Enrichment Foundation treasurer Charles Stoner last week cut a check transferring the anonymous donor's $75K donation to Welch Public Schools. The community is being asked to help finish the project this Saturday.

WELCH—The Welch Public Schools Enrichment Foundation will be holding a community fundraiser, Sat., May 19, 2012, at the Welch Civic Center. The event will raise funds for the completion of a new computer lab to be housed in the Delbert Lovelace High School (when the transition of classrooms to the Kenneth Sooter Middle School is completed) and to be available to all WPS students. The lab will primarily be funded by an anonymous $75,000 donation from a WHS alum, who gave it through the Enrichment Foundation.

School administrators estimate the total cost of the computer lab installation to be approximately $96,000. The same anonymous donor has offered to match all additional funds raised by the Foundation, up to an additional $25,000. In short, the Foundation needs to raise at least $11,000 to complete the computer lab project, though if it can raise the full $25,000, it would result in a significant contribution that could be directed to other school needs. [Editor's note: The bottom line is that every dollar raised by the community will be doubled, so we—as a community—need to support this effort to our fullest extent. If one person is offering $100,000, surely an entire town can raise $25,000.]

The fundraiser will begin at 5:00 p.m. and feature a meal of fried fish, pulled pork, and hot dogs, with baked beans, potato salad, chips, and homemade desserts. Adults donations are $7 per plate, and kids 12 and under are $4. Dinner entertainment will be provided by Kyle Highsmith, Greg Highsmith, and Charley Walls & Friends.

Kids’ events will begin at 5:30 and include a dunk tank, inflatables, money in the hay, and a boot/shoe scramble. A kids’ auction will start at 6:00. The fundraiser auction will get underway at 6:30 and include baked items, baskets, a mineral feeder, trees, Mickey Mantle framed prints by Nick Calcagno, and many other large items. Donated baked and other auction items are appreciated.

For additional information or to arrange a donation, please contact Linda Jorgenson at 918-961-0718, Matt Boston at 918-530-1409, or Kim Hall at 918-788-3129.

WELCH—A cut of Atlas Telephone fiber optic lines has had much of Welch without land-line and cellular phone service, as well as cellular internet/data service, since late yesterday. Earliest reports of the outage began appearing on Facebook around 8:00 p.m. yesterday. Thus far, we have learned that Atlas land-line phones, Atlas T-1 data circuits, and AT&T Wireless voice and data services seem to be the most impacted. Some text messages are occasionally making it through. Verizon’s signal strength seems to be negatively affected, but voice and data is operational for the most part. U.S. Cellular seems to be unaffected. Rural iNet internet services are unaffected and operating normally.

A representative from Atlas Telephone tells WelchOK.com that a fiber line washed out but also appears to have been cut by vandals. Atlas technicians are working on the problem and estimate the fiber cut should be fixed by 3:00 p.m. There is always concern that devices and circuits will come back up functional when the fiber connection is restored.

Those who NEED to make phone calls out are welcome to use our IP-based phones at WelchOK.com.

WELCH—

Brittnie Tipton, daughter of Richard and Teresa Tipton, has a cumulative GPA of 3.98 and an ACT score of 25. She plans to attend Rogers State University in Claremore, Okla., and major in nursing. Her long-term goal is to become an anesthesiologist. Join us in congratulating Brittnie.

WELCH—Here’s our second edition of the What’s Up in Welch audio feature.

In this edition of What’s Up in Welch with the Wynns on WelchOK.com, we talk about:

• Bill Seigel visitation (Wed., May 9, 2012, 5-7 p.m., Thomas Funeral Home) and funeral (Thur., May 10, 2012, 10 a.m., Welch Baptist Church)
• Community Strategic Planning Meeting (Thur., May 10, 2012, 6 p.m., Welch Civic Center)
• Welch’s new farmers’ market starting Sat., May 12, 2012. (Saturdays 8 a.m.-noon and Wednesdays 5-9 p.m., Welch State Bank parking lot at the corner of HW 10 and Commercial (Main) Street)
• Welch Volunteer Fire Dept. annual feed and auction fundraiser (Sat., May 12, 2012, 4 p.m. feed and 5 p.m. auction)
• Join us at Living Hope Baptist Church (Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m., Welch Civic Center)
• Computer lab fundraiser event from the Welch Public Schools Enrichment Foundation (Sat., May 19, 2012, 5 p.m., Welch Civic Center)
• Civic Center kitchen remodel will have kitchen out of commission from June 11-July 5
• and some other stuff, too.

Take a listen, and if you have things you’d like to include on WelchOK.com or on a future edition of What’s Up in Welch, email them us at info [at] WelchOK [dot] com.

WELCH—

Bill was born Mar. 20, 1946, in Welch to William Woodrow “Woody” and Margaret (Grooms) Seigel. He was a graduate of Welch High School, class of 1965. He proudly served his country with the Oklahoma National Guard and was honorably discharged.

On Sept. 17, 1966, he married Karen Tanner in Miami, Okla. The couple made their home on a farm north of Welch. From their union came two beautiful children, Sherri and Stacey.

Bill worked for B.F. Goodrich in Miami, Okla., for 18½ years before retiring. He attended meat cutting school and received certification as a butcher. He began working for the meat locker in Columbus, Kan., where he remained for 13½ years.

Bill loved the outdoors. He was an avid hunter and enjoyed fishing with friends and harvesting pecans alongside his son. He was a loving husband and father, always encouraging his family to work hard and be respectful. He will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Albert Seigel; and one sister, Becky Parker.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Karen, of the home; one daughter, Sherri Farmer and husband, Rod, and their three children, Crystal, Kalli, and Dexter Farmer, all of Welch; one son, Stacey Seigel and his wife, J.J., and their two children, Torey and Trenton Seigel, all of Welch; siblings, Beverly and husband, Bill, Haire of Vinita, Okla., Carolyn and husband, Jack, Forkner of Joplin, Mo., Sharon Forkner of Lamar, Mo., Patty and husband, Paul, Ecrolin of LaGrande, Ore., and Rick and wife, Debbie, Seigel of Welch; sister-in-law, Sue Seigel of Branson, Colo.; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; and a host of friends.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Wed., May 9, 2012, at Thomas Funeral Home, Welch.

Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thur., May 10, 2012, at Welch Baptist Church. Rev. Bob Whitchurch will officiate. Serving as pallbearers will be Ronnie Yost, Bill Newland, Butch Garrett, Harold Knight, and Steve Vanatta.

Burial will follow at a later date.

Services entrusted to Jim Thomas, Thomas Funeral Home, Welch.

Glenda was born Feb., 23, 1938, in Canadian, Tex., to M.F. and Alma Pearl (Cassler) Bernson. She attended Emporia State University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in education. On Aug. 30, 1969, she married Kenneth McKinzie in Wichita, Kan. The couple made their home in Welch where they were active in their community as business owners and were long-time members of Welch Baptist Church. Kenneth survives the home.

Glenda was preceded in death by her parents, and two brothers, John and Francis Bernson.

She is also survived by one brother, Alan Bernson of Parsons, Kan.; two sisters, Norma Raymick of Hot Springs Village and Dorothy Bernson of Movine, Kan.; many other loving relatives; and a host of friends.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., Mon., May 7, 2012, at Welch Baptist Church. Services will follow at 10:00 a.m.

A private family burial will be held at a later date.

Services entrusted to Jim Thomas, Thomas Funeral Home, Welch.

Regional Track Meet Results:

*Indicates qualified for state

Boys:
*400m relay -4th, Alex Smith, Jacob Mount, Asa Chenoweth, Austin Buchanan
1600 m relay – 5th, Vincente Fonseca, Dillon Babb, Corbin Giles, Asa Chenoweth
*3200 m relay- 3rd, Lalo Fonseca, Connor Reyes, Dillon Babb, Corbin Giles
*Jacob Mount- 2nd 200m dash, 4th 100m dash,and 2nd place shot, 400 relay
*Lalo Fonseca- 2nd 3200 run, 3rd 1600 run, 3200 relay
*Corbin Giles- 4th 800 run, 6th 1600 run, mile and 2 mile relays
*Austin Buchanan- 4th long jump, 5th high jump, 400 relay
Asa Chenoweth- 6th long jump
Vincente Fonseca- 6th 800 run

Girls:
*1st- 800 m relay, Lexi Mercer, Torey Seigel, Lacey Windle, Rachel Seigel
*2nd – 400 m relay, Lexi Mercer, Torey Seigel, Lacey Windle, Rachel Seigel
*3rd- 3200 m relay, Carolina Fonseca, Liliana Fonseca, Randi Willard, Torey Seigel
*Lexi Mercer- 2nd 100 m dash, 4th 200 m dash
*Rachel Seigel – 3rd 100m hurdles
*Randi Willard- 3rd long jump, 6th high jump
*Liliana Fonseca- 4th 1600 run,5th 3200 run
*Carolina Fonseca- 5th 800 run, 6th 1600 run,4th 3200 run,
*Lacey Windle- 2nd 300 hurdles

The Lady Cats placed 3rd overall and the Wildcat boys placed 4th overall out of over 15 teams at the regional meet. Awesome job, Wildcats!

Wildcats leave for the State Track Meet in Midwest City Thur., May 3. Field events will take place over the two-day meet. Preliminaries for running events will be held Friday (except 2 mile run finals Friday) and finals will
be held Saturday. The meet is held at Carl Albert High School.

The Wildcats Track teams would like to give a special thanks to some local businesses for their support:
Welch State Bank
WelchOK.com
Terri Wyrick, TAG
Radonna Boyd, Makin’ the Cut
Kyle Fritz, Welch Grocery Store

[As we make updates to this page, they will appear in blue so you'll be able to readily identify them.]

WELCH—When classes resumed today, school officials learned that in addition to the families affected by the F1 tornado on the VFW Road, three Welch families have lost their homes to flooding NW of town. These have likely been complete losses, and some of the children literally have no clothes other than their underthings.

This is an urgent call for the community to pitch in and help meet their needs. We’ve done our best to identify needs here, and we ask that you leave a comment on this page if you intend to cover a need so that others will know what is and is not taken care of. We spoke with the Red Cross today, and they said they were attempting to meet the families’ most urgent needs, but the community needs to respond as well, and probably more in depth and for a longer period.

Needs (may be dropped off at elementary school during school hours, and there will be a donation area at TAG Convenience Store during regular business hours):

• Housing for two families. One family consists of parents and two elementary boys. The other consists of parents, two elementary boys, and one infant girl. Please contact Kim Hall at the school if you have leads on housing, 918-788-3129.
• Clothing: one girl (6-9 mos.), boy (size 6/8 shirts and pants), boy (size 7/8 shirts and pants), boy (size 7/8 shirts and pants), boy (size 10/12 shirts and pants). Don’t forget underthings and pajamas.
• Shoes: infant 6-9 mos, boys sizes 1, 2, 6, and 13-1/2
• Adult sizes: lady’s 8/9 jeans, lady’s L or XL tops, lady’s size 7/8 underwear, 38 DD brassiere, lady’s size 7 shoe; man’s 32×36 jeans, man’s L shirts, man’s size 9 shoe.
• Diapers (6-9 mo. old)
• Toiletry and hygiene items
• Food, staples, etc.
• Water
• Cleaning supplies (there may be an effort to clean one of the homes)
• Other items you would need/miss if you had lost everything

Additionally, monetary donations may be made to Welch State Bank by designating contributions Flood Relief Fund. Donations will be used to meet the families’ immediate needs as well as to help secure housing, establish utility service, etc.

We will update this page as we have new information.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Gene was born May 18, 1929, in Centralia, Okla., to Ellis W. and Orpha L. (Simmons) O’Connor. He married Betty Lou Carr on May 9, 1945, in Girard, Kan. In 1953, the couple made their home on a farm east of Welch, where they enjoyed farming, raising cattle, and haying. They were active in the community and were long-time members of the Welch Baptist Church. Gene worked for B.F. Goodrich in Miami, Okla., for many years before retiring. In July of 2002, Gene and Betty moved to Vinita. After 63 wonderful years together, Betty preceded Gene in death on July 10, 2008. Gene continued to reside in Vinita, where he was surrounded by family.

He was also preceded in death by his parents and four siblings; Juanita McGee, Edna Eisenbise, Fleeta Most, and Clay O’Connor.

He is lovingly survived by four daughters, Carolyn Nelson and her husband, David, of Chouteau, Okla., Marolyn Hazelswart and her husband, Jerry, of Antwerp, Ohio, Donna O’Connor of Vinita, Okla., and Barbara O’Connor of Vinita, Okla.; one brother, Lee O’Connor of Coffeyville, Kan.; one sister, Louise Jenkins of Lubbock, Tex.; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and special friends.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wed., May 2, 2012, at Thomas Funeral Home in Welch with Minister Brad Canham officiating. Family members will serve as pallbearers.

Interment at Williams Timber Hill Cemetery, east of Welch.

Services under the direction of Jim Thomas, Thomas Funeral Home, Welch.

WELCH–

Shortly after 2:00 a.m., what appears to have been straight-line wind gusts (or possibly a tornado) damaged the homes of Dale & Rhonda Charles and Kelly Walker. Both residences are on the VFW road, north of Welch.

Preliminary reports are that the Charleses’ barn and home received significant damage, and the Walker home also suffered notable damage. (On a side note, before reporting from the scene of the damage, I was able to help get the Walker family from their damaged home and to a friend’s home in town. Fortunately, none of them was injured. I was just in the right place at the right time.) Some of the Charles family suffered slight injuries and visited the emergency room. Online updates by family members indicate that injuries were slight.

The Welch Volunteer Fire Dept. was on the scene rapidly, and other community volunteers showed up to pitch in if needed. Craig County Emergency Management and Craig County Sheriff’s deputies helped respond, as well as Bluejacket Fire Dept. Not knowing how widespread the damage and injuries were in the immediate aftermath, and with the town without power (as it remains as I type this at 6:30 a.m.), I opened the Welch Civic Center, which was fully powered due to the natural gas generator. From the Civic Center, I was able to monitor radar and the scanner. Surrounding rescue agencies responded to flash flooding northwest of Welch, where reports indicated that over 13 persons were stranded. Fortunately, local damage was very isolated, and we didn’t end up hosting displaced families at the Civic Center.

Both Welch Fire Dept. personnel and we at WelchOK.com had been monitoring the severe weather overnight (for a time I did so from the fire barn). When the worst had seemed to pass us, I returned to the WelchOK.com offices on main street and continued to monitor the weather and relay information from the National Weather Service. At the time of the damaging winds, Welch was not under a Tornado Warning, though the NWS had just issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, predicting winds up to 60 mph might be possible, when the damaging winds hit our neighbors to the north. Some asked online why the sirens weren’t blown, and the answer is that there simply was no indication that the damaging winds were likely. As good as radar is, and as far as technology has come, weather is still unpredictable and anticipating what Mother Nature has in store is far from an exact science.

In addition to the damaged residences above, the town shows various signs of wind damage. Fire Dept. personnel have removed debris from some roadways, Empire District Electric continues to make repairs to power can be restored, and homes and businesses were damaged by the freak winds. Lion Supply on main street had its sign blown down and suffered damage to the metal facade at the top of its building. Mayr Winston McKeon had the back window of his Jeep broken out by flying tree limbs.

As a result of last night’s storm damage, flooding, and the lack of electricity, Welch Public School administrators have cancelled  school for the day. Classes will resume Wed., May 2, 2012.

Here at WelchOK.com, we did our best to provide coverage of the situation as it happened. You can see an archive of that coverage here.

Thanks to everyone who pitched in to respond to the situation. If you’d like to hear Fire Chief Brandon Webster’s take on the night, it’s here: