Volume 103 No. 6 Wednesday December 2, 2015

(Our non-offensive holiday greeting to our readers!)

Published six times a semester on Wensdays during the fall and spring semesters by:

Northern Oklahoma College1220 East Grand

P.O Box 310Tonkawa, OK. 74653-0310

Maverick’s publish dates: Aug. 19, Sept. 16, , Sept. 30, Oct. 28, Nov. 18, Dec. 2, Jan. 27, Feb. 10,

Feb. 24, Mar. 9, Apr. 6, Apr. 20

Story and/or photo submissions should be sent at least eight days prior to the publish date.

All submissions must be signed and are subject to approval by The Maverick prior to publication and may be edited for libel, errors and

available space.

Submissions may be brought to Scott Haywood’s office at:

NOC Central Hall, Room 106or emailed to him at:

TheMaverick@noc.edu

Haywood’s office phone number is 580-628-6329.

AdviserScott Haywood

EditorDeitra Wedd

Contributing EditorBill Johnson

PhotojournalistJohn M. Pickard, Jami Sewell, Jacob Denny and Kyle Lomenick

Writers Jami Sewell, Megan Alexander, Deitra Wedd, Amber Gooch-Buchanan,

Marcus Powell, Ted Wisdom, Hannah Barron, Sabreena Burks, Hannah Forman, Lori Franklin, Marne Julkowski, Chris Jones,

Alexis Moore, Lane Newton, Hailey Parsons, John Pickard, Darrell Schwandt, Audrey Sears, Sadie Sellers, Adam Sherrill,

CJ Shultz, Kindra BeaumierMember:

Oklahoma Press Association

The Maverick

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It’s that time of the year again. Colds are flaring up and the stomach flu is making its way around campus. There are many ways to prevent the flu or common cold. Consider taking the appropriate vitamins. One vitamin used in helping fight the cold or flu is vitamin C. Emergen-C is a form of vitamin C that can be poured into water for those that prefer liquid form. Getting the flu shot will also help lower the chances of getting the flu. Flu shots are offered at doctor’s offices, Walgreens and Walmart in Ponca City. Another way to prevent the flu or common cold is simply practicing good health habits. Washing hands frequently, less sharing of food and drinks as well refrain from touching the eyes, ears and nose as much as possible. The quickest way to obtain germs is by inhaling them through the nose. If the flu or common cold strikes, drink lots of liquids, rest if at all possible and eat some soup.

Cold and Flu Season is Upon UsMegan Alexander, Maverick Reporter

On October 24, on the morning of America’s greatest Homecoming, Adacia Chambers, 25, drove her vehicle through a crowd of bystanders at the Homecoming parade in Stillwater, killing four and injuring more than 40. Of the four dead, two were a married couple who were both employed at Oklahoma State, one had recently graduated and the last was a two-year-old boy, the son of a current Oklahoma State employee. All were members of the OSU family. Chambers was officially charged with four counts of second-degree murder and 46 counts of felony assault. Chambers remains behind bars on a $1 million bond. If convicted, Chambers faces at least 10 years in prison for each of the murder charges.The judge also issued a gag order, meaning no attorneys, prosecutors or family members can discuss the case with anyone. Chambers’ defense attorney goes on to say, “The State believes that the Defendant is competent based upon all of the evidence currently in the State's possession. However, because of the various extrajudicial statements raised by the defendant's counsel, Tony Coleman, the State believes an Application to Determine Competency and a Competency Evaluation is prudent. The Defense has raised a doubt at as to the competency of the defendant, and these concerns must be adequately addressed before the criminal proceedings can progress." Right before the judge issued the gag order, Chamber’s boyfriend shared a few words with the media in which he stated in reference to Chambers when he met her that she wasn’t herself. I know that. Following the accident, a memorial was built. Around the state, tributes and respects were paid towards Stillwater and the families of the victims. “I loved how even our biggest rivals supported us,” Jessica Clay, a sophomore at OSU, said regarding OU playing the “Alma Mater” and flying the flag at their football game that day. “But I feel like the tragedy was dragged on for too long.”

Tragedy in StillwaterHannah Barron, Marnie Julkowski and Marcus

Powell, Maverick Reporters

The holiday season brings good food, treasured memories and Christmas lights. There are many places in Oklahoma to go and see some creative light displays. • Ponca City has the “Festival of Angels” light display that runs each night from 6-10 p.m. Lights can be found a Lake Ponca park, Cann Memorial Garden, the signature angel by the famous Pioneer Women statue, and Marland’s Grand Home.• Chickasha has “The Festival of Lights” Sunday through Thursday from 6-10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 6-11p.m. Chickasha is located 45 minutes south of Oklahoma City at Shannon Springs Park.• Yukon hosts the “Christmas in the Park” display each night from 6-11p.m. It is located near NW 10th and Holly. Each of these displays are free (donations are accepted) and a fun time. Load the family up or take a group of friends and some hot chocolate to see these one of a kind holiday lights this season.

Holiday LightsMegan Alexander, Maverick Reporter

Monster Sudoku

On November 1, Oklahoma passed a new no texting and driving law, which would prohibit people from texting on their phones while they were operating a vehicle. Any person in a motor vehicle found using any form of cellular device to manually compose, send or read a text message while the vehicle is in motion will be fined no more than $100. Anyone who is operating a commercial motor vehicle or any public transit on any street or highway in the state of Oklahoma while using their cellular device to write, send or read a text-based message or using a hand-held cellphone will be fined $500 if found guilty of a misdemeanor. The only exceptions to this law are if the person operating the vehicle is attempting to contact a law enforcement agency, firefighting services or any form of medical professional services. GPS on a phone will also be an exception, as long as the directions are put in while the vehicle is stopped and not in movement.

Texting and Driving Law Now in EffectJamilee Sewell, Maverick Reporter

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Famous houses can be haunted, famous houses such as the White House. It’s really no surprise with how famous the White House is, that it may be haunted by more than one ghost Dolley Madison, wife of President James Madison, had built a rose garden at the White House. According to the History Channel’s website, “When the second Mrs. Woodrow Wilson occupied the White House, she ordered gardeners to dig up the familiar Rose Garden.” It’s really no surprise that Dolley’s ghost suddenly chose that moment to make her presence known so she could scold the workers for what they were about to do. The men fled and not a flower was disturbed. John and Abigail Adams were the first people to live in the White House in Washington. The White House was only half finished and inadequately heated, causing a problem of where to hang the family clothesline. Abigail

decided that the East Room was the warmest and driest place in her home and was the best place for hanging clothes to dry. History Channel’s website states: “The first lady has never forgotten. The ghost of Abigail Adams is seen hurrying toward the East Room, with arms out stretched at if carrying a load of laundry.” Abraham Lincoln is the most common ghost to haunt the White House. Psychics believe that his spirit remains to be available in times of crisis. One such crisis was when Lincoln’s ghost would often knock on Margaret Truman’s bedroom door at night. When Margaret complained to her father, he ordered the White House completely rebuilt. Major Gen. Edgar Edgerton found and told President Harry Truman that the building had been in danger of collapsing. It is believed that Lincoln’s consistent knocking on Margaret’s door was to warn the family that the White House was about to collapse. Paranormal occurrences with Abraham Lincoln are quite common. Mrs. Lyndon Johnson felt a cold chill and a sense of unease while watching a television show about Lincoln’s death. Grace Coolidge saw the ghost of Lincoln standing at the window of the Oval Office. Queen Wilhelmina, who was a house guest, heard knocking on her door one night, and when she answered it, the ghost of Lincoln was standing at the door. Winston Churchill also was a guest at the White House and walked into his room after a bath to find Lincoln sitting in his room. Eleanor Roosevelt had felt the presence of Lincoln’s ghost as she worked in what had been his bedroom, but she used the room as an office. Truman, and even the staff members, have heard, seen or felt the presence of Lincoln’s ghost.

The White House HauntingsDeitra Wedd, Maverick Reporter

Winter Puzzel

Music has the power to change and save lives. Almost nothing is more gratifying than seeing our favorite musicians live or even getting the chance to meet them. People camp for days at venues just to get a good spot or meet their heroes; there is a certain level of dedication needed but there is a special feeling that comes along with it. People camped out for two days outside to see Twenty One Pilots. Sometimes it can get rough. There have been instances where tents and certain items are not allowed for people that are going to try to overnight, though that does not always stop people from holding their spot in line. Talking to people waiting in line, they said that at around 7 a.m. of the first day the venue, staff came banging on tents to make the fans move. Although that did very little to move the group, they grabbed their blankets and wrapped up for the night on the sidewalk. Even in the cold months, when the nights are freezing, a row of passionate kids will be huddled with blankets waiting to feel the music. Popular bands and small venues are not something that is a common occurrence, but for bands such as Twenty One Pilots, playing at venues that are really nothing more than a shed or a barn is special. Twenty One Pilots played at the Diamond Ballroom in Oklahoma City, a venue so small that lead singer Tyler Joseph said, “I think this is the first show we’ve played where we can actually smell you guys.” They have the ability to connect to so many people and make each one of them feel included and loved in an already intimate setting. As soon as the lights went out, people started pushing and shoving to get as close to the stage as possible. Joseph and Josh Dun of Twenty One Pilots touched the crowd, literally. They were so close to their listeners all throughout the set. Joseph walks out into the crowd, while Dun drummed on a platform held up by the crowd. After the show, they made a point to get even closer by holding a meet and greet. A member of their crew had a special deck of cards and throughout the show, or whenever he wanted he handed out the cards. Whoever had a card had a ticket to the meet and greet.

Because of how intense the shows are and how much energy Joseph and Dun burn by jumping around a full set, the meet and greets can be very short lived. Often, fans are told, “No signings, just have your camera ready to go.” Despite the rules, Joseph and Dun talk as much as they can in the time given. A young woman that attended the meet and greet after the concert told the band that they saved her life and Dun held her tight as she cried.

The Power of MusicHannah Forman, Maverick Reporter

How many people are fans of snakes? Would they want to have a festival in their town every year for gathering them? Every year in the town of Waynoka, they have a festival called the Rattlesnake Roundup. The town has this yearly gathering the first weekend of April. This is one of the first signs of the weather warming up and that’s usually when the snakes come out. The event started in the 1940s when ranchers of the area would try to rid their own property of the poisonous, deadly animals to help protect their livestock. The local ranchers made it a yearly event to collect and kill off the Western Diamondback rattlesnakes that were a burden to their ranches. Nowadays, it is a yearly festival that draws thousands of contestants and thousands of other spectators for the food, carnival, concerts and other events. When asked about the threat to the livestock, Mr. Allison, a former rancher, answered, “Those little bastards killed several of my cows and goats. I would pay people who were crazy enough to come catch them just to potentially save some of my animals.” The amount of money that could be lost due to a snakebite death puts a toll on ranchers if it gets too far out of hand. This yearly festival is one-of-a-kind event. The event drew in 25,000 people this past year over the three days it was held. For a crazy weekend of fun and rounding up snakes, head on out to Waynoka the first weekend of April.

Rattlesnake Roundup Ted Wisdom, Maverick Reporter

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NOC Mavs Sign Letters of Intent

Northern Oklahoma College Mavericks Jarrid Rhodes and Valentine Sangoyomi have signed letters of intent to continue their education and basketball playing careers at NCAA Division I schools. Rhodes, a 6’7” sophomore from Palmetto, Fla., has decided on Missouri State University and Sangoyomi, a 6’11” sophomore from Lagos, Nigeria, has inked with the University of Houston. "This is a big day for the Northern Oklahoma College Mavericks men's basketball program,” stated Donnie Jackson, head men’s coach. “Both of these young men are great ambassadors of Northern Oklahoma College and represent the college in a positive way. Their decision to attend their respective universities is a tribute to the hard work and effort that they have both put into their academics and their basketball game. I couldn't be more proud of these two young men! "Valentine is a great young man. He is a very hard-working and responsible student-student. I am proud of his decision to attend Houston. He only continues to improve and the best for him is yet to come. "Jarrid is also a great young man. He goes about his business on and off the court. He has goals he has made for himself and he strives to reach those goals on a daily basis. I am excited about his decision to attend Missouri State." "I picked Missouri State because it was the best fit for me,” Jarrid commented. “I think I can do something special for the program here in a year or two. "Here at NOC has been great for me from a basketball standpoint and school wise. I learned a lot from Coach Jackson on how to compete and play hard on the court. School has also been great. There are good, down-to-earth people here at NOC and they will help you if you needed anything." Sangoyomi said, “I did my primary assignment on University of Houston as a whole …, then I consulted my head coach, Donnie Jackson, and my uncles back in Buffalo. On top of it, I went on an official visit. I was surprised how good and kind their coaching staff are. “I really had a great experience coming to school and playing basketball here in NOC from my freshmen year up till this moment and getting to meet good people

here in Tonkawa. [Northern] is a great place to be and I want to say a big thank you for giving me the opportunity to play and go to school here.” Jeremy Hise, athletic director, stated, “Coach Jackson and Coach Hinson do an excellent job of identifying talent, developing that talent and helping them become fine young men on and off the floor. Student-athletes do not get opportunities like Jarrid and Valentine have, if they are not very talented, hard-working and good students. Jarrid and Valentine both have demonstrated a high level of character and effort during their time at Northern in athletics, in the classroom and in the community. We are proud of their accomplishments thus far and we are excited to see how much more they will continue to develop during their pursuit of a championship this season.”

MAVS INK WITH NCAA SCHOOLSNorthern Oklahoma College Mavericks Valentine Sangoyomi (left) and Jarrid Rhodes (right) sign letters of intent with NCAA Division I schools University of Houston and Missouri State University, respectively. Looking on are (l-r) Jeremy Hise, NOC athletic director; Donnie Jackson, head men’s basketball coach; and Jason Hinson, assistant men’s basketball coach. (Northern Photo by Kyle Lomenick)

Bedlam, a scene of uproar and confusion, as defined in the Webster’s Dictionary. Bedlam began as a wrestling match. Football is now the biggest game in the Bedlam series. The University of Oklahoma leads the series with a total of 85 wins and only 18 loses to the Oklahoma State Cowboys. They have also tied seven times. As many of us watched the game, we cheered for one team or the other and talked trash to our friends and rivals. This year, unlike many others, the whole state of Oklahoma will come together and be united by one tragic accident that killed four and hurt many others. On that day, many went out to watch the Homecoming Parade and enjoy the festivities with their families. Not knowing that tragedy would strike, the whole state came together as one family and OU flew flags half staff and played OSU's fight song while flying their flag. Also, at the game this weekend, OU will be wearing the praying cowboy on the back of their helmets to let the families of those affected know that they are still in their thoughts and prayers. Whether wearing crimson and cream or orange and black this past weekend, know at the end of the day that we are all friends and neighbors and in the end, it is just a game.

Bedlam FootballAdam Schwandt, Maverick Reporter

With 12 retirements, consisting of over 300 years of experience, the Ponca City Fire Department has been scrambling to find new recruits while trying to train new officers to fill the void. The loss of experienced men has some thinking it is in the station’s interest, while others are left skeptical of the future employees. Sr. Driver Timothy Lawver says, “I believe that the Fire Department can use the large turnover to strengthen the overall department along with its moral. The old saying, ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,’ comes to mind.”

Captain Edward Shultz says, “You cannot replace all the experience that walked out the door with promotions and new employees. There is going to be a training curve to get everyone (new employees) up to the level this department needs.” Both men agree that the situation will become what they make it as a whole department. The earliest record mentioning the PCFD comes in 1900 when two hose carts with hoses were donated to the department. The carts were donated after a fire destroyed a full city block and 12 stores in the downtown district. At that time, the population in Ponca City was just under 2,000 people. Now the department covers a population of 30,000, with 68 personnel at four station located throughout the city.

Department under FireColton Schulz, Maverick Reporter

Since the fracking boom started in 2008, Oklahoma has been plagued with a shockingly high number of earthquakes. In 2014, 585 earthquakes were recorded in the state. This summer, an increase in the strength of the earthquakes were recorded. To date, there has been at least one documented earthquake of 3.0 or higher in 74 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties. Most recently, the counties in Oklahoma that have been hit the most are Grant, Garfield, Payne, Logan, Noble and Kay. After a 4.4 magnitude earthquake hit Nov. 2 in Logan County, resident Terri Burks said, "I thought it was a sonic boom but then the ground shook real hard for several minutes. It then stopped. A few minutes later, we had aftershocks.” Fracking has been linked to the earthquakes. Companies using the technology use wastewater disposal sites deep in the ground. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission oversees the disposal sites. However, regulation of the sites can have an economic impact on the companies. SandRidge Energy, Inc. might be facing some serious financial trouble on top of an already crippling $4.6 billion debt. With the company already in an unsteady financial position, new regulations on earthquake safety may require SandRidge to relocate its disposal wells, which the company may not be able to afford.

Earthquakes in Oklahoma Sabreena Burks, Hailey Parsons and Adam Sherrill,

Maverick Reporters

Page8 The Maverick Wednesday, December 2 , 2015

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NOC BOOKSTORE Back of Bookstore at

Buyback Window www.nocbookstore.com Monday - Wednesday December 7 - 9, 2015

9 a.m. - 4 p.m. -

Thursday December 10, 2015

9 a.m. - 7 p.m.