For the third time in as many weeks, the trophy signifying first place in debate was awarded to Seminole High School. Each week a different combination of students earned the top prize. In addition, another individual first place medal was won by a Seminole speech student. Tulsa Central High School was the site of the speech tournament held this past week.

The team of Randy Calhoun-Reggie Whitten was the only undefeated team in the debate tournament. They defeated Sand Springs in the quarter-finals and beat Holand Hall for the championship. Teams from 23 high schools competed in the tournament.

This year’s debate question is “Resolved that governmental financial support for all public elementary and secondary education should be provided exclusively by the federal government.” The Calhoun-Whitten debate team placed second in the state debate tournament last year and are one of the favorites to win the state championship this year.

For the third time this year, Jan Poplin won first place honors in women’s extemporaneous speaking. In preliminary competition, Jan’s subject was “Population or pollution. Do we dare to grow?”

In the finals her topic was “Whatever happened to mankind’s dream of peace?”

At last year’s speech tournament, Miss Poplin was one of six finalists in women’s extemporaneous speaking. She is a highly0ranked contender for the state title this year.

In the Tulsa tournament, Elisa Moran reached the finals in poetry interpretation and Randy Calhoun was a finalist in men extemporaneous speaking. IN addition to those named, representing Seminole in the tournament were Neal Martin, James Campbell, Mark Reynolds, John Jarvis and Tom Davis.

Andy Overmon, head of the Seminole High speech department, accompanies the students to Tulsa. “I am extremely pleased at the showing of our students in tournament competition. We will try to make it four in a row at the tournament next weekend,” Overmon said. -oOo Slants – St. Mark’s Episcopal Church getting ready for their 40th anniversary May 6… George Harjoche showing off his new English bulldog… Vernon Leake completing plans for a Lions Club Ladies Night April 3… Curtis and Jess Webb’s mother, Mrs. H.B. Webb having to answer a number of queries… It was her mother, Mrs. Maude Emmons who is deceased and The Producer report was in error… C.G. Allen looking “real sharp” in his military uniform… Buster Ham being an excellent plumber… S.R. Creekmore looking sharp in his Kiwanis hat… Phillip Parks pouring pancake syrup like it was medicine… Dixie Woodall wanting to borrow a pocketknife at a basketball game, humm, wonder what for… Jim Whitt learning what R.C.B. means. -oOo School Daze - The Seminole Chieftains lost to Wewoka Friday night, but the advanced in the state playoffs in the loser’s bracket. The Chieftains will play Purcell at McCloud on Thursday at 3:20. School will be dismissed at 2 p.m. so that everyone who would like to go to the game can attend. There will be no transportation furnished to the gam for the school buses will be on their regular bus routes.

Pep Club members will not be required to go to the game but they should try to go if at all possible. ~ The band room has been opened at night for those who wish to practice for the upcoming contest. Thursday will be the last night it will be open. ~ School Daze Slants – Becky Cooper having a good time at the Day Care Center… Joe McCormick looking forward to St. Patrick’s Day… Cindy Rees not liking the way something was worded… Keith Lyons wanting someone to throw him some gum… Lisa Branscum talking about the third grade… Terry battle being clumsy… Greg Givens taking advancing steps… LaDawn Mize having a famous act… Alonzo Newton trying to pretend… Lisa Lemons being mean… Terry Crawford being exhilarated.

-oOo BUFFALO, Okla. (UPI) – The only explanation police have is that the two teen-age robbers must have gotten the bank mixed up with the library.

“It’s the first attempted library robbery I ever heard of,” policeman Ray Dawson said Thursday.

Dawson said the teenagers held out an empty pillowcase and told the library attendant, “Put it in.”

“Put what in?” the attendant asked.

“The money. Put it in and nobody’ll get hurt,” the youth demanded.

The attendant, who said there was less than $1 in collected library fines in his petty cash box, ran out the door and escapes. The teenagers, believed to be runaways from Florida, were arrested hours later in Garden City, Kansas.

The town’s library and bank are a block apart on corner locations, and the exterior of the bank is partially obstructed because of scaffolding used in remodeling.

“It would be easy to go in the wrong door, thinking you were in the bank,” Dawson said.

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