Lifestyles
Tuesday, December 22
Oklahoma City vet gives fawn a new chance at seeing
Posted at 11:58am
Oklahoma City vet gives fawn a new chance at seeing
BY JAMES S. TYREE
Robert Gwin has performed surgery on lots of animals in his 31 years as an ophthalmologist, from bears and hippopotami to cheetahs and alligators, not to mention the dogs and cats he treats every week at his Oklahoma City veterinary practice.
But he had never operated on a deer until Monday, when a 2-month-old, white-tailed fawn with cloudy eyes was brought in from Noble. Thanks in large part to Gwin, the fawn called 10-4 might turn out OK.
“This is her shot,” he said after completing the cataract surgery. “She’s going to have to regain her vision.”
Or as Rondi Large, founder of the WildCare wildlife rehabilitation center near Noble said before the operation, “One of Rudolph’s Continue reading…
Tuesday, September 22
Oklahoma State Fair to focus on hearing-impaired
Posted at 6:44am
BY JOHN A. WILLIAMS
The Oklahoma State Fair will mark a day-long observance Thursday of the language of Oklahoma’s deaf community and offer a glimpse of the unique needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
In honor of National Deaf Awareness Week, which runs through Saturday, members of the state Rehabilitation Services Department will be in the Carriage Hall Building from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. providing information about support offered through the department’s programs. Agency staff members will perform songs and skits in American Sign Language.
According to estimates from Gallaudet University, a liberal arts college for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, more than 113,600 deaf and 162,000 hard-of-hearing people live in Oklahoma.
Jim Ward, public information officer for the Rehabilitation Services Department, said many people are intimidated by trying to communicate with Continue reading…
Monday, September 21
‘Nightline’ examines Bible laws
Posted at 7:49am
BY CARLA HINTON
Are the Ten Commandments relevant in these modern times?
ABC News’ “Nightline” is embarking on a series that seeks to answer that question.
A recent news release about the series’ provactive debut Thursday captured my attention.
It’s titled “Born to Cheat?” and will tackle the commandment “Thou shall not commit adultery.”
“Nightline” co-anchor Cynthia McFadden is to moderate a face-off among a group of experts. The group will debate whether people are born with a predisposition to cheat on their spouses.
James Goldston, “Nightline” executive producer, said faith is an intriguing topic for the news show to explore, particularly because of the way it is often treated by the media.
“Sometimes in the media, faith is not taken entirely seriously,” he said. “We try to engage in matters of faith in a Continue reading…
Oklahoma man continues search for his missing uncle
Posted at 7:41am
BY BRYAN DEAN
All Greg Brooks knew of his uncle growing up were a few pictures and whispers among the adults in his family whenever his name came up.
The uncle, Henry Leo Gustafson, was 18 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army and headed off to the Korean War. He went missing on Dec. 6, 1950, during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. Decades later, Brooks, 50, of Blanchard began a quest to bring his uncle home.
His hope now lies in a new forensic tool military officials are developing to identify skeletal remains by comparing them to chest X-rays taken before U.S. soldiers were sent to war.
A dark moment
Brooks summoned the courage to start asking about his uncle when he became an adult.
“We had pictures of my uncle, but Continue reading…
Friday, September 18
Oklahoma Pikepass system set to use stickers
Posted at 6:07am
BY JULIE BISBEE
Oklahoma Pikepass users by next summer may be using stickers instead of the hard plastic transponders to get through toll plazas without stopping.
Work crews are changing toll readers to a new system that uses stickers instead of the transponders to charge accounts, said Jack Damrill, spokesman for the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. The change is expected to cost about $6.5 million and be complete by August 2010.
The company that makes the transponders will stop making them. The company, one of two large companies that make the equipment, will stop repairing readers the state uses in 2013, Damrill said. Moving to the stickers will save the authority money.
It costs the Turnpike Authority $28 for a new transponder and $26.40 for a refurbished one. That cost is only passed Continue reading…
Thursday, September 17
Ready for the ride as Oklahoma State Fair begins
Posted at 4:20am
FROM STAFF REPORTS
The 2009 Oklahoma State Fair opens today with a special admission price of $1 for everyone. If you can’t get away today, admission is only $2 Tuesday.
Gates open at 8 a.m. daily through Sept. 27.
Exhibit buildings are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Outdoor exhibits are open from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Topping the list of new attractions this year is the Centennial Frontier Experience, which features trick riding and roping demonstrations, a comedy Wild West show, an American Indian tepee, a chuck wagon exhibit that illustrates how food was prepared during frontier days and a stick horse rodeo for children.
Free admission is offered to students Continue reading…
Today’s Oklahoma State Fair schedule
Posted at 4:17am
Daily features
Dollar Day: $1 gate admission for everyone.
Dr Pepper Armband Day: $14 armband when you bring a Dr Pepper can. ($20 without can).
5 p.m.: Oklahoma State Fair opening ceremonies — 14 Flags Plaza.
7:30 p.m.: “Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy” — Arena.
7:30 p.m.: Jamey Johnson in concert — Toyota Stage.
Entertainment
411 Band — It’s Motown Live! at the OPUBCO Pavilion at 6 and 8 p.m.
Chisholm Trail Chuck Wagon Camp in the Centennial Frontier Experience at 1 and 5 p.m.
Comedy hypnotist Dale K in the Capital City Theatre at 5 and 8 p.m.
Cumberland Stage Coach Hitch in the Centennial Frontier Experience at noon and 6:30 p.m.
Dummy Roping Clinic in the Centennial Frontier Experience at 12:30, 4 and 5:30 p.m.
Freddy Fusion Science Magic Show in the Capital City Continue reading…
Carrie Underwood, two others to take places in hall
Posted at 4:15am
BY GEORGE LANG
MUSKOGEE — Carrie Underwood has earned Grammy Awards and numerous country and music video statuettes, but tonight the Checotah native and “American Idol” winner brings it all back home.
Along with legendary Oklahoma musicians Rocky Frisco and Ramona Reed, Underwood will be inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
Underwood will perform hits from her two previous albums, “Some Hearts” and “Carnival Ride,” and possibly preview material from her upcoming third disc, “Play On,” which will be released Nov. 3.
Frisco, 72, has played piano with J.J. Cale, Flash Terry, Steve Pryor and the Red Dirt Rangers, and became a permanent fixture on Cale’s tours in 1994. Frisco and Cale shared a stage in 2004 with Eric Clapton in Dallas.
Talihina native Reed started singing on McAlester radio stations Continue reading…
Oklahoma initiative’s vow: Say ‘I do’ to healthy marriage
Posted at 4:10am
BY CARLA HINTON
Relationship savvy means more than just knowing which dress or shirt to wear on a date.
Unmarrieds in the Oklahoma City metro area are tackling some of the more complex issues of male-female connections in a relationship education class created by the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative.
The idea behind the Smart Singles groups is to help people learn more about themselves and healthy relationships before they get married, said Kendy Cox, director of service delivery for the marriage initiative.
“A lot of people are trying to make better decision than they made in the past,” Cox said.
“We’re trying to help them make good decisions that will pay off later.”
Cox said the first 10-week group session began meeting on Tuesdays in July, and about 40 people showed up with little promotion Continue reading…
Wednesday, September 16
Oklahoma State Fair arrival prompts memories of master baker
Posted at 6:49am
By Sherrel Jones
Nine years ago, I had the privilege of writing about Katherine Urban of Waynoka, who was a well-known Oklahoma State Fair cooking competitor.
It’s difficult to imagine the fair starting this year without one of her amazing cakes or breads. Urban died in July, leaving a beautiful legacy of recipes and memories for family and friends.
She honed her skills for more than 70 years when I got a chance to watch her in action. She took the craft seriously, trying to improve on recipes and constantly experimenting to make her best better.
This perfecting of recipes was key to countless championships in contests through the years. She achieved national acclaim in 1998 by winning the National Softasilk Baking Contest. She told me that cakes and cookies just get Continue reading…
Sunday, September 6
Why conservatives referred to as ‘right,’ liberals ‘left’
Posted at 1:12am
BY GENE OWENS
Jeff Cook of Seminole, a regular customer at Curly’s Soonerco, asked Buck why conservatives are referred to as “the right,” while liberals are referred to as “the left.”
“I’ve heard that left-handed people are in their right mind, so that would confuse the issue a little bit,” Jeff said as he enjoyed peanuts and a soft drink with the boys around the grease pit.
“I just wonder if conservatives are associated with right-handers or the fact they are ‘right.’”
You can blame the French for any confusion, Jeff. Whether left-handed or right-handed, the French legislators of 1791 were identified politically by where they sat in the Legislative Assembly chamber. Those who advocated continuation of a monarchy sat on the right. Those who advocated a republic without a monarch sat Continue reading…
