Fall In the Rockies, Etc...

This Weekend brought Fall, cool showers and a little bit of graupel to our neck of the woods. Sunday morning we had a short little rainfall while I sat here working on this week's OkieLegacy newsletter.

I have noticed the past few weeks that our Rufus hummingbirds have disappeared and the Emerald Hummers have stuck around and taken over the guarding of the hummingbird feeders. As shown in the photo to the left. Is it true that Fall is here when you see your first Blue Jay? OR... is that just an "Old Wife's Tale?"

If you are one of our subscribers with a juno.com and netzero.net email address, then you might have noticed that you did not receive an OkieLegacy newsletter last weekend. Those juno.com and netzero.net emails bounced back this way last week when we published last week's OkieLegacy newsletter.

We have finally uploaded the other two videos of the NWOSU's Dedication of the Green Space to our OkieLegacy YouTube Videos site.

You know ... the dedication where President Dr. Janet Cunningham welcomed guests to the ceremony marking the completion of the beautiful park like area available for walking or sitting and relaxing; where Kimberly Weast, assistant professor of theatre, and Kathy Earnest, instructor of English, read a poem titled Green Space, written especially for the occasion by Associate Professor of English Dr. Sandra Petree. AND... Alva's illustrious Mayor, Arden Chaffee, added his thoughts on the new area, reminiscing about Oklahoma Hall which formerly stood on the corner.

It has been reported that, "Part of the Green Space area includes a two-mile pedestrian/bicycle trail that begins at Center Street and extends south along College to Maple where it turns to the west a block to 7th Street, then back south to the university. The sidewalk follows along the north and west sides of the campus, going through the visitor's parking area of Ranger Field, through the Alva Recreation Complex and on to the Woods County Fairgrounds area."

AND... I hear that NWOSU has a New front entrance, so to speak, that the Ryerson family dedicated. Can't wait to see that!

(Linda wav)
Remember the 1940's Song, Linda made famous in the mid-1940's by singer/crooner, Buddy Clark (Click link for Other Buddy Clark songs), written with the song writer's attorney's daughter, Linda, in mind when she was six years old. It seems that Linda would later grow up to become the Beatles Paul McCartney's wife, Linda (and now you know, the rest of the story!). How many Linda's are out there that were born in the mid-1940's? View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Saline Game Preserve (Dog Ranch)

Grace wrote in wanting to information concerning Orville (last name unknown) who worked for the Saline Game Preserve (known as "Dog Ranch" to locals) over at the Great Salt Plains, near Cherokee, Oklahoma.

I did a search on Google for "dog ranch" and "Saline Game Preserve" and found the following links. The first link has some interesting info concerning the dog ranch, but did not find anything about an Orville. The second one just has some family pictures. The third is a 1936 case, Case No. A-8738., March 27, 1936., J.T. Jones v State.
1. thepastwhispers.com - dog_ranch
2. Family photos of Dog Ranch Hunts
3. Findlaw 1936 Case No. A-8738., March 27, 1936., J.T. Jones v State... EDWARDS, P.J. Plaintiff in error, hereinafter called defendant, was convicted in the district court of Alfalfa county of manslaughter in the first degree, and was sentenced to serve a term of ten years in the state penitentiary. At the time charged defendant was a caretaker of a tract of land held by the Saline Game Preserve, a corporation, hereinafter referred to as the preserve, and deceased had a farm adjoining this on the south on a part...."

If anyone has any information concerning Orville and the "Dog Ranch" at the Great Salt Plains Reservoir, near Cherokee, Oklahoma, please contact Grace Wessels (email in Mailbag section below) or leave a comment here. Thanks!
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OkieLegacy Survey & Poll (NEW & IMPROVED)

One of our subscribers would like to see what our "OkieLegacy" readers would put for the following follow-up survey:

1. Does the Internet help you decide what candidate to support for President?

2. Other than the Internet, do you receive your information about political candidates from multiple sources?

3. Other than the Internet, what source is most credible for choosing the best candidate?

4. Other than the Internet, what is the least credible source for political information?

5. As a Nation, what should tax dollars be used for Education, Transportation Infrastructure, Military, Support Local Community Service, Business Incentives, Other View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

'55-'56 Horace Mann Grade School (Alva, OK)

"Linda.. Thought you might enjoy this. I found it among my old photos.

This is the 3rd grade class photo of Mrs. Hazel Highfill's at Horace Mann grade school ... 1955-56

TOP ROW: Mrs. Hazel Highfill, ?, Rinda Sue Koppitz (deceased), George Kilmer, Bobby Irons, Kathy Walters, Deborah ?, & Terry Smith.

1st ROW: Barbara Hager, Linda Blake, Doreen ?, Darlene Quinn, Vicki Bevis, Jim Highfill, Judy Wilson, & Jeannie Bates.

2nd ROW: Don Wilson, Merrill Moss, Don Kilmer, Sue Rider, Cheryl Meixner, Loleta Brinson, Jane Faires, & Dwight Phillips (deceased).

BOTTOM ROW: Rudy Tanner, Louis Melton, Nancy Prigmore, Patty Breland, Donnette Stauffer, Larry Nicholson, & Shirley Smith.

(May my classmates forgive me. This is a precious picture and too good to not share with others.)." -- Kathryn (Walters) Racette
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Mural In Kansas City, MO

"Here is a nice mural from our new "Power and Light" district in KC. It is to be like Bourbon street in New Orleans. They block some of the streets off at nite and let you walk around with your drink outside. Also have a free stage with bands on the weekend." -- Steve N.
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Dog Ranch & Saline Game Preserve Query

"Does anyone have any information on the Saline Game Preserve (otherwise known as the Dog Ranch by locals) where the Great Salt Plains Wildlife Refuge headquarters is today? Interested in one who worked there and first name was "Orville." -- Grace Wessels - Email: glwessels@hotmail.com
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Southern Oklahoma Gas Prices

"Gas fell 10 cents during the night (Sept. 19). It was 3.58 at Lone Grove, 3.59 in Ardmore when I was going home Thursday evening. Friday morning I saw 3.49 at Loves Country Store on the way in. Great news. I know your gas is higher, but my cousin in Eureka, CA is even higher. Have you signed up for gasbuddy.com? You can go here to sign up and be a Spotter: ColoradoGasprices.com." -- Butch
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YouTube - 'Home On the Range' & 'Linda'

"Check out Youtube.com as Marty Robbins sings YouTube - Marty Robbins Sings 'Home On the Range. Do Remember this song - Buddy Clarke & Ray Noble - Linda. YouTube.com Comments states, 'The mid 1940's song, Linda", made famous by singer/crooner, Buddy Clark, was written with the song writer's attorney's daughter, Linda, in mind when she was six years old. That Linda would later grow up to become the Beatles Paul McCartney's wife, Linda. (AND... NOW you know, the rest of the story!)." -- Homer

[Editor's Note: Thanks, Homer, for the YouTube Songs! Enjoyed them! This NW Okie was born in '48 and during my young school years I remember 5 or 6 Linda's in my class and there were a few Linda's in the class before mine, also.]
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Dis Ole House - Houma, LA

"Houma, LA... Hello from bombarded Houma. We are HOME. We are safe. Both our home and rent house next door are undamaged. Other than a tree, several large branches, and much tree debris, we escaped with little problems' only lost four shingles.

We were ground zero. Gustav came ashore thirty some miles below us, and the eye went right through Houma. Houma is a mess. Ike pushed a nine foot surge onto our shores as it passed to the south, bound for the Texas/Louisiana state line, flooding thousands of buildings to our south. Although we live near the Intracoastal Canal, which is joined by a deep water channel to the Gulf, there was no flooding in our area. However, we are suffering from subsidence, and erosion of our barrier islands, and if the big one comes in just right won't go into that here.

I don't know why we were spared. My two brothers live further south. David's house lost most shingles and had a hole in the roof. Jack, a few blocks away lost only a wind turbine on the roof.

We went to Baton Rouge to our son's home, came home, spent the night in our boarded up home with no power, and were told it could be weeks before it was restored. So, we took off for northeastern Missouri and Martha's brother, since Ike was coming and were already in an evacuation mode. As luck would have it power was restored to the city of Houma a couple of days later.

Our main loss was from a tree branch falling on top of our car in Baton Rouge when the storm went through, some 90 miles north of Houma. I knew that the storm might go through there, but at least we had no danger of flooding or storm surge. We have a pretty big dent on the roof of our car. Living in south Louisiana for a week with no power and AIR CONDITIONING isn't any fun, but we should be grateful, to say the very least. It got down to 48 degrees our second night in Missouri what a change.

My home was built by my late father and my late maternal grandfather in 1953. They not only don't build them like that any more, they didn't build them like that even then. I am very, very grateful for everything.

Thanks to all who sent messages to me. I appreciate your concern. I'll be busy for a while, but hope to be in touch.' -- Charlie and Martha (Cook)
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Hurricanes

"My brother Ray (a graduate of John Marshall High school in OKC) lives on an island on the coast of South Texas and said that "Ike" missed them there with the exception of a small amount of rain and large tides + a hot wind that came in from the backside of the storm (temperatures up to about 109 degrees for a short time). One child (not a relative) playing in the surf was swept out to sea and hasn't been found but otherwise nothing spectacular. We had more rain here in Perry, Oklahoma than they did where he lives." -- Roy
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Jim Edgar - Oklahoma Entertainer

"It is true that Jim Edgar's band was called "The Road Runners" back then, and the last I heard, Charlie Hempfling (Dave's dad, I think) had sold his TV repair shop and moved to Enid. I still have a couple of 45 RPM records that Jim Edgar and crew cut for DitchWitch (Jim wanted to buy them but I didn't want to sell). I'm in constant contact with Jim's cousin (Max) by email and we argue politics constantly. He ALWAYS votes party and I vote for the person I trust." -- Roy
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Growing Up In Oklahoma & Big Mac Pen

We are in the process of taking down Kenneth Updike's stories and ramblings of "Growing Up In Oklahoma" because Kenneth asked us, "To remove all of my previous writings to you about my Ramblins. Personal stories that I told you and your readers. My Son has had all of my writings, and notes copyrighted so that we can put them in a book or booklet. His idea. I really have no objections to this, but he insists we can be viewed by more people. I leave it up to him. Thanks for your help in the past, and I still read your Okie Legacy nearly every week."

If you find some of Kenneth's Ramblings that I have missed, Please email me the link with Vol. and Iss. numbers so that this NW Okie can remove them. Thanks for your help!
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Satellite vs. DSL (Don't Forget Wireless)

"Don't leave out Wireless. It is a very fast growing market. One antenna can service an area about 15 or 20 mile radius. The Wireless is fast. Seldom a problem but, sometimes when I try to download/see a video such as on youtube.com or the like, I do see some jerking and timeouts, and have to start it again." -- Butch Bridges
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Brash Young Talent At OSU Demands $100

"Here's an unusual old story from Stillwater, Oklahoma. When my son was in college at OSU several years ago he owned a famous bar on what is known as The Strip on Washington Street near the campus.

Every Saturday night he hired local country and western talent for $75.00 to entertain the customers. On Friday he would audition the various students who wanted to perform.

One brash young man auditioned and my son was about to hire him when he demanded $100.00 rather than the going rate of $75.00.

My son told him that he really didn't think the young fellow was worth the extra $25.00 and told him to hit the road.

That young singer later became the famous Garth Brooks.

Several years later when Garth was playing a concert in Tulsa he invited my son backstage to repeat that story for his mother, wife and the band members. They all enjoyed a good laugh about it." -- Dale
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Paris/Venosdel Family

"Paris/Venosdel ... Hello! I am the granddaughter, well one of them, of Deverl and Beulah Paris. I am doing a project with my daughter for school and it happens to be a family tree. I am the Grandaughter of Deverl and Beulah Paris. My mother is Deborah Paris. I lived in Germany when my Grandma passed away and I haven't been back to Oklahoma since Grandpa moved there. I was also wondering if you could get the recipe for my Aunt Velma's or Bertha's Peach Jam. I try to make new things sometimes and that stuff was so good. I used to eat strawberry ice cream with Aunt Bertha all the time when we went to visit. We didn't visit as much after Uncle Mike died, but still went at least once a year." -- Carrie (Hobdy) Cox

" [Editor's Note: If you go to our ParisTimes Genealogy database over at Gencircles.com and can't view some of the information, it is because the living person's info is blocked and maybe be because there is not a death date in the field and some may be considered living.]
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Hurricane Evacuees: A New Perspective

* "For those of you who live in a buffered rural community, and do not witness the day-to-day abuses of the American social welfare system, this says it all. I had never experienced it first hand until I moved to Tulsa. I see generations upon generations who know every nuance of extracting government funds, from public assistance on housing, free medical and dental needs, to find just the right combination to claim disability. If they would put as much effort into finding legitimate work, they would probably be quite successful instead of being quite content with Uncle providing for their every need." -- Terry S

* "Rod Murrow's forward of Hagerhjelm's perspective on some of the hurricane evacuees is a classic example of government at its worst and charity organizations at a disadvantage. Entitlements have become expected and benevolence is taken advantage o. That said, I learned a long time ago -- charity breeds entitlement and entitlement breeds contempt. It always has and always will.

During the late 1800's and early 1900's as the industrial revolution evolved in the U.S. so did social service groups. There were at that time many widows with children and orphans that needed a hand up, poverty was the norm and sickness prevailed. As the U.S. progressed some illnesses were eradicated and poverty dwindled significantly. However, the character of our nation changed in ways we hadn't expected. Uninteded consequences grew exponentially and now we (government agencies/churchs/charitable orgs)are responsible for perpetuating this phenomena.

I agree with Hagerhjelm, and like her, cynical of the system. I've seen it in my work (the contempt) and now that I'm retired hope I don't see it again." -- Marvin W.

* "I want to thank you for your charity as a nurse and servant to our country. It sickens me to see the continual abuse of our system. Those who truly need care can't get it. Those who don't deserve it think they are owed it. I had to goto the local government clinic to get an updated TB test. I substitute teach for my city. It turned my stomach as I watched filthy little ones running around out of control while their tatoo covered, multi-pierced parents sat sprawled out talking on their cell phones. I wanted to ask them how much those tattoos and piercings cost them. I wondered how much they could have used that money on those sweet little ones that would probably grow up and be another issue for our government to deal with.

On the flip side, I know of a sweet young lady that made a bad choice to get pregnant at 18. She hates having to get assistance and still works two jobs. She has no parents to bale her out and she is devoted to getting her education and repaying in some way what she has taken from hard working tax payers.

My 18 year old son will soon be inducted into the Coast Guard. He wants to be a career member and eventually become an officer. I know he will have many times in life when those he saves and protects will not appreciate what he does. But, many will and you can bet that many went home from that storm with your face written on their hearts in a very dear way. Keep the faith!" -- Paulita H.
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A Prior To 1900 Waynoka Novel

"I have been researching a novel about the area and Waynoka prior to 1900. I hope to have it published by the Spring of 2009. I have been thinking of calling the novel "Our Town" as the name." -- Will Welton
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Slapout, OK Memories

"Slapout ... I've spent many hours there with my Grandparents Herman & Maggie Kamp; H.C. & Emma Murray; Roy & Emma Jean Zetterberg & Midge. Blacksmith shop and Cream Station - Beauty Shop and Old Filling Station helping G-Grandpa fix tires and pump gas. Good Memories of a Great Community! Friendly with a smile. I also played ball for the Slaput Team with my Father, Mother and Brother." -- Donnita Tregellas
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Maggie Talley

"Maggie Talley ... My maternal Grandmother Minnie May Talley (deceased) was one of the siblings to Maggie Talley, located at grave site #4. I'm not sure if Maggie died of influenza but have been told both parents died of TB. Any information (trivial or otherwise) on Maggie or this time period would be appreciated." -- Leah (Ruggles) Sandber
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