Vol. 138, No. 39
$1.00 Wednesday, April 4, 2018 skiatookjournal.com
Enrollment time Goin’ hunting Pre-K and
Pirates win
Sperry takes first at Northeastern Oklahoma Baseball Classic | 3
Kindergarten enrollment April 26 | 7
2018 Easter Egg Hunt excites local children
|8
All-Staters
Fire destroys Skiatook family’s home By Lindsey Renuard News Editor
Stacia Spears (left) and Mackenzie Wise both made the AllState Cheerleading Team. SUBMITTED
Spears and Wise make All-State Cheer squad By Lindsey Renuard | News Editor
S
tacia Spears and Mackenzie Wise made Skiatook High School history this year by becoming All-State Cheerleaders. This is the first year that SHS has had two girls qualify for the honor. Both Spears and Wise took gymnastics when they were little, and that helped encourage them to get involved with cheerleading. “I grew up around cheerleading,” Spears said. “Both of my step-sisters did and I always looked up to them.” Cheerleading is often overlooked as a sport and many don’t realize how difficult it actually is. Stunts are extremely dangerous and require a lot of practice, concentration and trust. Spears love basing, that is being the support and strength at the bottom of a challenging stunt. “I always like trying out new things,” she said. “Cheer is physical and mental. You have to be cautious, aware, clear. It’s dangers and you have to be able to depend on the other girls in the squad.” Wise enjoys the tumbling aspect of cheerleading the most. “We practice about 15 hours a week during cheer seasons. And many of us do year round competitive cheer
Senior candidate Stacia Spears and escort Cash Calfyat wrestling homecoming. Spears was also a basketball homecoming candidate.
Senior candidate, Mackenzie Wise and escort Sawyer Seago at baketball’s homecoming. AMY GARNER photos/Skiatook Journal
as well, like we do,” Wise said. She and Spears both participate on competitive squads. The high school squad also attends a cheer camp during the summer as well as competes in the regional and state
competitions. “I’ve made a lot of friends that I never would have expected,” Wise said, and Spears agreed. “As soon as » see cheer, 2
Churches to feed kids during walkout By Lindsey Renuard News Editor
On Monday, March 19 several churches, teachers, and community individuals came together to discuss plans on how to best help our community kids and families in the event of a teacher walk-out on April 2. “Our primary concern was to make sure our children and families were provided with meals,” said Skiatook First United Methodist Pastor Susan Whitley.
Several churches will be walk up sites for kids to come and get a lunch to go. Bag lunches will be provided from 11 a.m. -1 p.m. each day through the walk-out. Students may get lunch from the nearest distribution center to their house, or from any church that is a distribution center. Locations include: • First United Methodist—1007 Osage (across from Marrs Elem.) • First Baptist Church—940 W. Oak (Oak St. Campus) • Lighthouse Church—709 E.
4th St. (behind Tastee Freeze) • First Presbyterian Church—300 E. 2nd St. (across from Post Office) • Tri-County Baptist Church –397930 W. 4100 Rd. • Ascension Church and Family Worship Center will deliver lunches to the area behind Mr Bass ---please contact Ascension Church at (918) 396-4930. Heaven Sent Food Pantry at the Assembly of God Church on Osage St. will have extra food on hand and are waving all qualification requirements.
A Skiatook family home is a total loss after a fire on Saturday, March 24. The Skiatook Fire Department was called out to the 5500 square foot home at 11:58 a.m. “When units arrive on the scene, the residence was fully involved,” said Chief Jim Annas. “There was just no hope when we got there.” In addition to the house there was a two story detached garage exposure. The firefighters focused their efforts on saving the garage, but the risk of a chimney collapse made use of the hand lines unsafe. The home had three chimneys approximately 45-50 feet high. “As the primary residence burned away, those chimneys became a significant hazard to anyone in their collapse zone,” Annas said. The risk of collapse and significant injury was too great and the decision was made to pull back since the garage was in the collapse zone. Firefighters were able to get some tolls and equipment out of the garage. In addition to the two structures, there were two propane tanks on the property. A 500 gallon tank was on fire and the pressure relief valve had already popped. The tank was venting propane and they let the tank burn itself out. “We used one of our specialized Wildland vehicles Squad 6, a custom modified 6 wheeled military vehicle to spray water on the 1000 gallon tank and prevent it from catching fire,” Annas said. As the fire burned, firefighters also had to steer efforts to fighting spot fires in the yard due to dry, windy conditions. Owens and Company posted across the creek to fight any brush fires that may have occurred and to protect surrounding structures. Sperry Fire Department and Country Corner Fire Department also responded to assist with the fire. “The sheer volume of fire was beyond the magnitude of water we had to throw at it,” Annas said. There was not a hydrant for fire teams to hook up to in the area, so all water came from tanker trucks. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Families may come and get groceries on Thursdays from 1-4:30 p.m. for as many weeks as the walk-out lasts. Other churches not listed as distribution sites are pairing with these locations to help insure our children do not go hungry! If you would like to help or donate at any of these locations, please let them know. “Thanks to everyone who attended the meeting. It was wonderful to see everyone working together,” Whitley said.
KEVIN TUCKER/Skiatook Journal
In this issue Community........................ 2-3 Viewpoints.............................4 Sports...................................... 5 Education............................6-7 Faith........................................8 News..................................9-10 S K I AT O O K J O U R N A L Outdoors...............................11 SkiatookJournal.com
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