Seminole Producer

The
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Cowboy
Roy Coffman

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Each Thursday morning, I make the drive

to Vinita, OK to drink coffee and eat donuts
with several men and talk about the news of
the day. This group is made up local farmers, a couple of retired businessmen and
a couple of preachers, ranging in age from
the upper forties to around seventy years of
age. Each of these men fall in the well-educated category.
This week the discussions turned to the
State Ballot questions we will be voting on
in the November 8th, General Election. It
was interesting to see which state questions were of interest and which were not.
Because the group consisted of mostly
farmers and ranchers State Question 777
drew the most interest.
State Question 777 will add section 38 to
Article II of the Oklahoma Constitution. The
new Section creates state guaranteed constitutional rights to engage in farming and
ranching; It assures the right to make use
of agricultural technology, the right to make
use of livestock procedures, and the right to
make use of ranching practices.
These constitutional rights receive extra
protection under this measure that not all
constitutional rights receive; The extra protection is a limit on lawmakers ability to
interfere with these right, unless the law is
justified by a compelling state interest a
clearly identified state interest of the highest
order. Additionally, the law must be necessary to serve that compelling state interest.
Now I am pro-farming in most instances
and parts of my family owned large farms
and ranches here in Oklahoma. This is a bill
however I dont support, because it has no
real safeguards for cities and counties and
breaks the legs of the state. It is a case of
the fox being put in charge of protecting the
hen house. What protects us when a slaughterhouse or any farming operation decides
to dump its sewage into our local water
supply? That is going to be an ugly fight and
most cities and counties in Oklahoma dont
have the money to fight, and the state will
turn its back.
All of the coffee drinking and donut-eating
farmers who met this week were in favor of
the measure, the others were not. The main
feeling of the farmers leaned in the direction
of I dont want anyone telling me what I can
and cant do, we have too many regulations
now.
It was interesting to hear that none of the
group would support Question 790, which is
designed to repeal Section 5 or Article 2 of
the Oklahoma Constitution, which prohibits
public money from being spent for religious
purposes. This proposal would allow the Ten
Commandments monument to be returned
to the Capitol grounds.
Note what Article 2, Section 5 says; No
public money or property shall ever be
appropriated, applied, donated, or used,
directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit, or
support of any sect, church, denomination,
or system of religion, or for the use, benefit,
or support of any priest, preacher, minister,
or other religious teacher of dignitary, or sectarian institution as such.
The general opinion of the group this
week I think makes a very valid point. No
one wanted the State of Oklahoma having
any excuse to start regulating our everyday
religious freedoms. To a one this group will
vote no on this State Question.
The positive response to State Question
776 took me by surprise. This amendment
would assert that all methods of execution
shall be constitutionally allowed, unless
prohibited by the United States Constitution,
and designated statutorily by the legislature.
In any case where the execution method
is deemed invalid, the measure would provide that the death sentence shall remain
in force until the sentence can be lawfully
executed by any valid method. The measure
as well forbids the death penalty from being
construed as the infliction of cruel and
unusual punishment.
The group is extremely tired of the murders being committed across the state, and
especially the shooting of our law enforcement officers. If an individual is convicted of
murder they should not be hanging around
for years while we argue over the method to
be used to carry out the execution.
I found it very interesting and encouraging that all of the group cant wait to vote in
the next election.
The presidential debate of this past week
was just about what I expected and I think
that the big looser was network television. I
was not impressed with any of the network
news commentators before or after the
event. As a moderator for the debate Lester
Holt was out of his league. After you sit back
and look at what the two candidates had to
say, nothing new was said and this one I
declared a draw.
This is going to be an interesting election
and it will be very interesting to see how
historians treat it. Parts of the information
in this weeks article came from Ballotpedia
and the Oklahoma Press Association.

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.

Stillwater NewsPress

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ETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Get the facts; vote
yes on SQ 777
ames E. McDonald
tillwater
o the editor:
Lets talk the facts.
I continue to be amazed at the lies
nd scare tactics used by the anti-farmg interests opposed to SQ 777 Right
Farm. We have now heard from prossional politicians, bird lovers, deer
unters and clueless individuals that
e NOT giving out the real facts, and
a lot of cases just telling outright lies
simply using hearsay or uneducated
ersonal opinions.
Now, there is nothing wrong with
rd lovers, deer hunters or other misuided souls, because I believe my wife
as spent as much on feeding the birds
nd other wildlife as I do on raising one
lf and I enjoy that as much as she
oes. However, now the Washington
C. based American Humane Associion is trying to scare voters. Here are
e facts:
Less than 0.75 percent of the land in
klahoma is currently owned by foreign
rporations.
Title 18, Chapter 21, Sections 951-956
early says that foreign corporations
nnot own agriculture land . no
reign corporation shall be formed or
censed under the Oklahoma General
orporation Act for the purpose of enaging in farming or ranching or for the
urpose of owning or leasing any intert in land to be used in the business of
rming or ranching. (18:21:951)
Therefore, of the 0.75 percent of cororate-owned land in Oklahoma, how
uch is agriculture?
Title 18, Chapter 21, Sections 951-956
nnot be changed by SQ 777 since they
xisted long before December 31, 2014.
was 1971 to be exact!
When government creates a regulaon, who is better able to comply? A
mall business or a big corporate busiess with teams of lawyers? SQ 777
otects small family farmers from the
nerous government regulations that

only big entities can comply with. In

other words, if you want more corporate
farms, vote no on SQ 777.
SQ 777 only applies to the legislature.
Reference HJR 2012 that placed this
question on the ballot. It says only the
legislature. Cities, counties, schools
even the federal government, is unaffected by SQ 777.
Water is a compelling state issue.
Period! Anyone who says SQ 777 will
allow, or may possibly allow, for pollution of water is saying that water isnt
an important issue for Oklahomans.
Agriculture says water is a compelling
state interest and therefore the legislature should have the authority to set
regulations.
Finally, yes, the number of farms in
Oklahoma has decreased in the last
25 years. Why is that? Two reasons,
first, farmers have adopted practices
and technologies that allow for more
efficient food production. Simply put, it
takes fewer farmers to raise even more
food. Do we want to ask farmers to be

less efficientuse more water, more

land, more resources to raise our food?
Second, the number of government regulations have increased exponentially
driving many farmers out of the business. It is the same scenario for small
business.
To those folks that dont like to eat
meat, but really do like the carrots,
corn, potatoes, flour made from wheat
and other vegetables that are produced
by Oklahoma farmers, God Blessm!
To those folks that like to eat beef and
pork produced by Oklahoma ranchers,
God Bless them also!
To the professional politicians that
understand we live in a country that
allows us all to do just about anything
we want as long as it is within the laws
written and we have the right, without
fear, to vote them into office or not into
office or to vote yes on SQ 777, I say
God bless the United States of America,
and as they say on channel 4 TV, Is this
a great state or what?
Vote YES 777!

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.

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Vinita Daily Journal

To the editor:
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can get this on the ballot as a
state question, misname it to
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decent chance of passing.
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SQ 777.
Rusty Fleming
Grand Lake

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The Comanche Times

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Getting To Know You.....

Chamber of Commerce Hosted Candidate Meet and Greet

Comanche Chamber of Commerce hosted a Candidate Meet
and Greet Thursday evening of
this past week at the beautiful
and nostalgic Randy Byford Center in downtown Comanche.
The event was organized by
former Comanche Chamber
President and present Comanche
Chamber Public Relations Coordinator Melinda Smith to allow
Comanche and area citizens a
time to meet the candidates and
discuss issues with them one on
one before they cast their ballots,
While recent weeks have seen
the Trump/Clinton campaigns
dominate news reporting and
conversation, Comanche Chamber President Bruce Akins said it
was important to remind
Comanche and area citizens also
how important the local races are

At The Pole

The beautiful Randy Byford Center in downtown Comanche was the host site of the Comanche Chamber of
Commerce Meet and Greet the candidates Thursday evening of this past week.
to our families and wanted this come up like our Lady Indians Vote Yes! on State Question
event to give them the opportu- playing right now in the regional 777; Republican Paul Scott, cannity to visit and get to know the tournament and other events tak- didate for State Senate District
candidates and their positions on ing place at the same time, but 43, seat to be vacated by Senator
issues important to them.
we are very pleased so far with Cory Brooks; Democrat Perry
We have had over 40 citizens the turnout and everyone seems Brinegar, candidate for State
come by to meet the candidates to be having a good time visiting Senate District 31, being vacated
so far, Chamber President Bruce with the candidates in this beau- by term limits by State Senator
Don Barrington; Democrat MelAkins told The Times while the tiful venue, Akins said.
event was ongoing.
Candidates and campaign rep- issa Tilley, candidate for State
We knew there were a number resentatives in attendance in- Representative District 50, seat
of conflicting events that had cluded: Dell Farris representing
See Getting To Know You p. 5

Cit P

Bi

F ll F t C

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The Comanche Times

Getting To Know You From P. 1

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to be vacated by State Representative Dennis Johnson; Angela

Rouse, representing Republican
Chris Kidd, candidate for State
Senate District 31, being vacated
by term limits by Sate Senator
Don Barrington; Marcus
McEntire, Republican candidate
for State Representative District
50, seat to be vacated by State
Representative Dennis Johnson;
Democrat Christina Owen, candidate for District 4 Congress,
challenging Republican Congressman Tom Cole on the November ballot.
At right, Democratic State Senate Candidate for District #31
Perry Brinegar (pictured left)
talks with Jiggs McEntire at the
Chamber of CommerceMeet
and Greet this past week.

From
0001

Democratic State Rep. District #50 candidate Melissa Tilley, and daughter, Miss Comanche Katy Tilley, listen to
Dennis Miller of Marlow during the Comanche Chamber of Commerce Meet and Greet this past week in
downtown Comanche.

Democratic 4th District Congressional candidate Christina Owen talks to Charles Harris (pictured center) and
Chuck Ralls.

Above, Comanche school teacher

Kelli Bolton talks to Republican
State Senate District #43 candidate
Paul Scott about Oklahoma public
school education issues during the
Comanche Chamber of Commerce
Meet and Greet this past week.
Republican State Rep. District 50 candidate Marcus MeEntire talks to local pharmacist Ryan Woody at the
Chamber of Commerce Meet and Greet this past week.

Almost A Century of Wisdom.....

Yes On State Question 777 representative Dell Farris (pictured left)

,Bryan Fisher and some unknown photobomber pause for a Times photo
during the Comanche Chamber of Commerce Meet and Greet this past
week in downtown Comanche.

Every Wednesday evening at the Comanche Methodist Church is always a special time of eating and socializing. But, this past
Wednesday evening, one special VIP visiting Jeannie Allison got the royal treatment, and with a very good reason. Jeannies sister,
Vada ODell of Los Angeles, was visiting Jeannie here in Comanche. Her sister, Vada, will be turning 100 years old on December
20th later this year. Jeannie and all her friends decided a very special Happy Birthday! celebration was in order. A special cake
made by Linda Powers with 100 roses adorned set the stage for the event attended by the guest of honor, Vada, her sister, Jeannie
Allison (Johnnys niece), Janet Evans of Duncan, Vadas daughter and Jeannies niece, Elizabeth ODell of Los Angeles, and Janet
Evans grandson, Gage Graham, of Marlow Central, and many Methodist friends from Comanche. Vada and Jeannie were both born
in Harris, Missouri.

Republican Chris Kidd for State Senate District #31 representative Angela Rouse talks to Comanche Chamber member Melinda Smith during
the Comanche Chamber Meet and Greet this past week.

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.