June 29, 2012 THE BOISE CITY NEWS PAGE 3

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cent complete, and 71 percent had emerged by the end of the week, 14 points ahead of normal. Soybean planting was 94 percent complete, and 85 percent had emerged by Sunday, 24 points ahead of normal. Five percent of soybeans were blooming by the end ofthe week. Fifteen percent of the peanut crop was pegging by Sunday, six points behind the five-year average. Cotton planting was 96 percent complete by the end of the week, and 89 percent of the crop had emerged. Twelve percent of the cotton crop was squaring by Sunday, on track with the five-year average. Virtually the entire watermelon crop was running vines and 25 percent was setting fruit by the end of week, 30 points behind normal. Hay: Cutting of hay continued, though some operators are

concerned about overall production if the drought continues to develop. Hay condition ratings declined slightly; alfalfa hay was rated mostly good and other hay was rated good to fair. A second cutting of alfalfa was 88 percent complete by the end ofthe week, 17 points ahead of normal. A third cutting of alfalfa was 16 percent complete, ten points ahead of the five-year average. A first cutting of other hay was 86 percent complete, and a second cutting was 12 percent complete by Sunday. Pasture and Livestock: Pasture and range conditions were rated mostly good to fair. Large grasshopper populations were reported, as were problems with flies among livestock. Livestock conditions continued to be rated mostly good. Prices for feeder steers less than 800 pounds averaged $154 per cwt. Prices for heifers less than 800 pounds averaged $145 per cwt.

FARM BUREAU LEADER DISAPPOINTED WITH SENATE'S FARM BILL

The U.S. Senate's approval of a farm bill on June 21, is drawing mixed reviews from Oklahoma farmers and ranchers. The main concern, said Scott Neufeld, Fairview, is the lack of price protection in years when commodity prices are low. "We're disappointed that most of the risk management tools included in the Senate bill are revenue based with very little focus on the price components of actual marketing," Neufeld said. "There is no mechanism to manage risk when steep price declines happen, and they will happen, and when they may last for several marketing years." As chairman of Oklahoma Farm Bureau's Farm Bill Committee, Neufeld closely followed the Senate's actions and believes they fell short ofpassing legislation that could truly help Oklahoma agriculture. The northwest Oklahoma farmer is also concerned about the so called "shallow loss" provision of the Senate bill. "We can manage crop losses up to 15 percent, but deeper losses need to be protected," Neufeld said. "I would rather have real protection in years when deep losses are experienced than have minimal protection year to year." Despite his primary concerns for the bill, Neufeld praised the Senate for the bipartisan, timely effort. "By quickly passing the bill, the Senate paved the way for the House to bring their version to the floor," Neufeld said. "We're looking forward to working with Cong. Lucas and supporting his efforts to pass a bill that will truly benefit all of agriculture."

District office by 5:00 p.m., July 9, 2012.

When It Comes to Texting and Driving: It Can Wait

Bryan Gonterman, President of AT&T Oklahoma
With the summer about to start, teens across Oklahoma and the rest ofAmerica are planning graduation parties, searching for summer jobs, and looking forward to a few months of freedom. Unfortunately, another memorable season is fast approaching: dangerous driving season. According to AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the days between Memorial Day and Labor Day have been dubbed the "100 Deadliest Days" for teens to be on the road. Many of these fatal accidents can be avoided by educating teens, their families and their communities about the dangers of texting and driving. It can be hard for anyone, whether they're teens or adults, to resist the urge to respond quickly to a text. In fact, a recent poll found that 43 percent of teens openly admit to texting and driving. The same survey found that nine out of ten teens expect recipients of their texts and emails to respond within five minutes. The pressure is on this data clearly shows that the temptation to text while driving is greater than ever before. That's whyAT&T developed AT&T DriveMode, an app that auto-responds to any incoming texts with a message that says they'll reply when it is safe. It silences incoming text noises and sends calls to voicemail, minimizing the temptation to respond. The company's goal is to send a simple message to anyone who considers texting while driving: it can wait. Sending a text takes an average of five secondsbut doing that while traveling 55 miles per hour is the equivalent of driving the length of a football field with a blindfold on. It sounds unbelievable that anyone would unnecessarily close their eyes for a full five seconds while driving on the highwayand texting while driving is no different. AT&T is committed to educating the public particularly teens - on the risks of texting behind the wheel. Their ongoing efforts also include work with non-profit, safety-focused organizations, like the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS), to educate teens about the choices they're making when they text and drive. They also created "The Last Text," a powerful, 10 minute documentary that features real stories about lives that have been dramatically altered by texting and driving. You can help spread the word by visiting www.att.com/ itcanwait, watching the documentary and signing the "It Can Wait" pledgeand letting your friends, loved ones, colleagues and community know that texting while driving is taking an unacceptable risk. Texting doesn't just affect youit can change the lives of the passengers in your car, your family, and strangers on the road. It puts everyone's safety at risk.
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It is simply tragic that a month that holds so many happy occasions and important steps for teens and their families.is also so scarred by the loss of teen lives. It's an exciting time to be youngthe world is changing faster than ever before and AT&T plays a big part in the innovations that are connecting us and revolutionizing our way of life. But as technology progresses and mobile solutions become an even bigger part of our life, we have to step back and remind ourselves that unless used responsibly, technology can have very real consequences. While being connected is important, while you are driving, it can wait.

Attorney General Pruitt Issues Scholarship Scam Warning

Thunderbird Youth Academy Accepting Applications

Pryor, OK Thunderbird www.thunderbird.org . Because Youth Academy is currently ac- the program is operated as a pubcepting applications from Okla- lic service of the Oklahoma Nahoma residents for a new class tional Guard, no tuition is rethat begins on July 15. The pro- quired. Thunderbird Youth Academy gram also is recruiting mentors also is actively seeking adults to for cadet graduates. Thunderbird Youth Acad- serve as mentors to TYA cadets, emy, located in Pryor, is a Na- said TYA Director Cherie tional Guard Youth ChalleNGe Stierwalt, adding that mentoring Program that utilizes military is an integral part ofthis National style discipline, education and Guard Youth ChalleNGe Proleadership training to provide a gram. Cadets work closely with life changing experience for its case managers, counselors and cadets. Successful candidates will mentors to develop a road map complete a 22-week residential for them to be successful after phase during which time they graduation. Whether returning to will have the opportunity to ob- high school, going to college or tain a GED or complete high a technology center, joining the school credits. Cadets also have military or the work force; each the opportunity to attend college graduating cadet leaves with a courses at the Pryor Campus of completed Post Residential AcOSU Institute of Technology, all tion Plan. Mentors are a key in successful completion of the at no cost. plan. Applicants are eligible ifthey Anyone interested in becomturn 16 years old by July 15,2012 and do not tum 20 years ing a mentor for the program can old prior to December 15, 2012. contact Ms. Vicki Smiddy at Information is available by call- (918) 824-4853 or obtain inforing (918) 824-4850 or online at mation at www.thunderbird.org .

SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE IS NEAR ! The Cimarron County Conservation District has applications available for their 2012 Annual $1200.00 Scholarship. This scholarship is available to current or returning college students who will be classified as a Junior or Senior for the college 2012 Fall semester. The student must be from Cimarron County and majoring in an agriculture field. This scholarship will be paid to the college of the recipient's choice in two installments - $600.00 for the Fall 2012 semester and $600.00 for the Spring 2013 semester. Applications are available at various colleges and at the Cimarron County Conservation District, PO Box 1086, Boise City, OK 73933; email amamTCCD@ocnsavationokgpv ; (580)544-3048; or 210 S. Cimarron Ave., Boise City. Applications must be in the

FSA Programs Dates

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) would like to remind producers of upcoming program dates/deadlines and reporting date changes. These are for the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE), Acreage Reports, County Committee Elections and the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Haying and Grazing provisions. ACRE Production for 2011: Producers participating in the ACRE Program must annually report their acreage and production to the FSA Office to be eligible for program benefits. Producers failing to report their 2011 acreage and production will be ineligible for ACRE benefits and will be required to repay previous program payments. Production reports are due by July 15, 2012. Acreage Reports: Acreage reporting dates have changed for the 2012 crop year. For the crops of corn, grain sorghum, cotton, sunflowers, soybeans, sesame, warm season grasses and all other spring seeded crops the reporting date is now July 15th. This new reporting date does take effect this year, so be sure to call the FSA Office and schedule an appointment to get your crops reported timely. County Committee Nominations: The nomination period for the 2012 county committee elections opened June 15'h and will close August V. Mem-

bers of the committee deliver FSA farm programs at the local level and make decisions needed to administer the programs in the county. Producers who participate or cooperate in an FSA program may be nominated as a candidate for the county committee in the Local Administrative Area (LAA) holding the election. Individuals may nominate themselves or others as a candidate. To be a nominee, eligible individuals must sign nomination form FSA-669A. The form includes a statement that the nominee agrees to serve if elected. This form is available at the FSA Office or at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/ elections. CRP Haying & Grazing: Producers wishing to hay or graze CRP acres will be able to do so starting July 2nd if the acres are eligible. Those producers choosing to hay or graze CRP acres will have their annual rental payment reduced by 25% for the acres actually hayed or grazed. To be eligible producers must: apply at the FSA Office before any action is performed on the CRP acres, the CRP acres cannot have been hayed or grazed in the previous 2 years, producer must get a revised conservation Plan of Operations (CPO) from the NRCS Office, and be approved by the Cimarron County FSA Committee. Once these actions have been completed producers opting to hay the CRP acres will have from July 2nd to August 10th and those opting to graze the CRP acres will have from July 2nd to September 30th. If you have any questions concerning these programs or need to make an appointment, contact the FSA office at 580-544-2401 Ext. 2.

(Oklahoma City, OK) The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is "Tuition costs are rising ev- currently accepting applications ery year for students, making it until August 7, 2012, for the podifficult for many Oklahoma sition of state trooper. "It is exfamilies to afford college. Schol- tremely critical that we get good arships are vital for families, but people to apply," said Mike Thparents must be smart about ompson, Commissioner ofPubwhere they apply for scholar- lic Safety. "Applicants don't ships and not become victims of need previous law enforcement fraud out of desperation," Pruitt experience, they just need to have a willingness to serve the said. Scholarship opportunities are state of Oklahoma," said Thavailable for students from pri- ompson. Minimum requirements vate companies, colleges and include an Associate's Degree or government programs. Savings 62 college credit hours, be beprograms such as Oklahoma's tween the ages of 23 and 45 with 529 College Savings Plan also no felony convictions. Uniforms, are available to save money be- equipment and take home cars are provided. Oklahoma Highfore college. way Patrol Chief, Colonel Kerry The Attorney General's Public Protection Unit provides the Pettingill encourages women and following tips to avoid scholar- other minorities to apply. "If you've ever considered a career ship scams: There are many free schol- in law enforcement, we hope arship information sources avail- you'll consider the Oklahoma able through school financial aid Highway Patrol," said Pettingill. offices, the U.S. Department of "We have openings throughout Education the state, including the rural ar(www. studentaid. ed. gov) and eas around Oklahoma City and organizations like College Parents Tulsa," said Pettingill. More deof America at (888) 256-4627 tails about becoming an Okla(www.collegeparents.org). While homa Highway Patrol Trooper some legitimate companies of- can be found at our website, infer lists of scholarships in ex- cluding benefits, salary and other change for an advance fee, con- requirements. Apply online by visiting the OHP website at sult the free options first; f you choose a pay service, www.ohptroopers.com do your research first and compare various services before Life's golden age is committing to anything. Do not be influenced by high-pressure when the kids are too sales pitches or claims that you old to need baby-sitters will miss scholarship opportuniand too young to borrow ties if you do not pay quickly; Beware of any service that the family car. uses a mail drop for its return address; Middle age is when Read all of the fine print before you sign anything or give you choose your cereal personal information; Do not give your banking for the fiber, not the or personal information until you toy. confirm that the scholarship service is credible; Ask friends, neighbors, other THE STATUE OF parents, guidance counselors and/or employees of your LIBERTY'S BRA college's financial aid office if SIZE IS A 420 they've heard of the organizaTRIPLE Y tion or company;

OKLAHOMA CITY Attorney General Scott Pruitt issued a warning Monday for students and parents searching for college scholarships.

Keep receipts and records of interactions; Never be afraid to ask questions or request more information, and be skeptical of representatives who are reluctant to answer your questions or discuss specifics. The Federal Trade Commission also cautions to watch for the following taglines, including: The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back;" "You can't get this information anywhere else;" "I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship;" We'll do all the work;" "The scholarship will cost some money;" "You've been selected by a national foundation to receive a scholarship;" or "You're a finalist" in a contest you never entered. To report suspected fraud or scams, contact the AG's Public Protection Unit at (405) 5212029, (918) 581-2885 or [email protected] . For more information about tips and resources, go online to www.ftc.gov.

OHP IS HIRING

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580-546-7062
Office Hours 8a.m. to 4:30 p.m. sir Monday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Friday
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Send an Oklahoma veteran to Washington DC

Oklahoma's Workl War II veterans waited 60 wars for a memorial in their honor. We Want you to help Oklahoma veterans visit this memorial by making a tax-deductible donation to Oklahoma. Honor Flights today

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