Page 7, The Okeene Record, Thursday, March 14, 2013

Your Senator
By Tom Ivester As legislators, one of our jobs is to recognize areas in need of change; however, change is often hard and rarely happens overnight. Some folks talked to me about ways in which universities were handling sexual assaults. Universities do not always report allegations of sexual misconduct to the police. Universities may conduct investigations and hearings on the matter all within the confines of the university walls. This leaves the potential for the university to quietly handle the incident without publicity. If the university does not notify the police the perpetrator is left under the radar. In response, I drafted Senate Bill 312 to ensure universities are reporting these sexual assaults incidents to the police. Bill 312 sought to balance the interest of the universities, the victims, the accused, and the community. The bill required the universities to report incidents of sexual assault to the local authorities once a student reported the incident to the university. While writing this bill, many people within the system were willing to help with the cause. Unfortunately, there are 101 ways to kill a bill, and at the end of the day Bill 312 did not survive. However, all is not lost; the efforts of reform catalyzed action within the system. Discussions shedding insight on the issue were held with officials from the University of Oklahoma (OU), Oklahoma State University (OSU), and the Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO). The Board of Regents governing OSU are considering adopting a policy requiring administrators to notify law enforcement of sexual assaults. RUSO has adopted a new system wide policy that requires the universities to report incidents of campusrelated sexual assaults to the proper law enforcement authorities. These policy changes will be implemented within the State's regional universities of which RUSO governs: East Central University, Northeastern State University, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and the University of Central Oklahoma. In addition, Oklahoma City University is also considering implementing policy changes.

Cattlemen's Spring Beef quality workshop offers Tour Scheduled ranchers certification training
The Blaine County Cattlemen's Spring Tour is scheduled for Thursday, March 21st. Our main destination is the State Capitol & Department of Agriculture in OKC. We will leave the County courthouse in Watonga at 6:00 a.m. south side of courthouse. A stop will be made in Geary to pick up members by the County Commissioners Shop. A breakfast stop will be made along the way. We will tour the State Capitol and meet with legislature members Representative Mike Sanders & Senator Ivestor. After a lunch break, we head to the Depart. Of Ag and speak with the Secretary of Agriculture. A tour of their lab will be given. After the tour & supper we'll return to Watonga. Spring tour is on a first-come-first-serve basis, cattlemen members with priority. Open to the public for a cost. Bus is limited to 46 passengers; therefore, if you wish to attend PLEASE RSVP by Tuesday, March 19th by contacting the Extension Office at 580.623.5195. The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation will host a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Workshop from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursday, March 28, at the Noble Foundation Kruse Auditorium. Beef Quality Assurance is a national program that aims to raise consumer confidence through offering proper management education and guidelines for the beef industry. This workshop will offer insight into BQA standards for animal care, recordkeeping, nutrition and carcass quality. Participants will also learn the importance of proper injection techniques, product handling and storage, and livestock handling and transportation. Agricultural producers who successfully complete the course and a subsequent test will become BQA-certified. "Understanding the value and fundamentals of BQA enables producers to help the industry in its effort to maximize consumer confidence and acceptance of beef and beef products," said Robert Wells, Ph.D., livestock consultant. "As an industry, it is vital that we continue to produce the world's safest, highest quality beef for consumers both nationally and internationally." This workshop is offered at no charge, but preregistration is required. For more information or to preregister, please visit www.noble. org/agevents or contact Jackie Kelley at 580.224.6360.

Aging in Place Equals Independence

missed their old home and neighborhood. The family home typically holds many memoriesmostly happy. Harold and Sarah's children celebrated numerous birthdays and at least one wedding in their home. Their children return with their families for holidays, building even more memories. Similar memories are built into neighborhoods and communities. Cities and neighborhoods change, however. And so do seniors as they develop chronic medical conditions and disabilities of advanced age. These require some changes in thinking and perhaps some re-modeling and re-structuring of the home. For an older adult, falls are a major risk to independent living, and aggressive efforts should be made to fall proof the home. This means getting rid of loose throw rugs and obstructed pathways; adding sturdy railings on both sides of stairways plus grab bars in the bathroom. Lighting must be adequate, particularly in hallways and stairways. An occupational therapist, working with your physician, can suggest low-cost changes in your home that will compensate for the capabilities and disabilities of you and your spousenow and looking toward the future. In their 60s and early 70s, many seniors are resistant to changes in the home that may signal advanced age or handicap. A key concept that is grabbing hold is what's known as universal designfunctional for all, not just those with special needs. In the community, universal design is seen in automatic doors and the concrete dots built into corner

Judy Rupp CIRS-A NODA AAA Harold and Sarah have lived in the same house for 39 years and are close friends with their neighbors who moved in on the same day in 1974. Like the oak trees in the park across from their homes, they are aging in place. As defined by the Centers for Disease Control, aging in place refers to "the ability to live in one's own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level." This means either staying in one's family home or living in another non-institutional setting in the community. For individuals, aging in place means independencenot having to spend their final years in a nursing home or living with an adult child or other relative. And it is also the least costly option for the individual and the health care system. An AARP survey in 2010 indicated that about 90 percent of Americans age 65 and over want to stay in the home in which they're living as long as possible, and 80 percent of these expect to do so. As they move through their 70s, Harold and Sarah know that the choice may not be theirs. The previous owners sold the house, at about their age, because they had heart conditions and arthritis that made it difficult for them to maneuver stairs on a daily basis. Other neighbors made the longawaited retirement move to a warmer climate. No more winter coats; no more snow shoveling, they said. But they moved back after the first winter when they discovered that they

curbsuseful for wheelchairs, strollers, skateboards, blind people, runners or anyone worried about a fall on the ice. In the home, even toilet seats and grab bars can be designed so they are functional and attractive for everybody, not markers of disability. Harold and Sarah live in what is known as a NORCa naturally occurring retirement communityeven though it is not officially designated as such. Within a two-block radius live four couples and one widow in their 60s and 70s plus others in their 50s. They share interests and get together regularly for potlucks in the park across the road and for an annual progressive dinner. When they first moved in during the early 1970s, the neighborhood makeup was similar, and older residents set an example for the newcomers. When an elderly widow became unable to shovel snow or mow her lawn, a slightly younger, or less disabled, neighbor took over. And that trend continues to this day. Public bus stops are nearby, and a mini shopping corner is only two blocks away. Suburban developments were not built according to this traditional model, and seniors who are unable to drive may be stranded. The AARP has been working with state legislatures to develop local policies that help meet some of these needs. Its report, "Aging in Place: a State survey of Livability Policies and Practices," calls for affordable, accessible housing plus land use and public transportation policies that help older adults live within walking distance of the services they need.

The ear is a valuable site for growth promoting implants. Implants have been proven safe and effective through both research and actual use in the beef industry.

Livestock Report

The Fairview Sale Barn sold 2880 head of cattle Thursday, March 7, 2013. Slaughter cows sold $2 to $5. Canner and cutter cows sold from $65 to $75 per cwt.; Top utility and commercial cows sold from $75 to $85 per cwt.; High dressing cows sold to $90 per cwt. Slaughter bulls sold steady. Average to low dressing bulls sold from $90 to $100 per cwt.; High dressing bulls sold from $100 to $115 per cwt. Feeder steers sold $2 to $5 Low; $120 to $163 per cwt. Feeder heifers sold Low $2 to $5; $110 to $158 per cwt.

Stocker steer calves sold steady; $140 to $220 per cwt. Stocker heifer calves sold steady; $130 to $180 per cwt. Stocker cows sold from $900 to $1250 per head. Cow Calf pairs sold from $1,100 to $1,550 Sales: Seller from Okeene sold 903 pound black steers for $128.00 per cwt. Seller from Watonga sold 823 pound black steers for $133.00 per cwt. Seller from Fairview sold 708 pound black steers for $146.00 per cwt. Seller from Kingfisher sold 861

Banishing the chills

Do you find yourself wearing a sweater when it's 75 degrees outside? Are you unable to tolerate the air conditioning on a steamy day? If you're always cold it could be a sign that your body is changing or it may be a symptom of illness, such as an underactive thyroid. Older people have less subcutaneous fat stores and muscle mass, both of which can insulate a body. Therefore, they may have trouble regulating body temperature. But there are ways to feel warmer. * Gain weight: Putting on a few extra pounds can help aging men and women who feel cold all the time. Consult with a doctor as to what is a healthy weight for your age. * Wear a vest: The body sacrifices heat in the extremities (hands and feet) to warm the core. Wearing a vest can keep your chest warm, and thus, the rest of your body. * Get physical: Moderate exercise can get the blood pumping and speed up metabolism. * Visit the doctor: Get a check-up to ensure you're not cold due to a medical condition.

pound mixed heifers for $129.50 per cwt. Seller from Watonga sold 712 pound black heifers for $135.00 per cwt. Seller from Kingfisher sold 623 pound black heifers for $157.50.00 per cwt. Seller from Watonga sold 300 pound black steers for $195 per cwt. Seller from Pond Creek sold 280 pound black steers for $216 per cwt. Seller from Watonga sold 512 pound black heifers for $158.75 per cwt. Seller from Watonga sold 335 pound Black heifers for $180.00 per cwt.

Municipal Court - March 7, 2013

Behind the Badge

Animal Running at Large: Janice Nobis, $170-reduced to $100; Gabriela Montes-Merz, $170 Theft of Utilities: Tony Lee Montez, $544; Tina Hays, $544 Public Intoxication: Jesse Edward Sampson, III, $270 Operating w/Expired Registration: Linda Sue Jantzen (was postponed until April 4th) $170 Assault & Battery: James Dewey Minton, $270 (To appear 4/4/13 for trial)

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