2-THE PERKINS JOURNAL, Thursday, July 12, 2001
#
Editor,
1%
I enjoy the local news. The column by Allan Wall regarding
3 ..................... Mexico is very insightful. Also, Charles Wall really invokes the
'li TO best of memories.
:/ Very best for the Heartland of America on this Fourth of July.
........ ' Joe A. Carson
................ : ............... Brooklyn, NY
I;, ....... .
3 We welcome letters to the editor. All letters must be signed wtth a
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t number won't be published). Please keep them as brief as possible. ,
i The editor reserves the right to reject any letter that is considered
I libelous or in bad taste.
, )To the Editor: IJo.malAssistantEditor/JUtlll A weekly column by Rick Lomenick
; i After reading the comments of the County Commissioners con- I / iJl
'. cerning the county truck permit system being shut down by the
state, I felt compelled to reply.
12 If not for the hard headed, close-minded stubbornness of the 27 days and counting! -
, Board of Payne County Commissioners, we could have a work-
• able road policy in place today, that would both conserve our roads
I,
'1 and permit local commerce, but in typical political bureaucratic
I ': logic, our County Commissioners came up with and put in place a
,: system that was as confusing and cumbersome as it was asinine.
That was why our State officials, after asking the county to back
Mark Aug. 7 down on your calendar because that is one of the
many significant dates coming up. That is when high school foot-
ball practice begins for the upcoming season.
The Demons will join a multitude of other high school teams in
preparing for the new campaign. In some instances, there won't be
as much preparing because of a solid spring practice session, a
bB ~ talL< t, adio
&~bvacb0d
a V, call Vaot 'mtil
ar viu¢.
Had a wonderful time in North Carolina visiting
week. The lush coolness of the Smoky Mountains
contrast to our summer heat. We wore shorts
!'!
up and rethink what they were trying to do, stepped in. It had noth- great team camp plus many of the players spending time in the
- ing to do with "picking on Payne County" but everything to do weight room physically preparing themselves, the day, but the evenings called for sweatshirts.
i : with reasonable and enforceable laws. ,, The Summer Pride program has been a good one. Occasionally I had never visited that area t efo re and really
.! .! Let's examine what the "over-weight truck permit really was. I'll stop by there in the evenings where you can see at least a dozen, into Atlanta, met Lianna who arrived from Denver,
i First, the overwhelming majority of trucks were not and are not maybe more, student-athletes working out. There's not much goof- to Sylva, NC where our friends, Tara and Jubal, live.
overweight. Calling it an overweight truck doesn't make it over ing off either. As you watch many of the players working out, you a bit of a surprise. I had not expected it to be so fiat.
. weight. Our trucks, for instance, are licensed for 54,0 . pounds as can see they are focused on making themselves better for the team. hilly until you get nearly to the northern border c
,'o "required by federal and state statutes, and they don t weigh that P-T's two pre-season scrimmages will be on the road. The first is
. much, so they are not overwe|glat There are already laws on Aug. 17 in Oologah and the second is a week later at Blackwell. shouldn t have been surprised I guess. Georgia is 1
the books to deal with overweight trucks, regardless of what road Both will start at 6 p.m. The real thing starts Aug. 31 at Jones with farming.
- . .... a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Sylva is nestled right in the mountains, and beautixt
,. 2or h ghway they may be on. The Comrmss oners could never ex-
i S plain how they came upon the 30,000 pound limit. Next, and this In talking to many of the players in recent weeks, they are all hike are close at hand. We kept the windows of the
. -was the silly part, under the ex-system, I would apply for and re- excited and ready for the season to begin. They all share the same all times, which was nice because a mountain stream
• .ceive an open-ended permit, which I was to then use to issue my- goal of playing in that 15th game of the season for the gold ball. the window of the room I was staying in. It was very
Con.sidering the success we had last year, that is a very good possi- cool.
r" self a permit as required or needed. I could then travel on any rural bility.
1 :.road in Payne County as often as I "NEEDED" to, whenever I But until then, the wait and the countdown continue. One evening we drove nearly to the top of a mo
/ "NEEDED" to, as long as I first issued myself a permit to myself , , , , , about 20 minutes away from Sylva, then hiked the restt
by myself for myself. One permit for the trip in, then trash it be- In just a few weeks the high school fast-pitch softball team will
cause it was no longer valid and write myself another permit for begin preparing for their fall season. They too are hoping to im-
.... the trip home. No record keeping to check for compliance. The prove on the success they had last year. The Lady Demons were a
".cost of the permit was free, so no revenue was raised for road re-
,pair, wear and tear on the roads was avoided because I issued my-
: "self a permit, all that was saved was political face and political
: cover, so the commissioners could blame incompetent road sur-
faces on those big ole ugly trucks that everyone loves to hate. That
- was why the State stepped in.
In closing and getting off my
soapbox, let me state that most
Speople I know, truck driver or not, want to live and drive on "im-
proved" roads. I hope the county leaders will come up with a work-
," able policy to conserve our roads, keeping in mind that as roads
are upgraded and improved, Payne County is an agricultural and
7oil and gas county, of which both industries require the movement
7of heavy equipment on county roads. The farmer/rancher with his
7pickup and bale spike with a bale of hay exerts more force per
square inch on the road surface than my big truck. I still do not
~understand why "as needed" or "no thru trucks" policy won't sat-
,dsfy. Stillwater, Cushing and other Payne County municipalities
,have just such a policy. BilF ontinually railed about the bootleg-
gers and frequent phone calls from two old ladies constantly com-
plaining about their roads. There are current laws to deal with the
2bootlegger, can't help you With the two old ladies.
" B
,J.. Niccum
:Cushing, Oklahoma
(USPS #42-8040)
The Perkins Journal is published every Thursday at 111 E. Stumbo
and entered as periodical postage paid at Perkins, OK 74059-0040
by Pomegranate, lnc, P.O. Box 40, Perkins, OK 74059-0040.
Phone 405/547-2411
Fax 405/547-5640
e-mail: theperkinsjournal@provalue, net
Cindy and Keith Sheets-Publishers
Rick Lomenick-Assistant Editor
Stacy Beal - Production Manager
The publishers are solely responsible for content and any errors
will be promptly corrected when brought to the attention of the
~blishers.
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ALL CONTENTS COPYRIGHTED 2001
eltiJlllm~ imam tuoglmlm
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Name
to the summit. It was so beautiful up
were getting ready to leave we looked out
covered all but the very tops of the mountains. It
of looking at islands floating in the sea - very
cal.
It was so nice visiting all week. I don't think we
until at least 2 a.m. each day, some nights we
that. Both Tara and Jubal teach at colleges in the
sit in on a couple of Tara's classes in World Religions.
fun. (I didn't have to take notes, you see.)
All that activity caught up with me during the
Sunday. I had a four hour drive back to Atlanta,
tough. I left early because I didn't know if I would hart
navigating the Atlanta traffic. It turned out to be
through the city. (And yes, our car did come with a
system, but as Keith surmised, I couldn't run it. GueSS
engineering degree...)
I did see enough from the interstate to know that
visit Atlanta again and investigate her many historical:
There was a marked contrast between the Aflant
airports. In Atlanta, I had to actually take a train to
gage. It is so huge!
I also noticed a big difference in the traffic.
six lanes going in each direction. And boy, were tl
fast. After that it seemed like I nearly had the Tulsa
game away from making the state tournament. And with the antici-
pated talent available, there isn't any reason why that can't hap-
pen.
There'll also be an addition to the P-T softball program. A sev-
enth and eighth grade squad will take to the field. Having seen
some of these girls play at the park and recreation level then take
their talents to various tournament teams, the lineup could be very
solid. It could be a very enjoyable fall season for P-T athletics.
Make your plans now to be a part of it.
Now a follow-up to last week's remarks.
In visiting with a member of the Perkins Round-Up Club, I was
surprised on how so much can be done by so few and turn out to be
so successful.
I was told that the membership in the organization was just a hand-
ful and that despite the low numbers, all have a voice on all topics
brought before the group. This information came from a very reli-
able person.
Many years ago as a youngster I can remember the Round-Up
Club membership was quite high. But that isn't the case now. Still,
the organization is able to put together a good open rodeo year-end
and year out.
So even though the quantity isn't there, the quality of those mak-
ing up that organization takes up the slack. Keep up the good work!
First United Methodist Church
&: Strategic Professional Advisors
Presen t:
!-
An Educational Workshop
The Impact of Long-Term Illness on Your Family
-Emotional & Financial-
Where do you start? Who pays when MEDICARE STOPS paying?
Learn your option's.
When is the best time to plan?
When you "re healthy.
Who needs to plan?
I out of 2 people will need Lortg Term Care.
Which one are you?
ST&T| FAIR OF OKLAHOMA
m~ IN i m~ mm al mm ml 11
out this form and mail with •
1
myself.
It was good to
is always t
own bed, isn't it?
Keith Harris
Gayle and the girls
the road this week.
They went up
City to see the
they got on the
the crowd outside).
they all had their
shirts on !
They also
people from 20/20
backstage there, too.
they met
tickets for Re
IAddress
"N.,.
~C~Ye State Zip
s: One year in Oklahoma...$28
Where? Perkins First United Methodist Church, 1005 East Kirk, 547-2481
When? July 17, 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., Seating is limited
Please RSVP by July 16 to Stephanie Hyder - 547-1252.
One year out of state...$32
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m-mmmmm mm mm m mmm m m mmm mm
Hope they
when they get
nobbin' with all
all...
Don't
Street GolJ
20th.
For information a
ing in the
to call Kim Brady at
Cushin Hos
A Service ofHillcrest HealthCare System
Is Happy To Welcome
Specializing in Family Medicine
To Our Medical Staff
Dr. Grellner is now seeing patients in his office at Cushing
Specialists. To schedule your appointment, please call:
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