It's time for Woodward to keep moving forward

Pam Nelson

March 10, 2008 11:13 pm

— Over the years I have written editorials or columns about things I am very passionate about.
Serious things like losing a parent or bullying in schools or funny things like a family pet hanging out with the wrong crowd,like skunks!
But my favorite thoughts were always on education. Especially teachers, I am a huge supporter of teachers and education. That is why on April 9th I will be back to Woodward to host the Teacher of the Year reception. Along with leaving Woodward and leaving good friends, this is a hard one to let go. We can say all the right things about how education helps our kids and our community , which is all true. But unless you have the right leadership and the right vision it is hard to vote for something even when you know it is needed.
Woodward, you have that now and it is time to do the right thing. We can nitpick about a certain group that isn’t getting this or a group that is getting that or we can chose to look at the whole picture. The improvements for our schools that we are voting for on Tuesday, April 1 are needed and needed now.
Yes, there are still a lot we need to do, but these things we need first. Working with Dr. Jeff Mills Woodward’s superintendent and getting to know him has shown me he is the right leader for our schools and he has a vision to keep us on track and a passion for what he does.
I have heard a few people say why do we need an early childhood center? I didn’t have that when I was a kid and I turned out ok. Thank goodness our great grandfathers didn’t have that attitude. If we had listened to the ones that said: I didn’t have kindergarten and I turned out ok, I didn’t get to graduate high school and I turned out ok, or I couldn’t afford college and I turned out ok – that may be true, but as a society we should know that the value of any and all education no matter what age and no matter what kind, is very important. There are some wonderful things happening in Woodward right now. The economy is so good other counties are looking at us with envy. The Crystal Beach park renovations alone have brought a new energy and excitement to Woodward that we should be proud. We had the right people with a vision and leadership to make it happen – thank you Alan Riffel.
You can’t drive by the Northwestern site and see how wonderful it is and not be proud of the people associated with making that happen and what it took to get it here – thank you Deena Fisher to name just one and there were many. The Woodward News just did a High Plains Technology Center tab and we put a face with each employee and teacher. What a wonderful facility we have at our door step and how lucky we are to have it, that says a lot about you Dr. Dale, thank you.
We have strong Industrial Foundation, Chamber and Main Street Boards that are making things happen and that are working together to get them done. Folks you don’t always have that in communities . . . working together I mean. Thank you, LaVern Phillips, C.J. Montgomery and Kathryn Upchurch for being the leaders any community would be proud to have.
The oil industry is a wonderful part of Woodward and one we should be grateful for right now, especially when there are other parts of the nation not doing well at all. Thank you, Chris Keeton just to name one that I have gotten to know and admire. Mutual of Omaha not closing is a feather in our cap and thank you to the people that helped us keep it here – that includes you Sandy Liles.
We have one of the lowest hotel/motel taxes in Oklahoma. It is time to bring that up and use the money to help promote Woodward as the great community that it is. Our Centennial year proved we could and should be promoting Woodward more. Thank you Doug Williams for having that vision. Our Southern Plains Range Research Station is one of the top agriculture research facilities in the region and we sometimes forget that. We have one of the best museums for it’s size in the state and they have been honored nationally, thank you for your vision Robert Roberson.
There are cities and towns throughout this nation that have bigger lakes, bigger national parks, bigger caves and sand dunes near them. But what community has it all so close…Boiling Springs State Park, Alabaster Caverns, Little Sahara, Fort Supply Lake, you can’t beat that kind of location.
You can sit back and complain all you want about how unhappy you are with Woodward but you need to know this. You are the minority and you are being overshadowed by people who love this community and have a passion for making it better.
And, you ask, what right do I have to say anything about Woodward when I am leaving and some of you thought had already left. I promise you this I will always love and be a cheerleader for Woodward, no matter where I go or what I do. It was my home for many years and choosing to leave was one of the hardest decision I ever had to make. I just got an offer I couldn’t refuse. Woodward will always be in my heart and I will always cherish my friendships and co-workers because I have learned so much from all of them.
The Woodward News has always tried to do our best at being YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER. We tried things – sometimes that worked and sometimes they didn’t . Sometimes we made you angry and sometimes you were happy with us and each time you let us know about it loud and clear and I appreciate that. Woodward you still have some wonderful employees and good people here at the Woodward News each one I have grown very fond of. They care about what they are doing and serving you is very important to them. They care about the community just like I do and I will miss them so very much.
So, Woodward I take with me the experience of a wonderful and caring community and I will not settle for less no matter where I go. I thank you for that and I want to tell you it has been an honor serving Woodward as the Woodward News publisher. I will miss you and think of you often. And Yes I will be back here to vote yes for the school bond issue and the hotel motel tax.I hope you will vote yes too!!! It is time Woodward, it is time for us to make it happen..and to keep MOVING FORWARD.

Pam Nelson is the publisher of the Woodward News and the Stillwater News Press.