Page Two

Muskogee Phoenix

Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014

No one can replace Tom Coburn, but someone will succeed him, Shannon said in a statement Monday. I am praying with my family about whether to enter the race to do just that, and I know the Lord will clearly place on my heart what my assignment is. Bridenstine spokeswoman Sheryl Kaufman said the first-term member of Congress is considering a run, but hes not inclined to make a rushed decision. Lankford has the advantage of a hefty campaign account. He reported having more than $450,000 in cash on hand at the end of September, the most recent report available, and that money can be used for a Senate campaign. Bridenstine reported having about $180,000 in cash at the end of September. Lankford declined to say how much he currently has raised, but the next campaign finance report is due next week. The timing of the special election means most officeholders who run for the seat, including Lankford, will not be able to run for re-election. His announcement is expected to trigger another wave of candidates seeking to replace him in the 5th District. Republicans considering that race include Corporation Commissioner Patrice Douglas; state Sens. Clark Jolley, Greg Treat and David Holt; former state Sen. Steve Russell; and state Rep. Paul Wesselhoft. Lankford said Monday he has no plans to endorse a candidate in the primary race for his open seat. On the Democratic side, retired University of Central Oklahoma professor Tom Guild, who ran for the post in 2010 and 2012, already has announced his plans to run again for the 5th District in 2014, and former Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth said hes considering the race.

Section A, Page 2

Lankford
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Ex-lawmaker going after Lankfords seat

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Former state Rep. Shane Jett says he plans to run for the U.S. House seat being vacated by Rep. James Lankford. Jett, 39, of Tecumseh said he made his decision Monday. We are in, the Republican said. Jett was a three-term member of the Oklahoma House from 2004 to 2010 and left the House to run for Congress. He finished fourth in a seven-way GOP primary that included Lankford.

camps, Lankford was a political unknown when he emerged from a crowded Republican primary field in 2010 to win the U.S. House seat. He won re-election in 2012 and was the only member of Oklahomas House delegation to not face a GOP primary opponent that year. Lankford also has risen quickly among the GOP leadership in the House, and is currently the chairman of the Republican Policy Committee. He also landed a spot on the House budget committee. But he also drew criticism from the Virginiabased Senate Conservatives Fund, which said in a statement Monday that it would not support Lankford in a GOP primary because of his votes on increases to the debt limit and a recent bipartisan budget bill. We have reviewed his record and its clear that conservatives cannot count on him to fight for their principles, the groups executive director, Matt Hoskins, said in a statement. The decision by Coburn, who is battling a recurrence of cancer, to resign the seat two years early has turned a somewhat predictable election year in Oklahoma on its head. The special election will coincide with the regular election cycle in 2014, meaning there will be two U.S. Senate seats on the ballot in Oklahoma as U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe seeks re-election. A week ago we were talking about a concern for voter intensity. I think this takes care of that, said Dave Weston, chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party. Its the first time since 2004 that Oklahoma has

Staff photo by Cathy Spaulding

Kids race to pick up candy, thrown Monday during the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade. Participants included churches, clubs, schools and a drum group.

Tribes governor not interested in race

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The longtime governor of one of the states most powerful Native American tribes says he has no plans to run for Oklahomas open U.S. Senate seat this year. Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby released a statement Monday that said that although hes honored to be mentioned as a potential candidate, he doesnt intend to run. Anoatubby says he hopes to continue in his role as head of the tribe if it is the will of the Chickasaw people. He has been the tribes governor since 1987.

Parade
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had an open Senate seat, and Republicans will be heavily favored to maintain it. Oklahoma has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since David Boren in 1978. Among Democrats expected to consider the race are former Gov. Brad Henry and former Attorney General Drew Edmondson. Telephone messages left Monday for Henry and Edmondson were not immediately returned. Other Republicans considering running for the open Senate seat are U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine of Tulsa and state House Speaker T.W. Shannon of Lawton.

marched along Martin Luther King Street. Drummers in Hilldale High School Hornet red and Muskogee High School Rougher green kept cadence with each other as they marched. MHS cheerleaders got down together. Candidates for all sorts of state and county offices waved and threw candy. Ben Franklin Science Academy schoolmates Jerrion White and Isom Smith stood ready for each toss. I just came here to see fun, said Jerrion, 8. And get candy, said Isom, 9.

And get candy, Jerrion concluded. Like many students, the two boys were out of school Monday and Jerrion knew why. Martin Luther King, its his birthday, he said. This years parade marked the 100th anniversary of the Muskogee chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Parade grand marshals Cedric Johnson, Betty Baucom McConnell and Herman and Barbara Barrett represented years of commitment to the local chapter. Michelle Carter said she had a reason to bring her children, 2-year-old Dakota Soap and 6-year-old Serenity Soap, to the parade. I want them to know where they started from,

how we got to be desegregated, Carter said. All colors here are all Gods kids. Melba Wynn said her daughter called from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and said she felt down because she had to go to school. She said, I wish I was at home with you because I can celebrate, Wynn said. Thomas said, Todays become a national holiday, adding that she hopes more of Kings dream could come true. I wish it could be where we all come together as one, she said. But that part is getting there, where you can be what you want to be. Reach Cathy Spaulding at (918) 684-2928 or cspaulding@muskogee phoenix.com.

Virtual
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I N C O M E TA X A N D INVESTMENT GUIDE 2014

TA X T I P
Tips for Taxpayers. Victims about Identity Theft and Tax Returns
Identity theft remains a top priority for the Internal Revenue Service in 2014. Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes nationwide, and refund fraud caused by identity theft is one of the biggest challenges facing the IRS. Tips to protect you from becoming a victim of identity theft Dont carry your Social Security card or any documents that include your Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Dont give a business your SSN or ITIN just because they ask. Give it only when required, Protect your financial information. Check your credit report every 12 months. Secure personal information in your home. Protect your personal computers by using firewalls and anti-spam/virus software, updating security patches and changing passwords for Internet accounts. Dont give personal information over the phone, through the mail or on the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or you are sure you know who you are dealing with. If you believe you may be at risk due to a lost or stolen purse or wallet, questionable credit card activity or credit report, contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490, extension 245 (Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 7 p-m. local time; Alaska and Hawaii follow Pacific time). HOFFMAN ACCOUNTING AND TAX SERVICES JUDY HOFFMAN CPA 502 BOSTON STREET, MUSKOGEE, OK 74401 918-682-2463

been positive, Glover said early Monday afternoon. We had a few technical glitches here and there, but for the most part, its about communication between the teacher and student. The virtual school day was made possible through the districts One-to-One digital initiative, which began at the start of this school year. Each student in middle school or high school was given a laptop or tablet computer or authorized to bring a personal device to school. Students in younger grades have tablets or laptops, too, but do not take them home. FGHS teachers stayed in their classrooms, keeping up with students. Some of these kids are messaging me and asking me about their homework, Nevitt said. Two classes are taking a test. Two classes are doing a lesson. They saw a video of me teaching the lesson. The students who had to take the test had to finish it by 1:30 p.m. Monday, Nevitt said. It was an hourlong test, so they had to sign up by 12:30 p.m. Nevitt, who teaches Algebra 2, pre-AP Algebra 2 and pre-calculus, said she felt she was better able to communicate with her students Monday than on some classroom days. FGHS biology and zoology teacher Gregg Moydell said around 11 a.m. that 90 percent of his students are either working on assignments or completed their assignments. Some students had prob-

Staff photo by Cathy Spaulding

In an empty classroom, Fort Gibson High School algebra teacher Britton Nevitt keeps busy with students via computer Monday. Students were counted present by checking in with teachers online during the holiday.

lems with quizzes, which had to be taken at a certain time, he said. The kids hate it if they have to get up for an 8 a.m. class, then wait for the quiz, Moydell said. They wanted to get it done. Moydell did have one student in his class his second-grade daughter, Sullivan. Her mom and I both are teachers. We have two daughters, Moydell said. So, she took one and I took one. Sullivan said she had to do assignments about Martin Luther King Jr. I have a paper on it, Sullivan said. There was an article on the computer. It was a little hard at first, but it was easy. She said she also had some subtraction lessons. They were two-digit numbers like 90 take away 80, she said. Fort Gibson Early Learning Center Principal Shelly Holderby said students were given packets to work hicles distributing the material, Mahan said. The local FBI office has been informed of the distribution. However, its difficult for us to do anything at this time because it falls under the First Amendment issue of freedom of speech, Mahan said. Muskogee police began receiving calls about the distribution of the literature Sunday.

on during their day off. They check in with their teachers, Holderby said. Many of the students were to study or do reports on Martin Luther King Jr., Holderby said. They also had math reviews, guided reading, they were given websites they can go to and play reading games, Holderby said. They were not introduced to any new lessons, but just honing up on skills. Holderby said ELC teachers were very excited and talked it up with the kids. Intermediate Elementary Principal Sherry Rybolt said the school experienced one little glitch with a mathematics website Monday morning. Otherwise, the school experienced few problems. Glover said teachers and administrators will meet this week to discuss how well the program went. Reach Cathy Spaulding at (918) 684-2928 or cspaulding@muskogee phoenix.com. Mahan said he did not know how many calls have been received. Several houses on the west side of the city have been targeted for distribution of the literature, but Mahan said he did not know how many. Some will report it, others will throw it in the trash, he said. Reach Anita Reding at (918) 684-2903 or areding@muskogeephoenix.com.

Hate
Continued from Page 1A

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tic bag is from Kingdom Identify Ministries of Harrison, Ark. A pamphlet titled God Commands Racial Segregation by Bertrand L. Comparet also includes several references to Bible verses. Police have not seen ve-

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