Rascal Flatts guitarist Joe Don Rooney is working as a volunteer for the American Red Cross to help people in his hometown recover from a deadly tornado.

Chandler’s annual ice cream festival will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 7, in Tilghman Park in Chandler.
The festival began six years ago as a thanks to Hiland Dairy Foods Company, which operates a manufacturing plant in Chandler. The city and Hiland Dairy Foods Company work together at the festival to give out free, unlimited ice cream cones in chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and butter pecan flavors.
Last year, 2,800 ice cream cones were served.
The festival is held in conjunction with Chandler Trade Days, and besides ice cream, visitors may enjoy local food vendors, a homemade ice cream contest, rides for children and live entertainment. The John Arnold Band and Jimmy Henley and a Touch of Grass will be part of the entertainment.

Shawnee Middle School’s seventh-grade students spent a sunny Friday at Shawnee Twin Lakes participating in the school’s seventh annual Outdoor Camp.

Throughout the morning and early afternoon, the students rotated through a variety of stations to learn the basics of several outdoor activities. These activities included fishing, the use of archery equipment and shotgunning.

James Garner, who was hospitalized late last week after suffering a minor stroke, is doing well and should be going home shortly, the veteran television and film star’s publicist said Tuesday.
The star of such TV shows as “Maverick” and “The Rockford Files” went to the hospital after becoming ill at home Friday, said his publicist, Jennifer Allen.
“He’s still in the hospital but my understanding is he is doing well and will be going home soon. When, exactly, we have not been told yet,” Allen told The Associated Press.

Chalk it up to the power of music.
This year’s cool activity at Shawnee High School has athletes and thespians rubbing shoulders with cheerleaders and student council members — all for the love of a song.
The SHS Select Choir has experienced its most diverse year yet, and its most award-winning. More boys have joined the traditionally female group, and students from all walks of extracurricular life have participated, making choir hip again. And the biggest-ever number of students earned high honors at the District Solo and Ensemble Contest.

Children often make paper airplanes to see if they can fly or make believe they are flying planes, but several area youth did more than that — they soared high above the clouds.

Boy scouts, girl scouts and other children ages 7 to 18 joined together May 3 in Shawnee’s Youth Aviation Day held at Gordon Cooper Technology Center Aviation Campus.

Their minds were opened and imaginations roamed free as the attendees learned about aerodynamics, helicopter pilots, professional pilots, airport operations, airport firefighters and pre-flight. Not to mention the chance to fly high above Shawnee for the first time.

I saw a cross beside the road
With flowers and a bow beside it
Then the ruts and the tire marks
And little pieces of the car that did it

I stopped and looked at the scene
An impression it made upon me
And then I wondered who it was
The place looked cold and lonely

I wondered of the mom or dad
Who was left so broken
Whose treasure now was gone
Their words of love unspoken

I can see the look on their face
As a trooper rings their doorbell
They tremble and shake in a daze
And think of the last sweet farewell

And then it hits, they are really gone
There is nothing now that matters
Their hope, their plans, their dreams
Have all now been shattered

But there is hope there is hope
Tho darkness does surround us
Reach up, reach up
Reach for the Son, His light can then surround us

And when his light touches a heart
Tho your arms be empty
That broken heart he can heal
For he is full of sympathy

And tho the cross beside the road
Still stands a silent sentry
The one whose soul it represents
We pray its heaven’s entry

— By ‘JC’ Jim Cresop

Have you ever wondered how to pray?
Or wondered what if there’s a certain way
The Bible gives us Matthew 6:13 that perfecct prayer
Taught by Jesus The Heavenly Heir

Get ready in the upmost humbling way
Choose a secret place or closet to stay
God is The Father consider His Will
He can do everything especially heal

With all sincerity and a burden in your heart
This is the way that you can start
When you ask wisdom he promises to give
He does even more when righteous you live

Make prayer a part of your every day
In prayer with God is where you should stay
First in the morning then before you go to bed
And two to three times during the day to stay ahead

Now God is God and it’s His Will not yours
You’ll get what you need to open your life’s doors
Study more about prayer in the Bible look,
read and learn
This will show God your concern

The more you pray the better you are
Meditate about the Lord when in your car
Don’t let the world replace God in your mind
This is when you’ll surely fall behind

You can’t make it without God in your life
Only with Him can you make it through any strife
The devil is a liar so ask God to keep
the temptation away
And forgive everyone who attempts to ruin your day

In the beginning and end tell Him He’s wonderful
and great
Picturing Him while you’re in a humbling state
Ask for forgiveness and repent of your sins
Always ask in Jesus’ name say amen
and your personal talk with God ends
— By Derrick Shepherd, 2008

Near as Lee Pace can tell, the best way to scare audiences away is to tell them how good something is.
“I think people are really cautious about important movies,” said Pace, who stars in “The Fall,” opening Friday. “If you’re told, ‘There’s an important movie coming out,’ people would rather chew glass than go see it.”

Wesley United Methodist Church will present Friday Night at the Movies at 7 p.m. May 16 free to the public.
The church is teaming up with Outreach Cinema to bring newly released Christian-based movies beginning with Randy Travis in “The Wager.”
The movie stars Travis as a Hollywood star who has his faith questioned. Also starring in the movie are Nancy Stafford, “Matlock,” Candace Cameron Bure, “Full House”, and Doug Jones, “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.”
Following the screening in the sanctuary, the movie will be optionally discussed in fellowship hall. Brian Moore will be leading the bible discussion. Popcorn and soft drinks will be served.