Rush Creek Farmer - Eulys Henson

   Eulys Henson, my uncle and long-time Rush Creek farmer left us on February 25, 2019, at the age of 91. He and his profession is part of the reason that America is the greatest country in the world, and here is why I believe this is true: Eulys worked hard from daylight to dusk every day of the last 74 years of life. He had talents for doing lots of other things which would pay more, but chose to be only a farmer. For example, as a high school baseball player (pitcher), he reportedly had a "Don Drysdale" fastball which exceeded 90 mph. It is really unknown, since speed guns didn't exist back in the day - but he once fired a baseball at his hay barn (about 300 feet in the distance) which didn't get 30 feet off the ground, and put a dent in it one inch deep. Eulys was invited to spring training in Florida with a major league team (1949), for a tryout, but chose to remain on Rush Creek.. farming. He never became wealthy, and remained "poor" by many standards, but was rich beyond belief according to him.
   My uncle, Eulys Henson, was like a second father to me growing up on Rush Creek. He was one of my few real heroes, and I'll miss him as long as I remain. My brother Johnny, who provided the eulogy for our uncle, may have said it best. He visited with Eulys several days before he passed, for the last time. When Johnny got home after the visit, he scratched on his wooden desk - "Best day I've ever had". Rest in peace, Eulys, we'll see you soon.

Will Oklahoma Rein in Epic Charter Failure?

   The article - Will Oklahoma Rein in Epic Charter Failure? by John Thompson, written for LIVING in DIALOGUE on April 2, 2019, provides an in-depth analysis of Epic failures for which virtual public schools in Oklahoma are responsible. Read the article here, and decide for yourself...

Teachers Support Students

   One year ago teachers were preparing to walk out of classrooms across Oklahoma. Teachers did walk out to the capitol, in protest of low classroom funding from the State Legislature. They were already promised a pay increase - because Oklahoma teachers are some of the lowest paid in the nation, but walked out anyway. Teachers knew that student operational funding still lagged the rest of the nation, but state lawmakers ignored this fact.
   One year later, teachers have not walked out - but know that the Oklahoma Legislature still has not met its April 1 deadline for funding our public schools. Our state teachers have decided to support our students in other ways. Student education will not be disrupted, as testing and other important student activities will continue, but our Blanchard teachers will wear "Blanchard Lion" shirts and maroon clothing to school all week. We will also wear "red" and red ribbons, in support of appropriate student funding and lower class sizes.
   If you are a Blanchard citizen, student, or parent, you are also invited to share our support for our students and public schools - and wear maroon, red, and red ribbons. The legislature still will not properly fund our students (lower class sizes), unless they know that people really do support our traditional public schools.