Contest open to 7th- and 8th-graders

"Is the Electoral College Relevant?" is the topic for the 2005-06 Oklahoma Federation of Republican Women essay contest.

The annual OFRW contest is open to all seventh- and eighth-grade students in Oklahoma, including those who are home-schooled. Entries must be no more than 500 words in length and either legibly handwritten or typewritten. The deadline for submitting essays to the local OFRW is Dec. 4.

Local OFRW clubs select three winners and three honorable mention essays. The six essays are sent to the district level for judging. The top three winning essays from the district level are sent to the state level for judging. The first, second and third place winners and three honorable mention essays will be included in the "Anthology of Essays" published yearly by the OFRW. Prizes of U.S. Savings Bonds are awarded for the top six essays at the state level.

Essay forms are available at the Public Library of Enid and Garfield County.





Local teacher selected to receive OGE Energy Corp. teacher grant



ALINE -- A local teacher has been selected to receive an OGE Energy Corp. teacher grant to assist students with science and reading projects during the 2005-2006 school year.

Kari Woodall, of Aline-Cleo Public Schools, was awarded the grant. Woodall plans to further student knowledge of the life cycle of brassica rapa (Wisconsin fast plants) which can be used to discover biological concepts such as diversity, interaction with the environment, growth and development, adaptation and homeostasis. She is among 31 teachers throughout Oklahoma and western Arkansas to receive funds to implement a math, science or reading project at their school.

Winners were selected from more than 280 entrants. Troy Cowley, OGE Energy Community Relations Coordinator, presented a check to the teacher.

"We have a long tradition of supporting the communities we serve with reliable energy and programs to help the overall quality of life," said Sandra Longcrier, OGE Energy spokeswoman. "The teacher grant program continues that tradition and gives educators an opportunity to pursue projects that might otherwise not be available to them."

OGE Energy Corp. is the parent company of OG--E Electric Services and Enogex Inc. OG--E serves 740,000 customers in a service-territory spanning 30,000 square miles in Oklahoma and western Arkansas. Enogex is a natural gas pipeline and energy marketing business.





Timberlake group to host fall concert



The Timberlake Show Choir will present its annual fall concert at 7 p.m. Nov. 3, at Timberlake High School Auditorium.

The theme is gospel/spiritual. There will be solos from members of Timberlake Show Choir and Vocal Choir. Guests will include Claire Dowers as guest soloist, Eldon Nickel Gospel Quartet, Greg McGee as guest musician, Becky Buller as guest alumni soloist and the Flaming Opossums will appear at an accompanying ensemble.

Music will include "Oh Happy Day," and other selections. Donations will be accepted.





Homes sought for foreign exchange students

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International Student Exchange currently is seeking host homes for students for the 2006 spring semester.

ISE, a non-profit organization, has students from more than 40 countries who would love the opportunity to come to the United States for a semester or school year to experience family life, school and culture.

The students, typically 15-18 years old, have their own spending money and medical insurance. Students may share a room with children of the same gender. A host family can be a single-parent home or a two-parent home, with or without children living in the home. Students accepted into the program are required to speak English well enough to function at school and in their host home.

A family's prerequisite is based on a sincere desire to provide a loving home and to help make dreams a reality. These students are willing to be flexible and adaptable as they learn to live in their new home. They are respectful toward the school and family who make their stay possible. These students want to be a part of a family -- they are not tourists, nor do they expect to be entertained during their stay, according to an ISE adviser.

There only are a few students available from Germany, Nepal, Brazil and South Korea. The students will need to arrive in the U.S. in late December or early January so they can start school in January.

Anyone willing to open their home and life to one of our students should call Brenda Ashinhurst, an Oklahoma regional adviser at (918) 261-3220.