Apache Wins By One point over Yukon at the MacArthur VEX Competition

BY DENNIS LINAM

JAN. 10, 2015

Final Round (2015) By Dennis Linam

LAWTON OKLAHOMA – JANUARY 10 –Teams of Robot-Building Students from Oklahoma Used the VEX IQ CHALLENGE and STEM Skills (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) to Test robotic skills at MacArthur Middle School Gym Saturday. The Robot Tournament qualifications Began at 9 AM  finalizing at 6:30 PM with Apache winning the Finals.

Apache broke a second round tie to win a 1 point advantage over Yukon in the finals.

49 teams including smaller robots call VEX IQ for the younger kids were on site. Leading middle and high school VEX Robotics students and mentors from around Oklahoma uniting at the MacArthur Middle School Gym on Saturday for a VEX robot tournament. The action-packed event featured teams competing with and against one another in a series of back-to-back robot challenges. Apache competed for the championship title by strategically executing an obstacle course, driving robots they designed, built and programmed from the ground up using the VEX Robotics Design System.

PSO and Outside state volunteer power company’s getting ready for Oklahoma Ice storm #Storm

BY DENNIS LINAM

JAN. 2, 2015

According to PSO…

Power and cutting crews (2015) by Dennis Linam

PSO continues to prepare for potential freezing rain and ice, which is forecasted to occur in southwestern Oklahoma between now and 2 a.m. Saturday. According to the latest National Weather Service forecast, ice accumulations in the areas near Lawton, Altus, Weatherford, Chickasha and Hobart may exceed ½-inch which could result in power outages. A significant ice event in eastern Oklahoma appears unlikely.

Over 900 PSO and contract employees are on standby and prepared to mobilize quickly to repair damage that may occur as a result of the storm. Approximately 275 workers from Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee and Mississippi are arriving today to provide additional assistance. Combined, there will be about 1,175 workers ready to respond if the storm hits as forecasted and power outages occur.

CUSTOMER MESSAGES

Power and cutting crews (2015) by Dennis Linam

• For safety’s sake, assume that any downed utility line is energized with deadly electric current. Stay away from the line and do not touch it with anything. Report it to PSO at 1-888-218-3919

• For your own personal safety, please do not approach utility vehicles in your neighborhood to ask crews when power will be restored. Outward vision from the large utility vehicles can be limited. The crew may not see someone who has walked up to their work truck.

• Unless you have installed a transfer switch that isolates your home’s wiring from PSO’s electric system, do not connect a portable generator directly to a wall outlet or your electrical panel. This can cause electricity to back-feed into PSO’s electric system and pose a safety hazard for repair workers. Instead, plug your appliances directly into the generator.

INFORMATION

Power and cutting crews (2015) by Dennis Linam

We will continue to provide additional information until power is restored.

A “snapshot” view of current outages is available anytime at https://www.psoklahoma.com/outages

For additional information on what we’re doing to prepare for the storm as well as restoration efforts, please “like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter:

Facebook.com/PSOklahoma Twitter.com/PSOKlahoma

 

Holiday of Consideration, Not Assault! #DomesticViolence

BY DENNIS LINAM

DEC. 22, 2014

“Oklahoma Domestic Homicide statistics have went from number 11 to number 4 in the nation.”

(Melinda McQueen, Executive Director of the Chickasha Women’s Service & Family Resource Center)

In 2014 Grady County toxic relationships were major headlines throughout the year. A news report from the Oklahoma Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board shows an increase in domestic homicides. According to the Chickasha Police Department blotter, four incidences of domestic violence happened between December 19 and the 22^nd.

As we approach the Holiday Season take the time to redirect frustrations and anxieties through productive activities like helping out at the local homeless shelter and showing extra appreciation of family.

(According to National Coalition against Domestic Violence)

In the US 4 million women, nearly 7 a minute are battered.

5 million intimate partner victimization occur with nearly 2 million injuries and nearly 1,300 deaths.

1 in 3 experience domestic violence in their lifetime.

In the time it takes me to talk to you, 26 people will be assaulted by an intimate partner in the U.S. In roughly 48 hours afterwords, thousands around the world will be killed or abused…

Do not be a statistic save these numbers:

For immediate Help call:

In Chickasha call                    405-224-8256

The Crisis Center Crisis:         405-222-1818

Crisis Hotline:                         800-734-4117 (In state only)

Or visit the Chickasha Women’s Service & Family Resource Center at 1628 South 17th Street.

7 Signs of Toxic Relationships

By Dennis Linam

November 21, 2014

In Grady County 2014 toxic relationships were major headlines. What happened? Boyfriend admitting to killing girlfriend, and a recent execution style murder of a friend. In both cases the significant other was abused. In the latter one victim was forced to watch while the boyfriend turned a shotgun on her friend. No one saw the signs… or were friends, family and the victims afraid?

Even the most loving and stable relationship has problems. When one side builds a wall of emotional or physical superiority over the other, rehashing the connection may save a life. Anyone can be lured into a toxic relationship, and recognizing toxicity is vital to getting out, or staying away.

 Retrieved from Watchwellcast. (2014)

Susan Swann of Familyshare Provides This Toxic Watch List

Watch for:

1. Continuous controlling or intimidating acts.
2. Caught in multiple lies.
3. Continuously making you feel sorry for them.
4. Continuous chaotic activity.
5. Constant negativity and gossiping.
6. Belittling to others (shouting at you or mean to you in private or in front of others).
7. Continuously explaining situations to others without allowing your input.

How to disengage provided by psychologytoday.com authors Rosemary K.M. Sword and Philip Zimbardo, Ph.D.

How to End Toxic Relationships:

1. Step out of denial!
2. Identify the perks (discover how you feel in the present) .
3. Fill the hole, (Find alternative sources of peace).
4. Surround yourself with positive.
5. Heal the shame (replace past negative with a bright future positive

Huffington Post. (2014) Picture of columnist and blogger Soraya Chemaly. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com

“In the time it takes me to write this paragraph, 26 people — given our statistics probably all women —will be assaulted by an intimate partner in the U.S. In the roughly 48 hours between my writing and posting, at least six women in the U.S. and hundreds if not thousands around the world will be killed… (Soraya Chemaly writer for the Huffington Post).

For immediate Help

PO Box 1539
Chickasha, OK 73023
405-224-8256
Crisis Center Crisis: 405-222-1818
Crisis: 800-734-4117 (In state only)
Fax: 405-224-4406 Chickasha Women’s Service & Family Resource Center. Web Address: http://ocadvsa.org/get-help/

 

Magazine Article: Native American Football and Arena Star Joins the Festivities in Anadarko

The Anadarko American Indian Exposition

BY DENNIS LINAM

Photo retrieved from ndnsports.com, (2012) Picture taken during Levi Horn’s 2012, signing to the Minnesota, Vikings Pro football team.

ANADARKO – Professional Football Star, Levi Horn will Conduct a Meet-and-Greet Aug. 9 at the 81st American Indian Exposition in Anadarko, Oklahoma.

The 81rd American Indian Expo will start Tuesday, Aug. 5, and continued through the ninth. The president of the American Indian Exposition, Janis Wermy Tuesday explained to the Caddo County and City of Anadarko officials the events and needs in preparation for the multi-tribe extravaganza.

Twelve tribes will be represented in the festival. “Every person is welcome to attend, this is not just an Indian event,” Wermy clarified. “Everyone is welcome to visit and enjoy our Indian heritage.”

During the city meeting Rocky Rogers, a possible successor to Wormy, provided an in-depth discussion concerning the need for the local community interaction during Indian nation sponsored events. He explained, although the approximate cost of running the exposition is approximately $250,000, local business revenue generated, outweighs the initial cost and additional work. “The importance of remembering culture and passing the torch to the younger generations is important,” Rogers concluded.

Picture retrieved from americanindianexposition.org (2014). Picture of 2013-2014 Miss American Indian Exposition.

Tuesday, Aug. 5, the festivities begins at 5:15 p.m. with a beautiful baby contest registration at the Anadarko high school auditorium. The contest will start at 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 8 a.m. registration for the parade begins, followed by the downtown parade at 10 a.m. The parade route will end at the Caddo County Fairgrounds. Because of the 12 Indian tribes’ and additional registrations, the parade will last approximately 2 hours.

 

Photos retrieved from kiowatribe.org (2014) Picture taken during 2014 Kyowa clan celebration.

Events available to the family throughout the day:

• Arts and Crafts/Food Venders
• E & B Carnival
• Child Care Mini-Powwow
• 7 p.m. Grand Entry at Grandstands.
• Tiny tots entrance.
• Pageant

Thursday, Aug. 7, starting at 10 a.m.
• Arts & Crafts/Food Venders and Carnival
• Kiowa Tia-Piah Society Horseshoe
• Honor Past residents Linda Poolaw and Sonny Tartsah

 

Map retrieved from americanindianexposition.org (2014). Picture of 2013-2014 Miss American Indian Exposition.

• 7 p.m. Grand Entry at the Caddo County Fair Grounds Grandstands.
• Tiny Tots
• Juniors and Teens Contest
• Adult Contests

Friday. Aug. 8, starting at 10 a.m.

• Arts & Crafts/Food Venders

• Princess Pow Wow- Horseshoe
• Musician Gene Logan of Moccasin Trail and the group Eagle Claw performance.
• 5:30 Princess Banquet at the Baldwin Building.
• 7 p.m. Grand Entry

Map retrieved from http://www.ezilon.com (2014)

Saturday, Aug. 9, starting at 10 a.m.

• Horseshoes and archery tournament.
• 8 a.m. Parade Registration and line-up Downtown Anadarko
• 9 a.m. Poker Run registration at the Caddo County Fair Grounds
• 10 a.m. Parade Downtown Anadarko
• Kiowa Apache Blackfeet society
• Past Presidents Miles Stephenson and Joe Fish Dupoint
• 7 p.m. Grand Entry Caddo County Fair Grounds
• Recognition of Indian of the Year, Lisa Billy. State House Representatives District 42.
• Introduction of Celebrity of the Year Levi Horn a professional football player.

Each day of the Indian Exposition will provide family oriented heritage and cultural events. Beginning with the parade Wednesday, extending into archery and dancing, the event has the makings of a fun outing to put on the calendar.

 

Picture retrieved from trialx.com (2014). Picture of Levi Horn’s Chicago Bears jersey.

Saturday’s closing proceedings will contain numerous awards ceremonies and the appearance of the Celebrity of the Year; Levi Horn.

Horn previously played professional football for the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings. He is now an arena football player assigned to the N.M. Stars. He is deeply passionate about his Cheyenne Indian heritage and involved in the Native American community. His membership in the Cheyenne tribe has allowed him to work with government entities in the “Let’s Move” campaign in the battle against childhood obesity. The Meet and Greet with Horn will start around 7 p.m. Saturday.