We file in one by one. The room is dimly lit. A single spotlight illumi-nates the center of the room, and beneath it sits an empty wreath. We know this barren wheel is to serve as a grim re-minder. The rumors have been circulating all day, but nothing could have pre-pared us for what we were about to witness.

American Legion Auxiliary Past De-partment President and Office Admin-istrator Assistant, Sue Heil, is the speaker tonight. Yet, it is not her story she begins to tell. It is the story of Georgian Anne Johnson. Johnson describes a party, seem-ingly no different than those were are accus-tomed to. It is a night to celebrate the return of friends, Jimmy and Price, who have recently re-turned from the military. “Always, I'll remember that night,” Johnson

writes. It was the last time she ever saw Jimmy or Price.

We listen to the stories of these fallen soldiers and we listen to the story of the poppy fields. And when the stories end, it is time for the ceremony to begin.

It is silent as each delegate chooses a red poppy to pin in the wreath. We do not know whether to feel com-forted by the color of love or irked by the color of blood. These poppies represent the cost we pay for the life we live. Nothing is said, but we watch in wonder as some-thing beautiful begins to form.

With each members' hand, this once empty wheel transforms into a breath-taking piece of art. The petals hide the spine of the wreath, creating a wonder-ful bouquet of red. The message is clear: one by one we work to rebuild. We take something broken

and wounded and show the power a few individuals have in making it whole. It is a call to service, and we must answer.

We answer this call by helping our neighbors, donating to the community, or making the ulti-mate sacrifice like Jimmy and Price.

And while we work to serve the nation so many have died for, we remem-ber the poppy and what it means to us.

By: Taryn McLaughlin Densmore City

May 28, 2018 Volume 76 Issue 2

City Elections Results

The Gir ls Stater Volume 76 Issue 2

Akin City Mayor: Kate Douglas Council Member NO 1: Autumn Foster Council Member NO 2: Sydnee Fox Council Member NO 3: Madison Armbruster Council Member NO 4: Lauren Millis City Manager: Abbey Phelps

City Judge: Stephanie Spellman City Attorney: Ashley Tracy City Clerk: Riley Hall City Treasurer: Gabriella Fullbright Police Chief: Madelynn Ruble Fire Chief: Halley Flute Planning and Zoning Commissioner: Megan Carson Street Commissioner: Alison Moore Emergency Management Director: Reese Grant City Reporter: Mary Neal Blosch City

Mayor: Alexis Adams

Council Member NO. 1: Kate Garner

Council Member NO. 2: Paige Simons Council Member NO. 3: Blakely Smith

Council Member NO. 4: Brittany Shrader City Manager: Brooke Robbins City Judge: Alyssa Jones City Attorney: Raven Brewer City Clerk: Katy Roberts City Treasurer: Camille Goerend Police Chief: Kaitlyn Hinkle

Fire Chief: Sydney Spears Planning and Zoning Commissioner: Abbey Burnett Street Commissioner: Angie Warwick

Emergency Management Director: Bayleigh Miller

City Reporter: Megan Pena

Bonham City

Mayor: Alysha Siddigi Council Member NO. 1: Olivia Wiley Council Member NO. 2: Blair Spencer Council Member NO. 3: Abigail Boatman Council Member NO. 4: Shelby Black City Manager: Maggie Green City Judge: Apriella “AJ” Farrar

City Attorney: Payton Moody City Clerk: Claire Coyne City Treasurer: Hannah Jimenez

Police Chief: Ashley Puccetti Price Fire Chief: Abi Arnold Planning and Zoning Commissioner: Laura Garrett Street Commissioner: Jacie Piercy Emergency Management Director: Makenzie Hill City Reporter: Peyton Smith

Chinn City

Mayor: Shelby Flahive

Council Member NO. 1: Morgan Didlake

Council Member NO. 2: Allison Gaver

Council Member NO. 3: Gina Gibbs

Council Member NO. 4: Mackenzie Mally

City Manager: Emma Watkins

City Judge: Ryleigh Jones

City Attorney: Gala Tomberlin

City Clerk: Kamryn Theilen

City Treasurer: Jordan Davis

Police Chief: Jasie Lee

Fire Chief: Christina Pembrook

Planning and Zoning Commissioner: Allison Galindo Street Commissioner: Samantha Morrell Emergency Management Director: Michel Sanders

City Reporter: Miranda Soto

Clingenpeel City Mayor: Catie McCraw Council Member NO. 1: Molly Rainey Council Member NO. 2: Kelsey Griffin Council Member NO. 3: Sarai Orozco Council Member NO. 4: Ashlynn “Lynnie” Williams City Manager: Chloe Cantrell City Judge: Reagan Stephens City Attorney: Faith Terry City Clerk: Kelsey “Kelso” Davenport City Treasurer: Jordan Villalva Police Chief: Destiny Trammell Fire Chief: Kenedy Brown Planning and Zoning Commissioner: Joyce Tullis Street Commissioner: Deborah Satterwhite Emergency Management Director: Lindsey Hood City Reporter: Elania Eddlemon

Demke City

Mayor: Mary Lee Hainzinger Council Member NO. 1: Carly Fisher Council Member NO. 2: Shiloh Martin Council Member NO. 3: Lexi Blevins

Council Member NO. 4: Molly Hayduk City Manager: Mary Gilbert

The Gir ls Stater Volume 76 Issue 2

City Judge: Chanler Podany City Attorney: Summer Pritchett City Clerk: Jill Rose City Treasurer: Taylor Weatherwax Police Chief: Lexi Wallace Fire Chief: Anna Kate Wallace Planning and Zoning Commissioner: Lu McKinsey Street Commissioner: Jazz Wolfe Emergency Management Director: Britney Dunlap City Reporter: Maggie Wilson Densmore City Mayor: Madison Parisotto Council Member NO. 1: Brook Pack Council Member NO. 2: Katherine Parr Council Member NO. 3: Ashlee Andress Council Member NO. 4: Sydnie Landwehr City Manager: Ariya Regnier City Judge: Madison Hunt City Attorney: Ciara Locker City Clerk: Sydni Case City Treasurer: Kashia Cha Police Chief: Jessica Burnett Fire Chief: Briley Yunker Planning and Zoning Commissioner: Jaden Allen Street Commissioner: Isabella Rabara Emergency Management Director: Kaci Bailey City Reporter: Taryn McLaughlin

Deutser City Mayor: Madison Layland Council member NO 1: Grace Hall Council Member NO 2: Ellie Marker Council Member NO 3: Brooklyn Caldwell Council Member NO 4: Haley Fales City Manager: Haley Hardwood

City Judge: Danna Taylor City Attorney: Makalyn Herring City Clerk: Riley Gomez City Treasurer:Ginger Grammer Police Chief: Mattie Parker Fire Chief: Alyssa Littlefield Planning and Zoning Commissioner: Emma Shealy Street Commissioner: Madeline Payne Emergency Management Director: Jaci Korzan City Reporter: Ki Smith

Erwin City

Mayor: Nicole Horner

Council Member NO. 1: Bibiana Perez Council Member NO. 2: Autumn Garlock

Council Member NO. 3: Julia Denney

Council Member NO. 4: Autumn Burns

City Manager: Libby Sharp

City Judge: Chloe Kellner

City Attorney: Victoria Middleton

City Clerk: Abigail Weaver

City Treasurer: Sydney Tynon

Police Chief: Maya Sharp

Fire Chief: Makayla Givings

Planning and Zoning Commissioner: Kinsey Grooms Street Commissioner: Kenzie Horton

Emergency Management Director: Breezy Stoddard

City Reporter: Emi Szabo

Hare City

Mayor: Reagan Griffin

Council Member NO. 1: Brianna Deeds

Council Member NO. 2 : Ellise Foreman

Council Member NO. 3: Savannah Steele

Council Member NO. 4: Jackie Harsha

City Manager: Isabella Darby

City Judge: Raen Holding

City Attorney: Grace Brasfield

City Clerk: Kylee Snell City Treasurer: Lauren Fleshman

Police Chief: Lily Rider

Fire Chief: Mollie Allen Planning and Zoning Commissioner: Ariel Vang

Street Commissioner: Jaden Conley

Emergency Management Director: Brennen Davis

City Reporter: Mallori Reno

Heil City

Mayor: Daisy Budgick

Council Member No. 1: Krista Carroll Council Member No. 2: Lauren Woodall Council Member No. 3: Gracie Jones

Council Member No. 4: Savannah Paus

City Manager: Grace Griggs

City Judge: Holly Calvin

City Attorney: Kaitlyn Matthews

City Clerk: Emily Garrett

City Treasurer: Elisa Velasco

Police Chief: Elyssa Teal Fire Chief: Codi Carmack

Planning & Zoning Commissioner: Emma Rich

Street Commissioner: Kailyn Greenhagen

Emergency Management Director: Sam Willis

City Reporter: Josie Frazier

Keister City

Mayor: Addison Spicer

Council Member No. 1: Keli Presley

Council Member No. 2: Montana Lynch

Council Member No. 3: Janie Poteet Council Member No. 4: Abby Jones

City Manager: Katie Durbin

City Judge: Abbie Ball City Attorney: Kayla Freeman

City Clerk: Aspen Dinsmore

City Treasurer: Jenna Johnson

Police Chief: Katelyn Taber

Fire Chief: Kelli Garrison

Planning & Zoning Commissioner: Ashlen Hollman

Street Commissioner: Dania Kennedy

Emergency Management Director: Ashlyn Johnson

City Reporter: Abby Wheeler Knight City

Mayor: Grace Jackson

Council Member NO. 1: Emily Hall Council Member NO. 2: PaShioun Young

Council Member NO. 3: Aarya Ghonasgi Council Member NO. 4: Briley Klover

City Manager: Katie Bomhoff

City Judge: Channon Rankin

City Attorney: Kylee James

City Clerk: Madeline Loosen

City Treasurer: Bailey Cornwell Police Chief: Lyndi Jobe

Fire Chief: Shelby Maggard

Planning & Zoning Commissioner: Mary Anne Whet-stone

Street Commissioner: Kaileigh Bardy

Emergency Management Director: Carli Pendleton

City Reporter: Kenlee Claborn

Parker City

Mayor: Bailey McLeod

Council Member NO. 1: Keely Laurence

Council Member NO. 2: Zoe Moorman

Council Member NO. 3: Remington Young

Council Member NO. 4: Danielle Meisinger

City Manager: Brooklyn Whipple

City Judge: Karah McCleary

City Attorney: Gracie Shankle

City Clerk: Brittany Caster

City Treasurer: Gabriela Escobedo

Police Chief: Laila Soliman

Fire Chief: Allix Burtrum

Planning & Zoning Commissioner: Peyton York

Street Commissioner: Lindsay West Emergency Management Director: Leslie Phelps

City Reporter: Korbyn LeBlanc

Reed City

Mayor: Kate Carpenter

Council Member NO. 1: Alyssa Armstrong

Council Member NO. 2: Cinthia Tu

Council Member NO. 3: Chyna Chupco

Council Member NO. 4: Audra Crisp

City Manager: Erin Danielson

City Judge: Madison Eaglestead

City Attorney: Bree Kisling

City Clerk: Sydney Potts

City Treasurer: Grace Crawley

Police Chief: Mora Bivens

Fire Chief: Ashlynn Barnoskie

Planning & Zoning Commissioner: Julessa Colong

Street Commissioner: Abby Reed

Emergency Management Director: Harriet Oglesby

City Reporter: Gracie Roth

Willits City

Mayor: Kelli Cooper

Council Member NO. 1: Caroline Cox

Council Member NO. 2: Dixie Boyce-Smith

Council Member NO. 3: Rylie Schlessman

Council Member NO. 4: Emma Childers

City Manager: Aubrey Bowden

City Judge: Anna Sawyer City Attorney: Karigan Clay

City Clerk: Landry Gaddy

City Treasurer: Gabriela Coma-Ayala

Police Chief: Nikki Hess

Fire Chief: Mary Grace Robertson

Planning & Zoning Commissioner: Victoria Rolin

Street Commissioner: Sylvia Mata

Emergency Management Director: Blake Allen

City Reporter: Lauren Ross

City Elections Results continued...

The Gir ls Stater Volume 76 Issue 2

The Gir ls Stater Volume 76 Issue 2

Coming Soon...

The air was abuzz with anticipation when for-mer Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins took the floor. With the poise and confidence of a well ac-complished woman, Askins addressed the audi-ence of girls with open arms and an open mindset - calling those in Girls State the leaders of to-morrow. Encouraging participation, the benefit of starting friendships, and network of people who care about you, Mrs. Askins said, “I can con-tinue to have hope,” regarding the future of Okla-homa. Askins reminded everyone that this week-end is about patriotism and the ability to cele-brate men and women who have given us the freedom that many others do not have. But other than speaking Askins did so many more things. She gave us hope. When answering questions, she gave honest and helpful answers;

from advice for young women entering politics, to the largest problems facing Oklahoma in the future, to being respectful but still strong when using your voice, and finally how to use humor and have thick skin when trying to get anywhere as a woman. I found it poetic that Askins lost both her first and last election she ran for - though she was, overall, an incredibly successful politician. Her quote from Melinda Gates about find-ing your voice rang true as she talked about the races you win being less important than the races you lose. As we continue into the remainder of our week at Girls State, it is im-portant to reach out and try and find your place through elected positions, but it is also important to see the big picture and know that as we continue out into the world after this week is over, these girls will be there for you through thick and thin.

By: Lauren Ross, Willits City

Poetry in Motion

Volume 76, Issue 2 May 28, 2018

Women Who Do

Girls State is full of strong, em-powering women. Whether they’re delegates or keynote speakers, such as Reverend Lori Walke, they share a common goal of lifting up and inspir-ing those around them. Rev. Walke spoke to the delegates on Sunday afternoon, in hopes of encouraging them to become “Women Who Do”. Her platform touched on the highs and lows of our dear state of Oklahoma, while generating hope and encouraging us to be “Women Who Do” in the future.

Rev. Walke is a stellar example of a women who does, with a Juris Doctorate and passing the Oklahoma Bar Exam, along with having a Masters of Divinity. She is currently an Asso-ciate Minister at the Mayflower Congregational United Church Of Christ. Rev. Lori Walke represents strong women with grace and a driving force for girls to become “Women Who Do”.

By: Gracie Roth

Reed City

“Live a life of gratitude, live a life of meaning, and live a life of service”. These were the words

left with Oklahoma Girls State by Emily Thompson. She grew up in Jay, Oklahoma and is an

Oklahoma Girls State Alum. She graduated from Oklahoma State University with a major in

Strategic Communications. She knew almost immediately she wanted to serve. She then joined

the United States Army and has inspired those around her ever since. ……..

Thompson spoke to the delegates through FaceTime but left the delegates with empow-

ering words and the true meaning of Memorial Day. Memorial

Day is not the simple action of saying “thank you for your ser-

vice” (although it is much appreciated!); it is the compassion

given to those families of soldiers. It is the compassion given to

the grieving families of lost soldiers and the prayers sent to the

families who are worrying about loved ones. I think all Oklaho-

ma Girls State delegates can agree that Emily Thompson not on-

ly had an amazing story but also had inspiring advice.

By: Peyton Smith, Bonham City