A fire in the well house that stores chlorine for the city’s water system made for a long night
Monday, July 28, 2008 for emergency and law enforcement personnel in Beaver.

The heat from the fire, which started around 7 p.m., caused nine chlorine cylinders in the
building to leak. An evacuation of the immediate area (north of the post office) took place
as responders worked hard to put out the fire.

According to Beaver County Emergency Management Director Keith Shadden, a total
of 40 square blocks in the town of Beaver were evacuated at different times during the
evening. Approximately 150 homes and businesses were cleared by emergency workers
and around 445 people.

A hazardous material team from Liberal, KS was called to the area around 7:54 p.m.,
arriving around 9 p.m. The crew - along with local workers - removed the nine chlorine
cylinders from the building. The chemical was transported out of the area at 1:36 a.m.,
with everyone allowed to return home around 2 a.m.

A strong odor of chlorine was still lingering in the area Tuesday morning and in some
businesses in the area, including the Bank of Beaver City, Beaver Co. Abstract and
The Herald-Democrat.

Nine people - including three firemen - were treated and released for exposure to the
chemical at the Beaver County Memorial Hospital.

According to the Fire Marshal’s report, the "exact source of the ignition could not be
determined, but a motorized industrial grade pressure washer was found in the area of
origin and could not be eliminated as the source of the cause. No foul play is suspected."

Citizens were evacuated to First Christian Church, Assembly of God Church and
Beaver Co. Fairgrounds, Shadden said.

"I was very pleased with the response and coordinating effort with all of the agencies
as well as the citizens of Beaver," he stated. "

Fire departments from Beaver, Forgan, Turpin, Elmwood, Slapout and Lipsomb County,
Texas responded to the situation.

Law enforcement officials from the Beaver Co. Sheriff’s office, Beaver Police Department,
Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Booker Police Department were also on the scene.

Other agencies included: Beaver County EMS, Booker EMS, DEQ, OEDA, Oklahoma
Emergency Management, Beaver Co. Health Department, Beaver Co. Commissioners,
State Fire Marshal and Town of Beaver employees.

Balko school to begin Thursday, August 7

Teachers go back to school Monday, August 11,

Beaver students begin Thursday, August 15

Beaver Public School will begin the 2008-09 school year with teacher in-service on August 11 through 14.

Classes for students will begin on Friday, August 15. This will be a full day of classes with buses running and meals being served. Beaver School will continue with the seven period day this year. School will take up at the 8:05 a.m. warning bell with classes beginning at 8:10 a.m.

Lunch schedules will remain the same. Primary and Elementary students will be dismissed the same as last year with the JH and HS dismiss bell to ring at 2:48 p.m.

There will be a pre-enrollment date for all students in Pre-K through sixth grade on Monday, August 11 from noon until 4 p.m. Parents are required to come to this to enroll their children, sign all the required forms and meet their teachers!

Teachers in these respective grades will be on hand to inform parents about the upcoming year and any other things their child might need for classes. Support personnel will also be on hand to aide in filling out all forms including any bilingual needs that parents may have.

"Please attend on this date so the school will have all necessary forms ready on students starting the first day of school, August 15," Beaver Superintendent Scott Kinsey stated.

Free and reduced lunch applications will be available at enrollment and parents are encouraged to fill out these forms if they feel they would qualify. Junior high students are reminded that lunch period is closed campus for them, and all junior high students will go to the lunchroom to eat.

A supplemental accident insurance program is offered for parents’ convenience. Neither the school, nor any school officials is compensated by the insurance company.

"We have selected an insurance company that provides supplemental accident insurance though approximately 400 school districts in Oklahoma," Kinsey said. "The school system assumes no financial responsibility for medical cost of an accident occurring to a student while on school grounds, participating in a sport or other school activity.

"The school serves as the middle man in making the forms available to parents. The school has no role in claims and other correspondence with the company. The school highly recommends that parents check into the possibility of this supplemental insurance for their children."

The district has also completed regular maintenance items throughout the summer including cleaning desks, chairs, finishing floors, cleaning bathrooms, hallways and normal upkeep and maintenance. Summer help have been putting a coat of paint on much of the outside of the buildings that were needed. Both of the basketball floors will be refinished in September as usual.

School patrons and other non-staff should be aware that all regular entrances to main school buildings will be locked when school is in session. Visitors and patrons will need to call ahead of time. All visitors will still have to sign in at the office in the junior high, elementary or high school before making contact with students or staff members.

"These procedures are intended for the safety and security of our students and staff," Kinsey said.

Another way the district will stress safety among students and staff is the policy where no bookbags/carry bags are allowed in grades 7-12.

The 2008-09 school calendar should be delivered to patrons in their post office box in the coming days. Parents and students should not any new changes in the handbook rules. School officials also urge parents to make sure that students are following dress code requirements and are appropriately dressed when coming to school so as to avoid being sent home to change for possible violations.

Patrons and students are also reminded to please observe speed limits when school starts to avoid any accidents involving students or other vehicles.

New personnel to the district this year include: Mindy Nichols, pre-kindergarten; Jerod Cline, JH and coaching; Dusty Yauk, social studies and coaching; Regina Parker, teacher assistant and Sarah Fike, teacher assistant.

"We welcome them to our staff and family here at the school," Kinsey said. "Administrators, teachers and support staff look forward to another successful year of working with and educating your children."

First day of classed for Turpin school 2008-1009 school year is Thursday, August 14. This will be a full day with classes starting at 8:10 a.m. and dismissed at 2:49 p.m. Buses will run regular routes.

Enrollment for ALL PK-12 STUDENTS the 2008-2009 school year will be August 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:30 to 6 p.m. both days. There will be NO early enrollment. Enrollment will be held in the high school.

Please bring proof of immunizations you may have had over the summer.

Turpin Public School require the payment of a fee to enroll in the above courses. The payment is due upon enrollment. Students taking the below courses must have the required fees paid at enrollment or student will need to enroll in another course. The fee schedule is as follows:

Metal Shop $50.00

Wood Shop $30.00

Both $65.00

Art $25.00

Vocal $20.00

Band $25.00

Outstanding bills are due now!

Lunches

Please be prepared to pay for students lunches at least 10 days in advance or apply for free and reduced lunches. If you have outstanding lunch bills they are due now.

If you know of a new family that has moved into the community, please tell them about enrollment. They need to bring proof of residence, birth certificate, social security card and immunization records.

New link with Oklahoma State Parks Click to enter
http://www.oklahomaparks.com/detail.asp?id=1%2B5U%2B3582

It's Time To Promote Beaver Dunes State Park.  Plenty Of Parking For Off Road Use Such As Four Wheelers, Dune Buggies, MotorCycles. Plenty Of Overnight Camping Available. Nice Bass Fishing Lake, Walking Trail. Horseshoes, Volleyball, Basketball, Day Picnics For Families In Shelters. 9 Hole Golf Course Nearby.

Photo courtesy Dr. Donna (Jones) Long.

Here is the photo taken by A. V. Hill in front of the Beaver County Courthouse
in 1944. These men were taken to Oklahoma City for processing into the
Armed forces. Front row: Olman Overton, missing name, Okie Amos, Herb
Lawson, Carl Owens, Dale Jones, Earl Phelps, Clifford Goodner and Lynn
Wilmoth. 2nd row: Missing name, missing name, Lawrence Smith, missing
name, Joe Rose, Milford Roberts, missing name, missing name, Herman
Altman, Walter Potter and Melvin Revert. 3rd row: Phillip Wright, Melvin
Garrett, Glen Knight, Glenn Judd, Emerson Elston, missing name, missing
name, Jack Gregg, Doyle Chilcott, missing name, Dennis Ward, and Clarence
Wilhite. 4th row: Walter Schenelle, missing name, missing name, Marvin Wilson.
Back row: Orville Pearson, missing name, missing name, missing name,
missing name, Virgil Altman, missing name, Bob Phelps and Herb Herdricks.
Not identified are; Stanley Strong, Darrold Strong, Max Quinn, John May, Ernest Starr
Leo Carter and James Carter.

Smaller air cannon shot was demonstrated also in the off-road area.

Judge Tim Leonard speaks to the crows
Saturday afternoon on the history of the Panhandle
and Oklahoma.

Nancy Leonard speak to the
crowd. Nancy is a member of
the Centennial Commission

Olive Jenkins, center, was born in 1907 and was honored. Pictured left
is her daughter, Elaine, and pictured right is Rolland Jenkins.
.

MORE PUBLICITY FOR THROW. James Pratt, Beaver's own
World Champion Cow Chip Throwing contest champion, was interviewed
by a television crew Sunday afternoon July 29. The interview was part of
thepalestra.com's Summer Tour. The crew is traveling to all 48 continental
states across the country visiting unique, fun and interesting places and events.
Pratt demonstrated his throwing ability to the crew was well.

 Above is a photo of the USS Mullinnix DD-944 which was used as a sink test back in the 1990's. The United States was testing new weapons. The ship was used during the Vietnam war but later decommissioned in the 1980's. The editor and publisher was stationed on the ship from 1964 until 1965.