May 29th, 2017 Volume 75, Issue 2

Since 2001, 6,251 American men and

women have died in this great war we are

treacherously taking on overseas. As citi-

zens of this country we think about these

grand heroes once, maybe twice a year as

the holidays roll by. Memorial Day is not

just meant to be the first party to attend of

the summer months.

Every single day we as Americans

wake up, brush our teeth, and go about our

daily lives. The thought of those simple

things being a luxury is taken for granted,

as we seem to expect these privileges with-

out even giving them a second thought.

Most fail to see past the guns and the killing

of other human beings. When looking deeper

we see that while we are despising going to

school every day and being annoyed about

giving our younger siblings rides, there are

families overseas that are scared to death

they won’t survive through the night.

In 1st Lieutenant Emily Thompson’s

moving speech, she discussed how we as

Americans do not know a single day without

being free and I

couldn’t think of a

better way of say-

ing it. The families

So, Why Fight?

in Afghanistan, Iran and so many more coun-

tries are suffering while we are taking the pre-

cious gift of life itself for granted. Who will

help them? Who will be their saving grace?

This is why we fight. This is why we say good-

bye to our loved ones for six, ten, twelve

months. This is why we leave our beloved be-

hind, to fight for the most gracious country in

the world.

Now fighting isn’t for everyone. Some of

us may not be able to get up and go fight over-

seas. But by no means should those of us sit at

home and soak in the sweet freedom. We

should be humbled by the thought of another

man or woman laying their life down for us,

someone we don’t even know. Not only should

we think about these heroes every once in

awhile. They deserve much more. They de-

serve a handshake, a “Thank you for your ser-

vice” or even a simple smile. Our acknowl-

edgement for their duties for us is something

that they will carry on with them and help lift

their spirits.

So go out today and show your appreci-

ation for our men and women in uniform.

There is no way we would have our unlimited

freedoms without these respected individuals.

-Kinsley Moore, Edwin City

Page 2 The Girls Stater

This afternoon, several in-telligent young women stepped up and accepted the challenge and responsibility of running for a dis-trict office for the sooner party. The elections will be held tomor-row, and the Sooner who is victo-rious in each office will emerge as the party’s candidate for the dis-trict elections on Wednesday.

Interestingly enough, the most inspiring moment was not when the potential candidates faced the crowd to give their ac-ceptance speeches. The most heartening part of today was the encouragement that came just be-fore the speeches. Though each girl here is equally qualified to be-come elected, not every girl feels comfortable with running for of-fice. Because of this, spots on the ballot could have potentially de-faulted to the Boomer party. That

is, if this had been any regular group of teenage girls.

These girls turned to their neighbor and encouraged one another to step out of their comfort zones. Those already running for a district office cheered on the ones who were still hesitant. This is a testament not only to the kind of family feeling that blossoms at Girls State after only a few hours, but also the good-natured competi-tiveness between the ‘parties’. The girls were not familiar with ‘Boomers’ and ‘Sooners’ before arriving, but it took no time to pledge allegiance to the two ficti-tious parties and begin cam-paigning.

I believe my experience today correctly represents the atmosphere at Girls State: we are supportive of each other’s

ambitions and foster a healthy competitiveness with one anoth-er. We push ourselves and our fellow citizens to become the strongest versions of ourselves possible. We take leaps, and are prepared to catch one another should we fall. This was a deli-cious taste of what I hope to be a fascinating week here at OU!

-Taylor DiGiacinto, Deutser City

District Mixer

trict judge, county clerk, or to be a state repre-sentative. This was an en-joyable time because we got to listen to the many different speeches that people either had made up entirely on the spot, or planned the night before.

I believe that that is one of the most amaz-ing, spur of the moment things that can happen is trying to make up a speech on the spot for a position that you decided you wanted to fun for, of-ten times, five minutes ago. This is something that is very unique about this week. Every single

Monday at Girls State, several different counties met and had their first mixers, where they split into their par-ties: Boomers and Sooners. At the county mixers delegates elected their peers to take on the roll of their nominees for either the boomer or sooner parties for the county conven-tion where the finale election will be held on Tuesday.

Personally, I am a Soon-er in Stewart County, so my experiences may differ from someone in another county. During the meeting, we elect-ed a permanent chair to pre-side of the meeting, we voiced our plans to run for certain po-sitions such as associate dis-

girl here has put their pride on the line in order to be fill a position that they want. “I thought the mixer was a good opportunity for everyone even the ‘quiet’ ones to get an equal chance to run for that they want” said Kylie Webb from Willits City. I also found this really amazing about the county mixers today, watching people step up and run for something that they may or may not get is always an in-credibly admirable thing.

-Abigail Dennis,

Willits City

County Mixers: An Equal Opportunity For One

Page 3 Volume 75, Issue 2

involved and started running for offices, knew she was inter-ested in Girls Nation and went ahead and took the test and was selected (obviously). She also said she didn’t originally plan on going to Yale but fell in love with their campus when she attended a program called Yale Young Local Scholars, which brought people from all over together with the topic of international affairs, her main interest for life. Patricia decided

Anna and Patricia were asked to give their insight, ideas, and journey from being a citizen of Girls State all the way to their successful admittance into their respective Ivy League colleges. Both took a different approach in answering the question, but both gave great advice. Anna decided to take the route of going step-by-step approach saying she started the week just wanting to survive the overwhelming experience, and then knew she wanted to get

to share her knowledge and tips; file for Girls Nation, be ac-tive your entire week at Girls State, legislation is a big part so try to be involved in that aspect. As far as Girls Nation, Patricia loved debating real federal is-sues that could be potentially brought up in an actual session, seeing the different views of all fifty states as well as being able to come together in unity.

-Madison Dunn , Densmore City

Patricia Liu & Anna Smist’s Journey

Girls State had the privilege of hearing Jari

Askins, a woman with a passion for govern-

ment and encouraging others. She has

served Oklahoma for over thirty years by

running for multiple offices. During her

moving speech, her words injected inspira-

tion into every listener. It reminds us that

Girls State is

the ideal op-

portunity to try

new things,

stretch our

b o u n d ar i e s ,

and absorb new information that is pre-

sented to us. For me, personally, I was

hooked from beginning to end. She

showed me that as a Girls Stater, I have

the ability to connect with my peers and

celebrate the occasions that this week

has to offer, and I know I was not the on-

ly one. Jari Askins shared her thoughts on

the importance of this organization, and I

believe that she has successfully planted a

greater love for it in every member. She

stated that after attending Girls State, her

appreciation for the flag and our country

grew so much larger, and she was able

to pass the same feeling to the entire fo-

rum. We were so thankful to have Askins

as a speaker, and we would be fortunate

to have her attend again.

- Bailey Robertson, Granchie City

Optimum Opportunities

Page 4 The Girls Stater

Our lives are filled with many symbols and emblems. Some of these emblems are well known, like our nation’s flag representing our free-dom, or the owl symbolizing wisdom. However, there are many other symbols that mean everything to some and nothing to others. The poppy is one of those, but it shouldn't be. The poppy represents quite a bit of what many Americans find important.

It's a reminder of the sol-diers who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. It's a reminder to the families of the loved ones they lost. It's a reminder to our na-tion of the cost of Liberty, and those who were will-ing to give up everything they had, just so we could live in a free nation. Over the years, I per-sonally have learned more and more about the mean-ing behind the little red flower. Last night, Sue Heil stood up to talk about the story of the poppy, and I learned even more. When she told the story of Geor-gia Ann Johnson and the two young boys who never returned from war, I got chills. Yes, I'd heard many stories about the people

who gave up their lives for our safety and comfort, but it never registered how young some of them were. When I heard they weren’t even old enough to be legal adults, I realized how close to my age they must be. This inspired me to do all I can now and through the rest of my life to tell others the meaning behind the poppy. Spread the word. Tell others the importance of poppies and what they stand for. Make sure everyone you know realizes they honor our soldiers’ willingness to sacrifice their lives for our freedom. As was stated last night, “Freedom isn't free.” The poppy should mean something to everyone in America, because it repre-sents those who paid the cost for us, and I will forever be grateful to them.

-Rachel Miller, Heil City

The Meaning Behind the Flower

Page 5 Volume 75, Issue 2

Coming Soon...

Ask any young woman in high school today who her role model is in life and you are bound to get a plethora of an-swers. Ask any Girls State mem-ber today who her role model is in life and you are bound to get a very different set of answers. Rev. Lori Allen Walke kicked off the list of role models of speak-ers on Sunday. What we learned: empower yourself to be a part of the working force of the “women who do.” Coming

from a background of a multi-tude of activities, there is no better woman to speak those words.

An OSU athlete graduate, OCU law graduate, and ordained Rev. of the United Church of Christ, Rev. Walke exemplifies a life diverse in leadership and hard work. She went on to explain all of her inspirational women she reveres. Across history and eras of time with little women lead-

ership opportunities, these women created their own. Rev. Walke challenges us to do the same.

So keep up the fight Girl Staters. Accept the challenge, and work to be a woman who turns a situ-ation into an opportunity to “do.”

-Grace Roy, Hare City

Inspiring Words, Inspiring Women

The Honorable Todd Lamb, current Lt.

Governor of the State of Oklahoma

The Honorable George Nigh, former

Governor of the State of Oklahoma

Guest Speaker Sarah Brown,

Attorney

Page 6 The Girls Stater

Akin City Mayor: Kaylee Karcher Council member NO 1: Jordan Humphrey Council Member NO 2: Hannah Williams Council Member NO 3: Carrie Mills Council Member NO 4: Maddie Ward City Manager: Ann Marie Flusché

City Judge: Raegan Kennedy City Attorney: Caitlynn Wickham City Clerk: Cadee Fromm City Treasurer: Lexi Vanderwork Police Chief: Emily Porras Fire Chief: Karstin Allsup Planning and Zoning Commissioner: Taylor Elliott Street Commissioner: Anna Webb Emergency Management Director: Emma Rindal City Reporter: Tori Barker Blosch City

Mayor: Mattie Haynes

Council member NO. 1: Abby Osborn

Council Member NO. 2: Tahirah Naidu Council Member NO. 3: Madison Wells

Council Member NO. 4: Madison Rowe City Manager: Lauren Lane City Judge: Sarah Billings City Attorney: Morgan Duckwall City Clerk: Cassidy Moyer City Treasurer: Jada Phelps Police Chief: Emilie Kemp

Fire Chief: Avery Stout Planning and Zoning Commissioner: Annemarie Cuccia Street Commissioner: Bella Wuller

Emergency Management Director: Hannah Price

City Reporter: Areli Villalobos

Bonham City

Mayor: Mazie McElyea Council member NO. 1: Cara Brewer Council Member NO. 2: Abbagail Agan Council Member NO. 3: Grace Johnson Council Member NO. 4: Natalie McKinney City Manager: Tanner Phillips City Judge: Cassidy Sullivan

City Attorney: Katie Moore City Clerk: Kennedy Kerr City Treasurer: Allison Howell

Police Chief: Kaylie Smith Fire Chief: Yessie Cano Planning and Zoning Commissioner: Kaci Maguire Street Commissioner: Lauren Isaacs Emergency Management Director: Delaney Peak City Reporter: Riley Shelton

Clingenpeel City Mayor: Sydney Wyatt Council member NO. 1: Vanessa Moore Council Member NO. 2: Mercedes Hollis Council Member NO. 3: Falon Tomlinson Council Member NO. 4: Gwyneth Cantu City Manager: Bethany Potts City Judge: Camryn Dickerson City Attorney: Kaitlyn Moseley City Clerk: Emily Tanner City Treasurer: Callie Eyster Police Chief: Kenzie Sena Fire Chief: Sierra Sellers Planning and Zoning Commissioner: Addreonna Britton Street Commissioner: Grace Parmley Emergency Management Director: Madison Clark City Reporter: Macie Sheldon

Demke City

Mayor: Lindsay Detwiler Council member NO. 1: Isabel Queton Council Member NO. 2: Jenna Randall Council Member NO. 3: Katelyn Bishop

Council Member NO. 4: Cassidy Moses City Manager: Arshia Ranesh City Judge: Piper Fuller City Attorney: Danielle Woods City Clerk: Natalie Kinder City Treasurer: Hannah Linzy Police Chief: Lizzo MacKenna Fire Chief: Zoe Cunningham Planning and Zoning Commissioner: Claudia Jones Street Commissioner: Sherri Corle Emergency Management Director: Danaka Thrower City Reporter: Alex Gray Densmore City Mayor: Audrey Goodson Council Member NO. 1: Lauren Hamby Council Member NO. 2: Kaitlin Blakenship Council Member NO. 3: Kristen Kirtley Council Member NO. 4: Jaime Ahpeatone City Manager: Kylie Spradlin

City Election Results 2017

Page 7 Volume 75, Issue 2

City Election Results 2017 continued...

City Judge: Bella Murray City Attorney: Bailee Wright City Clerk: Emile Mittelstaedt City Treasurer: Arika Garcia Police Chief: Tabetha Colwell Fire Chief: Lydia Bomboy Planning and Zoning Commissioner: Brooke Mangold Street Commissioner: Carlie Fleig Emergency Management Director: Faith DeSplinter City Reporter: Madison Dunn Deutser City Mayor: Kate McConnell Council Member NO 1: Hannah Laughlin Council Member NO 2: Kate Levescy Council Member NO 3: Britney Powell Council Member NO 4: Bella Ngo City Manager: Lauren Bush

City Judge: Kylee King City Attorney: Raegan Hester City Clerk: Michell Tu City Treasurer: Avery Cluck Police Chief: Danya Meadows Fire Chief: Emily Lawrence Planning and Zoning Commissioner: Kendi Faulks Street Commissioner: Joye Burroughs Emergency Management Director: Anna Craig City Reporter: Taylor DiGiancinto

Erwin City

Mayor: Haydan Ransom

Council Member NO. 1: Hanna Boyd

Council Member NO. 2: Gable Couch

Council Member NO. 3: Kinsley Parham Council Member NO. 4: Caroline Carson

City Manager: Emily Bagwell City Judge: Sarah Rhinehart City Attorney: Kora Goddard

City Clerk: Abby Puckett

City Treasurer: Addison Thamer Police Chief: Megan Sroczynski Fire Chief: ALlison Cunningham

Planning and Zoning Commissioner: Journey Dees-West

Street Commissioner: Hope Sawatzky

Emergency Management Director: Katera Morales

City Reporter: Kinsley Moore

Granchie City

Mayor: Heather Robinett

Council Member NO. 1: McKenna Lindsey

Council Member NO. 2: Kayla Jencks

Council Member NO. 3: Madi Copeland

Council Member NO. 4: Kristina Retherford

City Manager: Rissa Watson

City Judge: Krissy Hawk

City Attorney: Piper Reese

City Clerk: Kayleigh Hemstreet City Treasurer: Sara Jackson

Police Chief: Megan Wortman

Fire Chief: Bri O’Neil Planning and Zoning Commissioner: Yesenia Gil Street Commissioner: Mazie Lancaster

Emergency Management Director: Hailey Cloud

City Reporter: Bailey Robertson

Hare City

Mayor: Amarie Griffeth

Council Member NO. 1: Taylor Goeppinger

Council Member NO. 2 : Jeffrie O’Neal Council Member NO. 3: Morgan Crabtree

Council Member NO. 4: Rhema Maxwell City Manager: Emma Banks

City Judge: Abby Piccin

City Attorney: Natalie Evans

City Clerk: Emily Johnson

City Treasurer: Kylee Mills

Police Chief: Samantha Wall Fire Chief: Karsten Robinett Planning and Zoning Commissioner: Madie Scott

Street Commissioner: Brenna Crow

Emergency Management Director: Lizzy Dennett

City Reporter: Grace Roy

Heil City

Mayor: Kristen Nguyen

Council Member No. 1: Katherine Barton

Council Member No. 2: Sarah Ruhl Council Member No. 3: De’Shell Rhone

Council Member No. 4: Allie Ornelas

City Manager: Tatum Rose

City Judge: Ariana Phillips

City Attorney: Maddi Halter

City Clerk: Audry Jacks

City Treasurer: Sarah Spellman

Police Chief: Shy Vaughn

Fire Chief: Kylie Benham

Planning & Zoning Commissioner: Allison Ragsdale

Street Commissioner: Hannah Hembre

Emergency Management Director: Emily DeVore

City Reporter: Rachel Miller

Keister City

Mayor: Samantha Pearce

Council Member No. 1: Mei Zhang

Council Member No. 2: Anna Jeffrey

Council Member No. 3: Sarah Evans

Council Member No. 4: Jessica Stuart City Manager: Madelyn Gerken

City Judge: Kelsi Martin City Attorney: Alexa Beathard

City Clerk: Chloe Shames

City Treasurer: Kaycee Ward

Police Chief: Morgan Valliere

Fire Chief: Isabella Mullaney

Planning & Zoning Commissioner: Selena Facio

Street Commissioner: Caitlin Woods

Emergency Management Director: Baylee Schmidlkofer

City Reporter: Karly James Knight City

Mayor: Abigail Banks

Council Member NO. 1: Telain Williams

Council Member NO. 2: Harlie Glidewell Council Member NO. 3: Mallory Scott

Council Member NO. 4: Mia Reyes City Manager: Cydi Beasley

City Judge: Aleissa Antonio

City Attorney: Ashley Schultz

City Clerk: Kiarra Givings

City Treasurer: Taryn Roberts

Police Chief: Brittany Coonts

Fire Chief: Lauren Riggs

Planning & Zoning Commissioner: Rachel Newman Street Commissioner: Cassidy Pettigrew

Emergency Management Director: Claire Stairs

City Reporter: Maya Stewart

Parker City

Mayor: Savanah Patterson

Council Member NO. 1: Madelyn Duckworth

Council Member NO. 2: Abigail Spiers

Council Member NO. 3: Sarah Blay

Council Member NO. 4: Maddy Dwyer

City Manager: Jori Cowley

City Judge: Sydney Thorpe

City Attorney: Zoe Shieldnight

City Clerk: Olivia Bryan

City Treasurer: Leslie Garcia Police Chief: Addison Meacham

Fire Chief: Amanda Galbraith

Planning & Zoning Commissioner: Morgan Carroll Street Commissioner: Kaitlynn Bloomfield

Emergency Management Director: Jo Jo Turnpaugh

City Reporter: Stormie Dreadfulwater

Reed City

Mayor: Cricket Kaya

Council Member NO. 1: Hayley Bandy

Council Member NO. 2: Lauren Hartsell Council Member NO. 3: Timber Hardbarger

Council Member NO. 4: Rebekah Kerr

City Manager: Faith Hughes

City Judge: Allison Draeger

City Attorney: Kylee Henderson

City Clerk: Brandy DeVous

City Treasurer: Madison Gilbert Police Chief: Kendall Ray

Fire Chief: Sophie Wortham

Planning & Zoning Commissioner: Kyanna Simpson

Street Commissioner: Sarah Tooley

Emergency Management Director: Celia Bateman

City Reporter: Jessica Miller

Willits City

Mayor: Lizzie Williams Council Member NO. 1: Lakelynn Anderson Council Member NO. 2: Alexa Fuson

Council Member NO. 3: Lacey Kerr

Council Member NO. 4: Emily Suse City Manager: Samantha Mackey

City Judge: Karly Chase

City Attorney: Madison Daugherty City Clerk: Bailey Sauseda

City Treasurer: Kian Thomas Police Chief: Chloe Smith

Fire Chief: Raena Jones

Planning & Zoning Commissioner: Cattie Lesley Street Commissioner: Taryn Reece

Emergency Management Director: Micala Maschino City Reporter: Abigail Dennis

City Election Results 2017 continued... Page 8