Funeral services for Albert Frank Austin were held Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021, at Red Rock United Methodist Church in Calumet with Rev. Tom Cooksey and Rev. Mike Price officiating. Burial was in the Red Rock Cemetery under the direction of Turner Funeral Home, Geary.
Frank was born Jan. 31, 1937, in Canadian County to Robert Lee and Ruth O. (Ellison) Austin. He passed away Nov. 27, 2021, at his home in Geary at the age of 84.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second of a two-part look at efforts to revitalize Sunset Drive.
Emily Fitzsimmons spent hours pouring over old photos at the Canadian County History Museum.
Working with Hoffner Design Studio, Fitzsimmons was there to find anything and everything she could about what Sunset Drive looked like decades ago.
With help from Museum Director Vicki Proctor, she found plenty.
Standing in the bed of the family’s pickup, Trey Ratliff kept a close eye on the flames from the massive wildfire which engulfed miles of cedar trees, brush and farmland southwest of Calumet.
His wife, Melodie and daughter, Ella were inside their house along Karns Road packing up clothes and valuables when a large pop could be heard from a distance inside the growing wall of flames.
“That must have been the transformer which popped,” said Ratliff, after his wife emerged from the house saying the electricity was off.
Entering its 40th year, Canadian County’s Intervention and Crisis Advocacy Network – ICAN - now has two county locations.
Executive Director Matt Whetzel, who joined the nonprofit team in March, is working with the board and staff, expanding services and making sure everyone can access them when needed.
Calumet High School recently held its 2021-22 basketball homecoming festivities.
Senior Brie Myers was named queen and Matt Snyder was selected as king. The queen’s court included Isabella Peters and Kameron Pond.
Lamplighters Chapter of OHCE met recently at a local church with Joan Herr calling the meeting to order and offering prayer.
Janice Taylor led the flag salute, while Carol Stine gave the devotional titled “Thanksgiving a Sacrifice.”
Jan Maddox presented Article 9 of the OHCE Constitution. She also gave the leader lesson on food pantries and related information about food pantries in our area and the ways we can help.
Ten members of the Okarche High School Speech Team traveled to Marlow to compete in the Marlow Invitational Speech Tournament, and all 10 returned home with at least one trophy and the second-place sweepstakes trophy in Class 3A.
Senior McKenzie Stewart was named tournament champion in original oratory.
Senior Emily Neuenschwander teamed with junior Emma Stover to place third in humorous duet, with Stover also placing second in poetry.
Four other OHS juniors also competed.
With county school elections looming and record voter registration, Canadian County officials have selected the company that will print ballots for 2022. Canadian County now has about 89,000 registered voters, with an increase mirroring the county’s 33.6 percent population growth over the past decade.
County commissioners have awarded the low bid contract to Midwest Printing of Sapulpa to print ballots that Canadian County voters will see at the ballot box.
During this time of year, I usually take a little time to think about who and what I’m thankful for and express my appreciation. That seems to be the point, after all.
This year, for various reasons, my thoughts and appreciation turn toward journalists, newspapers and other news media. Sometimes the people and institutions we rely on to keep us informed get a bad rap, and sometimes they deserve it.
When the Washington Post and New York Times act more as stenographers for the political class than reporters of the facts, we all lose.
Drivers need to pay more attention to deer crossing Oklahoma roads while the animals are listening to other instincts this time of year, said Dwayne Elmore, Oklahoma State University Extension wildlife management specialist.
Elmore provided some insight and tips for dealing with deer on the move:
▶ Oklahoma deer are not migratory, but they do move more within their territories during seasonal changes.
