Behind the scenes of OSBI
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation will be at the Oklahoma State Fair Centennial Expo educating citizens about the jobs crime scene investigators and the people behind microscopes.
Agents and criminalists will staff the OSBI’s booth in Oklahoma Expo Hall on the north-central side of State Fair Park.
Exhibits will teach about criminal investigations including comparing bullet casings from firearms, building a face from an unidentified skull (also called forensic art) and methods of latent fingerprint examinations.
“The public watches crime shows on television every night that give the impression crime scene investigators can run DNA in minutes or lift fingerprints and enter them into the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) with immediate results. Whereas some of the science depicted in these programs is real, the methods and results are fictional,” OSBI spokeswoman Jessica Brown said. “OSBI wants to give the public a realistic idea of what happens behind the crime scene tape and inside the crime lab.”
Also available will be free child ID kits, information on criminal history background checks and conceal-carry permits.
Brian Sargent
Staff Writer
Oklahoma City resident celebrates 100th birthday
Another Oklahoman became a centenarian this week.
A party for Erma Guyton is today at Grace Living Center, 515 E Wilshire.
Guyton is hoping for a “big ol’ party.”
“Erma’s a real firecracker,” said Emily Washa, director of social services and activities at Grace Living Center. Guyton lives at Grace Living Center. “She loves chatting with others and doing things on her own schedule.”
Guyton describes herself as a spiritual woman and said she has maintained her health by praying.
She tells others that hope to reach their 100 th birthday to pray and read the Bible every day.
“Pray every day whether it’s once a day or 20 times,” Guyton said.
Guyton’s first job was as a caregiver for a child. She said she was hired because she didn’t curse She later was a housekeeper and a doctor’s aid.
Brian Sargent
Staff Writer
Norman, zebra about town
Norman the zebra was a delight for the few people in the Ranger Creek area that caught a glimpse of him as he made the rounds through wooded neighborhoods last week, checking out neighbor’s garages and eating dog food.But for owner Amy Saxon it was quite a scare. Saxon sent me an e-mail Monday night after I had contacted her for a story I was writing about the zebra sightings.Norman is a Grevy’s Zebra that Saxon, an Arabian horse breeder, purchased from a ranch in Texas. She got him at 4 weeks old and handfed the animal every four hours until he was old enough. All that tender loving care created quite a bond, Saxon says. “He thinks I am his mama, but he also thinks he’s a human,” Saxon wrote. “As he becomes a teenager I (no) longer needed to be in his sight I guess. I let him roam freely on my 40 acres in Muskogee and also at Hilltop Arena in Muskogee. But this time he left.”
Saxon has a lake house along Fort Gibson Lake and the entire area isn’t fenced in. Norman has a pen, but she still lets him out, Saxon said. When Norman took to wandering last Tuesday, Saxon was fretting. “He had been gone about three hours and I had already called the sheriff. He was very disbelieving, kind of laughed and told me to look a little longer,” Saxon wrote.
At 1 a.m., Saxon was nearly at her wit’s end and was ready to call the sheriff in the neighboring county since her ranch is near the Muskogee and Cherokee county line.
“I drove home slightly hysterical…when I heard Norman trotting down the drive,” Saxon wrote.
Zebras deserve a little credit. They’re smart critters and have good memories. Saxon said when Norman was young, she took him to a horse trainer to get him halter broke. After about a week the trainer called to say Norman was ready.
“Now he is halter broke, but whenever Norman comes close to that trainer, he kicks a head high kick at him, only him,” Saxon wrote in her e-mail.
Julie Bisbee
State Reporter
The dangers of cheerleading
If you think sports’ cheerleading might be an easy activity, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons sharply disagrees. Orthopedic surgeons note that while cheerleading is considered a true sport, it can be a potentially dangerous one, too for severe and traumatic injuries.
Cheerleading, in fact, is the leading sport for severe injuries to women in high school and college. Injuries among cheerleaders often result from gymnastic tumbling or maneuvers such as the “pyramid” and the “basket toss.” In the pyramid drill, the cheerleader at the top is most often injured after falling and landing on a hard surface. The basket toss is a stunt in which a cheerleader is thrown into the air, often between 6 and 20 feet, by three or four other cheerleaders. But injuries such as bruises, twisted ankles, shin splints — even head and neck injuries — can also occur while cheerleaders are performing simple routines on unforgiving surfaces like gymnasium floors. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, cheerleading injuries have more than doubled since 1990. Orthopedic surgeons recommend these guidelines:
- A cheerleading squad squad should practice and perform only under the direction of qualified and knowledgeable advisers or coaches.
- Make sure the environment is suitable for activity. Cheerleaderss should practice on a surface with appropriate matting — not on surfaces such as concrete or asphalt, or wet or uneven surfaces.
- All squads should receive thorough training in proper spotting techniques.
- Never build stunts without the coach present.
- All stunts, including “pyramids” and “basket tosses,” should be reviewed and approved by the coach prior to execution.
- Familiarize your squad with the most-common cheerleading injuries and how to treat them.
-Jim Killackey, Medical Writer
New NewsOK Web site collects and shares Oklahomans’ World War II stories
NewsOK.com, The Oklahoman and local PBS channel OETA have joined forces to create a new Web site.
Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns’ new series on World War II, ‘The War’, airs starting Sept. 23 on OETA and, in an effort to join a national movement, a new Web site has been launched to gather and share Oklahomans’ WWII stories.
The site – http://oklahomawwii.org – offers archived stories and photos from The Oklahoman, as well as videos from OETA, a blog from OETA’S Dick Pryor, WWII resources and much more. We are proud to offer Oklahomans’ stories about WWII and videos submitted by Web site users telling personal stories about the war.
Oklahoma sent more than 268,000 of its own to fight in WWII, and with an estimated 1,500 people from this ‘greatest generation’ dying nationally every single day, it has never been more important to gather their stories.
Visit the Web site today to find out more about the project and to share your story. Families are encouraged to tell the stories of their loved ones, also. You can find the site through NewsOK.com by searching ‘world war two’. The related blog can be found at blog.newsok.com/worldwartwo.
And make sure to watch OETA this Sunday to see the first installment of Burns’ documentary.
Lindsay Hodges – NewsOK.com Web Editor – lhodges@newsok.com
The news quiz
It’s time to see how much attention you’ve been paying to the news in the past week or so. From The Oklahoman’s news copy editors and designers, here’s a quiz:
1. Former state Sen. Gene Stipe reported to a Missouri prison hospital for mental tests, saying he was resentful that:
a) He had to travel so far from his home.
b) He wasn’t freed on personal recognizance.
c) The judge questioned his mental competence.
d) He was obliged to share a cell with a criminal.
2. Andy Lester, an Edmond attorney, was nominated to the Board of Regents for Oklahoma State University and the A&M Colleges. He is expected to add some diversity to the board because he is:
a) American Indian.
b) An attorney. The other members are all former teachers.
c) Republican. The others are Democrats nominated by Democrats.
d) A Duke University graduate. The others graduated from OSU.
3. One in five American adults smokes. Researchers find quitting may be more difficult for pregnant women because:
a) Many suffer from depression.
b) They’re already craving high-fat pizza, so giving up one more thing is too hard.
c) They’re storing up bad habits, because they won’t have time once the baby comes.
d) Pregnant women don’t understand the health risks.
4. Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s son is working on a plan to help his country in what way?
a) Preparing to host the World Series of Beach Volleyball.
b) Working with Disney to launch the Mediterranean Kingdom theme park.
c) Protect ancient ruins and bring in tourists.
d) Bring in icebergs to provide more fresh water.
5. Admission on the first day of the Oklahoma State Fair Centennial Expo was how much?
a) $100.
b) $1, as in 100 pennies.
c) No charge.
d) $2 with a Dr Pepper can.
6. Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell speaking at the University of Oklahoma said of the U.S.:
a) It’s a wonderful place to go fishing.
b) It’s a great place to buy Chinese-made products.
c) It remains a place that attracts people from other lands.
d) It’s an ideal place for football fans.
7. First they tried nudging, but now more companies are taking steps to ensure employees lose weight. What are the companies doing?
a) Forcing employees to have liposuction.
b) Sending employees to boot camps.
c) Docking workers’ paychecks.
d) Flashing subliminal weight-loss messages on computer screens.
8. Pollen from a particularly pesky plant spurred the Oklahoma Allergy and Asthma Clinic to issue a rare allergy alert last week. What weed prompted the alert?
a) Ragweed.
b) Dandelion.
c) Clover.
d) Eucalyptus.
9. Old School Bagel Cafe has opened in Oklahoma City, aiming to bring back the popularity of New York style bagels. What’s distinctive about the New York style bagel cooking process?
a) They’re fried before they’re baked.
b) They’re boiled before they’re baked.
c) They’re shaken before they’re baked.
d) They’re stirred, not shaken.
10. Several presidential campaigns are adopting a new type of fundraising. They are:
a) Looking for funds on the Internet.
b) Looking for funds in all the wrong places.
c) Looking for funds from retirees.
d) Looking for funds from Americans living abroad.
11. “Billy Cook Day” in Sulphur has been “put on hold.” Why?
a) Cook has pleaded guilty to a federal charge.
b) Cook was unable to contribute one of his world-famous saddles to charity.
c) Cook is planning to return his factory to Texas.
d) Cook’s factory burned down.
12. Alan Greenspan admitted Thursday that he failed to see the risks inherent in what?
a) Failing to lower the discount rate.
b) The subprime lending sector.
c) Failing to raise the discount rate.
d) Failure to stop North Korean counterfeiting.
13. Students at Rogers High School in Tulsa were suspended for five days after they protested a new school policy. What was the policy?
a) Students must tuck their shirts.
b) They must support Jenks’ football team.
c) They must arrive at school 10 minutes early.
d) No one can get their driver’s license until after graduation.
14. The University of Oklahoma football team moved into the national championship picture after defeating Miami. What were the Sooners ranked in the AP football poll after beating Miami?
a) 1.
b) 3.
c) 5.
d) 8.
15. A former Edmond police officer was arrested. What crime is he charged with?
a) Fraud.
b) Theft.
c) Robbery.
d) Bribery.
16. Which Democratic presidential contender said Gen. David Petraeus was “dead flat wrong” for saying changing policies in Iraq would be detrimental to the fight there?
a) Sen. Joseph Biden.
b) Sen. John Edwards.
c) Former Sen. Mike Gravel.
d) Rep. Ron Paul.
17. More states are considering bans on teens doing what?
a) Accessing lottery tickets.
b) Drinking coffee.
c) Fighting on school grounds.
d) Using electronic devices while driving.
How did you do on the quiz? Here are the correct answers:
1-C; 2-D; 3-A; 4-C; 5-B; 6-C; 7-C; 8-A; 9-B; 10-D; 11-A; 12-B; 13-A; 14-B; 15-D; 16-A; 17-D
Week in review
Another week has passed, and here is your chance to catch up on what you might have missed.
- Tropical Storm Gabrielle made landfall on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, packing 50 mph winds and rain. The storm, however, wasn’t enough of a threat to scare vacationers from the shore and surfers from the beach.
- In a case that would seem unthinkable in the Jewish state, police cracked a cell of young Israeli neo-Nazis. The group of immigrants from the former Soviet Union was accused in a string of attacks on foreign workers, religious Jews, drug addicts and gays.
- Pope Benedict XVI ended a pilgrimage to Austria by urging Austrians “to bring the traditional values of the continent — values shaped by the Christian faith — to European institutions.” He also urged the faithful to set aside Sundays to devote themselves to Christ’s teachings and “create oases of selfless love in a world where so often only power and wealth seem to count for anything.”
- The Oklahoma Corporation Commission voted to reject a $1.87 billion coal-fired power plant near Red Rock. A final vote is expected this week on the plan by Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co., Public Service Co. of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority.
- The mother of Kelsey Smith-Briggs was ordered to serve 27 years for enabling the child abuse that killed her 2-year-old daughter. Instead of asking the judge for mercy, Raye Dawn Smith stood in court and addressed her former mother-in-law, saying, “Kathie, I forgive you.” Kathie Briggs said afterward, “She’s demented.”
- Former state Sen. Gene Stipe reported to a Missouri prison hospital for a battery of tests to determine whether he is mentally competent.
- A survey found that 1 in 4 voters were unlikely to vote for a Mormon as president and even more would decline to pick an atheist or a Muslim.
- Despite the end of his U.S. prison sentence for drug trafficking, former Panamanian President Manuel Noriega remained jailed as legal fights continued over whether he would be extradited to France to face other charges.
- Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Iraqi troops were not ready to fight without support from American forces. As U.S. troop deaths have risen to more than 3,770 in the 4½-year war, Iraq’s leadership has been blamed for moving too slowly toward reconciliation and in assuming security responsibilities.
- Speaking to the nation, President Bush said 5,700 U.S. troops now in Iraq would be home by Christmas and at least 21,500 service members would return by July. He rejected calls to end the war and repeated that American forces must remain in the battle to protect U.S. security. When the reductions are completed in July, about 132,000 U.S. troops will still be in Iraq.
- Family and friends gathered in a Pauls Valley church for the funeral of Marine Cpl. Bryan J. Scripsick, 22. He was killed in
Iraq on Sept. 6 by a suicide bomber. The former high school football player and wrestler was serving the last few months of his second Iraqi tour when he and three other Marines were killed in Anbar Province. - Hurricane Humberto hit the Texas-Louisiana coast with 85-mph winds and heavy rain. It’s growth from a tropical depression to hurricane surprised forecasters, who were at a loss to explain the rapid 16-hour genesis of the first hurricane to hit the
U.S. this year. - All Oklahoma newborns will be routinely screened for 19 additional genetic and metabolic disorders, members of the state Board of Health ruled. Ten tests now are given after birth, including ones for cystic fibrosis and hearing loss.
- State Regents for Higher Education approved several new degree programs intended to increase the number of nurses in
Oklahoma by creating more faculty. - A former Edmond police officer was accused of trying to bribe a former colleague to miss a court date in order to help an airline pilot keep his license. Former officer Christopher Caplinger was charged with conspiracy and bribing a peace officer. He is accused of asking another Edmond officer if he was willing to miss a hearing for up to $1,000.
- More than 70 Tulsa high school students were suspended for five days after they protested a clothing policy established this year for students at Rogers High School. The policy requires students to tuck their shirts.
Doctors, heal thyself
Doctors sure can be frustrating, can’t they? They want you — the patient — to work around their oh-so-much-more-important schedules.
That’s of course assuming you manage to talk to your doctors, since the more successful they become, the more likely you will end up being palmed off to a physician’s assistant so they can attend to more important matters, such as meeting with the endless stream of pharmaceutical industry representatives, who always seem to be sitting in their waiting rooms, large cases of drug samples in hand.
Even more frustrating is when you are a patient with a problem. If it requires a specialist, no matter how severe the problem is, they are so busy, that they often can’t squeeze you in for an appointment for months. They say to call back to see if there are cancellations. I guess it would be too much to ask that they call you when there is a cancellation, since they’d know first.
What’s even worse is if you have to get caught in the middle of doctors, whose egos prevent them from talking to one another, wanting you to be a middleman. I faced that situation this week. Because of my multiple sclerosis, I suffer from severe fatigue. I take a prescription medication to help keep me up long enough to try to get through the work day. Unfortunately, I have been suffering from major, devastating headaches and the new doctor trying to solve that problem thinks the anti-fatigue pill could be the problem, so he took me off it a week ago.
As a result, I’m dragging, so all week I’ve been trying to get the two doctors to discuss if there is another anti-fatigue medication that I can substitute so I’m not falling asleep at my desk. First, the headache doctor was out of the office until Thursday, so the M.S. doctor’s P.A. didn’t want to do anything until he could consult with him. Unfortunately, the P.A. neglected to tell me that he would be gone Thursday. On Fridays, the M.S. doctor’s office only does a half-day anyway, so my dad was stuck in the middle trying to play phone tag with these bozos. Then, when the headache doctor’s nurse finally calls, it’s to say they are phoning in a prescription TO HELP ME SLEEP BETTER. Sleep is not something I’m having a problem with, staying awake is. Do these people even listen to their patients?
Scott Schuldt, Staff Writer
They had to get Capone on tax evasion in the end
By Scott Schuldt, Staff Writer
Reports out of Las Vegas are saying that O.J. Simpson is being questioned in connection to a casino robbery. From the latest AP account:
LAS VEGAS — Investigators questioned O.J. Simpson and named him a suspect Friday in a break-in at a casino hotel room involving sports memorabilia.
The break-in was reported at the Palace Station casino late Thursday night, police spokesman Jose Montoya said. He said investigators determined the break-in involved sports collectibles.
“When they talked to him, Simpson made the comment that he believed the memorabilia was his,” Montoya said. “We’re getting conflicting stories from the two sides.”
Heat wave sets more than 2,000 records
A heat wave across the United States during June, July and August set more than 2,000 daily high temperature records, according to scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. The record heat helped make August the second-warmest and the summer season the sixth-warmest for the contiguous United States, according to preliminary data. The global surface temperature during June, July and August was the seventh-warmest.
Highlights released Thursday by NOAA:
— The average temperature for June, July and August in the contiguous United States was 73.8 degrees Fahrenheit, 1.7 degrees Fahrenheit above the mean for the 20th century.
— The average temperature for August in the contiguous United States was 75.4 degrees Fahrenheit, 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit above the mean for the 20th century.
— More than 30 record highs were set during the summer season.
— A record high temperature in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., of 105 degrees Fahrenheit was set Aug. 21. The temperature in Columbia, S.C., was at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit for 14 straight days, breaking a record of 12 straight days set in 1900. The temperature in Cincinnati was at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit for record-setting 5 straight days. It was the warmest August in 113 years for Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Utah.
— The combined global land and ocean surface temperature for August was 0.85 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th Century mean and the eighth-warmest.
— The global surface temperature for June, July and August (northern hemisphere’s summer season) was the seventh-warmest.
— Hurricane Dean, the first major hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season made landfall near Costa Maya on Aug. 21 as a Category 5 storm. It was the first Atlantic Basin hurricane to make landfall as a Category 5 storm since Hurricane Andrew struck Florida in August 1992.
Click to view “Climate of 2007 — August in Historical Perspective.”
NOAA, a scientific agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, focuses on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. NOAA warns of dangerous weather, charts seas and skies, guides the use and protection of ocean and coastal resources, and conducts research to improve understanding and stewardship of the environment.
Brian Sargent
Staff Writer
