The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

December 20, 2008

Examples of holiday spirit abound through town


Thumbs up to the Christmas spirit.

We’ve seen many examples throughout Enid lately, two of which were Security National Bank and Davis Park Christian Church.

SNB last week donated $13,000 to Youth and Family Services of North Central Oklahoma, Enid Public Schools and Booker T. Washington Community Center.

The bank wanted to help out organizations that help children. We think the recipients are very worthy.

At Davis Park Christian Church, leaders decided to help out two families burned out of their homes last week.

The church has become a collection point for donations for the families. We encourage anyone who has anything they can give to donate.

Congratulations to Security National Bank and Davis Park Christian Church for displaying the true Christmas spirit.



AT&T; is making it easier for families to stay connected this holiday season.

AT&T;’s Care to Connect program allows customers to make $1, $5 or $10 donations for prepaid phone cards for military members. Every donation made by today will be matched by AT&T.; The company also gave away phone cards to family members of active duty military personnel.

Good job AT&T.;



Thumbs up to Autry Technology Center.

The school put up a wind turbine Thursday. It’s a small one that will provide partial power to one part of the facility, but it’s also a part of Autry Tech’s new introductory wind energy class.

Wind energy is here to stay, and we are glad to see Autry Tech become part of the industry.



Congratulations to Eileen Collins for her selection for the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

Collins will be inducted along with Jimmy Stewart, the late Hollywood actor and bomber pilot during World War II; the late Edward White, an astronaut in the Gemini and Apollo programs; and Russell Meyer Jr., former head of Cessna Aircraft Co.

Collins is a retired Air Force colonel who also piloted and commanded missions aboard the space shuttle. She received her pilot training at Vance Air Force Base and is a model for one of the figures on the “Pioneers Past, Present and Future” statue on the courthouse lawn.



Thumbs down to the Tuttle man who faked a bomb threat at the University of Central Oklahoma in April.

On Friday, Jason Ray Shandy, 19, received a 27-month federal prison sentence for falsely reporting he overheard three men talking about blowing up the school. He also will have three years of supervised release after he completes his prison term.

This young man has learned a hard lesson. The two years and three months of his life he will spend behind bars and the felony conviction will dog him for the rest of his life. But, authorities were right in coming down hard on his prank.