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OICA mourns the passing of two child advocates
Opinions
February 21, 2024
OICA mourns the passing of two child advocates
By Joe Dorman CEO ? OICA,

OKLAHOMA CITY – Over the past week, Oklahoma lost two individuals who did much for our state’s children in their own ways.

Most people are aware of the passing of Toby Keith, the Oklahoma country music performer with multiple top hits. A diehard Sooner, his songs also touched Oklahoma State fans with his song “Should Have Been a Cowboy” played after each sports victory.

Far too many people are not aware of his generosity, especially toward children. The Toby Keith Foundation, established in 2006, has been helping children with cancer treatment care since inception. They streamlined their efforts around no-cost housing for children with cancer, and in 2014, the foundation opened OK Kids Korral. This is a cost-free, convenient, and comfortable home for pediatric cancer patients receiving treatment at The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, and other nearby facilities.

Toby was also a supporter of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, making donations of signed memorabilia for us to auction off at our events.

Toby passed away after a lengthy battle with stomach cancer.

Another champion for children also was taken from us too soon. Cathy Cummings died from the effects of gallbladder cancer.

A longtime restaurateur in Oklahoma City, most became acquainted with Cathy during her lieutenant governor campaign in 2014. She and I quickly became friends, which includes her husband Sean, and their children. Following the race, Cathy went on to serve as a council member and mayor of The Village, as well as running for Oklahoma county commissioner.

“People need to be listened to with a little empathy and compassion, and whether I want to hear it or not, it’s still my job to listen and I’m a good listener, “said Cummings. “My experience and my willingness are my strongest attributes.”

I would disagree with her self-assessment though. Her strongest attribute was her always upbeat and positive personality. Whenever you saw Cathy, whether at Vito’s, her Italian restaurant, or just around town, you were welcomed with a hug and true interest in how you were doing. Sean was once asked if she was like that all the time, and he confirmed that was truly who she was all the time.

One effort that Cathy took on in 2013 was to shed light on living conditions tied with earning $9.00 per hour, which was considered a “living wage” at the time. She and Sean attempted “The Living Wage Experiment” to bring awareness to the struggles that minimum wage workers face.

A “living wage” is considered to be an amount of pay high enough to maintain a normal standard of living. The minimum wage in Oklahoma is currently $7.25 an hour, the federal allowable minimum. OXFam America shows that Oklahoma ranks 11th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for the percentage of those workers with lower wages. 36.0% of all workers in Oklahoma earn less than $12 per hour — 4.7% more than the national average.

C athy never forgot that experience, and she continually worked to improve conditions for working Oklahomans and their families. She and Sean supported OICA through our annual chili cook-off and they donated customized meals for us to auction off from their restaurants. Her family has asked that in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to assist families struggling to pay for school lunches. You can give at this link: https:// gofund.me/c59f74a4 I am thankful for the efforts of both these wonderful Oklahomans for children. They will truly be missed.

Jefferson Highway keeps on rollin’
A: Main, news
Jefferson Highway keeps on rollin’
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Long before Route 66, there was the Jefferson Highway. Route 66 was a federally funded, 2,448-mile highway that crossed the country going east and west from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, Californ...
A: Main, news
Jacob Foos re-hired as Eufaula City Manager
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It was a surprise hire, but not a total surprise as former Eufaula City Manager Jacob Foos was rehired as Eufaula’s city manager. The hiring took place following an executive session at a special meet...
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Complications of finding a city manager
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Jeb Jones resigned as city manager in April. He was hired in 2022 to replace Jacob Foos, who had resigned months earlier and became assistant city manager in the City of Shawnee. Andrea Weckmuel-ler B...
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LEA Poker Run Saturday
June 11, 2025
The Golden Eagle Poker Run, one of the most popular events on Lake Eufaula, is Saturday, June 14. This year’s theme is Pirates & Parrots, so get your crew and costumes ready for a day of high seas adv...
McIntosh County Democrat wins Sequoyah Award
A: Main, news
McIntosh County Democrat wins Sequoyah Award
June 11, 2025
The Oklahoma Press Association presented its Better Newspaper Contest Awards during the OPA Annual convention June 6-7, at the Grand Casino Hotel and Resort in Shawnee. The top award a newspaper can r...
A: Main, news
Commissioners getting an increase in road spending
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Rep. Tim Turner, R-Kinta, announced some good news and some bad news at the Monday morning Monthly County Commissioner meeting. First, the bad news, at least for those who oppose wind turbines in the ...
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Bridge dedicated to World War II veteran
A: Main, news
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The Oklahoma Department of Transportation recently honored the late veteran William “Bill” Antrum Fox Jr. by naming a bridge after him. The William A. Fox Jr. Memorial Bridge is on SH 9 East at Nine M...
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Ten Mile Yard Sale this weekend
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Bring an umbrella Bargain hunters set your alarms. The annual 10-milelong yard sale begins at 7 a.m. Sunday, stretching from the east end of Eufaula, down SH 9 east through Longtown and past Enterpris...
Preliminary set for 2 suspected of killing Eufaulan
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2 dead, 4 injured in pileup
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Two people from Marshall, Texas were killed, and four others were injured in a harrowing four-vehicle pileup on U.S. 69 half a mile south of the Muskogee City Limits at about 2:20 p.m. on Monday, June...
Fink inducted into OPA Half Century Club
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Managing Editor Jerry Fink of The Eufaula Indian Journal and the McIntosh County Democrat was inducted into the Oklahoma Press Association Half Century Club on Saturday, June 7 at the Grand in Shawnee...
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