Bill and Gail Payne and the Payne Radio Group announced today the 50^th Anniversary of KWHP-Stereo 97, Edmond’s first radio station. Bill and Gail along with Anne McGarry, Kelly Payne, Haydon Ishmael and Will Payne and their families will be hosting a Reunion and Celebration in Edmond, Oklahoma of former employees, sponsors and friends who were affiliated with the station on June 29^th and 30^th, 2012.

 KWHP-FM, 97.7 was a privately owned station starting on the air at a time when FM radio had not yet become the medium that radio listeners listened to. Most people did not even own a FM radio in 1962 and yet William H. “Bill” Payne, displaying his entrepreneurial spirit, put the station on the air in the garage of their home at 1305 South Boulevard in Edmond, Oklahoma with the 77' tower located in their back yard.

Bill Payne was 22 years old when the station went on the air after graduating from Oklahoma City University with a degree in Electronic Engineering and attaining a First Class Radio and Telephone License from the Federal Communication Commission. Payne’s experience in radio began at KWHP-AM (now KUSH), his father’s radio station in Cushing, Oklahoma beginning at the age of 12. Other stations that helped prepare him for this endeavor included KWRW then located in Guthrie, Ok,; as well as KTOW, then located in Oklahoma City, now KLEC; KLPR-AM and was DJ Jerry Payne on legendary radio station 1520 KOMA, (now KOKC) midnight to six a.m.

During the early years, the Payne family kept the station profitable and on the air by generating advertising revenue with the play-by-play of Central State College football and basketball games. In addition to the CSC games, Payne would also broadcast Oklahoma Christian College basketball games as well as local high school football games in Edmond and OKC.

The Payne’s would also work closely with area high school’s business classes and hosted many area groups as each group would have a day at the station, taking the responsibility of the stations operation and advertising for that day.

The Edmond radio station also featured 89er Day festivities as well as the Edmond FFA and 4-H livestock shows, Krazy Daze and many additional community events..

Christmas on KWHP was a treat as the station would begin featuring Christmas music exclusively on Thanksgiving and continue through New Years day.

In December of 1969, Payne extended broadcast hours of the station to midnight and featured a hybrid Top 40 format. The station during those hours would play music targeted towards the 18-34 year old age group (Baby Boomers) and it changed the stations future.

FM radio around the country during the late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s started to program competitively against their AM radio counterparts and listeners began to flock to the FM radio stations in the area in which they were located. The same was true with KWHP-FM.

The Baby Boomers (the18 to 34-year-old age group) became avid listeners of KWHP-Stereo 97 in Edmond and throughout the Oklahoma City area. KWHP continued to grow in listener ship through the Payne’s ownership of the station as FM radio gained a dominate foothold over AM radio listeners.   

After selling the station in 1979, Payne has since built a group of six stations located in Warner/Muskogee, Oklahoma as well as Eufaula, Ok. Tahlequah, Ok and Hugo and Antlers, Ok.

Bill Payne was inducted into the Country Radio Broadcaster's Hall of Fame in March of 2011 for his efforts in establishing FM radio and for his support of Country Music.

Anyone involved with KWHP as an employee or advertiser and would like more information concerning the 50^th Anniversary of the station, please contact Gail Payne at 918-284-3031 or email her at GPAYNE3498@aol.com.

WHAT:               
The Cherokee Heritage Center is now enrolling students for its upcoming Cherokee double-walled round reed basketry class. Unique double-walled baskets and their history will be the focus of this class.
Bessie Russell, a Cherokee National Treasure, will teach the Cherokee double-walled round reed basketry class.
Class registration is required since attendance is limited. Children must be at least 12 years of age and an adult must accompany children between ages 12-17.
 DATE/ TIME:                        
 June 2; 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
  - Please note: An hour lunch break around noon will be provided at the discretion of the teacher.
COST:                        
 $40 per student.
HOW TO ENROLL:            
For registration or additional information, please contact the Cherokee Heritage Center education department at (888) 999-6007 or by email at education@cherokeeheritage.org.
WHERE:            
Cherokee Heritage Center, 21192 S. Keeler Drive, Park Hill, OK 74451.
WHO:            
The Cherokee Heritage Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the premier cultural center for Cherokee tribal history, culture, and the arts.
The Cherokee Heritage Center is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. seven days a week from May 6 to Sept 3. It is closed during January and on Sundays from Feb. 1 to April 29 and Sept. 4 to Dec. 31. For information on the 2012 season and programs, please contact the Cherokee Heritage Center at (888) 999-6007, email at info@cherokeeheritage.org or visit http://www.CherokeeHeritage.org.
 
   
 

Cherokee Holiday Art Show Seeks Entries

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Entries are being accepted for the Sixth Cherokee National Holiday Art Show, to be held over Labor Day weekend in Tahlequah. Deadline for entering artwork in the show is Friday, Aug. 10.
Artists will compete for $12,000 total prize money in 12 categories: traditional, contemporary pottery, paintings, drawings and graphics, photography, sculpture, contemporary basketry, textiles and weaving, diverse arts, youth ages 1-8, youth ages 9-13 and youth ages 14-18.
“We have expanded the youth category this year and broken the ages down a little more, offering more prize money for the youth, which are our future,” said Marie Smith, Cherokee National Holiday Art Show coordinator.
The show will be displayed at the Tahlequah Armory Municipal Center, 100 N. Water Ave. It opens at 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 31, and winners will be named on opening night. The artwork will remain on display Saturday, Sept. 1, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Henry Ward Beecher said, ‘Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.’ This is very true of Native American artists,” said Smith. “During the holiday, we invite everyone to experience the link between Native American culture and imagination.”
To enter, an artist must be a citizen of a federally recognized tribe and may submit one piece per category in a maximum of two categories. Artwork entered must have been created within the last year and be ready for display.
The show is part of a full slate of events happening at the 60th Cherokee National Holiday, a festival that attracts more than 90,000 visitors annually to Tahlequah to celebrate the tribe’s signing of its 1839 constitution and an Act of Union that formally joined factions of the tribe into one nation. Cherokee National Holiday showcases the best of Cherokee art, food, music, crafts, sports, culture and history and most events and attractions are free of charge.
For an art entry form, or for more information about the Sixth Cherokee National Holiday Art Show, email marie-smith@cherokee.org or call 918-453-5524.

(Tahlequah, Okla.)--This summer Northeastern State University will offer 12 weeklong camps in June and July for area students.
The Second Century Camps provide enjoyable learning opportunities for area children. Subjects include writing, visual arts, digital photography, broadcasting, forensic science, cooking, film and theatre, sculpture, kayaking and survival skills. These camps are offered in partnership with the communication, art and theatre department in the College of Liberal Arts.
“This is the greatest number of camps we’ve ever offered,” said Dr. Dana Eversole, professor of mass communication and camp adviser. “On Fridays, we will take campers by bus to skate and watch a film.”
The teachers are members of the NSU community and outside professionals who volunteer to share their expertise with the camps through this community outreach project.
Camps are available to students ages 4 through high school. Price is $125 per camper. Price is $150 per camper for the Kayaking Camp for Kids. The camps each run five days from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., except for CSI Science, Pastry Wars and Storytelling Part 2 which will not meet on Independence Day. Drop off and pick up will be at the circle drive of the NSU University Center.
Registration begins May 7 and runs through June 22. Parents may visit the offices of The Northeastern adjacent to Southwest Leoser Hall.
Art Adventures is for children ages 4-8. Storytelling parts 1 and 2, The Art of Faces and Places, CSI-Tahlequah, Sculpture Camp, Survival Skills for Kids are for ages 8 and up. All other camps are for ages 10 and up. Camps offered are:

• June 25-29: “Storytelling Part 1 – Writing and Crafting the Book of Me,” “Art Adventures” and “The Art of Faces and Places – Digital Photography Camp”

• July 2-6: “CSI-Tahlequah,” “Pastry Wars” and “Storytelling Part 2 – the Magic of Theatre and Movies”

• July 9-13: “Sculpture Camp” and “Kayaking Camp for Kids”

• July 16-20: “Survival Skills for Kids,” “Iron Chef Kids – Italian Academy” and “Movie Making”

• July 23-27: “Broadcast Camp”

“These camps are a lot of fun and worth the price,” Eversole said. “I’d like to thank David Wilcox of Sodexo who is providing the lunches. We haven’t had to raise the prices in the four years we’ve conducted these camps.”
Eversole said fliers are available to students at Tahlequah schools. More information is available by visiting www.nsunews.com and clicking on “Summer Camps.”
Parents may also call Eversole at 918-444-2891.

Summer Camps Available Through
Cherokee Nation

Sequoyah Schools Dean Graduates with Honors

TAHLEQUAH, Okla.— Geary Don Crofford, Ph.D., and dean of academics at Sequoyah Schools recently graduated from the Oklahoma Principals’ Academy.  The Oklahoma Principals' Academy provides K-12 principals and assistant principals leadership development customized for the unique challenges of leading today's elementary and secondary schools.
“We are extremely proud of Geary and his accomplishments,” said Rita Bunch, Sequoyah Schools superintendent.  “He is an excellent role model for our students and his commitment to the field of education makes him an asset to our staff.” 
The school leaders initially gather in the summer for an extended session, and then meet throughout the academic year for four follow-up sessions. Participants leave the academy with the most current application of effective leadership principles from education and business.
The Oklahoma Principals’ Academy is under the leadership of the University of Central Oklahoma. The Educators’ Leadership Academy in collaboration with the College of Education and Professional Studies provide the program.  Since it was founded in 1994, more than 600 principals have graduated from the program.
During this school year, Dr. Crofford also completed his administrative certification at Northeastern State University, where he was inducted into the Rho Theta Sigma Academic Honor Society.  He also had a manuscript published in the International Journal of Science Education entitled “Exploring Native American Students’ Perceptions of Scientist.”
“I think it’s important for educators to model life-long learning for their students and we should always strive for new knowledge and new challenges,” Crofford said.  
Crofford was named the dean of academics at Sequoyah in November 2010, after completing a stint as the school’s Response To Intervention coordinator.  He began his career in education as a science and mathematics teacher in 1988 and has served in numerous capacities in both higher and common education throughout the years. 

NSU to Operate with
Modified Summer Hours

(Tahlequah, Okla.)--While Northeastern State University campuses will not officially be closed on Fridays during modified summer hours which begin May 21, many of NSU’s offices will only be providing services to the public Monday through Thursday.
Offices with modified hours include the enrollment centers and library services on both Tahlequah and Broken Arrow campuses as well as food services, the bookstore and the fitness center on the Tahlequah campus.
The modified schedule is designed to provide employees flexible summer working hours according to NSU Vice President for Operations Tim Foutch.
“We are still going to be providing services to our stakeholders and our community,” said Foutch, “yet it is a way for our employees to get rejuvenated during the summer period and get ready for the students to return in the fall.”
The university enrollment centers will offer services from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday on the Tahlequah campus and from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on those same days on the Broken Arrow campus.
Students will also have access to online enrollment according to Interim Executive Director for Enrollment Management Jarrett Phillips.
“Our banner database allows students to have real-time enrollment access at their fingertips,” Phillips said. “Now they have access to change their enrollment, review their account or whatever they need to do 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
Students can access the banner service by clicking on the goNSU link from the NSU homepage at www.nsuok.edu.
Students will need to make sure they do not have any holds prior to enrolling online. If they have a hold, they will have to clear it up in person with the appropriate office in the Monday through Thursday timeframe according to Phillips.
Students who wish to completely withdraw from college will also have to appear in person.
The libraries on all three NSU campuses will have modified hours as well according to Assistant to the Director of Library Services Amanda Chappelle.
“In the summer, we will be open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. on both the Tahlequah and Broken Arrow campuses,” she said. “The Muskogee campus library will be open 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
“We will still be able to help library patrons from on campus and around the community because all of our services will continue to run the same during these summer hours.”
Dining venues on the Tahlequah campus including Flo’s on the third floor of the University Center and the food court, also known as The Underground, will be closed during the summer months.
The Market Café will be open Monday through Friday and will serve breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Seminary Suites will be open Monday through Friday to serve dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. and open on weekends to serve lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Coffee Shoppe located in The Roost at the Tahlequah Campus will be open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m.
The Hawk's Nest at the Broken Arrow Campus will be open Monday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. throughout the summer.
The NSU bookstore will be open on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and will continue to offer book sales online as well through the NSU bookstore website at www.nsuok.edu.bncollege.com.
The fitness center building on the Tahlequah campus will be open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. and from 7 a.m. until noon on Fridays while the swimming pool will be open Monday through Thursday from 1 to 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Fridays.

Cherokee Heritage Center Celebrates the
13th Annual Cherokee Heritage Gospel Sing and Hog Fry

Free Golf Instruction for Cherokee Youth Offered This June in Tahlequah

Native Tee Program to be held at Cherokee Trails 

CATOOSA, Okla. – Cherokee youth who want to learn the basic principles and techniques of golf can participate in free lessons through the Native Tee Program at Cherokee Trails Golf Course.
One-hour classes will be offered from 8 – 9 a.m. on June 5, 12, 19 and 26.
Matt Harris, head golf professional at Cherokee Hills Golf Club, and Brian Montgomery, assistant professional at Cherokee Hills, will lead the sessions. The duo has a combined 25 years of experience in teaching the game to players of all levels.
“Matt and Brian are great teachers of the game. They take great pride in being able to teach the basics and get children hooked on the game,” said Jeff Jarrett, golf operations general manager for Cherokee Hills. “The Native Tee program has been very successful since its inception in 2005. The Cherokee youth who have been through our classes seem to really enjoy it.”
To participate, juniors ages 6-17 must provide proof of Cherokee citizenship at the time of registration for each session. Golf clubs can be provided to participants not owning a set but must be reserved at the time of registration. Sessions are limited to a maximum of 20 students, and single session participation is recommended. Please call early to register.
Cherokee Trails Golf Course is located at 22706 S. 504 Road in Tahlequah. For more information, visit www.cherokeestarrewards.com or call (918) 458-4294.

Northeastern State University Faculty Member Among Victims of Kansas Plane Crash, Services Announced

(Broken Arrow, Okla.)--Funeral services have been announced for Dr. Garrett Coble, assistant professor of marketing at Northeastern State University-Broken Arrow who was the victim of a plane crash on May 11. The service will be this Thursday, May 17, 2:00, Christ's Chapel on the ORU campus.  The family has requested no flowers so information will be forthcoming regarding donation opportunities.
Coble, 29, died when the twin-engine Cessna 401 in which he was a passenger crashed near Chanute, Kan. Also killed were pilot Luke Sheets, 23, of Ephraim, Wisc., and Stephen Luth, 22, of Muscatine, Iowa. Austin Anderson, 27, of Ringwood died of his injuries after being taken to a hospital in Wichita, Kan. Hannah Luce, 22, of Golden Valley, Texas, was hospitalized in Kansas City, Kan., with critical injuries.
"The NSU community is extremely saddened by the loss of Professor Coble," said NSU President Steve Turner. "His service to our students at the Broken Arrow campus was meaningful and appreciated. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends and to his friends' families who also experienced significant loss as a result of this tragic accident."
The group left Jones Riverside Airport in Jenks en route to Council Bluffs, Iowa, to attend a Christian youth rally, Acquire the Fire, organized by Teen Mania Ministries. Coble had served on missions for the group.
Coble was a graduate of Henryetta High School was to receive a Ph.D. in business administration with a marketing emphasis from Oklahoma State University this August. He served as a visiting professor of marketing at Oral Roberts University during the 2010-11 academic year before joining the faculty at NSUBA in August  2011.
While an instructor at Oklahoma State, Coble received three outstanding graduate teaching awards. He was also a member of the American Marketing Association and the Association for Consumer Research.
Dr. Roger Collier, dean of the NSU College of Business and Technology, called Coble a valued instructor, colleague and "a good friend."
"In the short time Garrett was a faculty member at NSU, he had a positive impact on his students and on his faculty colleagues in the Department of Business Administration and the College of Business and Technology," Collier said. "He was at the beginning of a promising academic career. We will miss him."

      

Local Employees Donate Needed Supplies to Students at Oaks-Mission
Cherokee Casino Tahlequah employees
contribute hundreds of items

Farm Service Agency Offers Producers a Free Online News Service

Up-to-the-Minute Farm Program News Direct to Your Email Account or Smartphone

 (Tahlequah, OK) – May 7, 2012 - USDA Cherokee, Adair, & Sequoyah Counties Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director, Gary Rogers announced that farmers and ranchers in Cherokee, Adair, & Sequoyah Counties now have a more efficient, timely option for receiving important FSA program eligibility requirements, deadlines and related information.
"FSA is now offering free online communications through our GovDelivery electronic news service," said Rogers.  "News will now be sent via e-mail right to your home or farm office or to your Smartphone – allowing you to receive immediate notification of farm program news that is pertinent to your agricultural operation," he said.
Through FSA’s GovDelivery electronic news service, producers can establish subscriber preferences by choosing to receive federal farm program information by topic, by state and/or by county.  Producers can select as many subscriber options as they want, which allows producers who farm in multiple counties or across state lines to receive updates from each county in which they operate or have an interest.
According to Rogers, GovDelivery is a one-stop shop for the most up-to-date USDA program information.
"If, after using this online system, producers no longer wish to receive hardcopy newsletters from their local county office, they should contact the office and make their preferences known," said Rogers.  "GovDelivery will enable FSA to keep producers better informed and allow us to conserve resources and reduce taxpayer expenses associated with the preparation, printing and distribution of hardcopy newsletters," he said.
To begin using GovDelivery, subscribe online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/subscribe or contact your local office for subscription assistance. 
Please contact your local FSA office if you have questions regarding FSA’s GovDelivery electronic news service.