THE OKLAHOMAN NEWS0K.COM 24A SUNDAY, JULY 15, 2012 METRO STATE MIDWEST CITY POLICE INVESTIGATE ODOR Drought challenges Ark. cattle ranchers thrives in cooler weather that could keep his cattle fed through the winter. He said hay is selling for $60 or more per bale in places, an astronomical price by hay standards. Tom Troxel, a cattle expert with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, said hay normally sells for $20 to $25 per bale. Since local hay is already obligated, hay from other states is expensive due to transport costs and increased demand.
Parts of north Arkansas are off-limits to hay producers from the state's south, as well as much hay from Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas due to fire ants. Hay that's grown where fire ants have colonized can't be sold in areas where the pests haven't colonized. "These cows mean a lot to these producers. For them to have to sell cattle during a distressed period, that's hard for them to do. I don't think a lot of people realize how difficult that is, to start selling your herd during a distressed time," he said.
BY CHUCK BARTELS Associated Press LITTLE ROCK, Ark. If it weren't for the drought, army worms, grasshoppers, toxic forage and limited availability of expensive hay, 2012 would be a pretty good year to be an Arkansas cattle producer. Jim Hopkins, at Evening Shade, has 250 cows at his 1,200 -acre Sharp County ranch, which includes about 200 acres along the Strawberry River. Hopkins normally grows two crops of hay on that land by the river. The first one was beset by ar-myworms.
He was able to beat them back with herbicide. Normally, after the first harvest, a dose of fertilizer will help the hay spring back for a second crop. That's the one his cows are eating now. In an ordinary summer, the herd would be on Hopkins' other 1,000 acres. Hopkins sold 30 head earlier than he planned, and ranchers are finding it's a buyer's market because owners don't have enough feed.
And it won't be easy to replenish the herd. "When you try to buy them back, the price will be up again," he said. You buy high and sell cheap," said Hopkins, who had to spray his second hay crop for grasshoppers. Joe Moore, Sharp County extension chair for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, said producers with hungry cattle have to be wary of a number of traps. A rancher in Sharp County lost three head after the cows ate Johnson grass, which becomes toxic during a drought.
"Wild cherry trees contain cyanide in the leaves. Storms come through, if one is struck by lightning or is blown down, hungry cows can eat those leaves and die," Moore said. Moore said he hasn't heard of any cattle starving to death. But ponds have been drying up. Hopkins said he intends to plant rye grass to help get his herd through the winter.
He said fescue is another variety that Midwest City police forced entry into a second-floor motel room Saturday afternoon and arrested a man inside the room. Police were responding to a call reporting a strong odor coming from one of the rooms facing the courtyard. When the man was taken from the room, he was immediately washed down with water by a firefighter. Motel guests were evacuated from their rooms before police swarmed the room. Midwest City police reported the chemical smell was spray paint.
PHOTO BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN Swindle: Prosecution challenges churches 3f To place a paid obituary or anniversary remembrance, call 475-3264. Visit NewsOK.com newsobits for more information. with an emphasis on church finance. He is a former priest who spent 13 years in the priesthood, beginning in the early 1970s. "I have a friend that knows the inside workings of the Catholic church that says its lack of financial accountability will be the next big scandal that hits the church," Groome said.
"It all stems from poor oversight." Part of the reluctance to institute stronger financial controls for any church is the genuine belief that people are morally incapable of stealing from a church. Temptation and desperation can coerce even the best to steal, he said. Embezzlement isn't any more frequent in churches as it is in private businesses, Groome said. And like for businesses, there is insurance coverage available to churches to cover theft. The Sullivan Insurance Agency in Ardmore has written thousands of policies for churches since it was founded in 1946, owner Lena Sullivan said.
She said churches can purchase embezzlement coverage for as little as $500 a year. "Most of the time, they start out by saying they don't need it, until I start showing them newspaper articles where it's happened to other churches," Sullivan said. Surviving embezzlement Malloy said even though it was a painful process, the First United Methodist Church of Moore survived the embezzlement and since has flourished. Their former accountant, Sonya Jo Ensey, 41, of Oklahoma City, was convicted. To stay out of prison, she makes monthly restitution payments to return what she stole.
Ensey was contacted through her attorney, but declined to speak with The Oklahoman. Malloy said she kept church members informed about the criminal case throughout the proceedings, and none of their large donors backed out of commitments they made to the church. Even though their financial practices were historically good, more safeguards were instituted, she said. "It's our hope that others learn from our mistakes and the way we handled it," Malloy said. zling, but that's exactly what has to be done." Joseph said making payback arrangements with an embezzler can keep prosecutors from filing charges if the person doesn't keep up with their end of the deal.
A jury could be persuaded to believe a repayment plan was for a loan, and not to compensate the church for theft, he said. Joseph said embezzlers generally have no means to immediately pay back what they've stolen, because the money was spent on non-tangible items like vacations, gambling and frivolous shopping sprees. Financial accountability Good accounting practices are the best protection against embezzlement, although many churches, including the Catholic Church, are far too relaxed in protecting themselves from theft, said Thomas Groome, a senior professor of theology and ministry at Boston College in Massachusetts. Groome helped establish at Boston College one of the few masters programs in the country FROM PAGE 21A Tuesday. The decision to seek prosecution against someone suspected of embezzling from a church is not easy, but absolutely necessary, said Oklahoma City attorney Michael Joseph.
Joseph represents several churches of different denominations and nonprofit organizations that have fallen victim to employees who have stolen from them. He said that in many instances, the governing bodies are concerned that reporting the crimes could hurt donations or grant opportunities when made public. There also may be a reluctance to call police because most churches are run with relatively small staffs and employees forge close friendships with church members and co-workers. "A lot of times when an embezzler is caught, they beg for forgiveness and offer to repay what they've stolen," Joseph said. "It causes a lot of anxiety when people have to consider turning someone into police for embez NtvvsOK.coM Ronnie D.
Emory Oct 12, 1947 July 9, 2012 TULSA Ronnie Dwight Embry was born in Granite, Oklahoma, on October 12, 1947, to Dwight and Marian Embry and passed away July 9, 2012, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After spending his early Deaths WOMAN DIES AFTER CRASH A McAlester woman died early Saturday after a Pittsburg County rollover crash, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported. Shortly before 1 a.m., Audra Honel, 27, was driving east on the State Highway 9A off-ramp from U.S. 69. She failed to negotiate a curve, and she was thrown from the vehicle in the crash.
She was not wearing a seat belt, troopers said. Honel was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where she died. FROM STAFF REPORTS CALERA Albert, Addie "Lou," 90, died Friday. Services 2 p.m. Tuesday, Calera First Baptist Church (Coffey-Murray, Durant).
CHOCTAW Rogers, Waylan 74, Wonder Bread superintendent, died Friday. Services 10 a.m. Tuesday, Choctaw Church of Christ (Barnes Friederich, Midwest City). COLONY Barnes, J.D., 86, minister, died Thursday. Services 2 p.m.
Monday, Colony Baptist Church (Lockstone, Weatherford). CONCHO Whitesheild, Robert Henrey, 90, retired from U.S. Navy, died Wednesday. Services 11 a.m. Monday, Concho Complex (Russworm, Enid).
DEPEW Dawson, Daniel 94, oil field gauger, died Tuesday. Services 2 p.m. Monday, Bristow Freewill Baptist Church, Bristow (John M. Ireland, Moore). EDMOND Tuepker, Gilbert H.
hog farmer, died Friday. Services 10 a.m. July 24 (Matthews, Edmond). EL RENO Hufnagel, John Dennis, 85, died Friday. Private services (Huber-Benson, El Reno).
ELMORE CITY Williams, Sammy Don, 75, oil field pumper, died Friday. Services 10 a.m. Monday, First Baptist Church, Hennepin (Winans, Maysville). ENID Bailey, Forney Dale, 80, firefighter, died July 9. Services 10 a.m.
Monday (Anderson-Burris, Enid). Dixon, Helen 74, homemaker, died Friday. Services pending (Amy Stittsworth, Enid). FAIRFAX Riley, John 69, petroleum engineer, died Friday. Graveside services 9 a.m.
Monday, Riverside Cemetery, Ralston (Poteet, Pawnee). GUYMON Spirlock, Jerrylee, 70, restaurant manager, died Friday. Services 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Church of the Nazarene (Bunch-Roberts, Guy-mon). LAWTON Jones, Carl 66, public account ant, died Friday.
Services 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Locust Grove Baptist Church (Becker, Lawton). MIDWEST CITY Hood, Robert A. "Bob," 69, retired from National Weather Service, died Saturday. Services pending (Ford, Midwest City).
Mann, Reva Mae, 69, certified nursing assistant, died Friday. Services 2 p.m. Monday (Sunny Lane, Del City). MILL CREEK Beratto, Curtis, 85, retired sand plant pumper, died Wednesday. Services 2 p.m.
Monday, First Baptist Church (Clark, Tishomingo). MOORE Couch, Nancy, 71, died Friday. Services 10 a.m. Monday, South-park Baptist Church (Resthaven, Oklahoma City). Moore, AnnaLee, 58, homemaker, died Thursday.
No services (Vondel L. Smith and Son South, Oklahoma City). Pielach, Stanley LeRoy, 72, locksmith, died July 7. Services 11 a.m. Monday (John M.
Ireland, Moore). MOORELAND Link, James Ivan, 85, bricklayer, died June 30. Services 2 p.m. Wednesday (Billings, Woodward). MORRIS DeArmon, Mary 86, telephone operator, died Friday.
Services 10 a.m. Tuesday, First Assembly of God (McClendon-Winters, Morris, Morris). MUSTANG Hagy, Isla Jean, 69, school cafeteria worker, died Friday. Services 2:30 p.m. Monday, Chapel of the Good Shepherd (McNeil's, Mustang).
Munyon, Murray Randal, 74, business owner, died July 5. Graveside services 2 p.m. Tuesday, Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin (OK Cremation, Oklahoma City). Ward, B. L.
"Sonny," 92, school bus driver, died Thursday. Services 11 a.m. Monday, Chapel of the Good Shepherd (McNeil's, Mustang). NORMAN Howard, Gregory E. 75, died Friday.
Services 10 a.m. July 30 (Primrose, Norman). Sutterfield, Bonnie, 85, died Thursday. Graveside services 10 a.m. Friday, I.O.O.F.
Cemetery (Havenbrook, Norman). Vickers, Harry "Dar," 79, died Saturday. Services pending (Havenbrook, Norman). years in Granite, the family moved to Fullerton, California, and eventually to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He graduated from U.S.
Grant High School and received degrees from UCO and TCC. He married Darlene Sullivan on July 30, 1966. He served as a medic in Qui Nhon, Vietnam. He was able to work in the field he loved, biology, at the Oklahoma City Zoo and as Director of Operations at the Tulsa Zoo for ten years, one of which he served as Interim Director. He and his wife loved to travel and did so every chance they had.
He has embraced hunting, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, and his great passion, fly-fishing. He was never happier than when he was standing in a lake or river with his fly rod in hand. He is survived by his wife, Darlene, of the home; two adored nephews, Randall Embry of Stillwater, and Bret Embry of Chickasha; and niece, Katie Embry; Uncles J.C. and Gene; Aunt Sue and husband Junior Zachary; cousins, many beloved inlaws, and a multitude of friends. He was predeceased by his parents, Dwight and Marian Embry; and his brother, Randall L.
Embry. The family would like to express their gratitude to the doctors and nurses of St. Francis Hospital for making his final days more peaceful. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. Memorial services will be held on Tuesday, July 17, 2012, at Stanleys Funeral Service at 3 p.m.
with Pastor Bill Janey officiating. Services are under the direction of Hayes Funeral Home of Guthrie and Stanleys Funeral Service of Tulsa. You may sign the online guestbook at: www.hayesfh.com Anglin, Carney "Gene," 62, artist and leather craftsman, died Thursday. Services 2 p.m. Tuesday (Criswell, Ada).
Camata, Resurreccion Pisig, 79, died Thursday. Mass 11 a.m. Monday, St. Joseph Catholic Church (Smith-Phillips, Ada). Marshall, Ray Edgar, 61, owner of Marshall Construction, died Friday.
Services 2 p.m. Tuesday, Union Valley Baptist Church, Union Valley (Criswell, Ada). AGRA Reedy, Melvin Junior, 81, retired from Tinker Air Force Base, died Friday. Services 10 a.m. Tuesday (Parks Brothers, Chandler).
ALLEN Noel, Jack, 87, movie theater owner and operator, died Wednesday. Graveside services 10 a.m. Monday, Allen Cemetery (Criswell, Ada). ANADARKO Dyer, Beatrice, 84, homemaker, died Friday. Services 10 a.m.
Tuesday, Virginia Avenue Baptist Church (Smith, Anadarko). ARDMORE Waston Feroli, Jamie Ruth, 56, speech pathologist, died Wednesday. Services 11 a.m. Monday, McLish Avenue Church of Christ (Harvey-Douglas, Ardmore). ATOKA Darling, Elizabeth Morene, 82, homemaker, died Wednesday.
Graveside services 2 p.m. Monday, West View Cemetery (Brown's, Atoka). BARTLESVILLE Mattix Shewmake, Minnie 82, died Friday. Services pending (Stumpff, Bartlesville). Stockton, Frank Ralph, 93, retired telephone company switchman, died Friday.
Services 10 a.m. Tuesday (Stumpff Bartlesville). BETHANY Wright, Kenneth "Gene," 82, died Wednesday. Graveside services 10 a.m. Monday, Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens (Absolute Economical, Oklahoma City).
BOKCHITO Neagle, Dorothy 84, died Saturday. Graveside services 1 p.m. Wednesday (Coffey-Murray, Durant). (Trout, Ponca City). Webb, Lori 51, hair stylist, died Wednesday.
Services pending (John M. Ireland, Moore). OKMULGEE McGriff, Henry Azri, 88, retired minister and labor foreman, died Wednesday. Services 3 p.m. Sunday, St.
Matthew Baptist Church (Keith D. Biglow, Okmulgee). PAULS VALLEY Denton, Erie Quay "E.Q.," 79, real estate broker, insurance and auto salesman, died Thursday. Services 10:30 a.m. Tuesday (Stufflebean-Coffey, Pauls Valley).
PURCELL Bennett, Jack 88, died Saturday. Services 10 a.m. Tuesday (Wilson Little, Purcell). SHAWNEE Dukes, Robert, 73, deputy sheriff, died Friday. Services 10 a.m.
Tuesday (Bill Eisenhour NE, Oklahoma City). TULSA Cothran, Orval Clay, 88, died Wednesday. Services 2 p.m. Tuesday (Mark Griffith Memorial, Tulsa). Jones, James 84, died July 12.
Services 10:30 a.m. Thursday (Bill Merritt, Bethany). YUKON Edmonds, Jene 89, died Monday. Services pending (Turner, Hinton). Wright, Shelby Jean Doughty, 30, property manager, died Friday.
Services 10 a.m. Wednesday (Yanda and Son, Yukon). Organ donor OKLAHOMA CITY Barber, Marciel, 89, bank teller, died Friday. Services pending (Smith and Kernke.NW 23, Oklahoma City). Boettcher, Larry 61, electronics, died Wednesday.
Services 10 a.m. Tuesday, Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin (John M. Ireland, Moore). Duncan, Carolyn May, 57, cashier, died Friday. Services 10 a.m.
Monday (Eisenhour, Blanchard). Henson-Lopez, Barbara Gail, 66, homemaker, died Thursday. Services 10 a.m. Tuesday (John M. Ireland, Moore).
Johnson, Carolyn 56, died Friday. Services pending (Temple and Sons, Oklahoma City). Juarez, Antonio Flores, 71, retired auto mechanic, died Thursday. Graveside services 9 a.m. Monday, El Reno Cemetery, El Reno (Mercer-Adams, Bethany).
Mooney, Reta Mae, 83, died Thursday. Services 10 a.m. Tuesday (Advantage, Oklahoma City). Niemsyk, Robert "Bob" Joseph, 75, died Thursday. Services 10 a.m.
Tuesday (Resthaven, Oklahoma City). Pleasant, Alice, 65, died Friday. Services 11 a.m. Thursday, Fairview Baptist Church (Temple and Sons, Oklahoma City). Punneo, Raymond Kenneth, 81, restaurant owner, died Thursday.
Graveside services 10 a.m. Saturday, Marlow Cemetery, Marlow (John M. Ireland, Moore). Trenary, Lloyd Ray, 73, certified public accountant, died Friday. Services pending (Vondel Smith Mortuary North, Oklahoma City).
Warner, Cynthia (McDonald), 93, died Thursday. Services 10 a.m. Sunday, White Eagle United Indian Methodist Church, White Eagle.
