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OOLOGAH, OKLAHOMA, BIRTHPLACE OF WILL ROGERS 34TH YEAR • NO. 33

DEC. 24, 2015

Leader closed through

Jan. 3No Paper

on Dec. 31

Will Rogers, July 24, 1929

Our Savior performed some pretty handy feats in the early days and his exploits have been handed down through the ages and made him our greatest hero, all accomplished without the aid of a newspaper.

By CHRIS EDENSCity Editor

Oologah graduate Re-nee Fuson is sharing her passion for dancing at En-core Dance Academy in Oologah.

The dance studio on U.S. 169 next to Subway opened in June.

Fuson, who graduated from Oologah in 2004, fell in love with dancing at an early age.

She started dancing at age two. As her passion grew stronger, she began to study all forms of dance and tumbling.

“At 16 years old I knew I wanted to be a dance in-structor and own my own studio,” Fuson said.

Students at Encore can learn ballet, jazz, tap, lyri-cal, tumbling and cheer-leading. Fuson is the dance instructor and Shelby Barnes teaches the tum-bling and cheerleading. There are beginners to ad-vanced classes from age two to adults.

Fuson studied ballet un-der the direction of former Tulsa Ballet Premier Dan-seur, Matthew Bridwell. She received a dance man-

agement scholarship at St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee and she has won numerous awards in dance competitions across the country.

Fuson said most of her current students are 13 and under. Ballet and tap are two of the most popu-lar classes.

“It seems like the moms want them in ballet and the kids are drawn to tap because of the noise,” she said.

New class sessions start in August, but Fuson said they are always taking new

students. Tuition starts at $35 per month and family discounts are available.

Students started practic-ing in October for Christ-mas performances they presented to their families last week.

“The kids were really ex-cited to perform for their parents and show what they’ve learned,” Fuson said.

Anyone interested in taking dance lessons can contact Fuson at 918-982-5890 or [email protected].

LEADER PHOTO BY CHRIS EDENS

Fancy footworkFive-year-old and six-year-old students perform a tap dance routine to “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” in a Christmas production for their families last Thursday at the Encore Dance Academy on U.S. 169 in Oologah.

Encore dances into holidays

By CAROLYN ESTESLeader Writer

Sarah Thompson will play the big stage at Carnegie Hall on May 1.

Thompson, a 2012 Oologah High School graduate, was an honored member of the OHS band and was an All-State winner with her flute her senior year. She is the daughter of Shelly and Steve Thompson of Talala.

She played for two years with the Tulsa Youth Sympho-ny and has remained dedicated to her music throughout her life. Thompson now attends NSU as a full time music student and is also a soldier in the Army Reserves. She serves as a flute player in the Army Band.

Recently Thompson set out on a mission to enter three contests, which all required her to record her entries. She raised the $400 for the recording and entry fees with the help of family and friends.

She entered the first recording to the National Colle-giate Musician Protege for an opportunity to play live at Carnegie Hall if she won first place.

She triumphed and at age 22 will take the stage at Carn-egie Hall.

Thompson also won first place at the NSU Concerto contest. She will perform the Ibert Flute concerto on April 21 at the Wind Ensemble concert at NSU in Tahlequah.

She is waiting to do her third contest for the Flute Soci-ety of Oklahoma.

Thompson will play at famed Carnegie Hall

COURTESY

Flute melody carries to Carnegie HallSarah Thompson, a 2012 Oologah graduate, will play at Carnegie Hall in New York City

OTEMS PHOTO

Honored for outstanding trauma careOologah Talala Emergency Medical Services Vice Chairman Jack Griggs recognizes representatives of OTEMS and Nowata ambulance services on behalf of ten honorees, five from each service, who received the prestigious C.T. Thompson Award for Excellence in Trauma Care. Pictured are OTEMS Paramedics James Heisterberg and Shelbie Wayman, OTEMS EMT Scott Krager and Nowata Paramedic Dawn Zogg, who also works for OTEMS. The public recognition was at the OTEMS holiday party Dec. 17.

Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers from OTEMS (Oologah Talala EMS) and Nowa-ta EMS were recently recognized locally for a major emergency medi-cal excellence award an-nounced earlier this year.

Members of the two services had received the C.T. Thompson Award for Excellence in Trauma Care, which is given to organizations whose ac-

Medics honored for trauma care excellencetions and commitment ex-emplify excellence in trau-ma care.

The award, inaugurat-ed in 2002, is named for

Dr. C.T. Thompson, whose dedication to his patients, to trauma care and to Saint Francis Hospital has served as an inspiration to a gen-

eration of trauma care pro-viders here and across the nation.

It recognizes the role of See Medics, Page 4

Details being worked out but taxpayers won’t be penalizedBy JOHN M. WYLIE IIEditor

A problem which left taxpayers of two Rogers Coun-ty fire districts—Northwest and Tri-District—unbilled for levies to cover capital purchase payments has been resolved.

The Rogers County Excise Board, in a five-minute meet-ing Monday, approved the so-called sinking fund levies for the two districts, 2.11202 mills for Northwest and 3 mills for Tri-District.

Northwest Chief Mat Shockley said Northwest can “ab-solutely” live with the solution now that it knows funding will be available.

He estimates the total amount involved, counting funds that are paid under an agreement covering fire taxes for Northeastern Station in Oologah, is about $300,000.

Treasurer Jason Carini said affected taxpayers in the two districts should pay either their full or first half taxes based on the tax bills they have received or on the current information for their property or properties posted on the Treasurer’s website at rogerscounty.org .

“Pay what’s on the statement,” he said.Details are being worked out on how to notify taxpay-

ers of the additional amount they owe for the sinking fund levies, but the amounts will be relatively small compared to the total tax bill.

“There’s a couple of different ways to go about it (the notification process),” he said.

See Fire tax, Page 3

Fire tax issue is resolved

2 THURSDAY, DEC. 24, 2015OOLOGAH LAKE LEADER AR UND THE AREA

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By CHRIS EDENSSports Editor

Oologah lost to Catoosa 65-30 last week before the Christmas break.

The Indians used a full court press the entire game. The Mustangs fell behind early and Catoosa was up 15-7 after one period.

Senior guard Evan Schul-tz had six points in the sec-ond quarter, but Oologah was down 31-18 at half.

Schultz had a pair of field

goals in the third. Catoosa continued to pull away and the Indians had a 20-point lead going into the fourth.

Billy O’Dell and Rush O’Connor made baskets in the final frame. Catoosa made nine field goals and Oologah went down 65-30.

Schultz led the team with 13 points, Seth Bennett had 4, Drake Barnes had 3 and O’Dell, O’Connor, Justin Snook, Cole Dunbar and Casey Base had 2 points

each.The Mustangs have got-

ten off to a slow start after very little practice time because of a playoff run in football. Head coach Eric Schultz said his team will get some time in the gym over the Christmas break.

The Mustangs will be back on the floor at 8:30 pm Jan. 5 to play 4A #6 Ft. Gibson in the Oologah Tournament.

By CHRIS EDENSSports Editor

Oologah stomped Catoo-sa 68-47 last week before the holiday break.

Avery Cluck and Lyndi Melton made field goals in the opening quarter. Oologah had a one-point lead at the end of the frame.

Senior Grace Garrison caught fire in the second period. Garrison hit a three and racked up 13 points.

Melton had a pair of bas-kets and the Lady Mustangs were on top 26-23 at half.

Garrison made three field goals in the third, Cluck hit a three, and Cherokee Gott went 4-of-4 from the line. The Lady Mustangs led 41-36 after three quarters.

Oologah ran away in the fourth. Gott and Melton knocked in three point-ers. Garrison put up eight points and the Lady Mus-

tangs got the 68-47 win.Garrison led the team

with 30 points, Gott had 12, Melton had 11, Cluck had 7 and Josie Butcher, Kate Morgan, Megan Boughman and Hannah Allen had 2 points each.

The Lady Mustangs will return to action Jan. 5 against Claremore-Se-quoyah in the Oologah Tournament.

COURTESY

Young Ladies bring home first placeOologah’s third grade girls blue team won first place at the Sperry Open Tournament. Celebrating their victory are (from left) Coach James Griswold, Kylee Brewster, Zoey Algrim, Brooklyn Miller, Kensey Thoenen, Jentry Griswold, Kendra Burch, Alexandria McKee, Coach Chad Thoenen.

COURTESY

Junior wresters grapple to a winOologah junior high wrestlers celebrate a third place win at the Bristow Tournament on De4c. 11 and 12.

Ladies crush Catoosa on hardwood

Mustang cagers fall to Catoosa

Four of the Northwest Rogers County Fire Dis-trict’s regular board meet-ings will be on Wednesdays rather than Tuesdays in 2016.

The change was made to accommodate the teaching schedule at Tulsa Univer-sity of board member Dr. James Senese, said Debra Cooper, NW administrative

assistant..As always, meetings will

be the second week of the month—the second Tues-day for all meetings except those in February, March, April and May.

Those four meetings will be on the second Wednesday.

Regardless of what day of the week they are held,

all meetings will begin at 7 p.m. at Northwest Station 1, 6601 E. 400 Rd., in Oologah.

Specific dates are: Tues-day, Jan 12; Wednesday, Feb. 10; Wednesday, March 9; Wednesday, April 13; Wednesday, May 11; and Tuesdays June 14, July 12, Aug. 9, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 8, and Dec. 13.

NW sets four Wed. meetings in 2016

James Vasco Jones, the last of the four men charged in the murder of Chazz Holly of Talala, was jailed without bond in Tulsa Monday night.

Jones, 42, was arrested for First Degree Murder Dec. 3 in Grapevine, Texas, held for extradition, and booked into the Tulsa

County Jail at 7:33 p.m. Monday, jail logs show.

Holly, 27, was killed in Tulsa June 21 and his body was dumped west of the Indian Nation Turnpike near Antlers, investiga-tors say.

BULLETIN: Jones jailed in Holly murder

3THURSDAY, DEC. 24, 2015 OOLOGAH LAKE LEADER

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at Talala Library

AR UND THE AREA

THURSDAY, DEC. 24CHRISTMAS EVE• Oologah Post Office open 8:30 am to noon.

FRIDAY, DEC. 25CHRISTMAS DAY• Post Offices, banks, and government offices closed

SATURDAY, DEC. 26

SUNDAY, DEC. 27

MONDAY, DEC. 28• Rogers County Commis-sion, 9 am, Rogers County Courthouse

TUESDAY, DEC. 29• Oologah Stallion Battalion leaves for New Orleans

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 30

THURSDAY, DEC. 31NEW YEAR’S EVE• No Leader newspaper• Oologah Stallion Batallion Band in Sugar Bowl Parade, 3:30 pm, New Orleans

FRIDAY, JAN. 1, 2016NEW YEAR’S DAY• Post Offices, banks, and government offices closed• Oologah Stallion Battalion in Sugar Bowl Halftime Show, OSU vs Ole Miss game begins at 7:30 pm on ESPN, New Orleans

SATURDAY, JAN. 2• Loving Hands Clothes Closet, 10 am - noon, Talala First Baptist Church• Oologah Stallion Battalion returns from Sugar Bowl

SUNDAY, JAN. 3

MONDAY, JAN. 4• Oologah-Talala Schools resume• Oologah Lake Leader reopens• Rogers County Commis-sion, 9 am, Rogers County Courthouse• Oologah Varsity Basket-ball Tournament begins (through Saturday)

TUESDAY, JAN. 5• Oologah Basketball Tournament continues, Oologah Girls vs Claremore Sequoyah 7 pm, Oologah Boys vs Fort Gibson, 8:30 pm• Oologah Town Board, 7 pm, Town Hall

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6

THURSDAY, JAN. 7• Preschool story time, 10 am, Talala Library• Oologah Basketball Tournament continues• Swimmers at BTW Invitational, 6 pm

FRIDAY, JAN. 8• High School Wrestlers at Cushing Tournament (also Saturday)• Oologah Basketball Tournament continues

SATURDAY, JAN. 9• Clothes Closet, Zion Hill Church, • Oologah Basketball Tournament finals

Leader office closed until Jan 3 for staff vacation. No Leader on Dec. 31

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Fire tax issue is resolvedContinued from Page 1

No penalties will be charged as long as taxpay-ers make the addition-al payments by the dead-line set on the revised bills. The primary payments are still subject to penalty if first half or total payments are not made by the Jan. 8 deadline.

Both sinking fund lev-ies had been omitted from tax bills mailed early this month.

Without the money from the levies, the two districts would have been unable to pay debt service they owed for capital purchases.

Excise Board mem-bers Buck Mullen, Leslie Browand, and Brandi Payne were told the Tri-District levy was omitted from bills because a CPA transferring

data from an initial bud-get statement to the formal budget form omitted the number.

Officials are still trying to determine exactly how the Northwest problem arose, but are more interested in seeing that no such prob-lem happens again and seem universally excited about a plan that appar-ently originated with Ben Lepak, the Civil Assistant District Attorney who ad-vises county officers.

The plan would bring to-gether legal staff, county officers involved in calcu-lating, approving and col-lecting taxes, and the var-ious bodies such as fire districts, schools, special districts and other bodies that rely on property tax-es for part or all of their

funding.The session would be in

the spring, after tax season is over at the county level but before next year’s tax calculations are underway, and would focus on mak-ing certain all parties un-derstood the wide variety of laws and regulations cov-ering various offices and entities.

It also would look at what has been discovered in dealing with the current issue and what areas might need to be examined to avoid future problems.

“I think that’s a great idea. It is something good that comes out of all this,” Shockley said.

Carini agreed:“Unfortunately, govern-

ment is not proactive. We need to be proactive in-

stead of reactive. The coun-ty is starting to have elected office holders whose atti-tude is to be proactive.”

With everyone working together, problems such as the tax issue—which he noted began before he took office—“can be addressed and solved.”

He said that just like the details of how taxpay-ers will be notified of the amount they owe due to the corrected fire district levies, officials still are working to determine who will pay the added costs of the addition-al work.

“The last thing we want is for citizens to feel like we’re being unfair. This happened a long time before it got to my office. I will help out to get it fixed,” he said.

Christmas lights winners chosenBy CHRIS EDENSCity Editor

Oologah Town Board members announced the win-ners of the annual Christmas lights decorating contest last Thursday.

Josh and Lyndsay Tally and their home at 645 S. Pe-can won first place and $100. Brian and Ashley Oliver’s home at 1133 S. Marina took second for $75, and the Nutter Family and their home at 225 S. Walnut took third and won $50.

The board updated traffic fine amounts. The maxi-mum fine is $500 plus court costs.

There will be an additional $100 fine for speeding in the school zone. Tickets for speeding in the school zone will be a minimum of $160 and a maximum of $240 de-pending on the speed.

Board members approved contracting with Risley’s Trash Service as the sole trash pickup service in town starting Feb. 1. There will be a $15 monthly fee and a $2 late fee.

The board is working with Rural Water District 4 to include trash service on water bills (see separate story) for a small fee.

Board members approved allowing Sylvia Chap-man to keep 16 chickens at her residence on East Cooweescoowee. Eventually, she will only be allowed to have six. Ten chickens were grandfathered in, but she won’t be able to replace them.

The board discussed seeking proposals from inde-pendent contractors to construct small bridges over drainage areas in the new town park, but took no action.

Town Hall will be closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

By JOHN M. WYLIE IIEditor

Oologah residents can soon expect their water bill to also include city charges for both sewer and trash service.

Directors of Rural Wa-ter District No. 4, which al-ready collects sewer bills for the Town of Oologah, agreed in principle Friday to collect trash bills as well as soon as the city begins using a single contractor for all trash service.

The change is expected as soon as Feb. 1.

The district would charge 6% of the trash charge for processing payments, and Town Clerk Holly Baker said she doubted the town could process bills and pay-ments and cover the post-age for the bills for that amount.

Having the billing han-dled on water bills would allow residents to write just one check to cover multiple services.

Directors Dusty Harper

and Ken McMains both said their only concern was that, as Harper put it, “people might think, ‘Wow, our wa-ter bill is very high’.”

Baker said the town would have a program to educate people that they were paying for service they had always paid for, just doing so on a single bill instead of two bills.

“We’re looking for what is most efficient for the cit-izen, most efficient for the town and best for you,” she added.

Baker and RWD 4 Of-fice Manager Julie Hen-drix agreed there would need to be a procedure for residential rental proper-ty that was vacant and had no trash service for one or more billing periods.

Both agreed the problem should be minor because rental property is general-ly snapped up very quickly due to high demand.

In other action the board:• Declined to adjust a bill

for a meter which is show-

ing usage, even though the building is not being used. They determined that the water service was on and the cause could be a leak, a constantly running toilet or a dripping faucet.

• Agreed to let staff find the best price to clean out the two ponds at the water treatment plant.

• Approved a filing peri-od of Jan. 6-8 for two three-year terms on the board, for seats now held by Harper and McMains. Those wish-ing to file must come to the water district office down-town between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on one of those dates to fill out the filing pa-pers. The election will be at the annual meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15 at the Rhoads Center in Oologah.

• Kept the current board meeting schedule of 1 p.m. on the third Friday of each month, except for February when the board meets im-mediately following the an-nual meeting.

• Heard District Plant Su-

pervisor Melvin Hart urge that a separate meter be re-quired for each unit of new senior citizen duplexes slat-ed to replace an old apart-ment complex across from the Town Hall and park complex. Other options would involve a master me-ter for each duplex or for the whole project.

• Heard a report from Treasurer Harper that the district had positive cash flow in November of $11,915.

“The district is financial-ly sound,” he said. “It is just that with low water usage the last 18 months things have been a little tight.”

Spending has been ad-justed accordingly as need-ed, he added.

• Approved five new taps (which represent new con-struction at sites that cur-rently do not have water service) and 14 transfers (which represent the sale of properties that already have service from the district).

By JOHN M. WYLIE IIEditor

A 39-year-old Oologah resident with a felony re-cord covering 20 years has been charged with three felonies including being a sex offender living too close to both a daycare center and a park, failure to prop-erly register as a sex offend-er, and animal cruelty.

Court records show Jasun Lee Marker also faces a mis-demeanor charge of mali-cious injury to property.

He was arrested Nov. 21 on a complaint of being a sex offender and living within 2,000 feet of a day-care center and park, ac-cording to an affidavit from Oologah Police Officer Ran-dy Milligan.

Milligan said he respond-ed to a disturbance call in the 200 block of W. Price and during his investigation was advised Marker was a sex offender.

He said he determined that “as the crow flies,” Marker was living 1,137 feet from the Oologah Town Park and 1,193 feet away from a licensed day care facility.

Marker was released on $5,000 bond on a com-plaint charging violation of the residency law.

When formal charges were filed, records show,

RWD 4 to bill for trash, elect two directors

Man faces sex offender, animal cruelty chargesprosecutors added a felony charge of failing to proper-ly register his current ad-dress as a sex offender who was convicted of first de-gree rape in 1995 as well as a felony charge of cruelty to animals for allegedly injur-ing a 3-month-old puppy by kicking it while it was in captivity.

He also is charged with misdemeanor malicious in-jury to property for alleged-ly cracking the windshield of a car and denting a ga-rage door at the house he was leasing.

Marker was scheduled for arraignment on a 1:30

p.m. Monday docket in Rog-ers County District Court. Results will not be avail-able until after the Leader’s deadline.

According to addition-al court papers filed with the formal charges, besides the rape conviction Marker also has been convicted of felonies in 1995 for aggra-vated assault, in 1999 for assault with a dangerous weapon and kidnapping, and in 2011 for two counts of failure to register as a sex offender and cruelty to animals.

The current charges against him carry com-

bined maximum penalties, if convicted, of up to 14 years in prison or jail and up to $13,500 in fines.

JASUN LEE MARKER

4 THURSDAY, DEC. 24, 2015OOLOGAH LAKE LEADER

LAKEVIEWS • JOHN M. WYLIE II, Editor and Publisher

Christmas is about love (USPS 688-470)Periodicals Postage Paid at Oologah OK 74053

Postmaster: Send address changes toOologah Lake Leader

PO Box 1175, Oologah OK 74053

Entire Contents © Oologah Lake Leader LLC 2015

The Oologah Lake Leader, a legal newspaper of Rogers County, Oklahoma, is published each Thursday except the last week of the year by

Oologah Lake Leader LLC109 S. Maple Street, Oologah OK 74053

John M. Wylie II, Publisher and Editor918-443-2428 Ext. 24, [email protected]

Carolyn Estes, Marketing & NIE Director918-443-2428 Ext. 26, [email protected]

Chris Edens, City and Sports Editor918-443-2428 Ext. 25, [email protected]

Tim Carman, Newspaper Sales and Videographer

Vickie Hefner, Classified Ads and Accounting918-443-2428 Ext. 21, [email protected]

Faith Wylie, Designer and Co-Publisher918-443-2428 Ext. 22, [email protected]

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PINION

JOKE OF THE WEEK

REFLECTIONS • BY FAITH L. WYLIE, Co-publisher

Immanuel, God is with us

Open the paper, turn on the TV news or go on the Internet and even during this special season you’ll be confronted with hate, greed, chica-nery, commercialism and worse—in short everything that Christmas should not be about.

Christmas is about love, and love is about justice. That doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of room for the sec-ular fun of the season—joy is an es-sential part of Christmas and the Ad-vent season leading up to the birth of Christ, known as the “prince of peace.”

But it also is a time for sober reflec-tion. For us, our community’s new-est pastor—Rev. Jennifer Long at the Methodist Church—has been a true blessing because she has a special knack for keeping life in balance and making our religion a part of life but not a part of dominating others.

Consider the words of Mary dur-ing her time with Elizabeth in Judea when both were carrying the infants through whom God would change the world.

Both infants were miracles and Luke notes beginning in Luke 1:41,

“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should

come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.”

Mary replied, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant…

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.”

While the current world seems filled with hate, Jennifer explains that those who let God fill them with the true spirit of Christmas will instead seek peace, that active peace requires love and love requires justice.

“Looking honestly at our hearts and lives is grace filled when you do it with love. Love makes it possible to look at the stranger anew. Love gives us the ability to make changes that can change the world. Love gives us courage and humility. Love gives us hope,” she said in a recent letter to her flock.

Sunday, she told of an ancient schol-ar so wrapped up in his studies that he led a life of poverty and wound up

in a hospital for paupers, with doctors discussing in Latin (which of course they assumed a beggar would not un-derstand) whether he should be used for human experiments since he was worthless.

“Call no one worthless for whom Christ has died,” the scholar told them in Latin, teaching a powerful lesson.

Only when his words are taken to heart will the true meaning of Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection come true, she told the congregation:

“The only way to have peace is to have justice.”

Love. Peace. Justice. Gifts far more valuable for all of us than all the mate-rial “joys” advertised so widely as the way to true Christmas happiness.

An end to hate, replaced by love, peace and justice—what a wonderful world that would make.

So as we wish all a Merry Christ-mas, we join in a thought going back to the words of Mary: God and Christ are the reason for the season. Love, peace and justice are the keys to the world all envision, not one filled with hatred.

May you find love, peace and justice among your gifts and may that be the start of a very Happy New Year 2016.

Biblical quotes from Holy Bible, New In-ternational Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.

Faith Wylie wins state editorial award

Faith Wylie has been honored for writing best news-paper editorial in the state in October.

It was her first win in the editorial category, although she has won numerous monthly awards for best column in the past 31 years and three Sweepstakes Awards for column of the year—for 2013, 2000 and 1997--in the competition, which is open to all daily and weekly legal newspapers in the state.

Wylie’s winning editorial entry, “Are we biased? You bet!” explains that community newspapers such as the Leader are biased—in favor of the community they serve and those who make the community great through their achievements.

“That’s what you expect of us,” she wrote.Her winning editorial will bring her a $100 check and

a plaque and put her in contention for the 2015 Sweep-stakes category for editorial writing.

She already has won in the column category for a June entry titled “Lilacs of the field,” which described the re-siliency of lilacs in her garden with the resiliency need-ed to win her battle with cancer.

By winning in the editorial category as well, she is now in contention for both 2015 Sweepstakes awards—editorial and column—in the competition administered by the Oklahoma Press Association and sponsored by Oklahoma Natural Gas.

The editorial win puts her in direct competition with her husband, John M. Wylie II, who won the May edito-rial award for an entry about how to best handle first-time juvenile offenders whose committed serious but non-violent crimes in a way that would provide punish-ment and rehabilitation without destroying their lives.

Winners of both Sweepstakes Awards will be an-nounced at the OPA annual convention in June in Okla-homa City.

John Wylie said he will be cheering for his wife in the column competition but declined comment on the ed-itorial face-off saying, “I invoke my Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.”

Faith Wylie said she echoed her husband’s comment on the question, adding, “My editorial’s title speaks for itself.”

Faith Wylie’s winning editorial can be read by visiting the OPA website at okpress.com, and going to the sec-tion on contests. The precise address is http://okpress.publishpath.com/october-2015-editorial-winner .

Both Wylies have won state, national and internation-al honors for their commentary since they became pub-lishers of the Leader in April 1984.

Medics honored for trauma care excellenceContinued from Page 1OTEMS and Nowata medics in managing the scene of a horrific car crash on US 169 near Watova and caring for the surviving victim.

Four victims died out-right in the Nov. 22, 2014 crash, a fifth died enroute to St. Francis and a sixth sur-vived. Veterans who have worked major crashes for decades described it as the worst they had ever seen.

Four of those killed and the lone survivor were from Nowata and the fifth person killed was from Tulsa.

Extrication took over two

hours, and a large section of the busy highway was closed even longer while medics worked with the victims and began trans-port of the two who were still alive.

OTEMS personnel specif-ically honored were: Para-medics Shelbie Wayman and James Heisterberg; EMT Scott Krager; Director of Operations Kelly Deal; and Paramedic Ryan Setz-korn, now deputy director.

Nowata personnel hon-ored were: Paramed-ics Dawn Zogg (who also works at OTEMS), Cole

Brooks and James Pike; and EMTs Nancy Delmas and Jeramiah Frauenberger.

Originally announced at the St. Francis Trauma Sym-posium in Tulsa in the fall, the honor was not official-ly celebrated locally for the two services until the holi-day party in Oologah.

The two agencies rou-tinely work closely together on a regular basis under a mutual aid agreement on a variety of emergencies, and are especially active togeth-er on the stretch of train tracks and US 169 that runs through the northern part

of the OTEMS district’s ju-risdiction and the southern part of Nowata’s territory.

Zogg calls that stretch of US 169 and a portion of US 60 further north “two of the deadliest highways in the State of Oklahoma.”

Jack Griggs, OTEMS board vice chairman, made the presentation Dec. 17 to a representative group from the two services and said their work epitomized the finest in emergency medicine in Oklahoma.

Santa is a Woman I hate to be the one to defy sacred myth, but I believe

he’s a she. Think about it. Christmas is a big, organized, warm, fuzzy, nurturing social deal, and I have a tough time believing a guy could possibly pull it all off!

For starters, the vast majority of men don’t even think about selecting gifts until Christmas Eve. It’s as if they are all frozen in some kind of Ebenezerian Time Warp until 3 p.m. on Dec. 24th, when they— with amazing calm—call other errant men and plan for a last-minute shopping spree.

Once at the mall, they always seem surprised to find only Ronco products, socket wrench sets and mood rings left on the shelves.

Surely, if he were a man, everyone in the universe would wake up Christmas morning to find a rotating musical Chia Pet under the tree, still in the bag.

Another problem for a he-Santa would be getting there. First of all, there would be no reindeer because they would all be dead, gutted, and strapped on to the rear bumper of the sleigh, amid wide-eyed, desperate claims that buck season had been extended. Blitzen’s rack would already be on the way to the taxidermist.

Other reasons why Santa can’t possibly be a man: - Men can’t pack a bag.- Men would rather be dead than caught wearing red

velvet.- Men would refuse to allow their physique to be de-

scribed, even in jest, as anything remotely resembling a “bowlful of jelly.”

At Christmas, we celebrate God’s presence with us, made visible through the birth of Jesus.

But how do we celebrate when we live in an era of tragedy and violence? Surely coworkers could celebrate Christmas together in peace and not worry about being gunned down by a coworker.

Has God abandoned us?People of faith have asked that

question before.In 735 BCE, the northern kingdom

of Israel was at war against the south-ern kingdom of Judah. The king of Ju-dah sought an alliance with Assyria, but the prophet Isaiah urged the king to trust God instead.

In the midst of danger, Isaiah told the king, “The Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel, meaning God is with you.”

We see it as a prophecy of the birth of Jesus, but it also had a meaning in that time. Isaiah told the king that Ju-dah had a future, represented by the birth of a baby.

The baby would remind the king that God was with them, that he

would take care of their future.We understand that message. A

child embodies blessings, hope, our future. A child is helpless, but al-so incredibly powerful in his or her potential.

Killing children robs us of that hope, of our future.

That’s what King Herod tried to do when he slaughtered the young chil-dren of Bethlehem. He wanted to kill the hope of those who dreamed of an end to the unjust rule of the Romans.

Immanuel. God is with us, Matthew promised.

Today, in the face of personal or mass tragedy, we ask where God is. How could he allow such events to occur?

Where is God? God is in the principal who tries to

stop a gunman. God is in emergency workers who rush toward trouble.

If we look, we see God every day.God was working through those

firefighters who charged into the burning towers of the World Trade Center on 9-11.

God is in our teachers and commu-nity members, who give extra for our students every day, and then organize

an angel tree and give still more so their students have something under the tree for Christmas.

God is in the people who help with Operation Thanksgiving.

God is in the hands of doctors and nurses who have healed my family members.

God is in the listening ears of men-tal health professions who fight against darkness.

Sometimes, God acts through peo-ple who aren’t even professed believ-ers. But God speaks to their hearts and moves their hands and feet, too.

Evil and darkness are also present in our world. Each of us has the poten-tial to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

But we can also hear the wrong voice. The call of ambition, hate, men-tal illness or evil sometimes out-shouts the gentle whisper of God.

Jesus came in a time of darkness for God’s people.

Although we live with great bless-ings and prosperity, we also travel through valleys of shadow.

Out of the darkness of Christmas Eve, the cry of a baby will remind us:

God is with us.

Grandma Henriksen and her girls

Faith Wylie shares Grand-ma Henriksen’s cinna-mon roll recipe on the next page. Here is a photograph of the Henriksen girls in 1949. Gathering for a pic-ture are Janet (from left), Joyce, Grace (Faith’s moth-er), Grandma May Henrik-sen, Ruth, Eva and Elaine. May and Fred also had an older son and three young-er boys.

5THURSDAY, DEC. 24, 2015OOLOGAH LAKE LEADERAR UND THE AREA

FOCUS ON OLOGAH

Larry W. Burchett, CPAIncome Tax

Electronic Filing • Competitive FeesIndividual • Corporate • Partnership

Farm & Ranch • Small Business

Payroll - Accounting

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918-443-27171½ Blocks North of Hwy 169 & 88

Junction, Oologah

Will RogersAnimal Hospital

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Complete Veterinary Care for Small AnimalsDrop-Ins Welcome • Boarding Available

918-443-4444

TRUMMEL’SPHARMACY & GIFTS

Steve Trummel, D.Ph.Ron Trummel, D.Ph.

Pharmacists

RX • OTCGifts • CardsVet Supplies

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Oologah

A-1Cleaners

Highway 169next door to Trummel’s

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Oologah.netOologah’s online information

source for 17 years

109 S. Maple StreetPO Box 1175

Downtown Oologah918-443-2428

Joy to the WorldThe Lord is Come

Home for Christmas

By FAITH WYLIE

This basic sweet dough recipe can be used for almost anything: cinnamon rolls, pecan rolls, tea ring, king cake, dinner rolls, crescent rolls, monkey bread or a regular loaf of bread. The triple batch reci-pe can be used to make three different va-rieties by just shaping it differently.

I’ve added a few tweaks, but it’s the same basic recipe that’s been passed down from our Danish immigrant ancestors.

IngredientsDough6 cups bread flour + 1 additional cup1 cup wheat flour (my substitution)1 cup sugar3 packages yeast1 tablespoon salt3 cups milk1 cup butter or margarine2 eggs (optional - using eggs makes the baked crust more golden; not using eggs make the dough softer.)1 teaspoon cinnamon (my addition)

Filling1 stick soft butter (more or less)1 cup sugarCinnamon to taste

Icing1 pound powdered sugar1/3 cup butter or margarine1 to 2 teaspoons vanilla¼ cup milk

Traditional mixing methodPut 1 cup sugar. salt and 2 sicks butter

in mixing bow,Heat 3 cups milk. Pour warm milk in

bowl and mix.Add 1 cup flour and mix.Add 3 packages of yeast and mix.Add 2 eggs and mix. Add flour about 1 cup at a time.When your mixer can’t handle it any

more, switch to a strong spoon and con-

tinue to add flour by hand until the dough is sticky but can be handled. Spread flour on your counter and hands. Turn out the dough and kneed it. Spread butter or mar-garine in a large bowl. Put the dough into the bowl, place a towel over the top and put in a warm place.

Or mix it this way:KitchenAid dough hook method

Put 6 cups flour, 1 cup whole wheat flour, 1 cup sugar, 3 packages yeast, 1 ta-blespoon salt and 1 teaspoon cinnamon into the mixing bowl.

Using the dough hook, mix on speed 2 for a minute or two.

Put 3 cups milk and 2 sticks butter in a 4-cup measuring cup and microwave about 5 minutes until the milk is warm and the butter is melted.

Turn on the mixer and add slowly to the flour mixture.

About halfway through the process, low-er the bowl and scrape the sides and un-der the dough hook to assure even mixing.

Add 2 eggs. Continue mixing and adding milk and butter slowly.

Watch for the dough to cling to the dough hook and pull away from the sides. Add your reserved flour, ¼ cup at a time, un-til the dough looks sticky but manageable.

Let the mixer kneed the dough for two or three minutes

Butter a large bowl. Turn the dough into the bowl, dust your hands with flour and work the dough into a smooth surface. (It will get less sticky as it rises and the flour absorbs more moisture.)

Put a towel over it and place in a warm place to rise for an hour.

Rising instructionsYou can turn your oven on for a minute

or two, then turn it off and put the dough in there to rise. Let rise about an hour until it doubles in size.

Turn the dough out onto the counter and kneed well. You will probably need to put flour on your counter and hands. Di-

vide into three portions and kneed each into a smooth ball.

Now the dough is ready to do almost anything.

Cinnamon RollsRoll a ball of dough into a large rectan-

gle. Spread with about 1/3 cup softened butter or margarine. Sprinkle with about 1/3 cup sugar. Sprinkle generously with cinnamon.

Starting on the longer edge, roll up the dough. Cut it into 1” widths and place in a buttered pan. This will make a 9”x13” pan

of cinnamon rolls or two 8” round pans.Warm oven and let rolls rise about ½

hour. Remove rolls from oven and heat oven to 350 degrees.

Bake rolls 17 to 20 minutes.Frost with butter cream icing. I frost

them warm if we will eat them that day. If I am serving them later, I frost them cooled, then let the frosting melt in when they are warmed before serving.

You can make more cinnamon rolls with the other two balls of dough or shape into some other form.

Grandma Henriksen’s Cinnamon Rolls shared

Mix the dough until it clings to the hook. Frosting adds the final touch.

Slice the rolled up dough into 1” rolls.

Publisher’s Notice

All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitations or discrimination ecause of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preference limitation or discrimination.” This newspaper will not know-ingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in viola-tion of the law. All person are hereby informed that all dwell-ings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

6 THURSDAY, DEC. 24, 2015 OOLOGAH LAKE LEADER CLASSIFIED

HOME CARE NURSE

part-time to care for el-derly man. Oologah area.

918-371-2233

Name ____________________________________________

Address __________________________________________

City _____________________________________________

State, ZIP ________________________________________

Phone ___________________________________________

Return to Oologah Lake Leader, PO Box 1175, Oologah OK 74053,call 918-443-2428, or online at www.Oologah.net

$25 - One year in Rogers, Tulsa and Nowata Counties$19 - One year local senior citizen$27 - One year in Oklahoma$55 - One year rest of US

Get the Oologah Lake Leader in your mailbox each and every week!

Sell It Now! Sell It Now! with a Classified Adwith a Classified Adin the Oologah Lake Leader

$5 for 20 words - one week.Run multiple weeks and save -$4 per week for repeat ads.

DEADLINE 3 PM TUESDAYCall 918-443-2428,

visit 109 S. Maple St., Oologahor place online at www.Oologah.net

NO NEWSPAPER ON DEC. 31

Bill JohnstonJ

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Licensed • Insured • Bonded

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2 Miles S. of Oologah on Hwy 169

918-443-2232918-443-2232Clean, Dependable Used CarsClean, Dependable Used Cars

Trucks - MotorcyclesTrucks - MotorcyclesFinancingFinancingAvailableAvailable

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www.neelyagency.com

Risley’sTrash Service918-371-0161

Hwy 169 between Collinsville and OologahProviding service for

Collinsville, Oologah and Talala

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Training, Fitting,

Lessons, Stallion

Management

and Breeding

Terry & Sue Heimerman

Cell 918-899-6930

or 918-899-7030

Barn 918-443-9528

www.four-wind.com

Warrior Pest ControlBugs R Our Prey

Debra DohertyOwner

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[email protected] Contract!

HWY 169 N. OF APPLE MARKET

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LAKE PROPERTY FOR SALE. $2 ,000. 1 Ac ml at 9815 E Talala Trail. Great view of lake, 3 bdrm 2 bath, 2 car, fresh water aquarium, Coldwell Banker Select. Allen Vice 918-693-4702.

NONEWSPAPERON DEC. 31HAPPY NEW

YEAR

Public NoticePublished in the Oologah Lake

Leader on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015 and Jan. 7, 2016.

NOTICE OF INTENTRural Water District No. 4Rogers CountyAny water district member who

would like to run for a position on the Board of Directors should file a “Notice of Intent” on January 6, 7 and 8, 2016.

Anyone interested in filing for a seat on the Board will need to come into the district’s office at 210 W. Cooweescoowee Ave., Oologah, between the hours 8:00 am and 4:30 pm on the above said dates and file. We have two (2) seats coming open. Mr. Mc-Mains and Mr. Dusty Harper seats are up for re-election.

The Annual Board Meeting will be held February 15, 2016 at 7:00 pm in the Rhoads Center in Oologah.

Any questions please call Julie Hendrix at 918-443-2542.

KidFor the inYou

©2015 OOLOGAH LAKE LEADER LLC 918-443-2428 www.forthekidinyou.net

Newspaper activityUse words you find in your newspaper to write a pretend Thank You let-ter to Saint Nicholas for starting the tradition of the Christmas stocking.

“And the stockings were hung

by the chimney with care, in hopes

that Saint Nicholas soon would be

there.”

Christmas stockings come in all

sizes and designs. They have be-

come a part of the Christmas tradi-

tion for many families. The stock-

ings might be hung by a chimney

with care, but also hang in other lo-

cations when the room doesn’t have

a chimney.

Why do people hang their stock-

ings during the Christmas season?

They hope that Saint Nicholas will

put goodies or gifts in the stockings

on Christmas Eve.

This tradition started centuries

ago. Many stories and legends have been

handed down from generation to genera-

tion. One of those stories tells of a noble

man named Nicholas.

Nicholas was born in 280 AD, in a city

named Lycia, in Asia Minor. His parents

were wealthy, but died in an epidemic

when Nicholas was young. Nicholas be-

came a priest and used all of his money to

help the poor, sick and needy.

He became known as the rich man

who traveled across the country helping

people. He gave his gifts late at night, so

no one would really know who was doing

the giving. The children were told to go to

sleep or he would not come.

Nicholas was named the patron saint of

children and sailors, thus becoming Saint

Nicholas.

Another story says a poor father wor-

ried that his three daughters could not

marry since he had no money to give as a

dowry, money given by the bride’s family

to the groom’s family.

According to the story, the daughters

hung their washed stockings by the fire-

place so they would dry overnight. For

three nights in a row, Saint Nicholas wait-

ed until the family was asleep before he

placed a bag of gold into a stocking.

On the final night the father hid so he

could see who was leaving the gold. With

Saint Nicholas’ blessings the father was

able to see his three daughters married.

In some countries children are told

they must be good or a lump of coal will

be left in their stocking.

Today we still hang stockings and hope

that they will be filled. We use special

decorated stockings rather than ordinary

socks. Be good so you don’t find a lump of

coal on Christmas.

The stockings were hung…

Cross FivePlace these six words in the crossword grid:

Canoe, Inner, Saint, Socks, Sorts, Trees

I

Find local products perfect for gift giving at

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MADE IN OKLAHOMA

If you’re looking for a Made in Oklahoma gift for the holiday season – or any time – check out products available and the companies that make them at www.madeinoklahoma.net. Here are companies to check out:

SUGAR SISTERS will appeal to your senses with its line of natural sugar scrubs, body butters, mists, lip balms and room deodorizers. Made in Oklahoma with quality ingredients and essential oils. Available online at www.sugar-sisters-scrubs.myshopify.com.

THE PRAIRIE GYPSIES markets a wonderful selection of homemade jams and jellies, fruit butters, mustards and two salad dressing. In addition to a storefront at 411 NW 30 in Oklahoma City, products are available online at www.prairiegypsies.com.

JOHNS FARM located near Fairview, produces organic wheat and organic beef, along with a host of other prod-ucts available at www.johnsfarm.com.

WILDHORSE CANYON FARMS makes one small batch at a time of gourmet spreads, wine jellies and more. Gift boxes available. Just like grandma used to make. See all our products at www.wildhorsecanyon-farms.com.

ADVERTISE STATEWIDE

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Real Estate - RentHOUSE FOR RENT 220 S Wal-nut. 3 bed 1 1/2 bath, fenced in back yard, quiet street.. 918-408-5519 RV LOTS FOR RENT close to Lake Oologah. 918-639-4561

Help WantedDRIVERS: HOME NIGHTLY! Bonus Program! $16.50/hr, Health Benefits. Route Posi-tion. Willing to load tires w/helper. CDL-A 918-367-9595 CLASS A CDL Truck Driver Training! Earn a Great Living in a Few Short Weeks! No Up-front Costs other than Permit. Start Your Truck Driving Ca-reer with PAM Transport! Call 855-200-3671 DRIVERS: SIGN ON BONUS No-Touch Freight, Weekly pay! Medical, Dental Vision Ins. OTR Detention, Lay over, Holiday Pay. CDL-A Call: 877-212-8703 NEED EXPERIENCED person or nurse part time to care for an elderly man in the Oologah area, $12/hr . Call 918-371-2233 Day or Night

ServicesWHITE HOUSE STORAGE 10X15 Self Store Units. On-site Management 3 miles N. of Oologah High School Highway 169. 918-275-4052

Misc. for SaleFIREWOOD FOR SALE $60 a rick if you pick up; $70 deliv-ered. 918-998-7799 or 918-636-4035 or 918-342-3033

Love - Peace - HopeOur Christmas Wish

for You

PASSINGS

Christian Church of TalalaMinister Tom JonesSunday School 10 am, Worship 11 amYouth & Adults 6 pm. Wednesday 7 pm

Cowboy Country FellowshipHwy 169 north of TalalaPastor Cletis CoeWorship 8:50 am Sunday

1st Baptist Church of TalalaBrother Lester OrwigSunday School 9:30, Worship 10:45Sunday Evening 6 pmWed 7 pm Adult prayer meetingYouth Power Source, Children Mission

1st Baptist Church of OologahCooweescoowee & Pine, OologahRev. Larry DownumSunday School 9:30, Worship 11 am

Fellowship Community ChurchA part of LIFECHURCH.TV NetworkPastor Leon Hargrove5177 E. 420 Road, Oologah918-630-5914

Full Gospel Christian CenterTwo blocks off Hwy 169 in WatovaPastor Joe GoodinSunday School 10 am, Worship 11 am

A Healing Touch Ministry6 miles west of Oologah on EW3900Pastor Jerry MooreSunday 10:30 am & 6 pm

Harbor Church6349 E. 400 Rd, OologahPastor Brett RogersSunday Worship 9:30 and 11 am Youth & Code 9 6:15 pm Wednesday

Journey Church14992 S. Hwy 169 OologahPastor Tony MarlerServices: Sunday 10:30 amWednesday 7 pm

Oologah church of Christ13800 S. 4080 Rd, OologahEvangelist Russ Earl Oologahcofc.orgSunday School 9:30, Worship 10:30

Oologah United Methodist5834 E 410 Rd, OologahRev.Jennifer LongWorship 8:30 am Classic, 10:50 am Casual, Sunday School 9:40 am

Rabbs Creek Baptist ChurchRabbs Creek Road West of OologahPastor Brian KeethSun. School 9:45 am, Church 11 am

Zion Hill Church11501 S 4060 Rd, OologahPastor Joshua Hall 918-371-2301Worship 10:45 am, Tuesday 7 pm

CHURCHES

7THURSDAY, DEC. 24, 2015OOLOGAH LAKE LEADER

Free Access toancestry.comat Talala Library

PE PLE

1302 West Main St., Collinsville • 918-371-2111Visit www.collinsvillefh.com for tributes, guest book

Jim DoltonFuneral Director

We offer:At Need • Pre-Planning • Pre-Payment

Honor your loved one’s memory in a personal way

Congratulations

FAITH WYLIEOologah Lake Leader

Faith Wylie was selected as the October winner of the Oklahoma Natural Gas Editorial Writing Contest.

The contest, sponsored by Oklahoma Natural Gas, is open to members of the Oklahoma Press Association.

To read Wylie’s award-winning Editorial, visit www.OkPress.com.

Roscoe Kuykendall

Roscoe Leroy Kuykend-

all, 73, of Oologah, passed

away Saturday, Dec. 19,

2015 at his home sur-

rounded by his family.

He was born Feb. 12,

1942 in Tulsa to Ros-

coe Kuykendall and Lyda

(Bunn) Kuykendall. He had

lived in Oologah since 1973

having moved from Tulsa.

He graduated from Cen-

tral High School in Tulsa.

He was a truck driver and

worked last for Bumper to

Bumper.

He is survived by three

children, Kathy Kuyken-

dall Boone and her hus-

band, Keith of Pampa, Tex-

as, Kelee Kuykendall Strong

and her husband Billy of

Oologah and Bo Kuykend-

all and his wife Kristin of

Oologah; one sister, Char-

lotte Lowers and her hus-

band Roy of Catoosa; eight

grandchildren and seven

great-grandchildren.

Services were held Tues-

day, Dec. 22 at Oak Hill

Cemetery in Oologah with

Rev. David Priest officiating.

Services are under the

direction of Collinsville

Dolton Funeral Home.

Whether it’s “Hey Red”

in the halls at school...or

“Come on Big Red” from

the football stadium.....

the referenced person

is one and the same

Cameron Wood. Yes,

our Oologah High School

senior offensive line-

man..#79.

As we reminisce over

his high school football

accomplishments, only a handful can stand tall and be

proud of the fact that out of the 4 years of playing Cam-

eron has been blessed to have actually played in 2 state

championship games and as a team they brought home

the trophy both times. It wasn’t just A trophy...IT WAS

THE SILVER...2ND PLCE IN THE STATE ...TROPHY.

Cameron will be the �irst to tell you how much he

enjoyed college football camps these past few years...

and a couple that were not his favorites. College visits...

meeting head coaches, line coaches and everyone in

between. Where does a 6 ft 7, 270 lb senior, offensive

lineman go from here?

He waits, anxiously and prayerfully, with no regrets

as to his wonderful accomplishments as an oologah

mustang. Calls, letters and offers begin to come in,

as he waits patiently. Talking over each one with his

parents who have been by his side from day one as he

began in youth football.

Cameron Wood....I just want to take this moment

to let you know that whatever decision you make and

whichever college you choose to go to, please know

that they will be blessed to have you on their team and

blessed to call you one of “them”.

You are a young man of awesome integrity, morals,

ethics and perseverance. I have no doubt you will pre-

vail in your life’s journey.

You are loved by so many and so many are excited to

continue your journey with you. You had a wonderful

football season this year and as it comes to an end, look

up and hold your head high....because there’s so much

more in store for you.

You’ve only scratched the surface of your full poten-

tial and I’m excited with you to see which college coach

agrees most. I’m behind you all the way.

Stay patient and your reward will be great.

LEADER PHOTO BY FAITH WYLIE

Proudlly patrioticNorthwest Fire debutes its new Honor Guard at the community Christmas parade. Members are (from left) Bill Crose, Matt Wells, Kevin Marlin, Matt Marlin, Richard Gibson and Capt. Brandon McLauglin. NW Chief Mat Shockley says the Honor Guard hopes to add bagpipes and drums to the unit in the coming year.

By TONYA BASEOologah-Talala High School

FCCLA Advisor

The 3rd Annual FCCLA

Day of “Senior” Service is

scheduled for Saturday,

Feb. 13, 2016. If you are,

or know any local senior

citizen in need of assis-

tance with projects at their

homes on this day, please

fill out a form and return

to me. You may download a

form at Oologah.net.

Student leaders will be

available to assist at local

homes from 9 a.m. - noon

with various projects such

as flowerbed cleaning/

yardwork, housework in

difficult areas, technology

(cell phones and comput-

ers) and /or just visiting

and talking.

Registration deadline is

Jan. 22.

Senior service day slated in February

Leader takes a newspaper vacation

The Oologah Lake Lead-er will not publish on New

Year’s Eve.

It will return to mailbox-

es and stores on Jan. 7.

The office is now closed.

It will reopen on Jan. 4.

Some staff will be around

town, so send an email or

text message if you need

assistance.

COURTESY

What?! Santa listens as Carolyn Estes whispers in his ear. Guess who’s going to get a lump of coal now? Estes, a Chamber volunteer, visited with Santa after the Polar Express movie on Saturday.

8 THURSDAY, DEC. 10, 2015OOLOGAH LAKE LEADER T SANTA

Wishing your family aMerry Christmas

and a Joyous New Year

Merry Christmas &a Wonderful New Year

State Sen. State Sen. John W. Ford

[email protected]

Dear Santa, I would like a Monster

High House, scissors, bub-ble gum, Monster High car, some girl Legos, and some play food.

Love, Roxy

Dear Santa, I would like a remote

control airplane. I also want a remote control dig-ger. I made a Christmas tree for you. I hope you and Mrs. Claus are well. Have a Merry Christmas. Thank you & Love,

Rustin

Dear Santa, I would like snackies,

Elsa Legos and a peek-a-boo. I hope you and Mrs. Claus are doing well. Have a Merry Christmas. Thank you Santa.

Love, Joey

Dear Santa, I would like Elsa and Ona

dolls, a pony, a cowboy and cowgirl for my pony and an octopus. Hope you have a Merry Christmas! Thank you Santa!

Love Alyssa

Dear Santa, I would like a game tab, a

dragon stuffed animal, let-ters in the alphabet, a San-ta toy thing and a glow in the dark ball. Have a Mer-ry Christmas! Thank you Santa,

Olivia

Dear Santa, I would like some pop-

corn in a cup with tea, a dollie with a shirt, some pink boots and some scis-sors. How are the rein-deer? I hope you have a Merry Christmas! Thank you,

Skye

Dear Santa, I would like a dirt bike,

a remote control car that is little, some Hot Wheels, and a dart gun. Hope you and Mrs. Claus are doing well. Thank you,

Cayden

Dear Santa, I would like a big Lego

ship, some Nerf guns, and cars. I wish you a Merry Christmas! Thank you,

Myles

Dear Santa, I would like a toy rein-

deer, a hippo, a Christmas tree for my room, a tiny play school and a rubber duck. Have a Merry Christ-mas! Thank you,

Kannin

Dear Santa, I would like a remote

control helicopter with a boat and people. I wish I could hug you. Have a Mer-ry Christmas!

Love, Gunner

Dear Santa, I would like a doll, and a

purple bicycle. Thank you Santa! Have a Merry Christ-mas. I forgot, is Rudolph going to drive your sleigh?

Love, Lydia

Dear Santa, I would like a jewelry

box, an art box with cray-ons, markers and colored pencils, a hula hoop, a new coloring book and a new necklaces. I wish you a Merry Christmas!

Love, Laynee

Dear Santa, I love you Santa! I’m go-

ing to give you popcorn and I’ll see you when I go the North Pole. I would like a swimming pool, some make-up, a toy dolly that makes food and the Secret Door movie. Thank you Santa!

Love Trinity

Dear Santa, I would like a mermaid,

mermaid suit and a swim-ming pool for the mermaid. You are so soft and nice. Have a Merry Christmas!

Love, Johnny

Dear Santa, I would like a rocket fish-

ing rod, a new Wii U with some games, a new sky lander and Wallup. I hope you bring me my presents. Have a Merry Christmas!

Love, Zaden

Dear Santa, I would like some My Lit-

tle Ponies, a Barbie, money, a Princess Barbie that rides a toy horse, chocolate mon-ey and a Christmas tree just for me. Santa, Have a Mer-ry Christmas!

Love, Emi

Dear Santa, I would like a rocket fish-

ing rod, a real gun, a bow and arrow, a big red fire car that is remote control. I like Christmas. Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

Love, Case

Dear Santa, I would like some can-

dy, money, a T.V., crayons, a real pony, some Bar-bies, scissors and pencils. Have a Merry Christmas! Ho!Ho!Ho!

Love, Remi

Dear Santa, I would like some new

Barbies, a toy Elf, a toy horse and Legos. Merry Christmas Santa!

Love, Pyper

Dear Santa, I love you! I would like

a new costume for Hal-loween. My brother would like some more games. My daddy wants some new shoes and my baby broth-er would like some baby toys. My mama wants more make-up.

Love, Evie

Dear Santa, I am learning my ABC’s

and working hard. I would like a Spy Glass and some pepperoni pizza. I would also like a semi truck so I can pull cars that run out of gas. A big rocket ship would be nice too!

Ryan

Dear Santa, I want a new blanket spe-

cial to me, a Minnie Mouse one. I would like new shoes that are special to me.

Love, Anna

Dear Santa,Can I please have a real

dog that is a Scout? I would also like a real violet flower. A stuffed animal cat would be nice too.

Love, Addison

Dear Santa, I want an iPad for Christ-

mas. I want a Monster High doll. How are your reindeer doing? I love you!

Taylon

Dear Santa, I want a little Barbie. I

want a big, giant Frozen dollie. Why does your rein-deer and sleigh fly?

Hannah

Dear Santa,I want a new bow and a

new car. I will leave cookies for you.

Love, Tanner

Dear Santa,I would like a dinosaur

and a candy cane for Christ-mas. I would also like my own table in my room and some blocks. How are the reindeer? It would be fun to have a reindeer toy also.

Love, Kaelen

Dear Santa,I would like a toy mo-

torcycle and a toy mon-ster truck. How is Rudolph doing? How is Blitzen? I would like a toy tractor also. I have been a good boy this year.

Love, Jax

Dear Santa, I would like a Ninja Tur-

tle playset. How are the reindeer doing? I am excit-ed for Christmas!

Love, Alice

Dear Santa,I would like to get

some playdough for Christ-mas. I hope the reindeer are doing well!

Love, McKenna

Dear Santa, I would like a toy paint-

ing scarf and a purple scarf. I would also like some new shoes. How are the rein-deer doing?

Love, Layla

Dear Santa,How are the reindeer do-

ing? I would like a game watch for Christmas. My brother, Kayne, would like a new tablet. I hope it snows for Christmas.

Your friend, Ryker

Dear Santa,I have been a good boy

this year. I love you, Santa! I want a Team Hotwheels Garage. How are the rein-deer doing?

Love, Mason

Dear Santa,I would like a remote

control car and a kitch-en set. I would also like a new football because my cat ripped the other one. A new fire house would be nice too!

Love, Riggs

Dear Santa,I would like a nerf gun

with foam bullets. I would also like a new boxing

game because my other one is broken. Also, a Lego Xbox game.

Your friend, Gerald

Dear Santa,I would like a mermaid

and a unicorn for Christ-mas. I would also like some Pet Patrol stuff. I have been a good girl this year.

Love, Sloane

Dear Santa,I would like a new Bar-

bie doll and a new kitty cat. I would also like a puppy. I love Mrs. Claus and I hope she’s doing okay.

Love, Paislee

Dear Santa,I would like a new fire

truck and a Hot Wheels car. I would also like a stuffed animal that is a fireman and a paintbrush with paint. How is Rudolph doing?

From Cole

Dear Santa,I like toys. I would like a

new teddy bear and a doll for Christmas. I like your reindeer and I hope they are doing well.

Love, McKenzie

LEADER PHOTO BY CHRIS EDENS

Happy feetA dance class of five and six-year-olds poses for a picture after their Christmas performance last week at the Encore Dance Academy in Oologah.

COURTESY

Sharing a Christmas songOologah Public Schools third graders perform at the Collinsville North County assisted living on Wednesday, Dec. 16. This is an annual trip the third graders do as their community service project. Teachers feel that it is important for students to know the importance of giving and this allows students to see first hand how their gift of singing and homemade gifts bring a smile on the senior men and women at North County. The students sang Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer, Santa Clause is Coming to Town, Silent Night and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. The students also recited the poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

9THURSDAY, DEC. 24, 2019OOLOGAH LAKE LEADERT SANTA

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Merry Christmas

Dear Santa, I would like a BIG green

turtle. A real turtle that I can feed.

Love, Logan

Dear Santa, I want a tractor.

Love, Max

Dear Santa, I would like an electric

jeep that I can ride and it should be purple. Please give me a BIG present.

Love, Brookelyn

Dear Santa, I want a Hello Kitty robot.

I also would like a stuffed animal that’s an owl. Can you bring me Santa win-dow stickers?

Love, Dally

Dear Santa, I want a toy robot that

has a controller and a robot that rides on it.

Love Michael

Dear Santa, I love you! I want a big

Lego box with police Legos. Love, Ora

Dear Santa, I would like a Frozen doll

with a snowy place with trees, and a microphone that goes with it. That is it.

Love, Maddyson

Dear Santa, I want a nice dinosaur

toy. A whole big car garage, a car airplane.

Love Jayden

Dear Santa,I would like for Christ-

mas please 100,000,000 dolers and a horse with a sadle and a rope and a poster of Santa.

Gavin

Dear Santa,I would like a tablet. A

cat. A dog. Baribis. Nike shoes. A under amer hudey. Comepeter. Phone. Hige hels. Nike Jakeit. Slipers. Radeow. Lnids bop music. A Jeep. 3D Magicin. Wo-belbuble ball. The dog is a hukist. The cat is a baby. A hamster. Silacol baby. Tv. Xbox.

Kalyn

Dear Santa,Can I pless have a Barebe

Dreem Haws and Zoomer Kitty and Zommer Pupy. Amercn Gril doll. Sum clos and the gymnacis. I want Isabel and Grace and babby alive.

Madison

Dear Santa,I have been vere good

and you can as my mon and dad but you must give evre bude a present evet the wahs who have not got a present evint the wahs who git ckol.

Dalli

Dear Santa,Can you give us some

mune and I bin a good kid. And a rely fox. O and I only get in chudlo one time. Ok and a pool.

Celtriya

Dear Santa,I want a terky for Christ-

mas and lego mincraft. I been a good boy.

Aaron

Dear Santa,I want a board that my

mom had in her work. Can I have a Steft Cat and a elf on the shelf.

Avery

Dear Santa,For Christmas I want a

surprise. A soft Anna doll. Shopkins. Surpris shopkins and mony. A horse.

ValynnDear Santa,

My name is Lucy. I have been good this year. What I want for Christmas is a dog and a mood ring and a bounce ball and a fone and a color wunder and a yo yo and a toutsy pop.

Lucy

Dear Santa,My name is Kallie I have

been relly good this year. I will want a Amarcan girl doll and a braslet. Thank you!

Kallie

Dear Santa,Love Jentrie I am so

Blessed with all of my stuf. All I want is a talking Dora smart phon.

Jentrie

Dear Santa,My name is Colton. I

have been good this yeur. I would like to get a cat.

Colton

Dear Santa,I want a toy Star Wars

toy and a now hotwel and 1000 dolrs and ice crem.

Jared

Dear Santa, I want a toy horse that

moves and walks and it’s a Barbie horse.

Love, Lauren

Dear Santa, I want a Barbie and a

Barbie house. Love, Makyah

Dear Santa, I want a toy race car. I want a new bicy-cle and a stamp.

Love, Tomahawk

Dear Santa, I would like a pink My Little Pony bike and a My Little Pony watch for Christmas.

Love Addy

Dear Santa, I want toys, stuffed ani-

mal toys. I want Frozen Legos.

Love Danielle

Dear Santa, I want a box of Barbie’s

with a house and with a big ol’ car and pool for them and a bath tub and a toilet and stuff so they can cook.

Love Mackenzie

Dear Santa, I would like a brown, blue

and yellow T-Rex Breakout. Love, Jaxon

Dear Santa, I want a Doc-mobile. I

want a Frozen ice castle. That’s it.

Love Rikki

Dear Santa, Please bring me a flash-

light and a red truck. Love, Gage

Dear Santa, I want a BIG trampoline.

I would like a Thomas the Train, a real white dog that I can play with.

Love, Linden

Dear Santa, I want a toy like a Barbie

house. Love, Desiree

Dear Santa, I want a pink wind up toy

shaped like a bow. I want to tell him (Santa) that I love him.

Love, Anna

Dear Santa, I would like a little tram-

poline and a blue swing set.Love Hunter

Dear Santa,What I rill rill want for

Christmas is a Amercn Gril home and I want to raed. I want a Doshes Book and a Doshes babby and what I rill rill rill want is a a mom-my dosh and a sittr dosh and a brutr dosh.

Avlynn

LEADER PHOTO BY CAROLYN ESTES

The real Santa?A hopeful fan checks out Santa’s beard to make sure this is the real Santa.

10 THURSDAY, DEC. 24, 2015OOLOGAH LAKE LEADER

Wishing you awonderful Christmas

STATE REP. CHUCK HOSKIN405-557-7319 • [email protected]

Stephanie, AmelAmelia and Chuck Hoskin

Mayall your

Christmas wishes

come true

Sweet Claim Service

T SANTA

Wishing yourfamily

a wonderful Christmas and

New Year!

Dear Santa, 1-Zoomer Kitty2-Science Purse3-Boomer to be better

soon. 4-Deer for Dad 5-Marey Crismus 6-Mom and Dad to be

Happy. 7-iPad for me and sis8-LipSense Bombshell9-randeer bell10-to bon’s for are dogsThank you for reading

my letter.From, Maddie

Dear Santa, My name is Carter. This

year for Christmas I would like an elf on the shelf, a mini dirt bike, an legos with a lego table. And brown cowboy boots and a blue lava lamp. Thank you for all my gifts. Stay Warm. Also, don’t let your reindeer eat too much junk food!

From, Carter

Dear Santa, Thank you for giving gifts

to us and whut you giv to me. I love it. I want a must-againg cherledrae soot with shoos and jackit and I want Amerucken doll close for it.

From, Sydney

Dear Santa,I no that your job is hard.

I want a Merican girl doll. With a backpack for the doll and sum sockr close and more close.

From, Brynlee

Dear Santa,Thank you for all your

help. I want a Umerikin girl doll. Thank you for reading my letter.

From, Rylee

Dear Santa, Thank you for all your

presints. I want to have a wocking nigt turtle. Thank you for reading my letr.

From, Josiah

Dear Santa,Thank you for making

toys. I want hot wels. Thank you!

From, Cade

Dear Santa,Thank you for your hard

work. I would like: Elsa Doll, a dollhouse and a big toy car. Let me know if you can sent back.

From, Daisy

Dear Santa, Thank you Santa for

brening me sum presents. I wud like a little puppee.

Thank you for reading my letter.

From, Karsyn

Dear Santa,Thank you Santa. I would

like 1. A doll 2. A Bug Cechr 3. A little dollhouse.

From, Lenni

Dear Santa, Thank you for your help

with the presints. I wont a puppe dog and a rabit and a dog house.

From, Peyton

Dear Santa,Thank you Santa because

you make me presits. I wont a cotton cande mackr. I wont a isecreme mackr.

I love you Santa.From, Vanessa

Dear Santa,You have been working

hard. This year I want a crossbow, and a STW, and the STW is a gun. And I want Rudolph.

Thank you for reading my letter.

From, Grady

Dear Santa,I no yoor job is hard.

Thank u. 1. I want a pup-pee. 2. I want a toy. 3. I want a bicke.

From, Jackson

Dear Santa,Thank you for my toys. I

rillie want a cop set and a spi costum.

From, Jett

Dear Santa,Thank you for my toys.

From, Anthony L.

Dear Santa, I love you.

From, Jaryn

Dear Santa,Thank you for the toys.

From, Hunter

Dear Santa,Thank you for toys. This

Christmas I would like a new XBOX 360. With a new game and action figr. Thank you for reading my letter.

From, Trea.

Dear Santa,Thank you for the gifts. I

would like an action figure.From, Anthony

LEADER PHOTO BY CAROLYN ESTES

The wonder of SantaYoungsters enjoy a snuggle with Santa after watching The Polar Express on Saturday;.