From Your Sad Publisher & Executive Editor:

“O LORD, make me know my end
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting I am!
Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
and my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!
Selah
—Ps. 39:4-5 (ESV)

“You can’t see anything properly while your eyes are blurred with tears.”
C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

Many of my friends and fellow Welchkins are grieving a loss. In fact, we all are. Let’s face it, it’s always a tragedy when a person passes from this world in a traffic accident. It’s more painful when that person is young, and the promise, hope, and potential of a full life of possibilities passes with him. It’s just plain excruciating when the one who goes was the much-loved, all-around swell guy Justin Berry was.

And I say that as a person who, unfortunately, did not know Justin. That is to say I don’t recall ever meeting him, and from what I have learned about him these last few days, I doubt I could have forgotten if I had met him. Since the news of the accident began to spread via Facebook, I have had opportunity to learn about him, talk to some of his friends, read things about him, and look back at his Facebook wall. It appears to me that he was, as his obituary says, what God intended a true Southern gentleman to be. And that must surely mean that our loss is heaven’s gain.

And it strikes me that if I, knowing only of Justin, can feel this deep sense of loss, those of you who did know and love—and were loved by—this exceptional young man, must be in agony as you grieve. As much as I wish there were something I could do or say to ease your pain, I know there’s nothing I can offer you. Nothing I type here, nothing I say on a live audio webcast, nothing I sent upward in prayer can do anything to so much as make you feel one iota better about losing your friend. And then it hits me. That’s a darn good thing. Your pain tells you this is real. He was real. His love for you was real. Your affection for him was real. And it’s still real. It is that pain you feel that stands up and shouts in your soul that you loved your friend. No one mourns a deadbeat. We didn’t shed tears when Hitler, Saddam, and Bin Laden left us—in fact we made them go. But there are some people in our lives, and we are blessed if we know just a few in life, who make us better just because they exist. I’m learning that Justin Berry was one such man.

So what can I say? What should I say? Well, because I agree with what C.S. Lewis wrote in A Grief Observed, which he wrote following the death of the wife he loved so dearly, that “You can’t see anything properly while your eyes are blurred with tears,” I want to ask those who I know hold a degree of guilt in this loss to let it go. From visiting with some of you, I know that because Justin was on his way to play ball with you at the time of the accident you feel a twinge of guilt or some level of responsibility. I beg of you, please don’t.

If I can offer any advice, and I hope that maybe I can, it is that Justin seems to me to be the type of man who would have wanted to leave this earth doing what he loved.

After all these years and all the advances of science and technology, the death rate is still 100%. Not one of us gets out of here alive. And I think maybe deep down we all have some fantasy of leaving on our own terms, in the way we’d like to go. If that’s true, knowing what I have recently learned of Mr. Berry, I feel relatively confident saying he would be glad that when his time came, he was found in the midst of the life he loved, on his way to be with his friends he loved and who loved him back.

You all are seeing in ways no book or teacher could ever teach you that your lives matter. In the book of Timothy in the Bible, the Apostle Paul wrote to young Timothy, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” I’ve heard this mis-preached by some who think it means that young people are worthy of no criticism, and we all know that’s not true (young or old, we’re all worthy of some pretty big criticism). What Paul is advising Timothy is that he can disarm those who would dismiss him for being young by how he talks and acts and believes and loves and lives. I’ve become convinced that Justin Berry knew what that meant.

For you young friends of ours, I don’t know if you can even fathom the hope and dreams many of us have when we look at you. I’m not related to any of you, and I love you so much that I’m sitting here tearing up while I write this. I can’t even begin to understand what your parents must feel for you and the aspirations they must have for you.

This is the reason we tell you to do well in school. It’s the reason we cheer while you make your best efforts in sports. It’s why we want you to have good schools, and pay our taxes so you will. It’s why we beg you not to make stupid decisions now that could derail your futures. It’s why we implore you not to put alcohol and other crap in your bodies. It’s why we tell you to slow it down and don’t text when you drive and call us when you get there. It’s why we hope you’ll be married to the love of your life before you start making babies. It’s why we admire you for being responsible, caring people who stand up for those who can’t stand for themselves. It’s why you have a special place in our hearts when you give it all you have, whatever ends up on a scoreboard. There’s a life for you out there, and Lord, how it needs to be lived! And with everything you have and are.

Your late friend has shown you, and in fact is still showing you, how much one single life can mean to those it intersects. I don’t have to tell you how much our world would improve if we all lived more like Justin Berry did.

And so in this loss, my grief is comforted by the fact that Justin’s friends and family saw in him—felt from him—a faith that said He knew Christ. In that we can be sure of his destiny. What we cannot be certain about are our own earthly fates. Some of us have years to go; some of us may have days left here below; most of us have spans that fall somewhere in between, and it all boils down to a question of Will we be found ready when it’s time? From what I am learning about your outstanding eternity-living friend is that he was ready. There’s just something about knowing someone like that that makes me want to be ready, too.

So, kiddos, it’s about more than Have we been to the cross with its cleansing power? and Are we washed in the blood of the Lamb? And that’s this: if we have been to Calvary and we have been cleansed by that flood, our lives will look like it because we will live. Lord, how we will live!

While Justin begins his newest adventure above, it remains for us below to live—and those of you who knew Justin, those of you who loved him, those of you who grieve so bad right now that it hurts to breathe and you can’t see clearly through the tears in your eyes, you keep Justin alive by living like he did. Drink from the Living Water like he did, then invest your lives in those around you like he did. Like his Savior did.

You do that, and I think we might just all be OK. In fact, I know it.

Ed.

I am wounded, but I am not slain.
I will lay me down to bleed a while, then I will rise to fight again.
—Irish Proverb

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From Your Melancholy Publisher & Executive Editor:

When the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, took place I was living in Claremore and working at OSU in Stillwater, with quite a commute each day. It was on that commute that I heard the first reports of the attacks on the World Trade Center. I was at work in Stillwater when I saw the towers fall. It’s a day I’ll never forget, and I don’t think we ever should forget.

Blogs didn’t exist then, but I did capture my sentiments at the time in two writings that were posted on my personal website at the time. I think the tenth anniversary of 9/11 is a fitting time to share them with you here (in the original, unedited form).

On Evil
By Tyson Wynn
September 15, 2001

Evil exists. Let no one deny that fact. Shortly after the foundation of this world, evil, in the form of the Evil One, entered into this realm and has been here ever since. There have been times in history when the Evil One has chosen to thrash about, and we have just experienced one of those times. On September 11, 2001, the Destroyer again decided to visit his presence on this world, indeed this very nation. As thousands of God’s children, both lost and found, were arriving at their work on a beautiful Tuesday morning, the fiery wrath of darkness split the spacious skies over the fruited plain and our symbols of freedom were wounded. Our brothers and sisters in freedom were deprived of their lives, their liberty, and their pursuits of happiness. In a period of a couple hours, the United States of America lost more lives than it did in the cowardly sneak attack upon our Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Desert Storm War in the 1990s, and the dastardly attack of terror upon Oklahoma City in 1995—combined.

Yet, in the aftermath of the acts of war, Americans have emerged stronger and more resolute than I have seen them in my lifetime. I have often said that my generation of Americans lacks unity, focus, and patriotism because it—we—have never faced a common enemy. Terror. Cowardice. Murder. Evil. Now we stare a common enemy squarely in the eyes. Rather, we seek the identity of evil personified so that we may make him look us squarely in the eyes as we annihilate his brand of evil from the face of this planet. We seek his identity, and we shall find it. Then we shall find all others of his nefarious breed of cowardice. Justice shall be swift and sure. Indeed, evil will continue to exist to the end of the age, but this embodiment of evil shall cease.

In the coming days, week, months, and years, we as Americans will be called upon to sacrifice for the prospect of eradicating this evil one. This will be the true test of our resolve. Will we be as committed to this war on evil when the repercussions of this evil are not as fresh on our hearts and minds as they are at this moment? Will the sting of the tragedies of New York City and the District of Columbia ever dissipate? I pray they do not. I pray that we will have our collective resolves renewed afresh each day by the remembrances of the feelings of September 11. I pray that God will grant us the grace to endure this current sadness, and I pray that He will help us guide this quiet anger into His justice and His vengeance. Just as my generation has never had a common enemy, we also have never had to sacrifice in order to see that enemy engaged. Only with the help of the Almighty One will we endure this call to give of ourselves, whether that be our lives, our fortunes, or our sacred honor. We must endure.

Since our soil was attacked, I have had many occasions to wonder just what these shadow-lurkers must think and feel as they see the reports of their acts. Is there a seething evil pride deep within? Are there smiles and congratulations all around? Is some devil celebrating the loss of American lives? All the while I know the answers to these questions must be in the affirmative. However, I also wonder if the so-called mastermind has that quiver in his chest that always exists when one knows he is trapped. That feeling of horror that happens when one knows he has gone too far. Is it beating there next to his coward’s heart? Yes, our terrorist must be proud, but he must also be scared. Just like his master, his vanity will be his downfall. He and his kind will be swept from their places of respite. Forever.

And so, as this week of phenomenal events draws to a close, we are called in the same two directions we always have been. It’s just that the calls are louder and more urgent. Shall we go the way of evil by choosing not to respond? Or shall we show ourselves to be equal to this and any task in the name of goodness and mercy? These are the two roads that diverge in the snowy wood. Which choice will we make? And will it make all the difference? Yes, evil exists, but Goodness exists eternally more abundant and full than evil can even fathom, and that Goodness will see us through our task in His name. Evil will be ended; Goodness endures.

###

Two days later I wrote this:

On Resolve
By Tyson Wynn
September 17, 2001

We are a nation poised on the brink of war. It has been declared on us, and we are preparing to make war back. It is a campaign for which most Americans have joined together in the call for action. In times past, this nation has been known to split into factions and fractions over whether war was prudent. This is no such case. Now, the far greater portion of the American people are united toward this one goal: Freedom. Especially freedom from fear. In all the comparisons that have been drawn between the recent events and the attack on Pearl Harbor, we have been lax to remember Mr. Roosevelt’s admonition that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” We will not be afraid. War is the only means to the realization of that goal.

From the moment this nation was suddenly and deliberately attacked, both broadcast and cable television networks have poured forth the news, opinions, and theories about September 11 and its necessary consequences. Our President has begun to prepare this nation’s civilians for war and the price of it: Sacrifice. Sacrifice is simply stated as love; it is much harder to realize. We are told that no man has more love than one who lays down his life for his friends. Some of us will give our lives; others will be required to give much less. We all will be called upon to be uncomfortable for the purpose of ensuring future generations the comforts of Liberty. We may endure higher tax rates, reduced personal freedom, seasons of seeming defeat, possible retaliatory strikes on this land and her civilians, and most unfortunately, further loss of American lives. These are indeed very high prices to pay. However, they are not too high. Can there be too high a tax when its revenue funds a battle the outcome of which is safety and security for a new generation of Americans? Can there be too much damage to Americans’ property when we know that that damage is caused by the death throes of demonic evil? Can any amount of spilled blood be too much when it is commingled with the innocents’ of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the heroes aboard United Airlines Flight 93? War is war. It cannot be entered into lightly or without sufficient resolve to see it concluded to our satisfaction. We cannot indulge the second-guessers and naysayers that will certainly call for an evacuation of troops and resources before the goal is met. Just as we must resist the fear of terror, we must also resist the pacifists that cry for peace at any cost. That cost is too high. We shall have peace, but it will be a peace that emerges in the wake of a demonstration of strength, not cowardice.

Already come the voices of television’s talking heads that question the leadership of our President. If any president has ever deserved the loyalty of his countrymen, it is this President in this moment. Some of us saw the greatness of this good man previously; many are just now coming to know it. Either way, it is there, and it demands our respect, trust, and loyalty. The battle is clear, yet we need the battle plan. The goal is evident, yet we need a coach. The end is attainable, yet we need Commander in Chief. Pray for his guidance from and dependence upon God Almighty as he contemplates the future of the world, this nation, and freedom.

There are dark days ahead of us. We will stop and wonder if it is worth the costs. At these times, let us recall the devastation of this present hour. Let us recall the disruption of our lives and consciences on September 11. Let us always be mindful of the innocents who came to a premature end because of hatred. They are our constant cheerleaders in this endeavor, their blood crying out to us to save others from their fate. They are the best of America. They are making us the best of America. They are urging us to be made in their image, and we must be.

No war has ever been cheap or without losses—grave losses. They are no less necessary. Let us believe fully in that necessity. This legacy we shall leave our posterity: There once was a nation that so loved its freedom that no price was too high to ensure its preservation for you and your children.

###

May we never forget—or fail.

Ed.

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From Your Increasingly Frustrated Publisher & Executive Editor:

It has now been over ten days since Ruth Rice was murdered. And I say murdered because we all know she was. The Craig County Sheriff won’t say she was murdered for a fact. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation won’t say she was murdered for a fact. The state medical examiner won’t say she was murdered for a fact.  But she was, and we all know it. CCSD and OSBI are considering and “presuming” it to be a homicide, but no one has any good, solid answers about anything. The beauty salon and cafe talk offers the odd tidbit of news, but officially we have radio silence. We’re all just supposed to wait patiently. And I, for one, am sick of it.

No one expects our local and state law enforcement officials to solve crimes with the speed and efficiency of a CSI episode, and considering their track record in this community, many don’t hold out much hope of investigators solving this case at all. We do, however, expect—and I believe we’re entitled to—status updates and the periodic release of information that is not damaging to the case.

We know it was murder. We know we’re waiting on the OSBI to process fingerprints and chase down leads. We know we’re waiting on the M.E.’s office to release cause and manner of death. And we also know that because there was a murder, we have a murderer still on the loose—likely in our midst. Further, we know we’re supposed to hurry up and wait. And all the while, nothing. No news.

Both the OSBI and M.E.’s offices have public information officers, and they have been reasonably responsive when I have called and emailed. But, in the end, everything is initiated by me. No touching base from their end to say they know we’re concerned and want more information so here’s the latest we can tell you.

And, as we’re now nearing two weeks without an arrest, I surmise that no one has the foggiest idea whodunnit. If they did, the suspect would already be cooling his and/or her heels in the clink—with or without the M.E.’s final report on the autopsy. And if that is true, that means this community, which still stings from the 1999 double-murder and double-disappearance in the Freeman and Bible case, this community which is still left to scratch its collective head at the 2008 unsolved double-murder of the Hulses, this small, rural community where widows are frightened and parents are afraid to let their kids sleep in their own beds, this community we call home is just supposed to be satisfied with being sitting ducks because everyone knows you can literally get away with murder in Welch, Oklahoma.This is one duck who is tired of sitting.

Lots of people, myself included, love this town, and we work very hard to make it a better place to live. People serve through their churches and civic clubs and organizations to improve the overall quality of life in Welch. We have a school system in which the teachers and administration labor to produce full heads and strong hearts. We’re a community of kind folks who are just downright neighborly to one another. And some of us think those are great selling points when we encourage people to come enjoy small-town life with us here. And then all that hard work is undone by a perpetual black cloud of multiple unsolved brutalities just overhead.

We want information, and we’re entitled to it. Not because we’re gruesome cads, but because our law enforcement agencies obviously need help solving this case before it goes cold, if it hasn’t already.

On top of that, the Town of Welch just renewed its contract with the CCSD to provide local policing. That is another reason Sheriff Sooter needs to be the chief informer of the public in this matter. He’s our sheriff and he is also the means of whatever thin blue line we have in Welch. As a community, we need to have a serious conversation about how we intend to see law enforcement done in our town. It may be time to make the investment in some sort of a local force, and it is definitely time for some community policing efforts and/or a community watch. At its most basic, personal protection of our families lies with ourselves. I know I have recently taken extra measures to ensure that Jeane and I are protected, and every family should do the same.

I was quick to ask people not to jump to conclusions and not to speculate wildly so that the officials could do their work. I am still no fan of conclusion leaping and wild speculation. I am also no fan of brutal crimes that go unsolved—and I am really not a fan of being kept in the dark by the investigating agencies. Lots of Welchkins aren’t comfortable with the notion of patiently continuing to wait because, you see, we’re still waiting for answers in Freeman/ Bible and we’re still waiting for answers in Huls. We wait and we wait. And there are no answers. And so, to the agencies who keep saying to us, “Hurry up and wait,” we say, “Hurry up and solve a crime in Welch, Oklahoma, for a change. And keep us informed along the way.”

Ed.

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From Your Sad Executive Editor and Publisher:

We’re saying goodbye. Our community is collectively mourning the loss of a man who was almost universally admired and respected. I’m honored that I was able to call Delbert Lovelace my friend.

I didn’t know Delbert the way many others did. He wasn’t my coach or teacher. He retired as superintendent before I transitioned from the grade school building to the junior/senior high building. He was a member of my church, but I didn’t really know Delbert and Betty until I married Jeane Burgess.

The Burgesses were friends with the Lovelaces…and the Sooters…and the Smiths, etc. We were very blessed that in the ‘60s a great many people came to Welch to live and teach school–and they stayed. Many of them attended the same church. They became friends and fixtures of the community, and I benefited from that when I married Jeane. I’ve always hung out with folks older than me (I assigned myself to the youth group at church before I was a “youth,” and most of my good friends are older). The same is true for many of our friends now.

We’ve spent many an evening at card parties and visiting with our elders who we’re glad to call friends. Delbert and Betty Lovelace are just such a couple. Many has been the Sunday night when we’ve invited ourselves over to the Lovelace home for a game (or two or three) of pitch after church. Betty would buzz around setting out snacks and pops on TV trays next to the dining room table before she and I would take on Delbert and Jeane. I’d get frustrated that Jeane would play so badly, especially if she and Delbert won, and Delbert would be tickled at how personally I took it.

We’d laugh. Oh, how we’d laugh. Delbert liked a good joke. He delivered some good ones himself. In fact, when we visited him in St. John’s last Sunday, though he was laboring for breath and we all knew there wasn’t much time left, Delbert cracked a couple good ones. He and Betty have sat in the pew behind Jeane and me forever. While visiting with Delbert, Jeane told him that though no one else may know it, she sits in front of him at church and she knows he can sing really well. Betty replied that he should have sung a special, to which Delbert said, shrugging with that mischievous gleam in his eye, “It’s too late now.” As I write that now, it seems very sad, but in that hospital room, at that moment and the way Delbert said it, it was hilarious. He had also told us when we arrived that he was ready to go home, and he didn’t mean Welch. Jeane told him when he got to heaven he should find her mom and say hi. I joked with him that he might have to look for her for a little while. Without missing a beat even though he was on oxygen, he said, “I’ll just listen for her.” Some of you know just how truly funny that was.

But there were more than those jokes between us in that hospital room. It’s rare that we get to say everything we want and need to say to someone before they leave. My wife and I got that opportunity last Sunday. Jeane cried as she told Delbert how much he meant to her. I got misty eyed as I told him it was an honor to know him and to be his friend. He looked up and told us to take care of each other and love each other, and we reassured him that we would—and that we’d also make sure Betty was looked after. Though talking was a struggle, he told us he knew she would be because Welch was a wonderful community to live in and the people here really care about each other. We agree.

It was a heartbreaking thing for us walking out of St. John’s knowing that Delbert was leaving very soon. Our friend was going to the home that he wanted. And we’re staying here in the hometown he loved so much. I posted an update to Twitter that lamented that we’re having to say goodbye to lots of friends, which is hard, but I am sure glad that we don’t mourn like those with no hope. And I am. Oh, we mourn, and we hurt, but we don’t mourn and hurt because it’s an end. We mourn and hurt because our friend is gone for a while, awaiting the day when Christ reunites all of us who trust Him by faith and are eternally His. That Hope sucks all the power out of mourning, hurting, and death.

Delbert Lovelace was a classy guy. He was a smart, honest, trustworthy gentleman who taught us how to live well long after he retired from the school system. And he loved retirement. I remember hearing him tell of some administrators’ meeting where he learned they were offering early retirement. He got out of the conference as soon as possible, found Betty at the hotel and said, “We need to talk.” And that was that. He was good at his job, and he was really good at retirement. He loved the golf course, and I played a few rounds with him. I’m terrible at golf and quit going because I hate slowing it down for everyone else, but he never grew impatient with my lack of ability.

All week long I have kept coming back to one part of Scripture over and over. In the Bible, Phillip wants his pal Nathaniel (also called Bartholomew) to come meet Jesus. John 1:47 (KJV) says, “Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” Jesus proclaimed Nathaniel to be guileless, and that’s the word that keeps coming to me as I think on Delbert. To be guileless is to be without deceit. I don’t know if I’ve ever met anyone who was as utterly guileless as Delbert Lovelace. There wasn’t an ounce of deceit in him. He was who he was, and he felt no need to impress anyone. That impressed us greatly. He was who he was, and in being so, he was admired and respected. So much so, in fact, that our church would have made him a deacon several times, yet each time he was approached he graciously declined. Ironically, it was that humility in declining that probably made him an even better choice to serve. For many, the notion of turning down such an honor would be unthinkable. For Delbert, it just wasn’t who he was. He knew it was deceitful to pretend to be something or someone you’re not…even for a good purpose. Guileless.

I’ve been fortunate to have many friends in this life, and some were truer than others. I have known what it is like to be abandoned by people who were only friendly so long as it suited their purposes. I have known so-called friends who were strangely absent when the storms came. But, thankfully, I have also known friends like Delbert Lovelace, who stuck like a brother—and enjoyed it. I’m truly better for having known Delbert. I hope to honor his memory by reflecting some of his good qualities with my life. But for right now I’m just sad my friend won’t be stopping by for coffee when he walks down to get the mail.

Ed.

———————

Please use our comments section below to share your memories of Delbert Lovelace.

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From Your Appreciative Publisher & Executive Editor:

When I launched WelchOK.com, I said that I viewed my role as more of a ringmaster than an editor. The thought was that with so many people having cell phones, especially ones with cameras, that we could all be the best news team around. I am very thankful to each of you who has submitted news, pictures, and other information. So far, things are going well, and we’ve had great community response to the site. The more time I have to devote to the site, the better we do. And I try to spend as much time on it as I feasibly can. But I never want my covering events to take the place of community-contributed information.

Therefore, I am renewing my call for you, the readers and fans of WelchOK.com, to help make it even more of a success. We need your news. We need your photos. Please remember us when you see or hear things of interest to the whole community. It’s pretty common to jump on Facebook and share news with your friends. Please send it to us, too, so we can share with all our fans.

Here’s a reminder of what we need and how to get it to us.

• We want news, information, and pictures of news and information that is of general interest to Welchkins. Miami, Vinita, and our other surrounding places have their own news sources. Remember, we’re all Welch, all the time.
• Clubs and organizations, if you have reporters or public relations officers, please remind them then need to keep us in the loop.
• Anytime you have news that you distribute to the Vinita or Miami papers, make sure we get it, too. We’d even like to get it first.
• We don’t publish or distribute private information about people (i.e., information about their health, etc.).
• We publish death notices and obituaries received from the funeral home or the affected family only.
• The more advance notice you can give us the better. We’d love to add your events to our Community Calendar and put information on our site, but we can definitely use the advance time.
• For-profit items may not be posted to our Facebook page. We cover community groups, churches, the school, clubs, and the town government all free of charge, but we ask commercial ventures to support the site via our very reasonable advertising rates. When you’re an advertiser, we cover your events and news, so it will be seen by all WelchOK.com readers.
• The best way to get us info and pics is to email it to info <at> WelchOK <dot> com. We will give credit for anything you send us if used. You make it a lot easier to share your info if it’s complete and via email so I can copy and paste.
• Please don’t be offended if we’re not able to use what you send for various reasons. We’ll always be honest as to why.
• Please take the time to thank the advertisers who you see in the right sidebar. They make WelchOK.com possible.
• You can also drop news by our office on main street or mail it to use at P.O. Box 1, Welch OK 74369. It’s always a good idea to follow up via email or phone at 918-788-3200 just to make sure we got it.

We’ll do our best to keep making WelchOK.com better all the time, and we ask that you help us make it so. Thanks for your support. Thanks for reading. And thanks in advance for keeping us in the loop about news and information you see.

Ed.

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From Your Still-Worn-Out-from-After-Prom Publisher & Executive Editor:

Tomorrow, we Welchkins have a purely local election. We’ll vote on the $2.75 million bond issue to add classrooms, revamp the dining area, and implement utility upgrades at our school, and we’ll choose who will serve on our town council and as town clerk.

We’ve provided all the bond issue information provided by the school as well as an audio interview with Supt. Clark McKeon here. Here’s the sample ballot for the bond proposal.

Now, after digesting the information, how should we responsibly vote?

The bond issue increases taxes. I know, the usual line is that because the bond issue extends an existing tax it doesn’t really raise taxes, but I don’t buy that argument. If we approve the bond issue, it will keep an existing tax from expiring. In my book, stopping a tax reduction is a tax increase.The bottom line is this: if the bond issue fails, the millage rate will drop when the bonds for the new gym all mature. If we approve the bond issue, the millage rate will remain fairly steady for an additional 16 years. We just need to accept that fact that the bond package before us is costly. The real question we must answer is whether the cost is worth it.

I have made it clear before that my default position on tax increases is no. That means I start out a no, and if and when those seeking the tax increase convince me that it’s for all our better good to approve a tax increase, then I’ll support it. In the most recent vote on the Craig County Community Center, I was never (and am still not) convinced it was a good idea, so I did not support it.

In the case before us now, I am persuaded that the improvements to our school are necessary and wise. The reason I’m such a stickler on the language as to whether it’s “not a tax increase” is this: we need to realize that there is a cost associated with the improvements and that the cost is worth it.

The notion that we can do large capital improvements without it costing us is dangerous. You may be tempted to believe that when property taxes are increased, only property owners pay the price. Many a tax increase has been thrust upon property owners by non-property owners in the misguided notion that those who don’t own land are getting a free ride. Property owners do bear the immediate cost of an increase; however, those increases must be recouped. If you rent, property tax increases get passed on into your rental price. Whatever is produced on land—be it cattle, crops, or cookies—will have its price inflated to absorb the price of taxes. The bottom line is this: tax increases affect everyone, whether they own property or not.

Taxing people should only be done for vital projects, and I cannot think of anything more vital to our community and school than the proposed improvements. The time has come for us to do away with the “temporary, portable” classrooms that house our youngest students. It’s time to implement a middle school. It’s time to make upgrades that will save on utility costs. It’s time to provide adequate learning space for our students and teachers. It’s time to bring the dining facilities up to date. In short, it’s time to make this large investment.

The proposed improvements to our school are not luxuries. They are necessary now, and they will grow even more necessary into the future.

So, when you mark your ballots tomorrow, I hope you’ll join me in voting yes on the bond issue before us.

Also on the ballot are elected town positions. Last year, we voted to expand our town council from three to five persons. Maxine “Shorty” Highsmith and Shannon Biggs ran unopposed for two seats, and will win by default. Tomorrow, voters will vote to fill two remaining seats for which there are three candidates. The top two vote-getters from among Edith Fox, Winston McKeon (the incumbent), and Henry Flanders will win a four-year term on the council. The position of town clerk is also up for election. Voters will select between Kenni Morton and Barry F. Oliver (the incumbent) for the unexpired town clerk term. Here’s the sample ballot for town officials.

I’m not making endorsements in these races. I will, however, share some of the thinking that goes through my mind as I weigh the choices before me. First and foremost, I want a sense that those for whom I vote are genuinely interested in our community and its progress. I want responsible persons who will give their best efforts to see that our town functions properly, openly, and efficiently. I’m not impressed by candidates who take a “what was wrong with the way things used to be?” mindset. Secondly, I want workers—both mentally and physically. Council members aren’t magic. They don’t just get to vote and all our problems fade away. The issues facing even our small town are often quite complex, and I want representatives who will do the hard thinking and the hard work necessary to find the best—not necessarily the easiest—solutions. Lastly, I want persons of character. I want council members who give us their best efforts, but I also recognize that councilors are both human and volunteers. Humans will make mistakes, and I am impressed by those who own up to their mistakes and look for ways to correct their errors. Volunteers can’t be expected to turn over every waking moment to town matters; therefore, I am impressed by persons who handle town business in an organized and efficient manner.

These are just a few things I’ll be thinking about as I vote tomorrow. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. If you’ve taken a few minutes to acquaint yourself with the issues and candidates before us, I hope you’ll go vote, too.

Ed.

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From Your Bumfuzzled Publisher & Executive Editor:

In the wake of the Arizona shooting, much political hay has been made as person after person has sought to point the finger of blame somewhere. Before the shooter had been identified, commentators and political operatives ran to their keyboards, mics, and cameras to start boldly stating why the tragedy happened. In a relative instant, talking heads and self-appointed pundits let loose a barrage of accusations every bit as careless, misdirected, and irresponsible and Jared Loughner’s bullets.

Specifically, a great to-do has been made of a map, supposedly flush with cross-hairs, released by Sarah Palin’s political action committee. Palin-haters jumped at the opportunity to indict a person they already despise for inciting a shooter to fulfill her supposed secret desire of violence against those with whom she differs politically. Though the Palin camp has credibly demonstrated that the “cross-hairs” in question are, in fact, surveyor’s marks (right at home on a map), there are those who—some out of their own ignorance—refuse to relent because deep in their hearts they want Sarah Palin to be a murderous wretch; it makes her so much more defeat-able.

The counter for this idiocy, thus far, has been to point out that Democrat campaigns and committees have released maps with bulls-eyes on them and that politicians, especially President Obama, have used language referencing knives, guns, fighting, etc. This has served to illustrate something that needs to be said expressly.

There’s a sick irony in that those who want to blame harsh political conversation for the Arizona shooting have done nothing but converse harshly and politically.

And I say this as one not opposed to political debate. It’s politics. It gets rowdy sometimes. That’s the nature of the beast. What I find unfathomable is that those who are most “offended” by the harshness of someone, say Sarah Palin, are the most offensive in their uninformed and malicious finger pointing and false accusations.

The bottom line is that in language, even political language, words mean things, and often they mean more than what they say. I deal with this in the spiritual realm, where I often encounter persons who miss the point of Scripture because they overemphasize the “literal” words on the page. The Bible is literature of varying genres, and as such it should be interpreted as literature. That means that sometimes we take what we see literally. That also means that sometimes we take what we see metaphorically. Our language, including charts or maps, is full of idioms and symbols that must be taken as such—comprehending what they mean rather than what they say. It really isn’t all that hard.

No sane, honest person believes that Sarah Palin wants anyone to take up guns against Congresspersons, even if those map symbols are cross-hairs (if they truly did, they would have moved heaven and earth to secure the other Congresspersons “targeted” by Palin). No sane, honest person believes that Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee wants anyone to take up bows and arrows against Congresspersons, even though their map had bulls-eyes on it. No sane, honest person believes that Barack Obama wants anyone to bring a gun to a knife fight. All this just as no sane, honest person believes they might step in a poodle when it’s “raining cats and dogs.”

We understand that language is full of idioms. We understand that what people mean often goes far beyond what they say. In short, we’re adults. Let’s start acting like it. The hypocrisy and feigned “shock” by those who can’t wait to say something shocking themselves are not lost on me.

No, folks, a lone and apparently mentally disturbed gunman perpetrated this evil. He bears the responsibility for it and will stand before his God and his government to give account. May God have mercy on his soul.

Ed.

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From Your Plumb Worn-Out Publisher and Executive Editor:

Radio Shack used to use the slogan, “You’ve Got Questions, We’ve Got Answers.” I’ve felt like Radio Shack lately because folks have been asking about the eleven state questions on tomorrow’s ballot. I appreciate people valuing my opinion, so I decided I’d do a quick run down for you here. This is later than I had hoped to get it posted, but I hope you find it useful. Rather than take lots of time and space to lay every aspect of each question out for you in a separate post, we’re providing one post with our endorsements and a brief statement of why. (As for our recommendations on the candidates, we’re endorsing Republicans in every race; and we recommend voting no on each judicial retention question). Also, some hold the belief that you need to vote no on all state questions. That’s not the case. You need to read them carefully and (thanks to the out-of-control, power-abusing attorney general, Drew Edmondson) know the information beyond the ballot language to make an informed decision. We hope this helps.

State Question 744 (aka the HOPE Petition)

This is the 800-lb. elephant in the room. If passed, this would require K-12 education spending in Oklahoma to be funded at a level equal with the average of K-12 education spending in our six surrounding states, which would require an increase in education spending in Oklahoma. Estimates put this increase in spending at anywhere from $850 Million to $1.4 Billion. That’s a lot of dough, and it MUST be spent if 744 passes. If it must be spent, it must come from somewhere, which means taxes MUST be increased or other parts of the state budget MUST be slashed to fund it. And by slashed, we’re talking cut by 20%. The decision on 744 boils down to this: Is education spending important? Yes. Is it the most important thing the state does? No.

Further, empirical evidence shows that increased education spending does not necessarily result in better public education. I support public education, and we have a great school system in Welch. And sure, I’d like to see them have the money to do everything they want. But, if it comes at a cost of cutting the Department of Corrections budget by 1/5 (possibly resulting in releasing inmates) and cutting the Department of Transportation budget by 1/5 (goodbye road and bridge repair), it’s just not worth it.

If you want to improve public education in Oklahoma (and in Welch), the best thing you can do is elect good state legislators (and hold them accountable for their decisions), elect Janet Barresi superintendent of public instruction, and get involved in local groups, like the Welch Public Schools Enrichment Foundation, that make sure improvements end up in the classroom, unlike 744, which has no similar guarantee. 744 is so bad, in fact, that whoever you support for governor, Jari Askins or Mary Fallin, oppose it, as do Brad Henry and Drew Edmonsdon and most state newspapers. In fact, you have to look long and hard before you find anyone other than the most liberal among us and those affiliated with the Oklahoma Education Association who do support 744. A vote for 744 is a vote to cripple the state, and could quite literally send this state into bankruptcy. A vote against 744 is a vote to require the legislature to use their authority to fund education in Oklahoma and hold them accountable for how they do so. Vote no on 744.

No on 744 Website
List of news about and those opposed to 744
Janet Barresi for State Supt.

State Question 746 (aka Positive Identification Required to Vote)

This is a no-brainer. If passed, 746 would require persons to provide identification, either by photo ID or voter ID card, when seeking to vote. The only reason one can fathom for people to oppose this proposal is that they have some sort of voter fraud in mind. Vote yes on 746.

State Question 747 (aka Term Limits for Statewide Office)

Another no-brainer. I used to buy into the notion that term limits should be at the full control of the voters and the ballot box, but the benefits of incumbency (i.e., already holding an office makes one almost immune to electoral challenge) have changed my mind. This would limit the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state treasurer, labor commissioner, state auditor and inspector, superintendent of public instruction, and state insurance commissioner to eight years. Service as corporation commissioner would be limited to twelve years. In a perfect world, one would like to believe we could find self-less good persons who might spend a lifetime of dedicated service to the state in one position. The reality is that this rarely happens, and when a person can be reelected indefinitely, it seems to make officeholders more concerned with holding office than with serving the citizens. Vote yes on 747.

State Question 748 (aka Reconstituting Apportionment Commission)

The federal government conducts a census every ten years, and in response to each census the state must reapportion districts for the legislature. The legislature is tasked with this, but if it fails to do so (i.e., is deadlocked), an apportionment commission does it. Currently, the apportion commission is made up of three persons: the state attorney general, the state superintendent of public instruction, and the state treasurer. This formula means that the apportionment commission could potentially consist of members from one political party. If 748 passes, it would remove all three current members of the commission and increase the commission from three to seven members. The new members would consist of one Democrat and one Republican appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the State Senate, one Democrat and one Republican appointed by the Speak of the State House, and one Democrat and one Republican appointed by the Governor. The seventh member would be the Lt. Governor, who would serve as a non-voting chairman of the commission. This new formulation will be more even-handed and ensure a more fair apportionment. Vote yes on 748.

State Question 750 (aka Ballot Access Calculated on Gubernatorial Elections)

Oklahomans have the opportunity to propose laws, offer amendments to the state constitution, and reject laws passed by the legislature. This is done by circulating petitions, which must meet a certain number requirement, which is based on a certain percentage of the last general election. When the last general election is one which included a presidential election, it will require many more signatures than when the last general election didn’t include a presidential election. 750 will level the playing field for those seeking ballot access by looking only at every other last general election, those which include gubernatorial races (which are staggered with presidential elections). This does not change the percentage needed; it simple requires the same percentage of elections when fewer persons usually cast votes, thus reducing the overall number of signatures needed to access the ballot. It’s a good change. Vote yes on 750.

State Question 751 (aka English as Official Language)

This would simply make English the official language of official state business, thus avoiding the cost and confusion of doing state business in multiple languages. It also has the benefit of bonding Oklahomans by a common language. Vote yes on 751.

State Question 752 (aka Judicial Nominating Commission Reformulation)

The Judicial Nominating Commission selects three or four qualified persons to be nominated when judicial vacancies occur and the governor must then appoint one of the nominees. 752 would add two at-large members, who may come from any congressional district, to the commission. One of these new members would be appointed by the State Senate President Pre Tempore, and the other would be appointed by the Speaker of the Oklahoma House. At-large members cannot be lawyers, nor may they have an attorney in their immediate family. No more than two at-large members can be from the same political party. All in all, this is a good change that should help ensure fairness in the judicial nomination process. Vote yes on 752.

State Question 754 (aka No Spending Formulas)

This has been the most difficult state question to form an opinion on. It is designed to be a fail-safe in case 744 passes. This measure change the state constitution so that it could not require the legislature to fund state functions based on predetermined constitutional formulas, how much other states spend on a function, or how much any entity spends on a function. So far, so good. I can live with all of that (as I believe it’s the job of the elected legislators to hammer out the budget based on revenue). But the sticky part is in the rest of the question. According to the ballot language, written by Attorney General Drew Edmondson, the measure, if passed, could never be amended or rescinded. I don’t like the idea of that. The people ought to have a means for changing their collective mind. If we pass this and it works, great! If we pass this and it has problems we haven’t anticipated, we need to be able to undo it. But this is further complicated by the fact that it appears that Edmondson may have been editorializing a bit when he added that part about not being able to amend or rescind it. Michael Bates of Batesline has done some excellent analysis on this, so I won’t rehash it here. Go read Michael’s take and make up your own mind. For now, we’ll say our inclination is to vote yes on 754.

State Question 755 (aka No international or Sharia Law in Oklahoma Courts)

This simply bans Oklahoma judges in Oklahoma courts from relying on (considering or using) either international law or Sharia (Islamic law based on the Koran and the teaching of Mohammed). 755 requires Oklahoma courts and judges to rely on only state and federal law in rendering its decisions. You might appreciate Michael Bates’ analysis on this issue. Vote yes on 755.

State Question 756 (aka Obamacare Opt-Out)

The US Congress passed Obamacare in spite of vast disapproval by the people. Much of the sentiment against Washington, the president, and the congress we’re seeing this election is due to its ignoring pr the people’s wishes in regards to universal healthcare. Obamacare will raise taxes and will raise the cost of healthcare, while resulting in rationed and lower quality care. 756 opts Oklahoma out of the federal healthcare bill, though it again appears that Drew Edmondson did a bit of editorializing in the ballot language, saying it wouldn’t apply to laws or rules in effect before January 10, 2010, and that federal law would overrule because of the “supremacy clause” in the US Constitution. He fails to mention that there’s also a Tenth Amendment to the US Constitution. (Let’s be honest folks, we should be so thrilled that Drew Edmondson is out of public “service”). The best bet is to pass 756 and elect Scott Pruitt attorney general, so he can do the legal work to enforce the will of Oklahomans to opt out of Obamacare. Vote yes on 756.

State Question 757 (aka Increasing Rainy Day Percentage)

When Oklahoma has a surplus of revenue (i.e., when the legislature doesn’t spend every dime that comes in) the state constitution requires that 10% of the surplus go to the Constitutional Reserve Fund (i.e., rainy day fund). If 757 passes, it would change that percentage from 10% to 15%. Strangely, I’m hearing opposition to this state question from folks I never thought I would because of what the rainy day fund has been spent on. But let’s think about this a second. Currently, when there’s a surplus, the legislature can spend 90% (because 10% goes to rainy day). 757 would limit them to spending (read: wasting) only 85% of the surplus (because 15% would go to rainy day). Frankly, I’m in favor of reducing how much they can fritter away at the beginning. If we don’t like how the rainy day fund has been spent, we need to hold the legislators responsible (i.e., fire them) and/or pass provisions as to just how the rainy day fund can be spent. The answer is not to reject 757. 757 makes good fiscal sense, and hoping we one day have state surpluses, we’ll be wise to require a larger portion go to rainy day. Vote yes on 757.

Above all, educate yourself, and once you have done so, go vote on the government you will have to endure.

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From Your Election-Minded Publisher & Executive Editor:

Next Tuesday the polls will be open so that citizens can have their say as to the governance they must endure. It’s a privilege to vote, and we should responsibly walk into the voting booth and mark our ballots. While there are typically turn-out-the-vote campaigns, I’m not convinced that every eligible voter should vote. Voters should be informed about the candidates and issues before they make their voices heard.

And this is a very good year to get informed about the issues because, in addition to a full ballot of state and federal candidates for office, Oklahomans will decide eleven state questions. That’s right, the entire back of your ballot is completely full of ideas, notions, and schemes that the people have the last and final say on. And it’s a darn good thing, because there are some doozies.

It’s no secret that I’m a conservative; therefore, I favor conservative candidates (which usually means I support Republicans). The Republican party seemed to lose its way there for a while and it paid a price for that, ultimately resulting in the nomination of the lackluster John McCain for president and the resultant loss to Mr. Hope & Change himself, Barack Obama, aka Jimmy Carter’s long-lost and more liberal twin.

Since Obama’s election almost everything I and my ilk claimed would happen (and worse) has occurred. The backlash to the vehement liberal agenda has resulted in a refreshing uprising of conservatism, due in large part to the almost spontaneous combustion known as tea parties. Regular, plain ole Americans (of many parties and no party at all) just got sick and tired of a government being out of control, so they gathered in parks and on courthouse lawns to make their voices heard. They were mocked, maligned, and misquoted, but they refused to yield. Their momentum has hit full stride and both parties (read: both parties’ establishments) have taken notice. But never, ever forget that the party establishment was scared of Reagan, too.

So it’s that time. If you’ve had it with an out-of-control and non-responsive government, here’s your chance to weigh in and say enough is enough.

But, you might say, we’re from Oklahoma, the reddest of the red states. In fact, every county in Oklahoma went Republican in the last presidential election, even though our candidate was a dog. You’d be right. But elections aren’t all about who’s president (and we’re not electing a president this time, anyway). The race I really want to direct your attention to is Oklahoma’s second congressional district.

The incumbent, Dan Boren, is heir to the political dynasty of his dad, O.U. President David Boren, and his grandfather, Lyle Boren, who was a Congressman for a decade. It would be naïve to pretend that politicking isn’t in Dan Boren’s blood. Boren has been our congressman for three terms, following on the heels of that other Democrat “genius,” Brad Carson.

So what’s the problem with Boren? We all know he’s got a good rating from the NRA on Second Amendment issues (how could you not, when it’s what he seems to advertise about most?). Let’s face it, though, no one—Democrat or otherwise—stands a snowball’s chance in July of holding political office in Oklahoma if he or she isn’t pro-gun. But what else do we know about Dan Boren? In fairness, here’s one you may not know. He’s a co-sponsor of the Fair Tax. In fact, at one time he was the only Democrat co-sponsor of the bill (and for all I know, he still is). I have previously publicly lauded him for this fact. But there’s not much else I can think of in Boren’s positive column.

On the other hand, Boren has some very, very strong negatives. Primary among them, he casts his vote for Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the house. He’s been questioned about this vote, and his response is that Pelosi is the only Democrat running for speaker. So what? Which would be wiser for a man supposedly representing the interests of voters on Oklahoma’s second district: voting for Pelosi because she’s the only Democrat running or breaking ranks with your party and voting for the Republican speaker nominee because he or she is more in line with the values of those in your district (and those which your campaign ads claim you also hold)? But he just can’t break with his party. It would cost him too much.

And so, to be clear, a vote for Dan Boren is a vote to keep the Democrat leadership that daily subverts both the will and the interests of the people. Most Oklahoma Democrats I know have very little in common with Democrats in the national party, but if you send Boren back to Congress, those national Democrats are precisely who he votes to have the reins in Congress.

Let’s jump to a very recent recent example of Boren’s disconnect with those he supposedly represents. When the Bush tax cuts were made law, they included an expiration date. It was a concession that was made to get them passed. Well, time is tick-tick-ticking away, and those tax cuts are set to expire at the end of 2010. What that means is that the largest tax increases in American history are set to automatically kick in on Jan. 1, 2011, unless something is done to extend (or better yet, make permanent) the Bush tax cuts.

Without a doubt, tax increases are the absolute worst thing that could happen to our stagnant economy with high unemployment rates. The combination of the new Obamacare taxes plus the expiration of the Bush tax cuts could very likely send our economy into a harsh recession, if not a full-fledged depression (welcome back, Carter, as the t-shirt says).

Thankfully, there was a plan to begin the process of extending those Bush tax cuts. Unfortunately, before Congress could deal with the issue, as it should have, there was a motion to adjourn and a vote on it. And, unfortunately, the motion to adjourn passed by a single vote. Yes, friends, it was one single vote that decided to adjourn the Congress (so they could get home and campaign) rather than debate and vote to stop this massive tax increase. Too bad that one vote belonged to our Congressman, Dan Boren. With friends like this, who needs enemies? (To read more about the problems with Boren, scroll to the bottom of this post and follow the links to two posts from Michael Bates. You’ll be glad you did.)

And here’s the good news, folks: we have an option. You may not have heard much about him because he does not have the built-in political machine Dan Boren does, but I bet you have seen his signs. Charles Thompson, a double vet (U.S. Army retiree and doctor of veterinary medicine), is running to be our Congressman. If you read his bio, I think you’ll find he sounds an awful lot like just who we’d like representing our interests in Washington, DC, as opposed to Dan Boren, who votes with the Nancy Pelosi agenda about 90% of the time.

And so, when you go to vote next Tuesday, help me in saying buh-bye to Boren. If you vote for Dan Boren, you’re also voting for Nancy Pelosi and her ilk, and frankly, we have no one to blame for the fact that our representative in Washington represents very little of who and what we are. Let’s turn out for Thompson and do our part to help get American back on track. At least I’m certain that Charles Thompson will never be the deciding vote to adjourn Congress instead of debating tax cuts. I guarantee it.

Ed.

Michael Bates on washing Dan Boren out of office

Michael Bates on Boren pulling the mask off

Charles Thompson’s Website

Charles Thompson on Facebook

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From Your Flummoxed Publisher & Executive Editor:

Tomorrow, Craig County voters are being asked to determine the fate of a 17-year extension of the 3/4-cent county sales tax to fund a “community center” at the county fairgrounds. I hope turnout is massive, and I hope this ill-advised effort goes down hard. In flames. And explodes.

I first learned of this little project back in March, when Jeane and I attended our first Craig County Republican Party meeting. After a speech from Lt. Gov. candidate, John Wright, meeting attendees were subjected to a presentation by those proposing the “community center” project. The presentation lacked some very basic information, such as a precise total cost of the building and precise length of tax extension. After the spiel, a motion was made that the party go on record as supporting the project. The motion nearly died for lack of a second before county Republican party chairman, Jay Franklin, called on his wife to second the motion, which she did. Without debate or any explanation of who was eligible to vote, the motion was put to a vote and received a handful of “ayes” and no “noes.” Allowing the presentation is one thing, but I was appalled and amazed that the county Republican party would go on record as supporting a massive tax increase. It was my last Craig County Republican Party meeting.

To start, my default position on tax increases is “no.” Not just no, but heck no. We already pay too much in taxes. The government irresponsibly wastes the money it taxes from its citizens. Higher taxes stymie the economy. Bureaucrats and politicians ignore necessities (roads, bridges, etc.), while pursuing nonsensical and petty projects (case in point, Tulsa has a dandy new ballpark but you’ll need a new chassis for your car after driving there on their roads). In the case of sales taxes, they hit poorer, working-class families harder than others (This should not be confused with the Fair Tax, which I wholeheartedly support, so long as the income tax is repealed with it). In general, taxes need to be as low as humanly possible. That said, I do recognize that taxation is a necessary evil. However, there has to be some determination of what taxes are wise and which are not.

I wasn’t a resident of Craig County when the vote for the courthouse occurred, but in general, I tend to believe that it was probably time for a new county government facility. In the case of the county courthouse, I’ll grant that it was needed. I can get behind a project that really is a necessity for the orderly transaction of county business and law enforcement. But then, we have this atrocious “community center” project. It’s a very different animal.

I’m from Welch. We have a civic auditorium. Many years ago, the LIONS Club saw a need and worked hard to build a community gathering place. They have since maintained that facility, lately adding a natural gas generator so that it can be used for housing during emergency situations. In short, Welchkins don’t need a community center because we have one. Now, if Vinita needs a community center, I recommend the LIONs Club or some other group of community-minded citizens get to work and build one, but don’t come to your rural neighbors with your hands out asking us to help build and pay for it. Until 2040.

Further, the plan to build the “community center” is just downright bad planning. To fund this disaster, we’re being asked to extend a tax that’s not even set to expire until 2023. And the extension goes until 2040. And these people are bringing this to us with straight faces? The only thing crazier than this is all those credit cards Discover gives kids in college so they can be paying for tacos for 20 years. If the tax extension passes, they sell the bonds now, get the funding now, and build the facility now. Without paying a dime for it. And they won’t pay a dime until 2024. Seriously? Is it really good economics to borrow $2.8 million that we won’t even begin paying on for 14 years? Can you fathom what kind of interest $2.8 million accrues over 14 years? And it won’t be fully paid off until 2040.

And why are we extending the courthouse sales tax instead of a voting on a new tax? Because, as a county, we’re maxed out. We can’t vote  a new tax; we can only extend an existing tax. Sometimes, you just have to stop spending money and get caught up before you buy a luxury item, which this “community center” certainly is.

In this world, there are some people who have grand ideas for things they’d like, especially if they can be built with other people’s money. This is one such example. The Craig County Community Improvement Association (CCCIA) has dreamed this dream and has apparently tried to raise the funds to make it a reality for six years. Unable to raise the funds, they try the typical last resort of bad ideas, put it to a vote and let everyone pay for it. They argue that that the facility is sorely needed. Yet, in six year’s time, they have been able to secure a altogether embarrassing sum of $200,000. Here’s a tip: if it were all that great an idea and so very needed, people would be lining up to help fund it.

One other consideration: What if we, as a county, have some genuine need that arises. As noted above, we’re maxed out on bonds, so we can’t pass a new bond issue. I guess we’ll just have to extend the “community center” tax. Then we can be paying for actual needs starting in 2040. Sounds like government at its finest. The people who dreamed this up should go hide out of embarrassment. And the county commissioners who are supporting it, why don’t you all either focus on your jobs or move to Tulsa or Washington, where they could certainly use your prowess for spending other people’s money for pipe-dream projects while ignoring basic infrastructure.

The reality is that this “community center” is an abysmal idea that has been badly promoted and poorly executed, the result of which is now to toss it onto the voters’ plate, where they hope we’ll gobble it down because our eyes are too big for our stomachs. It’s a whole lot easier just not to put it in our mouths than it will be to stomach it later. Go vote, and vote no. If you think the “community center” is needed and a good idea, then—by all means, make your contribution to CCCIA—and built the thing privately. But, please, don’t expect us to pay for this disaster—starting 14 years from now. Gag!

Ed.

PS I also meant to mention that this is a special election, called only for the purposes of ramming this thing through. Are we supposed to believe that this “community center” is so urgent that it couldn’t possibly wait to be added to the November ballot (or earlier primary ballots)? Here’s an idea: The CCCIA ought to pay for the cost of this special election (anywhere from $5,000-$7,000 according to my recent call to the election board) out of that $200,000 they have raised over the past six years. Further, I’m also told that the $200,000 amount isn’t exactly precise, so I’ll be investigating.

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