Sallisaw Schools Focuses on Academic Success

Shannon Vann, left, Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce president, presented Sallisaw Schools with the Sallisaw Chamber Member of the Month Award at the chamber membership meeting Aug. 24. Accepting are, from his left, Ernie Martens, Bobby Qualls, School Superintendent Scott Farmer, Justin McGrew, Frank Sullivan III, Russel Tillery (behind Sullivan), Diane Tillery, Toni Jasna, Martha Howell, Chad Jasna and Greg Cast.

Sallisaw Schools was named the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce Member of the Month at the chamber’s membership meeting Aug. 24.

When presenting the award, Chamber President Shannon Vann noted the school system has 2,000 students and is one of the largest employers in the county.

He said Sallisaw Schools “offers many subjects and strives for academic excellence.”

School Superintendent Scott Farmer, school administrators and board members accepted the award.

Academic success is the goal at Sallisaw Schools, Farmer said in an interview. To achieve that goal, the schools have implemented several new programs.

One of those is simultaneous enrollment with Carl Albert State College (CASC) of Poteau and Sallisaw. Farmer explained this program allows high school students to take the class in high school, and get credit for both high school and college. The class is an advanced class, and the teachers are credentialed for college level instruction.

The program is set up presently for English composition, but the school hopes to add math, science and history.

“Our ultimate goal is to make sure our kids get prepared for college and get college credit. It’s a bit of a segue into college,” Farmer said.

The simultaneous enrollment program is in addition to concurrent enrollment, in which high school juniors and seniors may also take CASC classes.

To encourage college preparation, Oklahoma schools now offer free ACTs, the test for college admission, to all high school juniors.

State School Superintendent Joy Hofmeister announced this week that the number of Oklahoma juniors taking the ACT in 2016 skyrocketed by at least 58 percent over 2015. Last spring, the Oklahoma State Department of Education offered an ACT pilot program that enabled all public high school juniors in the state to take the exam at no cost to districts or students. Nearly every eligible high school participated, with 457 of 459 taking advantage of the voluntary program. In all, 35,477 juniors took the ACT as part of the initiative, compared to 22,500 the year before.

“Clearly, more of our students are exploring the possibility of extending their education beyond high school,” Hofmeister said. ”More students having access to college-entrance exams means new on-ramps to post-secondary education. This is an important and positive trend, since an estimated 62 percent of Oklahoma jobs will require a post-secondary education by 2020.”

Farmer said, “We encourage every junior to take the ACT on our campus.”

But Sallisaw Schools starts even sooner than the junior year. Sallisaw Schools start students toward a college education in the third grade.

Farmer explained that program is called the ACT Aspire program. This program, he said, is a suite of assessments. The students are tested three times a year, every year, to determine if their learning is preparing them for entrance exams and college.

In Sallisaw Schools, the ACT Aspire program is just beginning its third year, so those students will be juniors before they take the ACTs.

“It’s going to take some time,” Farmer said about the program.

Still, Sallisaw Schools are not lagging behind in college preparedness. Farmer said Sallisaw students’ ACT scores are higher than the state average, which is 20.7. Sallisaw students score, on average, a 21.6, Farmer said.

“Our kids are over performing and we’re very proud of that,” Farmer said. “We’re proud of our teachers and our students.”

Farmer said 81 percent of Sallisaw’s students are completing the college-bound curriculum, and about 40 percent go on to enroll in in-state colleges. Farmer said that percentage is inaccurate, because students attending out-of-state colleges are not counted and included, such as those who attend the University of Arkansas in Fort Smith and Fayetteville. It is estimated at least another 4 to 5 percent of Sallisaw students attend out-of-state colleges.

“Close to half of our students are going on to the next level of education,” Farmer said.

Sallisaw Schools was honored to be named the chamber’s Member of the Month, Farmer said. He concluded, “We are honored by the recognition and proud to be a partner with the community.”

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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4-H Girls Compete at National Level with Chef’s Help

From the left, Tony Yates, local OSU extension agricultural educator, and Sequoyah County 4-H culinary team members Faith Cude, Gabriel Cude and Katlynn Seal are shown with Cherokee Casino and Hotel Roland buffet chef Fabian Laster and food and beverage manager Justin Choate.

Cherokee Casino and Hotel Roland buffet chef Fabian Laster is helping three 4-H students dig through bins of fresh fruits and vegetables, cheeses and precisely cut meats looking for the perfect combination.

The chef volunteered to help prepare the girls for the national 4-H Food Showdown.

The youth are heading to the Texas State Fair on Oct. 4 to compete in the national culinary competition after winning at both the regional and state level showdowns.

Sophomore sisters and Cherokee Nation citizens Faith Cude, 14, and Gabriel Cude, 15, make up two-thirds of the award-winning Sequoyah County 4-H culinary team. They are the daughters of Archie and Sherri Cude and are currently homeschooled in Muldrow. Katlynn Seal, the 17-year-old daughter of Harlan and Angela, is a junior at Gans High School and is the unspoken group leader. 

The national 4-H Food Showdown takes three members who have previously won at the regional and state levels. The teams are asked to create a dish while demonstrating their knowledge in food and nutrition, kitchen safety, equipment and creativity in food preparation. Teams must create their dish using only one clue, provided secret ingredients and items from the common pantry. From the secret ingredients, 4-H members must identify, prepare and then present information related to the serving size, nutritional value and cost of the dish.

“We’re all very excited. Eighty percent of the competition is presentation, so Chef Fabian will help them tremendously,” said Tony Yates, local OSU extension agricultural educator. “I can tell he’s excited to help out, too. I know the girls are very thankful for his being here.”

Classically trained at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Chef Laster’s career in the kitchen actually began in the Navy in 1987.

“There’s just something about food. Many people can take the very same ingredients and create vastly different results,” said Laster. “That’s what I hope the girls take to their competition. I want them to find their own, personal cooking style and make it shine.”

The Cudes and Seal were presented with a knife set to take on their journey to nationals, sponsored by Bryan Warner, Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor from District 6.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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CASC Offers On-line Classes

For whatever reason a student needs a class this fall, Carl Albert State College (CASC) is offering online 8-week classes beginning Oct. 6.

Dr. Jason Morrison, CASC Vice President for Academic Affairs, said, “We have a link on our website that explains all the benefits of enrolling for online 8-week classes. We are excited about #exploreCA, and as stated on our website, there are lots of benefits in taking 8-week courses.”

He continued, “Besides the fact that our classes are high quality online courses, CASC is also a great buy when it comes to the expense of taking classes.”

Online classes offered through the CASC Virtual Campus beginning in October include:

-ART 2123 Art History Survey II (Art History Survey I, is not required)

-BIO 1114 General Biology 

-CS 1103 Microcomputer Applications

-HPER 1113 Personal Health and Wellness

-POS 1113 American Federal Government

-RLED 1123 New Testament

-SOC 1113 Introduction to Sociology

Morrison concluded, “I encourage first time students, students needing one or more classes to complete a degree, students who were too late to enroll for classes that began in August, or current students wanting to pick up an extra course or two this fall to enroll as soon as possible for 8-week classes.”

Call Sarah Brown to enroll at 918-647-1471 or email sbrown@carlalbert.edu. For complete 8-week course information, look on the CASC website at https://carlalbert.edu/academics/online-education/8-week-courses/

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

For more news stories stay tuned to The MIX 105.1 or visit www.kxmx.com

Muldrow Man Sentenced in U.S. Court

A Muldrow man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Muskogee on drug charges and for possession of a firearm.

Edward Robert Saldana II, 30, was sentenced to 46 months for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and oxycodone.

Saldana was also sentenced to 60 months for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The sentences were ordered to run consecutive for a total of 106 months. The court also imposed a term of three years of supervised release.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Sallisaw Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The defendant was indicted in February and pled guilty in March.

The Indictment alleged that on or about Dec. 10 the defendant possessed with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of oxycodone. 

It further alleged that on the same date, the defendant, having been previously convicted of a crime, possessed a firearm and did so in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

District Judge Ronald A. White of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee presided over the hearing. The defendant will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a federal prison where he will serve his non-paroleable sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Wilson represented the United States in the case.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Sheriff, Staff and Sallisaw Fire Department Honored by Chamber

Gary Shaefer, left, and Treye Girdner, right, presented the Sallisaw Fire Department with a $1,000 donation at the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday. Accepting are Fire Chief Anthony Armstrong, left, and Assistant Chief Steve Padgett, right. Shaefer and Girdner serve on the chamber’s Diamond Daze Parking and Logistics Committee. Shaefer said the fire department assists with the parking and logistics for the festival and were especially helpful this year after three and a half inches of rain fell on the festival Friday night.

Sheriff Ron Lockhart and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Department were honored and given a donation at the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon Wednesday. Treye Girdner, right, thanked the sheriff and his staff for assisting with the Diamond Daze festival. Girdner said, “Thank you for what you do from the bottom of my heart.” Accepting are, from the left, Steve Grizzel, KD Graham, Alma O’Neal, Ron Lockhart, Craig Edgmon, and Jeff Neighbors.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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College to Be More Involved in Community, CASC President Says

Jay Falkner, president of Carl Albert State College (CASC) in Poteau and Sallisaw, was the guest speaker at the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon Wednesday at the CASC Sallisaw Campus.

Falkner told the large crowd, “The thing that matters the most to me. . .is making a positive impact on this community.”

Falkner said CASC wants to “help the community thrive and grow.”

He reviewed new programs CASC is undertaking for both the college and community.

Falkner said CASC is working with Sallisaw Schools to have high school students “college ready,” and some with college credits when they graduate from high school.

He said CASC is adding new academic programs and has added a psychology and sociology instructor.

“It is no secret the state has a teacher shortage,” Falkner said. “We are partnering with others to help solve the shortage.”

He reviewed the new program with Northeastern State University in Tahlequah that allows future teachers to complete their bachelor degrees through CASC, without having to take daily classes in Tahlequah. 

“We are going to grow our own elementary education and special education teachers,” Falkner said.

CASC is also working with the Cherokee Nation on scholarships, and has received a grant through Native Americans Serving Nontribal Institutions. The grant is for $1,998,818 over a five year period, until Sept. 30, 2020. The program focuses on academic achievement and successful on-time graduation. Falkner said the grant is also being used to build a Native America Resource Center on the Sallisaw campus.

“This is a very important outreach for Native American students,” he said.

Falkner acknowledged that financial problems trouble CASC and the area. Budget cuts by the state to the college resulted in a reduction in force earlier this year.

“We are in uncharted water as an institution,” Falkner said.

But, he said, the college, its staff and students are planning to be more involved in the community and with the chamber of commerce.

Falkner also thanked CASC supporters present, including Dwight Spencer, his father Buddy Spencer, and the Stites family, as well as the family of Delores Mitchell.

“You are the folks who built this campus. . .and done an amazing thing. I can’t thank you enough,” Falkner said.

Falkner became CASC president on July 1. He previously served as president of the Poteau Junior College and superintendent of Poteau Schools.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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McCoy Crowned 2016-17 Junior Miss Cherokee

Muldrow High School freshman Lauryn Skye McCoy (above) of Sallisaw was crowned the 2016-17 Junior Miss Cherokee during the 25th annual competition Saturday.

For the next year, McCoy will act as a goodwill ambassador for the tribe, promoting the government, language, history and traditions of the Cherokee people.

Six teens competed for the honor at the Tahlequah Armory Municipal Center in three categories: cultural presentation, impromptu question and a speech on their platform. McCoy, 15, earned her sash and crown after she demonstrated how to make traditional shell shackles for stomp dancing, answered why she thought Cherokee society has always held women in high esteem and gave a speech on the importance of building self-confidence in Native youth.

“It means I get to carry on the traditions of the past winners,” McCoy said. “I also hope to spread awareness about who we are and what we do as a tribe, as well as my platform.”

McCoy is the daughter of Gregg and Betty Jo McCoy. She previously served as the 10 to 12-year-old 2014-15 Little Cherokee Ambassador.

Natalie Gibson, 16, of Miami was named first runner-up, with Danya Pigeon, 17, of Hulbert named second runner-up. The Junior Miss Cherokee competition is held each year in conjunction with the Cherokee National Holiday held over the Labor Day holiday. The Miss Cherokee competition is slated for 6 p.m. Saturday at Cornerstone Church in Tahlequah.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

For more news stories stay tuned to The MIX 105.1 or visit www.kxmx.com