Altus Times (Altus, Okla.), Vol. 96, No. 265, Ed. 1 Sunday, January 19, 1997 Page: 1 of 24
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Altus Times-Democrat and was provided to The Gateway to Oklahoma History by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
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All 101 S
ini S
Comics... Page 3B
Altus, Oklahoma, home of — Opal Dark
Briscoe announces candidacy for school board
News
briefs
school goals
(See *Keating, page 2)
Vice commander gets warm Altus welcome
the
c o m in e m orate
Crossincthe Red-
• INI
By Sr. Airman.
Chuck Widener
Base public affairs
Office,
Wo. %
closed
Opinion ... Page 2B
Reader speak out
Gladiola Unit of the Altus
Garden Club will meet at the
home of Mary Biles, 818 E.
Cypress, at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
W estern
Association
Underwriters
sponsoring
Keating
lauds new
Sports... Page 8
Free throws take down Bulldogs
Motor part store
deemed total loss
By Carol Cole
Times Managing Editor
By Kelly Kurt
Associated Press Writer
Altus native Brent Briscoe has wanted to be
a member of the Altus Board of Education for
the last five years, he says.
But he didn’t feel like he was able to try for a
Board seat until recently because of his
visibility at the United Supermarket chain
where lie worked for more than 30 years, the
last 22 years as a store manager.
Now that he is a private businessman
employed by WMA Associates, Briscoe says he
feels his time has come. He has announced his
candidacy for the slot on the Altus Board of
Education that will be voted on Feb. 1 1.
A product of the Altus Public School System.
Briscoe, 47. graduated from Altus High School
in 1969. His wife Robyn graduated in 1973.
and they raised three children in the context of
the Altus Public School System.
Their oldest son Kris graduated in 1989.
Kevin graduated in 1995 and 17-year-old son
Jeremy is a junior at Altus High School.
I understand the desires and needs of
young people today and how that has changed
over the years, says Briscoe. I ve lived here
all mv life. Ive always had a deep and abiding
interest in young people. I feel like 1 can help
take these schools into the 21st century."
Briscoe is an active member of the First
Baptist Church, a member of the Altus Lion's
Club, a director with the Altus All Sports
After the fire
Burned out cars are all that's left of the
contents of Tovar Motor Parts which burned
Friday morning. At top right, firefighters
Ralph Walker and Randy Gibson strain to tear
smoldering pieces of the tar roof away from
the structure. (Times photos by Sherry Jones)
Association and the Altus Great Plains
Recreation working with the American Legion
Baseball program. He is president of the Altus
High School Alumni Association.
Briscoe says he feels his experience as a
store manager helped him prepare for a Board
oi Education position in several ways.
During those years as a manager, I had the
privilege of employing and working with
countless numbers of young people, many of
whom are your sons and daughters,'' wrote
Briscoe to Altus citizens in a prepared
statement to the Times. "Over the years. I have
seen a change in their concerns and desires
about their future and receiving a quality
education to help them through life ranks at the
top."
"1 firmly believe that the Altus teachers,
administrators and support personnel should
receive encouragement and the much deserved
support from the Board of Education. Altus is
and should remain a premier school system we
as parents of students and as a community can
all be proud of," he continued in the statement.
"We must stay on the leading edge of
technology and we will, but we must never
forget the basics of education and give all
students a good solid foundation on which to
build their future. I have always had a deep
and genuine interest in young people and their
well-being. As the parent of a student. I share
the same concerns of most parents and that is
History of Scouting presentation
celebrates Boy Scout anniversary
The Museum of the
Western Prairie and Scouts
of Troop and Pack 271 will
sponsor a History of Scouting
in the Kicking Bird District
of Southwest Oklahoma to
Caregiver Support Group
will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday
at the JCMH Home Health
Care Building. All persons
concerned with long-term
care of loved ones are urged
to attend.
Monday in observance of
Martin Luther King, Jr's.,
Birthday. Regular hours will
resume Tuesday.
ALTUS AFB, Okla. - The
new 97th Air Mobility Wing
vice commander, Col. Robert
W. Tapaszi Jr., arrived at
Altus Jan. 2, and according to
the colonel, he received the
best welcome in his career.
During his first two weeks
as vice commander. Tapaszi
has visited a number of
people - both on the base and
in the community. He said his
initial impression of Altus is
good - other than the constant
winds.
"My initial impression of
Altus is very favorable," said
the vice commander. "The
reason being the people.
From the people I’ve met on
base to the people I’ve met
downtown, everyone has
rolled out the red carpet for
me." Tapaszi said he told his
wife and family, who are
staying in Burke, Va., until
his daughter graduates from
high school June 16, to be
prepared for the best welcome
they’ll ever receive when they
arrive at Altus.
In his short time here.
Tapaszi said he has noticed
the great relationship
between the base and the city.
He has also noticed other
anniversary of Boy Scouting.
A special ceremony will be
held at noon Feb. 8 at the
Museum of the Western
Prairie recognizing special
and honored guests. Mr. Tal
Oden will be the guest
speaker. Oden will give a
history presentation of
Scouting from the Kicking
Bird District.
Scouts will have exhibits
and items on display. Many
former Scout leaders and
individual will have items
and artifacts from the 1920s
on display. Many articles,
pictures, a list of Eagle
Scouts and former Scout
leaders will be on public
display from Feb. 8 through
Feb. 28.
All Scout units. Cub
Packs, Webelos Dens and
Explorer Posts from the
Kicking Bird District who
wish to participate are asked
to contact Joe Carrisalez at
482-9377: Burna Coe.
museum curator. 482-
01044: or David Cherry.
A Caregiver Mobile Meals
deliverer is urgently needed
to make deliveries on
Thursdays. If interested,
call 482-0470.
BARTLESVILLE. Okla. (AP) -
A group of business, education
and political leaders has agreed
on at least six state education
goals. including funding
increases that are based on a
school's performance.
Gov. Frank Keating hailed
the consensus of the more than
50 leaders as an important
first.
"This was the first time all of
the leaders of the education
community and a very
significant group of important
business and political leaders
of both parties came together
for the purpose of discussing
how do we make Oklahoma
public schools and universities
better." he said.
The meeting, proposed by
Phillips Petroleum Co.
Chairman and Chief Executive
Offic er Wayne Allen, took place
behind closed doors Friday.
"My intention was to get
something done," Keating said.
""If everyone was playing to the"
gallery, we wouldn't get much
dor e."
related issues full time.
However, Tapaszi said he will
still be invoiced in the 1G
process.
The new vice commander
not only served as the senior
officials inquiry officer at the
Pentagon, he also worked in
the IG community for a year -
bringing experience with him.
"1 will be working with the
IG very closely," said Tapaszi.
"I will continue getting
thoroughly briefed on all
activities and 1 will also
provide guidance."
Having served in the XO
community, IG communitv and
many other fields. Tapaszi
said he has noticed many
changes in his career: the
main change being the drastic
reduction in numbers.
“What 1 have seen in the
Air Force in general is a
drastic reduction in the
number of installations and
people. Yet our operations
tempo, whether it be actual
deployments or world-wide
training, is higher than I have
ever seen it. That will last for
some time.” The key to make
it through such times is
abiding by core values and
putting service before self,
said the colonel.
Meanwhile, Tapaszi said
Altus will be here for a while.
R.S.V.P., Central
and Tumbleweed
Center, will be
Oklahoma
of Life
will be
their annual
Continuing Education (CE)
Seminar at Southwest
Technology Center, 711 W.
Tamarack Road, Monday
beginning at 8 a.m. For a
reservation or information,
contact Joe Walker at 477-
0704.
Weather
Altus vicinity - Sunday:
Sunny and warm. High in the
mid 60s. Southwest wind 10
to 15 mph.
High Friday: 45.
High Saturday: 58.
Around town
Happy Birthday wishes to
SHIRLEY OTTEN and CHRIS
SIMONS...Happy 32nd
anniversary wishes to MR.
AND MRS. JAMES AUSTIN...
Scout Executive at 477-2048
as soon as possible.
Participation is not limited
to artifacts or pictures. Items
for display could be
pinewood derby cars, crafts,
scout badges, scout
kerchiefs. camping
equipment, cooking items,
monkey bridge, flag
displays.
All Eagle Scouts
regardless of age are
encouraged to contact Joe
Carrisalez, Burna Coe or
David Cherry as soon as
possible.
Scout articles and artifacts
will also be on display at the
Altus Public Library.
things as well.
"It’s nice to see what I
consider to be a wonderful
working relationship between
the city of Altus and the base
at Altus," he said. "It’s also
nice to see the student
population coming and going -
both enlisted and officer. And
it's great to see the wonderful
facilities being erected on the
base because not only does it
benefit the students, it also
benefits the permanent party
folks.”
In seeing the relationship
between the base and
community, the student
population, and the
construction of new facilities,
Tapaszi said he looks forward
to being the vice commander
at Altus.
As vice commander,
Tapaszi said his duties will
require him to assist Brig.
Gen. David R. Love, 97th Air
Mobility Wing commander, in
the day to day operation of the
base. He will also be
expected to fill in for Love
when he is TDY as well as
assist in the direction and
guidance of group
commanders and their
subordinates.
Before, vice commanders
also performed inspector
general duties. Today, the IG
is a separate position staffed
by people who handle IG-
Sunday
Jan. 19. 1997
Vol. 103, No. 266
Founded March15, 1900
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8 a.m. - 7 p.m. M-F
7 - 9 a.m. Sunday
From Times Staff Reports
. , . The lire began when fumes
. A total loss to the contents oi ignited from a fuel tank that
Tovar Motoi Parts at 215 1/2 was being removed from a
W. Walnut was the result ol a vehicle, according to an
lire at around 11 a.m. Friday employee of the business,
morning. , Two hours after the fire, the
Damage was estimated at poor1
■ . 1 7rool continued to smolder,
approximately 850,000 for "Tar is hard to put out." said
contents, according to lire C.. it
, , , ..... . firefighter Todd Gilpatrick. It
department officials. , I he just keeps on smoking."
structure was estimated to have 3 . n Lainice Tea
. ■ 1 r 1 Owner ol the business Is Joe
sustained $20,000 of damage. Tovar. Leroy Nehr>s the owner
Ihe building was estimated to - 1,1:1112
ol the building.
be worth approximately
$50,000. —-
Pause to pray
Each of us is here to
help dilute the misery in the
world. Though I may not be
able to make a big
contribution, I can make a
small one, and I must try.
Help me Father, to make the
best contribution I can each
day.
what is best for the Altus student body. The LORELIT Y
students of Altus Schools must always be theTied
center of the decision making process:- SO1
The real challenge facing us today isTetls
determining how to prepare our young people od Pdlre-7 a
so they will he the best educated students who MAS A aeul 50
will be the future leaders of our great nation. MEA
Conditions and situations are changing rapidly I 1 Deals
and we must prepare students to meet these aT iTY
ever changing opportunities. We must have the F A ,
leadership that will prepare our youth to Mlntu
preservethe-freedom of our country and .
provide possible answers to resolve the
differing, turbulent situations current today.th
By working together as a team we can keep TlA A3
Altus Public Schools as a premier school
system willing to provide the student with the ISSAPi
proper tools for lite That is my goal and I hope FlATss
it is yours also, he wrote
Brisgne-also authored a letter he will be FITTSA.
sending to educators.
I firmly believe that the teachers should be-ESES
in charge of them classrooms, the pricpals in
charge of their schools, standing with and
being supportive of their teachers. The
superintendent is the captain of the ship. The Brent Briscoe, announces his
buck stops there. i will not as a school board candidacy for the Altus school board,
member, ever try to micro-manage classes or /
schools," wrote Briscoe in the letter to teachers (Times photo by Sherry Jones)
and principals
Southwest Oklahoma
Community Action Group,
Inc.'s programs, Southwest
Transit, Head Start,
Housing. Senior Nutrition,
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Cole, Carol. Altus Times (Altus, Okla.), Vol. 96, No. 265, Ed. 1 Sunday, January 19, 1997, newspaper, January 19, 1997; Altus, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc2184104/m1/1/?q=Cadet+Nurse+Corps: accessed July 5, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.