July 23, 2019 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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Page 4 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Tuesday, July 16, 2019 Opinion Page “ElkCituNews LET HER GO - NOT MY TYPE Serving Western Oklahoma since 1901 ANYWAY... This treasure hasn’t lost luster The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City Fifty years ago Saturday, Neil Armstrong stepped onto the surface of the moon and provided this country with some- thing it could use today -- a unifying event like no other. An estimated 600 million people worldwide watched on live television as Armstrong uttered his famous line, “That's one small step for man, one giant leap for man- kind.” The feat fulfilled former President John Kenne- dy’s call eight years earlier for the United States, seek- ing to outdo the Soviet Union, to put a man on the moon. And, the successful Apollo 11 mission gave Ameri- cans something to cheer about toward the end of a long, painful decade. Kennedy had been assassinated in 1963. The United States had become more and more involved in the Vietnam War, prompting protests across the coun- try. The year before the moon landing, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and Kennedy’s brother, Robert, had been gunned down. The summer of 1969 would see Woodstock, Chappaquidick and the Manson murders. The moon landing provided a welcome departure, and it showcased the best of American ingenuity and drive. Getting a space ship to the moon took the work of about 400,000 people, from clerks to engineers to astronauts, Academy wants Oklahoma who were part of the space program during that decade. The lunar landing itself required some quick thinking un- der stress. The autopilot on the lander had sent Armstrong residents’ views on energy and crew mate Buzz Aldrin toward a large crater that Arm- The Oklahoman, Okla- that according to the state to meet them and to lead and gas companies was cen- strong later described as being “covered with very large homa City Department of Commerce, the way,” Knutson says. tral to raucous state budget rocks about the size of automobiles.” So, with his fuel run- Each year since 1985, the energy industry em- The academy, a nonprof- negotiations in recent years. ning out for the descent, he improvised, steering the lander the Oklahoma Academy ploys more than 100,000 in it created by former Gov. The academy’s format is to a spot with smooth terrain and then relaying to white- has gleaned feedback from Oklahoma, with 10,000 jobs Henry Bellmon in 1967, designed to foster respectful, knuckled controllers in Houston, “The Eagle has landed.” the public and used it to expected to be added by prides itself on being non- constructive back-and-forth Several hours later, Armstrong made history, to be give policymakers recom- 2025. In the past five years, partisan. Attendees to its that produces a consensus joined shortly by Aldrin. They spent about 2 hours, 15 mendations about a range the state’s colleges and uni- annual town halls come to forward to policymakers. minutes outside the capsule, beaming grainy black-and- of issues. This year’s versities have produced from across the state and The 2019 town hall is white footage back to viewers. After about 21 hours topic -- energy -- should roughly 7,000 degrees an- the ideological spectrum. on the moon, the men lifted off again to rejoin Michael generate plenty of ideas. nually in the energy sector. As Knutson put it in an- Oct. 20-23 at the WinStar Collins in the command module for the return to Earth. The academy’s three-day However, the academy nouncing this year’s event, casino and convention cen- town hall this fall is titled said in a recent news re- the organization “must not ter in Thackerville. At- In all, the mission lasted a little more than 8 days. “Oklahoma Energy: Opti- lease, “when we are not allow polarized and bi- tendees must be nominated The three crew members were then feted around mizing Our Resources for the prepared for the future ased positions to impede -- people can self-nominate the world, including a tickertape parade in New Future.” It’s certainly timely. of the energy industry, or even prevent progress” or they can nominate some- York City attended by about 1 million people. Oklahoma’s oil and gas when formulating policy. one they believe would be a we as Oklahomans lose.” In a recent interview with CBS News, flight director industry, of course, is vital Julie Knutson, the acad- The volume of today’s good fit. Nomination forms Gene Kranz said, “It’s still hard for me to believe that to the state’s economy and emy’s president and CEO, discourse is on blast much we've been there. We did that. We accomplished that.” must be returned soon -- by has been for generations. says Oklahoma “is on the of the time, and debates over July 23 -- and can be found The United States accomplished the same five more Yet Oklahoma has made forefront of new tech- energy are no exception -- at www.okacademy.org or times in the following few years, but none of those mis- great strides in renewable nologies of wind, solar, the sometimes-violent pro- sions could measure up to the pride and joy that Apollo 11 energy as well, particularly battery power and wa- tests in 2016 over attempts by calling (405) 307-0986. wind -- the state is No. 3 ter treatment solutions.” to build the Dakota Access “The time is now for a new generated. Fifty years later, it remains a national treasure. nationally in operation- “With the upcoming oil pipeline in North Dakota approach and a new con- al wind energy capacity. changes that will be occur- are one example. In Oklaho- versation,” Knutson said. Number of teacher Academy officials note ring, we must prepare now ma, the tax rate paid by oil Consider being a part of it. certifications rise Muskogee Phoenix, Okla. Compact dispute a test for Oklahoma's increased reliance on emergency certifi- cation to fill its classrooms with teachers is a troubling trend that must be reversed sooner rather than later. Oklahoma governor, tribes A record 3,038 teachers were admitted during this past school year through that credentialing pro- The Oklahoman, Okla- governor mailed a letter to Oklahoma’s tribes, how- cooperative manner moving homa City 35 tribes on July 5 and fol- ever, say looking solely at ahead,” the five leaders said. cess, according to reporting from CNHI's Capitol Bu- In a dispute over whether lowed that with an op-ed a exclusivity fees overlooks The governor responded reau. That represents a 9,400 percent increase from the state’s gaming compacts few days later in the Tulsa the many other ways the by praising the tribes for just nine years ago, when the 32 emergency teach- with Oklahoma’s _ tribes World in which noted that tribes benefit the state. An being “fantastic, successful ing certificates that were issued were relatively rare. should be renegotiated, each the “exclusivity fees” paid official with the Chero- business leaders.” But Stitt, If education would have remained the priority it had side believes it has the stron- by the tribes to the state are kee Nation noted that an enrolled member of the been when reforms were made during the early 1990s it ger argument. To be deter- the lowest in the country. that tribe’s impact is felt Cherokee Nation, also said mined is whether some mid- The fees range from 4% “through our investments he was elected “to give a is likely there would be little need for emergency teach- dle ground can be reached. to 10% and involve Class in health care, education, fresh eye to all agreements, ing certificates today. But tax cuts and incentives to fa- Gov. Kevin Stitt wants to III games such as slot ma- housing, infrastructure and laws, and actions by state vored industries resulted with funding cuts for schools, renegotiate the compacts, chines, roulette and craps. core services that the state government and to make which prompted an exodus of teachers from Okla- which have been in place According to the state’s of Oklahoma is often un- the hard decisions that con- homa because that profession was less attractive here. since 2004. He argues that Office of Management and able to provide.” Those sider every individual who We're certainly appreciative of those professionals will- the state’s cut should be in- Enterprise Services, Okla- investments, by numerous calls this great state home.” ing to share their experience and knowledge with students creased, and that the com- homa tribes earned $2.3 tribes, have been sizable. Both sides appear dug in, pacts expire at year’s end billion from Class III elec- One concern we have although that doesn’t mean in classrooms across the state. And there is something to and must be renegotiated. tronic games and nonhouse- is the tenor of this debate. compromise isn’t possible. be said about the application of real life to lessons being The tribes say the com- banked card games in fis- Late last week, the leaders These are negotiations, after learned in the classroom, but teaching is a profession thatre- pacts automatically renew cal year 2018, and paid the of Oklahoma’s Five Civi- all. We take some comfort quires more than just knowledge about a particular subject. next year if no new terms state a record $139 mil- lized Tribes -- the Chicka- in Chickasaw Nation Gov. Educators believe that increased funding the past are agreed upon. They lion in exclusivity fees. saws, Cherokees, Choctaws, Bill Anoatubby’s initial re- couple of years could help reverse this trend, but it is also say the present ar- Inhis op-ed, Stittsaid most Creeks and Seminoles -- sponse to Stitt’s letter -- it rangements are fair to the compacts in other states signed a resolution reject- was a surprise, Anoatubby going to take a longterm commitment from lawmak- tribes and the state alike. have exclusivity fees of ing Stitt’s call to renegoti- said, but he was hopeful the ers to ensure a steady flow of new teachers ready to en- Tribal leaders clearly, 20% to 25%. In neighboring ate and backing the current tribe and state could pre- ter the system. Any disruption in funding will stall and understandably, aren’t Arkansas, he said, exclusiv- fee structure. Stitt’s original serve its “positive partner- progress that has been made, and Oklahoma cannot happy with how — Stitt ity fees for four new casinos move “puts into question his ship.” That would be the afford to go backward when it comes to education. broached this topic. The will range from 13% to 20%. sincerity to work with us ina ideal result across the board.