May 18, 2022 Issue, Page 3 of 10

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News May 18, 2022 Merritt Seventh and Eighth Grade Awards Red Dirt Pigeons Merritt Junior teachers and administration High Lowry, Maci Loy, Evan Mer- titude Award - Emily Bratton, win, Jake Miller, Adilyn Mor- Hudson Dyer, Austin Smith, Freas, Kenneth Luke Peffer, Hudson Cape, Alexander, Fly in From awarded their seventh and eighth graders for their ac- row, Adrian Patlan, Kolton Mika Stewart, Award Cole Carter, Ainsley Porter, Brayden Prator, Hania Leadership Will Canon; the month of De- cember - Coby Skelton, Seren- Burleson, Texas complishments on Tuesday, Partain, and Marlie Mong. Sanchez, Jake Shinault, Trent ity Leverett, Dawon Mitchel, May 10th in the gymnasium. Shinn, Ryker Simpson, Austin Students making the high- Gracee Carnes, Austin Smith, By Sheryl Ponce ‘The Valedictorians were Cole Smith, Brylon Smith, Cody est averages were: Highest Av- and Trace Touchstone; the Carter, Ainsley Partain, Reese Smith, Mika Stewart, Trace erage, American History, 2nd month of January - Karigan ‘The homing pigeons from the Red Dirt Pigeons’ Club were Richardson, and Jude Calla- Touchstone, Ayden Upter- hr - Embree McGuire; Highest York, Raydon Jones, Peytyn way. Salutatorians were Bentli grove, Zander VanGieson, average, American History, 3rd taken to Burleson, Texas, to make their way home Saturday Broadbent, Zoe Carlisle, Zan- Whitson, Jenna Watkins, and ‘Amonie Weaver, Gracie West- hr-Reece Richardson; Highest der Vangieson, Arianna Fraga; morning. For the first time, Bobby McMillin’s pigeon came in Myleigh Flowers. reicher, Kayla Whittemire, Average, Geography, -Melanie the month of February - Lily- first and third in the local showing. The results were as fol- Taler Broadbent was given Madalyn Wimberly, Gracie Zamudio; Highest Average in an Rangel, Ayden Darling, Alie lows: the Teacher of Today while Winston, and Melanie Zamu- 4th Hour; Geography- Zander Hamilton, Ali Gilliland, Jalaine the Students of Today were dio. VanGieson; Highest Average A Race: Cole Carter and Ainsley Par- Eighth grade Math Awards in 5th Hour Geography- Trace Chervenka, and Allie Britton; 1st place - Bobby McMillin with his AU-2021-ARPU-9940 tain. The members of the State included Leia Snuggs- Aca- Touchstone; and Highest Aver- the month of March - Dayli flying 1402.845 yards per minute. Honor Society include Jude demic Excellence, Ainsley age in American History- Ains- Pollard, Riley Herndon, Ella Callaway, Cole Carter, Hudson Partain- Academic Excellence, ley Partain. Porter, Alex Orgain, Reese 2nd place - David Bell with his AU-2021-ARPU-6721 flying Dyer, Myleigh Flowers, Marlie Bentli Whitson- Academic Ex- Those awarded Outstand- Richardson, Alexis Carnes,; 1337.027 yards per minute. Mong, Ainsley Partain, Reese cellence, Jude Callaway- Aca- ing Achievement Award the month of April - Makinly 3rd place - Cory Spieker with his AU-2021-ARPU-31878 fly- Richardson, Grace Smart, Leia demic Excellence, Jose Her- Raulsston, Jocelyn Kos, Lili- in ELA are Jake Shinault, Snuggs, Hanna Stehr, Preslie nandez- Academic Excellence, ana Patlan, Jayme Whittemire, Will Canon, Elian Gonzales, ing 1307.255 yards per minute. Taylor, Jenna Watkins, and Marley Mong- Academic Ex- Brayden Prator, Zander VanGi- Ryker Simpson, and Ayden B Race: Bentley Whitson. cellence, Cole Carter- Academ- eson, Alexis Carnes, Gracie Uptergrove. 1st place - David Bell with his AU-2021-ARPU-6741 flying Students who made ic Excellence, Myleigh Flow- Westreicher, Caityn Lowry, Seventh graders named 1399.679 yards per minute. straight A’s and made the Su- ers- Academic Excellence, and Kayla Whittemire, Allie Brit- Responsible Math Students perintendent’s Honor Roll Reese Richardson- Academic ton, Maci Loyd, Amonie Weav- were: second hour - Joel Par- 2nd place - Charles Wyatt with his AU-2021-ARPU-46928 were Gina Brasel, Makenzie Excellence. er, Bonnie Bland, Avery Kein- ra, Hannalee Cloud, Calder flying 1385.718 yards per minute. Brooks, Evelin Bustos, Jude The eighth grade English er, Trace Touchstone, Adrian Jones, Emma Miller, Maddux 3rd place - Bobby McMillin with his AU-2021-ARPU-9931 Callaway, Cole Carter, Rhian- and Reading Awards that Nunez, Ayden Uptergrove, Pruitt, Evelin Bustos, Hania flying 1320.330 yards per minute. non Clark, Addison Darling, were announced included the Joel Parra, Hannalee Cloud, Sanchez, Grace Smart, Gracie Hudson, Dyer, Lillyan Fields, Amazing Author Award - Em- Hania Sanchez Evelyn Bustos, Winston, Melanie Zamudio, Myleigh Flowers, Ali Gillil- ily Bratton, Jude Callaway, Grace Smart, Gracie Winston, and Hanna Stehr. Third Hour: and, Devany Gonzalez, Gun- Addison Carnes, Rhiannon Calder Jones, Maddux Pruitt, Leland Hughes, Zander Van- ner Goodall, Makayla Graham, Clark, Addison Darling, Lillyan Jose Hernanadez, Embree Fields, Devany Gonzales, Jose Emma Miller, Melanie Zamu- dio, and Hanna Stehr. Those geison, Jake Shinault, Alexis Carnes, Kayla Whittemire, Governor McGuire, Emma Miller, Marlie Hernanadez, Marlie Mong, Signs Bill named Excellence Award in Gracie Westreicher, and Caityn Mong, Ainsley Partain, Reese Ainsley Partain, Reese Rich- ELA include Maci Loyd, Allie Lowry. Fourth hour - Bonnie Richardson, Grace Smart, Gra- ardson, Gracie Smith, Hallie Britton, Caityn Lowry, Amonie Expanding Bland, Adrian Nunez, Dason cie Smith, Hallie Smith, LeiaSmith, Leia Snugs, Preslie Weaver, Bonnie Bland, and Harmon, Krystoff Jimenez, Snuggs, Hanna Stehr, Preslie Taylor, Bentli Whitson, and Hania Sanchez. Taylor, Jenna Watkins, and Hannah Walker. The Mil- The Merritt Students of ‘Avery Kiener, Nevaeh Lever- Bentli Whitson. Those who made the Prin- lionaire - Jude Callaway, Leia the Month are the month of ett, Trace Touchstone, Allie Snuggs, Ainsley Partain, Re- September - Kellen Lamar, Britton, Amonie Weaver, Maci Loyd, and Ayden Uptergrove. Protective Orders cipal’s Honor Roll were Bon- ese Richardson, and Hannah Jamie Peffer, Caelan Dunbar, nie Bland, Emily Bratton, Allie Walker. The Great Growth Talan Frazier, Hanna Stehr, Students named to the Excel- Britton, Nathan Bryant, Wil- Award - Makenzie Brooks, and Madison Pittman; the lence Award are: Hania San- liam Canon, Addison Carnes, Paula Duenas, Arianna Fraga, month of October - Dailee chez, Grace Smart, Allie Brit- OKLAHOMA CITY - ‘he governor today signed into law Alexis Carnes, Camden Dyer, Ali Gililland, John Haynes, Taylor, Breegan Barnett, Jerzi ton, Amonie Weaver, and Trace the Stephen Bernius Memorial Act, which expands domestic Arianna Fraga, Talan Frazier, and Jake Miller. The Outstand- Elizondo, Addison Carnes, Touchstone. Personal Growth abuse language in state law determining who can obtain a pro- Dason Harman, John Haynes, ing Student Award - Addison Hania Sanchez, Tanner New- in Math Award went to Mad- Calder Jones, Avery Kiener, Darling, Lillyan Fields, and ton, and Lexie Frazier; the dux Pruitt, Jocelyn O’Clair, tective order. Landon Lohberger, Caityn Leia Snuggs. The Awesome At- month of November - Layton and Caliber Vidaurri. House Bill 4374 by Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, was inspired by a tragedy in Ford’s House district last year that re- sulted in the death of Stephen Bernius. He was killed by aman OSU scientist discovers a wheat he'd rented a room to but to whom he was not related. “This young man lost his life because the statute specified a person must be directly related to obtain a protective order,” gene that increases grain yield Ford said. “We need to be able to protect people from anyone who might be threatening harm. Broadening this definition could stop someone else from being killed.” By Alisa Boswell-Gore mean the difference between people having er. “Now, switch over to this gene. We're saying ‘The bill modifies the definition of “family or household STILLWATER. - Building the genetic make up food and going hungry. It is difficult to find a this gene can increase yield by nearly 12%. And member” as used in the Protection from Domestic Abuse Act for the ideal wheat crop is no easy task. discovery mote impactful than that” that’s one gene. That is noteworthy. Are we go- and the Domestic Abuse Reporting Act to include persons not Just ask Liuling Yan, the Dillon and Lois Hodg- ‘The TaCol-B5 gene, which was discovered in ing to get 12% every time we breed with that related by blood or marriage living in the same household. It es professor of wheat molecular genetics and wheat cultivar CItr176 from Mexico, increases gene? We don’t know that for sure, but this breeding in the Oklahoma State University the number of spikelets (a group of seed-pro- gives us targets now for changing and improv- provides a definition of “living in the same household” to mean Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, who re- ducing flowers) on a wheat spike by more than ing yield on a molecular level. It's tool that we persons who regularly reside in the same, single dwelling unit; cently discovered the TaCol-B5 gene in wheat three, which is significant when the spikes on can now use to supplement and perfect what persons wo resided in the dwelling within the past year; or per- plants. a wheat plant usually only totals about 15-25 we do in the field.” sons who have individual lease agreements where each person What makes this gene so special? spikelets. The gene was also able to increase Due to Yan identifying the gene’s genetic mark- It enhances wheat yield by more than 10% - a the number of fertile tillers (spikes with seeds) has their own private bedroom and shares the common areas. ers, the gene has now also been identified in its significant increase in the world of wheat pro- per plant. naturally occurring state in the Billings wheat Ford said Bernius’ mother asked him to run the legislation duction. “We need more evidence of the genetic traits cultivar, and there is potential for locating it in after her son was killed. Due to a rapidly growing human population in wheat cultivars,’ Yan said. “We could have other cultivars as well. During the COVID-19 outbreak, Bernius lost his job and and climate change, there is a need for crop stopped with the what, but we continued on “In future breeding cycles, we will be tracking was in fear of losing his house, so he rented out two of his bed- varieties that produce high yields with limited to the why, and the why is where the story is. the gene in the Billings plant using Dr. Yan's amounts of artificial fertilizers and pesticides ‘The why is the mechanism behind how science genetic markers as a means to locate it and af- rooms to gain some income. One of the tenants started threat- and that are more resilient to unpredictable firm its presence,” Carver said. works. It wasn’t enough to discover this gene. ening Bernius and others in the home. Bernius tried to get a weather. Understanding its genetics gave us the why of Over the course of his career, Yan has cloned protective order against the individual but was told he couldn't Getting the most out of yield with cereals is why this cultivar produces more.” several wheat genes, including the TaOGT1 because he was not related to him by blood or in a relationship a tall order with scientists having to create a Yan's research colleagues on the project in- gene breakthrough this time last year. His re- delicate balance among genetic traits within cluded OSU Ph.D. student Xiaoyu Zhang; visit- search on the TaCol-B5 gene was recently pub- with him. wheat, such as seed size, seed number and ing scientist Haiyan Jia, a professor in wheat lished in Science, a scientific published by the Several days later, the disgruntled resident met Bernius at head number. Scientists are creating this deli- genetics from Nanjing Agricultural University American Association for the Advancement of the door of his home, shot him multiple times and killed him. cate balance within a highly complex genetic in China; and Brett Carver, Regents professor Science. According to Science representatives, Sen. Darrel Weaver is the principal Senate author of the bill. system in which 80% of genetic sequences and wheat genetics chair in agriculture at OSU. only 1% of the papers published in the journal are highly repetitive, and few genes have been ‘Yan's research involved trying to find out what are ag research related, “While this legislation was spurred by a tragic situation, I connected to a specific plant characteristic, other wheat cultivars the TaCol-B5 gene re- According to a perspective paper in Science, am grateful we have been able to give more Oklahomans living so figuring out what gene accomplishes what sides in, and what he discovered is that this the discovery of TaCol-B5 is a “milestone to- in dangerous situations the ability to obtain protective orders,” trait is no small feat. This makes assembling gene is rare, residing in only about 2% of wheat ward enhancing yield in cereals” because it Weaver said. “I'm hopeful that with this measure, we can help the genetic jigsaw puzzle that makes the most across the world. Before Yan and his colleagues improves scientists’ understanding of the mo- save lives.” optimal wheat cultivar a complicated task, to discovered the genetic markers of this variant, lecular mechanisms that control yield-related say the least. scientists had no means of locating it within genetic traits. HB4374 has an emergency clause that allows it to take ef- ‘That's why discovering genes like TaCol-B5 is wheat plants. “Bew scientists make the attempt to submit fect immediately. so important for feeding the world. The direct Yan and his fellow scientists cloned the gene scientific papers to the Science journal, and effect on grain production makes it an excel- and placed it into a cultivar called Yangmail8, currently, less than 7% of articles submitted lent candidate for getting the most out of one’s a cultivar with average yield rates. Research make it through the rigorous publication pro- wheat crop - literally. showed an average yield increase of 11.9% in cess,” Senseman said. “Historically, this journal “As Ise it, this is a watershed discovery in the the genetically modified plant, with the most has been one of the preeminent journals of the world of plant genetics,” said Scott Senseman, significant yield increase of 19.8% in another scientific community. It’s particularly notewor- associate vice president of OSU Ag Research. progeny line. These experimental lines were thy when agricultural work is highlighted, and “The possibility of having a greater than 10% not intended for commercial use but for un- we are very proud to have one of our univer- yield increase through the activity of one gene derstanding how the gene operates. sity’s scientists featured in this publication.” in a wheat crop is a development that pushes “When we breed a wheat variety, we go from OSU Ag Research is Oklahoma's premier re- the Green Revolution that Dr. Norman Borlaug the parent generation to the offspring genera- search and technology development agency in +Residential Commercial - Faucet Repair started decades ago into another realm. With tion. Producing a 5% increase in yield would agriculture, natural resources and the life sci- + Drain Cleaning -Gas Piping this discovery and its application, it could qualify for releasing a new variety,” said Carv- ences. Jason Jones Plumbing Have photos to share from a event? 580-214-0404 or 580-323-0405 Send them to [email protected] for a chance to be featured in an upcoming edition! Clinton Oklahoma Jason Jones - Owner/Operator | [email protected]