Stan and Ann's Ramblings

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

To Stillwater Blues Festival and those who worked to make it happen!

One of the best Blues Festivals in Oklahoma in 2009, and well worth the cost of admission!

Excellent weather this year made for a big crowd, good food, and some awesome entertainment!

Blues is as diverse as the color, and the artists proved this point many times over. A “big hats” off to the folks who worked with the youth in the Blues in the School program, and to those who made Idol part of the program, and the harmonica program was appreciated by all in attendance. Overall, this is a very positive image of our community, and one that will continue to grow with time and keeps our city on the front-page of quality events run by superstars who give of their time and talents to make Stillwater the well rounded yet diverse city it is.

My hat is off and respect shown to all who worked to provide this great event. You and your work did not go unnoticed, or appreciated. It took many hours of planning, etc.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH to everyone who worked to make this event a big success.

Stan and Ann Moffat

Stillwater, OK

Daryl Gene Evans of Perkins, Oklahoma passed from this earth to his waiting heavenly Father in his home at 9:20 a.m. on September 26, 2009.

Funeral services are under the direction of Strode Funeral Home and will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 2, 2009 at the River of Life Church with his brother Dr. Keith Evans officiating. The burial will follow at the Perkins Cemetery.

The son of the late James “Buck” Evans and Frieda (Collyar) Evans was born on June 4, 1942 in Johnsonville, Illinois. He graduated from Ripley High School in 1959. He attended business school in Tulsa and served eight years in the Army National Guard.

He worked at Payne County Bank for five years. For the past 36 years he sold supplemental insurance with Colonial life.

Daryl was very involved with the community. He established the first city clerk’s office in Perkins. He was a two time Charter member of the Perkins Jaycees and state vice president. He was president of the PT All Sports Booster Club. He was privileged to announce high school football games in Perkins in the 1960’s. He promoted and organized the Taylorville Gospel Opry and annual outdoor singing events from 1992 to 2005. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Perkins since 1983. He enjoyed singing in the choir, singing solos, teaching Sunday school and being on many different committees.

He had a deep love for Southern gospel music, and was a member of several different groups over the years. He loved his St. Louis Cardinals baseball and OU Football and Basketball. He enjoyed playing softball with church and community leagues. He was an avid bass fisherman and enjoyed competing and winning local tournaments. He also enjoyed sharing his fishing expertise with his kids and grandchildren.

Daryl was united in marriage to Beverly (McGehee) Evans on August 28, 1972 in Miami, Oklahoma. They shared four children. Tracy Farmer of Seattle, WA; Trica Gordon and husband Larry of Perkins, OK; Greg Farmer and wife Terrie of Centreville, MD; Carla Lester and husband Scotte of Perkins, OK; eleven grandchildren; and five great grandchildren. He is also survived by his mother, Frieda Evans; two brothers, Jim Evans and wife Linda of Mustang, OK; Keith Evans and wife Beverly of Troutdale, OR and their children; nephew, Rick Evans of Mustang, OK. His very special Aunt Agnes Collyar of Oklahoma City; cousin, Aggie Faye Borthhick of Oklahoma City; Dale and Willa Gowdy of Cleveland and relatives and friends too numerous to list.

He was preceded in death by his father James “Buck” Evans of Perkins, OK; aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Judith Karman Hospice, P.O. Box 818 Stillwater, OK 74076.

Condolences may be e-mailed to the family may by visiting www.strodefh.com

Friday, September 25, 2009

My good friend and great native american musician Jay Red Eagle created this and plays the flute..

Shared from my good friend Jay

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

OpinionOPINION
SEPTEMBER 23, 2009, 7:03 P.M. ET

The President Risks Getting Stale
Continuous TV appearances can't rescue a bad argument.
By KARL ROVE
It sounded to White House advisers like a good idea. Put President Barack Obama on five Sunday morning talk shows. This would focus attention on health care, re-establish momentum, and show off Mr. Obama's passion, intelligence, and persuasive abilities. It didn't work.
Mr. Obama made a classic mistake of politicians on a downward-bending arc. He jumps out in front of the cameras without having something fresh to offer.
As a result, he was on the defensive and failed to win over the slice of America that opposes his plans. His refusal to sit down with Fox News's Chris Wallace made him look petulant if not fearful, and his answers weakened his credibility.
Take, for example, his dustup on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" over whether requiring Americans to buy health insurance or pay a fine was a tax. Legislation in the House and Senate defines it as a tax, and Mr. Stephanopoulos said it fit Merriam-Webster's definition of a tax. But the president insisted it was not a tax. That's because by favoring the mandate Mr. Obama is breaking his pledge not to raise taxes on anyone making less than $250,000 a year. He already signed a cigarette tax increase in February, but this tax could be as much as $3,800 a year for a family and is therefore a more material breach of his promise.
On "Face the Nation" Mr. Obama said he would pay for two-thirds of his health-care proposal by redirecting Medicare funds that are "just being spent badly." "This is not me making wild assertions," Mr. Obama said, "waste and abuse" can provide "the lion's share of money to pay for" health-care reform.
If that is true, Mr. Obama could flip the health-care debate to his advantage by offering a stand-alone bill that would cut the $622 billion from Medicare and Medicaid that he sees as badly spent. Such a bill would show that Mr. Obama can be trusted when he says overhauling health care will be painless. But the White House won't do any such thing because those cuts aren't easy to make. If they were all "waste and fraud" they would have been cut already. And such a bill would force Democrats to either stick with the president or side with constituents who would be hurt by the cuts.
Mr. Obama opened a different can of worms on "Face the Nation" when he told Bob Schieffer health insurers and drug companies "are going to have to be ponying up" more in taxes because "they're making huge profits." Everyone except for the president seems to know that such a tax increase would be, in Mr. Schieffer's words, passed "right on to the consumer." That would drive up health insurance costs for everyone. How does that help the middle class afford health care?
Mr. Obama's dig at profits reveals a certain disdain for markets. Health insurers have a 3.3% profit margin, less than the 4.6% average for all businesses in the country. Drug companies do enjoy, on average, a 17% profit margin. But that's still less than software companies, which earn on average a 22% profit margin. Brewers make 18%. Are these industries the next targets for a revenue hungry Obama administration?
By the way, some of those drug-company profits are now paying for an ad blitz favoring Mr. Obama's health-care plans. There would be a little justice if drug companies succeed at increasing their own taxes.
To turn things in his favor, Mr. Obama needs to start thinking about making substantive concessions that will really improve health care. He could adopt Republican proposals to allow people to buy insurance across state lines, permit small businesses to pool risk to get the same discounts large employers receive, and crack down on junk lawsuits through medical liability reform. By doing so, he'd actually be lowering costs and expanding access instead of just pretending to—and at an infinitesimal fraction of his proposal's cost.
Americans have taken the measure of Mr. Obama's health-care plan and, as his falling poll numbers attest, increasingly don't like it. His health-care initiative is not only losing public support on its own merits; it is diminishing Mr. Obama's credibility. Most amazing of all, the president's constant chattering runs the risk of making him boring and stale. His magic dissipates as he becomes less interesting.
Mr. Obama doesn't need more TV time. He needs a new health-care plan that comes from actual bipartisan negotiation and compromise—one that most Americans see as something that will actually improve their health care. He needs his facts to align with reality.
More talk doesn't automatically lead to greater public support, but it can erode public confidence in your leadership. Mr. Obama is capable of flooding the airwaves with his words. But what he needs most is a message that wins the attention and support of most Americans.
Mr. Rove is the former senior adviser and deputy chief of staff to President George W. Bush.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

FEATURED EVENTS

	Byron Berline - Bluegrass Music Bonanza! Friday, September 25th 8:00 pm Enjoy Bluegrass at its best! For a toe-tapping evening of traditional bluegrass and western swing music, join three-time national fiddle champion Byron Berline and his band: John Hickman, Jim Fish, Richard Sharp, Greg Burgess and Steve Short. Tickets - $18.00 (includes tax) Senior Tickets - $17.00 (includes tax) Tickets On Sale Now!
	A Night with Jae L. and Crossover Saturday, October 10th 7:30 pm The McSwain Theatre proudly presents Jae L. Stilwell and Crossover in concert. Bring your family and share the fun... Tickets - $18.00 (includes tax) Senior Tickets - $17.00 (includes tax) Tickets On Sale Now!

Stay tuned for more information on the 28th Annual Colgate Country Showdown, sponsored by Colgate Toothpaste. The McSwain Theatre is proud to host America's largest country music talent search, followed by country music star, Jimmy Wayne, Saturday, October 31st at 6:00 p.m.!


	"Byron Berline Band" September 25th at 8:00 PM
	"A Night with Jae L. and Crossover" October 10th at 7:30pm
The legendary McSwain Theatre recaptures its glory by hosting premiere live entertainment from all musical genres. Enjoy a variety of shows including country, rock, gospel, oldies and more! Revel in old time favorites such as the monthly country music variety show featuring Jae L. Stilwell and the Crossover Band. Delight in the surroundings while hosting your meeting, party, wedding, or other special event. The theatre's unique amenities and 2nd story art gallery will make any gathering grand. Contact the manager, Jae L. Stillwell at (580)-332-8108 for further information.