Obama becomes the 44th President of the United States

Now a new chapter in the history books yet to come, an impossible dream for some has now become reality for all. An African-American is now the President of the United States.
A historical event that could have, if it was up to the state of Oklahoma, placed Sarah Palin as the first female in the position of vice president.
However the rest of the United States felt differently. America chose Barack Obama, who happens to be black.
“Obama will hold the highest office in the land, on January 20, 2009!” shouted Brenan Presley. At the tender age of five, Presley is among 200 students at Deborah Brown Community School. On a daily routine, children recite all the names of the United States Presidents. Now he and his schoolmates will have to make some adjustments to add the 44th president to their already long list.
For three days of early voting, lines extended outside the doors of the county election board headquarters. Long lines continued through its parking lot and along the avenues of Denver and Edison.
Tulsans from various walks of life, stood patiently to cast their ballot and to mark history. With the diverse trail of Tulsans, one could not help but to feel the energy left by thousands.  Tulsa County Election Board had estimated that over 400 voters an hour cast their ballots during the three days before Election Day.
On Election Day around the city, watch parties were held.  Between the Kennedy Mansion Bed and Breakfast, The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame and the Greenwood Cultural Center, everyone appeared to be one of the same accord as the results from the polls streamed in from media outlets projected onto large screens at the events.
Conversations ceased as cheers erupted when Obama was the projected winner state by state. A shock of disbelief to some as the results from Oklahoma appeared worldwide. The polls just closed in Tulsa when McClain was declared the winner of the Sooner State. “What did you expect,” cried Jackie Renfro, a participant at the watch party on Greenwood.
“Oklahoma’s first law was a Jim Crow law that legally separated the state by race. Nothing has changed,” she said.  On the popular vote 492,138 Oklahomans voted for Obama. However, nearly a million Sooners decided that Senator John McCain was their man.
The frowns of disappointment were soon silenced as the results from other states followed. Barack was declared the winner by a landslide. Finally surpassing the required 270 electoral votes, Obama was clearly the 44th President of the United States.
Celebratory chants of “OBAMA” were matched with those in other cities being broadcast simultaneously across America. Hugs, tears and cheers filled the room as everyone congratulated each other on the historic win and for sharing this moment in history together.
When the night was over Obama’s 338 electoral votes surpassed the requirement. Winning the predictable red states, McCain only acquired 127.
Across the country, there were187 million registered voters. Nearly 40 million Americans took advantage of voting early and avoiding lengthly lines and possible problems on Election Day.
The first African-American president secured Colorado, Nevada, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Florida, Virginia, New Mexico, Iowa, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey and the District of Columbia.
McCain carried Nebraska, Idaho, Mississippi, Texas, West Virginia, Utah, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Alabama, South Carolina, Louisiana, South Dakota and North Dakota.
By the end of the night the other states were too close to call.
The following day in classrooms across the country probably mirrored many schools in Tulsa. Educators took full advantage of the day and turned the event into a history lesson.
By waving signs and pom-poms at drivers along North Peoria Avenue, students at Hawthorne Elementary encouraged residents in their community to get out and vote.
The school held their own rally and election for its student council. Principal Lynette Dixon, strongly expressed to her student body, the true importance of having the right to vote and taking full advantage of their civic duties.

Representative Gilbert, D-Tulsa, began his legislative career twelve years ago when he was elected to serve House District 72.  For the 51st Legislature he served on the Arts & Culture Subcommittee, the County & Municipal Government Subcommittee, and the Public Health Committee.

“Representative Gilbert was a strong advocate for mental health awareness, and he was earnest in his efforts to promote awareness of these issues in hopes of creating a healthier Oklahoma,” stated Democrat Leader Danny Morgan, D-Prague.

During his 12 years in office he has amassed legislative accomplishments in the field of mental health.  Highlights of his advocacy efforts include: passing legislation to redistribute unused prescription drugs from nursing homes to county and charitable pharmacies for the medically indigent; playing an instrumental role in the establishment of the Systems of Care program for children’s mental health; effectively advocating for and helping pass legislation for mental health insurance parity; successfully establishing funding for the development of a residential substance abuse program for pregnant women with dependent children; and establishing licensure for drug and alcohol counselors.

“Rep. Gilbert had a unique understanding of his district and the people who call it home,” said Democratic Caucus Chair Chuck Hoskin, D-Vinita. “Darrell walked on the floor of the House each day intending to work hard to represent his constituents and fight for their concerns at the Capitol.”

In both 2000 and 2002 Representative Gilbert was recognized by the Mental Health Association in Tulsa with the Public Policy Award. The Oklahoma Drug and Alcohol Professional Counselor Certification Board awarded him with Legislator of the Year in 2002, the same year that the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) designated him as Oklahoma Legislator of the Year.  He was inducted into the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy’s Child Advocates Hall of Fame in 2003 for his contributions to reforms in children’s services. He was bestowed the Marion Jacewitz Award in 2005 and 2008 for his significant contributions to help increase Child Abuse Prevention by the Intra-agency Task Force on Child Abuse Prevention so that more at-risk families can receive prevention services statewide.

Prior to Representative Gilbert’s legislative career he received a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from the University of Tulsa in 1972, and became an accomplished graphic artist. In addition to his service in the Legislature Representative Gilbert is heavily involved in his community. He served on the Board of Directors for Crossroads Clubhouse, the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Association in Tulsa, the Board of Directors for the Life Senior Services, and the Parent Child Center’s Advocacy Committee, to name a few.

Representative Gilbert and his wife Kathryn reside in Tulsa. They have three children, Karyn Fox, Darren and Shawn.

These issues negatively impact attempts to improve access to prenatal care and its potential to reduce infant mortality in Oklahoma. OSDH public health officials say that early and routine prenatal care is important because of the early screening, diagnosis and treatment of potential risks like high blood pressure and diabetes that can impact healthy birth outcomes.

In 2004, the national infant mortality rate was 6.8 deaths per 1,000 live births. For African Americans the rate was double, 13.6 per 1,000 live births, and for white women the rate was 5.7 per 1000 live births. In Oklahoma, the infant mortality rate of African American babies over a three-year span from 2004-2006 was 15.1 per 1,000 live births compared to 6.5 per 1,000 live births for white babies and the overall rate in Oklahoma was 8.0 per 1,000 live births.
Infants born to African American women are twice as likely to be born low birth weight when compared to white women in the United States. Also, they are 3.9 times more likely to die from complications of being born low birth weight compared to those infants born to white women.

According to Oklahoma PRAMS data, African American women were less likely to use tobacco or alcohol before or during pregnancy, less likely to have taken a multivitamin prior to pregnancy, and they were more likely for their pregnancy to be unintended when compared to white women.

The most alarming trend in this PRAMS study is the increased use of cigarettes during pregnancy among African American women from 1996 to 2006. Smoking is a risk factor for low birth weight and African-American women are at a higher risk for low birth weight infants than the general population. As smoking rates go up among pregnant women, this risk will only increase. Therefore health care providers must address it before, during and after pregnancy, beyond the minimal advice to quit.

In Oklahoma:
• African-American women were less likely to smoke during pregnancy than white women, although the number of African-American pregnant smokers is on the rise.
• African American mothers are less likely to drink during the three months prior to pregnancy compared to white women (41.8 percent vs. 50.6 percent).
• African American women were as likely to receive adequate levels of prenatal care as white women.
• African American women were less likely to receive prenatal care as early in their pregnancy as they desired when compared to white women. The most commonly cited barrier to obtaining prenatal care as early as desired was not being able to get an appointment when wanted.

Recommendations:
• Continue research into health disparities, stressors, and social determinants of health care, poverty, and social support on outcomes in maternal and child health, and access to quality prenatal care for African-American women.
• Target smoking cessation activities toward African American women and refer all pregnant smokers to the free Tobacco Helpline 1-800-QUIT NOW. Pregnant smokers should be offered effective smoking cessation interventions that exceed the minimal advice to quit.
• Increase efforts of health care providers to identify underlying factors that contribute to tobacco use before, during and after pregnancy in African American women.
• Develop culturally sensitive, evidenced-based preconception care tools, media messages and practices for African American women before and between pregnancies.
• Examine clinic or office guidelines and customer service practices to eliminate any potential barriers to early prenatal care for patients.
• Identify and leverage evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention programs that are culturally sensitive for African American youth.
• Fully fund programs like Children First, Office of Child Abuse Prevention (OCAP) and Healthy Start, which all make home visits, to ensure new mothers in Oklahoma get the information they need for healthy pregnancies and learn to develop relationships with health care providers.

PRAMS is an ongoing, population-based study designed to collect information about maternal behaviors and experiences before, during and after pregnancy. To read the entire report, view this Web site: http://mchs.health.ok.gov and click on “Data and Evaluation” to find PRAMS reports.

For information about women’s health and family planning, contact: Maternal Child Health Service, Women’s Health Service Director Jill Nobles-Botkin at (405) 271-4476.

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center has recently added the latest technology in vascular imaging, the VeinViewer by Luminetx.  The VeinViewer is a revolutionary technology that projects an image of a patient’s veins directly on the surface of the skin, providing a real time vascular road map.
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Children’s Hospital is believed to be the first in the state to use the device exclusively in the NICU, which is critical since the baby’s veins are so small and very difficult to see.

The VeinViewer works by utilizing near-infrared light to detect the hemoglobin in the blood and then projecting that image on the surface of the skin.  The medical personal can literally, and clearly, see the veins through the skin - including deep veins which are invisible by looking at the skin.  It is not dangerous for the patient and is painless.  Furthermore, health care professionals can keep their hands free during procedures while the system accurately maps the patient’s veins regardless of age, body type or skin tone.
“The VeinViewer gives you a pathway to find a larger vein which can sustain an IV for longer periods of time,” said Susan Bedwell, MS, APN, NCNS-BC, Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Children’s Hospital. “Because we can more easily find the veins, there are less sticks which means less pain, less distress and in the long run that is best for our patients.”

Some of the clinical treatments and procedures improved through the use of the VeinViewer include routine veinpuncture (blood sampling), IVs and PICC line insertion.  Although performed frequently, veinpuncture is commonly thought of as one of the most painful and anxiety-provoking invasive procedures performed by nurses.   It is estimated that more than 1 billion veinpunctures are performed annually.
“The VeinViewer helps even our most experienced nurses get the medication going quickly and easily with the least trauma to the baby, the parents and the medical staff,” said Marilyn Escobedo, MD, medical director of the Children’s Hospital NICU.

VeinViewer has been recognized by Time Magazine as “one of the most amazing medical inventions.”

At OMRF, dozens of researchers are using state-of-the-art technology to develop a better understanding of-and treatments for-the disease. Chief among those are Rheal Towner, Ph.D., and Robert Floyd, Ph.D., who have developed an experimental drug that offers the first real hope against the deadly brain tumors known as gliomas. And the work of Linda Thompson, Ph.D., helped create Oncovue, a one-time test that assesses a woman’s lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.

The Ladies Auxiliary counts more than 767,000 members nationwide, including 7,200 in Oklahoma. It has chapters in more than 80 Oklahoma cities and towns, including: Bartlesville; El Reno; Enid; Lawton; McAlester; Woodward.
The group consists of wives and relatives of veterans, as well as female veterans themselves. In addition to raising funds for cancer treatment and research, the Auxiliary awards scholarships through its Voice of Democracy Program and provides more than eight million hours of volunteer service in local communities.
“Since the 1960s, the Ladies Auxiliary has generously supported OMRF’s efforts to battle cancer,” said OMRF’s Thompson. “We couldn’t ask for better philanthropic partners.”

OMRF is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding and developing more effective treatments for human disease. Chartered in 1946, its scientists focus on such critical research areas as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, lupus and cardiovascular disease.

Bobby Reed scored the first goal for the Oilers in the 1st period, leaving Tulsa behind by 2 goals (3-1).
Penalty troubles hampered the Oilers, as the Mudbugs scored on five out of seven power play opportunities. Brendon hodge and Jason Lawmaster both scored 1 goal a piece after a Mudbug lead of 9-1, but it was a little too late for the Oilers to recover from such a large lead by the Mudbugs.

Although not a great performance by the Oilers, the small yet enthusiastic crowd of fans cheered on and pushed the Oilers to perform better as each period went by.  I urge Tulsans to come and show their support for our boys and to enjoy what Tulsa has provided it’s citizens, the BOK Center.

In his official UFC debut, Danzig defeated Tommy Speer on December 8, 2007. With a record of 18-5-1, he was former lightweight champion for the King of the Cage and Gladiator Challenge mixed martial arts organizations. He was the lightweight Extreme Challenge Trials 2001 United States Mixed Martial Arts National Champion.
Danzig is known for scoring 12 of his victories by submission, but won a fight by TKO over former lightweight champion Takumi Najayama. Danzig, a vegan since 1994, trains in Las Vegas.

Tickets to see Freestyle Cage Fighting on Saturday, November 15, can be purchased by visiting the Osage Event Center Box Office, 951 W. 36th Street North, Tulsa, OK 74127. Or call the box office at 918-699-7667.
Tickets start at $30.  Doors open at 6 p.m.

In the Senior Stars League
CJ. Johnson, continues to stay in a zone, blasted games of 247, 243 and 268 (8 strikes in-a-row) games for a stupendous 758 series; Gary Hayes had 254 and 217 games an a 663 series; Tracy Patterson had 244 and 225 games and a 658 series; Fred Engquist had 258 and 220 games and a 648 series.
Charlie Hawkins rolled games of 205, 221 and 206 for a 632 series; Greg Bellm had 203 and 232 games and a 61 1 series; Dave Duncan a 238 high-game and a 607 series; Tom Turner a 237 game; Mac McCloughan a 235 game; Leon “Baby Lee” Wilson a 231 game.
Ron Fresh a 217 game; Hershel Thompson a 21 1 game; David Norris a 201 game; Jack Maguire a 200 game; Bo Bohannan a 200 game and Jim Barrett a 200 game.

In the Sidekicks League
Fred Engquist warmed up with a 201 game. He got down to serious bowling with an eight-bagger 268 game and finished the night with a spare in the first frame, then strung 1 1-strikes-in-a-row for a whopping 290 game for a gigantic 759 series.
Johnny Taylor had 245 and 211 game and a 636 series; Pat Hunton had 223 and 210 games and a 626 series; Forrest Russell had 230 and 210 games and a 620 series; Kevin Kaurot had 234 and 200 games and a 612 series; David Reece a 234 game; Eddie Jones a 224 game; Dustan Fugate a 216 game; Marcus McFarling a 214 game.
Leon “Baby Lee” Wilson had 213 and 202 games; Raphael Edwards a 209 game; Gerald Payne a 203 game and Mark Richard a 200 game.

In the Super Senior League
Hershel Thompson a 238 high-game and a 616 series; Leon “Baby Lee” Wilson a 232 high-game and a 602 series; Paul Bock had 235 and 203 game; Don Deatherage a 212 game and John Richison a 201 game.

Bowler’s Converting Splits
Veronica Fugate converted the 4-6-7-9-10 split; Vacie Deal the 6-7-10 and the 3-10; Leon “Baby Lee” Wilson the 2-4-7-10 and the 3-10; Billie Griffin the 4-7-10.
M.M.Tottress the 5-7; Tracy Patterson the 4-7-10; J.D. Hilton the 4-5; Jack Herron the 2-5-7; Jim Barrett the 3-10 and Willard Young the 3-10.

To report to the Spotter,
call Leon Wilson at 585-1485.

Members of the Tulsa Modern Woodmen camp made a difference by donating baby items to the Margaret Hudson Program for the benefit of school-aged mothers.

Modern Woodmen groups nationwide help their communities and individuals in need by delivering light bulbs and stationery to shut-ins, conducting winter clothing drives, donating books to local libraries and other activities.

“On Make a Difference Day, our members can look forward to feeling good by doing good and being part of nationally recognized event,” says Agrafena Williams, local Modern Woodmen contact person.
Founded in 1883 as a fraternal benefit society, Modern Woodmen of America offers financial services and fraternal member benefits to individuals and families throughout the United States.