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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONOF THE CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA

September 2003 Issue

Reunion planned for JonesMale Academy alumni

The Jones Academy “All Boys School” Reunion will be Satur-day, October 18 on the campus of Jones Academy. All Jones boyswho attended the school through the year 1954 are encouraged toattend the reunion.

Registration is at 10 a.m. Activities are planned for the entire day,closing with the school’s annual gospel singing that night.

For more information, please call Jimmy Bruner at 580-298-3136;Ted LeFlore at 580-889-7989; Tully Choate at 918-455-7255 or TomWilliston at 580-286-3585.

Homebuyer EducationWorkshops are scheduled

Do you dream of owning your own home? The Choctaw NationHome Finance Department offers a variety of programs to help youbecome a homeowner.

Free workshops and homebuyer counseling services provide theinformation you will need to help you become a homeowner. Theseservices are available to any Native American – at all income levels.

Issues covered include budgeting, insurance, realtors, lending pro-cess and credit issues.

Classes will be held in the following locations:Sept. 15 Oklahoma CitySept. 23 PoteauSept. 25 CoalgateSept. 30 StiglerThe Choctaw Nation Housing Authority has two locations that build

modular homes. Please attend one of the Homebuyer’s classes tofind out if you are eligible to purchase a new modular home.

To register for a class or get more information, please call NancyKirby at the Choctaw Housing Authority, 1-800-235-3087 ext. 301.

Future is bright for Choctaw Nation

Tribal Council certifies Choctaw language teachersDuring the August Regular

Session of the Choctaw TribalCouncil, Language Teacher Cer-tificates were presented to EttaJohnson of Ardmore, DelorisSamuels of Bethel and RuthHancock of Ada. These teachersare now approved to con-duct classes in the Choctaw lan-guage.

Budget allocations, modifi-cations and grant applicationswere approved for many tribalprograms, including IndianChild Welfare, Family Preser-vation, Upward Bound, Voca-tional Rehabilitation, FoodDistribution, WIC, LIHEAPand EDH.

Approval was given to fundthe next year’s Higher EducationScholarships with $4 millionfrom the gaming funds and mo-tor fuel tax funds.

After taking the oath of officeon Labor Day, Chief Gregory E.Pyle stepped to center stage todeliver the 2003 State of the Na-tion Address. Assistant ChiefMike Bailey introduced ChiefPyle as a man who “has a heartfor the old as well as the young,making programs available toassist people of all ages.” Assis-tant Chief Bailey also said to thecrowd, “You chose to put himback in office without him draw-ing an opponent. This was anhistoric event, the first time thata Choctaw Chief’s race did nothave an opponent.”

Chief Pyle spoke somberly ofthe actions of Native Americansduring war times. “The UnitedStates as a powerful countryhas tremendous responsibilitythroughout the world. Many ofour Choctaw men and womenhave volunteered in the military.This century, Choctaws have vol-unteered in World War I, WorldWar II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulfand now Iraq. In fact, the NativeAmericans have a higher ratio percapita of volunteer participationthan any other race of people.

“A young Choctaw man, JarodDennis of Antlers, was killed inaction this past April while serv-ing in Afghanistan in the War inIraq. I ask that we pause for amoment of silence to show honorand respect to this brave soldier.”

Chief Pyle told everyone of theChoctaw Care Program that wasinitiated in March. “We askedpeople who had friends and rela-tives over in Iraq and surroundingsupport areas to give us names andaddresses. The Choctaw Nation,with the aid and assistance of manydonations, sent these soldiers itemsthey needed but could not obtainwhile in the field.”

Oct. 2 McAlesterOct. 7 DurantOct. 9 Antlers

Council Speaker Kenny Bryant, Councilman Mike Amos, Deloris Samuels, EttaJohnson, Councilman Ted Dosh, Ruth Hancock, Councilman James Frazier, andRichard Adams of the Choctaw Language Department.

The care packages containedsnacks, socks, gloves, lotions,wet wipes, eye drops and manyother things that are taken forgranted in the United States. Agreat number of these soldiersmailed cards and letters to thetribe to say thank you for thegifts, imparting a deep gratitudefor remembering them while theyare on active duty.

Each year, the Choctaw Nationhas a Veterans Day Ceremony onNovember 11th that pays tributeto all who have served. Approxi-mately 1,500 veterans attendedthe ceremony last year. ChiefPyle asked that all veterans whowere in the audience at the La-bor Day event to stand and berecognized.

The economic improvement ofthe Choctaw Nation was high-lighted in Chief Pyle’s speech.“In 1971, 100% of the serviceswere funded from the federalgovernment. Today, the ChoctawNation’s total budgets are 80%funded by revenues from tribal

businesses. These businessessupport the Labor Day Festival,the language program, educationprogram and many other servicesthat are not available through fed-eral grants.” Tribal businessesinclude travel plazas locatedacross the ten and one-half coun-ties. Three new ones opened inthe past 12 months at Stringtown,Atoka and Poteau. When therenovated store at Heaveneropens, the tribe will have 14travel plazas. Gaming, CMSE,CMDC and Choctaw Archivingare other tribal businesses.

Health services have alwaysbeen a priority for Chief Pyle. Heannounced that two new clinicswere planned – one in Stigler andone in Idabel. “The clinic in Ida-bel will be about four times thesize of the other clinics and mayhave as many as 80 on staff,” saidChief Pyle.

“Jones Academy is one ex-ample of how the tribe is pro-gressing with education pro-grams,” said Chief Pyle. “We

want the very best for the stu-dents. This year, the first and sec-ond grades are being taught oncampus. In six years, all 12grades will be taught at JonesAcademy. This is important to thechildren. They must have theright tools for learning and theright support for their education.I appreciate the Tribal Council forapproving the funding of the on-campus classes.”

Chief Pyle told of the culturalimportance of sharing the Choc-taw language. “Many of ourmothers, fathers and grandpar-ents went to boarding schools andwere severely punished forspeaking anything other thanEnglish. Now, we have languageclasses that are totally funded bythe Choctaw Nation. Classes areon the Internet, in 42 live class-rooms in areas across the UnitedStates and in schools, collegesand universities as accreditedcourses.”

“We have a great and bright fu-ture ahead of us,” said the Chief.

Inaugurationhighlights

festival

Beginning new terms are Councilpersons Bob Pate, Perry Thompson, KennyBryant, Mike Amos, Harrington “Hap” Ward and Charlotte Jackson.

Chief Gregory E. Pyle repeats the oath of office toChief Justice James Wolfe.

Choctaw royalty

The 2003-04 Choctaw Nation Princesses were crowned Satur-day, August 30 during the annual Labor Day Festival.

Beginning their reign are Morgan Steve of Durant as Little MissChoctaw Nation; Dayla Amos of Broken Bow as Jr. Miss Choc-taw Nation and Nicole Billy of Broken Bow as Sr. Miss ChoctawNation.

See Page 9 for photos of the contestants

Book signing setfor “The Choctawof Oklahoma”

Chief Gregory E. Pyle invites everyone to celebrate the debut of “The Choctaw ofOklahoma,” an historic account of the Choctaw Nation.

A book signing with author Dr. Jim Milligan is planned for 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday,October 2, at the Choctaw Inn, Hwy. 75 South in Durant.

The Choctaw Nation and Dr. Milligan have spent four years compiling the informationfor the commissioned and copyrighted history book. “The Choctaw of Oklahoma” is fullof information, portraying the sturggles and victories of the Choctaw people. Dr. Milligancovers many centuries of Choctaw history by bringing us to the present and stating goalsfor the future.

Interest ratesare lower

The Southeastern OklahomaIndian Credit Association offerssmall business, home, home im-provement and agriculture loans.

The current interest rate is7%.

To be eligible to apply, a per-son must reside within the tenand one-half county service areaof the Choctaw Nation of Okla-homa and must possess a Certifi-cate of Degree of Indian Blood(CDIB) from a federally recog-nized tribe.

For more information, contactSusan Edwards at 580-924-8280or toll-free 1-800-522-6170.

Orderinginformationon Page 8

Letters

September 2003, BISHINIK,

Gregory E. PyleChief

Mike BaileyAssistant ChiefThe Official

Monthly Publicationof the

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Judy Allen, EditorLisa Reed, Assistant EditorVonna Shults, Webmaster

Brenda Wilson, Technical AssistantMelissa Stevens, Circulation Manager

Faye Self, Community Liaison

P.O. Drawer 1210Durant, OK 74702

(580) 924-8280 • (800) 522-6170Fax (580) 924-4148

www.choctawnation.come-mail: [email protected]

The BISHINIK is printed each month as a service to Tribal Members.The BISHINIK reserves the right to edit submitted material which it findsinaccurate, profane, offensive or morally unacceptable. Copy may beedited for proper grammar and punctuation. Copy will be accepted inany readable form, but where possible, it is requested that material betypewritten and double spaced. You must include an address or phonenumber where you may be reached.

If you are receiving more than one BISHINIK at your home or if youraddress needs changed, we would appreciate hearing from you.

The BISHINIK is a nonprofit publication of the Choctaw Nation. Cir-culation is monthly.

BISHINIK ® 2003

California Choctaw receivesadvanced nursing degreeDear Mr. Wade,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Choctaw Nation,as well as your office, for the financial assistance which has beenprovided to me as I worked to achieve my master’s degree in nurs-ing. The Higher Education Office has been very helpful in the pastyears in mailing reminders for paperwork due dates and providingassistance in completing all the necessary forms. Your staff has beenvery courteous and helpful on the few occasions I needed to obtainhelp on the telephone.

There is no doubt that the tuition assistance has lightened my loadas I studied for my advanced nursing degree. I invite you to share inthe joy of my new degree, as I graduated June 14, 2003.

Lynne Roy, RN, MSNRedlands, California

Scholarship aids in educationDear Choctaw Nation,

My name is Kay Christine Luetkemeyer. I want to express mygratitude for receiving the Choctaw Nation Scholarship for the pastfour years. I have now graduated from the University of Oklahomawith a B.S. in Elementary Education.

I wanted to thank you on behalf of my parents, Bob and VermellLuetkemeyer; my grandparents, W.O. and Doris V. Phelps Maxey,and my great-grandmother, Lola E. Ryan Phelps Marlow.

Kay Christine LuetkemeyerOklahoma City, Oklahoma

Family and Tribe’s supportmotivates student to succeedDear Chief Pyle,

I am writing this letter as a proud member of the Choctaw Nationand a recent college graduate. I would like to express my thanks andappreciation to the Choctaw Nation Higher Education Departmentscholarship fund for granting me the financial assistance necessaryto complete my undergraduate degree at the University of CentralFlorida in Orlando. Thanks to your generous support I completed mybachelor’s degree this spring in the field of broadcast communica-tions with a minor in marketing. I am now employed with a largemarketing firm here in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area of West Cen-tral Florida.

It goes without saying that completing four years of college re-quires an enormous amount of emotional, spiritual and financial sup-port. I am most fortunate to have received all of that from my familyand the Choctaw Nation. Your scholarship, cards and letters of en-couragement have kept me motivated to succeed in college and to tryto make my family and Tribe proud of my accomplishments. I amstarting my new career in marketing as a direct result of your supportand encouragement. Words cannot express my gratitude.

I read the BISHINIK when I am home and realize that the incred-ible generosity of the Choctaw Nation truly makes a difference in thelives of members of the Tribe. I feel so fortunate to have been therecipient of the Choctaw college scholarship and hope that other youngpeople will consider applying and continuing their education.

Thank you for having faith in me and investing in my future.Amanda “Mandy” Stone

Largo, Florida

Seeking informationDear Editor,

I am searching for any information about Carl Earl Hill or family.Please call Sally Marie Hill (Rhea), 469-633-0509; [email protected], or write 9425 Rolater Rd #1515, Frisco, TX 75035.

Writer documenting roleof women in the militaryDear Editor,

On October 27, 1918, The Oklahoman published a short news itemabout Effie Barnett, Choctaw, who had arrived safely in France tobegin her tour as an Army nurse. It included Effie’s picture and notedshe was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Barnett of Allen. Effiegraduated from the Presbyterian College in Durant and attended AllSaints hospital training school for nurses in McAlester.

I am interested in Effie Barnett because I am currently working ona book about the history of Native American women in the military.There is little documented about the role of Native American womenduring this era and I would like to find out more about Effie’s mili-tary service and life.

If anyone has any information on Effie Barnett I would appreciatehearing from you. I would also appreciate any information on anyNative women who have served or are currently serving in the mili-tary (reservists, National Guard, Coast Guard, ROTC, etc.).

You can contact me, Brenda Finnicum, at 395 Sheldon Rd.,Freeville, NY 13068; e-mail [email protected] or 607-347-4540.

For more information on the role of Native American women inthe military visit my website at www.nativewomenveterans.org.

OSU graduate accepted atUniversity of ManchesterDear Chief Pyle,

I would like to take this opportunity to express my most sincere grati-tude to the Choctaw Nation for its key involvement in my college edu-cation. Four years ago, earning a college diploma was only a dream. Inefforts to make that dream a reality, I met a large obstacle – finances. Itwas my goal to attend Oklahoma State University and earn a Bachelorof Science degree in Agricultural Economics. However, the scholar-ship money I had collected by the spring of my senior year of highschool was not sufficient in meeting all of the financial obligations as-sociated with attending OSU for four years. A blessing from God, theChoctaw Nation removed the hurdle of finance and gave me the oppor-tunity to attend OSU through financial assistance.

My years at OSU provided me with not only the education I desired,but they provided me a plethora of opportunities that opened my eyesto a world outside of my own imagination. The opportunities that weremade available to me during my years at OSU took me around thecountry countless times and out of the United States on three differentoccasions. These trips opened my eyes to many different aspects of theagricultural industry within the United States and the international di-mension of the agricultural industry. Upon reflection of my educationat OSU and my experiences within those years, I realized that I havenot just learned throughout my education at OSU, but I have learnedhow to learn; a skill, which I feel is crucial to one’s success in life.

I graduated from OSU on May 10 of this year and received my Bach-elor of Science in Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources with amajor in Agricultural Economics. In addition to my college degree, Iwas also honored by being named an OSU College of Agricultural Sci-ences and Natural Resources “Top Ten Senior,” and an OSU AlumniAssociation “Outstanding Senior” for the University. Since my dreamof having a college degree has become a reality, I have decided to con-tinue my education. This past year, I was awarded a Rotary Ambassa-dorial Scholarship, which funds all of my graduate school overseas. Ihave been accepted at the University of Manchester in the United King-dom and will move to England in September to begin my Master ofScience in Economics and Management of Rural Development.

I rely on my faith in God to direct me in my life decisions. Myfuture is uncertain and only God knows what my calling in life trulyis. However, I am certain that wherever I reside; whether it be in theUnited Kingdom or the United States, I will always be proud of myChoctaw heritage and forever grateful for everything that the Choc-taw Nation has provided my family and me. Thank you for yourcontributions to my college education, and I look forward to the timethat my services may be of assistance to the Choctaw Nation. Thankyou very much and God bless.

Chas RobbinsSpiro, Oklahoma

Hospital provides excellent careDear Chief Pyle and Assistant Chief Bailey,

We recently had our second child at the Choctaw Nation hospital(obstetric department) in Talihina, Oklahoma. The experience weencountered was second to none. The wonderful staff of reception-ists, nurses, doctors and pediatricians all provided excellent serviceand care. The facility is kept clean and presentable and our stay wasvery pleasant. We are very thankful to have access to such a nicehealth facility.

The Brandon Spears family

Sharing facts on Parnell ancestorsDear Editor,

In the July issue of the BISHINIK, in the Obituary section, therewas an obituary for Ola Bea Parnell Steiger. I have a considerableamount of information about her Parnell ancestors, starting withRobert Parnell (born about 1810 in Georgia), my great-great-grand-father, and James Haywood Parnell (born 1851/1855 in Arkansas),my great-grandfather. I will be glad to share this information withany family members who contact me.

Eugene Roth2408 S. Suprema Ave.

Springfield, MO 65807-8129417-890-1058

e-mail: [email protected]

Thank youDear Chief Pyle and the Choctaw Nation,

I want to tell you how very grateful I am for the medical equip-ment you provided me with.

Rebecca J. Coon

CARES staff provides fun andeducational programs for childrenDear Chief Pyle and Assistant Chief Bailey,

We would like to express our appreciation to the Choctaw NationCARES program for coming to our church and to tell how much weappreciated the activities they shared with our children. The childrenwere involved in team building, cultural awareness, and alcohol pre-vention activities. These activities were fun and very educational forthe children. CARES staff also provided refreshments and a goodiebag for everyone. The children really enjoyed the activities they par-ticipated in that day. We thank you for all you’re doing in the Choc-taw Nation and for what you do for the young people of the ChoctawNation. We would like to extend a special thank you to CAREs staffmembers, Kathryn Pitchford, Jack Austin, Jr., Patsy Whitmore, NoellaBowers and Sherry Wall.

The Goodwater Community,Jeffie Gibson

Caddo rodeo a successDear Chief Pyle and Assistant Chief Bailey,

The Caddo Round Up Club would like to thank you for your dona-tions to our rodeo and for donating the queen saddle. With your help,our rodeo was a success.

Members of the Caddo Round Up Club

Enjoyable year spent in GermanyDear Choctaw Nation,

We have enjoyed our year of teaching in Germany. We taught mathat a high school for missionary’s children. The missionaries are in orfrom 50 different countries.

Thank you for the packet of Choctaw information you sent. It willbe used in the American History class this coming year.

Lynne HultquistCentre Hall, Pennsylvania

Sisters receive support with educationDear Choctaw Nation,

My sister and I would like to thank the Choctaw Nation HigherEducation department for providing financial assistance throughoutour college endeavors. We have learned that a college education isimperative to succeed in the current workforce.

My sister, Judy Kay Harlin, attended Our Lady of the Lake Uni-versity in San Antonio, Texas. With the help of the Choctaw Nation,she graduated and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Edu-cation, with a teaching certificate. She is currently teaching in SanAntonio and is enrolled in the master’s program at Our Lady of theLake University. I, Tritia Harlin-Grubbs, attended Texas LutheranUniversity in Sequin, Texas. I received a Bachlor of Arts degree inKinesiology with a minor in History. I met my husband at TLU,married in the Summer of 2000, and am celebrating the arrival of ourson, Kai Hayden Grubbs. We are currently living in Okinawa, Japan,and working for the Department of Defense Dependent’s Schools.

We express our gratitude for the outstanding support the ChoctawNation of Oklahoma gave while my sister and I obtained our educa-tion. With the support of the Choctaw Nation, and our parents, Johnand Sophie Harlin, we were able to obtain a higher education. Thankyou for the help and assistance in providing us with this gift.

Judy Kay Harlin and Tritia Harlin-Grubbs

Nutrition Site AideThe Senior Community Service Employment Pro-gram has a position available at the Choctaw NationCommunity Center, Durant, Oklahoma, for a Nutri-tion Site Aide.

This is a two-year training program, 20 hours perweek. Must be 55 years or older. Must meet incomeguideline.

Call 580-924-8280, ext. 2202 or 2272.

POSITION AVAILABLE

Package appreciatedDear Chief Pyle and the Choctaw Nation,

Thank you for the boxes of food and hygiene items that are limitedover here. My soldiers and I appreciate anything you send.

Cpt. Brandon Iker

Reunions

ISHCOMER-WESLEY-EMEYABBI-BILLYA gathering of the Ischomer, Wesley, Emeyabbi and Billy family be-

gins at 10 a.m. Friday, September 19, at the Elem J. Wesley house inKanawka, Texas. The family reunion continues on Saturday, Septem-ber 20, with supper at 5:30 p.m., preaching from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. byEllis Taylor of Wright City, and gospel singing beginning at 7:30 p.m.The gospel singing will feature the Crosby Family of Wright City andmany more. MC is Truman Jefferson. For more information, please call580-286-9216. Bring your lawn chairs.

HASKELL ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONThe Haskell Alumni Association of Oklahoma, Haskell Indian Na-

tions University, Lawrence, Kansas, invites all Haskell alumni andfriends to the annual Haskell Reunion, October 24-26 at Western HillsLodge in Sequoyah State Park, east of Wagoner, Oklahoma. Please passthis information on to all alumni and friends! For information on spe-cial room rates, the reception party, Saturday golf, dinner/dance or Sun-day activities, contact Joyce (Childers) Bear, 918-756-8700, ext. 603,e-mail [email protected], or Leon Yahola at 918-616-3757.

OKLAHOMA PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGEThe Oklahoma Presbyterian College Alumni Reunion will be Oc-

tober 3-5, 2003 at Choctaw Inn, south of Durant, Oklahoma. Regis-tration begins at 2 p.m. Friday, October 3, at the Choctaw Inn Con-ference Room. Several activities have been planned for the weekend– a tour of Tribal Headquarters, Friday evening fellowship and re-ception, Saturday morning brunch and fellowship, Saturday eveningbanquet, recognition of distinguished OPC alumnus, history of OPC,singing and fellowship, door prizes and several other activities. Formore information about the reunion and scheduled activities, pleasecontact Janis Imotichey at 580-443-5468.

Searching for paternal relativesDear Editor,

I am trying to find out if I have any relatives. My name is WillieLoman Borden. My father was William Leroy Loman. My mother wasLois Faye Loman. My father told me that I had some half-sisters inOklahoma. I would love to find out more about my father’s family.

Willie Borden15 E. WashingtonPlaza Apts. #311

McAlester, OK 74501918-423-1917

Family extendsheartfelt gratitudeDear Chief Pyle and Choctaw Nation,

Derek Jones was diagnosed with kid-ney failure on December 18, 2002. Thefamily was told that it may take up to twoyears before a donor would be found.While waiting for a donor, Derek wasbeing treated through home dialysis.

On July 1, 2003, a donor was found and Derek received his kidneytransplant within six months of his diagnosis. The kidney transplantwent well with minor complications. Derek is at home enjoying timewith his family and friends. He will continue to travel once a week toOklahoma City Children’s Hospital.

We would like to extend a sincere thank you for all the heart-warm-ing calls, cards, beautiful flowers, food and especially, prayers, andask for continuing prayers. A special thank you to Russell Sossamonand the Housing Authority staff for all of their support with provid-ing a van to transport Derek.

Our appreciation is far greater than words itself. Thank you.Danny, Edith, Kyle, Joey, Danny, Jr., Derek, Dillon and Dusty

24th Annual Gospel Singinghosted by the Horn Family

at the Bryan County Community CenterSouth 9th St. at the fairgrounds in Durant, Oklahoma

7:00 p.m. September 27– Featured Groups –

Christlike • Eastern Gate • TripletsDuncan, Okla. Durant, Okla. Valliant, Okla.

Plus many more – bring your groups!Concession available • FREE admission

MC: Johnson Corney Buck

MEASHINTUBBY-JONES-THOMPSONDescendants of Reba Meashintubby, Wilburn Jones, Sr., Cephus Jones

and Betty Thompson are holding their second family reunion on Sep-tember 20, 2003 at Talihina State Park in Talihina, Oklahoma. Activi-ties include horseshoe, volleyball, possibly softball and other games. Apotluck dinner will be served at noon – everybody bring a covered dish.Also we will be celebrating a birthday dinner for Hailey Dawn McKin-ney on that day. Everyone come and enjoy the reunion. For more infor-mation, contact Kathy Leach at 972-278-1077 or Joyce Purser at 972-424-7477.


CHILDREN OF TRADITION RETREATCHILDREN OF TRADITION RETREATCHILDREN OF TRADITION RETREATCHILDREN OF TRADITION RETREATCHILDREN OF TRADITION RETREATThe Choctaw Nation Community Health Representatives and the CARES Project will be hosting aChildren of Tradition Retreat on October 17-18, 2003 at the Choctaw Nation Capital Grounds inTushka Homma. All Native American children from 8-12 years old residing in the 10 1/2 counties ofthe Choctaw Nation service area wishing to attend must be registered by September 26.

Choctaw, Pushmataha, Bryan, Atoka, Hughes and Coal county retreat date will be October 17.

LeFlore, Latimer, Pittsburg, Haskell and McCurtain county retreat date will be October 18.

To register, please contact a Community Health Representative at 1-800-349-7026, ext. 6094 or6093. The CARES Project is striving to help Native American children and families, experiencing atemporary disharmony, access services.

The Choctaw Nation Community HealthRepresentatives and CARES are working

together to build a healthy futurefor Native American youth�

It is an honor to serve on EDGEA great honor has been be-

stowed upon me by the Gover-nor of Oklahoma, Brad Henry. Inhis quest for developing a planto help the state gain a competi-tive edge in the global economy,Governor Henry wanted to in-clude the Choctaw Nation. TheGovernor has created EDGE(Economic Development Gener-ating Excellence) committees,which will be examining topicsthat include agriculture, energy,health, information technologies,infrastructure, manufacturing, taxpolicy and aerospace, amongmany others.

Being selected to serve on theSteering Committee which willspearhead the project is very ex-citing. I look forward to work-ing with the expert panelists onthe many topics. A number ofthese experts also live in BryanCounty. Senator Jay Paul Gummwill serve on the expert panel forlocal and regional economic de-velopment. Southeastern Okla-homa State University PresidentGlen Johnson has been appointedto the panel of experts on ameni-ties and cultural climate. Repre-sentative John Carey of Durantwill represent his district on

From the desk of Assistant Chief Mike Bailey

the expert panel on manufactur-ing. Choctaw Nation ExecutiveGary Batton has been appointedto serve on the health carepanel.

I truly appreciate the confi-dence of the business and com-munity leaders, especially JohnMassey and Chief Greg Pyle,who recommended me for the po-sition. There are twenty-threepanels of statewide experts from

the public and private sectors.The steering committee ischarged with developing a pro-posal to be presented on eco-nomic growth for Oklahoma byDecember. This is an ambitiousproject for long-term economicprosperity.

The Steering Committee willgather input from experts andcitizens and guide the process toits completion.

From the desk of Chief Gregory E. Pyle

Encouragement for a healthier lifestyleIt is obvious that an epidemic

of diabetes threatens the Choctawpeople. Approximately 17 mil-lion Americans, or 6.2%, havediabetes. Unfortunately, one thirddo not know they have diabetes.A special task force has been cre-ated to work toward preventingdiabetes and improving healthamong Choctaws.

The task force members arehealth professionals, Choctawprogram directors, a representa-tive of the Choctaw Council andmyself. For almost two years, thetask force has worked on specialprojects to raise diabetes aware-ness and prevention of diabetes.

Recently the task forcechanged its name to the HealthyLifestyles Task Force and willfocus on all the many healthproblems facing the Choctawpeople, although diabetes re-mains the most serious healthcare issue.

The rate of diabetes for NativeAmericans and Alaska Natives isan average of 2.6 times higherthan that of the non-Hispanicwhites of similar age. Of theChoctaws receiving care from theChoctaw Nation Health Care Ser-vices, approximately 12% havediabetes.

More than 60% of Americansare classified as obese or over-

weight. This increases the risk ofdiabetes, heart disease and certaincancers.

Changing the lifestyle ofpeople is an enormous task. Im-provement of eating and exercisehabits are a crucial part of thesolution. Studies show that a de-crease of 5% to 10% of body

weight and increasing physicalactivities to three times a weekcan reduce the chances of gettingcancer by 58%.

These statistics should encour-age all of us to live a healthierlifestyle, and increase the longev-ity of the Choctaw people fromthis year forward.

Going away gifts were presented to Charley Jones at his retirement party,showing appreciation for his many years of dedicated service to the Choctawpeople. Chief Gregory E. Pyle, Assistant Chief Mike Bailey, Tribal Councilmem-bers and Tribal program staff expressed best wishes to Mr. Jones.

Chaplain’s CornerBy the Rev. Bertram Bobb, Choctaw Tribal Chaplain

The 2003 Choctaw Nation La-bor Day Festival marked anothergreat weekend of family activitiesand the fellowship of families andfriends. May our Choctaw Nationcontinue to grow.

We are reminded that a nationcan rise no higher, can be no stron-ger, and be no better than the indi-viduals which compose that na-tion. And today I share with you achallenge from the Book ofGalatians 5:22-26. I believe it isimpossible to understand theBible, or Christian living withoutunderstanding something of thePerson and the work of the HolySpirit.

The Bible teaches that God is inthree persons. God is One, but Heis manifested in three Persons –God the Father, God the Son, andGod the Holy Spirit.

The Bible teaches that the HolySpirit is coequal with the God theFather and coequal with God theSon. The Bible also teaches thatthe Holy Spirit is a Person. He isnever to be referred to as “it”. Heis not just an agent. He is not justan influence. He is a Mighty Per-son, the Holy Spirit of God.

The Bible tells us that He isOmnipotent – that means that Hehas all power; that He is Omnipres-ent – that means that He is every-where at the same time; that he isOmniscient – that means that Hehas all knowledge. He knows ev-erything that you do – He watchesyou.

He hears the lies that you tell.He knows the thoughts and intentsof your heart. He knows what is inyour mind, the things you think,the intents of your soul. He knowsall about it. He knows everything.The Bible teaches that He writesdown in a book everything thatyou do and someday it shall bebrought out as evidence at theGreat Judgment of God.

The Bible tells us something ofthe work of the Holy Spirit. Whatdoes He do? We are told in theGospel of John 16:8 that He con-victs men of sin: “And when He iscome, He will reprove the worldof sin, and of righteousness, andof judgment.” It is the Holy Spiritwho convicts you of your sin. Hemakes you feel uncomfortable, Hepricks your conscience. He makesyou acknowledge and admit toyourself that you are a sinner, andthen He gives you the strength andthe power to turn from your sins.You cannot come to Jesus Christunless the Holy Spirit convictsyou, and you must repent of yoursins.

Then the Bible teaches thatwhen the Holy Spirit has convictedyou of sin, when you are willingto give yourself to Christ, andwhen you come to Christ, He givesnew life. That is the work of theHoly Spirit. The moment that youreceive Jesus Christ as your Sav-ior, the Holy Spirit of God comes

in and regenerates.The Bible also teaches that you

are dead in trespasses and sins.Now this doesn’t mean your bodyis dead. It’s your soul that is dead.Your soul that lives in your bodyis going to live forever – that partof you is dead toward God. It iscalled “spiritual death”. The mo-ment you come to Jesus Christ, theSpirit of God brings the life of Godinto you and you begin to live. Thesoul that rejects the Lord JesusChrist will spend eternity in a placeprepared for the devil and his an-gels.

The Spirit of God has given toyou the very life of God – and Godis an eternal God – that means youwill live as long as God lives andthat is for eternity.

The Bible also teaches that theSpirit of God produces the fruit ofthe Spirit: “but the fruit of the Spiritis love, joy, peace, longsuffering,gentleness, goodness, faith, meek-ness and temperance.” (Galatians5:22-23)

Now these nine things are tocharacterize the life of every bornagain child of God. We are to befilled with love, we are to have joy,we are to have peace, we are tohave longsuffering or patience, weare to be gentle and kind, we areto be filled with goodness, we areto have faith, there is to be meek-ness, and we are to have temper-ance. But what do we find? Wefind in the average so-called Chris-tian today the very opposite.

Everyone before he comes toJesus Christ is dominated by onenature, the “old man”, which iscalled the flesh. The flesh, theworld, and the devil control yourlife. You are controlled by yourego. You are controlled by your-self. The moment you receiveJesus Christ as your Savior, thatself is put down and Christ is puton the throne in your life and theSpirit of God dominates your life.

One thing we remember – selfis still there, sometimes hidden,sometimes quiet – waiting his op-portunity and his chance to takecontrol again.

As a Christian, you have thepower, you have the will to yieldeither to the flesh and live a fleshlycarnal life, or you have the powerto yield to the Spirit, to live aSpirit-filled life. Which are youliving? Are you living a life on thehuman plane, a fleshly carnal lifein which there is little Bible read-ing, little prayer? You may go to achurch, but there is no daily walk

with Christ. There is no joy thatyou know a Christian should have.Your life is an up and down expe-rience. God never meant it to bethat way. God meant the Christianlife to be on the highest possibleplane at all times, bearing the fruitof the Spirit.

When you come to Jesus Christby faith – He gives you the HolySpirit who produces the fruit of theSpirit. After the HolySpirit is in you, you must yield toHim so He controls your life. It isthen that sin shall not rule overyou.

The Bible says “... greater is Hethat is in you than he that is in theworld.” (I John 4:4) If this is whatyou have been looking for, youmust by an act of faith receiveJesus Christ. You must give Himyour whole life. You can do thistoday!

Christian Indians and friends,paraphrase Paul the Apostle’s de-sire in Roman’s 10:1 and pray,“Brethren, my heart’s desire andprayer to God for ‘American Indi-ans’ is that they might be saved.”

We do pray for precious soulsaround the world as we are re-minded in Matthew 7:13: “... broadis the way that leadeth to destruc-tion, and many there by which goin thereat.”

Pray for President Bush, theleaders of the United States andour Indian Nations. Pray for ourChoctaw Chief, Assistant Chief,members of the Tribal Council andthe spiritual leaders among us.May the Lord bless you!

CHOCTAW APPRECIATION DAYOctober 25, 2003 • Antlers, Oklahoma

– Slowpitch Softball Tournament –Begins at 10 a.m. – Single Elimination

Entry fee $50 – Limited to first 12 teamsCall (580) 298-2842 to enter

– Dinner and speaking at 5:30 p.m. –ALL EVENTS AT ANTLERS FAIRGROUNDS

Health fair Bernice Williams,

right, checks the bloodpressure of hundreds

of visitors and AnnetteChoate, below, coun-

sels on health im-provements at the

health tent during theLabor Day Festival.

The tent, full of boothsfocusing on healthy

living for all ages,opened for visitors

Friday, Saturday andSunday.

Councilman Jones retires

Atoka language classA beginning Choctaw language

class will start at 6:30 p.m. Octo-ber 6 at the Choctaw CommunityCenter in Atoka. For more infor-mation, please call 580-889-6147.

MOBILE WELLNESS CENTER SCHEDULEOctober 2003

Date 10 a.m.-12 noon 1-3 p.m.October 3 Stuart - Store Calvin - Senior Center

Cholesterol, diabetes & blood pressure screenings; Alzheimer’s & dementia education & prevention

October 7 Cameron - Store Rock Island - Store


October 9 Finley - Store Nashoba - Store


October 14 Big Cedar- Store Octavia - Store


October 16 Wilburton - EOSC Campus Wilburton - Old Court House


October 21 Durant - Travel Plaza by Bingo Durant - Across Farmer’s Market


October 24 Tupelo - Store Coalgate - Choctaw Center


October 28 Ashland - Main St. Blanco - Main St.


October 30 Blocker - Main St. Quinton - Main St.



Serving the Choctaw Nation at 14 sites

ChoctawNation WIC

SITE PHONE HOURS DAYSAntlers 580-298-3161 8:30-4:00 TuesdaysAtoka 580-889-5825 8:00-4:30 Every Mon., Thurs. & 1st, 3rd, 4th Wed.Bethel 580-241-5458 8:30-4:00 1st & 3rd TuesdayBoswell 580-566-2243 8:30-4:00 1st & 2nd FridayBroken Bow 580-584-2746 8:30-4:00 2nd & 4th Tues., every Wed. & Thurs.Coalgate 580-927-3641 8:30-4:00 2nd WednesdayDurant 580-924-8280 x 2255 8:00-4:30 DailyHugo 580-326-5404 8:00-4:30 Mon., Wed., Thurs., 3rd & 4th Fri.Idabel 580-286-2510 8:00-4:30 Monday and FridayMcAlester 918-423-6335 8:00-4:30Mon., Tues., Thurs., 4th Wed.Poteau 918-647-4585 8:00-4:30 Mon., Tues., Wed., 4th Thurs., Fri.Stigler 918-967-4211 8:30-4:00 1st, 2nd & 3rd WednesdayTalihina 918-567-7000 x 6792 8:00-4:30 Tuesday and FridayWilburton 918-465-5641 8:30-4:00 1st, 2nd & 3rd Thursday

Playing your “weigh” to fitnessKids need regular physical activity (30 to 60 minutes a day) to

maintain a healthy weight while growing normally. School classesand athletics count, and so do sports like Little League. Active playwith friends and family is another fun way to get moving.

1. Play inside.There are plenty of ways to enjoy fun indoor family play without

destroying the house. Turn off the TV and the computer – and playan old-fashioned game of hide-and-seek. Clear a space for wiggling,dancing, and playing with soft-foam balls and squishy toys.

2. Play outside.The options for outdoor fun are unlimited: bikes, trikes, scooters,

balls, kits, Frisbees, jump ropes, squirt guns and hula-hoops. There’salso a long list of childhood games that the whole family can playtogether – like more hide-and-seek, tag and hopscotch.

3. Play in the yard.Whatever the size of your yard, you can turn it into a neighbor-

hood fun zone with a few basic toys – a basketball hoop, a ropeswing, or a sandbox depending on the age of your children. Keep itsimple – and let kids use their innate creativity to stay active.

4. Play at the park.Many communities have fun park facilities. Often they are close

enough so that you can leave the car at home – and walk or ride abike. Make it a regular family outing. When the weather is nice youcan even take a picnic and play before and after dinner.

5. Play at the gym.Indoor gyms offer safety, warmth and fun programs for kids and

parents. Check your area for schools, colleges, community centers,fitness facilities, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA/YWCAs ad otheragencies that are open evenings, weekends and vacations.

6. Play on the field.Almost every community in the USA offers sport programs for

children – baseball, football, basketball, soccer, tennis, and swim-ming. There are programs for all ages and all levels of skill – andmost emphasize FUN and the opportunity for parents to get involved.

Used with permission of Eat Right Montana.

Nursery NewsNursery NewsNursery NewsNursery NewsNursery News

Hunter Lee Williston was born at3:36 p.m. March 18, 2003 at the Choc-taw Nation Health Care Center in Tali-hina, Oklahoma. Hunter weighed 7pounds and measured 21 inches long.He is the son of Ashley Williston ofIdabel, Oklahoma. Grandparents areAngie McKinney and Terry Williston

Hunter Lee Williston

of Idabel. Great-grandparents are Helen and Ray Hester of Valliant,Oklahoma, the late Raymond McKinney of Idabel and RuthieWilliston and the late William Williston of Idabel. Hunter is the great-great-grandson of Ella Jones of Idabel. Also welcoming Hunter is

his Uncle Teyler Williston of Idabel. Hunter would like to wish his

Uncle Teyler a happy 11th birthday!

Ty’Ray Poor Buffalo was born May17, 2003 at Carl Albert Indian Hospi-tal in Ada. He weighed 7 pounds, 8ounces and was 19 inches long. Proudparents are Carl and Shanna RaePoorBuffalo of Ada, Oklahoma.

Grandparents are Billy Ray and

Marcella Jones of Broken Bow and

Ty’Ray Poor Buffalo

Micky and Jeanette Weryackwe of Lawton, Oklahoma. Great-grand-

parents are Martha Jones of Broken Bow, the late Lucille Bear, Lewis

PoorBuffalo, Sr. and Sarah Tofpi, both of Carnegie, Oklahoma and

Henry and LeQuita Tamahsah of Lawton.

Also welcoming Ty’Ray are his cousin, Jakob Moore; aunts,

Hiyadeja Moore of Broken Bow, Amanda and Jenny Weryackwe of

Lawton, and uncle, Jeff Moore, who is stationed in Korea.

Alissa Lynn is proud to announce thebirth of her baby sister, Kayelin Jo,born 11:10 a.m. May 11, 2003 at theChoctaw Nation Health Care Center inTalihina. She weighed 7 pounds, 15.5ounces and was 20 inches long. Par-ents are Jody and Melissa Kindred ofDaisy, Oklahoma. Grandparents are

Kayelin Jo Kindred

Rita Carter of Buffalo Valley, Don Carter of Piedmont, Oklahoma,Ruth Kindred of Daisy and the late Arville Kindred. Her great-grand-parents are Bonnie Harvey Sparks of Buffalo Valley, Audrey IsomBurleson of Daisy, Marie Lewis of Wilburton, and the late AnnieMcIntosh Carter.

Memo and Carisa Gallegos wouldlike to announce the arrival of daugh-ter, Siomara. Siomara was born 9:50p.m. May 9, 2003 at Choctaw NationHealth Care Center in Talihina. Sheweighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces and mea-sured 19.9 inches long. Her grandpar-ents are Dora Ward of Antlers, Okla-

Siomara Gallegos

homa, the late Woodrow Caldwell, and Guillerno and HesiquiaGallegos of Houston, Texas. Also, favorite aunt, Martha Taylor, anduncle, Hobie Taylor, Sr., of Sobol, Oklahoma and many cousins andfamily are welcoming her.

Choctaw singerspreserve heritage

Sixteen Choctaw people met recently at the St. Paul United Meth-odist Church in Talihina to sing the Old Time Choctaw Hymns inthe Choctaw language. These songs were adapted from the SacredHarp and Christian Harmony songbooks printed in the early 1800s.The Choctaw hymns are always performed acappella.

As the group, including people from Talihina, Honobia, Whites-boro, Wilburton, Hartshorne, Stigler and McCurtain, sang thesebeautiful old songs they were being recorded. The recordingshave been placed on the Voices Across America’s website,www.pilgrimproduction.org for all to enjoy. The website is a projectof the Rev. Dan C. McCurry, Ph.D., who is the Trauma Chaplain forthe Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.

The Rev. McCurry, accompanied by June Melton, is visiting sev-eral states to record Native Americans singing in their native tonguein their own homes, congregations or religious centers. He thenmakes the beautiful songs available to all generations along withpictures of the performers on his website. He calls his project “OldPath Harmonies.”

The project will recover Native American Shape Note MusicalTraditions. Many Native Americans today sing from hymnals andother song books, which were based on the shape note musical tra-ditions of the four and seven shapes, first taught by the missionariesin the early 1800s. Norman and Juanita Jefferson, full-blood Choc-taws, wanted to preserve indigenous tunes for the Choctaw hymns.They completed this family project with tunes for over 50 hymns inthe Choctaw language before Norman’s death in 1993. After Nor-man passed away Juanita recorded their work.

McCurry is using these recordings to identify the same tunes thatwere in the early-day songbooks. He is visiting several differenttribes, asking them to sing the same songs to see how their songscompare with each other. Juanita Jefferson became involved withthe project when she and 20 other Choctaws from Talihina, BrokenBow, Eagletown, Idabel and surrounding areas who made up theOklahoma Choctaw Nation Senior Choir boarded one of the brandnew Choctaw Nation buses and made their way to Union, Missis-sippi to attend a singing school hosted by the Symnra Baptist Church.The group was able to stay on the church campgrounds. The schoolwas sponsored by the Beasley Foundation. The Mississippi Choc-taw Choir also attended the singing school.

These two choirs joined to record the songs compiled by the Rev.McCurry. This recording is also on the website.

We owe a great deal to all of these people who give of their timeand gifts of beautiful music in order to preserve the Choctaw lan-guage and songs so that they may always be enjoyed.

Eli Sawyer White was born on Oc-tober 25, 2002. He is the son of Rickand Stephanie White, brother of ZoeGrace White, and the grandson ofChoctaw artist George Willis, all ofCarlsbad, California. He is the great-grandson of the late Mary FolsomWillis, great-niece of Roy Folsom of

Eli Sawyer White

McAlester and the great-great-grandson of the late George and NannieFolsom.

Konnor Dean Tom was born July 7,2003 at Okmulgee Hospital, weighing8 pounds, 14 ounces and measuring 21inches in length.

Konnor is the son of Joey Tom and

Hope Watkins. Grandparents are

Jimmy and Betty Tom of Broken Bow,

Oklahoma and Charles and Marie Wat-

Konnor Dean Tom

kins of Wright City, Oklahoma. Great-grandparents are Robert and

Melissa Bohanan of Bethel, the late Albert and Genese Tom, Zeke

and Faye Watkins of Wright City and the late Amos Taylor of Wright

City.

Anthony Lee Hayward, Jr.would like to announce the ar-rival of his little sister, RaynaIrene Hudson, at 2:32 p.m. onMay 26, 2003. She weighed 8pounds, 6 ounces and was19.25 inches long.

Rayna Irene Hudson

She was welcomed home by her big brother and grandparents.

Proud parents are Jeremiah Wayne Hudson and Denise Lynn Hudson

of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Grandparents are Elvin and Linda

Emmons of Margate, Florida.

Caitlyn Renee McReynolds wasborn June 9, 2003. Proud parents areHoward W. and Diane (Wernberg)McReynolds. Welcome to the family,Caitlyn.

Caitlyn Renee McReynolds

Tré N. Burkett would like to an-nounce the birth of his baby sister, JadeLynn Burkett. Jade was born at 9:10p.m. on May 12, 2003 at Storm0ant-Vail Hospital in Topeka, Kansas toNicki Brown and Derek Burkett ofTopeka. She weighed 7 pounds, 1ounce and was 20 inches long.

Jade Lynn Burkett

Her loving family includes her big brother, Tre; grandma, Pamela

Maxwell-Potts; aunt, Jenna, and great-grandparents, Dee and Gene

Potts, all of Kansas.

Best Mother’s Day gift I could have received! Love, Mommy.

Larry and Michelle Ingle would liketo announce the birth of their son,Trystan Lane Ingle.

Trystan was born at 8:47 p.m. July22, 2003 at OU Medical Center inOklahoma City. He weighed 4 poundsand measured 16.5 inches long.

Tr ystan Lane Ingle

Elysian Armand Borrero was bornMay 21, 2003 in Denver, Colorado. Heweighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces and was21 inches long. His parents are Darianand Tom Borrero of Aurora, Colorado.Ely’s grandparents are Pat and DickJohnston of The Colony, Texas. Great-grandparents are the late Marjorie and

Elysian Armand Borrero

Herbert E. Needham, an original enrollee, of Hugo, Oklahoma.

Kevin and Shauana Kendrick ofLone Grover, Oklahoma are very proudto announce the birth of their son,Braxton “Slade” Kendrick. Slade wasborn at 2:56 a.m. on April 23, 2003 atCarl Albert Hospital in Ada, Oklahoma.He weighed 9 pounds, 6.6 ounces andmeasured 21.3 inches.

Braxton “Slade” Kendrick

Grandparents are the late Jerry Kendrick, Jerry and Ruth Holley of

Dickson, Oklahoma. Slade has a very sweet Great-Grandma, Noble

Kendrick of Ardmore, Oklahoma. He also has a pair of proud grand-

mas in Lone Grove, Oklahoma, first-time Grandma Evelyn Miller

and Great-Grandma Lula Parker. He has many aunts and uncles but

he has truly blessed the lives of his Uncle Alden and Uncle Aaron

Williams of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Uncle Clarence and Auntie

Angela Snyder of Anchorage, Alaska, Uncle Shay Miller of Wilson,

Oklahoma and proud Great-Aunt Yvonne Vansill of Gainesville,

Texas.

WOMEN, INFANT & CHILDREN

2nd Annual Turkey ShootVeteran’s Day at Tuskahoma

More information will be announced in the October BISHINIK

Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance ProgramNovember 20, 2003 is the final date to purchase Non-insured As-

sistance Program (NAP) coverage for pecans and most perennial fruitcrops. November 30, 2003 is the final date to purchase NAP cover-age for protection against 2004 cool and/or warm season grass haylosses. For more information, call the Farm Service Agency at 580-371-3219, ext. 2.


KEDDO spotlights Councilman DurantChoctaw Councilperson Ran-

dle Durant was spotlighted re-cently in the Kiamichi EconomicDevelopment District of Okla-homa’s newsletter. Mr. Duranthas served with the KEDDO AreaAgency on Aging Silver HairedLegislature since 1992 and wasselected as the KEDDO AreaOutstanding Older Oklahoman in1997. He was appointed to theKEDDO Board of Trustees in1993 representing the ChoctawNation of Oklahoma and hasbeen an invaluable member of theboard helping oversee programsthat benefit not only Choctawsbut all of Southeastern Okla-homa.

“Randle is a fine example oftribal leadership,” said Chief Gre-gory Pyle. “He has devoted twodecades to the Choctaws in Dis-trict 6, serving as their Council-

person. He is dedicated to im-proving the health, education andemployment of all the membersof the Choctaw Nation.”

Mr. Durant, 81, was born inBennington. He attended BelvinSchool in Boswell, St. Agnes

Academy in Ardmore, and Good-land Indian Orphanage in Hugo.He joined the Oklahoma NationalGuard when he was 16 years old.In 1940, he enlisted in the U.S.Navy, serving for 11 years, see-ing action in both World War IIand in Korea and becoming themost decorated Choctaw in thesewars.

Randle and wife Margaret havelived in the Talihina area for 23years. They have five childrenand ten grandchildren.

He was elected to the ChoctawNation Tribal Council on Septem-ber 1, 1983 and was elected toserve as the Speaker of the Coun-cil for six years. He has alsoserved as President of ChoctawNation Enterprise, Inc. andhelped introduce the commodityand inventory programs for thetribe.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

7

20

3 4

5 6Durant

10 am-12 noon

Idabel10 am-2 pm

Broken Bow9:30 am-2 pm

Talihina10 am-2 pm

Coalgate12 noon-2 pm

Durantby appt only

Poteau11 am-1:30 pm

Antlersby appt. only

Bethelby appt only

10

12 13 14 16

Wright Cityby appt. only

8

22

2

9

A Vocational Rehabilitation and Projects With Indus-try representative will be available at the locationslisted. A representative is available Monday thru Fri-day 8-4:30 except for holidays at the Hugo office.

17

19 21 23

18Atoka9-11 am

11

24 25

26 27 28

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATIONAND PROJECTS WITH INDUSTRY PROGRAM

October Calendar

McAlester10 am-2 pm

Stiglerby appt. only

McAlesterby appt only

Crowderby appt only

1

15

29 30 31

Artist’s workon display

California Choctaw artist LaurieMoore will be a featured artist dur-ing a Native American group showin September. The Pacific WesternTrader, which features Laurie’swork, will be participating in theSacramento area artwalk on Sep-tember 13. Laurie’s oil paintingsare narrative paintings of Choctawculture such as dancing andstickball.

For more information, pleasecall the gallery at 916-985-3851.It is located at 305 Wool St., Fol-som, California.

Healthy Lifestyle TipsBy Sharon Moore

Trade munching for crunchingIf you are a nibbler by nature, trade a chip for a “strip” – of fresh,

sliced vegetables such as peppers, green beans, carrots, celery, snowpeas, etc. Fresh vegetables are crisp like crackers and have a built-inweight loss feature – volume. By choosing foods high in fiber andwater, you will be satisfied with fewer calories. Raw vegetables, atonly 25 calories a cup, make it hard to go overboard.No time for exercise?

Trade exercising for extra movement worked into your day. Atwork or while shopping, park at the far end of the parking lot. Takestairs at work and hand deliver memos rather than e-mailing them.When at home and on the phone, walk around the room rather thansitting. Invest in a pedometer (a device that counts your steps) andwork your way up to 10,000 steps a day – that translates into a 10-pound weight loss in a year!Irish Cream Iced Cappucino

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder1/2 cup instant coffee granules1 cup water1/2 cup Equal Spoonful or Splenda6 cups fat-free milk1/2 cup liquid Irish cream coffee creamer or flavor of choice

Whisk together first 3 ingredients in a large saucepan until smooth.Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly, 2 minutes.Remove mixture from heat; add Equal or Splenda. Cool slightly.Whisk in milk and creamer. Cover and chill at least 4 hours or up to2 days.

Serve over ice. Makes 8 servings.Nutrition information per serving: 123 cal, 9 g pro., 18 g carb., 2 g

fat, 4 mg chol., 102 mg sodium. Food exchanges: 1 1/2 milk.

Child andAdult CareFood Program

The Choctaw Nation Head Startannounces its participation in theChild and Adult Care Food Pro-gram (CACFP). All participants inattendance are served meals, at noextra charge to the parents andwithout regard to race, color, na-tional origin, sex, age, or disabil-ity. In accordance with federal lawand United States Department ofAgriculture (USDA) policy, theinstitution is prohibited from dis-criminating on the basis of race,color, national origin, sex, age, ordisability.

To file a complaint of discrimi-nation, write USDA, Director, Of-fice of Civil Rights, Room 326-W,Whitten Building, 1400 Indepen-dence Avenue, SW, Washington,D.C. 20250-9410, or call (202)720-5964 (voice and TDD).USDA is an equal opportunity pro-vider and employer.

This statement applies to thecenter(s) listed below: Atoka, Ant-lers, Bennington, Bethel, BrokenBow, Coalgate, Durant, Hugo, Ida-bel, McAlester, Poteau, Stigler,Wilburton and Wright City.

Yom KippurYom Kippur�begins at sundown

Thanksgiving (Canada)�Columbus Day

HalloweenDaylight Savings Time Ends

Talihina9-12

Bethel9-10:30

Smithville12-2

Poteau(A-L) 9-2

Stigler9-2

Idabel9-12

FOOD DISTRIBUTION

Broken Bow9-2

Wri ght City9-10:30Hugo12-2

ANTLERS – Choctaw Com-modity Warehouse, 306 S.W.“O” St.

ATOKA – National Guard Ar-mory.

BETHEL – Choctaw NationCommunity Building.

BROKEN BOW – ChoctawNation Family Investment Cen-ter.

COALGATE – Choctaw Com-munity Center.

DURANT – Choctaw Com-modity Warehouse, 100 WaldronDr.

HUGO – Housing Authority.

IDABEL – Choctaw VillageShopping Center.

McALESTER – ChoctawCommodity Warehouse, 1212 S.Main.

POTEAU – Choctaw NationFamily Investment Center.

SMITHVILLE – Big LickChurch.

STIGLER – Choctaw Com-munity Building.

TALIHINA – Boys & GirlsClub.

WRIGHT CITY – ChoctawHead Start Building.

The Food Distribution Pro-

Food Distribution Sitesgram workers will take a 30minute lunch break from 11:30to 12 noon. Please bring boxesto pick up your commodities.

If you cannot pick up com-modities when you are sched-uled, please notify the Food Dis-tribution Office at 580-924-7773or 800-522-6170 so that you canbe rescheduled to go to Antlers,Durant or McAlester.

The Food Distribution Pro-gram does not discriminate be-cause of sex, race, color, age,political beliefs, religion, handi-capped or national origin.

Poteau(M-Z) 9-2Coalgate9-10:30

Atoka 12-2

2003 Chickasaw

Annual Meeting & Festival

Co-Ed Volleyball TournamentSaturday, September 27

Murray State College

Tishomingo, Oklahoma

8 Person Roster – Entry Fee: $60Entry Deadline: September 26

Tournament is limited to 12 teams.For more information, please contact

John Impson at 580-310-6620 or 1-800-593-3356

Crowder Choctaw Centerconcentrating on health

A healthy lifestyle is a focus of concern for Chief Gregory E.Pyle. In July, Sharon Moore was hired as director of the HealthyLifestyles program. Sharon is visiting with program directors, coun-cil members and community centers to assess where each commu-nity is in regard to a healthy lifestyle and to coordinate activities tohelp them achieve better health.

Ms. Moore visited Crowder Community Center on July 30 anddelivered a 19” color TV/VCR donated by Baetz Home Center ofPoteau, Oklahoma.

The Crowder community is involved in many activities to en-hance a healthy lifestyle for residents. Dena Cantrell, Crowder fieldrepresentative, leads a group in exercise every Tuesday. After eat-ing, they share lunch and make arts and crafts. The donated TV/VCR will allow them to use the exercise videos provided by theDiabetes Wellness Center.

The residents may also use the treadmill and exercise bike whenthe community center is open. According to Dena, she and otherChoctaws in Crowder have lost weight and are getting stronger sincestarting the exercise program. She said there are great volunteerswho help with community activities.

Walter Phelps and Concetta Gragg, Crowder’s outstandingChoctaw man and woman, Sharon Moore and Dena Cantrell arepictured with the center’s new TV/VCR.

Dictionary Committee creates useful word list for beginnersThe Choctaw Dictionary Com-

mittee is back at work. In July theLanguage Department movedinto a new building, so we did notmeet. In June and August weworked on a beginner’s word list,Chahta Anumpa vmmona, whichwill soon be published. This willhave about 1,300 of the most use-ful nouns, verbs and adjectivesarranged in groups according tomeaning.

We have some more texts toshare with you. The first twotexts illustrate two variants of theChoctaw language. The third textis a poem which shows howChoctaw words can be used toenhance the beauty of a poemwritten in English.

Lillie Jessie grew up inFrederick, but now lives in Ha-worth. She teaches Choctawcommunity classes in Idabel, andis a member of the DictionaryCommittee. She tells the follow-ing story in which a warning toher children proved to be pro-phetic.

vlla tuchchina hoshiyyi okpulo ilahobbi

vlla tuchchina hosh vm

iyyasha hatuk o, okla moma kvtiyyi okpulo ilahobbi cha, iyyi yavba takachit hottopa ishtchiyyomit ik eyo hosh, chohmitai asha tuk yo. Atuk o im anolilih mvt, “Hvsh ahnik ma illa keyumut, alikchi hvsh pisa chi. Ak mvt,hvchik nowa kachi kiyo ana, akmvt na’sht apela isht ishi osh hvshaya chi ana.”

Atuk o alhi im anoli li tuk yo.

Moma kvt isht apela ishi beka tukyo.

“I had three children, and theyall pretended that their legs werebroken, and so they were raisingtheir legs up, acting like theywere hurting real bad. So I toldthem, ‘If you aren’t careful, youwill see the doctor, you will notbe able to walk, you will goaround with crutches.’ So I didtell them the truth. All three diduse crutches (at different times).

~ ~ ~The following recipe comes

from Rhoda Anderson ofHaywood. She teaches Choctaw

community classes in McAlester,and she teaches Choctaw in thebilingual education program inCanadian. She also serves on theDictionary Committee.

Holhponi

oka kalvn iklvnnatanchi tohbi isht ishko ushtasoti ibana hinla

Oka kalvn iklvnna fokali shutiibani, tanchi tohbi isht ishkoushta fokka oka ma ittibani. Sotikanomosi, chiniffi achvffa fokali,ish ibana hinla. Ish towahanchikma nona chi. Kiyo hokano luahinla. Hvshi kvnalli tuchchina

fokka wahlvllik ma, vlhtaha. Kiloh impa!

“Put about a half gallon of wa-ter in a pot, add about four cupsof white corn to the water. Youcan add some soda, about onepinch. You keep stirring untildone. If not, it will burn. Whenit boils for about three hours, itis ready. Let’s eat!

~ ~ ~Eveline Battiest Steele of Bro-

ken Bow teaches Choctaw inDeQueen, Arkansas. One of herstudents, Lynda Hightower, haswritten several poems usingsome of the Choctaw words shehas learned. Here is a poem shewrote back in 2001 when she wasin the first phase.

Red Earth to Flesh

Red earth to fleshMother Earth gave birth

Hattak vpi hummaHattak, Ohoyo, vlla

IttakamvssaThe land it was so good!

Plenty of yanvsh chito and issiThe bok was full of good oka

And plenty of nvni.Pinak, achukma hoke!Pvlvska, nipi, tanchi,

Ahe, takkon chito, andpishukchi.

A, achukma hoke!Red earth to flesh

Mother Earth gave birth.

Do you have a text to sharewith us? Send us your story toshare with the Nation.

Okla ittim anumpoli cha,anumpa fvlama et pi pilah!

Yakoke!

Members of the Choctaw Nation Dictionary Com-mittee include, front row from left, Lillie Jessie, RhodaAnderson, Kaye Choate and Christine Ludlow, andback row from left, Dale Nicklas, Evaline Steele, HenryWillis, Richard Adams and Paula Carney. Not picturedare Ken Baptiste, Dixon Lewis and Abe Frazier.

Wilburton10:30 am-2 pm


People You Know

Birthday greetingsHappy 21st birthday on August 1 to

Chris Alan Parish. We love you, fromMom, Dad, Ray, Mike and Shawn.

Chris is the grandson of the late Rev.Sampson and Mary Parish, EdmondBarnett, Jr. of Dustin, Oklahoma andthe late Ida Barnett.

He is a 2000 graduate of Ada HighSchool and currently resides in Bixby,Oklahoma.

Also having a birthday in August isLinda L. Parish on August 11.

Have a very happy birthday, fromyour sis and family, Jennifer, David,Chris, Ray, Mike and Shawn. We loveyou very much!

Eight years youngQueen J. Hughes turned eight years

young on May 29. She is the daughterof Virginia Jim and Marvin Hughes. Wewould like to wish her the best eighthever. Happy birthday Granny Lue fromyour family – Mom, brothers andSteve.

Look who’s sevenHappy birthday to Quentin N.

Hughes. Quentin turned seven yearsyoung on June 16. He is the son of Vir-ginia Jim and Marvin Hughes.

Happy birthday Q-Tin from yourfamily – Mom, brothers, sister andSteve.

Terrific twoQuontrael K. Cleveland turned two

on June 26. He is the son of VirginiaJim and Steve Cleveland. The familywould like to wish him the best!

Happy birthday Tinka Stink fromMomma, Daddy, brothers and sis-ter.

Happy sixth birthdayWishing Quontez A. Hughes the very

best sixth birthday on July 14 are hisMom, sister, brothers and Steve.Quontez is the son of Virginia Jim andMarvin Hughes.

Happy brithday Tez!

Happy birthday TeylerTeyler Bryce Williston of Idabel,

Oklahoma celebrated his 11th birthdayon July 30. Teyler is the son of AngieMcKinney and Terry Williston of Ida-bel. He is the grandson of Helen Hesterof Valliant, Oklahoma and the lateRaymond McKinney of Idabel and thegreat-grandson of Ella Jones, Ruthie Williston and the late WilliamWilliston of Idabel.

Teyler would like to announce the birth of his nephew, HunterLee Williston, who was born March 18 at the Choctaw Nation HealthCare Center in Talihina.

Seabstion turns oneHappy birthday to Sebastion Todd

Roberts. He turned one year old on July28. Sebastion’s parents are Kelly Rob-erts and Jarome Morgan of Ardmore,Oklahoma. Grandparents are FredaRoberts and Ricky Davis of Ardmore.He is the nephew of Conrad Nedd ofSand Springs, Oklahoma, Johnathan Roberts of White Rock, Utah,Rocky Davis, Jr. and Spencer Davis, both of Planeview, Oklahoma,and Marie Nedd of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

We all wish you a happy birthday, with lots of love and wishes.

Virginia Choctaw turns 14Chelsea Marie Lenz turned 14 on

August 19. She is the daughter of Rob-ert and Cynthia Lenz of Saluda, Vir-ginia and will celebrate her birthdaywith her brothers, Aaron and Austin.

Grandparents are Helen and ThomasLenz of Parkville, Maryland and Anitaand Robert Jackson of Saluda. Chelsea is also the great-granddaughterof Lola Kirkes and the late Robert Kirkes of Swan Lake, Oklahoma.

Chelsea attends school at St. Clar Walker Middle School and en-joys softball, shopping and caring for her assortment of animals.

Happy 19thKathie and Vincent would like

to wish their brother, CebraneIsaac, a happy 19th birthday onJuly 11. Cebrane is a senior ofAda High School. He is active inbaseball and enjoys playing fastpitch and volleyball. He is veryproud to be a Choctaw.

Cebrane is the son of Albertand Elaine Wallace of Ada, Okla-homa. He is the grandson of thelate Isaac and Lula Bohanon of Paris, Texas and the late Josh andMinnie Wallace of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma.

Michael turns 14Michael and Michelle Voyles and

Mary (Ali) Patterson, all of CopperCenter, Alaska, would like to wishMichael Scot Duffee of Big Pine Key,Florida a very happy birthday!

Michael is 14 years old on July 30,2003.

Happy birthdayKendon and Ambree Shelton

of Idabel, Oklahoma recently cel-ebrated their birthdays. Kendonturned five years old on June 2and Ambree turned three yearsold on July 30. Celebrating withthem were their parents, Jarrodand Susan Shelton, and a num-

Happy birthday

Happy birth-day to BrandanLewis. Brandanturned 25 Au-gust 11. He isthe son of thelate EugeneLewis and LacQuita Lewis of Ada, Oklahoma, Elsie and the lateRaymond Lewis of Durant, Oklahoma and Bertha and the late Rob-ert “Trouble” Lewis of Durant.

Also, happy ??? birthday to Elsie M. Lewis of Durant from all ofher brood! Grandma, you’re still just as young as ever!

Amber celebrates ninthAmber LeAnn Robinson celebrated

her ninth birthday on August 8. Wish-ing her a happy birthday are her littlesister, Jenna BreAnn; father, Roy, andmother, Lora Ann Evans Robinson, ofHallsville, Texas; grandparents, Mr.and Mrs. Roy Robinson and Michaeland Deborah Evans Williamson of Hallsville, Texas. Also, many aunts,uncles and cousins, Robin, Paul and Braden Oglesby, RandyRobinson, Michael Williamson, Jr., Carol Moore, Danny, Danieleand Jill Moore, Ann Lalli, Sue and Jim McEvers, Larry and ShirleyNye, Amy, Nathan, and Nathan Boe, Jr., and Christina and NicholeEvans.

Amber is the great-granddaughter of the late Lora Mae Evans ofWilburton, Oklahoma.

Look’s who’s oneJenna BreAnn Robinson turned one

year old on July 11. Wishing her ahappy birthday are her mother, LoraAnn Evans Robinson, and father, RoyRobinson, of Hallsville, Texas; her bigsister, Amber LeAnn Robinson; grand-parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Robinsonand Michael and Deborah Evans Williams of Hallsville, Texas. Alsoaunts, uncles and cousins, Ann Lalli, Sue and Jim McEvers, Shirleyand Larry Nye, Paul, Robin and Braden Oglesby, Randy Robinson,Jr., Carol Moore, Danny, Daniele and Jill Moore, Michael Williamson,Amy Bacio, Nichole Evans, Nathan, Christina and Nathan Boe Evans,Jr. She is the great-granddaughter of the late Lora Mae Evans ofWilburton, Oklahoma.

He’s a teenager!Miles McKinley Reich, a/k/a

“Mick,” of Wright City, Oklahoma willcelebrate his 13th birthday on Septem-ber 25.

Happy birthday, Mick!Love, Gran, Mom and Dad.

Happy birthday, Heather LinnJohanson Watson would like to wish his daughter, Heather Carol

(Schutt) Linn, a happy 24th birthday on September 17.

Happybirthday

Gregory Al-lison turned 11years old onSeptember 11and BreannaAllison turned 10 on August 26. Happy birthday! Love, Mom and Dad,Stephanie and Greg.

Look who’s turning two!Tyler, Ember and Cole would like to

wish their brother a happy birthday.Elijah Dean Gipson will celebrate hissecond birthday on August 22. Elijahis the son of Robert and MichelleGipson of Wright City, Oklahoma. Heis the grandson of Sharon Gipson ofWright City, Oklahoma and Todd andKim Marable of Broken Bow, Oklahoma. All of Elijah’s aunts, unclesand cousins would like to wish him a happy birthday.

Tyler, Ember, Elijah and Cole would like to wish their aunts a happybirthday. Aunt Melissa celebrated her birthday on August 10 and AuntMelinda celebrated her birthday on August 29.

Dylan celebratesfirst birthday

Dylan celebrated his first birthday July7 with family and friends. He is the sonof Kevin and Elizabeth Garcia andbrother of Trevor and Amber ofHillsboro, Oregon. Joining in the cel-ebration were grandparents, PaulaHughes with friend, Danny Brunk, ofCornelius, Oregon, Sam Ashenbernerand wife, Dolores, of Beaverton, Oregon,and Stan and Nancy Spring-Garcia of Hanford, California. Dylan de-scends from the Spring and Oakes families of Hugo, Oklahoma.

Happy birthday!Belated wishes for a happy

birthday are sent to Cody JayOrnelas (top photo) whoturned ten on June 16 andChristian James Ornelas whoturned seven on June 3. Codyis entering the fifth grade andChristian will enter secondgrade at Grace Russell El-ementary School. The boysspent the summer swimming,playing and visiting family ontrips to Grants, New Mexicoand Houston, Texas. Cody en-joys collecting Yu Gi Oh!cards and watching the Trans-formers Armada while Chris-tian enjoys watching cartoons such as Spongebob Squarepants. Theirmother is Jayna Noley and Grandpa and Granny are James and JoyceNoley of Wilburton, Oklahoma. Their father is Kevin Ornelas andGan and Papa are Ro and Rolf Ornelas of Houston, Texas.

Happy 88thbirthday, Nana

Tillie (Ward) Cundiff wasborn July 7, 1915. She cel-ebrated her 88th birthday onJuly 13 with loving family atthe home of her granddaugh-ter, Tira Farlow.

Tillie is the daughter ofRobert Jones Ward who wasthe son of Jeremiah and Eliza(Leflore) Ward. She is veryproud of her Choctaw heri-tage. She worked as historianfor the Dallas Council of Choctaws during the 1970s. She is picturedwith Jordan and Emily Smith.

Emily turns oneEmily Morris had her first birthday

on June 12. She celebrated her birth-day at home with a pink and yellowflower theme. Joining Emily for thefestivities were her many aunts, uncles,cousins and friends. Her parents areJustin and Beckie Morris of Hugo,Oklahoma. Her grandparents areRonnie and Debbie Morris and Jaysonand Lynda Staton, all of Hugo. Hergreat-grandparents are Jack and ShirleyGrimmett of Ft. Towsen, Hack and thelate Cleora Clifton, Annette Staton, andDruNell and the late Zeke Lentz, all ofHugo.

Margo turns oneMargo Jada Tom celebrated her first

birthday on August 23. She is thedaughter of Jimmy and Betty and sis-ter of Joey, Jared and Genny Tom, allof Broken Bow.

Grandparents are Robert and MelissaBohanan of Bethel, Oklahoma and thelate Albert and Genese Tom.

Happy birthday!

Happy birthdayNeville Meashintubby, Jr. would like

to wish his dad a happy birthday onAugust 4, his Aunt Shirley Trejo andGreat-aunt Sue Meashintubby on Au-gust 3, and his Uncle Nathan on Au-gust 24. He would also like to wish be-lated happy birthdays to his UncleNorval on June 13, Uncle Norris onJune 17 and his Great-uncle ArchieMeashintubby on July 19.

Neville, Jr. is the son of Neville Meashintubby and Brandi Adkinsof Talihina, Oklahoma. His grandparents are MaryLou and the lateNorman Meashintubby, Jr. of Talihina, Oklahoma and Mark and SilviaAdkins of McAlester, Oklahoma. Great-grandparents are the late LanaMeashintubby of Honobia, Oklahoma and the late Norman and RebaMeashintubby of Talihina.

Belated wishesLucretia Ann Chapman of Ozark,

Arkansas turned 31 years old on July14. Lucretia is the daughter ofEvangeline Meashintubby of Atoka,Oklahoma.

Happy birthday from the family!

Happy 29th birthdayHerman Meashintubby turned 29 years old on June 1. He is the

son of Evangeline Meashintubby of Atoka, Oklahoma. Happy birth-day from the family.

Happy birthday to both of youHappy birthday wishes go out to Norma Sue Meashintubby and

Shirley Anna Meashintubby of Fort Smith, Arkansas on August 3.

Birthday wishesHappy belated birthday wishes go

out to Archie Meashintubby on July 19and also to Donna Kaye.

Happy birthday to both of you.

Austin turns threeCaleb and Logan would like to wish

their brother, Austin Sullivan, a happythird birthday on August 22. Austinloves cars, choo choo trains and to playoutside. His grandparents are the Rev.Floyd and Nancy Peters of Antlers,Oklahoma and Dale and Lois Sullivanof Haworth, Oklahoma. He has several aunts, uncles and cousins.The boys would also like to wish their mother a happy birthday onAugust 10. A birthday wish also goes out to Girlie Battiest from theSullivan family.

ber of family and friends. Happy birthday Kendon Jade and AmbreeLynn! We love you!

Justin starts kindergartenJustin Tyler Abraham, a very bright

five-year-old, is starting kindergarten.He reads on a second grade level andis learning two languages, Japanese andSpanish.

Justin is the great-great-grandson ofMattie Slater Rollins.

Whites celebrate 62nd


Wedding bellsCongratulations to Wendy Bo-

hanon and Kenny Frazier on theirmarriage on August 2, 2003 atParis, Texas. Wendy is the daugh-ter of Willard Bohanon of Ada,Oklahoma and Mary Sue andPhillip Sikes of Paris. She is thegranddaughter of the late Isaacand Lula Bohanon of Paris and

Little DiamondMiss Pageant

Alexa Jo Coley, 11-month-olddaughter of Talena Womack of Clay-ton, Oklahoma and Roger Coley ofWilburton, Oklahoma, won the title of“Divisional Supreme Baby” in the 0-18 month category of the Diamond Miss Pageant held in Clayton.Alexa also won second runner-up in the Sunburst Beauty Pageantheld in McAlester, Oklahoma and won medals for the Prettiest Eyes,Prettiest Hair, Prettiest Smile, and Best Personality in the SunburstPageant.

Alexa is one-half Choctaw. She is the granddaughter of Rocky andCheryl Burleson of Clayton, Mike Womack of Nashoba and Joe andMary Coley of Wilburton. Way to go Alexa!

Albert and Nancy White cel-ebrated their 62nd wedding an-niversary on July 26, 2003. Theywere married in Dyer, Arkansasby Church of Christ minister B.F.England. Their married life wasspent mostly in California, thenin Kansas City, Missouri, before moving to Greenwood, Arkansasfor retirement.

Mr. White is a member of the Choctaw Nation. His great-grand-mother, grandmother and mother were all original enrollees. He wasemployed in aircraft work for many years, retiring from TWA Air-lines in St. Louis, Missouri.

The couple have two children, the late Albert Lee White, Jr., andLynda A. Kropf and Joe Kropf of Gainesville, Texas. They have twograndchildren, Lean Madoux of Bethany, Oklahoma and Darin Kropfof Gainesville, and one great-grandson, Dylan Madoux of Bethany.

Fivegenerations

Congratulations tofive generations inSpokane, Washing-ton – Betty King andValerie Johnston,standing, and BessieKing, Robbie Johns-ton and Saben Johns-ton. Bessie’s mother,Maisie Bessie Tub-bee Sewell, was anoriginal enrollee.

Band PrincessElissa Renee Holder, a student at

Anadarko Middle School, was selectedas the Freshman Band Princess 2003-04.She has been a member of the band pro-gram for three years and was selected toattend Tri-State this year. She is a mem-ber of the Anadarko Middle School bas-ketball team, the tennis team and selected as a student council represen-tative. Elissa also received an Academic Award from the AnadarkoSchool’s Indian Education Program. She was also nominated to theU.S. Achievement Academy and has been named a U.S. National awardwinner in English. Elissa has been a member of the Kitikiti’sh (Wichita)Little Sisters, an organization for Native American girls and has servedas the organization’s princess for the 2002-03 term.

She is the 14-year-old daughter of Mitchell and Victoria Holder ofAnadarko and the granddaughter of Paula Eyachabbe of Oklahoma City.Great-grandparents include the late Jowick and Fannie Tonihka of Bro-ken Bow and the late Rufus and Mary Eyachabbe of Antlers.

Congratulations Elissa. We are proud of all you have accomplished.Love, Mom, Dad, Marissa, Bubba, Granny and all your aunts, uncles,cousins and friends.

Happy 18th, ValedictorianThe family of Joseph G. Hernandez

would like to wish him a very happy18th birthday and congratulate him onhis outstanding academic accomplish-ments, along with graduating at the topof his class. We wish you the very bestas you continue your life’s journey atWingate University. We’ve been soblessed to have the privilege to haveyou in our lives. May God bless you,Joseph, and may you continue to strivefor the very best in your life endeav-ors. Love, Mom and Dad, Gabriel andPauletta Hernandez, and siblings,Vanessa, Rebecca, Elizabeth and Joshua Hernandez, all of Fort Bragg,North Carolina, and grandmother, Mary L. Thierry of Broken Bow,Oklahoma.

Happybirthday

Happy birthdayRisky Business Ex-treme Bullfighter, Se-bastion Rokk Jacob.He turns seven onSeptember 25. Welove you! - Mom,Haileigh, Grandma,PaPa and Uncle ofValliant, Oklahoma.

Miller joinsWilson PD

Shay Allen Miller graduated from theOklahoma Law Enforcement Academyin Oklahoma City on March 5. OfficerMiller is employed by the Wilson Po-lice Department. He is the son of EvelynRose Miller of Lone Grove and the lateGary Don Miller. He is the grandson ofLula Parker of Lone Grove.

All-American ScholarThe U.S. Achievement Academy has

announced that Morgan McGee ofBethel, Oklahoma has been named anAll-American Scholar. Morgan, whoattends school at Battiest, Oklahoma,will appear in the All-AmericanScholar Yearbook, which is publishednationally. He is the son of MichaelMcGee of Broken Bow and Deloris Samuels of Bethel. Grandpar-ents are Virginia Jefferson of Bethel and Laura Lewis of Battiest.

Morgan celebrated his 16th birthday on July 7. Happy birthdayand congratulations, Morgan!

Ellis receivesGold Award

Karen Anne Ellis, pic-tured here with hergrandmother, ElizabethEllis of Hugo, Okla-homa, has been awardedthe Girl Scout GoldAward for her outstand-ing achievements. TheGold Award is the high-est honor bestowed on agirl scout. To receive theGirl Scout Gold Award,50 hours must be dedicated to developing and implementing a projectthat has a positive, lasting impact on the community. Karen’s projectwas a “Stars and Stripes Lock In” for the junior girl scouts. The girlslearned how to fold a flag, practiced the Pledge of Allegiance in signlanguage, decorated T-shirts and enjoyed a guest speaker.

Karen is the daughter of Jim and Melody Ellis and a member ofGirl Scout Troop #204 of Utica, Nebraska.

Former California Jr. Princessfeatured in newspaper article

Merisha Lemmer, 16, Junior Choc-taw Princess of California’s OklaChahta Clan in 2001-02 and 2002-03,was recently featured in the PressDemocrat newspaper. A student at ElMolino High School, Merisha lives inCamp Meeker with her mother, Amy,and her father, Dave. Her brother, Tyler,attends UC Santa Cruz.

Merisha takes pride in her Choctawheritage and enjoys sharing it with oth-ers. Since the article was published,Merisha has been invited as a guest speaker at several programs.

A passionate artist, she’s a painter and a sculptor. She has the won-derful opportunity of attending Oxbow School in Napa, Californiawhere she will live for a semester while taking classes in a variety ofart techniques. Merisha has received some financial aid and is work-ing to earn the remaining tuition for the prestigious art school. She ishoping the school will give her a competitive advantage when apply-ing for college, another step in realizing her dream of earning a liv-ing by selling her art.

PaulsValleyPanthers

These three Sul-phur members of thePauls Valley Pan-thers recently placedfifth at the USSANational BaseballTournament, heldJuly 15-20 in Over-land Park, Kansas.

The team, includ-ing 12-year-oldChoctaws LanceWallace, Tony Co-lungo and Chance

Graduation dayJasmine McCarty recently graduated

from Miracle Baptist Church schoolwhere she was the lead singer for theclass song and also recited the numbersfrom 1 to 100. She received certificatesfor citizenship, attendance, social attitudeand church attendance. Jasmine is a verylovable child who loves to sing anddance. She sends special love to her great-grandmother, Caroline, inParis, Texas; her father, John, in Chicago, Illinois, and uncle, Harry, inLos Angeles. She received a B+ average in her school work.

Congratulations, KylaKyla Taylor graduated from Dora

Reed Center on June 26 and will be en-tering kindergarten at Cherokee Elemen-tary School in Cherokee, North Carolina.

Her proud parents, Ned and GenevaTaylor, sister, brothers and Granny DollyTaylor, all of Cherokee, are proud of her.Congratulations and we love you!

Class SalutatorianJennifer Heck was salutatorian of her

senior class at Stonewall High School.She was also the salutatorian of her fresh-man class and won the Masonic Studentof Today Award. She was voted MissSHS by her class and has been a mem-ber of the National and Oklahoma HonorSocieties and Gifted and Talented allduring high school. She was Student of the Year, participated in Girls’State, and won the American Legion Americanism Award and the ArmyOutstanding National Scholar Athlete Award. Jennifer was Vice Presi-dent of FFA, FBLA and her senior class. In FFA she has won numerousGrand Champions with her lamb and was awarded the State FFA De-gree. She was also captain of the Lady Longhorn Basketball and Soft-ball Teams. She won Basketball Defensive Player of the Year in basket-ball two years in a row and was SHS Basketball Queen. She made theIndian All-State Team, All-State Girls Basketball Alternate, OK All-State Softball Team, and recently made history being a member of thefirst team to qualify to go to the State Slow-Pitch Softball Tournament.Jennifer attends Coalgate First Baptist Church and is the daughter ofKenny and Shonda Denson and Randy Heck.

Talihina graduateCongratulations to Archie

Meashintubby, Jr. on his graduation fromTalihina High School. His plans are toattend OSU Okmulgee this fall. He is theson of MaryLou Meashintubby andArchie Meashintubby of Talihina. Great-grandparents are the late LenaMeashintubby of Honobia, Oklahomaand the late Norman and Reba Meashintubby of Talihina. We are veryproud of you. May God be with you from all of your family.

Underwoods celebrateGolden Anniversary

Vernon and Carolyn Under-wood celebrated their 50th wed-ding anniversary on Saturday,May 17, 2003. Their children,Mark Underwood and MarieBush, and their grandchildren,Jennifer Deering, Luke Underwood, Carrie Bush and Callie Bush,hosted a reception at the Underwood home in Wilburton, Oklahoma.Approximately 125 friends and family dropped by to share in thisspecial event. Vernon and Carolyn are Choctaw Senior Citizens atthe Wilburton Choctaw Center where Carolyn serves on the seniorcitizens committee.

Wright City ValedictorianCarrie Bush graduated from Wright

City High School with honors. She isthe daughter of Mark Bush of Garvin,Oklahoma and Marie Bush ofCornelia, Georgia. Carrie received afour-year scholarship to SoutheasternOklahoma State University in Durantand will be pursuing a degree in themedical field.

Carrie’s achievements and honors during her high school careerinclude Honor Society (four years), Junior Class President, SeniorClass President, Student Council member, Wisdom Club member,Spansih Club, Miss Wright City (2003), first place in curriculumcontest (2002-2003), co-basketball captain and co-cheerleading cap-tain and valedictorian. Grandparents are Choctaw Senior CitizensVernon and Carolyn Underwood of Wilburton and Joe and HollyBush of Locksberg, Arkansas.

Pilkinton, Voyles wedRuthie Michelle Pilkinton and

Michael Everett Voyles weremarried June 21, 2003 at theirresidence in Copper Center,Alaska. Ruthie is the daughter ofCharles Pilkinton, Jr. of Durant,Oklahoma and Mary Patterson ofAubrey, Texas. She is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Okla-homa and very proud of her heritage. Michael is an Alaskan Nativeof the Copper River Region called Ahtna. They plan to continue liv-ing in Alaska and raising their daughter, Mary Alise Patterson.

Happy 30th anniversary

Happy anniversary to Larryand Regina McKinney ofTacoma, Washington who cel-ebrated their 30th wedding anni-versary on July 21, 2003. MayGod continue to bless your livesand enrich your marriage. We love you both. Wishing you continuedhappiness are Natosha, Matteo, Blaine, Stephanie, Victoria, Joel, Ben,Anna and Isaac.

District 13 CommanderThe American Legion Department of

Texas held its 85th anniversary celebra-tion on July 9-13 in Lubbock. The high-light of the convention was the nomi-nations and elections of leaders for theupcoming term. There are 23 districtsin Texas with over 87,000 members.One proud Choctaw, SGM E9 Harold

Wallace, played teams from Arkansas, Nebraska and Missouri, amongothers in the single game elimination tournament. They lost the finalgame Saturday, July 18, in double overtime. Also pictured is CoachAntoine Colungo, who is also Choctaw.

L. McAlvain, retired, was appointed as the District 13 Commanderfor 2003-05. McAlvain, formerly of Oologah, Oklahoma, now resid-ing in Nocona, Texas, completed and retired after 33 years service inthe Armed Forces.

BISHINIK deadlineArticles to be submitted for publication in the BISHINIK

need to be received by the 10th of the month for the followingmonth’s edition.

the late Norma Ballard. Kenny is the son of Elm and Vida Frazier ofParis.

Happy birthday

Wishes for ahappy birth-day are sent toJohn Airingtonand Bob andRita Airington,all of Wood-ward, Okla-homa. John celebrated his birthday on August 28, Bob on September14 and Rita on 18th. Happy birthday from all of your family!

Emily turns two!Emily Elizabeth McClaughry turned

two years old on August 8. Her parentsand grandparents wish her a happybirthday. She is the daughter of Kevinand Andrea McClaughry of Portland,Oregon. Her grandparents are Williamand Judith Freeman and Patrick andCarolyn McClaughry of Salem, Or-egon.


Winning poetChief Gregory E. Pyle congratulates Brenda Ivie on her recent ac-

complishment of winning a competition at Walt Disney World forher poem, “The Good Father.” A medallion and a trophy for“Shakespearean Trophy of Excellence” were presented to Ms. Ivieby the Famous Poet Society for 2003. Her winning poem will bepublished in a collection in the coming year. Previously publishedworks by Ms. Ivie include poems in collections from 1995 and 1998,and a novel, “Night of the Wolf,” printed in 2002. Ms. Ivie has beenan employee of the Choctaw Nation Head Start program since 1998.

STANDING TALLPvt 2 Eric Pebsworth

Pvt 2 Eric Pebsworth graduated ba-sic training May 8, 2003 at Fort Sill,Oklahoma. He graduated advanced in-dividual training for Multiple LaunchRocket System on June 18, 2003. OnJuly 19, 2003, he left for Korea, his firstassignment in support of his country.

Eric, 19, is the grandson of Roy andMadeline Pebsworth of Hugo, Okla-homa and the son of Michael and LindaPebsworth of Wasilla, Alaska. We arevery proud of Eric and ask prayers forhis safety.

Rusty BeeneRusty Beene of Valliant, Oklahoma

is one of several local servicemen serv-ing in Iraq.

Rusty, 27, is a member of the U.S.Army 1st Calvary Division and agraduate of Valliant High School. Hiswife is Lorry Beene and he is the sonof Tim and Beverly Stuart of Valliantand Bob and Cherie Beene of Swink,Oklahoma. Rusty’s grandparents areBuddy and Mildred Stuart of Millerton,Oklahoma, Gwen Beene of Swink andthe late Ernest Beene, and Douglas and Nelda Sherrell of Florida.Gladys Sherrell of Chandler, Oklahoma is his great-grandmother.

Rusty was pictured in the June 9 edition of Time Magazine whilehe and fellow soldiers helped control a crowd in Baghdad. The photoaccompanied an article on the post-war violence in Iraq and the dan-gers American servicemen and women face there on a daily basis.

CHOCTAW NATION

BOOK STOREPO Box 668, Durant, OK 74702

1-888-932-9199

Choctaw Nation Children’s Books

_____$20.00 each “The Pashofa Pole”

_____$20.00 each “The Boy Who Almost Lost His Name”

_____$20.00 each “Choctaw Jack”

_____$20.00 each “The Stomachache Tree”

_____$20.00 each “Push and Indian Time” “Push and Indian Time,” the last in the series of five books, willbe out July 15, 2003. Reserve your copy today by calling our toll-free number 1-888-932-9199 or send check or money order toChoctaw Nation Book Store, P.O. Box 668, Durant, OK 74702.

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Choctaw Nation children’s books containentertaining stories and historical informationon the Choctaw culture. Each book is writtenby Mary M. Frye, illustrated by Norma Howardand translated by Henry Willis.

The characters will be featured in all five ofthe children’s books – Grandmother, eight-

year-old Serena, six-year-old Push and their collie dog, Partner.All stories contain two parts. The first part of the story is writtenin the Choctaw Language and then the second part of the book iswritten in the English Language. The books are hardcover. Thefirst 1,000 of each series are numbered.

The Choctaw of Oklahoma

Dr. James Milligan completed “The Choc-taw of Oklahoma” after years of writing and alifetime of love of researching the Choctaw.“The Choctaw of Oklahoma” presents the cul-tural values, customs, and an inner will of theChoctaw to live in spite of disturbing truths ofviolence and injustice. The 400-page bookspans centuries of struggles and challenges of

a people who always come back more resilient and prosperousthan before their misfortune.

_________$30.00 each “The Choctaw of Oklahoma”

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_________Sub-total

_________Add shipping price of $6.00 for each book ordered

_________TOTAL PRICE

$

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The Choctaw Code Talkers Association 2003 Cookbooks weredisplayed and sold at the Choctaw Labor Day Festival in Tuska-homa, Oklahoma, on Saturday, August 30, 2003. If you were un-able to attend the festival and want to purchase a cookbook, pleasecomplete the following information and send a $10.50 check ormoney order (includes shipping and handling) to the address listedbelow.

Name______________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________

City _______________________________________________

State _________________________Zip___________________

Telephone number ___________________________________

Mail your check or money order to:

On August 18, 2003 the family of Jerod Dennis was presented the Army'sSilver Star for his display of valor and courage during Operation Iraqi Free-dom. Jerod, a Choctaw soldier from Antlers, Oklahoma, was killed in ac-tion on April 25, 2003 while in Afghanistan. Family members at the cer-emony included Jerod’s dad, Jerry Dennis; mom, Jane Dennis, and sister,Jillian Dennis.

Silver Star

Code Talker Association members awardedEvangeline Wilson, left, presents certificates of appreciation to

Code Talker descendants Rita Frazier McMillan and TeewannaEdwards for representing the Code Talker Association at an event inVi rginia.

Anella L. Garcia4712 NW 90th TerraceKansas City, MO 64154

(816) [email protected]

Thank you foryour order and

for your recipes!

Quilt to hang on display at WheelockA beautiful quilt,

handstitched by girlsat Wheelock Acad-emy in the late 1940sor early 1950s, willsoon be hanging ondisplay at the formermission and girl’sschool near Miller-ton, Oklahoma.

If anyone remem-bers working on thequilt or has any otherinformation about it,please call BarbaraAsbill at 580-746-2139. The historicalsite is open to thepublic from 8 a.m. to4:30 p.m., Mondaythrough Friday.

Pictured holdingthe quilt are BarbaraAsbill, Regina Greenand Tiffani Davis.

Oklahoma Indian Legal Services to hold Wills ClinicOklahoma Indian Legal Services will be pro-

viding a free Wills Clinic from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.October 7 at the Choctaw Nation Field Office inIdabel and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. October 9 at theChoctaw Nation Tribal Complex in Durant.

Attorneys Stephanie Hudson and Kim Bumpand Paralegal Gregg Lewis will be on hand to as-

sist tribal members with their will preparation. In-terested parties need to bring any documentation,including deeds and/or court documents they feelwill assist the attorneys in preparing a will.

For more information, please call OklahomaIndian Legal Services, toll-free in state, at 1-800-658-1497.

Quilt ShowSpectators enjoy the quilt show, held annually during the Choctaw

Nation Labor Day Festival at Tushka Homma. First place winnersthis year are Mary Lou Sherrod of Tulsa, Oklahoma and MerlinePlaner of Durant, Oklahoma.

Healthy Living Painting ContestDinah Redmon of Gainesville, Texas is the winner of the Labor

Day Festival’s Healthy Living Painting Contest. Congratula-tions!

Traveling farSorth and David Thompson

of Anchorage, Alaska, pic-tured above, travelled thelongest distance to attend theLabor Day Festival.

Ruth Frazier McMillan trav-eled from the state of Washing-ton, the second-longest distanceto the festival.


NICOLE BILLYSR. MISS DISTRICT 2

JENNIFER CARSHALLSR. MISS DISTRICT 4

HEATHER BAKERSR. MISS DISTRICT 6

MATILDA TAYLORSR. MISS DISTRICT 7

COURTNEY BAKERSR. MISS DISTRICT 8

STEPHANIE HORNSR. MISS DISTRICT 9

EMILY ROWTONSR. MISS DISTRICT 10

ELIZABETH WRIGHTSR. MISS DISTRICT 11

CHEYANNE CAGLESR. MISS DISTRICT 12

KIMBERLY HOBBSJR. MISS DISTRICT 1

JESSICA COLWELLJR. MISS DISTRICT 4

ALLISON PATTONJR. MISS DISTRICT 5

SISSY CALDWELLJR. MISS DISTRICT 7

RACHEL BOYKINJR. MISS DISTRICT 8

SARAH FOLSOMJR. MISS DISTRICT 9

ASHLEY JONESJR. MISS DISTRICT 10

STEVIE HECKJR. MISS DISTRICT 11

LEANDRA MORGANJR. MISS DISTRICT 12

ANDREA FOXLITTLE MISS DISTRICT 1

WENDY TAYLORLITTLE MISS DISTRICT 2

AMBER COLWELLLITTLE MISS DISTRICT 4

JENNIFER McGUIRELITTLE MISS DISTRICT 5

LATISA DAVIDSONLITTLE MISS DISTRICT 7

TAYLOR WADELITTLE MISS DISTRICT 8

MORGAN STEVELITTLE MISS DISTRICT 9

KANDA JACKSONLITTLE MISS DISTRICT 10

PRISCILLA PATELITTLE MISS DISTRICT 11

RAVEN OTTLITTLE MISS DISTRICT 12

District Princesses competefor title of Miss Choctaw Nation

Several young la-dies from all over theChoctaw Nationcompeted for thetitles of Sr., Jr. andLittle Miss ChoctawNation, representing

tional Choctaw dress,traditional Choctawaccessories, beautyand poise.

The Senior and JuniorMiss contestants arealso judged on the cat-

Sr. Miss Division winners are Stephanie Horn, District 9, first runner-up;Nicole Billy, District 2, Miss Choctaw Nation, and Jennifer Carshall, District 4,second runner-up.

egories of traditional talent andgoals as princess.

The judges for this year's pag-eant were Nanette Wylie, GwenTakes Horse, Melissa Stevens andDeborah Ross.

their district during the PrincessPageant at the annual ChoctawNation Labor Day Festival atTushka Homma.

All contestants are judged oninterview, personality, tradi-

Jr. Miss Division winners are Leandra Morgan, District 12, second runner-up; Jr. Miss Choctaw Nation Dayla Amos, District 2, and Sissy Caldwell, Dis-trict 7, first runner-up.

Little Miss Division winners are Raven Ott, District 12, second runner-up;Little Miss Choctaw Nation Morgan Steve, District 9, and Wendy Taylor, Dis-trict 2, first runner-up.


Devin Emert ofBennington has thebest-dressed terrapinin the 0-3 category.

Jace Ford ofStigler won best-dressed terrapin inthe 4-7 category.

Best-dressed ter-rapin in the 8-12division belongedto Sara Thompsonof Hugo.

James Vazquesof Calera has thefastest terrapin inthe 0-3 group.

Morgan Spray of Midlothian, Texas,held by mom Stephanie, won second andDevin Emert of Bennington won thirdin the 0-3 division of the terrapin race.

Winning the terrapin races in the 4- to 7-year-oldcategory are Joseph Thompson of Hugo, third; BladeStrange of Moyers, first, and Tanner Gardner of UnionCity, second.

Proud of their terrapins areJackie Hubbard of Ada, first;Tanner Duncan of Tuska-homa, second, and TylerGardner of Union City, third,in the 8-12 age group

First-place Men’s Doubles in Horseshoe Pitching:Bobby Harjo and Sam Beaver, both of Okemah, Okla-homa.

Second-place Men’s Doubles in Horseshoe Pitching:Bailey Walker of Ada, Oklahoma and Bunky Impsonof Gerty, Oklahoma.

Third-place Men’s Doubles in Horseshoe Pitching:Charlie Siler of Bengal, Oklahoma and Bill Reddin ofLeFlore, Oklahoma.

Men’s Singles in Horseshoe Pitching: Bailey Walker of Ada,Oklahoma, second; John Cummins of McAlester, Oklahoma, first,and Bobby Harjo of Okemah, Oklahoma, third.

Ringer Champion: TonyNichols of Hatfield, Arkansas.

Women’s Singles in Horseshoe Pitching: Ruby Long of Ada,Oklahoma, second; Phyllis Bohanan of Rattan, Oklahoma, first,and Laurie Medford of Moyers, Oklahoma third.

Third-place Women’s Doubles in Horseshoe Pitch-ing: Kathy Garrett of Talihina, Oklahoma and LaurieBedford of Moyers, Oklahoma.

Second-place Women’s Doubles in Horseshoe Pitch-ing: Ruby Long of Ada, Oklahoma and Claudia Hodgeof Wilburton, Oklahoma.

First-place Women’s Doubles in Horseshoe Pitching:Ava Hilton of Tushka Homma, Oklahoma and PhyllisBohanan of Rattan, Oklahoma.

Chief Gregory E. Pyle congratulates the overall win-ners of the 5-K run – Cade Lambert, 17.39, and AnnaHallond, 21.10, both of Mena, Arkansas.

Checkers champs: Tom Williams of Boswell, Okla-homa, first place, and Sylvester Moore of Talihina,Oklahoma, second place.

Domino champs: Stephanie Jones of Ft. Smith, Ar-kansas, first place, and Rodney Tehauno of BrokenBow, Oklahoma, second place.

Chief Gregory E. Pyle presents a medallion to RosePage of Antlers, Oklahoma, the oldest person attend-ing Monday’s festivities.

Door prize winner Rita Jessie of Broken Bow, Okla-homa drove home with a brand new ChevroletSilverado.


First-place volleyball tournament winners areYardeka of Henryetta, Oklahoma.

Second-place volleyball tournament winners are Feathers of Castle,Oklahoma.

Tough Choctaws are Fighting Heartwinner Ricky Willis, Philadelphia, Mis-sissippi; Honorable Mention ToddMorgan, Ardmore, and Tough ChoctawBrother Ridge, Tulsa.

First-place golf tournament winners are JackFolsum, Mike Skinner, Marvin Montgomery and StanColeman.

Second-place golf tournament winners are TonyFrazier, Evert Cannady, Floyd White Eagle and LarrySockey.

Third-place golf tournament winners are Brian Hoff,Nate Cox, Jason Williston, Randa Hughes and CecilBrown.

Little Man Slam Dunk Contest: Firstplace: Allen Clay; second, MelvinCarney; third, Ben Bacon.

Men’s 3-Point Shootout: First place:Kerry Voice; second, Michael Clay.

Women’s 3-Point Shootout: Firstplace: Lari Ann Brister; second, TerraEllis.

Free Throw, 6-9 Division; First place:Cade Clay; second, Tanner Gwin; third,Kannon Dry.

War Hoops Free Throw 15-18 – Firstplace: Daniel Stingley; second, Eric De-lay; third, Steven Richardson.

War Hoops Free Throw, 10-14 – Firstplace: Anthony Whitfield; second,Curtis John; third, Karissa Ellis.

War Hoops Co-ed 10-14 – First place:Wright City - Neal Wesley, Justin Steers,Michall Noah, Catherine James.

War Hoops Co-ed 10-14 – Second place:Hartshorne - Colton Baker, BryceKillingsworth, Joey Barnhill, Siah Densim.

War Hoops Girls 15-18 – First place:Nuttin But Net - Britany Casey, KaylaPhillips, Tiffany Jewell, Misty Wood.

War Hoops Girls 15-18 – Second place:Misfits - Kim Phelps, Tessa Dill, ChrystalSmith, Desireé Snyder.

War Hoops Boys 15-18 – First place:Himitas - Dude Billy, Jeremiah Billy,Adrian Walls, Lance Ringatero.

War Hoops Boys 15-18 – Second place:Regulators - Chris Thomas, Jeremy Tay-lor, Chay James, John Taylor.

War Hoops Boys 15-18 – Third place: RedHoops - Trev Jimboy, Jordan Parnacher,Jimmy Joe Thomas, James Poe.

War Hoops Men 18-35 – First place: NoGame - Shawn Runyen, Brandon WhiteEagle, Adam Gibson, Randy Gibson.

War Hoops Men 18-35 – Second place:Team Nike - Dallen Burris, Michael Clay,Allen Clay, Don Tsosie.

War Hoops Men 18-35 – Third place:Stringtown - Michael Guest, JeremyChaffin, Greg Foster, Chris Frazier.

War Hoops Men 36 & over – First place:Rigamortis - Kenneth Clay, Chuck Madbull,Roland Branton, Ronnie Scroggins.

War Hoops Men 36 & over – Second place:Mississippi Chatas - Ralph Isaac, HermanSmith, Terry Steve, Vandall Vaught.

Men’s fast-pitch – First,Next of Kin, pic-tured; second,Green Jackets;third, Giants;fourth, South-east Choctaws.Women’s – First,Fus-Cate; sec-ond, Chatas;third, Shockley’sCountry Gals.


OBITUARIES

Phillip Bryan AshmorePhillip Bryan Ashmore passed away on June 12, 2003 in Okla-

homa City in an automobile accident. He was born July 9, 1971 inMuskogee, Oklahoma, the youngest of Phillip Ashmore and DorisHughes.

Bryan was a happy, affectionate and tenderhearted person wholoved his family dearly. He liked pickup trucks, ball caps, OU foot-ball, country music, fishing and Grandma’s cookies. He was veryproud of his Choctaw heritage.

He was preceded in death by a son, Garrett Alan Ashmore in 1993.Survivors include his wife, Jaida, and two daughters, Morgan and

Molly, of the home; father, Phillip Ashmore and wife, Kathy, of Glen-pool; mother, Doris Hughes of Ft. Gibson; sisters, Ralana and hus-band, Frank Byrd, Jr., of Warner, Oklahoma, Vanessa Hughes of Ft.Gibson and Angela Ashmore of Glenpool, Oklahoma; brothers,Michael Ashmore and wife, Jacque, of Yukon, Oklahoma and JeffClark and wife, Meagan, of Oklahoma City; grandparents, Mr. andMrs. Hershel Ashmore of Warner, Mr. and Mrs. Billy Joe Torix of Ft.Gibson and Tom and Sammy Upton of Oklahoma City; great-grand-mother, Mrs. Effie Clay of Muskogee; three nephews, five nieces,aunts, uncles and many, many friends.

Annie WilsonAnnie Wilson, 92, of Yreka, California passed away June 16, 2003

at SunBridge Care Center in Weed, California. She was born Sep-tember 22, 1910 in Durant, Oklahoma to Cora and Austin Burton.She was very proud of her Choctaw Indian heritage.

At the age of 19, she married Sam R. Wilson. She raised a daugh-ter, a nephew and four orphaned children.

In 1937, Annie moved to Lakeview, Oregon. She moved to Vellejo,California in 1941 and then to Siskiyou County in 1946.

Mrs. Wilson was a charter member of the First Baptist Church ofYreka, where you could find her on any Sunday until her health pre-vented her from going. She was also a member of the Yreka chapterof the Eastern Star. She was a deeply spiritual woman. She taughtSunday School for 27 years in Yreka and was affectionately knownto her students as the “gum lady.” She loved growing flowers andbrought some to church every Sunday to share.

Annie wrote many poems, some of which were read on the Chris-tian radio station in Redding, California. She will be remembered forstanding on her front porch and waving her flag at the passengers onthe Blue Goose as it would go by her house.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Connie and MelvinJones of Chico, California; nephew, Bob Burton of Lancaster, Cali-fornia; grandchildren, Julie Hemenway of Oroville, California andPhilip Jones of Durham, California; great-grandchildren, Annie,Melisa and Maddie Hemenway of Chico and Audra and Austin Jonesof Durham, and nieces, Linda Nelson of Big Springs, California andSharon Graves of Yreka.

Annie was a special person to her family and friends and will bemissed by all who knew and loved her.

Oberia “Dude” MorganOberia “Dude” Morgan, 78, passed away January 6, 2003 at a Katy,

Texas hospital. She was born on April 9, 1924 in Centrahoma, Okla-homa to George and Otha Thomas.

At the age of 16, Dude married W.E. “Billy” Morgan on Septem-ber 9, 1944. The two celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary lastSeptember.

Dude’s interest and involvement was extensive in the support ofagricultural and rodeo activities for the youth of Katy. In addition toher support of the Katy FFA, she was committed to the Fort BendCounty Fair Association for over 40 years.

Mrs. Morgan was very proud of her Choctaw Indian heritage, apride which she was also able to instill within her children and grand-children. A devoted mother, she embraced any chance to support kids,and to many within the Katy area she was affectionately known as“Aunt Dude.” Throughout her life, Dude was sustained by her stronglove for the Lord. Dude and Billy worshipped at Katy CommunityChurch. Her many interests included horses, rodeo, fishing, bowl-ing, sewing and other crafts. She enjoyed an abundant life centeredaround her children and grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband, Billy Morgan; children, Donna andJerry Thames, Cindy and Carl James, and Sunny and John D. Allgater;grandchildren, Kyle and Aundrea Thames, Chad Thames, Guy Kmiec,Morgan Van Winkle, Lex Allgater, Kate James, Molly James andHunter James; great-grandchild, Carolyn Isabell Barton; brothers,John Nell Morugold and Wesley and Mamye Jo Thomas; sister, CoraLee and Jerry Davis; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Denny andMona Ruth Morgan and Lawrence and Jean Ann Morgan; as well asnumerous nieces, nephews, and other loving family members andfriends.

Sellman D. BrownSellman D. Brown, 82, of Wayne, Oklahoma passed away August

7, 2003. He was born April 3, 1921 in Sulphur, Oklahoma.Survivors include his wife, Gladys (Thomas) Brown, of the home;

two daughters, Brownell Brown and Gayla Flores; one son, RhettBrown and his wife, Susan; six grandchildren and five great-grand-children.

Bettye Sue OxfordBettye Sue Oxford, 69, of Durant, Oklahoma passed away Tues-

day, July 29, 2003 at Texoma Medical Center in Denison, Texas. Shewas born Saturday, October 28, 1933 in Tye, Oklahoma, the daugh-ter of Joe and Thelma Louise (Ervin) Threet.

Betty married Henry Clay Oxford on May 11, 1951 in Courtside,Arizona. She was a retired aero tech from Northup and a member ofthe First Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Oxford loved working jigsawpuzzles, word searches and traveling. She will be remembered mostfor the time she spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchil-dren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Henry Ox-ford, on June 2, 1992; son, Roy Dean Oxford; sisters, Billie Jo Threetand Estelle Masters, and granddaughter, Crystal Ann Oxford.

Survivors include sons, Jimmie Lee Oxford, Sr. and wife, Yolanda,and Kenneth Dale Oxford, all of Durant, Oklahoma; daughter, Bar-bara Ann Nagy and husband, John, of Durant; brother, Johnny Threetof Durant; grandsons, Bobby Kuykendall of Cass Lake, Minnesotaand Jimmy Oxford, Andrew Oxford, Ian Oxford and Donavin Ox-ford, all of Durant; granddaughters, Valerie Stanley and husband,Vincent Wayne, of Calera, Oklahoma, Jennifer Brown of Reno, Ne-vada, Luvenia Nagy and Kimberly Oxford, both of Durant, StephanieOxford of Mozula, Montana, Janell Oxford of Bakersfield, Califor-nia and Shenowa Kuykendall of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and great-grandchildren, Aaron Abbott of Calera and Ashleigh Nagy of Du-rant.

Barbara Jean CarnesBarbara Jean Carnes, 52, of Cartwright, Oklahoma passed away

Monday, August 4, 2003 at Texoma Medical Center in Denison, Texas.She was born Wednesday, February 7, 1951 in Lane, Oklahoma toAllen and Mary (Tikubie) Carnes.

Barbara attended Victory Life Church. She was employed as a truckdriver and for the last three years worked as a secretary for the Choc-taw Nation of Oklahoma.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Elizabeth Allenand Mildred Webb, and brother, Ben Carnes, Jr.

Survivors include sons, Kenneth Fults of Rockwall, Texas and JoeFults of Cartwright; sisters, Tina Fields of Cartwright, Mary Bullyand Virginia Bully, both of Durant, and Shirley Duran of Boyd, Texas;grandchildren, Roni Lynn Fults and Justin Monroe Fults, both ofRockwall, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Lorma V. MontgomeryLorma V. Montgomery, 98, of Tulsa, Oklahoma passed away Tues-

day, August 5, 2003 at Tulsa. She was born July 26, 1905 in Fox,Indian Territory, the daughter of Calvin G. and Julia A. Powell Mor-ris.

Lorma was a homemaker. She had been a resident of Oklahoma allof her life with the majority of those years being spent in Lawton.Being born prior to statehood she became an original enrollee andwas quite proud of her Choctaw ancestry. She attended the First Chris-tian Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a daughter, JoAnnePayer, in April 2003.

Survivors include a daughter, Oteka N. Lund of Fairfax, Virginia;son, Wendell L. Zachary of Tulsa; sister, Frances Whitten of Dun-can, Oklahoma; eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Virginia L. HuffmanVirginia L. Huffman, 60, of St. Charles, Missouri passed away

August 4, 2003 at St. Joseph Health Center in St. Charles. She wasborn September 7, 1942 in Alamogordo, New Mexico, the daughterof James and Von Marie Atchley.

Vi rginia was an owner of Huffman Plumbing in O’Fallen, Mis-souri for ten years. She had been employed by Blackhurst Elemen-tary School since 2001. She was a member of Oakridge Baptist Churchin St. Peters, Missouri.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles A. Huffman;father, James Atchley, and sister, Jackie Skinner.

Survivors include her mother, Von Marie Atchley of Troy, Mis-souri; sons, Jeffrey S. Huffman and wife, Beth Ann, of Troy andGregory A. Huffman and wife, Becky, of Jonesburg, Missouri; sis-ters, Pat Reinholz of St. Charles and Judy Roettger of Lake St. Louis,Missouri; brothers, Charles Atchley of Ballwin, Missouri, RussellAtchley of Troy and Gerald Atchley of San Antonio, Texas; five grand-children and many loving relatives and friends.

Hannah Denise McCartyHannah Denise McCarty, 16, of

Oklahoma City passed away Tuesday,July 22, 2003. Her extraordinary lifebegan August 14, 1986 when she wasborn at Carl Albert Indian Hospital inAda, Oklahoma, the daughter of Jackand Pamela McCarty.

Hannah enjoyed kindergartenthrough fifth grade at Good ShepherdLutheran School and sixth grade atMid-Del Christian School. She earnedmany academic and fine arts awards,stayed on the honor roll and alwayshad fun. The fun times and the workaccelerated when she was accepted atClassen School of Advanced Studies where she was a dance major inseventh through ninth grades and a drum major her sophomore year.She was looking forward to participating in the musical theater pro-gram in her junior year. She remained on the principal’s honor rollwhile pursuing her dance and theater dreams, not only at Classen butalso at private fine arts schools. She had many best friends, too nu-merous to list, who were like family to her.

Hannah took dance lessons since she was four years old and wasskilled at tap, her favorite, and ballet, jazz, modern and Irish danc-ing. She also felt that God had called her to care for little childrenand planned to have a Hollywood daycare business as well as anacting career.

She and her parents are members of Church of the Harvest. Hannahhad a close relationship with Jesus Christ and enjoyed volunteeringin the children’s ministry with the two- and three-year-olds as wellas serving as a church greeter. She often smiled and welcomed peoplewhen she had little strength to stand. She never complained. Shenever gave up. Her life was threatened many times over the years butshe stood on God’s Word, and she never stopped dancing.

Survivors include her parents, Jack and Pamela McCarty, who adoreher more than words can express; grandfather, Bernard McCarty;uncles, Vernon, Patrick and Steve McCarty and Clark, Shawn andThane Mize; aunts, Carol Spinks, Linda Robinson, Candace Dudekand Heather Bellows; cousins, Joseph McCarty, Glenda Branch, LauraHunter; Bethany, Ryan, Christopher, Robert and Stephanie McCarty;Hali VanWinkle, Dylan Hunter, Samantha and Lucas Mize, BlayneCook, Amy Brewer; Sarah, Blake and Hope Bellows; Gabriel, Mayaand Rowan Cook; Leah, Drew and Reese Brewer, and great-grand-mother, Nettie Raleigh. Hannah will also be missed by her belovedcat, Ariel, and her incredible doctor, Merl Simmons.

She was preceded in death and escorted to Heaven by her cher-ished grandmother, Sylvia Mize McFall; her grandfather, Riley Mize,and great-grandfather, Jim Raleigh. Her grandmother, MargaretMcCarty, followed her to Heaven on July 25, 2003. They are havingquite a reunion at this time!

Sara TylerSara Tyler, 57, of Stephenville, Texas passed away Saturday, July

26 at Lake Granbury Medical Center. She was born March 13, 1946.Sara received her bachelor’s degree in education from Southeast-

ern Oklahoma and her Ph.D. in education from Texas A&M-Com-merce. She was a member of the Texas Teachers Educator Associa-tion, Texas State Readers Association, and International ReadingAssociation. She was a member of the Stephenville First UnitedMethodist Church, and had moved back to Stephenville in 1992 fromElectra. She loved to read and had a great passion for life. She taughtin the education department of Tarleton State University.

Survivors include one son, Rusty McNew of Dallas, Texas; a daugh-ter and son-in-law, Meredith and Charles Perry of Lubbock, Texas;two grandchildren, Rustin and Zachery Perry of Lubbock; her par-ents, Ralph and Amelia Tyler of Midwest City, Oklahoma; one brother,Ralph Warren Tyler of DeQueen, Arkansas; and several nieces andnephews.

Jackson Jesse James, Jr.Jackson Jesse James, Jr., 62, of McAlester, Oklahoma passed away

Thursday, March 20, 2003 at the VA hospital in Muskogee. He wasborn August 3, 1940 in Featherston, the son of Jackson Jesse, Sr. andLizzie Pope James.

He grew up in the Quinton area, graduated from Quinton HighSchool and took machinist classes at Kiamichi Technology Center.

He married Lucy Nanuk and retired from the U.S. Air Force after20 years of service, where he received the Air Force OutstandingUnit Award, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Ser-vice Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon and SmallArms Expert Marksmanship Award.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Jacob James,George James, Noel Kemp and Jodus Kemp; four sisters, Clara James,Regina James, Serena Washington and Cora Carney, and a daughter-in-law, Leslie Kim Thompson.

Survivors include his wife, Lucy James, of the home; two sons,Richard James and Gregory James, both of McAlester; a daughter,Dawn McLaughlin of McAlester; three brothers, Jesse James of Shaw-nee, Oklahoma, Larry James of McAlester and Warren James of Tahl-equah; four sisters, Rita Jordan of Kiowa, Oklahoma, Wanda Adkinsof Stonewall, Oklahoma, Geniva Ellis of Haileyville, Oklahoma andViolet Woods of Blanco, Oklahoma; five grandchildren, Felicia James,Derek James, Trent Hawk McLaughlin, Alexia James and EmilyBreeze McLaughlin; a special friend, Florence, and numerous niecesand nephews.

Robert “Trouble” LewisRobert “Trouble” Lewis, 66, of Du-

rant, Oklahoma passed away Tuesday,August 5, 2003 at Southern PointeLiving Center. He was born Wednes-day, July 21, 1937 in Ardmore, Okla-homa to Edward and Lucy (Allen)Lewis.

He married Bertha Jean White. Heserved his country in the U.S. MarineCorps. He was a member and serviceworker for the Choctaw Nation and amember of Grace Indian BaptistChurch.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Lisa F. Lewis,and brothers, Allen Folsom, Raymond Lewis, James Tom and SamsonScott.

Survivors include his wife of the home; daughter, LacQuita Lewisof Ada, Oklahoma; sons, Leon Love of Platter, Oklahoma and Ken-neth Lewis and wife, Dorothy, of Colbert, Oklahoma; sisters, Mar-garet Tenequer of Atoka, Oklahoma, Hilda Murphy of Dallas, Texasand Ruth Coley of Ardmore, Oklahoma; brother, Charles Lewis ofDurant; 11 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, numerous niecesand nephews, many other family members and friends.

Oscar Folsom, Jr.LCDR Oscar Folsom, Jr., USN re-

tired, 81, of Norman, Oklahomapassed away Wednesday, August 6. Hewas born June 29, 1922 in Caney,Oklahoma to Oscar Folsom, Sr. andBlanche Ballard Folsom.

Oscar graduated from Atoka HighSchool in May 1940. He then attendedMurray State School of Agriculture,Tishomingo, Oklahoma, from Septem-ber 1940 to June 1942. After a careerin the U.S. Navy, August 1942 to May1963, he attended the University ofOklahoma, Norman, from January 1964 to January 1966. He retiredfrom the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. After hisservice in the Navy, he completed his education at the University ofOklahoma receiving a Bachelor of Science in Education Degree witha specialization in mathematics.

During Oscar’s naval career he received numerous commendations/citations for meritorious acts while participating in aerial flights as apilot of carrier based fighter planes in operations against the enemy.He flew off of numerous carriers and had approximately 500 carrierlandings as a fighter pilot. He served in the U.S. Navy during WorldWar II, the Korean War, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

After completing his degree in education he taught mathematicsand aerospace at Western Oaks Junior High School in the PutnamCity School District for 20 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents.Survivors include his wife, Laura Bryan Folsom of the home; one

son, David Folsom and wife, Sharon, of Oklahoma City; one step-daughter, Cynthia Blair Sarem-Aslani and husband, Hormoz, of Phoe-nix, Arizona; four stepgrandchildren, Bryan Sarem-Aslani and wife,Ashley, of Norman, Martina Sarem-Aslani Yoder and husband, Bran-don, of Gilbert, Arizona, Laura Sakeen Sarem-Aslani and NancySarem-Aslani of Phoenix; one step-great-grandson, Aiden Sarem-Aslani of Phoenix; four brothers, James O. Folsom and wife, Stella,of Tulsa, Oklahoma, John B. Folsom and wife, Marge, of Banning,California, William J. Folsom and wife, Nan, of Waynesboro, Vir-ginia, and Charles H. Folsom and wife, Ruth Ann, of Shreveport,Louisiana; one sister, Mary Folsom Kyle and husband, Ted, of Wood-ward, Oklahoma, and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Rosalie LaVon, M.D., and her staffof Norman and Gayle Gondeck, case RN, and her team of Hospiceby Loving Care of Noble, Oklahoma, for the wonderful care givenOscar during a long, extended illness with Parkinson’s disease.

Bernice Bessie AndersonBernice Bessie Anderson, 72, of Sapulpa, Oklahoma passed away

Tuesday, April 8, 2003 at Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was born March 20,1931 at Haskell, Oklahoma, the daughter of Kilbert and Susan JohnsonFranklin.

She attended Sequoyah High School at Tahlequah, Oklahoma.Bernice and Robert Anderson were married in April 1996 at

Ballenger. She retired as a nurse’s aid at the Tulsa Regional MedicalCenter in Tulsa.

She was a member of the Siloam Springs Methodist Church inHaskell County and also a member of the VFW women’s auxiliaryin Sand Springs. She enjoyed being with her family and the time shespent with her grandchildren. She also enjoyed riding in the car bothlocally and on long trips.

Survivors include her husband, Robert Anderson, of Sapulpa; twosons, Tommy Thompson and wife, Glenda, of Prue, and HermanThompson and wife, Carol, of Bristow, Oklahoma; five daughters,Levetta Faye Sago and husband, Marvin, of Glenpool, Oklahoma,Loretta Perigo and husband, Gary, of Tulsa, Janie Rice and husband,Mitchell, of Tulsa, Elsie Lena and husband, Ronnie, of Sapulpa, andSandra Kay Thompson of Ponca City, Oklahoma; 20 grandchildrenand 13 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Jeremiah Thomp-son; her second husband, James Leroy Brown; a son, JeremiahThompson, Jr., her parents, two brothers, one stepbrother, and onestepsister.

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