Meeting discusses Farm Bill

Sen. Frank Lucas, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack visit Canadian County to talk about bills purpose
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February 11,2015
Vol. 10, Issue 26

Inside the
Times
Local

Dads, daughters
hit the dance floor

By Traci Chapman

Contributing Writer
At the Farm Bills first anni
versary, two men who made it a
reality visited Canadian County
to discuss its past, present and
future.
The gathering, held in
Redland Community Colleges
conference center, brought
together Sen. Frank Lucas
and U.S. Secretary of Agricul
ture Tom Vilsack, who spoke
to state and federal officials,
farmers, ranchers, association
representatives, students, media
and more.
Getting the Farm Bill
passed last year was no easy

feat, Lucas, R-OK, said. After

countless amendments, com
mittee meetings, an impas
sioned speech and a time when
it appeared the bill might be
struck down for good, bipar
tisan support finally made it a
reality.
It was the most challenging
process since the 1930s, and
at one point I was asked if I
wanted to pull the bill, Lucas
said. My concern was if it got
pulled, there would be conse
quences - that there would be
no Farm Bill.
The bill initiated several
changes, not only for farmers,

-Staffphoto by Traci Chapman

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack talks to local farmers at Redlands

Community College about the new Farm Bill that he and Sen. Frank Lucas
(pictured left) helped pass. The bill provides assistance to farmers who
suffer losses.

See BILL, Page 5A

Grant gives school a high-tech edge Minco resident

ggfsm
The Minco High School
senior class held a dad,
daughter dance to raise
funds for their after-prom
party. -See Page 10A

named to Bryan
Co. Hall of Fame

-Photo by Melinda Morrison - Minco Public Schools

M

Oklahoma Educational Technology

Trust representative Susie Graves
visited Minco High School last week
to see how the school was using a
$65,000 technology grant it received.

Health

Holly Fitzgerald played for the Bokchito

Lady Roughriders, a team that was added
to the list of pioneers of womens basketball

change in Oklahoma schools, said Dr. Phil

Berkenbile, OETT Board of Trustees chair.
Improving overall student achievement and
learning through the use of technology is our
goal.
OETT was established in 2001 as a result
of an agreement between then Attorney Gen
eral Drew Edmondson and AT&T Oklahoma
during the companys transition to a modem
form of regulation. As part of the agreement,
AT&T contributed $30 million to establish

Minco resident. Holly Fitzgerald, along

with her teammates, was inducted into the
Bryan County Athletics Hall of Fame last
Saturday.
The Bokchito
Lady Roughriders
of 1986 and 1987
were honored
during the Bryan
County Basketball
Championship
games and were
added to the list of
Pioneers of Wom
ens Basketball.
During 1986, the
Lady Roughriders
had an amazing
record of 28-2.
Minco's Holly Fitzgerald
They defeated
played for the Bokchito
Lady Roughriders. They
teams with top
made it to State in 1986
state scoring
and 1987.
leaders, but were
overpowered by Lookeba-Sickles in the
first round of State Playoffs. Lookeba-Sick
les went on to claim the State Champion
ship that year.
Their record in 1987 was also outstanding
at 27-4.
Fitzgerald and her teammates once again
made it to the State Tournament. They drew
Lomega and lost a tough match 59-54.
Lomega went on to win the 1987 State

See GRANT, Page 2A

See HALL, Page 3A

Dr. David Lipschitz

says being your parents
parent is difficult but
rewarding...
-See Page 6A

Sports
Lady Bulldogs win
on Senior Night

Gus Duty led the Minco

Lady Bulldogs with 18
points in a comeback
victory over Hinton on
Saturday night. The Lady
Bulldogs overcame a ninepoint deficit to win 42-34.
-See Page 7 A

Local Weather
Wed

56/30

2/11

A few showers possible, windy

Highs in the mid 50s and lows in
the low 30s

Thu

50/30

2/12

Partly cloudy Highs in the low 50s

and lows in the low 30s

In " #
Sunshine Highs In the low 60s
and lows In the mid 30s

Minco High School putting technology

grant funds to use in the classroom
Representatives from the Oklahoma Edu
cational Technology Trust (OETT) visited
Minco High School on Tuesday, Feb. 3 to
participate in a site visit to see the schools
2014 OETT grant in action.
The $65,000 grant provides technology
and professional development to students
and educators at Minco High School. The
OETT representatives visited the school to
see how students and teachers are employ
ing the technology and training to enhance
classroom learning.
OETT is focused on creating long-term

Sheriffs office recognized

as an 0SU-0KC partner
On Thursday, Canadian County Sheriff Randall
Edwards was presented with a certificate of appreciation
by Natalie Shirley, President of OSU-OKC, and Oklaho
ma Secretary of Education under Governor Mary Falin.
Edwards recognition took place dunng the Universi
tys renaming ceremony of the new Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) department;
which was previously known as the Science & Engi
neering department.
Sheriff Edwards partnership led and enabled OSU to
develop a computer forensic course modeled after the
Forensics Investigation Division he created upon taking
See PARTNERSHIP, Page 3A

Sheriff Randall Edwards receiving his Certificate of Appreciation from OSU-OKC Pres
ident Natalie Shirley, and Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Division
Director, Armando Cruz-Rodz.

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