Alternate Route to UKB
M. Thomas Jordan - UKB Communications Officer
Because of the construction, the UKB is asking anyone with business at the UKB Tribal Complex to take an alternate route through the Southridge housing addition so they can avoid the construction.
Turn west onto Southridge Drive from Highway 82. Then, drive 0.5 miles and turn left onto Highland Drive. Follow Highland Drive when it curves to the right at 0.2 miles. Turn left onto the unnamed gravel road at 0.1 miles past the curve. The United Keetoowah Band Complex is to the right.
"We understand that the road construction is going to cause some disruption to our tribal members, but the finished road is going to benefit the entire community, " said Thomas Jordan, UKB communications officer.
Bill and Gail Payne and the Payne Radio Group announced today the 50th 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 29th and 30th, 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 50th Anniversary of the station, please contact Gail Payne at 918-284-3031 or email her at GPAYNE3498@aol.com.
Submitted by: Vickie Elliott, THS Cheerleading Coach.
The THS Cheerleaders travelled to Kansas City, MO this past weekend and are the JamFest National Champions. They completed two outstanding performances; one on Saturday and one on Sunday and were awarded the outstanding sportsmanship award for their stunning performances and for their genuine support of all the teams at the competition.
The judges were so impressed with our young ladies that they made special comments on the score sheets and the emcee of the event had lots of kinds words for our team during the presentation of the awards. Tahlequah can be proud of our students on and off the competitive stage!
According to OklahomaWatchDog.org, if you voted in a school board election this week, you're part of a small minority. In most districts, there were more students in class Tuesday than there were voters at the polls.
Tree Seedlings for Sale in Northeastern Oklahoma
Owners of rural lands in northeastern Oklahoma can add real value to their property by planting trees for conservation purposes. By properly planning and preparing your sites now for tree planting this spring, savvy landowners will be ready when Oklahoma Forestry Services brings its conservation seedling sales to Muskogee, Grove, Claremore and Tulsa the week of March 19.
Oklahoma Forestry Services, a division of the Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry, reminds landowners that for a tree planting project to be successful in this quality hardwood region, good site preparation performed well in advance of planting will increase seedling survival significantly. And you don’t have to have a large amount of land to undertake a tree planting project. Landowners with only 5-10 acres often purchase trees and shrubs to enhance their property.
So what does planning involve? It could be a simple conversation with a forester who can help you choose the right species for what you want to accomplish. Want to enhance an area to attract wildlife? There are trees and shrubs for that. Want to provide cover for your livestock? Create a woodlot for fence posts or firewood? Improve water quality? There are trees and shrubs available to meet all of these objectives. Proper preparation of your land before purchasing seedlings is another key to survival of your trees.
“Landowners can prepare their sites now and then purchase trees and shrubs to accomplish whatever objective they have set as their priority,” said George Geissler, Oklahoma State Forester. “Our truck sales are scheduled during what we refer to as ‘tree planting season’ which is February-March when trees are dormant. For some areas, April still allows a window for planting.”
Geissler said that many landowners in northeastern Oklahoma plant trees to improve water quality by stabilizing stream banks, produce hardwood timber or diversify wildlife habitat, including some endangered species. “With high energy costs and the continued push toward renewable energy, we see increased numbers of landowners interested in growing their own firewood, using species such as black locust or mulberry,” Geissler continued.
For technical assistance, or for additional information about tree planting, the state’s conservation seedling program or to obtain an order form, visit the Oklahoma Forestry Services website at www.forestry.ok.gov or call 918-456-6139Cherokee Nation releases economic impact report
Findings show more than $1 billion impact on Oklahoma’s economy
OKLAHOMA CITY and TULSA, Okla.—The Cherokee Nation officially released its latest economic impact report at news conferences in Oklahoma City and Tulsa today. The independent report finds the Cherokee Nation has an impact of more than $1 billion on the state’s output level. That includes $401 million in state income impacts, while directly and indirectly supporting more than 13,500 jobs.
“One of my top priorities is to accurately quantify the impact the Cherokee Nation has on our state’s economy,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker said. “While we knew all along the impact was substantial, we were proud to see the significant impact our tribal and business operations have on the state of Oklahoma.”
The report studied the economic impact from Cherokee operations in the 14 counties of the Cherokee Nation.The Cherokee Nation government operations employ more than 3,250 individuals, with the majority working and residing in the Cherokee Nation’s northeast Oklahoma jurisdictional boundary.Cherokee Nation Businesses, wholly owned by the Cherokee Nation, employs an additional 5,400 Oklahomans, making the Cherokee Nation a top employer in northeast Oklahoma.
“I think it becomes clear, when you look at the numbers in this report, that the Cherokee Nation plays a major role in the overall success of the state’s economy,” Baker said.“The Cherokee Nation is proud to be a vital and lasting part of the fabric of Oklahoma’s economy.With a presence in 14 counties throughout northeast Oklahoma, our roots are here and will always be here.We are proud of the progress of a generation and look forward to supporting northeast Oklahoma for generations to come.”
Beyond its direct investments, the Cherokee Nation supports a number of local diverse and growing industries and helps drive concurrent private sector investments and development in northeast Oklahoma. The Cherokee Nation’s government is responsible for a variety of public services including child care, career services, elder services and health care services.
The report was commissioned by the Cherokee Nation and produced by Russell Evans, executive director and research economist at the Steven C. Agee Economic Research and Policy Institute in the Meinders School of Business at Oklahoma City University. Evans and his research team spent nearly a year carefully collecting and reviewing data to paint an accurate picture of the Cherokee Nation’s impact on the state of Oklahoma.
Cherokee Nation Businesses’ diverse business portfolio includes environmental and construction, health care services, manufacturing, hospitality, industrial, real estate, safety and security and information technology.
For more information about Cherokee Nation’s economic impact on Oklahoma, please visit www.CherokeeNationImpact.com.
Cherokee Nation offers free radon safety course
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Cherokee Nation is partnering with the Environmental Protection Agency to educate the public about radon, a gas the EPA estimates to cause more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year. The tribe is offering a free safety course in Tahlequah to teach people how to protect their homes and families from the radioactive gas at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23, in the Cherokee Nation Environmental Programs office, 208 E. Allen Road.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States after smoking and the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless, tasteless gas that is dispersed in outdoor air, but it can reach harmful levels when trapped in buildings.
“Because you can’t see or smell radon, people tend to downplay the health effects and ignore the possibility that there might be a silent killer in their homes,” said Shaun West, a Cherokee Nation Environmental Programs environmental specialist and radon safety class instructor.
Elevated levels of radon have been found in 11 northeastern Oklahoma counties. Area residents are urged to educate themselves by attending the safety course presented by Cherokee Nation Environmental Programs.
For more information on radon or to register for the safety course, call Shaun West at 918-453-5009 Complimentary teacher’s guide and student activity book enhance the cultural outings
TULSA, Okla., (February 14, 2012) – Cherokee Nation is offering students an exclusive look at its rich history and culture through an education tour grant program.
Applications are available online at http://www.CherokeeTourismOK.com until March 12, or until all available field trips have been filled for spring.
Funding is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Schools that do not meet the requirements or miss the deadline may experience the program for a small fee.
Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism is awarding the grants to increase the experience and knowledge of Cherokee history and culture for elementary students attending public schools within the tribe’s 14-county jurisdiction.
“The Cherokee history field trips provide teachers and students with hands-on opportunities to see and experience Cherokee history and culture. These Cherokee lifeways can’t be fully appreciated when taught only from a textbook,” said Molly Jarvis, vice president of cultural tourism at Cherokee Nation Entertainment. “The students become immersed in Cherokee culture by visiting historic Cherokee Nation sites. The experience leaves them with a truly rich understanding of the Cherokee Nation.”
Education Tour Grant Program
The Cherokee Nation education tour grant program is in its third year. Minimum requirements for eligibility for schools include being located within the Cherokee Nation’s 14-county jurisdiction, a majority of the school’s students must hold a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood (C.D.I.B) card, the school’s class size may not exceed tour capacity, and the majority of the school’s students must be eligible for free and/or reduced school lunches.
The grant-sponsored tours, available for grades 3rd through 6th, are designed to promote priority academic student skills (P.A.S.S.) in various subjects while also providing an authentic look into Cherokee heritage. Cherokee Nation has also arranged for special tour rates for 7th through 12th grade and college students.
A total of 20 education tours will be presented this semester. Approximately 15 tours or 75 percent are dedicated specifically to schools within the Cherokee Nation 14-county jurisdiction. The remaining 25 percent will be made available to schools outside of the jurisdiction. Tour groups must be limited to 60 students with special circumstances taken into consideration. One adult chaperone is required at all times for every 10 students during the tour. Each school can qualify for a grant once per tour season, but can participate in the education tours as often as desired through separate funding.
Education Tours ProgramAdapted from the widely-popular Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism group tours, the education tour program features three tours including the Cherokee History Tour that visits Tahlequah’s historic Capitol Square and Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum, Murrell Home, Cherokee Heritage Center and Ancient Village; Will Rogers Tour that visits the Will Rogers Memorial Museum and Dog Iron Ranch; and the Civil War Tour that visits Capitol Square, Murrell Home and Fort Gibson Historic Site.
In addition to the education tours, a variety of add-ons are available for an additional fee including transportation on a 22-passenger shuttle bus, box lunches, and cultural activities such as basket weaving, pottery and mini stickball making.
The students and/or school will provide lunch, water and/or snacks unless pre-arranged at sign-up.
Teacher Curriculum Guide and Student Activity Book
Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism created complimentary Cherokee education curriculum to support the tour programs, which is provided to teachers on CD upon registration.The teacher’s curriculum guide is designed to serve as a teaching tool to prepare students for the education tour. Teachers will find more than 70 pages of historical information to share with their students. A student activity book has been created that corresponds to the teacher’s curriculum guide. The goal of the activity book is to prepare the students for the tour by giving them background information beforehand so they can fully benefit from the information and experiences they will encounter while on the tour. Knowledge of Cherokee history will prepare students for what they will see and experience.
Historical field trips are offered during the 2011-2012 school year. For more education tour grant information or to book an education tour, please call (918) 384-7787.
About Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism
Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism is managed by Cherokee Nation Entertainment and was created in 2007 to preserve and promote the history and culture of the Cherokee people. Efforts by the Cherokee Nation include award winning cultural, specialty and event tours; operation of three Cherokee Nation museums, six Cherokee Nation Gift Shops and two Cherokee Nation Welcome Centers. For more information, please visit http://www.CherokeeTourismOK.com.
About Cherokee Nation Entertainment
Cherokee Nation Entertainment is the gaming, hospitality, retail and tourism entity of the Cherokee Nation. Cherokee Nation Entertainment operates Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, seven Cherokee Casinos, four hotels, two golf courses and many other retail operations in northeastern Oklahoma. For more information, please visit http://www.CherokeeStarRewards.com.
About Cherokee Nation
The Cherokee Nation is the sovereign operating government of the Cherokee people. It is a federally recognized tribe of more than 300,000 Cherokee citizens, with its capital located in Tahlequah, Okla. Employing more than 8,200 people, Cherokee Nation’s annual economic impact in Oklahoma and surrounding areas is more than $1.3 billion. To learn more, please visit http://www.cherokee.org
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, February 14, 2012
BOREN NAMED THE MOST BIPARTISAN HOUSE MEMBER
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a recent Congressional Quarterly study, Congressman Dan Boren was named the most bipartisan Member of the House of Representatives.
The CQ study measured lawmakers’ Presidential Support and Party Unity. Presidential Support is the frequency with which members vote with the president when he has clearly indicated his preference. Party Unity is a measure of how often a member votes with their party when Democrats and Republicans are in opposition.
Congressman Boren scored the lowest in both categories, making him the most moderate, bipartisan House Member.
"Throughout my time in Congress, I have tried to work in a way that puts partisan interests aside for the sake of the country,” said Boren. “As I transition from elected office, it is my hope that leaders in Washington will come together and try to solve problems while bridging this divide."
No Labels, a group of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents dedicated to making American government work again, praised Boren for his bipartisan record.
"Representative Boren has long shown a willingness to put problem solving ahead of partisan politics,” said No Labels Co-Founder Jonathan Miller. “At a time of rampant congressional gridlock, he is a lawmaker who has reached across the aisle in an effort to make Congress work."
More information about No Labels can be found at their website: nolabels.org.
UKB Tahlequah District Meeting set for Feb. 17
Tahlequah, Okla. -- – The Tahlequah District of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma will have a meeting on Friday, February 17 at 6 p.m. at the Jim Proctor Elder Center located on Keetoowah Circle off West Willis Road. For more information, contact Tahlequah District Representative Betty Holcomb at (918) 822-3805.
Tilling available for Cherokee gardeners
TAHLEQUAH, Okla.— Planting a garden this year? If you need a hand with tilling your personal or community garden, Cherokee Nation has a great offer for tribal citizens.
For only $25, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Department staff will bring equipment to your personal-sized garden and prepare the soil by tilling it for you. There is no charge for tilling a community garden. The NRD is accepting requests for tilling from now through March.
“Nothing is more satisfying than growing your own vegetables,” said CN Natural Resources Director Pat Gwin. “We want to make this easy for our Cherokee gardeners to do.”
To request the service, please call 918-453-5671Artists sought for the Cherokee National Holiday Art Contest
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Cherokee Nation is looking for talented artists to depict this year’s theme, “From One Fire to a Proud Future,” in the Cherokee National Holiday Art Contest.
The selected artist will receive $1,200 and their winning submission will be displayed on the 60th annual Cherokee National Holiday posters, t-shirts and programs.
The Cherokee National Holiday is an annual tradition commemorating the signing of the 1839 Cherokee Nation Constitution. Held during Labor Day weekend, the event attracts more than 90,000 visitors who come to enjoy an exciting array of entertainment, cultural and athletic events. The winning design will represent this year’s theme and be displayed throughout the holiday on multiple promotional items.
Interested artists should be 18 or older and a Cherokee Nation citizen. Rough sketches of planned artwork should be submitted on or before March 15. The winning artist will be selected on March 17 and will have until May 15 to complete the work, which should measure 29 by 20 inches in a vertical orientation.
For more information or to submit a rough sketch, contact Cherokee National Holiday director Lou Slagle at 918-453-1689 or lou-slagle@cherokee.orgFebruary 7, 2012 Press Release
Former Cherokee Nation Employees Sue Tribe
for Violation of Constitutional Rights
Tahlequah, OK – On Friday, January 26, 2012, Felicia Olaya, Sammye Rusco, Rachel McAlvain and Paula Ragsdale filed a lawsuit against Cherokee Nation citing that their Constitutional rights had been denied when their employment was terminated.
Olaya, Rusco and Ragsdale were placed on administrative leave and asked to turn in their keys and equipment on the first day of Baker’s administration, just after his inauguration when Baker told the media that employees should not fear for their jobs. Later the same three were wrongfully terminated. Each of the three employees had worked for the Cherokee Nation for at least five years and were terminated solely because they supported a candidate other than Baker in the most recent election, and terminated in spite of good employment records. McAlvain’s termination situation was similar.
“I have served the Cherokee Nation for 20 years with an unblemished performance record,” said Paula Holder Ragsdale, former government relations officer and a former member of the tribal council. “The Nation's civilian workforce is based on merit protection principles. It is not a ‘spoils system’ where everyday employees are subject to the political whims of politicians. The new political leadership does not respect the law and the clear rules of governance. This fight is about fairness and equal treatment under the law.”
“I was terminated as soon as Baker took office,” said Olaya, the lead defendant on the case and the former executive assistant to the principal chief since 1999. “I was fired in a distasteful and unprofessional manner. Baker brought in his political cronies, the marshals and the media to watch his firing of staff. This action was purely political revenge because I supported Chad Smith and because I am a Mankiller. Who an employee votes for or supports should never be cause for termination. It is against the law.”
“Like most people, I have a family, children to feed and bills to pay,” said Rachel McAlvain, former director of health policy for Health Services. “There was no legitimate reason to fire me; I have always had excellent evaluations. I was terminated in spite of the protections afforded by law.”
“Illegally and unjustly denying someone employment is serious; everyone needs the ability to pay for food and shelter,” stated Sammye Rusco, former director of communications. “These employee terminations were political prejudice; the law was not followed much less policy. If we don’t stand up against this injustice other employees won’t be safe from wrongful termination as well.”
The filing states that “Defendant Baker wrongfully, intentionally and maliciously violated the Plaintiffs’ rights of freedom of speech and association recognized in Cherokee Nation Constitution Article III. Section 4, which provides that, ‘The Council shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion or abridging the freedom of speech….’ by discharging them or causing them to be discharged from the employment of the Cherokee Nation the first day after his swearing in on October 19, 2011 because of their political affiliation to Defendant Baker’s opponent in the Principal Chief election in 2011. … Defendant intentionally caused emotional harm to Plaintiffs Olaya, Ragsdale and Rusco on October 20, 2011 and thereafter, by summarily rounding Plaintiffs up in the open offices of the Cherokee Nation administration, allowing a score of his political supporters and press to watch their discharge with cameras present and subjecting them to ridicule and embarrassment.”Cherokee National Historical Society Announces Nationwide Search For New Executive Director
TAHLEQUAH, Okla., (February 6, 2012) --- The Cherokee National Historical Society today announced its nationwide search for a new executive director. The Cherokee National Historical Society was created in 1963, with a mission of preserving and promoting Cherokee history and culture. The non-profit organization operates one of Oklahoma’s most popular museums – the Cherokee Heritage Center, located in Tahlequah.
The Cherokee Heritage Center, which sits on a 49-acre complex, first opened to the public in 1967 under the leadership of Chief W.W. Keeler and the Cherokee National Historical Society. Today, the center is home to thousands of tribal historical objects, documents and photographs. The center features the Trail of Tears Exhibition, the Ancient Village, the Adams Corner Rural Village and various art shows, exhibits, and educational programs that are held throughout the year. The organization will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2013 and will celebrate with the opening of a newly constructed Ancient Village.
The new village will provide visitors the chance to experience Cherokee life in the early 18th century and will feature 20 wattle and daub structures, 14 interpretive stations, and a detailed historic landscape set on four acres of land adjacent to the Cherokee Heritage Center.
Effective March 10, 2012, Karen Coody Cooper will serve as interim director. Cooper, who recently retired from the Cherokee Heritage Center, currently provides museum consultations, teaches classes, and writes on Native American topics. She was previously recruited by the Smithsonian to manage their museum training program as mandated by the legislation establishing the National Museum of the American Indian.
Carey Tilley, current executive director, recently announced his resignation effective March 9, 2012. Tilley has accepted the executive director position at the Culture & Heritage Museums for York County in Rock Hill, S.C. Tilley has taken the position to be closer to his family. He served for more than five years navigating the Cherokee National Historical Society through unprecedented growth and success. In a letter to the Cherokee National Historical Society, Tilley wrote:
“Over the past 5 ½ years I have had the honor to serve with a talented and dedicated staff that is committed to our mission to preserve, promote, and teach Cherokee history and culture.” Tilley added, “I want to thank the board for the privilege of serving the society and the Cherokee people over the past five years and to assure you that I will continue to be an advocate for Cherokee history and culture in my future endeavors.”
“The Cherokee Nation appreciates all of the hard work and effort Carey has poured into the Heritage Center over the last five-plus years,” said Bill John Baker, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “We wish him well on this upcoming new chapter in his life.”
The Cherokee Heritage Center is located at 21192 S. Keeler Drive, Park Hill, OK 74451. For additional information, please contact the Cherokee Heritage Center at (888) 999-6007, email at info@cherokeeheritage.org or visit http://www.CherokeeHeritage.org.
About Cherokee Heritage Center
The Cherokee Heritage Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the premier cultural center for Cherokee tribal history, culture, and the arts. Located in the heart of the Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, Okla., it was established in 1963 by the Cherokee National Historical Society to preserve and promote the Cherokee culture. The Cherokee Heritage Center is also home to the Cherokee National Archives, which is the Nation’s foremost collection of historic tribal related documents and artifacts from the 1700s through present day. The Cherokee Heritage Center is situated on the grounds of the original Cherokee Female Seminary, which is one of the first institutions of higher learning for women west of the Mississippi and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The National Park Service has designated the Center as the interpretive site for the western terminus of the Trail Of Tears for the Cherokees and other tribes forcibly removed to Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, during the 1800s. For more information, please visit http://www.CherokeeHeritage.org
Gov. Fallin Approves Newly formed Oklahoma Livestock Relief Coalition
A newly formed Oklahoma Livestock Relief Coalition was endorsed by Gov. Mary Fallin during a recent press conference at the state capitol. The coalition will focus on providing financial resources to law enforcement entities when they are tasked with caring for abandoned and neglected livestock.
American Farmers & Ranchers along with 14 other Oklahoma based companies came together as charter members, of the coalition, in order to help solve this issue by bringing in private financial contributions in hopes to eliminate mistreatment and neglect of livestock.
“Even though the OLRC centers around all of our interests in animal welfare, we need also to remind people what a drain it is on county governments to care for abandoned or neglected animals,” said Terry Detrick, AFR president. “It is money they do not have or money taken away from public services affecting us all, from child care to senior care and all of our lives in between. The OLRC is a doubly noble cause.”
The continued drought, which started during summer 2011, has weighed heavy on livestock owners and producers. Hay shortages, wildfires and rising cost of feed, challenge people to fully nourish their animals.
“We as livestock producers care deeply about the health and welfare of our animals,” Detrick said. “We feel a responsibility to do all we can to help alleviate this problem and the OLRC is now in place to accomplish that goal.”
OLRC’s mission to provide these emergency funds to law enforcement will help assure the abuse and neglect of each animal will stop, while complying with proper humane care. Concerned citizens will be allowed to make donations to assist Oklahoma law enforcement with the animal abuse cases. Contributions will be used to provide feed and other feasible emergency care for animals placed under the care of the County Sheriff.
The OLRC is accepting monetary donations only. Donations may be made through the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Foundation, a 501(c)(3) at www.okvma.org or send to OVMF, PO Box 14521, Oklahoma City, OK 73113. Checks can be made payable to OLRC or OVMF. For more information please call (405)478-1002.
