A4-THE PERKINS JOURNAL, Thursday, July 8, 2004
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Thanks for wonderful 90th birthday
Dear Family & Friends,
What a special day each of you gave me in honor of my 90'h
birthday. Thank you for the many cards, flowers, calls, and gifts.
Your thoughtfulness, love, and friendship throughout these many
years have made Perkins a wonderful place to live.
Felsa Hastings
Perkins
Bond issue fees should remain open record
Last year Governor Henry signed a new administrative rule to
require local governmental entities to report fees paid to bond
advisors, trustees, and others when local bond issues are finalized.
Under the rule, the State Council of Bond Oversight would compile
the information on a statewide basis.
The rule is now under attack by some municipalities, school
boards, counties, bond advisors, and others before it has a chance
to work.
The reason these entities give for repeal of the rule is that the
information is available locally under the Open Records Act.
While true, it takes a lot of nerve to approach local governments
and ask, "What fees did you pay, and to whom, on that bond issue
last year?"
I'm extremely proud of the many public servants that understand
: and comply with the Open Records Act. However, sometimes
: you experience a negative response from individuals who think
Belief in the Bible
I find it interesting that all of us use our own interpretation of the
Bible to support our beliefs
Mr. Cassidy's response to what I had previously said illustrates
this. To support his inerrancy concept, he refers to a scripture in
which Jesus made reference to a Bible passage to illustrate his
teaching about marriage and divorce (Matt. 19:4-5.)
The other reference that he gave (the Sermon on the Mount) has
to do with the keeping of the law. Interestingly, Matthew follows
this statement attributed to Jesus, with an expression of doubt about
the correctness of the behavior of the scribes and the Pharisees,
whose central premise was the need to dutifully obey the law,
down to its smallest point- and that we must expect to "pay" for
the breaking of the law. Their criticism of Jesus was, of course,
that he did not teach his followers to obey the law. I would suspect
that they were especially critical of his teaching of the concept of
God's grace (forgiveness).
Again this was not necessarily a support of the inerrancy theory,
but of the law.
Just because a person may not believe every thing in the Bible,
does not by any means say that you should discard the entire Book.
When this happens, it is a tragedy.
It contains some of the most profound truths that can be found
anywhere. It is the story of a people on a journey seeking after
truth. It is the source of information about the teaching and the life
of Jesus, whom I believe left us with a message that could solve
our problems in this, the 21 st century after his death
But I cannot believe that they always had the truth, and that there
are not other sources of truth. I cannot believe that people in Bible
times had found all truth. There is no evidence that the writers in the
Bible had any sense of the vast storehouse of knowledge, informa-
tion, and understanding about the universe that we have today.
The idea that evolution is not science is rather odd. Another of
my critics, Mr. Penick, came up with the fact that evolution is a
"lynchpin" in science, with which I am prone to agree. It provides
a sound basic for fact - organization in biology. It has proven
extremely useful in the field of medicine. Since creation is ongoing
(still happening), it has been extended into the study of the universe.
It is still just a "theory," subject to questioning. There are certain
places where it does not fit perfectly. That does not keep it from
being a useful tool for discovery.
Ephraim Wall
Perkins
Intelligent designer or chance?
I have an exquisitely shaped, obsidian arrowhead, 1" long, that
my grandfather found on his farm in Oregon years ago. I can see
the marks of the hand that took simple tools and formed it so
J
[
at OSU sports events unac
Alcohol
/
We read with outrage the article "Liquor licen
for O-State sports venues" in the Stfllwater sect o
Perkins Journal. We provided financial support andl
season tickets to sports events on the OSU campus:
far as we know, alcohol IS NOT permitted on any C
property including college campuses. Why the
big donors who occupy the new suites? What kind
this send to our young people? Won't they see it
enough influence you can pick and choose which
to obey and which ones to ignore?
Keith and Doris Smalley
Shawnee, OK
The Children of Tar Creek i ]
Tar Creek in far northeastern Oklahoma has Ion
ronmental hazard, a region plagued by Iong-aband
1
and dangerously high lead levels. I recently signed
ensuring voluntary relocation and assistance forl]
Creek with children up to six years of age. This 14
lation is an important step toward protecting tho!
protect themselves.
The communities of Picher and Cardin, consider
Zero" of Tar Creek, are surrounded by chat piles tl
area's past of zinc- and lead-mining. As a result,
have endured high levels of lead contamination.
can cause a host of ailments, especially in childreJ
pointed to alarming rates of learning disabilities
young people.
As Oklahomans - more importantly, as human bci
duty to help as many of these children as possible
enjoy healthy, happy and productive lives.
Senate Bill 1490 establishes a local trust to assist v
mentation of $5 million in relocation funds. I am
legislative leaders of both parties joined together
good of people who have been neglected for too 1o
Our fellow citizens deserve opportunity, safety
matter where they reside within the borders of our
We Oklahomans are known for our ability tc
storm. The pioneers who settled this land were strol
l ead to a chiM -- the benefits last a lifetime.
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The Perkins Journal is published every Thursday at 222 N. Main
and entered as periodical postage paid at Perkins, OK 74059-0067
by Perkins Publishing Co LLC P.O. Box 667, Perkins, OK
74059-0667.
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e-mail: news @ theperkinsjournal.com
Mark Thomas
(Thomas is the Executive Vice
ciation in Oklahoma City.)
President of Oklahoma Press Asso-
the people who buy the bonds to keep the rule that requires these
fees to be reported to the state. That's where you come in.
Governor Henry needs your support to stand firm, reject the
attempt to repeal tliis rule, and continue to require these fees to be
reported to the Council of Bond Oversight Only the voice of the
people will overrule the power play of a few local governmental
entities and bond dealers who want to keep these fees a closely
guarded open record
You've probably noticed elsewhere in this week's Journal, but there
are a couple of friends and former high school classmates celebrating
their 25 wedding anniversary.
Congratulations to Tim and Kelly Spence on reaching that mile-
stone in your lives.
It sure didn't take long for summer to finally show up. For awhile
last Saturday, it almost got as hot as that proverbial firecracker.
And speaking of firecrackers here's hoping everyone had an enjoy-
able July 4 weekend holiday. I know ours was a good one, which
culminated with a cookout and fireworks display Sunday evening.
It was also great to hear there wasn't a rash of fireworks-related
fires in the area. That enabled the local volunteer firefighters to enjoy
the holiday a little bit better with their families.
And because the grounds weren't as parched as they usually are this
time of year, fireworks stands did a "booming" business throughout
the holiday (sorry folks, I couldn't let that one slide).
Jordan and I took in Friday night's performance of the Perkins
Roundup Club Open Rodeo. There was plenty of good action
throughout the performance and it was great to see the nice crowd
in the stands and in vehicles lining the fences. I don't believe you
were too disappointed.
All in all, this has to go down as one pretty good holiday weekend.
And being that the next one isn't until early September, we had better
make sure our memories last, unlike that freezer of homemade ice
cream.
i!i:/~ i~::i ~i~:~ ~:: :~: 1
Ernest Strubhar
Perkins
In my living room I have a glide rocker made from some three
dozen pieces of oak lumber, carefully cut and sanded, joined
together with screws and glues. I am told that the pattern for it came
from some Hutterite craftsmen in Alberta, Canada, who brought it
from Europe and passed it from generation to generation. I invite
you to come relax on it and tell me if you think it was formed by
an explosion in a carpenter shop plus unaided time and chance.
I am writing this letter on a computer made of many components.
I don't know how the parts work together or who put them together
to function as they do. I didn't see anyone build this computer. But
when I look at it and think about what it does, based on logical
inference, I believe that it was designed by skilled engineers and
built by careful laborers who knew what they were doing.
All of us look at the design of such everyday things and know, with-
out a flicker of a doubt, that an intelligent designer made them.
When we look around at the world we live in, we see beauty,
order and design all around. Some folks tell me that it all started
with an explosion billions of years ago. From that explosion,
unaided by any intelligence, modified only by time and chance,
came forth the beauty, order and design we all see. Do you believe
them? I don't.
Why does anyone believe such "fairy tales"? Because they're
told every body else does? Because the "tale" is repeated again and
again? Because they don't stop and think? Perhaps all of these. But
many believe these unbelievable "fairy tales" because they decide
before they ever look at the evidence that they will not believe in
the Creator God who has revealed Himself in the Bible. They don't
want to believe in Him. They don't want to answer to Him.
Healthy & Fit School Advisory
as of Sept. 1
Our "Healthy Bodies, Strong Minds"
along by Senate Bill 1627, signed by the governor
Oklahoma is one of many states choosing
of childhood obesity and the alarming health
robbing our children of good health.
Today, there are nearly twice as many
6-11) and almost three times as many overweight
12-19) as there were in 1980, according to the
Control and Prevention (CDC).
Serious health risks from obesity include
pressure, and a tendency to become overweight or i
The Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition, the Task
Health and Senator Bernest Cain led development!
It requires each school to form a Healthy
Committee to advise principals on matters re
health. The committees will include
parents, health-care
bers.
The committee's recommendations may pertain
cation, physical education, nutrition and health
school.
Students need healthier meal and snack choices
tion education, and more opportunities to be
particularly with quality Physical Education.
Since 1996, each Oklahoma school has had a
mittee to advise principals on safety issues.
and Fit School Advisory Committee may be
continuing Safe School Committee or be separate.
Consider volunteering for your school's Healthy!
Advisory Committee.
Our staff provides school staff and
tools to help develop a safe and healthy
clearly increases the likelihood of
Our 6th Annual Safe and Healthy Schools
in Oklahoma City on November 5. For details,
2106.
J
, a valuable tool to help local government select bond advisors and of Tar Creek.
'.firms when they need these services. However, the State Council If you have any questions or comments, please
of Bond Oversight recently voted to request that Governor Henry Office of the Governor, Room 212, Oklahoma C'
repeal this new rule. Council members did ask insightful questions or visit the "Contact the Governor" section of
during the public hearing, but there was no testimony on the side of www.governor.state.ok.us.
' you're poking into "their" business. The fees paid on bond issues nearly symmetrical. To me it's a work of art. If you would look at determination. We are rightly renowned around
: are everyone s business, it and tell me it was formed by chance and time, do you think that compassion and the way in which we band togethe
', The opportunity to make statewide comparisons of fees would be I would believe you? challenges. Now is the time for us to join forces fi
