Peoria’s Panther Pride Marching Band Peoria High School Band Director Mr. Chris Pierson.
Paint the town with Panther Pride
1
ducation page, 7A A Inserts • Stage Saturday H 72 / L 60 Weather , t* It4k Friday H 75 L 59 ErAiiEker at wdnonline ON-LINE EDITION TA• ,-*; WEATHER FORD, OKLAHOMA Check out the WDN's new eEdition. Go to www.wdnonline.com then click on the front page. 8 Established 1900 We'pe . beetreas'olf Taft ' cation THURSDAY er Earth Day Educate the humans to save the planet Julie Harding Lifestyles Editor "Let's delete the arrogant 'Save the Planet' motto, and change to 'Educate the Humans.'" - Paulo Coelho, writer and environmental activist. Forty years ago today, April 22, 1970, Earth Day marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Primarily taking root on the nation's campuses in response the rapid deterioration of the environment due to loose laws on polluting, pesticides and the poaching of wildlife, the first Earth Day celebration was massive - with nearly 12 million participants. Earth Day was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, beginning as an idea for a nationwide "teach-in" day on the environment, and grew into a grassroots movement celebrated in 175 countries. Four decades later, the environment is still a hot topic. Global warming controversy has made headlines, recycling has become a household word (and practice) and "green" products are beginning to make an enormous impact on consumer dollars spent. The largest number of Earth Day celebrations and events still occur on university campuses, and SWOSU is no exception. • Please see Earth, Page 8A Paint the town with Panther pride C U R Josh Doering/WDN Tammy and Brandon Friesen proudly stand in front of Custer City's newly painted water tower. Robyn Hoffman Special to the WDN CUSTER CITY - Never doubt the spirit of a panther. Folks from this tiny town say it can't be quashed. "We have a lot of pride in who we are," Tammy Friesen said. "And I emphasize the word 'are." The emphasis is important these days because it says everything about what they are not. Friesen and other past and present Custer City residents joined forces to show the world where their loyalties and hearts still remain. And they made their bold statement by painting a panther head on the town's new water tower. "I feel it is important because our town still has its own identity, even after the school consolidation (with Thomas)," Friesen said. "That's who I am - a Custer Panther." That declaration has been echoed countless times over the past few months by residents and alumni who have joined an online Facebook group called Panther Pride. Group members from all over the United States donated money to fund the $2800 painting project which was recently completed. The panther was Custer School's mascot until consolidation with Thomas changed the school's name, colors, mascot and other beacons of pride that Custer City residents cherished. The school was once the center of the community. "I definitely feel like this is all about regaining identity," Friesen said. Although Friesen is now a Weatherford resident, she grew up in Custer City and attended school there until it consolidated in 1994. She then attended her senior year in Arapaho, but her heart still remained a Custer Panther. She didn't think twice about donating money for the cause. "I still feel like I am a Custer Panther alumna, and this will help others feel the same," she said. Dian Carpenter of Custer City agrees. Like Friesen, she spent all but her senior year in Custer. Carpenter moved to live with her mother and graduated from Hammon in 1986. She eventually found her way back to Custer City and is now a city council member. She said the water tower project defines what school and community pride are all about. "The panther head is a symbol that triggers fond memories of a small western Oklahoma school district gone too soon," Carpenter said. "I know all alumni who see the panther head on the new tower will smile and remember the good times they had in their hometown with friends and family. They will beam with pride." • Please see Panther, Page 8A EPA cracks down on lead exposure Michael McChesney City Editor A new federal law will require contractors to be more educated about lead safety and exposure. The law, affective today, says all contractors who are renovating structures built before 1978 will be required to gain certification from the Environmental Protection Agency and follow specific work practices to reduce human exposure to lead. The new law requires contractors to complete an eight-hour course in lead safety to become a certified renovator. Upon completion of the course, the business is then required to send a two page application and a $300 fee to the EPA. The certification is valid for five years. • Please see EPA, Page 3A Chatter Burcham Elementary students remind everyone to join the fun at the an- nual Burcham carnival 5:30 - 9 p.m. at the school Friday.The basket auc- tion begins 7:30 p.m. in the gym...All soccer fans and family are invited to the Weatherford Soccer Media/Senior Night and Fan Appreciation Day 5 p.m. tonight at Loomis Field. Stephanie Helton says the Weatherford High School class of 1990 reunion will be June 18-19. For more information or to RSVP, call, text or email Stephanie at 772-4177 or whs1990class@yahoo. corn...Dr. Robert Lackey says there will be a Tai Chi for Health and Safety demonstration noon - 2 p.m. in honor of Earth Day today upstairs in the east ballroom on the SWOSU campus. There will also be free Tai Chi lessons in the Wellness Center... Julie Harding/WDN Marie McConnel really can't pass as a look-alike for her bowling ball friend - de- spite her enthusiasm for knocking down pins - when seniors from the Pioneer Center took a bowling excursion Wednesday. For Circulation: Call (580)772-3301Fax Line: (580)772-7329 For Classified Advertising (580)772-3301 Email: [email protected] Weatherford, Oklahoma April 22, 2010
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Weatherford Daily News by Robyn Hoffman
Transcript of Paint the town with Panther Pride
ducation page, 7A
A
Inserts • Stage
Saturday H 72 / L 60
Weather
,t*It4k Friday
H 75 L 59
ErAiiEker at wdnonline
ON-LINE EDITION TA•,-*; WEATHER FORD, OKLAHOMA
Check out the WDN's new eEdition. Go to www.wdnonline.com then click
on the front page.
8
Established 1900
We'pe .beetreas'olf Taft' cation THURSDAY
er
Earth Day
Educate the humans to save the planet
Julie Harding Lifestyles Editor
"Let's delete the arrogant 'Save the Planet' motto, and change to 'Educate the Humans.'" -Paulo Coelho, writer and environmental activist.
Forty years ago today, April 22, 1970, Earth Day marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Primarily taking root on the nation's campuses in response the rapid deterioration of the environment due to loose laws on polluting, pesticides and the poaching of wildlife, the first Earth Day celebration was massive - with nearly 12 million participants.
Earth Day was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, beginning as an idea for a nationwide "teach-in" day on the environment, and grew into a grassroots movement celebrated in 175 countries.
Four decades later, the environment is still a hot topic. Global warming controversy has made headlines, recycling has become a household word (and practice) and "green" products are beginning to make an enormous impact on consumer dollars spent.
The largest number of Earth Day celebrations and events still occur on university campuses, and SWOSU is no exception.
• Please see Earth, Page 8A
Paint the town with Panther pride C U
R
Josh Doering/WDN
Tammy and Brandon Friesen proudly stand in front of Custer City's newly painted water tower.
Robyn Hoffman Special to the WDN
CUSTER CITY - Never doubt the spirit of a panther.
Folks from this tiny town say it can't be quashed. "We have a lot of pride in who we are," Tammy
Friesen said. "And I emphasize the word 'are." The emphasis is important these days because it says
everything about what they are not. Friesen and other past and present Custer City
residents joined forces to show the world where their loyalties and hearts still remain.
And they made their bold statement by painting a panther head on the town's new water tower.
"I feel it is important because our town still has its own identity, even after the school consolidation (with Thomas)," Friesen said. "That's who I am - a Custer Panther."
That declaration has been echoed countless times over the past few months by residents and alumni who have joined an online Facebook group called Panther Pride.
Group members from all over the United States donated money to fund the $2800 painting project which was recently completed.
The panther was Custer School's mascot until consolidation with Thomas changed the school's name, colors, mascot and other beacons of pride that Custer City residents cherished.
The school was once the center of the community. "I definitely feel like this is all about regaining
identity," Friesen said. Although Friesen is now a Weatherford resident, she
grew up in Custer City and attended school there until it consolidated in 1994. She then attended her senior year in Arapaho, but her heart still remained a Custer Panther. She didn't think twice about donating money for the cause.
"I still feel like I am a Custer Panther alumna, and this will help others feel the same," she said.
Dian Carpenter of Custer City agrees. Like Friesen, she spent all but her senior year in Custer. Carpenter moved to live with her mother and graduated from Hammon in 1986.
She eventually found her way back to Custer City and is now a city council member.
She said the water tower project defines what school and community pride are all about.
"The panther head is a symbol that triggers fond memories of a small western Oklahoma school district gone too soon," Carpenter said.
"I know all alumni who see the panther head on the new tower will smile and remember the good times they had in their hometown with friends and family. They will beam with pride."
• Please see Panther, Page 8A
EPA cracks down on lead exposure Michael McChesney City Editor
A new federal law will require contractors to be more educated about lead safety and exposure.
The law, affective today, says all contractors who are renovating structures built before 1978 will be required to gain certification from the Environmental Protection Agency and follow specific work practices to reduce human exposure to lead.
The new law requires contractors to complete an eight-hour course in lead safety to become a certified renovator. Upon completion of the course, the business is then required to send a two page application and a $300 fee to the EPA. The certification is valid for five years.
• Please see EPA, Page 3A
Chatter Burcham Elementary students remind everyone to join the fun at the an-nual Burcham carnival 5:30 - 9 p.m. at the school Friday.The basket auc-tion begins 7:30 p.m. in the gym...All soccer fans and family are invited to the Weatherford Soccer Media/Senior Night and Fan Appreciation Day 5 p.m. tonight at Loomis Field. Stephanie Helton says the Weatherford High School class of 1990 reunion will be June 18-19. For more information or to RSVP, call, text or email Stephanie at 772-4177 or whs1990class@yahoo. corn...Dr. Robert Lackey says there will be a Tai Chi for Health and Safety demonstration noon - 2 p.m. in honor of Earth Day today upstairs in the east ballroom on the SWOSU campus. There will also be free Tai Chi lessons in the Wellness Center...
Julie Harding/WDN
Marie McConnel really can't pass as a look-alike for her bowling ball friend - de-spite her enthusiasm for knocking down pins - when seniors from the Pioneer Center took a bowling excursion Wednesday.
For Circulation: Call (580)772-3301Fax Line: (580)772-7329 For Classified Advertising (580)772-3301 Email: [email protected]
Weatherford, Oklahoma April 22, 2010
