Washita Valley Weekly

Page 4   Washita Valley Weekly “My Community Magazine” September 20, 2023 God Bless America Mike Day Insurance Agency Inc. Mike Day, Agent 124 N. 5th St. Chickasha, OK (405) 224-1968 www.mikedayagency.com Five Oaks Family Medical Clinic wel- comes our newest Family Medicine Phy- sician, Jonathan Soekamto, DO- Board Certified through the American Board of Osteopathic Family Practitioners. Dr. Soekamto (“Dr. S”) joins Five Oaks Family Medical Clinic as a graduate from the University of Texas in Arlington. He graduated from Medical School at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton, Florida and completed his resi- dency from Penn Highlands Healthcare. Dr. S is a member of the American Medical Association, American Osteopathic Association and the Christian Medical and Dental As- sociation. Dr. S was a former U.S. Marine prior to his decision to going into medicine. He has family across the country and the world, but most of his immediate family live in North Texas. He enjoys trav- eling, mechanics and woodworking. Dr. S shares, “After having been across the country and the world, I am looking for a place to call home. I hope my practicing in the Chickasha community can meet the needs of the people here and that we could be a good match.” Ty Pool, Vice President Physician Services and Clinics said, “Five Oaks is blessed to add another talented Family Medicine Physi- cian to its growing medical staff. We knew when we interviewed Dr. Jonathan Soekamto that his military background in the Marine Corps would be something our community would connect to.” To learn more, contact Emily Miracle (405) 224-2300 or Ty Pool (405) 224-2100. Five Oaks Family Medical Clinic Welcomes Jonathan Soekamto, DO–Family Medicine Physician St. Luke’s Variety Show This Friday Night  “Our Favorite Things” a Variety Show with song, comedy, poetry, and more is slated for 7 pm, Friday, September 22, 2023, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Chickasha. This 130th Anniversary event is open to the public and is free of charge.  The show is a collaboration between the Theatre Arts Program of the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. It will high- light talents of USAO students, the St. Luke’s congregation, and members of the community.  The program includes: Chickasha Community Theatre’s The Sound of Music Cast; I Enjoy Being A Girl, Rylee Trent; Second Hand Rose, Avery Crawford; Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?, Sylvia Castleberry; “Rindercella” by Archie Campbell and Avery Sanborn; We Don’t Talk About Bruno, Jeff Taylor & Bruno; The Big Nothing, by Raoul Story; Matchmaker, Gissell Castillo, Lizi Miller, and Monica Munn; Sunrise, Sunset, Drs. Christy Clift & Rocky Roberson; What Was Said to the Rose, by Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks Madilynn Duszynski; At Last, Audri Lopez;  Following a 15-minute Intermission, It Had to Be You, Nic Manning; “Tribute to Margaritaville” by Scott Metzger, John Crump; “Casey at the Bat” by Ernest Thayer, Bill Ohl; Stand By Me, Monica Munn, Gissell Castillo, Jess Cook, Emma Faucett, Rylee Trent Gettysburg Address, Tylan Hamilton; This Land is Your Land, Jess Cook, Tylan Hamilton, Dennis Smith, Jeff Taylor; Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee; Jeff Taylor and Michael Schoonover with Piano Accompaniment by Rhenada Finch.  This program is presented with the support from Katie Davis, MFA, Shannan Osborn, MA, Joshua Smith, MM, Jeff Taylor, MFA, Jeff Rutherford, Aly Jones, Isabella Martinez, Maddie Shannon, Jake VanHooser, The University of Science and Arts School of Visual and Performing Arts, Suzanne Jackson, Reverend Dr. William Carlin, and the congregation of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church  Katie Davis, USAO Professor of Theatre Arts who is coordinating the show and the Reverend, Dr. William B. Carlin, II, Vicar of St. Luke’s extends an invitation to all to join us for an evening of laughter, nostalgia, fellowship, and other de- lights.  St. Luke’s is located at 124 S. Sixth Street, Chickasha, OK. OHPAccepting Applications for 73rd Lateral Academy  The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is pleased to announce that we are accepting applications for the 73rd Academy, which will be a lateral academy. The lateral academy is open to current, CLEET-certified law enforcement officers with at least two years of experience, or former law enforcement officers with at least two years of experience and less than a one year break in service. Oklahoma law enforcement officers as well as law enforcement officers in other states are eligible to apply. The new college requirement means a law enforcement officer with at least three years of experience can apply for the lateral academy with zero college credit hours.  “We are excited to offer this opportunity for what is only our second lateral academy in the history of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol,” said DPS Commission- er Tim Tipton. “Oklahoma is a law enforcement friendly state and a great place to work and raise a family.”  “The Governor and legislature gave a 30% pay raise to Oklahoma state troopers last year,” said OHP Chief Pat Mays. “Cadets in this lateral academy will start out at Step 2 Trooper pay, which is close to $70,000.”  The 73rd Academy is scheduled to begin in mid to late August 2024.  Anyone interested in applying can fill out an application and learn more about the requirements at ohp.ok.gov.   Cadets reside at the academy, located at the Robert R. Lester Training Cen- ter, 3600 N. Martin Luther King Blvd. in Oklahoma City, for the duration of the academy.  The Oklahoma Highway Patrol academy is very structured. During academy training, cadets will be challenged academically, physically, and mentally. A typi- cal day begins with physical training, drill and ceremony, and inspections, prior to the classroom instruction. The evening hours are used for course studies, assign- ment completions, practical exercises, and preparation for the following day. The workdays for cadets vary from 12 to 18 hours. Cadets going into an academy are strongly encouraged to be in top physical condition. This will assist them in achieving the success of completion. Reader suggest community to get back to traditions  In a previous issue of the Washita Valley Community News, Dwain Sehon’s Gradyville column was titled ‘Wake Up!” which brought up the subject of putting the annual downtown Christmas Tree in a more traditional location. Here is one readers response to the column and the dashing of local traditions.  Hi, I have lived in this area around Chickasha for 69 years, since I was born. I was so happy to read the piece you wrote in the Washita Valley Community News paper. I also think we have gotten away from tradition, morals and just common sense. I also would like to see the Christmas Tree put back at the end of main street and having the Christmas Tree lighting instead of the leg lamp.  The show Christmas Story was cute but not really a show for little ones and I really don’t think little kids understand why grown ups gather to light a woman’s leg. I am sure it would make more sense to them to watch the Christmas tree lit up. If they want to display the leg lamp on Christmas, make it a smaller, way smaller display in the park.   I feel like Chickasha has become some pagan community who has lost all sense of what is appropriate. I was really shocked to read about the drag show in the weird bar at the end of main. I don’t even go down to that part of town. They are way too liberal and non-Christian for me. I have to ask, who is running the town of Chicka- sha to let it go down in the gutter. Also, I don’t like seeing pride parades, I not sure if Chickasha has had one of those yet. My opinion is the “rainbow is God’s cov- enant (with) man and not a rainbow colored flag that represents the “pride of sin.”  I would like for the Churches and citizens to rise up and take their town back. If we don’t stand for something, we will fall for anything  Keep up the good work and I would love to read more articles like this one!!!! A.S. Join the Grady County GOP at the First Baptist Church 324 West Colorado - Chickasha Thursday, September 21st 7 - 8:30 PM Guest Speaker: Dr. Julianne Romanello Topic: Smart Cities/15 Minute Cities All Registered Republicans in Grady County are Encouraged to Attend! College students don’t understand their stu- dent loan agreements, but 8-year-olds should be able to consent to gender reassignment surgery and powerful drugs. Alan J. Huber Autumn Arives Saturday  A hot summer is fin- nally coming to a close and the first day of fall will be on Saturday, September 23. Astronomically it’s the day when the sun crosses the celestial equator heading south. Thus, the fall (and spring) equinoxes pro- vide Earth with roughly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. Oh, and after another blazing hot summer, the first day of fall signals cooler weather.   From the time of the Druids, the fall equinox signaled the end of the harvest. Then, winter preparations began.