Downtown Sand Springs to host local authors for Christmas Parade of Books

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Rod's Books and Relics and the Yesterday Shop in downtown Sand Springs will be hosting a Parade of Books to coincide with the Chamber of Commerce 35th Annual Festival of Lights Christmas Parade this Friday. The downtown area is seeing increased Christmas festivities this year as the city looks to brand itself as a tourist destination.

The antique and used book store will host their first-ever book signing event with former Sand Springs Leader Editor Tara Lynn Thompson and a dozen other local authors. The writers will be set up on the 2nd Street sidewalk in front of The Yesterday Shop beginning at 4:00 p.m.

"As the news editor in Sand Springs for four years, as well as simply a resident for about a decade, I fell in love with Sand Springs," says Thompson. "(I want) to reconnect with Sand Springs and give back to the town that helped me so much in my career."

Thompson is the author of the "Another Series" and has published two books with a third on the way. She released "Not Another Superhero" in 2015 and "Just Another Sidekick" this year. 

The Christmas parade will begin at 7:00 p.m. and the authors will be on hand throughout the event. Genres represented include Young Adult, Mystery, Self-Help, Children's literature, Adult Fiction, Romance, and more. Event organizers are encouraging more authors to come and are accepting applications till Wednesday. 

"Rod, his wife Cyndi, and I area all hoping this becomes the first of many years to come of holding a Parade of Books," said Thompson. Each author's table will be decorated with Christmas lights and authors will be answering questions, shaking hands, and offering their wisdom and advice to other aspiring writers. 

 

Small businesses aim to make Sand Springs a Christmas destination

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Small businesses in downtown Sand Springs have banded together in a Christmas Coalition to promote holiday festivities for the whole month of December.

Beginning November 28th, many downtown businesses will be open later hours every Tuesday leading up to Christmas. The first Tuesday will include caroling, food trucks, and a tree-lighting ceremony with Mayor Mike Burdge at 7:00 p.m. Papa Pat's barbecue and Kettle Treats will be on hand from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

"We want people to eat where they shop and shop where they eat," said Joanna Sporleder, owner of Joni's on the Triangle hair salon. Part of getting people to spend more time in downtown means creating special occasions to draw people in and show them what the town has to offer. 

While the first year of festivities will be limited, the group has big goals for the future. Local Santa Clause Glenn Burkett wants to see OmniTRAX set up some type of Polar Express on the Sand Springs Railroad. Other ideas included a live nativity scene with involvement from the Charles Page High School drama department. 

The coalition also wants to use the festivities as an opportunity to gather donations for organizations like Sand Springs Community Services (SSCS) and the Salvation Army, with businesses offering discounts to patrons who bring in toys and canned foods. "SSCS has been a huge influence in my life," said Sporleder. "I want to try and give back if I can."

SSCS will also be holding a food drive at the Festival of Lights Christmas Parade hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. The 35th annual parade will be held Friday, December 1st with a "Winter Nights and Magical Lights" theme.

The Chamber of Commerce is taking a vested interest in helping out with the coalition and is covering the cost of City Permits and other expenses, as well as helping to coordinate festivities. Keller Williams Realtor Jennifer Fox Barretto, Rod's Books and Antiques owner Rodney Thomas, Dog and Duck Antiques owners Chris and Julie Bedokis, and Yesterday to Now owner Susan Whitley are all involved in the brainstorming and planning. 

Boo on Broadway is a hit in downtown Sand Springs

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The Seventh Annual Boo on Broadway Halloween festival went off without a hitch Sunday in downtown Sand Springs.

For the first time since its inception, the festivities were hosted by the Sand Springs Ministerial Alliance. This year did away with the Coffin Race tradition, but had record-high participation from both volunteers and attendees. 

Olivet Baptist Church, State Farm Agent Steve Lane, the Sand Springs Police Department, Hillspring Church, Word of Life church, and Church That Matters were just a few of the many organizations involved. 

About thirty tents, booths, and car trunks were set up around the Sand Springs Triangle Park along with inflatables, games, and even a dunk tank. The Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum was open for the first half of the festival, and City Councilor Patty Dixon said more than a thousand people came through the building before they ran out of candy. 

Click here to view our photo gallery.

 

Walden, Smith, Sandite Wrestling to be Grand Marshalls of Christmas Parade

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The 35th Annual Festival of Lights Christmas Parade will be full of Sandite pride this year. Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce President Kristen Valentin announced Wednesday that Charles Page High School Head Wrestling Coach Kelly Smith, his 2017 State Championship wrestling team, and nine-time OSSAA State Championship runner Cheyenne Walden will be sharing Grand Marshall duties during this year's parade.

Kelly Smith (center) with his 2016-2017 Coaching Staff.

Smith is in his sixteenth year leading the high school wrestling program and in 2017 he led his team to their first State Championship since 1971. The Sandites went undefeated to sweep the Dual State Championship and State Tournament, crowning five individual Champions. They finished the year ranked fifteenth in the nation by FloWrestling. 

Walden graduated in May as the most decorated athlete in Sandite history with four Cross Country State Championships and five Track and Field State Championships. She recently placed 48th at the Penn State Open, fourth among her fellow Oklahoma State University Cowgirls, and 34th at the Cowboy Jamboree in September. 

The theme for this year's parade is Winter Nights and Magical Lights, and it will be held in downtown Sand Springs on Friday, December 1st at 7:00 p.m. 

Entry in the parade is $20.00 and must be submitted to the Chamber of Commerce by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 17th. A $100 cash prize will be given to the best Overall Entry. Other awards will be presented for Best Church Entry, Best Use of Theme, Best Use of Lighting, Best Showmanship, and Best Marching Unit. 

Wilson's Call: Missions are not an event, they are a way of life

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The following is a monthly newsletter shared by Michael and Baylee Wilson. The full-time ministers are from Sand Springs and consider Word of Life to be their home church. 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH

Fontil now has his own 6X10 room, sleeping on a bed, receiving meals on a regular basis and hearing about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. 

Fontil

You remember Fontil? One of our Haitian friends found him sleeping on trash under some banana leaves and cardboard exposed to the elements. She moved him to Lascahobas to keep a better eye on him. He seems to have dementia. There are times we see him and he doesn't know where he is or what's going on around him. When we met him he was sharing a 6X6 room with another man and sleeping on the floor not knowing where his next meal is coming from...

Fontil now has his own 6X10 room, sleeping on a bed, receiving meals on a regular basis and hearing about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. 

From Death to Life

The Bible says to go lay your hands on the sick and pray for them to be healed. Today we saw that happen. We walked down a steep windy trail, walked along a river bank into a group of houses really close together. As we navigated through these houses we came to THE house we were looking for. We walked in to a man struggling to breath. We went in to pray for him and he accepted Christ and he gave his last breath right after we finished praying. God took him from glory to glory. He is healed by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

After he passed, we walked out of the house and 3 voodoo priest came running up. They said that "Voodoo" told them to hurry before he dies so they can save him. They were late because our God is always one step ahead and this world offers what only God can give. Jesus Christ has defeated death and he stole the keys to the grave. God is so good! 

His Hope Ministry Growth

We are so excited to let you all know that we are now feeding eight abandoned elderly a week and increased to three feedings a week! 

We are still believing to start a home/living facility for our elderly. We know this may be a long way off, but we believe with God and your help, we can make it happen. To give them a place to live means we will be able to give them the care that they need on a daily basis, feed them every day, allow them to spend time with others their age, and be able to share the gospel in their every day lives. Please join us in prayer about this. 

Celebrate

Baylee and I celebrated two years of marriage in our favorite place, as well as Baylee's 23rd birthday!

We are so happy to share these joyful moments with the amazing people of Haiti. We look forward to a lifetime of happiness and serving together!

Michael will be doing a monthly Facebook live video where we will talk about everything missions. We will talk about Haiti, local & global missions, what it means to be on mission and everything else under the sun!

There will be an episode on the first Monday of every month at 6pm (CTD). I am excited to see how God uses this to be glorified. 

WE NEED YOUR HELP. Would you please send suggestions for what you would like to hear about? Simply message Wilson's Call on Facebook to share your thoughts.

Prayer Request

In Haiti you pay for your rent a year at a time and at the beginning of the year. We are believing that God will provide it all this month so that we can have a year of housing behind us and another amazing year of ministry in front of us here at RTS Missions! This would free up resources to be used in other ways to further the kingdom of God in Haiti for the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord. We're believing that God is going to show up in a big way!

Would you consider joining our mission team with a one time donation this month? Thank you all for your continued prayer and support! We could never tell you how much we thank God for each and every one of you!

For more details message Baylee or myself or follow these steps
(all donations are tax deductible)
1. Go to www.rtsmissions.com
2. Click the red "donate" button
3. Create an account
4. ***click the scroll down arrow and select "Michael & Baylee Wilson"***
5. Enter and donate the amount God puts on your heart to give.

Praise Reports: We had our first ever Game Day at our house for those in the His Hope ministry, along with some other elderly in the neighborhood. We ate together, played bingo, sang a few songs, and prayed together. It was an amazing day and they all had a great time. We are working on putting together our next event for them and they are looking forward to it. 

Thanks to your generosity, we were able to pay for the first year of kindergarten for a little girl whose mom and dad left her whens she was a baby. She means the world to us and we were blessed to be able to do this for her. She is enjoying school and we pray that she makes many friends and learns more each day. 

OPINION | Does protesting the protesters make you a crybaby too?

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The following is the opinion of an individual. It does not reflect the opinions of the company, the Editorial board, or the company owners. Opinion pieces from differing viewpoints are welcome, so long as they are written respectfully.

"I don't personally believe that black people are persecuted in America. I don't believe that there is still systemic racism in America. I have seen no evidence of it. I could be wrong. But the fact that there's a large amount of my fellow countrymen who feel persecuted, denigrated, and unfairly treated is concerning to me. It should be concerning to you. If you call yourself an American, you should care about all Americans. You should care about unity, understanding, and constructive discourse.

Rioting, looting, vandalism; these are all still present in our society. So when someone chooses to make a silent, peaceful protest that doesn't harm anyone in any way, we should applaud that.

I attend sporting events every week. Usually 2-3 a week. I see young people and adults, athletes and fans, casually standing during the anthem, not paying attention, looking at their phones, whispering to their neighbors, etc. I was raised to stand at attention, hand over heart, eyes on the flag. When the music starts you drop everything, get your hands out of your pockets, and take off your hat. I'm more annoyed by someone pretending to be patriotic but not actually paying attention than by someone kneeling, being quiet, and respecting those around them.

Many of the NFL athletes who kneel during the anthem have made statements that their actions are in no way intended to be disrespectful to the men and women who fought for our country. They simply want to bring attention to something that concerns them, and something that should concern all of us.

Our country has a problem that needs to be fixed. Maybe we have a problem with systemic racism. I don't know. But I'm 100% confident that we have a major problem with communication. People are too hostile. Both sides of the fence. Conservative, Liberal, Moderate, Christian, Atheist, Black, White: I have friends and family of all labels. The one thing that I consistently see in all of them is an inability to separate emotions from logic and listen to opposing viewpoints.

I've had friends who portrayed the stereotypical snowflake liberal, who think 50% of the country and everyone who voted for Trump is a disgusting racist. I've had friends who portray the stereotype of a hypocritical christian bigot. I've seen church employees talk about cleansing the world of Muslims who are unwilling to convert.

I also know a lot of loving and accepting people, both Christian and otherwise, who try to be compassionate to everyone.

There was a time when the radicals were a slim minority fringe group. The silent majority was middle of the road. Maybe it's the prevalence of social media. Maybe it's manipulation by the mainstream media. Maybe it's politicians, Hollywood, the NFL, whatever. Or maybe it's all of us. No politician, actor, or news reporter can force me to hate. They cannot force me to discriminate, stereotype, or make inflammatory statements. 

It's time for the American people to take responsibility for the condition of our country. Our economy is changing, our culture is diversifying, our values differ wildly. We can't keep pretending that our way is the only way, my way or the highway. We can't keep expecting people to settle for the status quo when they're not the ones benefiting from it.

The fact is, both sides are patriots. One side believes themselves to be defending their country from disrespect. One side wants to improve their country and see it move forward and succeed. There's no reason to be so bitter towards each other. The fact is, you can love your country and still see its flaws. America has done horrible things. Japanese internment camps, native American genocide, slavery, Red Scare trials, Salem witch hunts. America has also done incredible things. We defeated a world power to gain our independence and stand up to tyranny. We defeated the Nazis, we fought a war to end slavery, we fought a culture war to end segregation. 

There are people who actually hate America and want to see it fall. People who are actively plotting against us. Instead of condemning people who want to make America better, why not condemn people who actually want to see America fall?

Abortion, Confederate heritage, economics, nationalism, religion, sexuality. The number of controversial topics grows every year. People need to understand that it's human nature to feel threatened by the unknown. To be opposed to change and difference of opinion. But what separates humans from animals is our ability to use reason, to empathize with our neighbors, and to work together to make this country better for everyone, not just a few. 

The next time you see something that offends you, breathe. Relax. Don't waste your time being offended. It doesn't change anything. Take the opportunity to learn about someone else's viewpoints. You don't have to agree with them. You're not going to catch a disease. Stop freaking out on people, calling them racist, bigot, idiot, libtard. We used to spank our kids for calling people names. Nowadays it's grown adults treating each other like children, lashing out at people in anger with no goal of understanding them. Choose to be an adult today."

Baylee and Michael Wilson celebrate seven months of ministry in Haiti

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Submitted by Michael Wilson, Wilson's Call.

This month we will be living in Haiti for 7 months. It's been over half of a year in this beautiful country. We knew that we loved the country before we moved here. But after moving, God has broken our hearts for the people of Haiti all over again. We've seen heartbreak, joy, loss, and lives changed because of Jesus Christ. We've met so many amazing people on this journey and we can't imagine living without them. We've only seen a glimpse of what God can do when you allow him to use you for his glory. God has given us a burden for the lost. Over 40% of people in Haiti are illiterate. Therefore, 40% of people will never be able to read God's word, all they know about the gospel is what they're told, which can often be wrong. We want to share the TRUTH of Jesus Christ, and tell the people we meet that Jesus saves the worst of us. We don't need to get our lives right before we come to him, because when we completely give our lives to Christ, he will change us from the inside out. 

This is Christie. She was given away as a little girl to become a restavek (civil slave) to another family in Haiti. Her whole life has been devoted to doing other peoples laundry, cooking, cleaning, shopping in the market, etc. We invited her to church and she gave her life to Christ. Because of her new faith, her mom traveled to our area to go to church with Christie. Earlier this month she came to our house to tell us that she is no longer going to be living with this family, and that she gets to move back home with her mom. When we add God to the picture, things change. Lives are made new. Although we miss Christie, we are so thankful that she is now living a life of freedom. 

Everyone meet Viergelie, our new sister in Christ. We had a team a few weeks ago doing house to house evangelism. We noticed Viergelie watching us from a distance as we visited with multiple people on the streets. She finally came to us, her head down, not wanting to look us in the eyes. She told us that she is living with her boyfriend, and hasn't accepted Christ because she knows she's sinning. After sharing the gospel with her, the truth of Jesus changed her life. She was always told that she can't be a follower of Christ until she gets her life right first. But we know that WHEN we surrender our lives to him, he will begin to change every aspect of our lives. We gave Viergelie a new Bible, and you wouldn't believe how her face lit up. She hugged the Bible so tight to her chest, you would of thought she had never held the word of God in her hands before, maybe she hasn't. She began to go around telling everyone the decision she had just made. She said she couldn't wait to go home and tell her boyfriend that she was ready to change her life around. 

RTS Missions has been very busy lately with back to back short term mission teams. We had a medical team last month who gave each of our elderly individuals a health check-up, along with a bag full of medicine and hygiene products.

Lately we've been asking God to give us huge vision for the future of His Hope and we are believing to start a home/living facility for our elderly. We know this may be a long way off, but we believe with God and your help, we can make it happen. To give them a place to live means we will be able to give them the care that they need on a daily basis, feed them every day, allow them to spend time with others their age, and be able to share the gospel in their every day lives. Right now we are doing many different things at RTS Missions and aren't able to put our full focus on the elderly ministry. We are praying that there is a way to put our full effort into it soon. Please join us in prayer about this. 

Prayer Request: Our constant prayer is that no matter where we are at, we would continue to Love God, and Love people. We know that God has called us to serve the people of Haiti, and we will do so with grateful hearts until we feel that he is calling us somewhere else. We just ask that you would pray as we continue to seek vision and guidance for God's plan for our lives here in Haiti. 

As you read above, we are praying about the growth of the elderly ministry. We know that the vision we have is huge, but our God is bigger, and he will fulfill his promises. It will take a lot of time, and money, but it is possible. Please pray that God would continue to show us the path we need to take with the elderly ministry in growing it so that we can reach more people who are no longer able to care for themselves. 

As of now we are without a personal vehicle. We are so thankful that RTS Missions lets us use the ministry vehicles but with it being a growing ministry the vehicles are in constant use so that sometimes limits what we are able to do. Would you continue to pray with us for the funds to buy a personal truck or SUV so that we can further what God has called us to do or that God would provide a vehicle through donation. Cars in Haiti are not reliable if you buy used and extremely expensive brand new. Our God can do all things.

Praise Reports: In the month of July we had back to back teams coming down to serve with RTS. During that month, we saw 67 people give their lives to Christ. Sometimes we minister to people and they say they are not ready to accept Christ yet. But we thank God for each person who comes down to serve. There are some teams who plant seeds, some who water those seeds, and then there are some who reap a harvest. Nothing we do in Haiti is insignificant and even if we had one salvation, it would all be worth it. 

We now have a fridge in our house! This might seem very small but it is huge for us. We use to have to rely on going to the Shepherds house for all of our meals (Which is not bad) but now we have the ability to cook at our own house.

Meet The Sandites Thursday at 7:00, pregame tailgating at 5:30

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The Charles Page High School football season is soon to kick off, and with it comes the local traditions of Meet the Sandites and pregame tailgaiting. 

Every year the season kicks off with Meet the Sandites, a preseason celebration of Sand Springs athletes. Sandite fans will be introduced to the Sand Springs football, softball, cross country, and volleyball teams, plus the cheer and dance squads. Not just the varsity teams either. The Sand Springs Youth Football and Cheer teams from elementary on up will get to storm the turf with the big kids in a preview of their future high school careers.

Prior to each football game, the award-winning Holy Smokers from Church That Matters host a tailgate cookout event with hot dogs, burgers, chips, and drinks as a fundraiser for the various Sandite athletic programs. The fundraisers routinely generate as much as $10,000 every season. 

The first fundraiser will be held on Thursday, August 17, prior to Meet the Sandites. Proceeds will go to benefit the football program. 

On Friday, September 1 the Sandites will host Pulaski Academy from Little Rock, Arkansas. That tailgate will help fund the volleyball program.

On Friday, September 8, the Sandites will host Choctaw and the tailgate funds will go to the cheer team.

On Friday, October 13, the Sandites will host Muskogee for Homecoming. The wrestling team will receive that tailgate's proceeds. 

On Friday, October 27, the Sandites will host Bartlesville and the boys' basketball team will be the fundraiser recipient.

The last tailgate will be on Senior Night before the Bixby game. The dance team will receive those funds.

The tailgating begins at 5:30 p.m. and costs $5. Meet the Sandites will officially begin at 7:00 p.m. Student athletes are asked to arrive early and begin lining up at 6:35. 

Church That Matters cancels Sunday service, serves Sand Springs instead

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When Church That Matters (CTM) first began meeting in 2010, they set a goal to be a church that matters to God and to the community. A church that doesn't just take up space, but that makes a definite impact on the world in tangible way. 

One of the ways that CTM works to better the community is "Don't Go To Church Sunday." This past weekend, Church That Matters volunteers didn't go to church, but decided to be the church instead. 

CTM was one of nine churches in the Sand Springs Ministerial Alliance that hosted a Back-to-School Bash at the Tulsa Technology Center campus in Sand Springs. They teamed up with Olivet Baptist Church, Harvest Church, Broadway Baptist Church, HillSpring Church, St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Sand Springs Church of the Nazarene, Sand Springs United Methodist Church, and Word of Life to provide inflatables, haircuts, dental checkups, flu shots, school supplies, and more. CTM volunteers assisting in the setup, organization, and running of the event.

Many CTM members served at the home of a disabled citizen and client of Sand Springs Community Services. The volunteers replaced and repaired windows and doors, installed porch steps, performed lawn care and landscaping, and removed felled limbs from the client's home.

At Sand Springs Lake Park, the church scraped off the old sun-damaged paint on the pedestrian bridge over the dam and gave the structure a fresh paint job.

At DaySpring Villa, a shelter for victims of domestic violence and sex trafficking, the church cleaned the facility, sorted clothing, and hosted worship services for both the adult and child residents. 

CTM picked up the tab for patrons of Prattville Laundry and Bubble Town Car Wash, providing free laundry services and car washes for anyone who stopped by. Volunteers handed out quarters, detergent, and fabric softener, and helped drivers scrub their cars clean. They also offered prayer for the needs of the individuals. 

Volunteers also assisted Berryhill Baptist Church with a door-to-door survey in the West Tulsa suburb. 

Church That Matters is pastored by Rusty Gunn and meets at 3 West 41st Street on the south side of Sand Springs. The church has three Sunday services at 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30 a.m. The last service is specially geared towards individuals with special needs and families with special needs children. 

Word of Life church paints, cleans up Limestone Elementary

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Photo courtesy of Micah Felts.

More than eighty members of Word of Life church in Sand Springs turned out for a work day at Limestone Technology Academy Sunday afternoon.

The event was the first of many service days the church will be hosting at local public schools. After four years of hosting a free community carnival, the church decided to focus on a series of projects to help the community rather than one big event.

Workers spent several hours after church painting the gymnasium, cafeteria, and other rooms, as well as cleaning up and improving the school's landscaping.

The first day of school for Sand Springs students will be Tuesday, August 22nd.

Word of Life is located at 1402 N. 81st W. Ave. and is pastored by Chad Stewart. The church has been meeting in Sand Springs since 1981. Click here to visit their website.

CPHS Memorial Stadium to host non-denominational praise and worship night

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Unity Praise
7:00 p.m. 
April 7, 2017
Memorial Stadium
500 N. Adams Road
Sand Springs, OK 74063

Donations to the event can be addressed to:
In Jesus Name Ministries
P.O. Box 1616
Sand Springs, OK 74063

Click HERE to donate online
Visit In Jesus Name Ministries on Facebook.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

It has been thirty years since Jim and Stephanie Schrepel first felt God calling them to start a ministry. But the timing never seemed right until now. Jim turned 71 years of age last week and the couple celebrated their 38th anniversary, but he is more energized than ever before when it comes to following God's call on his life.

You could compare the couple to Abram and Sarai, and fittingly enough, Stephanie's maiden name is Abram. Jim personally identifies more with Noah. He feels God calling him to do something that has never been done before, and like Noah, he has had to endure some skepticism from people who don't share his vision.

The vision came to Jim during an intercessory prayer session. "I saw myself standing at the old Forward Youth Building, looking down in to the Charles Page High School stadium, full of people praising the Lord." He knew that God was calling him to make it happen.

Thus began the difficult but rewarding journey to launch the first and possibly annual Unity Praise event. "It's a time to bring the body of Christ together, without worry of denomination," says Schrepel. "No denomination has the corner on praise. Praise is universal. God is trying to put this together, showing that denominations can come together and work together."

A lifetime in the Sand Springs community has given Schrepel plenty of connections. He has attended church with House Representative Jadine Nollan and City Councilman Phil Nollan in the past. Jadine introduced him to City Manager Elizabeth Gray. "Mayor (Mike) Burdge and I have known each other for decades," says Schrepel. "The City has just embraced this. Everyone I've crossed paths with has been there to meet a need."

Word of Life church recently moved Forward Youth Ministries to their main campus and sold the old building to The Stronghold church, formerly known as The Church at Moriah. Stronghold pastor Brent Thurber has caught on to Schrepel's vision and will be one of the speakers at Unity Praise.

Also speaking at the event will be former Word of Life Children's Pastor Smiley Elmore, Jr. Elmore played running-back for the University of Missouri from 1987-1989, participated on the TV show American Gladiator, and is an active bodybuilder, speaker, and physical fitness coach. 

There will be multiple worship teams and speakers from area churches working together to put on the event. "God has just opened doors and given us favor. Every day people are getting on board with it."

Securing a venue, sound equipment, advertising, and insurance can get expensive, but Schrepel isn't sweating it. "It has just totally blown us away how the money has come in. It's come from the individuals--not just businesses and churches. They're catching the Unity Praise vision and wanting to see change in Sand Springs."

"God's going to build up Sand Springs to be a spiritual hub in America," says Schrepel. "I asked myself, 'Tulsa's right in the middle of the Bible belt, why is there not more happening here?'"

In the beginning, many church leaders doubted whether Schrepel could pull off an event of this magnitude in Sand Springs. But he insists he has nothing to do with it, it's all God's work. "It's to raise up a new generation of ministers."

The event is on sure ground now. Flyers have gone up all around town, the location, speakers, and musicians are all secured. The Schrepels will even be guests on Good Day Tulsa on April 3rd at 9:00 a.m. to promote the event.

"This event is going to saturate Sand Springs with the word of God."

In correlation with the Unity Praise event, the two have also founded the nonprofit organization "In Jesus Name Ministries." Jim was previously a Radiologic Technologist at City of Faith, while Stephanie supervised Respiratory Therapy at the Oklahoma State University Medical Center. Now they feel called to be paramedics to the body of Christ. 

Oklahoma Senate Republicans announce 2017 legislative agenda

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Senate President Pro Tem Mike Schulz and members of the Senate Republican Caucus announced their 2017 legislative agenda Thursday at the state Capitol. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz and the Senate Republican Caucus on Thursday unveiled a 2017 legislative agenda with a focus on long-term solutions to build a more prosperous Oklahoma.

“This agenda is our vision of how we’ll make an already great state even better. Because the decisions we make at the Capitol have a long-term impact, it’s important we have a plan of where we want to guide Oklahoma in 5, 10 and 20 years. Senate Republicans are united in our desire to implement ideas and policies that will help our state’s economy grow and put us on a long-term path to prosperity. Helping our economy grow means more good-paying jobs for Oklahoma families and more resources to fund core government services without raising taxes,” said Schulz, R-Altus.

Senate Republicans unveiled the agenda at press events in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

“With a bold vision and leadership, our state can be a model that shows free-market, conservative ideas can empower the individual and foster a thriving economy. There are challenges ahead in the short term, but we want Oklahomans to know we are planning for the long-term and are working on policies that will benefit Oklahoma families and businesses,” said Majority Floor Leader Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City.

The 2017 Senate Republican Agenda:

 A MORE PROSPEROUS OKLAHOMA

  • Streamline and eliminate excessive regulations to stimulate job creation and economic growth.
  • Provide more stability, reliability and transparency in the state budgeting process.
  • Promote economic development and the diversification of the state’s economy.
  • Support transportation infrastructure including the eight-year plan.
  • Identify job-creating tax incentives, and eliminate ineffective tax incentives by supporting the work of the Incentive Evaluation Commission.

 INVESTING IN FUTURE GENERATIONS

  • Respect and support teachers by removing obstacles that interfere with a teacher’s ability to help students learn and achieve.
  • Reduce administrative costs and overhead in an effort to increase teacher salaries.
  • Allow parents, taxpayers, and local school boards to more closely direct and increase the quality of education in the classroom.
  • Ensure accountability measures provide parents and taxpayers a useful and accurate reflection of school performance and student achievement.

A SAFER OKLAHOMA

  • Support law enforcement officers and the rights of the citizens they are sworn to protect.
  • Monitor the implementation of criminal justice reforms.
  • Provide oversight of law enforcement agencies and promote cooperation to eliminate duplication.

A HEALTHIER OKLAHOMA

  • Promote access to quality health care services especially for rural and underserved areas of Oklahoma.
  • Encourage “block grant” programs from the federal government that empower Oklahoma to infuse free-market principles into health care plans.
  • Reduce waste and duplication at health care agencies, and utilize innovative health care delivery methods.
  • Work with private and public sector partners to address mental health and substance abuse issues.

PROTECTING CHILDREN AND SUPPORTING FAMILIES

  • Improve foster care and adoption services in Oklahoma, and strengthen support for foster families.
  • Reform social service programs so they offer economic mobility and help end dependency on government assistance.
  • Eliminate restrictions on non-profits and faith-based organizations that help fill the gaps in social services.
  • Continue Oklahoma’s commitment to defending the sanctity of life.

SUPPORTING VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES

  • Work to minimize licensing challenges for military spouses due to relocation.
  • Support public-private partnerships to develop a comprehensive health care system.
  • Ensure Oklahoma veterans are connected with existing mental health and social service programs.
  • Increase protection of service members’ financial and contractual rights when mobilized or deployed.

OK Senate files bill to prohibit abortions once heartbeat is audible

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OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation was filed Thursday to strengthen Oklahoma’s Heartbeat Informed Consent Act by providing a scientific definition of when life begins, with the first heartbeat. Senator Paul Scott, R-Duncan, filed Senate Bill 710 to prohibit abortions if the embryonic or fetal heartbeat of the unborn child is audible.

“I am pro-life and believe in the sanctity of life. I don’t believe in abortions but since we can’t go against the federal government, we must do all we can within our constitutional rights. As a state, we can provide a clear, scientific definition that life begins with the first heartbeat,” said Scott.  

During the fifth week of pregnancy, or the third week after conception, a baby's heart, brain, spinal cord, and other organs begin to form. 

“Our abortion laws are outdated and based on old technology and science. Roe v. Wade was settled 43 years ago. Now doctors have the tools and knowledge to not only sustain life several weeks earlier than was possible back then but now they can even create life in the lab,” said Scott. “Instead of offering to let the mother hear her baby’s heartbeat before she terminates its life as is current law, we need to fight for that baby and acknowledge that it is in fact a human being with the right to live.”

The legislative session will begin on Monday, February 6. 

Sand Springs churches donate $4000 to Sand Springs Police and Fire for Christmas

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Sand Springs City Council recently held their regular monthly meeting and representatives from the Sand Springs Ministerial Alliance were present to present the Police and Fire Departments with a $4,000 donation for the purpose of Christmas bonuses. 

Harvest Church Pastor Steve Allen, HillSpring Church Pastor Brent Kellogg, and First Church of the Nazarene Pastor Rod Thelander presented the annual donation to Police Chief Mike Carter and Fire Chief Mike Wood. 

Oklahoma Municipal League representative Missy Dean presented awards to employees who have served the city for 25 years. Police Captain Jay Barnett, Captain Todd Enzbrenner, Lieutenant Gary Everett, Deputy Chief John Mars, Fire Driver Charles Bowman, Water/Wastewater Superintendent Kenneth Boswell, Water Maintenance Operations Supervisor Donnie Wicker, and City Clerk Janice Almy were all recognized.

Storm Water and Utilities Technician Jon Odle gave an annual address to the Council regarding the City of Sand Springs Storm Water Plan. Odle discussed the damage done by citizens dumping leaves, grass clippings, and other debris into the street and stormwater drains. He suggested the City find ways to educate the community about the subject. 

The Council unanimously approved Ordinance No. 1293 amending existing zoning code. Under new regulations, minimum aesthetic standards have been set regarding the amount of visible metal a building may be constructed of. Each side of a new building will be limited to certain percentages of visible metal, though exceptions may be granted through the Board of Adjustment. The ordinance does not apply to existing buildings and is modeled after existing regulations passed in neighboring communities. 

Council also approved Resolution No. 17-14, adopting a Safe Routes to School policy for the City of Sand Springs. The policy sets in place an outline for the City to follow when evaluating streets or other improvement projects that will provide safer and more efficient ways for pedestrians to travel to and from school. 

This was Vice Mayor John Fothergill's last meeting with City Council as he will be vacating his seat before the Spring election. The two-term Ward 4 councilman was recently approved as a chief deputy for the Tulsa County Commission and is legally unable to hold dual offices. 

Christine Hamner and Nancy Riley have filed to run for the vacant seat this Spring. Riley is a former Republican then Democratic State Senator. She also ran for Council against Fothergill and the late Pastor Terry Scott. She came in second in the primary election, defeating Scott, then lost to Fothergill in the runoff. 

Sand Springs Rotary Club hosts local nonprofit organization showcase

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The Sand Springs Rotary Club and the Sand Springs United Methodist Church hosted a nonprofit showcase this past Thursday and dozens of local organizations participated. The free public event included free food and door prizes to help bring public awareness and attention to the organizations and the opportunities for community involvement. 

2 Angel Toy Run is an annual event hosted by Church That Matters in South Sand Springs with the purpose of providing toys for children at Christmas time, as well as scholarships for Charles Page High School students. The Toy Run is held each November. The annual event is named for Hannah Christian and Cassidy Rotramel, two Charles Page High School students who were killed in a motor vehicle accident in 2010. For more information, visit www.2angelstoyrun.com

The Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce is an organization of local businesses, organizations, and individuals working together to bring growth and economic development to Sand Springs. Members meet the first Monday of each month at noon in an open forum at the Tulsa Technology Center. For more information, visit www.sandspringschamber.com

Church That Matters seeks "to be a church that matters to God, each other, our city, and the world." The church has Wednesday evening youth service from 7:00 to 8:30, and three Sunday morning services at 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30. For more information, visit www.churchthatmatters.com

Camp Courage is an independent Christian youth camp located in Owasso and holds traditional camps during the Summer, Spring, and Fall breaks. They also offer a day camp with fishing, hiking, canoeing, paintball, swimming, archery, and more. For more information, visit www.campcourageusa.com

Counseling & Recovery Services of Oklahoma is an outpatient community mental health clinic for adults and children. The organization believes in "treating the whole person," both mentally and physically. They offer adult and children's mental health services, substance abuse assistance, physician visits, pharmaceutical needs, housing, and more. For more information, visit www.crsok.org

Daughters of the American Revolution is a women's only group that works to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. The group meets every third Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at Greentree Retirement Center in Sand Springs. Membership requires that a person be directly descended from a person involved in the United States' struggle for independence, and is only for adults aged 18+. For more information, visit www.oklahomadar.org

Day Spring Villa Women & Children's Shelter provides physical, emotional, Christ-like care to enable women and their children to live God-honoring lives. The shelter accepts any and all victims of domestic violence, human sex trafficking, and more. For more information, visit www.dayspringvilla.com

Hillspring Church is located in South Sand Springs and offers numerous small groups including Kids Outdoor Zone and Zumba. They are also hosting a motorcycle Toy Run on December 3rd at 11:30 a.m. For more information, visit www.hillspring.tv

Junior Achievement of Oklahoma serves K-12th grade students by introducing financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship into the classroom by empowering the students through exciting, hands-on learning experiences. For more information, visit www.jaok.org

Mobile Missions Network is a local organization seeking to meet the needs of mobile home communities in Northeast Oklahoma. Volunteers meet Sunday evenings at the River Oaks, Shannon Valley, and Valley Brook Mobile Communities from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. MMN hosts special events in these communities, including sports camps, bible clubs, and Halloween parties. They also help provide Christmas gifts and help families with light remodeling projects in the area. For more information, visit www.mobilemissionsnetwork.com

Oasis Adult Day Services provides affordable daytime care in a home-like environment for cognitively or physically impaired adults. Oasis has locations at 5525 East 51st Street, Tulsa, and 410 East Lee Street, Sapulpa. For more information, visit www.oasisads.org

Osage Forest of Peace bills itself as an "interspiritual Contemplative Retreat Center." The grounds are open to guests seven days a week with meditation times at 7:00 a.m. and noon daily, plus a 4:45 time on Tuesdays through Saturday. The Forest hosts various retreats and programs, with overnight cabins, meals, yoga classes, hiking, as well as a Zen Garden and labyrinth. For more information, visit www.forestofpeace.org. 

Rotary Club of Sand Springs is the local chapter of a worldwide organization promoting service over self. Rotary believes that service is the basis for success and happiness in business and community life. The local chapter meets ever Friday at 12:00 noon at Broadway Baptist Church. Some of the annual activities sponsored by Rotary include Downhill Derby, the Nonprofit Showcase, a February Chili Cook-off, and a June Bass fishing tournament. For more information, visit www.sandspringsrotary.com

Saint Francis Community Services works toward the recruitment, certification, and retention of quality foster homes in Oklahoma. The organization is not associated with Tulsa hospital, and is corporately located in Kansas. For more information, contact jason.cloud@st-francis.org

Sand Springs Area Support Group for the Visually Limited meets on the third Monday of each month at the Lucile Page Manor Community Room in Sand Springs. The organization helps the visually impaired, and their caregivers, to access resources and creative solutions to overcoming the disability. 

Sand Springs Community Services, Inc. assists Sand Springs area residents experiencing economic crisis in moving forward towards self-sufficiency. For more information, visit www.sscsok.org

Sand Springs Community Thanksgiving Dinner is sponsored by the Sand Springs United Methodist Church, and works to prepare and deliver Thanksgiving meals to Sand Springs and West Tulsa residents. Volunteers meet the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, as well as Thanksgiving day at the UMC Family Life Center. For more information, contact mcreeves@cox.net

Sand Springs Community Theater is dedicated to the exploration and celebration of the performing arts. The company performs three to four shows per year, hosts fundraisers and school workshops, and provides one scholarship each year for a Charles Page High School senior. For more information, visit www.pageplayers.com

The Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum is dedicated to the acquisition, preservation, interpretation and exhibition of information and materials related to the history and culture of the Sand Springs community and surrounding area. The museum holds an annual Night at the Museum event the week of Halloween, as well as a Christmas display. The Art of Giving Holiday Open House will be Saturday, December 18th from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 and will feature the Sand Springs Community Band, Sand Springs Service Clubs, and the Festival of Trees in the museum. For more information, contact SSmuseumSS2@gmail.com.

The Sand Springs Education Foundation is a private partner organization of the Sand Springs Public School district and helps provide creative and innovative materials that cannot be funded through local, state, or federal means. For more information, visit www.sandspringseducationfoundation.com

Sand Springs Park Friends, Inc is a fundraising organization for quality of life projects for Sand Springs Parks. For more information, visit www.sandspringsok.org

The Sand Springs Sertoma Club seeks to meet the needs of those impacted by hearing loss and meets each Tuesday at noon at the Sand Springs IHOP. The Sertoma Club sponsors the annual Sand Springs Fireworks show, as well as an annual Murder Mystery dinner. For more information, visit www.sertoma.org

The Sand Springs Symphony League works each year to bring symphony music performances to Sand Springs elementary school students. For more information, contact sandspringssymphonyleague@gmail.com

The Sand Springs Women's Chamber is organized for the purpose of advancing literacy through charitable, civic and literacy programs in Sand Springs. Members meet the second Wednesday of each month from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Case Community Center, September through May of each year. For more information, contact dmyers@mysersmm.com

Sandite Team Animal Rescue (S.T.A.R.) is dedicated to the rescue and care of abused, neglected, and homeless pets. Volunteers work to find homes and foster homes for animals in the Sand Springs pound. They provide veterinary care, spay-neuter services, transportation, and foster care for hundreds of cats and dogs.  For more information, visit www.STARescue.com

Springs, Inc. provides assistance in daily living for people with intellectual disabilities. The organization is committed to the principle of normalization. For more information, visit www.springsinc.org

Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Sand Springs is the local chapter of an international organization rooted in Christianity. The ministry seeks to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. For more information, visit www.salarmytulsa.org

The Tulsa Boys' Home has served nearly 12,000 children in 98 years

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Sand Springs Rotary Club and the Sand Springs United Methodist Church hosted a nonprofit showcase this past Thursday and twenty-nine local organizations participated. The free public event included free food and door prizes to help bring public awareness and attention to the organizations and the opportunities for community involvement. One of those organizations is the Tulsa Boys' Home.

The Tulsa Boys’ Home was first established in 1918 as an orphanage, and since then has cared for nearly 12,000 children and young people. The residential treatment facility currently is home to 64 boys, ages 11 through 18, who struggle with serious emotional, behavioral, and drug problems.

The majority of the boys in the home are placed by the Department of Human Services, though roughly a third are placed by parents and legal guardians. The average length of stay is ten months, but the facility staff work hard to help the boys transition well upon aging out.

The philosophy of the home is “the belief that most of the emotional and behavioral problems (of the boys) are caused by painful past events or a lack of a safe, structured, supportive, and nurturing environment, with consistency, clear limits, and boundaries.”

The program focuses on addressing the individual, the group, and the family, while including life skills training, character education, and employment opportunities. The home has 24-hour supervision with licensed psychologists and psychiatrists on staff.

“Essentially, Tulsa Boys’ Home is about healing broken hearts and broken homes, giving young boys a sense of hope for a positive future that they perhaps never thought possible.”

The facility boasts a swimming pool, recreation hall, gymnasium, tennis court, weight room, baseball field, football/soccer field, ceramics shop, fishing ponds, running track, hiking fields, and other activities. It also is home to a therapeutic equine program that brings retired race horses and quarter horses to the facility for the boys’ attention and care, aiding in the healing process.

The Home offers hour-long “Hope Tours” to those interested in finding out more about the facility and operation. The Home welcomes volunteers, donations, and admission applications.

www.tulsaboyshome.org

Operation Christmas Child taking donations Monday at United Methodist Church

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Courtesy of Samaritan's Purse.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Sand Springs Rotary Club and the Sand Springs United Methodist Church hosted a nonprofit showcase Thursday and twenty-nine local organizations participated. The free public event included free food and door prizes to help bring public awareness and attention to the organizations and the opportunities for community involvement. One of those organizations seeks to make Christmas a reality for children across the globe.

Operation Christmas Child is headed by Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief effort headed by evangelist Franklin Graham. The organization was founded in 1970 and first began Operation Christmas Child in 1993.

This year more than 4,500 locations will serve as collection sites for shoeboxes filled with school supplies, hygiene items, notes of encouragement, and toys. The goal this year is to reach 12 million children across the world

One of the drop-off locations is at the Sand Springs United Methodist Church Family Living Center, and the final day to contribute is Monday, November 21st. Boxes must be dropped off no later than noon.

Donations may be made in a shoebox or small plastic container. Visit www.samaritanspurse.org for the full list of what you may and may not include. Boxes are to be arranged for either a girl or boy, in age ranges of 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. You can also donate $7 online to follow your box and see who receives it and where in the world they are.

The Family Living Center is located at 101 W. 38th Street in South Sand Springs.

OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda

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2017 Regional Legislative Agenda

State Priorities

EDUCATED AND HEALTHY WORKFORCE

  • Address the Teacher Shortage
    • Improve the ability of Oklahoma’s Pre-K-12 public schools to attract and retain effective career teachers through policies designed to increase the state’s pool of qualified teachers and improve teachers’ job satisfaction. This should include ensuring competitive teacher pay; incentivizing education for aspiring teachers; eliminating barriers for alternative certification, special education and returning retired teachers; ensuring low student-teacher ratios; and supporting professional development. Oklahoma’s ability to fill its growing teacher shortage with quality, effective teachers is crucial to the college and career success of its students and the sustainability of its workforce.
  • Behavioral Health Services
    • Expand behavioral health and substance abuse services that improve workforce efficiency, boost public safety, create efficiencies in state spending and help additional Oklahomans suffering from behavioral health issues. This should include increasing funding for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; expanding mental health and drug courts to decrease unnecessary incarcerations; preparing judicial districts to enact the Labor Commissioner Mark Costello Act, with adequate funding for new assisted outpatient treatment; and expanding the use of assisted outpatient treatment by broadening the definition of who can petition courts to seek an order for outpatient treatment.
  • Expand Insure Oklahoma
    • Expand Insure Oklahoma and pass the Medicaid Rebalancing Act to reduce the number of uninsured Oklahomans by accepting federal funds. This will improve the health of Oklahoma’s workforce, strengthen behavioral health services and create sustainable jobs in rural and urban areas — all of which are paramount to an economically viable Oklahoma.
  • Healthcare Workforce Expansion
    • Address current and future healthcare workforce needs in urban and rural Oklahoma through the following means: 1) Use all available state and federal resources to support and expand Teaching Health Center related programs, including by expanding the Oklahoma Hospital Residency Training Act to include community-based training; 2) Support the Physician Manpower Training Commission, which is uniquely situated to serve as a valuable resource on provider workforce issues; 3) Support reforms that will allow Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants with appropriate levels of training and experience to practice to the full extent of their license without the physical presence of a supervising physician; and 4) Support efforts to expand the availability, funding and utilization of telehealth services in a manner that enhances locally-provided healthcare services.
  • Oppose School Vouchers
    • Oppose school vouchers and any programs directing public funds to private schools, including Education Savings Accounts and private school tax credits. Taxpayer money should instead be spent on improving public schools, where those funds can be used more effectively to improve academic outcomes for more students and maintain the strength of local school districts. 
  • Restore Education Funding
    • Safeguard current funding for Oklahoma’s education institutions and resolve to restore funding levels to their pre-Recession highs relative to enrollment. Long-term trends of reduced funding for Pre-K-12, higher education and CareerTech have curtailed the ability of Oklahoma’s education systems to produce an educated workforce, making the state less competitive for new and expanding businesses and damaging its reputation around the world as a quality place to live, work and build a business. Oklahoma must make up ground to ensure an economically vibrant state.

BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE CRITICAL TO BUSINESS

  • Defend Existing Road Funding and Dedicate Motor Vehicle Fees
    • Defend all existing road funding; prevent any diversion of monies; and support increased funding for transportation by developing an adequate, comprehensive funding strategy and financing plan to broaden the sources of funds and increase the total amount going to transportation statewide to support the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s Eight Year Plan, the County Improvement for Roads and Bridges Five Year Plan, the municipal Street and Alley Fund and the construction and operation of Oklahoma’s planned weigh stations. Support moving the remaining 25% of motor vehicle fees, which currently go into the state general revenue fund, to transportation priority areas which may include state highways, city and county roads and bridges, and public transit. Support the following regional high-priority projects: widening of I-44 from I-244 east to the Will Rogers Turnpike; widening I-44 from the Arkansas River west to I-244 (Red Fork Expressway); expansion of U.S. 169 to six lanes north to State Highway 20; realignment of Highway 20 from U.S. 169 to Claremore; construction of a four-lane Port Road on Highway 266 from U.S. 169 to the Port of Catoosa, and from the Port of Catoosa to I-44; and expansion of US-75 to six lanes from State Highway 11 to State Highway 67.
  • Gilcrease Expressway
    • Support the completion of the Gilcrease Expressway from I-44 to US-412/Edison as a part of the Oklahoma Driving Forward initiative through a funding partnership with the City of Tulsa, Tulsa County, INCOG, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and tribal governments to expedite this long overdue transportation project.

ENSURING A PROSPEROUS ECONOMY

  • Criminal Justice Reform
    • Support sentencing reforms and rehabilitation programs that enable nonviolent offenders to reenter the workforce faster and reduce the financial strain on Oklahoma’s criminal justice system. Overly-punitive measures for drug users and other nonviolent offenders have given Oklahoma one of the nation’s highest incarceration rates, contributing to workforce shortages, harming economic growth and overburdening taxpayers. A stronger focus on rehabilitation would reduce recidivism, lessen the burden on prisons and safety net programs and enable more ex-offenders to contribute meaningfully to Oklahoma’s economy.
  • Economic Incentives
    • Support tax credits, exemptions, and incentives that provide an economic return to the state of Oklahoma, maintain our competitiveness in business attraction and retention, and increase capital investment. Several programs proposed for review in the first year of the Oklahoma Incentive Evaluation Commission are critical to our state’s competitiveness and should be protected, including:
      • a. Five Year Ad Valorem Exemption
      • b. Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit
      • c. Aerospace Engineer Tax Credit
      • d. Aerospace Engineer Tax Credit – Tuition Reimbursement and Compensation Paid
      • e. Quality Events Program
      • f. Film Enhancement Rebate
  • Fund OCAST (Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology)
    • Maintain OCAST’s annual budget at its Fiscal Year 2017 level. The state has lost more than $600 million in potential public and private investment as a result of reduced funding for OCAST over the last five years. This funding assists Oklahoma in four vital areas: (1) research and development funding for businesses & universities, (2) two- and four-year college internship opportunities, (3) manufacturing support, and (4) early-stage funding for start-up businesses. This funding allows Oklahoma communities to attract and retain high-quality STEM businesses and critical college talent, which will encourage growth and expansion in these target industries.
  • Improved Business Climate for Oil and Gas Production
    • Oklahoma’s combination of abundant energy resources and an entrepreneurial people has resulted in some of the lowest energy costs of any state in the nation. To preserve and maintain our position as a leading oil and gas producing state, and to protect the important economic impact of oil and gas production to all Oklahomans, we support efforts to open all geologic formations in Oklahoma to horizontal drilling. We support an Oklahoma energy policy that provides a clear regulatory environment and oppose unnecessary and burdensome regulations.
  • Municipal Funding Diversification
    • Support legislation to preserve and diversify sources of revenue available to municipalities and reduce the volatility associated with a single source for revenue. Key initiatives include diversifying revenue for funding public safety agencies, streets, and other infrastructure improvements; and preserving and strengthening cities’ authority to promote economic development activities within their borders.
  • Self-Determination in Facility Firearm Policies
    • While acknowledging the rights granted by the Second Amendment, protect the current law giving venue owners, event operators, and recreational facilities the authority to control firearm policies on property they manage. Removing this control would endanger Oklahoma’s ability to attract events that bring thousands of visitors and millions of dollars into our economy each year. Many events—especially in youth and collegiate sports—have non-negotiable firearm policies and removing the controls under current law would limit facility operators’ ability to ensure the safety of their events, increase the cost of providing security, and could subject them to additional liability.
  • Support Regional Air Quality Efforts
    • Support and fund regional air quality efforts to avoid federal non-attainment designation and the economic hardship this would create for our region. Tulsa area ozone levels have periodically approached the current EPA standard, and an even tighter standard is anticipated. Continued support for common-sense strategies like the Ozone Advance Program and the development of a local air shed model is critical to assure the most appropriate and cost-effective reduction strategies, and all efforts toward air quality improvement initiatives—both private and public, voluntary and enforceable—should be made as soon as possible. In addition, continued support to increase public CNG fueling infrastructure will help decrease the current level of vehicle emissions, while aligning with the Oklahoma First Energy Plan.

Federal Priorities

EDUCATED AND HEALTHY WORKFORCE

  • Graduate Medical Education
    • Through long-term funding authorization, fully fund existing HRSA Teaching Health Center programs at $150,000 per resident and allocate additional resources to double the number of funded THC residency positions nationwide. This will allow for training more homegrown physicians, strengthening the most effective tool for improving Oklahoma’s physician shortage.
  • HEA Reauthorization
    • Support the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) and fully fund federal mandates.
  • Long-term Insure Oklahoma waiver reauthorization
    • Encourage flexibility in negotiations to grant a long-term reauthorization of Oklahoma’s Section 1115 waiver for Insure Oklahoma. Uncertainty in the long-term future of Insure Oklahoma has hurt enrollment and resulted in the exclusion of thousands of Oklahomans who would be eligible for coverage even under current requirements.
  • Mental Health Reform
    • Support large-scale reform of the national mental health system that elevates the national priority for mental health issues. This includes increasing funding for evidence-based strategies and services; incentivizing assisted outpatient treatment; permitting integration of mental health and substance treatment records with medical records; ensuring complete enactment of the mental health parity law in Medicaid and Medicare; and enhancing behavioral health workforce training.

BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE CRITICAL TO BUSINESS

  • Arkansas River Corridor Development
    • Support efforts to expedite the implementation of the Arkansas River Corridor Project for river infrastructure improvements. Allow federal match credit to be accrued for state and local expenditures in order to advance construction activity while preserving the Tulsa region’s access to future federal funding for this federally authorized project.
  • McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System
    • Increase Congressional appropriations to address the approximate $180 million in maintenance backlog of MKARNS—50% of which are deemed critical—potentially leading to a shutdown of the waterway over the next 5 years, and the White River Entrance Channel Cut-off problem caused by the tendency of the White and Arkansas Rivers to merge together. Provide the necessary appropriations to deepen the MKARNS to its 12 foot authorized depth, thereby increasing barge productivity by 30%.
  • Tulsa’s Levee System
    • Support addressing the critical infrastructure needs with Tulsa's aging levee system, which the Corps of Engineers has designated as one of the 5% highest-risk levee systems in the country. If one fails, it would be catastrophic for homeowners, two nationally strategic oil refineries, and multiple industries currently protected by levee system, and have devastating environmental impacts for our region.

ENSURING A PROSPEROUS ECONOMY

  • Accelerate Permitting of Energy Projects
    • Support efforts to accelerate federal permitting for projects necessary to achieve domestic energy independence. Legislative and Administrative efforts should focus on ensuring concurrent permitting for all federally required approvals, approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline, streamlining the process for FERC approval of Liquefied Natural Gas Terminals and interstate pipelines, and permitting of U.S. Petrochemical projects that make fertilizer, polyethylene and other natural gas derived products. These projects would create a boom in the U.S. domestic economy, support job creation, strengthen our trade balance, and increase product security and price stability on a global scale.
  • Collection of Online Sales/Use Taxes
    • Support passage of the Marketplace Fairness Act or other federal legislation which will ensure that the sales and use taxes already owed from online purchases are fairly and effectively reported, collected, and remitted.
  • Federal Historic Tax Credits
    • Maintain federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits for the restoration of historic buildings. These credits have for 30 years been an important catalyst for incentivizing private investment to preserve our nation’s historically-significant buildings and revitalize the historic cores of American cities. The existing 20-percent income tax credit for certified historic structures and 10 percent credit for certain non-certified historic structures should be preserved.
  • Federal Immigration Reform
    • Support comprehensive immigration reform that enables the U.S. to attract the best and brightest talent from around the world. Steps should be taken to secure borders and establish reasonable, affordable and efficient visa policies that empower American businesses to hire essential workers and remove barriers for top talent to work in the U.S. Immediate steps should be taken to address workforce shortages in specialty and technology occupations, including increasing the cap on H-1B visas; and improving H-1B fairness for small and medium employers by lowering application fees and eliminating the lottery-selection process in favor of a needs-based system. Oppose further state legislation related to immigration reform.
  • Position Tulsa for F-35 Operations
    • Support the Tulsa Air National Guard Base in positioning the 138th Fighter Wing for selection as an operating location for the next generation fighter aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II. With an economic impact of more than $530 million to the community, the base supports more than 1,200 citizen soldiers and plays a key role in the defense of this nation and the continued vibrancy of the Tulsa region's economy. The Tulsa basing of the F-35 could increase base employment by another five percent.
  • Restraint in Labor Regulation Changes:
    • Moderate changes in labor regulations to ensure fairness for both employer and employee and minimize harmful effects on job creation. Recent rulings and interpretations by the Department of Labor and NLRB targeting overtime pay, independent contractors and joint employment status will reduce employers’ hiring capacities; disproportionally harm small businesses, the hospitality industry and the nonprofit sector; increase legal liabilities; and threaten business models that have worked for decades, such as franchising and the legitimate use of independent contractors. These changes represent drastic departures from previous norms and should reversed, pared down or implemented more gradually while protecting existing business models.
  • Restrict Federal Rulemaking Authority:
    • Encourage and support members of Congress to restrict federal rulemaking authority by requiring a standardized, comprehensive, and cumulative cost/benefit analysis of the total economic impact of rules, including the effect on jobs, electricity rates and reliability, gasoline prices, energy-intensive manufacturing, small businesses, housing market, power plant closures, agriculture, and state and local governments. The regulating entity should perform the cost/benefit analysis along a standard process which should then be reviewed by at least one independent agency.
  • Support Legislation Delaying the Implementation of the EPA 2015 Ozone Standard
    • The Tulsa region’s challenges to avoid the economic burden of non-attainment have resulted in substantial ground-level ozone improvement over the past 25 years. However, even though continued air improvement is foreseeable, the implementation schedule for the EPA’s 2015 ozone standard could cause non-attainment for Tulsa and many metropolitan areas across the nation. EPA regulatory implementation schedules are bound by an outdated law which no longer provides adequate time for air quality improvements to occur before overlapping regulation and nonattainment may occur. Undeniably, good air quality is fundamental to healthy communities and to economic development. However, EPA’s untimely schedule for implementing the October 2015 ozone NAAQS may cause non-attainment status and the far-reaching economic burden we have long sought to avoid.

Libertarian Party grows by leaps and bounds in 2016 election, sets sights optimistically on 2018

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Libertarianism is on the rise.

The 2016 election has been arguably the most successful election in the history of the Libertarian Party (LP), and not just on the Presidential level. While the unpopularity of both major party candidates sent Gary Johnson to 3% with more than 4 million ballots, general disaffection for establishment politics helped the 45 year old party to record performances in the House, State, and Gubernatorial elections as well.

In Oklahoma specifically, the LP made its way onto the ballot for the first time since 2000 and will retain ballot access into 2018 after Johnson achieved 6% of the Oklahoma vote. 

Sixteen Oklahoma libertarians ran for office in this week's election, and though none won, they polled at an average of 10%. Oklahoma County Clerk candidate Chris Powell had the best performance with 36% of the vote, followed by State Senate District 35 candidate Frank Grove with 35%. House District 39 candidate Clark Duffe carried 23%. At the national level, U.S. Representative District 4 candidate Sevier White carried 4% and District 5 candidate Zachary Knight won 6%. U.S. Senator candidate Robert Murphy won 3% in a five-way race challenging popular incumbent Republican James Lankford.

With incumbent Republican Governor Mary Fallin term-limited, the Libertarians will need to secure at least 2.5% of the vote in 2018 to remain on the ballot for the next Presidential election.

“Looking forward, we don’t really see that 2.5% mark as a barrier to future success. In 2018 and beyond, we’ll be running to win. The Libertarian message has resonated with voters in Oklahoma, and we will work tirelessly to ensure citizens have the opportunity to support principled libertarian candidates seeking office at every level of state government," said Party Chair Tina Kelly in a press release this week.

The LP was officially formed on December 11, 1971 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. By 2016 the LP was the third largest political party in the United States with 411,250 registered voters. The party currently claims to hold 147 local elected offices across the country.

Presidential Campaign History

John Hospers was the first presidential nominee of the LP and Theodora Nathan was selected as VP. Though the 1972 ticket only gained 3,674 votes for tenth place in the general election, they received one electoral vote from a faithless elector, marking the first time in U.S. History a female has received an electoral vote.

In 1976 the party nominated Roger MacBride, the faithless elector from 1972, with running mate David Bergland. The ticket brought home 172,553 votes and finished fourth.

The 1980 ticket set the LP record for the next three decades as Ed Clark and billionaire David Koch brought in 921,128 votes and finished in fourth place. They broke 1% of the popular vote for the first time, a feat that would not be repeated until 2012.

The LP saw massive decline in 1984 with only 228,111 votes for David Bergland and James Lewis, but unsurprisingly due to the funding cut of not having a billionaire on the ticket. It was still an improvement over 1976 and should be considered a victory for the LP.

1988 saw the arrival of Ron Paul on the ticket, arguably the most famous Libertarian (among non-Libertarians) to date. Paul and running mate Andre Marrou took in 431,750 votes. Marrou took over the ticket in 1992 and saw the first legitimate decrease in LP support with 290,087 votes. The rise of the party stagnated from there as Harry Browne headed the ticket in both 1996 and 2000, with Michael Badnarik taking over in 2004.

The LP’s presidential campaign has only grown since 2000 as Badnarik finished with 397,265 and 2008 candidate Bob Barr brought in 523,713.

In 2012 former Republican New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson and Justice Jim Gray waged the most successful campaign to that point, finishing with 1,275,821 votes and 1%, a feat that Johnson shattered in 2016. In a year with declining voter turnout that saw the eventual victor Donald Trump attain less votes than the second place finisher of the last two elections; by the time polls had closed, Johnson and former Republican Governor of Massachusetts William Weld had broken 3% with 4,058,500 votes and third place for the second-straight election. They fell short of their 5% goal, but successfully waged the most successful LP campaign to-date by a wide margin.

U.S. House Campaign History

The party also made their first attempt at the House of Representatives in 1972 and finished 18th with 2,028 votes. That number ticked up to 71,791 in 1976 for seventh place, 64,310 in 1978 for sixth place, and by 1980 was officially the third party with 568,131 votes. Since then, the LP has only slipped to fourth place three times, always behind independent candidates, and has maintained third place in every election since 1996. They broke the 1% mark in 1998 and have done so numerous times since.

To-date, the LP has still not won a house seat, but beat their 2000 record in House campaign votes with 1,713,220 this year. Most successful among the LP were three Arkansas candidates. Kerry Hicks took 25% of the vote in Congressional district 4. Mark West and Steve Isaacson took 23% each in districts 1 and 3, respectively. Of the 75 candidates to run, 42 grossed 5% or more of the vote, twelve took 10% or more, and seven took 15% or more. The all-time best performance for an LP House candidate was Joel Balam who took 31.5% of the vote in Kansas in 2012.

U.S. Senate Campaign History

The first Libertarian attempt at the Senate was waged in 1976 with candidates in nine of the 33 contested seats. In 1994 Scott Grainger attained 6.8% of the vote in Arizona, smashing the previous record of 3.9% set by Montana candidate Larry Dodge. His record was undone in 2000 by Massachusetts candidate Carla Howell with 11.9%. Massachusetts was favorable for Libertarians again in 2002 when Michael E. Cloud brought in 16.6% which stood as the most successful LP Senate campaign till 2016. That year, the LP brought in 1.739% of the vote.

2016 was a record breaking year for the LP with 20 candidates running for Senate attaining 1,700,969 votes. Alaska candidate Joe Miller brought in 30% of the vote, trailing Republican victor Lisa Murkowski by 14%. Miller beat the Democratic candidate by 19%. Two other Libertarians broke 5% in senate elections.

U.S. Gubernatorial Campaign History

The first ever Libertarian attempt at a governorship was in 1976 as Arlan Andrews drew 0.29% of the vote in North Carolina. In 1978 seven candidates competed in gubernatorial elections and Mabel Everett took home 4.6% in New Hampshire. Dick Randolph led seventeen libertarian candidates in 1982 and won 14.9% of Alaska. Randolph owns the most successful LP gubernatorial campaign to-date. Since then, only one other LP candidate has broken 10%; Wisconsin’s Ed Thompson in 2002. This year the LP had candidates in ten out of twelve races and averaged 2.6% of the vote. New Hampshire candidate Max Abramson led the most successful campaign of the season with 4.3%.

It remains to be seen if the Libertarian Party will continue its growth in the next midterm election, but with more Americans identifying as politically independent than at any point in the country’s history, both major parties will likely have their eyes on the Libertarian Party in the years to come.

Sand Springs heavily represented on the ballot, splits from Tulsa County on Commissioner

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

How did Sand Springs compare with Oklahoma as a whole in this election? Local voter turnout was up by 7% over the 2012 election as more than 12,000 voters showed up at the twelve Sand Springs precincts. 

Sandites were overwhelmingly Republican in the Presidential election, averaging 64% support for GOP candidates. Democratic candidates took home 28% of the vote, while Independents and Libertarians each snagged 4%.

Unsurprisingly, the black and gold went 71% to Donald Trump, who only gained 58% of the statewide ballots. This was consistent with the 2012 election when Mitt Romney garnered 70% of the local ballot, though Romney reached 67% in the rest of the State. Liberal leaning Sandites turned away from Hillary Clinton as she drew only 23% compared to 29% for Barrack Obama. Libertarian Gary Johnson earned just over 5% locally, compared to 6% across Oklahoma. Johnson has announced he will not campaign in 2020, but his performance in the polls will allow the future Libertarian candidate automatic ballot access in the next election.

Precincts in yellow were won by Lloyd Snow, precincts in white were won by Dan Newberry.

U.S. Senator James Lankford overwhelmingly won Sand Springs with 72% of the vote. Democrat Mike Workman took 20%, Libertarian Robert Murphy took 3%, and independents Mark Beard and Sean Braddy both took 2%. The third party candidates drew local support consistent with the Statewide election, but urban centers bumped Workman's support to 29% across the State.

The most heated of the local elections was between two-term District 37 State Senator Dan Newberry and Democratic challenger, former Sand Springs Superintendent Lloyd Snow. Though Newberry won the election by more than 15%, it was far closer in Snow's hometown where he won four of ten precincts and only trailed by 2%. Snow has announced that he does not intend to run for political office again.

Precincts in yellow were won by Jadine Nollan, precincts in white were won by Dianna Phillips. 

For District 66 State Representative, two-term Republican incumbent Jadine Nollan was aided to a landslide 67% of the vote due to her favorable view in the eyes of most Sandites. Though Democratic challenger Dianna Phillips is also from Sand Springs, she failed to win a single precinct in her hometown. Outside of Sand Springs, the two were neck-and-neck with Nollan getting a slight 4% margin of victory. Within Sand Springs Nollan won all nine precincts with 76% of the vote.

Incumbent Republican Vic Regalado easily won reelection for Tulsa County Sheriff with 66% of the vote in the State and 75% of the Sandite vote. Republican Tulsa County Court Clerk candidate Donald Newberry swept 71% of the Sand Springs vote and 63% of the County.

Precincts in yellow were won by Josh Turley, precincts in white were won by Karen Keith.

Another local election with major Sand Springs ties was the race for Tulsa County Commissioner for District 2. Democratic incumbent Karen Keith won the County vote by 13%, but Republican challenger Josh Turley won his hometown with 56% of the Sandite vote. Turley swung eight of ten Sand Springs precincts and overwhelmingly locked up the entire West side of the county. Turley has already announced his candidacy for the 2020 election. 

Sand Springs, like the rest of the region, voted to retain all seven justices. The only Justice not to break 60% approval in Sand Springs was Supreme Court Justice Douglas Combs who came in at 58%. He was also approved by the lowest margin of the justices across the ballot. He barely won Precinct 880 with only 51% of the vote, which is located in the Keystone lake area South of the Arkansas River. No justice has ever been removed via ballot in the history of the State. 

State Question 776 was approved by 61% across the State and achieved 69% in Sand Springs.

State Question 777 was rejected by 71% of both the State and Sand Springs.

State Question 779 was rejected by 57% of the State and 61% of Sand Springs.

State Question 780 was approved by 65% of the State and 58% of Sand Springs.

State Question 781 was approved by 62% of the State and 55% of Sand Springs.

State Question 790 was rejected by 60% of the State and 59% of Sand Springs.

State Question 792 was approved by 72% of the State and 68% of Sand Springs.