is stationed in Texas.

Pfc. Jake Haas, Jr., Marries California girl. A recent announcement has been made of the marriage of Pfc. Jake Haas, Jr., to Miss Betty Hunt of California, which occurred July 11 (1944), at Camp Beale, Calif. where Pfc. Haas has been stationed.

He is the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Haas of Hopeton community and his many friends here are happy to offer congratulations and best wishes. Walter Hufford and Everette Nelson delivered a combine to boise city one day last week.

Miss Willa Walker is spending a few days with her sister and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Alexander.

Stanley and Eugene Hufford visited Wed. afternoon with Billie Percival. Gary Nelson is visiting this week with his grandmother, Mrs. Ezra Butler of Byron. mack nelson spent two weeks there recently.

Bill Haltom was an Oklahoma City visitor this week. Mrs. Otis Haltom left last week for San Diego to visit her husband, who is stationed with the navy at that place.

Mrs. Everette Haltom and Marva Janelle are visiting this week with Everette at Corpus Christi, Texas. He is at naval training at that place.

Kenneth Deinlein is doing relief work at the Depot in Dacoma this week. Mrs. Deinlein is attending to depot interests here during his absence. Everyone is pleased with the rain which fell in Woods county Sunday. it brought relief from the sweltering heat of last week and will enable farmers to plow wheat ground. Prospects for a feed crop are much better than last year.

Bundle threshing was in full swing last week. Alfred Haltom has been threshing in this community.

Leslie Eckels had the misfortune of having a vein in his arm pierced by a pitchfork tine while he was pitching with the threshing machine. The accident necessitated his taking tetanus serum.

cpl. marvin Haltom, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wes Haltom, who is a radio operator on a bomber, was among the first in the Pathfinder group to carry paratroopers to France during the invasion on D-Day.

Chester Alexander is recovering from an emergency appendectomy last week. A fire on the ernest Gottsch' place, which originated when J. N. W. Haltom was burning the wheat stubble in a field nearby, did considerable damage to trees about the farm site. The fire occurred the afternoon of July 4 (1944). Several neighbors helped in extinguishing the fire.

Among those attending the races at Woodward July 4 were Claude Lisman, Frank Kolf, Roy Baxter and Harry Whittet.

Mr.a nd Mrs. Homer Hofer and family of Hutchinson spent a few days last week with Mrs. Hofer's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wes Haltom. Billy Hofer who has been visiting his grandparents for some time returned home with them. Evelyn Ensor visited Thrusday and Friday with Marva Janelle Haltom.

Bonnie Baines was a guest last week in the home of her grandparents, mr. and Mrs. Jim Baxter.

Mr. and Mrs. Dale Percival and son; Mr. and Mrs. Chet Percival and son; Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Cabb and sons Billy and Roland and Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Quinn who are all employed in defense work at Wichita have returned there after spending the harvest in this community.

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Zacher have moved into their home in Hopeton which they purchased from Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Abbott who have moved into the Martin property.

Dr. Ensor is at his office again after attending the Republican convention last week in Chicago.

Trouble at the POW camp reached into the Hopeton community last week when one of the escaped prisoners found his way to the Lancaster home. He was said to have cut the ground wire of their telephone to prevent their calling help.
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1944 - Fairvalley OK Community News

Most all the farmers in the Fairvalley & Freedom area reported that they were through with harvest and well satisfied with their yield.

"Richard Kayser of Pampa, Tex., visited from Friday until Monday with his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Martin and family.

Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Russell and family spent the weekend with their daughter Mrs. Earl Boland and Mr. Boland.

"Darrel Eden, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. I. Eden surprised his folks Saturday night by arriving home for a 15-day furlough.

"Mrs. George Milledge was a visitor in the Burton Denney home Saturday afternoon.

Lynn Baker who has been in a casualty hospital in California, is at home for a visit with his folks, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Devine before leaving for his duties about July 26. Lynn has been two years in service.

"Mr. and Mrs. John Young were visitors in the R. I. Eden home Sunday, July 2.

Mrs. R. I. Eden visited Mrs. Vernie McNeil of Waynoka on Friday.

"Mr. and Mrs. Coy Phillips visited in the home of her sister, Mr. and Mrs. Dave Windecker, Sunday.

"Mrs. Phillips tells us Mr. and Mrs. Windecker are the parents of a new girl born Sunday at the Alva hospital.

"A letter from Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Bates of Santa Marie, Idaho, says they are well and that Mrs. Bates now has better health than for years and Dean promises us all the fish we can eat if we will come out.

"Miss Bettie Yarbaugh returned to her home at Boise City Monday after a visit of several weeks with her aunt, Mrs. Hal Vollmer and Mr. Vollmer of near Hopeton and with relatives and friends in Alva.

"Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Dunning left Monday for Boise City, Okla. They spent a couple of days with their daughter Mrs. Theo yarbaugh, and Mr. Yarbaugh. They were accompanied by their grandson, Bobby Yarbaugh."
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1944 - Hardtner KS Community News

The Hardtner, KS community news was written by Jeff, published in the July 9, 1944, Woods County News.

"Another fine week past and no rain to refresh the crops and grass. Oats are in need of a few days of sunshine so they will dry out enough to be threshed. Wind is blowing from southeast and I amy say it has earmarks of another rain in near future.

"Mrs. Gerald Graves and daughter Julia spent Sunday with mr. and Mrs. G. E. Sterling.

"From the looks of some corn fields it won't be long until things pick up as they are tasseling and shooting.

Most all ground is plowed, one-wayed and listed, the earliest I can recall for many years, and there is plenty of moisture for a good job of work.

Mrs. G. L. Graves visited her mother Sunday afternoon. Mrs. Alice blunk.

"It is rumored that Prof. Wallace has purchased the Edd Sterling property in North part of town.

"Mrs. Myrtle B. Hull purchased Janet Baker's property in North part of town.

"Ord Hensley has purchased Mac Huston property so it is rumored.

Wind and rain came early Sunday evening between a 1-4 and 1-2 inch of rain.

"Achenbach memorial Hosptial News...
"Miss Genevieve Mantz of Hardtner and mrs. Fleta James of Alva were admitted July 8 for medical care.

"Mrs. Annabelle Kisling of Roswell, N.M., was admitted July 10 for tonsillectomy and was dismissed July 11.

"Mrs. J. B. Zundle of Hartley, Texas was admitted July 9 for surgery.

"Mr. Otto Bower of Hazdelton, Kansas was dismissed July 8.

"Mrs. Martha Wilson of medicine Lodge, Kansas and Mrs. Neal Underwood of Wichita, Kansas were dismissed July 10.

"Mr. Ervin dooley of Diamond, Missouri, Mr. F. W. Stebwien of Bushton, Kansas were dismissed July 11.

"Mr. Richard Guthrie and baby of Kiowa, Kansas, Mrs. Edwin Lombard and baby of Kiowa, Kansas and Mrs. Fleta James of Alva, Okla. were dismissed July 11.

"Mr. James Harbaugh of Kiowa, and Audrey Campbell of Hardtner, Kansas were admitted July 12 for surgery.

"Mr. Frank Hadley of Alva, Okla., was dismissed July 12.

"Ida Jane Mosher of Hardtner, Kansas was admitted July 12 for tonsillectomy and was dismissed July 13.

"Mrs. I. S. Fox of Waynoka, Okla., was admitted July 12 for medical care....."[See Photo Clipping in above article for more Hardtner, KS names.]
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1944 - Dacoma Community News

The July, 1944 Dacoma, Oklahoma community news stated:
Mrs. Laura Pierce left Wednesday for a visit with relatives in Dalhart, Texas. Donna Janelle Young who has been here visiting her grandmother the past month accompanied her to her home.

Deloss Hiatts left Tuesday for California to visit their daughters.

Mary Lea Burns passed away Thursday morning at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Burns. She had been ill for several years.

Mrs. Okla Smith and son Clarence are here visiting her parents Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Long.

Cpl. Emory Allen and wife are here visiting from Camp Gruber.

Mrs. Okla Smith and son Clarence and Mrs. Clyde Long were shopping in Alva Saturday afternoon.

Mrs. Henry Streba and Ina Mae Allen were shopping in Alva Saturday afternoon.

Claude Baker and wife were Sunday evening callers in the Kenneth Baker home.

Mr. and Mrs. Chet Vance were in Enid Monday.

Herman Massie was in Carmen Monday.

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Longhursts were shopping in Alva Saturday.

J. J. Hood is taking his annual vacation with his son Cecil and wife.

Mrs. Frances Knowles of Wichita is visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Will Lockhart.

Mr. and Mrs. Ira White and Nadine were Sunday dinner guests of Mrs. Bertha Sweeney.

Jim Kinnard and family were Alva shoppers Monday.

Kenneth Baker was in Alva on Monday on business.

Glenn Baker's are moving this week into the Deverl Baker property.

Mrs. Maggie Polson was calling on Mrs. Bertha Sweeney on Monday evening.

LaDonna Baker returned to Wichita Monday evening.

Mrs. Sherm Joachims and Louise, Mrs. John Hill, Mrs. Mattie Reed and Mrs. Mame Joachims were business callers in Cherokee Friday afternoon.

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Orton and family spent Sunday in the John Hill home.

Mrs. John Hill, Mrs. Raymond Orton and children were callers in the Porter Reed home Sunday evening.

Paul Small's were business shoppers in Alva, Kiowa, and Medicine Lodge, Saturday.

Mr. and Mrs. Morris Leslie, were Alva shoppers Saturday evening.

Audrey Baker, Mary and Betty Sweeney were shopping in Alva Saturday evening.

Ray Morse and family were here visiting relatives over the weekend.

LaDonna and Kenny Baker of Wichita spent the weekend with their grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Baker.

The community lost an oldtime resident in the death of George Rhines Monday morning at 5 a.m. at the General Hospital.

H. E. Berry, Forrest Berry and Wife, and Eldon Berry and Max are in Cohone, Colo., visiting Mr. Berry's mother who is visiting there from California; also his two brothers, Vernice and Loren.

Accompanied by Dorothy Trover and Obera Koehn, mrs. Robert Sams of Enid, spent Tuesday with her husband's parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. I. Sams.
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