1. sports
2. baseball

SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015
PoteauDailyNews.com
SERVING LEFLORE COUNTY
Complete Spor ts Coverage, 5-8A
• 3A Obituaries
• 4A Opinions
• 8A Volunteers
• 1B Celebrations
• 2,3B Faith, Devotion
• 4,5B Courthouse
• 6B Comics
• 7,8B Classifieds
Citywide
Trash Offs
Today
Dalton Smith
hurls the discus
at Poteau
Invitational, 6A
Community
cleanups begin at 9
a.m. at Strike-A-Lot
parking lot in
Poteau and
Heavener deer park.
www.facebook.com/poteaudailynews
$1.25 Weekend Edition
Volume 119
By Amanda Corbin
PDN Reporter
Martin Dunigan, right, donates to the KTCS Make a Wish Radiothon Friday morning at the Poteau ToteA-Poke on north Broadway. All money donated will go to benefit local Make-A-Wish children. Collecting
donations are Micah Doeden, left, and Brittany “Happy” Frazier.
PDN photo by Amanda Corbin
Library Week
(See PLUMMER, page 2A)
to 25 years
in a separate
case
for
lewd molestation of a
child under
12. The sentences will
run concur- Branning
rently.
According to court
records, two 6-year-old
children said Branning had
sexually abused them when
they were 3 to 4 years old
and at the daycare Branning operated in his home.
The affidavit in the case
showed Branning first
A Howe man will serve
decades in prison after
being sentenced Friday for
sexual abuse against children who stayed at a daycare in his home.
David Lee Branning, 55,
entered a plea of no contest
Friday morning at a hearing in the LeFlore County
Courthouse. Family of the
victims were present while
Judge Jon Sullivan sentenced Branning to 25 years
each for two counts in a
2014 case of sexual abuse
of a child under 12-yearsold. He also was sentenced (See BRANNING, page 2A)
Costs burden Clark family
By Amanda Corbin
PDN Reporter
A long-time Poteau resident is in need
of donations to help with costly medical
bills after he was diagnosed with cancer.
Scotty Clark, 35, is battling soft tissue
sarcoma, an aggressive cancer that started
in his left leg and has since spread
throughout his body. Clark has been unable
to work since his diagnosis. He was
employed as a laborer for more than 15
years in County Commissioner Lance
Smith’s District 2.
“They need all the support they can get
By Amanda Corbin
PDN Reporter
A Spiro man in behind bars facing accusations he had sexual relations with a
minor.
The LeFlore County District Attorney’s Office
charged Robert Lee Plummer, 44, with child sexual
abuse for allegedly having
sexual intercourse with a
teenage female over a period of several years.
The case affidavit said
the
minor, now an adult,
Plummer
had disclosed about the
alleged relations while at the Spiro Police
Department in late March.
She reportedly alleged that she and
Plummer had first had sex in 2006 when
she was 15 years old. She said the acts
continued through the years with the last
16 Pages
Branning gets
25 years for
daycare abuse
Wishing for Donations
Spiro man
charged in
teen sex case
No. 205
(See CLARK, page 2A)
Scotty Clark
Jail flooding brings charges
Mayor Jeff Shockley signs a proclamation
proclaiming April 12-18 National
Library Week in Poteau as Patrick
Lynch Public Library librarian Nancy
Hamlin watches. To help the public
celebrate National Library Week,
Patrick Lynch Public Library will be
forgiving all overdue fines that week.
By Amanda Corbin
PDN Reporter
counts. Urchison faces a charge of injuring
or burning a public building and Meeder
with malicious injury to a public building.
Two detention center inmates face
According to the affidavit, LeFlore
charges after police allege the duo caused County Deputy Donnie Edwards received
a cell pod to flood.
word from his supervisor, Jake Tucker,
Caleb Urchison, 29, of Poteau, and who said that two inmates had flooded the
Christopher Gage Meeder, 24, of Pocola,
were charged Monday with the felony
(See JAIL, page 2A)
Circus slates 2 shows at Reynolds Center April 25
By Ken Milam
PDN News Editor
Graceful aerial acts, daredevil
stunts, swords, fire, clowns — it
can only mean one thing. The circus is coming.
Fantazia will present shows at 4
p.m. and 7 p.m. April 25 at the
Donald W. Reynolds Community
Center.
Hailing from Mexico City, Mexico, and Porto Sequro, Brazil, the
Yabarra family has an extensive
history in the circus industry. Former generations were pioneers of
the circus world.
Today the Yabarra brothers represent the sixth generation of circus performers in the family.
Fantazia combines traditional
performances with new techniques
and new talent to provide a fresh,
family-oriented, culturally diverse
show, according to the troupe’s
website.
Acts include a motorcycle Globe
of Death, trapeze artists, aerialists,
sword balancing, juggling, hoops,
trampoline, clowns and more. Con(See CIRCUS, page 2A)
RD
Area
PAGE 2A . . . SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015
CIRCUS
CLARK
cessions and souvenirs will be available. All purchases
cash only.
Tickets are on sale at the Chamber office in the Reynolds Center. Adult tickets are $16 each admitting two
children 14 years and younger free. Additional children’s
tickets are $7.50 each. Tickets also will be available at the
box office on show day.
through this difficult time,” Robert
Priddy, Scotty’s brother-in-law, said.
“I just want them to know that my
thoughts and prayers are going out.”
In addition to his cancer, his wife
Melissa Clark has an eye disease
which makes her legally blind and his
two children, D.J., 13, and Dakotah,
12, are both special needs children.
In January, doctors discovered a
BULLETIN BOARD
POTEAU DAILY NEWS
large sarcoma in Scotty’s left leg, which
was removed. After undergoing a PET
scan, results showed the cancer had
spread throughout his body. He recently
started chemotherapy, with insurance
co-pays from $50 to more than $500
each. Gasoline costs are also piling up,
with doctor visits about a 45-minute
drive.
Treatments cause Scotty to stay in
the hospital up to four days each time.
A GoFundMe account and
Facebook prayer page have been set
up to benefit the family. The
GoFundMe had reached $490 of its
$1,800 goal as of Friday. To donate,
visit the page at http://www.gofundme.
com/qdm7pc. The prayer page is
available at https://www.facebook.
com/groups/1546777558906578/.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Summerfield FD Chicken Dinner
Summerfield Fire Department will hold its
annual fundraising chicken dinner from 11
a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Enjoy a great home cooked meal — $6 for
adults, free for children ages 8 and younger.
Full Service
CASH FOR GOLD
jewelry
repair
Rings, pendants, chains, and
earrings. Gold, platinum, or
silver. Antique to today’s styles.
* Tips rebuilt
* Chains soldered
* Clasps replaced
* Heads replaced
* Tight rings made loose * Shanks replaced
* Loose rings made tight * Stones tightened
* Prongs replaces
* Pearls restrung
* And more!
Free cleaning and inspection any time
Open Monday – Friday 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Across from KFC, Poteau • 647-2701
[email protected]
Check for new arrivals on our facebook.
Enviro PestPros cut the ribbon Friday afternoon at their grand opening. The business is located at 114 N.
Witte, Poteau. It is owned by Lundy and Samantha Kiger of Kiger Properties and Randy and Kendra Rimer.
Rimer is a technician with over 13 years experience. The owners merged with Greg Maxwell of Enviro Pest
and Termite. EPPO recently purchased their second truck and sprayer and hired a second experienced
technician. Contact them at (918) 839-1735.
PDN photo by Amanda Corbin
BRANNING
denied the allegations before later
telling investigators he had been
molested by his brother for years and
may have touched the children but
not remembered doing it.
According to the investigator,
Branning said that at times he would
have thoughts about children but usu-
ally would control those thoughts.
The affidavit shows Branning said
that at times when children were sitting in his lap he would touch their
vaginal area but would realize what
he was doing and immediately stop.
He denied doing anything more
than touching the private areas of the
children who reported the abuse.
In the second case, a 9-year-old
child accused Branning of touching
them while staying at the the daycare
when the chid was 4-years-old. Court
records show all the incidents
occurred between June 2009 and
October 2011.
PLUMMER
occurrence in March.
Spiro Police Officer Theo Capes and a
district attorney’s investigator spoke with
Plummer about the accusations. According to court records, Plummer initially
denied the abuse, then admitted to it. The
affidavit says Plummer told police that the
victim never told him “no” or “to stop”
during the relations.
Plummer was taken to the LeFlore
County Detention Center. If convicted,
Plummer could face life in prison.
JAIL
Charlie POD inside the
LeFlore County Detention
Center. Court records show
a sprinkler head was broken
and flooded the pod, which
will cost $1,000 to replace.
The incident occurred
March 28.
Both men could receive
up to 25 years if convicted.
Another detention center
inmate, Mallory N. Laird,
27, of Poteau, was charged
last week after she allegedly
clogged the commode in
the Brovo POD, which also
caused flooding and
reportedly damaged smoke
alarms and a smoke
detector.
The cost to replace
smoke alarms and the
detector was $93.87, court
records show.
Derby to benefit Pervasive Parenting
LeFlore County Maidens of Mayhem
will host the Fountain City Roller Derby
on May 9 to help raise funds for Pervasive
Parenting Center.
The game will be at 4:30 p.m. at Skate
Reation in Poteau. Admission is $7 with
children 12 and under free with paid adult.
Guests are encouraged to bring their own
chairs. Donations also will be taken during
the event by filling the player’s helmets.
Pervasive Parenting Center is a nonprofit made up of families, educators,
1
community leaders and healthcare professionals who work to help eastern Oklahoma families coping with disabilities. The
center has donated more than $600 to local
special education departments as well as
brought conferences, training and resources to the area.
For more information on Pervasive Parenting Center, visit www.pervasiveparentingcenter.org, call Kodey Toney at (918)
658-5076 or email [email protected].
More Ranch Sold By REMAX Champion Land Brokers
Buyer: Jim Jensen
Seller: Johnny Rosso
REMAX Agent/Broker: Ricky Ward
Adam’s Abstract Closer: Loretta
Adams
5021 N. Broadway • Poteau, OK
918-649-0201
www.clbrealestate.com
Each Office Independently Owned and Operated
Area
POTEAU DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015 . . . PAGE 3A
DEATH NOTICES
OBITUARY
Compiled by Ken Milam / [email protected]
Donna Gail Timms
Nancie Anne Gordon
Today is
International “Louie Louie” Day
Nancie Anne Gordon, 73, of Poteau
• TODAY — Poteau Citywide Trash Off, 9 a.m. Info: passed away Wednesday, April 8, 2015, in
(918) 647-9178.
Fort Smith, Ark.
Nancie was born in McAlester on Oct.
— Heavener Citywide Trash Off, 9 a.m., deer pen.
25, 1941, to V.E. “Jack” and Helen
— Spring Viking/Celtic Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., (Thompson) Gordon. She worked at BuckHeavener Runestone Park. Info: (918) 653-2241.
ley, now Patrick Lynch Library in Poteau
— LeFlore County Museum at Hotel Lowrey open noon- more than 21 years. She was an active
member of Faith Community Church of
3 p.m.
the Nazarene as well as an alto in the Cavanal Chorale
— Eighth annual Mountain Gate Poker Run, registration
and board secretary for the Salvation Army for many
begins 8 a.m., Pam’s Hateful Hussy Diner, Talihina
years. Nancie Anne was preceded in death by her parents
— LeFlore County Democratic Party county convention, and brother, Robin Gordon.
10 a.m., county courthouse. Info: Reba Amend, (918)
She will be greatly missed by her friends who survive
647-3250.
her. She was a wonderful “Lady.”
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, April 13, at
— Third annual benefit yard sale for Janice Midgley
Oakland
Cemetery Pavilion, Poteau, with Jim Cook,
Couch Memorial Scholarship Fund, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
Louis
Gill
and Brian Smith officiating.
Wister Church of the Nazarene.
Donations may be made to the Patrick Lynch Public
— CORRECTED —Evening at the Gallery wine and arts Library Friends Inc., 206 S. McKenna, Poteau, OK
festival, 4-8 p.m., Donald W. Reynolds Community 74953. Evans and Miller Funeral Home is handling
Center. Tickets: http://poteaurotary.org.
arrangements.
— Treble Choir of Cavanal Chorale concert, “Music in
You,” 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 109 S.
Harper.
Kids get free breakfast Monday
— Poteau High School production of the musical,
As Oklahoma students
“Annie,” 7 p.m., Bob Lee Kidd Civic Center.
in third through eighth
— Gospel Sing, 1-3 p.m., Bokoshe Pavilion Park.
grade begin standardized
— Dodge test drive fundraiser for Spiro Schools Booster testing in April, local
McDonald’s restaurants are
Club, 3-6 p.m., Spiro High School parking lot.
preparing to serve them a
— Casey Branscum Memorial Pond Hop Bass Tournament, free breakfast.
sign-up April 10 at Fanshawe School. Info: Wes
“Eating a good breakfast
McGowen, (918) 774-5193.
is important, especially if
— Take Off Pounds Sensibly meeting, 10 a.m., LeFlore you have a long day of testing ahead of you,” said
County Youth Services (in back).
Matt Baldwin, Oklahoma
• APRIL 12 — Spring Viking/Celtic Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 McDonald’s franchisee and
p.m., Heavener Runestone Park. Info: (918) 653- owner-operator. “It’s our
2241.
pleasure to offer a whole— Poteau High School production of the musical, some meal to Oklahoma
students and get their day
“Annie,” 2 p.m., Bob Lee Kidd Civic Center.
started off right.”
— Treble Choir of Cavanal Chorale concert, “Music in
Students between third
You,” 2 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 109 S.
Harper.
— Turkey and dressing fundraising dinner for purchase
of new brush truck for Wister Fire Department, 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m., Wister school cafeteria.
— Chicken dinner fundraiser, 11 a.m., Summerfield Fire
Department.
— Chicken dinner, 11:30 a.m., Bokoshe American
Legion.
• APRIL 13 — Creator’s Gift Community Garden
“Companion Gardening” class, 11 a.m. Patrick Lynch
Library conference room.
— Poteau High School production of the musical,
“Annie,” 7 p.m., Bob Lee Kidd Civic Center.
• APRIL 14 — Historic Downtown Poteau awards luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., LeFlore County
Museum at Hotel Lowrey.
Each puzzle is divided into
nine sections, and each section
has nine blank squares. Fill in
all 81 squares on the puzzle
with numbers 1 to 9. You may
not repeat any numbers in any
one of the nine sections that
you've already used elsewhere
in that section. Also, you can use
each number 1-9 only once in
each horizontal line of nine
squares, and in each vertical
column of nine squares. The
puzzle is completed when you
correctly fill every square
Solution to April 10 puzzle
Sudoku Solution #3423-D
9
5
4
8
3
7
5 2 7 1
3 8 1 6
6 9 4 2
1
9
8
7
4
2
4
7
5
1
6
3
© 2009 Hometown Content
2
3
6
5
8
9
6
1
3
4
2
5
9
7
8
8
2
7
9
1
6
3
4
5
5
6
1
3
9
4
8
2
7
7
8
2
6
5
1
4
9
3
3
4
9
2
7
8
6
5
1
and eighth grade taking
standardized tests can stop
by any McDonald’s in the
state on Monday to receive
a free breakfast from 6-9
a.m.
McDonald’s
recommends students be accompanied by a parent or guardian and go into the restaurant to receive the breakfast.
Students will receive an
Egg McMuffin, choice of
apple slices or Strawberry
Go-Gurt their choice of a 1
percent low-fat milk jug,
fat-free chocolate milk jug
or small orange juice.
Syble Marteen (Hemphill) White
Syble Marteen (Hemphill) White, 83, died Wednesday,
April 8.
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday,
April 16, at Reichert Cemetery. Family visitation will be
from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Evans and Miller Funeral
Home.
PDN Website Obituaries
Visit the new
obituaries link at poteaudailynews.com to
send condolences, view and search local and
nationwide obituaries and more,
via Legacy. com
Free Faith Based Class – APRIL 17
“INTRODUCTION TO ESSENTIAL OILS”
Days Inn • Poteau, Ok • 7PM
Kim Wilson & Audrey McNatt
[email protected]
Today's Weather
Local 5-Day Forecast
Sat
4/11
77/55
Sun
Mon
4/12
Tue
4/13
80/63
Wed
4/14
68/52
4/15
69/52
77/54
Partly
cloudy. High
77F. Winds
ESE at 5 to
10 mph.
Showers
and thunderstorms
late.
Cloudy with
rain. Highs
in the upper
60s and
lows in the
low 50s.
Chance of
afternoon
showers.
Highs in the
upper 60s
and lows in
the low 50s.
A few
clouds.
Highs in the
upper 70s
and lows in
the mid 50s.
Sunrise:
6:52 AM
Sunset:
7:47 PM
Sunrise:
6:50 AM
Sunset:
7:48 PM
Sunrise:
6:49 AM
Sunset:
7:49 PM
Sunrise:
6:48 AM
Sunset:
7:49 PM
Sunrise:
6:46 AM
Sunset:
7:50 PM
Sudoku Puzzle #3423-M
TAKING CARE
OF BUSINESS
2Oklahoma3At A Glance
4
5
6 3
7
8
3 8
6
2
5
4
9
7
3 9
1
2
Area Cities
8
1 4
7
9
3
7
3
5
2
1
2
Enid
75/55
Tulsa
76/56
Oklahoma City
74/59
Poteau
77/55
Lawton
73/56
© 2009 Hometown Content
Donna Gail Timms, 67, of Bokoshe died Friday, April
10, 2015.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, April, 13, at
Mallory-Martin Funeral Home Chapel in Spiro. Burial
will be in New Hope Cemetery. Family visitation will be
from 4-6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral Home.
City
Antlers
Ardmore
Bartlesville
Broken Bow
Claremore
Cordell
Duncan
El Reno
Elk City
Enid
Guymon
Lawton
McAlester
Miami
Muskogee
Hi
76
73
74
76
76
74
74
71
72
75
78
73
76
75
75
Lo Cond.
58 pt sunny
57 cloudy
53 pt sunny
54 pt sunny
55 pt sunny
58 rain
57 pt sunny
56 pt sunny
57 rain
Medium
55
pt sunny
53 rain
56 rain
59 pt sunny
53 pt sunny
54 pt sunny
City
Oklahoma City
Okmulgee
Pauls Valley
Perry
Sallisaw
Sapulpa
Shawnee
Snyder
Stillwater
Tahlequah
Tulsa
Watonga
Weatherford
Wewoka
Woodward
City
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Houston
Los Angeles
Miami
Hi
78
57
63
77
74
80
73
86
Lo Cond.
54 mst sunny
38 sunny
43 sunny
63 cloudy
43 pt sunny
71 t-storm
55 sunny
73 pt sunny
City
Hi Lo Cond.
Minneapolis
68 51 sunny
New York
60 44 sunny
FURNITURE
PhoenixBRIDGMAN’S
82 56 mst sunny
Bridgman
San Francisco 67Randy
49 pt sunny
Seattle
54 41 rain
Bridgman’s Furniture,
Bridgman
founded
St. Louis
69 49 pt
sunny in 1896, is the oldest
Washington,
DC business
67 44 pt in
sunny
family owned
LeFlore County. Owner Randy
Jim Seale National Cities
Poteau Street Commissioner
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have
supported me during this election. I want to especially thank those
who have donated financially and those who have given of their time.
Thank you to my family who worked so very hard on my behalf. I am
Moon Phases
so very humbled by the out pouring of support from this community.
I look forward to taking office, and working hard to make a difference
in the quality of our city streets. Thank you for placing your confidence in me and I look forward to serving this great community.
Full
Last
Apr 4
Sat
7
First
Apr 18
Apr 25
PANAMA
STIGLER
Get the latest agriculture news every Wednesday UV
in theIndex
PDN
4/11
Lo Cond.
59 cloudy
55 cloudy
57 cloudy
57 pt sunny
55 pt sunny
55 pt sunny
58 pt sunny
58 pt sunny
56 pt sunny
52 pt sunny
56 pt sunny
58 rain
58 rain
56 cloudy
58 rain
Bridgman leads the fourth generation of family management in providing a unique selection of quality furniture
and accessories. Bridgman’s attracts customers from
eastern Oklahoma, western Arkansas and beyond.
Through the years, Randy has been extremely active in
community affairs, including the Poteau Kiwanis Club,
Main Street Matters, LeFlore County Historical Society
and the Poteau Chamber of Commerce. Bridgman’s
and the Bridgman family has played an important role in
Poteau’s rich history.
New
Apr 12
Hi
74
75
72
75
75
75
74
75
76
74
76
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73
POTEAU
CENTRAL NATIONAL BANK
HEAVENER
www.cnbpoteau.com
Sun
4/12
7
Mon
4/13
4
Tue
4/14
7
Wed
4/15
8
POCOLA
Opinions
PAGE 4A . . . SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015
Guest Column
Living the Oklahoma standard
Joseph Silk
Another week in
We just wrapped up week 10 of the legislative session
and we’re working hard in various committees and on the
Senate floor to stay on track and focused on our work.
One of the most notable items in the Senate this week
was the passage of House Bill 1721, also known as the
Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion
Act. HB 1721 makes dismemberment abortions illegal
after 20 weeks.
This is a gruesome method of abortion and is commonly used because it is very inexpensive. Although this
bill does not go as far as I would like, it is definitely a
good first step. For those of you who know me or have
heard me speak know of my firm stance against abortion.
I believe the single most important thing our government can do is protect innocent life from brutal murder.
Our founders created the government’s role to protect
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and I believe the
protection of life is listed first for a reason. I was honored
to be approached by Oklahomans for Life and asked to
participate in the discussion and debate on the Senate
floor this week. The bill passed overwhelmingly and is
headed to the governor’s office. If signed, Oklahoma
would be only the second state to make this illegal. Fortunately, the dangerous water task force bill that
I’ve discussed over the last few weeks will not be heard
in the House, so that bill is effectively dead.
The bad news is that there is a House bill pertaining to
water that passed the Senate Appropriations Committee
and is heading to the floor. This legislation would allow a
certain prison, under the Department of Corrections, to
sell its groundwater to a neighboring municipality. At first
glance, this may not appear to be troublesome, but if this
bill is signed into law, it could set a precedent giving the
state more legal authority to sell and transfer water without a local voice. I will be working to defeat this bill.
Lastly, I disagree with a Builder Registration Bill
which was passed in the House and is being considered in
the Senate. House Bill 1828 would mandate that all those
who build, remodel or do any type of construction must
be registered with the Construction Industries Board and
meet rigid requirements and regulations, including continuing education and fines for non-compliance. Overregulating small businesses and self-employed citizens is
not the role of government, and would have an immediate
negative impact on thousands of working class people
across the state. I encourage everyone to call or email
each senator and ask them to oppose the Builder
Registration Bill HB 1828.
Joseph Silk is senator of the 5th District. He can be
reached by phone at (405) 521-5614 or email at [email protected].
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
Email letters to Editor Kim Ross at [email protected], mail or drop off at 804 N.
Broadway, Poteau, Ok. 74953. All letters must
include name, town of residence and phone number
for verification. The phone number will not be published.
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6 months................................ $66.00
1 year ................................. $129.00
This month, Oklahomans will mark the 20th anniversary
of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
Collectively we will remember the act of domestic
terrorism that occurred right here in our state on April 19,
1995, and claimed the lives of 168 fellow Oklahomans.
We will not only grieve the loss of many innocent adults
and children, but we will also give thanks for the first
responders and the volunteers from Oklahoma and across
the country that helped in the aftermath.
From that tragedy, our state was forever changed. Out of
something so brutal, Oklahomans have forged something
truly beautiful — the Oklahoma Standard.
The Oklahoma Standard is a symbol to the world of how
Oklahomans selflessly rally together as one community in
times of need. The Oklahoma Standard reflects the best of
who we are as Oklahomans.
We continue to see the Oklahoma Standard in action,
most notably in the wake of the severe storms that devastate
communities like Moore, Quapaw and more recently in
Sand Springs.
The Oklahoma Standard is also present at other less
visible times, like a fire that destroys a neighbor’s home and
barn, or when a community rallies around a sick child and
their family to help defray medical expenses. The Oklahoma
Standard is often applied when someone’s loved one passes
away and their refrigerator is packed with food by caring
people who seek to make life just a little easier for the
affected person.
This month, Oklahomans have been asked to renew our
Mullin’ It Over
Markwayne Mullin
commitment to the Oklahoma Standard and to perform an
act of service, an act of honor and an act of kindness.
What a beautiful way to honor the memory of each victim
and the efforts of every first responder and volunteer.
It is my hope that as a state, we continue to teach the
Oklahoma Standard to future generations. We cannot let the
call of service, honor and kindness die out with those of us
who remember where we were on the morning the truckbomb exploded outside the Murrah Building.
Let us make a commitment to ensure our children also
understand the importance of the Oklahoma Standard and
how it makes our state stronger every time we employ it.
As an enduring tribute to the victims, survivors and first
responders from the building that once stood in downtown
Oklahoma City, may we also live out the Oklahoma
Standard every day in our own lives.
Markwayne Mullin of Westville represents Oklahoma’s
2nd District in the United States House of Representatives.
Call his Washington, D.C., office at (202) 225-2701 or
e-mail him at [email protected]. His website is mullin.house.gov.
The loss of a treasure
If lives can be compared
to books, Nancie Anne
Gordon, our co-worker here
at Patrick Lynch Public
Library, completed her last
chapter on this earth
Wednesday, April 8. A very
creative person who particularly enjoyed working in
adult programing and
matching people to books,
she has left a distinctive
imprint on public library
services here in Poteau
where she served for more
than 21 years. She will be
greatly missed both for her
contributions and her
friendship by the staff and
patrons here.
Patrick Lynch Public
Library will be closed
Monday in Nancie’s honor.
Nancie Anne loved poetry. Interesting that our focus
on poetry this month brings
to mind the lines from
Henry
Wadsworth
Longfellow’s “A Psalm of
Life:” “Lives of great men
all remind us, We can make
our lives sublime, And,
departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of
time; Footprints, that perhaps another, Sailing o’er
life’s solemn main, A forlorn and shipwrecked
brother, Seeing, shall take
heart again.” I memorized that poem
as a teen, and to me it
speaks of the continuity of
time, and the shortness of
the space we, as individual,
may write upon that timeline. To really leave “footprints on the sand of time”
as we would wish, we need
to ponder where we would
like those footprints to
direct others. For that, we
need a sense of history and
values worth modeling.
This week, I planned to call
your attention to poetry as a
medium for recording and
interpreting history.
History rides on the back
of poetry. Another poem
from Longfellow’s pen read
during childhood helped
mark and remember a pivotal event in the American
Revolution: “Listen my
children and you will hear,
of the midnight ride of Paul
Revere ... You know the
rest. In the books you have
read, How the British
Regulars fired and fled, —”
Dates and details as well as
the urgency and significance of that victory are
conveyed in Wadsworth’s
lines, but how do you
encourage a young person
to read the poem? At PLPL,
this particular poetry choice
has three excellent books in
our children’s collection
that help bring the story of
Revere’s ride alive.
Pre-schoolers and primary students would love,
“Midnight Riders: a Fun
Song About the Ride of
Paul Revere and William
Dawes” by Michael Dahl
with illustrator Brandon
Reibeling. Ending with the
musical score, each page
has only a few large words
plus a smaller print narration inserted into a fullbleed, two-page spread, or
being interpreted, a 9x20.5inch exciting color illustration. At the back of the
book, a small glossary,
index, other recommended
books, several web resources and mini-bios of Sybil
Ludington and Samuel
Prescott enrich the learning
experience even more,
remind young readers or
listeners that any book you
like can lead to much more
in-depth exploration.
Treasure Hunting
Carole Gill
“The Midnight Ride of
Paul Revere” is magnificently illustrated by
Christopher Bing, and is
one of those treasures targeting upper elementary or
middle school, but would
be great for any age. The
body of the book is the full
text of Wadsworth’s poem
in a sidebar format printed
on antiqued paper with
most of the double spread
given to maps and striking
images of the scene
described. The covers host
two attached, authentic
looking documents that
open up to give more insight
to the importance of the
ride: A letter from Thomas
Gage to Lieutenant Colonel
Smith and the deposition of
Paul Revere prepared for
the
Massachusetts
Provincial Congress of the
event.
“The Many Rides of
Paul Revere” a beautiful
oversized biography by
James Cross Giblin, with
the bookplate engraving on
the back by Paul Revere
himself. After 67 pages of
narration at an upper middle school level, the poem
itself as well as the author
are featured. Giblin points
out that few people knew of
Revere’s ride until after the
publishing of the poem,
though some were old
enough to remember that
period and victory. A time
line and many interesting
illustrations,
including
illustrations of muskets of
that time and pictures and
Revere’s saddlebags, paintings of persons and events
involved add to the interest
of this, another book for all
ages.
This particular historic
poem was selected because
that midnight ride occurred
April 18, 1775, so checking
out one of these age-appropriate books would be a
great way to light the fire of
history for someone. Think
of what treasures are in the
library to follow up on “Oh
Captain, My Captain,”
written in 1865 by Walt
Whitman about the assassination of President
Abraham Lincoln?
We also have multitudes
of history related poems of
older and very recent vintage as well. I challenge
you “big people” to turn
some child on to history
through poetry.
This Tuesday, a gardening workshop by Terry Hall
will be at 5:30 p.m.
Remember the Spelling
Bee for Literacy Council of
LeFlore County at 6 p.m.
April 16 in the library community room. Teens are
invited April 17 at 3:30
p.m. to a Literature Café in
the community room that
will include a poetry slam;
book sharings and other literature and media sharing.
Carole Gill is the children’s and young adult
librarian at Patrick Lynch
Public Library in Poteau.
E-mail her at carolegill@
oklibrary.net.
Sports
POTEAU DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015 . . . PAGE 5A
LeFlore County Tournament Central
Heavener Wolves eliminate Panama Razorbacks
Rain washes out last two games Thursday; finals now set
for 5 p.m. today, with if-game likely Sunday afternoon
By David Seeley
PDN Sports Editor
PLACE-FUL SLIDE — Heavener baserunner Connor Place, front, slides into
third base safely before Panama third baseman Ryan Ragan can tag him during
Thursday’s loser’s-bracket quarterfinal game in the 2015 LeFlore County Baseball
Tournament at Howe’s Lions Field.
PDN photo by David Seeley
The Heavener Wolves stayed alive
in the 2015 LeFlore County Baseball
Tournament on Thursday afternoon at
Howe’s Lions Field as they eliminated
the Panama Razorbacks 5-2.
However, the Wolves not only beat
the Hogs but also Mother Nature.
Right after Heavener’s win, rain
washed out the final two games of the
day, the other loser’s-bracket quarterfinal between Cameron and Spiro and
the winner’s-bracket final between Poteau and Wister.
Those two games took place on Friday, as did the loser’s-bracket semifinal
between Heavener and the CameronSpiro winner.
The loser’s-bracket final will take
place at 3 this afternoon, with the
county championship game set for 5
p.m. today.
If an if-game is needed, it likely will
be scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
In Heavener’s win, the Wolves (145), who trailed 1-0 after an inning,
scored twice in the second inning and
three runs in the fourth for a 5-1 lead.
The Razorbacks (10-5) tried to get a
rally going in the sixth inning.
The Hogs scored once, but a baserunning miscue on an infield fly turned
into a double play for Heavener’s defense to pretty much put an end to the
rally.
Dillion May (4-3) got the win, pitching into the sixth inning. Grant Shipman got his first save of the season.
For the game, May aided his own
cause, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Jordan Terry was 1-for-4 with a double,
while Hunter Tiffee was 1-for-1 with a
double for Heavener.
In defeat, Ryan Ragan was 2-for3 with two doubles and a run scored,
while Gabe Harp was 1-for-3 with a
double for Panama.
Harp (5-1) took the loss in relief,
which was his first pitching defeat of
the season.
Class A, B baseball, non-Poteau softball teams’
district assignments announced by OSSAA
By David Seeley
PDN Sports Editor
A few LeFlore County baseball and softball
teams got good news from
the Oklahoma Secondary
Schools Activities Association on Friday. They were
named district tournament
hosts for the upcoming
start to postseason play.
In Class A and B baseball, only one LeFlore
County team, the Leflore
Savages, was named a
district host in Class B,
welcoming Kinta and McCurtain.
Also in Class B, Bokoshe and Whitesboro will
visit Buffalo Valley, Red
Oak will entertain Webbers
Falls and Smithville will
THREE GOLF AMIGOS — Poteau Lady Pirates golfers, from left, Shelli Cobb, have Battiest and Boswell
Lily Shore and Dallas Terry, participated in Thursday’s Sallisaw Invitational. come calling for a Class B
District Tournament.
Cobb was fifth and Terry third.
In Class A, Arkoma and
Photo by Randall Wheat
Cameron were both sent to
Gans, while Keota will entertain Crowder and Gore.
As for slow-pitch softball districts are con-
Poteau duo among medalists at Sallisaw
SALLISAW — Two
of Poteau’s three golfers who participated in
the Sallisaw Girls Invitational on Thursday were
among the top-five medalist.
After being the top
medalist 24 hours before at Stigler, Dallas
Terry was the third-place
medalist with a 96, with
teammate Shelli Cobb
finishing fifth with an
even 100. Lily Shore had
a 119.
Heavener’s Malorie
Hall shot a 127 in Thursday’s event.
The Lady Pirates will
be idle until playing in
the Elgin Invitational,
which will begin at 9 a.m.
Monday at Oklahoma
City’s Lake Hefner Golf
Course.
The Lady Wolves,
along with the Poteau
Pirates and the Heavener
Wolves, will play in today’s Eufaula Invitational, which will begin at 9
this morning at Fountainhead Resort Golf Course.
The Pirates then will
play in the Tournament
of Champions beginning
at 8:30 a.m. Monday at
Ada County Club.
Talihina, Whitesboro pitchers throw
one-hitters in their teams’ victories
Thursday’s High School Baseball Roundup
TALIHINA — Talihina pitcher Trey
Hawkins pitched a one-hitter as the Golden Tigers blanked the Atoka Wampus Cats
10-0 Thursday afternoon at home.
Hawkins (1-0), who got his first win of
the season, struck out eight batters in the
five-inning, run-ruled victory.
The Golden Tigers (8-5), leading 1-0
after an inning, scored three runs in each
of the next three innings to put the game
into run-rule status.
Caleb Speers was 2-for-2 with a double and three runs scored, Alan Lockhart
was 2-for-3 with two runs batted in, Cord
Fitzgerald was 2-for-4 with three RBIs
and a run scored and Jacob Bradberry was
2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored
for Talihina.
Whitesboro 8, Battiest 0: In Whitesboro, Joe Smith (3-2) threw a one-hitter
with six strikeouts as the Bulldogs (4-7).
Whitesboro scored twice in the opening
inning, then added four runs in the third
and single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to end the game by run rule.
Hunter Sisemore was 2-for-3 for the
’Dogs.
Editor’s note: Arkoma’s game against
Providence Academy in Rogers, Ark., was
rained out and won’t be rescheduled.
cerned, three non-Poteau
teams were named district
hosts.
In the Class 4A District
Tournament, Pocola will
welcome its archrival Panama and Sallisaw-Central.
The Wister Lady Wildcats will begin their quest
to return to the Class 3A
State Tournament by being
a district host for Gans and
Gore.
In Class A, the Whitesboro Lady Bulldogs will
entertain the Smithville
Lady Braves, the Eagletown Lady Eagles and the
Coleman Lady Wildcats.
Also in Class A, the Red
Oak Lady Eagles will welcome the Bokoshe Lady
Tigers, the Kinta Lady Eagles and the Panola Lady
Bearcats for their district
tournament.
The Keota Lady Lions
were named a host team
for a Class 2A District
Tournament with Arkoma,
Oaks and Watts.
All other softball teams
were sent on the road for
their district tournaments.
In Class 5A, the Heavener
Lady Wolves will have to
begin their quest for a return trip to state by starting on the road in the district tournament at Roland
along with Locust Grove.
Another Class 5A team,
the Spiro Lady Bulldogs,
also were sent on the road
for a district tournament,
joining Stigler at Valliant.
The Howe Lady Lions and the Talihina Lady
Golden Tigers were sent to
Wright City for their Class
3A District Tournament.
In Class 2A, Cameron,
Haileyville and Vanoss
were sent to Stuart for their
district tournament, while
Leflore, Wilson (Henryetta) and Copan will visit
Midway High School for
their Class A District Tournament.
The Poteau Lady Pirates
should find out late next
week or early the following week what their Class
6A Regional Tournament
fate will be.
THANK You for allowing me to
continue as mayor.
Together, we will all make Poteau
a great place to live and raise a
family. And a special Thank You
to those that gave their time and
contributions to the campaign.
— Mayor Jeff Shockley
Jim Sommers
Poteau City Council
I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the voters of Poteau for
electing me to the Poteau City Council. One of the most important
freedoms we enjoy as citizens is the right to vote. I am honored
you have placed your trust in me. I will work hard on your behalf
to serve to the best of my ability.
I also want to thank all those who worked and supported my
campaign. No one wins an election by themselves.
Again, I thank you for the opportunity to serve.
Jim Sommers
918-649-4933
[email protected]
Sports
PAGE 6A . . . SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015
POTEAU DAILY NEWS
VAULTING INTO THE RECORD BOOK — Poteau's Skyler Webster makes an
attempt in the pole vault during Tuesday afternoon's Poteau Invitational at
Costner Stadium. Although she was the only vaulter in the meet, she set a Poteau
High School record with a vault of 10-3.
PDN photo by David Seeley
Poteau track girls win third
Pocola girls blank Spiro straight meet, capture own
invitational on Tuesday
POCOLA — Pocola
pitcher Morgan Francis
tossed a three-hit shutout as the Lady Indians
blanked the Spiro Lady
Bulldogs 10-0 in a fourinning, run-ruled contest.
The Lady Indians (1310) jumped out to a 3-0
lead after an inning, then
put the game into run-rule
status with a seven-run
second inning.
For the game, Madison Hudkins was 2-for2 with a double, a home
run, five runs batted in
and two runs scored, Desi
Carter was 2-for-3 with a
double, a run scored and
an RBI, Brooklyn Morton was 2-for-3 with two
runs scored, Macae Pipkins was 2-for-2 with an
RBI and a run scored and
Francis, improving to 9-7
with the win, was 2-for-2
By David Seeley
with an RBI for Pocola.
PDN Sports Editor
In defeat, Bailey Cox,
LuLu Robbins and HanThe Poteau Lady Pirates track team
nah Gilliam all singled made it 3-for-3 on the season by winning
for the Lady Bulldogs (7- its own Poteau Invitational on Tuesday af6).
ternoon at Costner Stadium.
Panama girls go 3-0 at Keota Tournament;
Howe girls pick up two wins, Arkoma one
The Panama Lady Razorbacks ran
roughshot over three opponents at the McCurtain site of the Keota Tournament on
Thursday. Panama handled Talihina 16-6,
routed Quinton 21-9 and got past sub-host
site McCurtain.
The Lady Golden Tigers remained winless on the season as they not only lost to
Panama, but fell 10-1 to Quinton and 14-4
to McCurtain.
At the Keota site, the Howe Lady Lions
went 2-1 on the day, blanking the Arkoma
Lady Mustangs 3-0 and the Panola Lady
Bearcats 10-0, but losing 10-3 to the Porum Lady Panthers.
The Lady Mustangs also blanked Panola 8-0 for their first win of the season, but
also fell to Porum 11-1.
Friday saw more LeFlore County teams
in action, Cameron, Leflore and Wister.
Today will see all but one of the county
squads in action. Talihina will play Panola
at 10 this morning, while the opposition
and game time for Arkoma, Cameron,
Howe, Leflore and Wister was not known
at press time. Due to its prom tonight,
Panama will not play today, although the
Lady Razorbacks would have played for
the championship since they went through
their pool undefeated.
In Panama's win over Talihina, the Lady
Razorbacks (7-11) jumped out to a 4-0 lead
after an inning, which the Lady Golden
Tigers (0-8) cut to 7-5 after two innings.
However, Panama put the game into run-
rule status with a seven-run fourth inning.
For the game, Madison Tackett was
3-for-4 with a double, a triple and four
runs batted in, Kendra Swindle was 3-for4 with a double, a triple and three RBIs,
Hannah Goines was 3-for-3 with a double,
a triple and three RBIs, Brittnie Brassfield
was 2-for-3 with an RBI, Savannah Jory
was 2-for-3 with an RBI and Sarah Harp
was 1-for-3 with three RBIs for Panama.
In defeat, Kayla Himes and Harley Roba
were each 2-for-2 for Talihina.
In Panama's victory over Quinton, the
Lady ’Backs had a 4-0 lead in the first inning, and scored in five of the seven innings — including a five-run fourth inning
and a seven-run seventh inning.
Harp was 5-for-5 with two triple, a double and nine RBIs, McKenzie Harper was
4-for-5 with two doubles and five RBIs,
Tackett was 3-for-5 with a triple, Swindle
was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs
and Goines was 3-for-5 with three RBIs
for Panama.
In Panama's win over McCurtain, a
three-run second inning and two-run fourth
put the Lady Razorbacks ahead 8-4, but a
single run in the fifth inning and two runs
in the sixth cut McCurtain's deficit to 10-8
going into what ended up being a scoreless
seventh inning.
Tackett was 3-for-4 with an RBI, Swindle was 3-for-3 with a double, a triple and
(See SOFTBALL, Page 8A)
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The Lady Pirates had 131 points with
Broken Bow second (95 points) and Spiro
third (94).
Kandace Standridge won the 800-meter (2:32.75) and the 1,600-meter runs
(5:55.79) and was a part of the winning
3,200-meter relay team along with Bryce
Vickers, Sheridan Hoyer and Madison
Williamson as they won the event with a
time of 10:42.69.
Skyler Webster, the only pole vaulter in
the entire meet, set a new school record
with a mark of 10-3, while teammate Kayleigh Shankle won the discus (99-6) as she
edged out teammate Rae Hendrix (92-5)
who was second.
Webster was runner-up in the 100-meter hurdles (16.79 seconds) to Heavener's Jodie Hill (15.72), who had a track
hat trick with three event wins. Hill not
only won the 100-meter hurdles, but the
100-meter (12.06) and the 200-meter
dashes (25.13).
Kiara Warren was third in the 200-meter
dash (27.28 seconds), while Madison Williamson was third (1:05.34), Hoyer fifth
(1:06.9) and Bayli Soriano sixth (1:09.03)
in the 400-meter dsash.
Madison Williamson, Vickers, Soriano
and Hoyer were third in the 1,600-meter
relay (4:27.86).
Marissa Smith was fourth in the
100-meter dash (12.96 seconds), while
she was a part of the fourth-place 800-meter relay team with Jada Price, Soriano
and Warren (1:56.68).
Webster was fifth in the high jump (49) as she tied Heavener's Malory Lynch,
but the Lady Wolf had fewer scratches at
that height to give Lynch the nod as the
fourth-place finisher as far as team points
were concerned.
Price was fourth in the long jump (14-5),
while Mackenzie Williamson was fourth
in the 1,600-meter run (6:18). Hoyer was
fifth in the 800-meter run (2:40.33), and
Smith, Madison Williamson, Soriano and
Warren were fifth in the 400-meter relay
(54.49 seconds).
The Lady Bulldogs had a 1-2 finish in
the 400-meter dash, wikth Miriah Steele
winning the event (1:02.68) and Hannah
Tobler second (1:03.22).
Spiro won the three relay events on the
day, all ran by Steele, Tobler. Kaici Phillips and Jimmie Pool. The foursome won
the 400-meter relay (50.78 seconds), the
800 relay (1:46.93) and the 1,600 relay
(4:11.05).
Pool was second to Hill in the 100-meter dash (12.59 seconds), while Phillips
came in runner-up to Hill in the 200-meter
dash (25.76).
(See TRACK, Page 8A)
CASC softball team splits
road games with Western
Lady Vikings play road doubleheader Sunday against NOC-Enid
ALTUS — The Carl Albert State College softball
team splits its road doubleheader Thursday afternoon
against former Poteau Lady
Pirate Gabba Wilson and the
Western Oklahoma State
College Lady Pioneers.
After losing the opener
8-5, the Lady Vikings routed the Lady Pioneers 16-3
in the nightcap.
In the Game 2 victory,
the Lady Vikings (16-14)
broke a 2-all tie with a fiverun second inning, a threerun third and a six-run
fourth to take a 16-2 lead
into the fifth inning of their
run-rule contest victory.
For the game, Poteau's
Sidnee Ward was 3-for-4
with a double, two runs
scored and a run batted in,
Red Oak's Sericca Rider
was 3-for-4 with three runs
scored and an RBI, Poteau's RaeLynn Caldwell
was 2-for-3 with two runs
scored and an RBI, Red
Oak's Kendra Coleman
was 2-for-3 with four RBIs,
Karli Hobson was 2-for-4
with two runs scored and
an RBI, Jaden Bolin was
2-for-3 with two RBIs and
two runs scored and Kylar
Foshee was 1-for-3 with
a her first home run of the
season, three RBIs and three
runs scored for CASC.
Caldwell (6-7) got the
win, throwing a five-hitter
over five innings with two
strikeouts.
In defeat, former Poteau
Lady Pirate Gabba Wilson
was 1-for-3 off her former
teammate with a run scored
for the Lady Pioneers (1717).
In the first game, the
Lady Pioneers rallied from
5-3 deficit with a fiverun sixth inning to get the
come-from-behind victory.
While going 0-for-2,
Wilson did score one of
Western's eight runs.
In defeat, Bolin was
2-for-3 with her first homer
of the season, two RBIs
and two runs scored, while
Coleman was 2-for-3 with
an RBI for Carl Albert.
Coleman (9-6) took the
loss, despite fanning seven
batters in 5.1 innings and
allowing only two earned
runs as three CASC errors
led to six unearned runs for
Western.
The Lady Vikings will
return to action with a road
twinbill against Northern
Oklahoma
College-Enid
beginning at 2 p.m. in
Enid.
POTEAU DAILY NEWS
SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015 . . . PAGE 7A
WHY DID YOU COME TO CHRIST?
You profess that you are a believer. You profess
that Christ died for you. You profess that you have
been born again. You profess that you are saved.
You profess that you have repented and come to
Christ - that you have come in a genuine and saving
way to Him. May it be so! But this is not the case
with most of humanity. Most people in this world
have not come in a saving way to Christ. Most do
not even profess to have come to Christ. Many of
this world’s inhabitants, perhaps most, have never
even heard the name of the Son of God. They have
not come. Others have never heard that name used
except used as a curse. They have not come. But
what about those who live in places where the gospel
is preached? What about in our own country? What
about the majority of folk around us who have never
come to Christ? What about your family, friends and
neighbors? Why have so many of them not come to
Christ? And we ask, why did you come and they did
not? Why did you come to Christ?
You say you came because you saw yourself
as a lost sinner in need of a Savior. That you are a
sinner is most certainly true. All men are sinners.
All men need a Savior. God has provided only one
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter, filled with the
Holy Ghost said of Jesus Christ, “Neither is there
salvation in any other: for there is none other
name under heaven given among men, whereby
we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). So it is that in order
to be saved, men and women must see themselves
as sinners and must come to Christ. However, just
because an individual knows that he or she is a sinner
will not cause them to repent and come to Christ.
Those around us who have not come to Christ will
admit that they are sinners. This preacher has never
yet met a person who claimed to be sinless. In spite
of this knowledge they have not come to Christ. We
say again; just knowing of one’s own sin will not
cause an individual to come to Christ.
You say that you saw yourself such an awful
sinner as to have no hope within yourself. You say
that you saw Jesus Christ and His finished work as
your only hope and so you came. It must be that you
saw yourself differently than others see themselves.
It must be that you saw Christ differently than others
see Him. But why did you see yourself in that lost
condition when others around you do not? Why
did you see Christ as God’s Lamb sacrificed in your
place? Why did you see Him as your only hope?
Why is there this difference between you and them?
So again we ask the question: why did you come to
Christ and they did not?
Perhaps you have a brother or sister or other
close relative or friend who is not a believer. Perhaps
you have witnessed to them, prayed for them, and
done all you can to influence them to come to Christ.
You may have taken them to hear preaching, but
still they have not come to Christ. Why is it that
you came to Christ and they have not? Is it because
you are more intelligent than they? Are you wiser
than they? Are you better than they? What was the
cause of your coming to Christ? You may answer,
I came because I was willing to come. Perhaps you
say that others do not come to Christ because they
are unwilling to come. We readily admit the truth
of both those statements. Some are willing to come,
but the majority are unwilling. Why are some
willing and why do some remain unwilling? The
question remains: why were you willing?
Now then, you must admit to one of these two
possibilities. One possibility is that you were willing
to come to Christ because of something superior in
your person or character. In that case you are better
than those who refuse to come. If that is the case
then we must conclude that God saves only good
people; or at least only people who are better than
others. According to that view, He must only save
people who are superior in some way to others. That
must be the case if we say that God saves individuals
because something in them causes them to come to
Christ. Do we dare say that God saves people based
upon their innate goodness? That would be saying
that salvation is based upon works. In contrast to
that idea, the Lord Jesus Christ said, “I came not
to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”
(Luke 5:32). Paul also made it clear that salvation is
not of works when he wrote, “For by grace are ye
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man
should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). We may rightly
conclude from the Bible that men and women do
not come to Christ because of their superiority or
goodness or works. Our own honest appraisal of
ourselves is in agreement with that. We each know
within our own hearts that we who have come to
Christ are not better than those who refuse to come.
The only other possibility is this: you became
willing to come to Christ because of something
outside yourself. If there was nothing in you that
caused you to come to Christ, then it logically must
follow that it was something outside yourself that
caused you to to come to Him. If that is the case
we must conclude that God somehow worked in
you to cause you to be willing to come to Christ.
This is the truth according to the Bible. But human
nature objects! To admit that would mean that God
deals with some people differently than He does
with others. Surely you will agree that if God had
worked in your lost friend or relative in the same
way as He did in you they would have come. After
all, God is not a wimp. No one “can stay his hand,
or say unto him, What doest thou?” (Daniel 4:35).
Nevertheless, our human nature rejects the idea that
God has a right to do as He pleases with His creation.
Humanistic ideas cause us to think that God must act
in the way that we think is right. We make all kinds
of judgments as to what we perceive to be “fair”
and “right.” In doing so, we would deny to God the
freedom, right and ability to do what we demand for
ourselves. Consider this: we demand the freedom
to chose our friends and our spouses, but we would
deny that freedom to God. We demand the freedom
to chose whom we want to inherit our possessions
when we die. We demand the right to chose whom
we will allow into our company and our homes.
Fraternal organizations choose those who shall be
members of their lodges. We Baptists even vote on
those individuals that we will accept as members
in our congregations. We think all this is right and
proper. But God cannot, in our thinking, choose
whom He will befriend. We demand the freedom to
persuade an individual to become our friend. Men
demand the right to court the person we want for
a wife. Women demand the right to choose whom
they will marry. But we will not allow God to choose
whom He wants for His friends. We will allow that
it is right for a man to woo a woman whom he has
chosen in order to persuade her to be his wife. But
we will not allow God the right to woo those whom
He has chosen in order to persuade them to be His
friends. How vain and self-centered we are! How
shallow and unscriptural is our thinking!
Does the Bible teach that God works differently in some people than in others? Did He ever
.make a difference - a choice - between individuals
or groups or individuals? The answer is yes! God
certainly made a choice between Israel and the Egyptians. This is clear from Exodus 11:7 which says:
“But against any of the children of Israel shall
not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast:
that ye may know how that the LORD doth put
a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.”
God put a difference between His chosen people
and the people of Egypt. He chose a tribal people;
the descendants of Abraham. He did not choose the
Egyptians in spite of the fact that their knowledge,
accomplishments and civilization were in many
ways superior to that of the Israelites. Remember,
both Israel and Egypt were made up of individuals
so that individuals were involved in God’s choice
between these two nations. God made a difference
not only in those who were to be His people when He
chose Abraham and his descendants, He also made
a difference between the tribes of Israel. He chose
the tribe of Levi to be His priests. No other tribe
was allowed to serve as priests. He chose the tribe
of Judah as the kingly tribe. Christ chose whom
He would to be his apostles. He clearly stated that
fact in John 15:16. There we read, “Ye have not
chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained
you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and
that your fruit should remain... .” He chooses
men today to be His preachers. And in Revelation
17:14, those who will be with Christ in His glorious
end-time victory “...are called, and chosen, and
faithful.” We cannot deny that God makes choices
among humanity unless we are willing to deny the
Bible. We cannot deny that in making such choices
He makes a difference between people.
The New Testament speaks of God having
made a difference between individuals when it says,
“According as he hath chosen us in him before
the foundation of the world...” (Ephesians 1:4).
To another congregation Paul wrote: “Knowing,
brethren beloved, your election of God” (1 Thessalonians 1:4). About God’s people we read in
Psalm 110:3: “Thy people shall be willing in the
day of thy power... .” and Paul wrote, “For it is
God which worketh in you both to will and to
do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). It is
certainly biblical to say that God works in some
individuals to cause them to do His will. It is also
biblical to say that the choice is God’s as to those in
whom He will work. Regarding those whom God
chooses Paul wrote these words: “For ye see your
calling, brethren, how that not many wise men
after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble,
are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things
of the world to confound the wise; and God hath
chosen the weak things of the world to confound
the things which are mighty; And base things of
the world, and things which are despised, hath
God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to
bring to nought things that are: That no flesh
should glory in his presence” (1 Corinthians 1:2629). From these verses we see that God did indeed
make a choice between people. He made this choice
before the foundation of the world. His choice was
not based on human goodness or willingness or
superiority. In fact, He has chosen the foolish, weak,
base and despised. This is clearly illustrated in the
case of Jacob and Esau. Jacob turned out to be a
crook and a scoundrel. Esau, on the other hand, was
a pretty good fellow. God chose Jacob over Esau
before the children were born because His choice
was not based on their achievements or good or evil
in them. God demonstrated this by choosing one
over the other before either was born. Paul makes
this clear in Romans 9:11 where he writes of Jacob
and Esau saying: “For the children being not yet
born, neither having done any good or evil, that
the purpose of God according to election might
stand, not of works, but of him that calleth.”
God’s stated purpose — “the purpose of God
according to election” — is this: “That no flesh
should glory in his presence” as quoted in context
above. No man can boast of his goodness, intelligence or superiority as being the cause of his coming
to Christ! Good men do not come to Christ because
of their goodness. Wise and intelligent persons
do not come to Christ because of their wisdom or
intelligence. Men and women of superior gifts do
not come to Christ because of those things. Men
and women come to Christ because they are drawn
to Him by God. Jesus said it this way: “No man
can come to me, except the Father which hath
sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the
last day” (John 6:44). God the Father draws men
and women to Christ. He draws those whom He is
pleased to call; those whom He has chosen. Those
drawn by God will be raised up by Christ at the
last day. This is the blessed resurrection. All these
things are clearly stated in the verses just quoted! In
this drawing process, God does indeed cause some
men and women to see both their awful sin and
hopelessness. He causes them to see Christ as their
only possible Savior. He quickens them and uses
the Bible, His Word, to teach them truth so that they
understand, repent and believe the gospel.
All these things being true, we see that we
cannot glory or boast about anything in us! The
cause of our coming to Christ was not something
within us. We are neither good nor even better than
those around us who have not come to Christ. We
are neither wiser nor more intelligent. Paul wrote
of the differences God makes in people in this way:
“For who maketh thee to differ from another?
and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?
now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory,
as if thou hadst not received it?” (1 Corinthians
4:7). Who makes the differences in people? Who
made you to differ? Why do some men come to
Christ and others do not? The Bible teaches that it
is God who makes the difference. Only in this way
can it be that “no flesh should glory in His presence.” Give all glory to God! He is the cause of
your coming in a saving way to Christ.
If you have not yet come to Christ we urge you
most earnestly to repent and do so. Do not wait for
some special sign or manifestation or experience. If
you see yourself as a sinner and grieve over your
sins, turn and come to Christ for it is “God which
worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure.” No person was ever willing to repent
and come to Christ whom God did not cause to be
willing. Jesus said, “All that the Father giveth
me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me
I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). Christ does
not here speak of coming to the church nor to the
front at the close of a religious meeting. You can do
that and go away still lost in your sins. Coming to
Christ is not a physical act. It is a purely spiritual
matter between you and Him. Christ says “come
to me!” If you are willing to repent and come to
Christ, then come! Repent and believe the gospel!
Come and welcome! Come and be saved! Christ
will receive you and will not cast you out! Heed
this Scripture: “And the Spirit and the bride say,
Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And
let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will,
let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation
22:17). Christ’s churches say come! If you are a
hearer of the Word, come! If you are thirsty for the
water of life, come! If you are willing, come! There
is bread for the hungry and water for the thirsty. If
you hunger and thirst after righteousness, come!
Remember! Jesus said, “him that cometh to me I
will in no wise cast out.”
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS OF
GRACE BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH OF POTEAU
Meeting Sundays at 1:00 PM
A Mission of Grace Bible Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana.
Ad paid for by Baptist churches of like faith and practice with us.
Meeting at 2208 N. Broadway, Suite 106 – Just south of the Western Sizzlin’ in Poteau
Contact Curtis Pugh – Phone: (918) 649-4064
Preaching the Bible as it is to men as they are.
PAGE 8A . . . SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015
Sports
POTEAU DAILY NEWS
TRACK
Hill and Lynch were not the only Lady
Wolves to medal. Barbara Johnson was
third in the 800-meter run (2:38.42) and
fifth in the 300-meter hurdles (53.87 seconds). Her teammate, Kelli Morgan was
third in the 300-meter hurdles (52.77) and
fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (17.5).
Lexi Moody was third in the discus
(92.3), while Iris Martinez was fifth in the
3,200-meter run (14:42) and sixth in the
1,600-meter run (6:33.55). Sydney Crase
was sixth in the shot put (33-6).
The Howe Lady Lions had two relay
teams place, both comprised of Jentry
Brown, Macee Williams, Morgan Turner
and Kerstein Hall. The quartet placed
fourth in the 400-meter (53.32 seconds)
and the 800-meter relay (1:57).
On the boys side, only two events were
won by locals. Individually, Whitesboro's
Niko Hoeck won the 1,600-meter run
(5:22.32), while Spiro's 1,600-meter relay
team of Shammond Williams, Lafayatte
Hutchinson, Jyreeh Johnson and McKinley Whitfield won with a time of 3:36.44.
Poteau's highest finisher was Austin
“Speedy” Skelton coming in second in the
high jump (6-2), with teammates Elijah
Price fifth (6-0) and Mason Grimm sixth
(5-8).
The Pirates had another runner-up as
Dalton Smith was second in the discus
(116-3).
Whitesboro's Logan Odom was runner-up in the 3,200-meter run (11:21.38),
RUNNER-UP DALTON — Poteau's Dalton Smith throws the discus during while Talihian's Bryar Humphreys was
Tuesdsay's Poteau Invitational at Costner Stadium. He came in second place.
second in the 100-meter dash (10.94 secPDN photo by David Seeley onds) and fourth in the 200-meter dash
Sports Brief
SOFTBALL
five RBIs, Sydnee Haynes was 2-for-3
with a double and Brassfield was 2-for-3
with a double for Panama. Swindle (3-0)
got all three wins.
In Howe's win over Arkoma, Kerstein
Hall was 4-for-4 with two RBIs, while
Lauren Ford was 2-for-3 for the Lady Lions (10-9).
In Howe's victory over Panola, Ford
was 2-for-3, while Hall was 2-for-2 with
two RBIs.
In Howe's loss to Porum, Hall was 2-for-
(23.0).
Spiro's 800-meter relay team of Williams, Marvin McFerren, Hutchinson
and Whitfield was second with a time
of 1:34.1, with the same foursome third
in the 400-meter relay (44.24 seconds).
Whitfield was runner-up in the 200-meter
dash (21.9).
Heavener's Bryce Tolleson was second in the shot put to soon-to-be Arkansas Razorback Austin Cantrell of Roland.
Cantrell won with a throw of 56-5, with
Tolleson runner-up (46-3.5). Tolleson's
teammate, Class 3A state powerlifting
champion Justin Page, was sixth (42-8).
Poteau's Austin Archey was third in the
shot put (44-0), while Spiro's Brent Stout
was third in the 800-meter run (2:15.36).
Heavener's Keith Fleig was fourth in
the 3,200-meter run (12:32), while Tolleson was fourth (111-4) and Tyler Eagle
was fifth (108-0) in the discus.
Poteau's 800-meter relay team of
Archey, Price, Dylan Fifield and Daylon
Duncan was sixth (1:42.78).
Heavener's Daniel Fleig was sixth in the
1,600-meter run (5:57.08), while Talihina's Sooner Box was sixth in the 100-meter hurdles (19.29 seconds) and part of
Talihina's 1,600-meter relay team that
was sixth (4:12) along with Humphries,
Christian Driver and Shane Knapp.
Humphreys, Eric Smith, Keaton Jackson and Marcus Baker were sixth for Talihina in the 400-meter relay (47.27 seconds), while Heavener's 3,200-meter relay
team of Enrique Luna, John Gopar, Frank
Cruz and Keith Fleig was sixth (10:06).
3 with a double, a triple and two RBIs,
while Taya Kellogg was 2-for-3. Courtney
Adkins (10-9) got all three decisions.
In Talihina's loss to McCurtain, Roba
and Regan Cochran each had two hits for
the Lady Golden Tigers. Nothing more
was reported on the Quinton game. Bailee
Anderson (0-8) took the losses for Talihina.
There was no further information on
Arkoma's games by press time. The Lady
Mustangs ended the day at 1-8.
The Whitesboro High School senior class
will have the second annual “Run with the
Big Dawgs" 5k next Saturday.
There will also be a 1-mile run, as well as
a 1k for ages 10 and younger, and a half-k
for ages 6 and younger.
This is a class fundraiser. The cost for the
5k and 1-mile run is $25 and $5 for the kids
races.
The first 100 will be guaranteed a T-shirt,
as well as the first 30 kids in each division.
On-site registration as well as packet pick-
up will be from 8 to 9 a.m., with the race
starting at 9:30 a.m.
The kids events will start after the 5k
awards, or approximately 10:45 a.m., and
they can register until about 10:30 a.m. The
5k is a timed event with medals in five age
groups, and the kids will receive medals in
the 1k and half-k runs.
The registration form is available on the
school's website at www.whitesborops.k12.
ok.us or call (918) 567-2231 or (918) 5672624 or (918) 839-5039.
Recognizing those who give
Webster describes a volunteer as a person who
freely offers to take part or undertake a task.
Each year Poteau Chamber honors that one volunteer that freely offers and undertakes a task like
no other. When we were faced three years ago of
losing the Wister Lake Christmas Light project at
Wister Lake, I started calling and sending out
emails asking for help. Bob Hawley, of Shady
Point, walked in my office and told me don’t sweat
it — “We got this.”
He has done just that for the past three years.
Bob has spent many hours working on lights —
rewiring, restringing and reorganizing the entire
Wister Lake light display.
Bob has succeeded in engaging the businesses of
the area in sponsoring new displays, making a huge
difference in the display for the 2014 holiday season.
But that’s not all, Bob also volunteered to take
on the job as grounds coordinator for Poteau
Balloon Fest in 2014 working with vendors, set up
crews, working on fencing and ground logistics.
Bob spent more than 20 years as LeFlore County
Emergency Management director. He worked with
the Poteau Fire Department and was an instructor at
Kiamichi Technology Center. Since his retirement
he continues to serve the community in several
capacities. He serves as Deacon at Spiro First
Baptist and helps with the youth at his church.
If there is a need for help you can count on Bob
Hawley.
— Karen Wages
Poteau Chamber of Commerce CEO
“We make a living by what
we do, but we make a life
by what we give.”
— Winston Churchill