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Roses popular, easy to grow in Oklahoma
Roses are one of the most popular plants in Oklahoma gardens, and many are relatively easy to grow, especially the newer varieties like the Knock Out® rose. Roses offer color and fragrance in the garden, and many make wonderful cut flowers. If you have a garden, you should try your hand at growing roses!.
03/22/2012 | Comments 0From ‘Long Black Limousine’ to Elvis
That would change years later. For the next seven years, band members came and went. Finally, Black put together a group of musicians that have been with him for more than 20 years. They include guitarist Graham Pugh, bass player Rick Alongi, drummer Bob Gorley and keyboard player Phil Sapper, formerly of Harvey and the Wallbangers.
03/01/2012 | Comments 0Young artist generates new ideas for veterans memorial expansion
“This will not be done with any public money,” said Howe, an Air Force pilot who flew B-52s during the Vietnam war. “Each statue will cost $40,000, but this type of art puts us in a different realm. It will take us into the world of art, which opens new avenues for giving.
02/23/2012 | Comments 0Fleck and Flecktones to perform April 10 at Rose State
The extraordinary initial line-up of his incredible combo are touring to support their latest recording, “Rocket Science.
02/17/2012 | Comments 0Real Life
In my presentation, I told the club members about the importance of supporting their local newspaper. After all, we received numerous compliments about our publication and its new appearance, content and local ownership. In this business, compliments can be few and far between, so we enjoyed all of the positive remarks.
02/17/2012 | Comments 0‘General’-ly speaking
In fact, every night when he goes home, the general’s hat comes off – if only temporarily – and suddenly the commander of one of the most critical U.S. Air Force bases turns into father, husband, scuba diver and avid fan of New England sports teams..
02/10/2012 | Comments 0Longtime MWC fire department spokesman Jerry Lojka retires
Lojka spent 29 years at the Midwest City Fire Department and served in several roles, including firefighter, inspector, investigator, public education officer, public information officer and fire marshal.
His favorite job was that of department spokesman as he answered questions from the press, and conveyed important fire prevention tips to the public.
Real Life: Lojka will be missed at fire department
This week’s retirement of Midwest City Fire Marshal Jerry Lojka reminded
me how an effective and well-intentioned PIO does his job. During the
past 14 months I’ve discovered that he knows his job and he understands
the role reporters play in the world of news and information.
02/03/2012 | Comments 0MWC grad, Hudson to receive national awards
Midwest City School graduate Lester Claravall will receive the prestigious Lewis Hines Award for Service to Children and Youth during a ceremony in New York City on Monday.
The award will be presented by the National Child Labor Committee, which serves as the sponsor for the Lewis Hines awards...
Images of 2012 MLK Prayer Breakfast
Several hundred people attended Midwest City’s 15th annual Martin
Luther King, Jr., Prayer Breakfast Monday at the Sheraton Hotel’s Reed
Conference Center. Featured speakers were former state legislator Angela
Monson, Oklahoma City police officer Paco Balderamma and Midwest City
graduate and current University of Oklahoma student Rodney Farrow.
01/19/2012 | Comments 0
December 3rd, 2010
Nationwide initiative grants money to school libraries
Phone service provider U.S. Cellular, through a nationwide initiative, bestowed $1 million for classroom projects around the country. A small portion of those funds came to the Mid-Del Schools.
The project paid for just 10 books for the library at the Kerr Middle School, but it was 10 more books than the library would have received this year. Due to budget cuts, and the district trimming costs left and right, it was determined that libraries would be funded, but no new books would be purchased this year.
For Kerr Librarian Deborah Baker, that meant she would have to make do with the library's collection, or look elsewhere for new material. In an average year, Baker said the library is able to purchase 300-500 new books. This year there were no new books, but she was just happy to be able to keep the lights on and her staff employed.
But there is nothing that says school librarians can't look elsewhere for funding or donations. Sometimes throughout a given school year, Baker said, people will clean out a closet or attic and drop off books. She also has occasional fundraisers for new books and supplies.
"We have not been given money to spend for books and instructional materials," she said.
At Sooner Rose Elementary, Jola Sulaiman received $433 for her "Math Matters!" program for PreK through second-grade students.
DONATING DOLLARS
U.S. Cellular funds its Calling All Teachers campaign. The company reports that for a second year it partnered with DonorsChoose.org, a philanthropic website, to provide $1 million for classroom projects submitted by teachers at public schools around the country. The money does not give any one teacher or school a windfall, but does provide a few dollars here and there for needed supplies.
Baker was familiar with DonorsChoose.org. When she read about the competition she applied.
"I just hopped right on it," she said.
The selections she chose included 10 books from the Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award list of books recommended for middle school students. The books are on display in the library, and available for checkout. Baker said her library has about 10,000 books.
In addition to getting name recognition for the company, Tommy Arens, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in Oklahoma, said he is glad the company can help teachers fill the gaps left by budget cuts.
"Teachers play a big role in the future of our children," Arens said. "We are glad to support them because we know they work hard to make every child's learning experience meaningful and fun."
HAPPY PLACE
For 2009-10, U.S. Cellular made a commitment to invest millions of dollars in education for its Calling All Communities and Calling all Teachers campaigns. When the contest was announced, teachers from around the country submitted requests for things as simple as novels and calculators, to items like LCD projectors, digital cameras and a TI-Navigator system.
"U.S. Cellular's continued support of education is definitely making an impact in schools across the nation," Charles Best, founder and CEO of DonorsChoose.org, said. "The company's donations from both last year and this year allow teachers to do more in the classroom, and our children reap the benefits."
For Baker, she was just happy to have a few more books on the library shelves.
"We have no specific funding for new books," Baker said. "These are very welcome."
photo Deborah Baker was able to acquire 10 books for the Kerr Middle School library. Kelley Chambers
The project paid for just 10 books for the library at the Kerr Middle School, but it was 10 more books than the library would have received this year. Due to budget cuts, and the district trimming costs left and right, it was determined that libraries would be funded, but no new books would be purchased this year.
For Kerr Librarian Deborah Baker, that meant she would have to make do with the library's collection, or look elsewhere for new material. In an average year, Baker said the library is able to purchase 300-500 new books. This year there were no new books, but she was just happy to be able to keep the lights on and her staff employed.
But there is nothing that says school librarians can't look elsewhere for funding or donations. Sometimes throughout a given school year, Baker said, people will clean out a closet or attic and drop off books. She also has occasional fundraisers for new books and supplies.
"We have not been given money to spend for books and instructional materials," she said.
At Sooner Rose Elementary, Jola Sulaiman received $433 for her "Math Matters!" program for PreK through second-grade students.
DONATING DOLLARS
U.S. Cellular funds its Calling All Teachers campaign. The company reports that for a second year it partnered with DonorsChoose.org, a philanthropic website, to provide $1 million for classroom projects submitted by teachers at public schools around the country. The money does not give any one teacher or school a windfall, but does provide a few dollars here and there for needed supplies.
Baker was familiar with DonorsChoose.org. When she read about the competition she applied.
"I just hopped right on it," she said.
The selections she chose included 10 books from the Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award list of books recommended for middle school students. The books are on display in the library, and available for checkout. Baker said her library has about 10,000 books.
In addition to getting name recognition for the company, Tommy Arens, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in Oklahoma, said he is glad the company can help teachers fill the gaps left by budget cuts.
"Teachers play a big role in the future of our children," Arens said. "We are glad to support them because we know they work hard to make every child's learning experience meaningful and fun."
HAPPY PLACE
For 2009-10, U.S. Cellular made a commitment to invest millions of dollars in education for its Calling All Communities and Calling all Teachers campaigns. When the contest was announced, teachers from around the country submitted requests for things as simple as novels and calculators, to items like LCD projectors, digital cameras and a TI-Navigator system.
"U.S. Cellular's continued support of education is definitely making an impact in schools across the nation," Charles Best, founder and CEO of DonorsChoose.org, said. "The company's donations from both last year and this year allow teachers to do more in the classroom, and our children reap the benefits."
For Baker, she was just happy to have a few more books on the library shelves.
"We have no specific funding for new books," Baker said. "These are very welcome."
photo Deborah Baker was able to acquire 10 books for the Kerr Middle School library. Kelley Chambers
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