From The Files of The Seminole Producer

FT. SILL, Okla. (Special) – School, Scout, and youth groups from throughout Oklahoma are experiencing “a typical day in the U.S. Army through a new Student Information Tour Program being conducted at Ft. Sill under the sponsorship of units stationed there.

The young Oklahomans are being shown such facilities as male and female dormitories, the enlisted men’s club, and service club, the post’s Education Center, Hobby Shop and both its nationally celebrated Museum Hall of Flags and the OSC Hall of Fame. They are guests of honor in the field where they see artillery airlifts via giant helicopters, and firepower demonstrations.

Among the highlights of their tours are lunch and dinner in Army mess halls with enlistees, most of whom are only recently removed from their high school days themselves.

A typical reaction of the unique tour was recently voiced by Rodney Caldwell of Earlsboro High School. “It is really a fantastic experience,” said young Caldwell. “I think everybody in our group was surprised and impressed by what we saw and did at Ft. Sill.”

Caldwell’s group included 36 students and teachers from schools in the tri-county area of Hughes, Pottawatomie and Seminole Counties. They were bussed to and from, and hosted at Ft. Sill by the post’s resident III Corps Artillery. Coordination for the tour was made by Army representatives at the Seminole Army Recruiting Station.

Another member of the group, Jay Hickman of Seminole High School, said that he had never been on a military base before, and that he had ‘heard a lot of bad things about them.” But, he said the tour and the personal contact it presented him “gave me a new slant.” Hickman concluded that “…everything about the New Army and the day-today life of the average guy at Ft. Sill looked good to me.”

Shirley Nadeau of Pleasant Grove commented that “there sure are a lot of interesting things to see and do on a big Army base.” And Shiree Hughes of Bethel said the tour was “one of the most active yet most pleasant days I’ve ever had.” A Wetumka student, Darrell Fisk, added that “there surely seems to be a lot of opportunity and things of interest to do in the Army, and particularly the artillery.”

The principal of. Varnum High School, Jerald D. Harris, said that the “day in the Army” was “a wonderful experience” for him, too. Harris thanked the Army for making such a tour available to the young people of Oklahoma, and said that he hoped all of the state’s youths could sooner or later experience it for themselves.

School, Scout, and other youth groups interested in participating in the Student Introduction Tour Program should contact their local Army recruiter at 148 North Main, according to Capt. Vadron Asbury, commander of the Oklahoma City Army Recruiting Main Station.

Making the trip from Bowlegs High School were Ronnie Doshier, Kissie Haney, Marsha Rains, Steve Fairless and Richard Phillips; from Earlsboro, Rodney Caldwell and Deniese Herron; from Konawa, Terri Garner, Tim Lowry and Mike Rynders; from Maud, Glen Williams; from Pleasant Grove, Larry Harris, Shirley Nadeau, Vanessa Winrow; From Strother, John Greenmeyer; from Varnum, Joe Morgan and Principal Jerald D. Harris; from Wewoka, Vincent Jones; and from Seminole, Pat Elifiritz, Chuck Anderson, Bruce Fleming, Jay Hickman, Paul Hill, Michael Pippenger and Brian Barr. -oOo Slants - Glenn Hayden making big strides in Operation Pride… Many “eyesores” in the city have already been done away with… Mrs. Ruth Gwinn visiting in Seminole… Vernon Leake completing plans for Lions Ladies Night, April 3rd… Vera Fielding having to work late… Several Seminole merchants looking forward to the Sidewalk Sale Day coming soon…Rev. Charles Cline telling about an outstanding program. -oOo School Daze – At the Junior College Interscholastic meet held on Saturday, March 17 the following students placed in events.

Jeanne Cherry, forth in Home Economics; Diane Harrington, second in General Business; John Randolph, third in Bookkeeping; Lynn Lofgren, first in United States History; Tom Dixon, fourth in Algebra I; Sharon Cummings, first in Algebra II; Angie Brown, first in Spanish II; Marsheila Roberson, third in Spanish II; Debbie Dixson, first in Civics; Beth Hancock, fifth in Civics; Beth Hancock, fifth in Civics; Sharon Cummings, fifth in Written Essay; Nancy Wall, fifth in Typing I;and Dickie Neel, fifth in Typing II. ~ There will be a cheerleading clinic held for Senior and Junior high girls. Tryouts will begin Wednesday in the old gym. Anyone wishing to participate in tryouts should be in the old gym promptly a 3:30 p.m. ~ School Daze Slants – Melody Melton almost forgetting a poem… Pam Fleming being told not to scream… Ronny Trammell playing tennis… Kevin Cortez talking to an adult… Terrie Crawford wishing… Randy Dockery scooting his desk over… Greg Givens not knowing something… Mona Stanfill not showing… Debbie Lashley hurrying down the stairs… Steve Plumlee counting sentences… Rory O’Neal getting older… Charles Treese coming back from work.