Kaylea Hutson's Blog

Cadbury Eggs

My Column in the 03.29.19 issue of The Grove Sun. 

I ate a bag of Cadbury Eggs.
Normally, I try not to indulge and devour a whole bag of "eggs," but something was off Tuesday, when I made a quick trip to the store.
In fact, this whole week has been a bit "off kilter" for me. 
At first, I thought it was the weather change, or maybe because I hugged a kidlet who since developed a stomach bug.
It might have been because Monday and Tuesday seemed like "hang-over" days for most of us after last week's Spring Break.
So on Tuesday, I found myself buying the eggs for no real reason. I mean, Cadbury Eggs are not my "favorite go-to" candy when I'm seeking comfort.
Yet for some reason, the chocolate bites with a candy shell seemed to be calling my name.
Then suddenly, it dawned on me. Almost like a lightning bolt shock followed by a big thunderclap. This week is the two-year anniversary of Tanna's death. 
Tanna was one of my first children's ministry "kidlets" in Siloam Springs. I watched her grow in faith, through a myriad of activities. 
I was privileged to take her on her first mission trip - to Joplin - where we worked at the Salvation Army thrift store, cooked a meal for the Ronald McDonald House, and helped at Watered Gardens.
The effort was designed to teach third, fourth and fifth graders they could roll up their sleeves and help others, no matter their age.
We'd laughed as she tried (along with her sister and other cohorts) to call China on my mobile. For the record, they got close, but never figured out the country codes.
We also laughed as the girls' small group I led would hijack my phone to call my mom -- to ask her all kinds of questions about me. Really, ALL kinds of questions.
Later I cheered as she graduated high school and started at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville with a goal to become a librarian. 
I cried with her, as she - along with her sister - gave an amazing eulogy at her grandfather's service. The kidlet who made my hair turn grey on trips, became an amazing, well spoken young woman.
She even took part in my wedding. She was my college-aged ring bearer (who said I had a normal service.)
Two years ago, I got the call. One that still brings me to tears as I remember the day. She had gotten sick on spring break - in of all places, one of my favorite spots in the world Navarre Beach/Ft. Walton, Florida.
An unbeknownst brain aneurism snuffed out her light, just as it was beginning to shine in all of its adulthood glory.  
I grieved, along with her family and other friends. Later, I moved on to a point where memories brought smiles, rather than tears.
Then this week happened. While my brain "forgot" the day, my body did not.
No one ever told me your body can develop a muscle memory for pain. I didn't know grief could sneak up on you, out of no where and literally suck the wind out of your sails. 
Monday was the anniversary of the call telling me she was dying. Tuesday was the anniversary of her death.
As I sat at home, eating the Cadbury Eggs, I realized why I purchased them. 
Tanna loved those bits of chocolaty goodness. People always tried to find bags of them for her, so she could "stock up" for the year. 
So, I ate a bag of Cadbury Eggs and remembered my sweet friend, her face and everyone who loved her.
I prayed the grief which enveloped me, like a python snake squeezing its prey, would eventually fade and take the tears away.
So I ate a bag of Cadbury Eggs and remembered the good. 
Kaylea M. Hutson is the managing editor of The Grove Sun. Have an idea for a column or story? She can be reached at kaylea.hutson@grovesun.com or 918-786-2228.

2019

My goal for 2019 is to restart / refresh my blog. Stay tuned.

Bits & Pieces: The time is now

Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller
khutson@grovesun.com

The time is now.

I've heard those words multiple times in the past three days, as community, business and city leaders gathered to ponder the future of downtown Grove.

Hiring Ron Drake as a consultant, to come into Grove to assess downtown vacant buildings, was good. What happens next will determine if the city's downtown becomes great.

From conversations swirling around about the visit, it appears that it did what Chuck Perry and others hoped.

In Perry's own words, Drake's visit lit a fire - a desire if you will - for many to see something major happen to revitalize and rebuild downtown Grove.

In fact Perry hopes in 10 years, Grove residents will look back and say, it all started in January 2016.

Nothing happens though, in a vacuum.

It's going to take the entire community - young and old - to bring change to Grove.

Change is hard, it's messy, and at times, frustrating. It's hard, especially for those, like Dr. Larry Stout and members of the Grove Chamber and Grove Area Merchants, who have worked tirelessly for years to make things happen.

Let's face it, many in Grove are exhausted. If we let it, this visit will become just another consultant, providing ideas that sit on a shelf, growing dust.

Ultimately, Drake's visit has provided some inspiration. It appears the ideas have given people of all ages hope for things to come.

What happens next will take perspiration, money and time. It will also take the entire community, pulling together, to make a difference.

It's time for others to stand beside Sam Williams and his iconic Sports Center, Jim Serage and the newly established Second Kick Cycle Works motorcycle museum, and other downtown businesses owners.

It's time for people of all ages to say "you've gotten us this far, let us work beside you to take our town to the next level."

So what will this mean? It means buyers and sellers must find a way to work together; it means we must embrace new ideas which breathe life and creativity into our historic buildings.

It means Grove residents must embrace, and support, local businesses - new and established by shopping local, without automatically choosing to leave town or order online.

It means all of us, young and old, look for ways we can help with the process.

The spark of excitement is there. What we do next determines if it erupts into a raging fire of opportunity.

Former President Ronald Reagan may have summed up the thoughts best, in his acceptance speech on July 17, 1980 at the Republican National Convention.

"The time is now, my fellow Americans to recapture our destiny, to take it into our own hands."

To this I would say, the time is now, my fellow Grove residents. Our destiny, our future is in our hands. What will you, what will I, do about it?

This column was previously published in the Friday, Jan. 22 issue of The Grove Sun.

Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller is the managing editor of The Grove Sun. Have an idea for a column or story? She can be reached at khutson@grovesun.com or 918-786-2228.

Bits & Pieces: Hello 2016

A new year, new start.

As I type this, the new year is almost here. We are just days away from ringing in 2016.

Once again, standing on the cusp of a new year brings on the discussion regarding setting resolutions and goals.

For me, the days following Christmas becomes a time to pick a new a word (or two) that will represent the upcoming year.

In a way, the word becomes a verbal roadmap to what's ahead. It becomes my word to focus on, to ponder and well, to use as it presents itself as life happens.

I started this practice in 2007, with the adoption of wonder as my very first word. During the year, seek emerged as a guiding word, because of a job change and new life opportunities.

Other words followed including simplicity and joy (2008), dream and hope (2009), half-full and see (2010), new and renew (2011), rest and sabbath (2012), imagine and rejoice (2013) and laugh and love (2014).

Obviously, most years, I've had two words. It seems as if something presents itself mid-year, as a guiding word of importance.

My only defense is, well, I like words.

Usually, I pick the word at the beginning of the year. However in 2015, my "one little word" did not present itself to me until early July. I found them as I tried to deal with a life that included a plethora of crazy wedding preparations and the unexpected death of the Lawman's daughter.

Those two words - grace and dignity - have become almost a mantra as I closed out the year, as I've tried to extend the meaning of the words throughout my life regardless of the situation. 

As this year ends, life is different. Let's face it. I'm different. 

This is the first year - in my 43 years of existence - I'm facing Jan. 1 married. My world, and perception of it, has changed. I'm no longer a "me" but instead a "we."

Even after five months, I'm still learning to grasp that new reality. I have to remind myself that I'm not walking through life alone. I have someone I can rely on and trust. Someone who is with me for better and for worse. Someone who is part of my life in a rich way.

I've thought a lot about what word will become my road map in 2016. I know I want this year to become one where I intentionally focus on things outside of the newsroom. 

I want to create a life, together with the Lawman, which is full and rich.

A life that includes more than just eating, sleeping and working. A life that is full of meaning, creates memories and is filled with a plethora of emotions.

So with that in mind, my word for 2016 is "be."

I want to be in love, be fulfilled, be happy, be alive. I simply want to be.

I want to find out what it means to be present in life, rather than simply existing.

The question, to mangle Shakespeare, is not IF I want "to be or not to be." The answer is, instead is, simply I want to "be."

I want to live a life that no longer just occupies space and takes up air.

I want to find ways I can be available to friends and family - even if it means I turn off my phone. 

I want to be connected with The Lawman, because I'm learning that my presence, means more than presents in the long run.

I want to be a person of faith. I want my faith, and ultimately my relationship with God, to be stronger on Dec. 31, 2016. 

So, for 2016, I want to "be."

It's kind of fun to stand on the edge of a new year and see it as a blank canvas waiting to be filled. It's exciting, scary and well, an amazing opportunity, all wrapped up in 365 days.

Here's to 2016. May it bring joy, happiness, peace and all that you desire to you and yours. 

Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller is the managing editor of The Grove Sun. Have an idea for a column or story? She can be reached at khutson@grovesun.com or 918-786-2228.

Bits & Pieces: Presence or Presents?

Is there anyway you can come?

With those words, life changed for me last weekend.

On Friday morning, I received the call that my good friend Kim's grandmother died.

Its been a long process, but Nana, as she was known, was able to die at home in her own space, thanks to the efforts of Kim and her mother.

On Friday evening, as the events of the day began to settle, Kim called.

Her simple question put things into perspective.

Trying desperately to hold things together for her family, her voice cracked as she asked, "I know it's a deadline day, but is there anyway you can come Monday for the funeral?"

Kim and I have been friends since 1998. She taught me to quilt (first by hand, then by machine). We were in the same book club.

I've watched her son, who was just an elementary student at the time, grow up to become a married father of three.

It's a friendship that has spanned both the years and miles. We talk on Facebook and when she "pocket dials" me, or when something significant happens in our lives.

She, along with her husband, drove three hours to be at the epic proposal when the Lawman decided to surprise me.

In July, they returned so Kim could serve as the "Girl Friday" at my wedding, helping me with a variety of tasks and basically keeping me calm before I walked down the aisle.

(She likes to regale people about how she had to "help" me get into those dreaded things known as spanxs. Let's just say, it took a village and leave it at that.)

Kim's only asked me to come like this once before. When Kaleb was a teenager, he was involved in a dreadful wreck. With things touch and go, Kim asked me to come - and I did. I sat with her at the hospital, and helped her stay sane.

It was like that on Monday. Thanks to a variety of people, some on staff and others in the community, the contents of Tuesday's issue of The Grove Sun were completed by the time I rolled out of town.

I drove those three hours, expecting to take my turn as Kim's "Girl Friday," or in today's terms, be her Minion.

But instead of doing things, I found myself simply being present.

We laughed, we cried, we hugged. I held her hand (boy does she have a tight grip) through the visitation and funeral.

I'm a do-er by nature. I want to fix things.

In this instant, there was nothing to do or fix. Instead, my gift to her on this day was simple.

I was present.

I didn't give her anything or do anything. My presence at the funeral was what she needed.

Oh I did get to hold all of Kaleb's children - one of which is just a couple years shy of Kaleb's age when I first met him - and I did help a bit at the post-funeral dinner.

But primarily, my gift was that of presence instead of presents.

It's something to think about as you worry about what will go under the Christmas tree. Maybe what your friend or family member needs most isn't another thing, but rather, time with you.

I learned Monday, that my presence alone was truly the best gift I could give my friend.

This originally appeared in the Dec. 11, 2015 issue of The Grove Sun.

Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller is the managing editor of The Grove Sun. Have an idea for a column or story? She can be reached at khutson@grovesun.com or 918-786-2228.

Wishes come true for Grove girls

Braelon Vannoster & Angelica Wilson • Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller / Grove Sun
Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller / khutson@grovesun.com
Wishes came true this fall for two Grove girls, as they both received trips to Disney World through the Make A Wish Foundation.

For both Angelica Wilson, a fifth grader, and Braelon Vannoster, a sixth grader, the trips to Florida in September and October came after medical personnel connected to their care nominated them for the experience.

The Make A Wish Foundation in Oklahoma awards between 150 to 180 trips to children, with life threatening illnesses, each year.

Kiyana Baird, the state's wish coordinator, said volunteers are on tap to end the year with 180 wishes.

Baird said children can choose a wish from multiple options. They can go on trips, become someone for a day, request an item, ask to meet someone, or even request to give something away.

Wilson and Vannoster both picked traveling to Disney World as their primary wish. During the trips, they each stayed at the Give Kids the World resort, an all-encompassing resort and mini-amusement park and received tickets to a variety of attractions.

Wilson nicknamed the resort "Villa Villekulla" because it reminded her of the fictional home of Pippi Longstocking. At the resort, students were given ice cream for breakfast, presents each day, and as both Wilson and Vannoster described - spoiled.

Baird said a trip to Disney World is one of the most requested wish for children, because it means they can take family members.

"It's a great place to go for the whole family," Baird said. "Children can take their immediate family. Others can go if they pay their own way. It gives children a family vacation."

The average wish costs approximately $7,500. In the event of a trip, like Wilson and Vannoster picked, it includes all travel expenses, tickets to activities, and even spending money for souvenirs.

"Wishes give hope and joy at a time they are both needed most," Baird said. "it gives [students] something to look forward to, and be excited about. We've heard stories that it's given some children the extra push they needed to finish [treatment].

"Wishes are powerful."

Wilson, a student at Cowboy Junction in Vinita, traveled with her mother and father, Carey and John Wilson, and her grandmother, Martha Peck of Pryor.

Vannoster, a student at Grove Upper Elementary School, traveled with her mother, Keslie Leonard, her father, Jeff Vannoster, and her sister, Byntlee Dawn Vannoster - also a student at Grove Upper Elementary.

About the trip
 
Wilson's trip included stops at the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot, SeaWorld, Universal Studios and Island of Adventures.

Her trip to Universal also included a stop at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter - something she found quite, amazing because it included a stop at Ollivanders Shop where she was given a chance to "let a wand choose her."

She also had a chance to have visits with Mickey Mouse, Pluto and a variety of other Disney characters.

"It was a carefree week," Carey Wilson said of the trip. "We didn't worry about our next doctor's appointment, or her health prognosis.

"We did whatever she wanted to do. She got to pick and choose. The trip was flawless."

Carey Wilson joked that Wilson's choices meant that the family walked a combined 45 miles as they traversed the various amusement parks.

The Vannosters trip included stops at Disney, as well as SeaWorld, Universal Studios and more.

"She was a princess for a week," said her father, Jeff Vannoster. "They spoiled her. This trip was priceless. You can't spend enough money to get the same experience."

Vannoster said she had the most fun, spending time meeting the various princesses; admitting she filled her autograph book with their signatures and pictures.

Her favorite princesses to meet - Elsa and Anna from the movie Frozen.

Jeff Vannoster said the best part about the trip, was watching his two daughters interact without worrying about health issues.

"We just wanted Braelon to have a good time," Jeff Vannoster said. "Just seeing [the enjoyment on] her face, was the best part."

More about Wilson

Wilson has pilocytic astrocytoma, a brain tumor that occurs in children or young adults, that is typically slow growing and benign.

Since 2013, she has undergone two surgeries to remove a non-malignant brain tumor. In July of this year, doctors at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas determined the remnants of the tumor remain, and continue to grow..

Working with her physicians, Wilson's parents have tentatively scheduled her to undergo a third surgery in May, pending the results of a MRI and further tests set for Dec. 17 in Texas. The hope is she can recover from the surgery without missing school.

Earlier this month, Wilson had a mass removed from her arm. Doctors determined on Thursday it was a benign spindle cell tumor and she will not need to undergo additional treatment.

More about Vannoster

Vannoster was born with CHARGE syndrome, a birth defect that impacts a child's vision - the retina or iris does not fuse normally; causes heart defects, retards growth, causes renal effects, as well as hearing loss and a variety of other things.

Since birth, Vannoster has undergone 28 major surgeries, five of which were open heart procedures. Her last surgery took place in August 2013, when she received an artificial valve and pacemaker.

Jeff Vannoster said he's confident his daughter, who has already exceeded expectations, will have "endless possibilities."

"She gets As and Bs, and has been active in the Special Olympics since she was four," Jeff Vannoster said. "Her size is an issue, but she's growing.

"I don't know what the future holds for her, but I know she touches a lot of people wherever she goes. Hopefully it will be something good."
2015 Pelican Festival Grand Marshals Angelica Wilson (left) and Braelon Vannoster are driven through the Pelican Festival parade by Chrsti Lungren and Kathy Lungren Baker. Both girls received Make A Wish trips this fall.
Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller / Grove Sun Spreading Christmas Cheer
For the third year in a row, members of Angelica Wilson's church, Foundation Free Will Baptist, will celebrate Christmas by passing out "stuffies" to children throughout Grove and northeast Oklahoma.

On Saturday, volunteers - known as Angelica's Angels - plan to hand out the stuffed animals during the 2015 Grove Lighted Christmas Parade.

The event, set for 6 p.m., rain or shine, will take place on Saturday, Dec. 12, in downtown Grove.

Angelica's Angels will walk alongside the Foundation Free Will Baptist float and pass out this year's stuffies, which have been donated through the efforts of Mark Gibson, manager of the Lifeway Christian Store in Hurst, Texas.

Others will be given out during the church's Living Nativity presentation, set for 5 to 8 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 13, at the church.

The program begin in 2013, as a way for Wilson to give back to the community.

"It's good for her to be giving back," her mother, Carey Wilson said at the start of the program. "She's gotten so much because she needed it. But she needs to give back, to see that (life) is not all about getting things."

This originally appeared in the Dec. 11, 2015 issue of The Grove Sun

Bits & Pieces: Fear

Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller • khutson@grovesun.com

Fear is a powerful emotion.

I've watched as the events which took place last weekend Paris have had a crippling effect on people around the globe.

Rational people become, well, irrational, as the fear of ISIS creeps over them like a black cloud of doom.

Decisions, some of which could have long-lasting ramifications, are being made on a reactionary basis.

People are saying things on social media and doing things in the public realm out of character, all because of one word - fear.

ISIS didn't need to attack American soil. By instilling fear through its actions in France, the organization has created a tide of panic and angst sending ripples of fear around the world.

It's causing us, as Americans, to do and say things that harken back to actions taken during WWII.

Actions, which if history has taught us anything, were not part of America's finest hour.

It has politicians and common folks alike turning against refugees - much like the American government did in 1939 when Jewish refugees from Germany and eastern Europe on the German transatlantic liner St. Louis were denied entry even as it sat off the coast of America, inches from freedom.

It has people, it seems calling for an identification system for Syrian refugees already living in the United States. Similar, it seems, to the same identification system used by Hitler to separate out the Jews from others.

It seems as if we are one step away from establishing detention centers for refugees. A decision that ultimately led to the forced relocation and detention of Japanese Americans during WWII. Several of the camps existed in the western portion of the United States. Remnants of two can still be found in southeastern Arkansas.

It all comes from fear.

Fear of how the unknown will impact our families, our friends, our lives. Fear that our country could once again know the pain and loss of hundreds, if not thousands of lives, because of an act of terror.

Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

The anticipation, or fear, of an ISIS attack in the United States causes more distress for the time being, than an actual event.

Winston S. Churchill once said "Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.”

It takes courage to put aside fear.

It takes courage to choose to help the widows, orphans and the oppressed fleeing ISIS.

It takes courage to remind our leaders we have learned a great deal since WWII, so history is not repeated.

It takes courage to lend a helping hand to someone in need.

Courage is the opposite reaction to fear.

May we all choose to have courage as we face the fearfulness of the future.

Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller is the managing editor of The Grove Sun. Have an idea for a column or story? She can be reached at khutson@grovesun.com or 918-786-2228.

Editor's Note: This was previously published in the 11.20.15 issue of The Grove Sun. 

Moving History: A piece of DelCo finds new home at Har-Ber Village

The cabin, which once sat on a farm near Whitewater Road, travels down Main Street in Grove on Thursday, Oct. 22, to its new home at Har-Ber Village. - Patti Elliott / Special to the Grove Sun

Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller • khutson@grovesun.com

A cabin, which once sat on a rural Delaware County farm has a new home thanks, in part to the combined efforts of volunteers with Har-Ber Village and members of the former owner's family.

On Thursday, Oct. 22, the cabin, built by William Anderson McElroy, traveled by way of a semi-trailer from its former location off of Whitewater Road to the Har-Ber Village grounds.

The 16-foot by 15-foot cabin, which housed members of the McElroy family until 1954, will now serve as the trailhead cabin for the upcoming nature trail expansion project.

As the cabin moved from Whitewater Road to Har-Ber Village, McElroy's distant relative Patti Jo Brewster Elliott, was on hand to watch.

Elliot is the granddaughter of Nellie Opal and Hugh Wilson, McElroy's step-daughter.

With the donation, the cabin becomes the first log cabin from Grove to be placed on display on the museum grounds.

The McElroy cabin in its new home at Har-Ber Village, Grove. - Samantha Edwards / Grove Sun

Patti Elliott snaps a photo of the cabin, which once housed her great-grandfather William Anderson McElroy, before the structure was moved to Har-Ber Village.  - Kayla M. Hutson-Miller / Grove Sun

About the Donation
Late last year, Amelia Chamberlin, executive director of Har-Ber Village said Elliott contacted museum officials about the log cabin, concerned that a piece of Grove’s history might disappear.

Elliot first approached the property owners of where the cabin was located, Clint and Tootie Longan, about moving the cabin to Har-Ber Village.

Tootie Longan said the couple had discussed donating the cabin in the past, but the timing was not right. She was pleased to see the cabin find a new home at Har-Ber Village.

Chamberlin said the cabin, made of round logs instead of flat, hewn logs like most of the Village’s cabins, is in need of restoration.

She said a group of volunteers, led by Pete Churchill, vice president of Har-Ber Village board of directors, plan to work on the cabin's restoration.

Churchill said now that the cabin has been moved to the Har-Ber Village grounds, officials plan to take it apart and begin a lengthy restoration process.

Churchill likened the process to a life-size Tinker Toy project. The structure is in need of new chinking and some rotted boards need to be replaced.

Pete Churchill watches as volunteers remove a lean-to which had been added to the McElroy cabin. The lean-to before the cabin could be moved to the village. - Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller / Grove Sun

A New Use
Churchill said the structure will be used as the nature center for the revamped and remodeled nature trail - a project volunteers hope to undertake and possibly complete in early 2016.

As the nature center, the cabin will include maps of both the trail system and Har-Ber Village. Churchill said people will be able to access it year-round when completed.

"This is the beginning of a major undertaking for us," Churchill said.

Originally, Harvey Jones had created a nature trail on the village grounds. Heavy rains in 2007 and again during this past summer caused significant damage to the trails.

Churchill said the trails will be reconstructed and added to, and will be accessible year-round once completed. He said the trails will be pet friendly and contain some ADA compliant areas.

"Since the city wasn't able to compete the walking trail between Wolf Creek Park and Grove Springs Park, there isn't a walking trail in our area," Churchill said. "We plan to take our existing trail - which is a little more than a mile - and expand it into something in the neighborhood of two miles.

"This cabin will become the focal point of the project."

Churchill said he is working on the cabin reconstruction project with Richard Cannon. They anticipate using volunteers from the Grove Rotary Club to complete the project. The $1,100 needed to hire the house mover has been provided by a private donation.

Churchill said Crossland's Construction is assisting the board of directors with developing an updated plan for the walking trail. Churchill expects the board of directors will undertake some fundraising to complete the trail project.

"I think this is exciting," Churchill said. "When we started thinking about redoing our trails, at the same time we hears about this cabin.

"It's all come together, and we're to the visualizing stage. This is a neat part of northeast Oklahoma's history."

Churchill said he hopes the cabin will help students of all ages develop a feeling of how this area's forefathers lived.

"This cabin can be used to tell the story of Delaware County," Churchill said. "It dates back to pre-statehood times, and [McElroy] lived in it until 1954.

"I hope we can research this, and tell the story of the cabin and early Delaware County. It's a great story to tell and will add a lot to the history of the village."

About the McElroy Family
The cabin was built by William Anderson McElroy (b. 1862, d. 1954). He lived in the cabin with his wife Edna Wight McElroy (b. 1875, d. 1956) until he died in 1954 at the age of 94.

When the two married, Edna McElroy already had two children from her first marriage to Albert Wight: a daughter, Nellie Opal Wight, and a son, Paul Wight. When the two divorced, Edna took Nellie to live with her and Albert took Paul.

Nellie Opal Wright lived in the cabin with her mother and stepfather until she married Hugh Wilson, the seventh son of James Calvin Wilson—one of the men known to have camped at Grove Springs because it was a “good spring of water.”

Hugh Wilson set up a blacksmith shop, and another man by the name of Bill Watson, put in a store. These two businesses were the start of Grove.

This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, Oct. 27 issue of The Grove Sun.

Moving beyond cancer: Couch enters 2016 'cancer free'

Carrie Couch, a pre-kindergarten teacher at Turkey Ford Elementary, has said the love and support of her "boys" husband, Ricky and sons, Brody and Cooper, have helped inspire her throughout her illness. - Courtesy Photo

Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller • khutson@grovesun.com
Editor's Note: This is a part of a series of stories highlighting those impacted by breast cancer during the month of October, in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

As this year ends, Carrie Couch of Grove is counting her pennies and blessings.

She is ending the year enrolled in a clinical trial designed to help prevent the reoccurrence of breast cancer, thanks in part to an organization known as Pennies In Action.

The clinical trial, with Dr. Brian Czerniecki, is based at the University of Pennsylvania. It uses a patent's own white blood cells to create a vaccine, which is then used, as Couch describes it, to remind her white blood cells how to fight off disease.

In all, 2015 is ending better than it started for Couch, who started the year anticipating a completion of treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer.

The pre-kindergarten teacher at Turkey Ford Elementary planned to finish her radiation treatments and return to the classroom and students, hoping her days of chemotherapy and radiation were behind her.

She had already underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy and a bilateral or double mastectomy. She was scheduled to complete radiation treatments on Jan. 27. All signs pointed to having good reports from her oncologist.

Then things changed. As Couch returned home on Jan. 27 from her last treatment, she experienced first of at least two seizures. The first at home, the second at INTEGRIS Grove Hospital.

After an assessment at INTEGRIS, doctors transferred Couch to Joplin, where tests showed that her HER2-positive breast cancer had metastasized, causing a brain tumor. Her cancer had progressed from Stage 3B to 4.

According to doctors, HER2-positive breast cancer is a breast cancer that tests positive for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which promotes the growth of cancer cells. It makes cancer cells multiply at a faster rate.

Because of the high growth rate, doctors later told Couch it's common for the disease to metastasize into a patient's bones, lungs or brain.

Two days later, instead of having an end-of-treatment party with members of her bible study, Couch found herself undergoing another surgery - this time to remove her brain tumor.

Since then, she has completed 10 rounds of brain radiation and finished a year of chemotherapy treatments.

Pennies In Action

One night, while surfing a Facebook support group for breast cancer survivors, Couch saw a post about Pennies In Action and a series of clinical trials taking place at the University of Pennsylvania involving immune restoration therapy.

Couch completed the form on the foundation's website, outlining her story and treatment.

"I filled it out randomly," Couch said with a smile. "I've never done anything like this before. I just thought, 'what's it going to hurt.'"

A few short hours later Uschi Keszler, the organization's CEO, called Couch for her medical records. She indicated that Couch was a strong candidate for the study.

Couch said Keszler started the organization after talking with her grandson about the need for cancer research and funding. Her grandson gave her two pennies from his piggy bank and the idea for the group was formed.

Pennies in Action is based upon the belief that one does not have to be wealthy to have an impact on raising funding.

"The amount one person may give may be relatively insignificant, for a penny alone has little value, but many pennies make many dollars," the group's website states. "Success in funding the research and the power to make a difference can come from just a few pennies if everyone takes part in even a small way."

Since that initial phone call, Couch has made multiple trips to the University of Pennsylvania to meet with Keszler and Czerniecki.

On the first trip, which was delayed by this summer's heavy rains, staff drew Couch's white blood cells to create the vaccine. Since then, she has returned to Philadelphia six additional times to receive the shots.

On Monday, she returns to Philadelphia to have the blood drawn to create the final three shots. She will receive them in December of this year and February and June of 2016.

Funding for the first airfare to Philadelphia came from friends hosting fundraisers and through private donations. Since then, Couch has received financial assistance through the INTEGRIS Grove Hospital Foundation cancer fund.

"It's been amazing," Couch said, of the assistance from INTEGRIS.

Couch hopes the vaccine she receives in the trial will help her body continue to fight off a recurrence of cancer.

Funding for the trial, which costs up to $33,000 per patient, comes from the Pennies in Action foundation.

As of now, tests indicate there is no evidence of cancer in her body. For the next year, she will undergo a brain MRI on a regular basis to ensure the tumor does not re-develop.

Couch sees the clinical trial as a bonus treatment, rather than a replacement for chemotherapy and radiation.

"My oncologist told me if he was in my position, he would do exactly the same thing," Couch said. "I was beyond excited to get into this trial. The treatment is individualized."

Couch encourages other cancer survivors to research and find out if they may qualify for one of the thousands of clinical trials taking place throughout the country.

"Without the woman who posted this - I haven't been able to find her since then - I wouldn't know about this trial," Couch said. "You just have to find the one that fits you."

Did You Know?

Carrie Couch has received funding for her trips to the Univeristy of Pennsylvania from the cancer fund through the INTEGRIS Grove Hospital Foundation.

Monies donated to the cancer fund are used to help patients with costs associated with their treatment. One hundred percent of the funds donated to the cancer fund are used to help patients.

This story initially appeared in the Oct. 23 issue of The Grove Sun.

The Grades are In: Grove earns A's, B's on state-wide report for second year

Kaylea M. Hutson-Miller / khutson@grovesun.com
The Sept. 22 release of the state’s third A-F report card of public school and school district performance has some Delaware County district officials rejoicing, while others are left disappointed.

For the second year in a row, the grades for Grove schools were all A's and B's, while the nearby Jay school district brought in one B-, one D and two F's.

Three area schools, Kenwood, Colcord Elementary and Oaks-Mission High School each had an F on the various report cards. A total of 183 schools state-wide received the F grade.

As a district, Grove Public Schools earned one A and three B's. The lower elementary campus earned an B+, while the upper elementary school had an A. The middle school campus earned a B while the high school had a B-.

Because of the state's grading system, the early childhood center does not receive a separate score. It is instead included in the lower elementary grade.

In comparison, in 2014, Grove schools earned two A's and two B's. The lower elementary campus earned an A-, while the upper elementary school had a B+. The middle school campus earned an A- while the high school had a B.

In 2013, Grove scored A's for the lower and upper elementary campuses, while the middle school earned a B- and the high school earned a B.

In 2012, the first year the state used the grading system, the district received on A and three B's.

Both elementary campuses received 10 bonus points for student attendance, while the middle school's attendance earned six points. The middle school also earned four additional points related dropout rates and advanced coursework. The high school earned two bonus points for advanced coursework and for year to year growth.

State-Wide View

With the testing scores release on Thursday, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister indicated she has no confidence in the validity or reliability of the report cards in their current framework.

The reports are determined by Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) officials using a formula mandated by a 2013 state law.

Hofmeister release states the OSDE supports strong accountability for education, but problems with the A-F Report Cards "have seriously undermined the system’s credibility."

"Even the U.S. Department of Education has criticized the report cards and required modifications as a condition for receiving the No Child Left Behind waiver," Hofmeister said in the release which accompanied the grades.

House Bill 1823, which took effect in June, requires the State Board of Education to submit a report on the "transparency, statistical trustworthiness and credibility" of the current A-F system to the governor and legislative leaders by Dec. 31.

Hofmeister said research scientists at Oklahoma’s two leading research universities are among those currently conducting that review and will have recommendations by December.

“I am committed to a system of accountability that is accurate, reliable and meaningful,” Hofmeister said. “In its current form, the A-F Report Cards are too flawed to be useful. I am optimistic that we can have a better system.”

Grove Public Schools

While Grove Superintendent Sandy Coaly said she was pleased by the district's results, she, like Hofmeister recognizes the grading system contains flaws.

"Our administrators and teachers work hard," Coaly said. "Our teachers go above and beyond, have countless hours of professional development, but as the State Superintendent will tell you, the system is flawed. It is not a true picture. We certainly cannot put a lot of faith into it.

"I personally feel as if all of our schools are A schools."

Coaly said she hopes Hofmeister's plans to reform the system will create an equal playing field for all schools.

Coaly said much of the district's success can be linked, in part, to the efforts made by the parents - from helping with homework to ensuring students are in class every day.

Jay Public Schools

The Jay school district earned a mixture of grades, ranging from B- to F.

This year the lower elementary received an F, the upper elementary a D, the middle school an F and the high school a B-.

In 2014, three campuses earned D's including the lower elementary a D, the upper elementary a D+ and the middle school a D-, while the high school had a C+.

In 2013, the elementary and middle schools earned D's, while the high school earned an B. The upper elementary school scored the lowest, with an F.

"I don’t think it really reflects what goes on at school every day," said Jay Superintendent Charles Thomas. "I know that we have to have some type of measurement and accountability to see where we are, I just don’t think its a fair measure of where each student and teacher is in their knowledge the curriculum that’s being tested."

Thomas, like Hofmeister, questions how the system grades each school's performance.

“I think if you read all the research about the A-F report card, the system does not accurately measure the performance of the schools or the work, time and expertise those teachers have in directing those students in the classroom," Thomas said.

Turkey Ford School District

Locally, the Turkey Ford School District, which is part of the Grove transportation district, earned a C+ dropping from B in 2014 for its pre-kindergarten to sixth grade campus in rural Wyandotte.

In 2013 it had an A- on its report card. In 2012 the district received a B+.

"We're a little disappointed," said Turkey Ford Superintendent Tamyra Larson. "

Larson, like Hofmeister, questions the validity of the grades.

"I can see results of specific kids, and how we are doing for example, and I know it's not showing up in the grade," Larson said. "The public knows the school, they know what we are doing with their individual kids, they can see the growth.

"I don't like it because anyone who has been in school knows you always strive to do better. C+ isn't better than a B. However, this isn't a true reflection of student academic growth.

"It's a little bit of a morale buster and disheartening for teachers, who know they've put in all that work.

Larson said efforts continue to help students improve reading and math scores.

Cleora School District

Cleora Schools earned an A- on this year's report card.

The grade is an improvement from the B- earned in 2014 and the same score the school received in 2013.

While Cleora Superintendent Kenny Guthrie said he was pleased with the district's score, he has concerns similar to those of Hofmeister and Coaly.

"We're proud of the grade, we think it's reflective of our school, however, we don't have much confidence of the validity of the A-F report card," Guthrie said. "The easiest way to explain it, it's bad math. It just doesn't add up or make sense in a lot of areas."

For example, Guthrie said, schools are graded based upon how the students in the "bottom 25 percent" of a subject show improvement.

In one instance, involving math, Cleora students in the bottom 25 percent were considered "proficient" or already at grade level. Because they continued at grade level, but did not show improvement based upon the way scores are ranked, the district's grade was reduced.

"This is just one small component of everything," Guthrie said. "My opinion would stay the same if we had an A- or a D-.

"We have a great grade, but we don't have a lot of confidence in it."

Chloe Farmer contributed to this story.

More Information
Mandated by state law, the A to F school grades are designed to provide parents, students, businesses and communities with a clear, easily understood snapshot of how local schools are performing.

The 2015 school grades, as released by the Oklahoma Department of Education, are as follows:

A - 212
B - 497
C - 536
D - 333
F - 183

In 2014, by contrast, the state-wide grades were:

A - 284
B - 470
C - 492
D - 292
F - 196
A searchable database of the schools and their scores can be found online at http://afreportcards.ok.gov.

A Look At The Scores
Area schools with their grades for 2015, 2014 and 2013.

Delaware County School

Cleora: School: A- 2015, B- 2014, A- 2013.

Leach: School: C, D, D-.

Kenwood: School: F, F, F.

Mosley: School: D+, D-, D-.

Jay: Lower elementary: F, D, D; Upper elementary: D, D+, F, Middle school: F, D-, D; and high school: B-, C+, B.

Grove: Lower elementary: B+, A-, A; Upper elementary: A, B+, A; Middle school: B, A-, B-; High school: B-, B, B.

Kansas: Elementary: C-, C, D-; Middle School: D-, D+, C; High School: B, B, C+.

Colcord: Elementary: F, D, C; High School: C-, D, C.

Oaks-Mission: Elementary: D+, F, D; High School: F, B, B-.

Ottawa County Schools

Schools of local interest include:

Turkey Ford: School: C+, B, A-.

Wyandotte: Elementary school: B-, B-, C; Middle school: C, F, F; High school: B, B+, A.

Afton: Elementary school: D+, D+, C.; High school: A-, D+, B+.

Fairland: Elementary school: C, A-, A-; Middle: B-, B-, C+; High school:B-, B-, A.

This story originally appeared in the Oct. 23 issue of The Grove Sun