The front of Melanie Roach’s refrigerator looks like millions of others across America:
A drawing in crayon that her oldest son Ethan did, with “To: Mom” in bold letters, and another masterpiece in what looks like fingerpaint. Pictures of family and friends, pizza coupons, magnets with the Beijing Olympic mascots on them.
And, next to Ethan’s drawing, three photos of Melanie from the 2007 U.S. weightlifting championships, where she won a national title just seven months after career-threatening back surgery.

Stephanie and Ira Walker of Seminole announce the birth of their son, Elyus Don Walker, at 12:28 p.m. April 21, 2008, at Unity Health Center, North Campus.
He weighed 9 pounds, 9 ounces, and was 21 1/2 inches long.
His grandparents are Lenora and Bennie Tiger of Seminole; and Kellos and Martha Walker of Shawnee.
Great-grandparents are Roy and Barbara Carpitcher of Shawnee; and Houston and Margaret Tiger of Wewoka.

Amanda France of Shawnee and Justin Spahn of McLoud announce their engagement and upcoming marriage July 4, 2008, at Trinity Baptist Church.
The bride-to-be’s parents are C.R. France Jr. of Tecumseh; and Terri Hale of Shawnee.
She is a 2003 Shawnee High School graduate.
The groom-elect’s parents are Mike and Jodi Stinson of McLoud.
He is a 2004 graduate of McLoud High School.

Angela and Shane Hodge of Harrah announce the birth of their daughter, Chloe Ann Hodge, at 5:06 p.m. March 13, 2008, at Renaissance Women’s Center in Midwest City.
She weighed 8 pounds, 14 ounces and was 21 3/4 inches long.
Grandparents are Mike and Debbie Nickell of Shawnee; and the Rev. Butch and Kathy Hodge of Harrah.
Great-grandparents are Nayoma Choate of Oklahoma City; Gertie Nickell of Ada; Jimmy Justus of Norman; and Ann Hodge of Norman.
Chloe is the sister of Austin, Kaelyn and Meagan Hodge.

Kristina Jo “KJ” and Donald Earl Clagg announce the birth of their daughter, Lydia JoAnn Clagg, at 12:37 a.m. Feb. 29, 2008, at Unity Health Center, North Campus. She weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces, and was 19 inches long.
Grandparents are Dennis and Judy Clagg of Tecumseh, and Rose Jischke, of Napa, Calif.
Great-grandparents are Bill Kepler, of Shawnee; Glen and Pauline Poulter of Napa; Clarence and Vicky Allen of Tecumseh; and Anthony Vallado of Scotts Valley, Nev.
Lydia’s sisters and brother are Alexis Dawn Clagg, 8, Paige Lanée Clagg, 5, and Daylon Earl Clagg, 18 months.

Can you imagine what would be
The ishue of the day
If our poor old
mothers had
A word or two to say

But don’t you know
she’d straighten things
And put the crooks afloat
If our poor old mother had
An equil right to vote

I wander if she’d
favor Ball
Or cast a vote for Jim
Or get so blamed
disqusted
She’d cancle both of them

Would she be pro or anti
Or a good old Democrat
Or would she ever bother
About such things as that

I don’t believe she’d worry
About thing so remote
But get right down
to business
And cast a socialist vote

I’m sure she’d have
it figured out
Before election day
The party that she
thought was right
And cast her vote
that way

But mothers you will
have a vote
The time’s not far away
So post yourself in politics
And vote right on that day

We will always risk
your judgement
About the nations laws
And we’ll always risk
your voting
For the poor old
workers cause.
— By C.W. Shepherd, deceased
Written in 1914

Rebecca Lynn Huff and Russell Dale Harjo, both of McLoud, will be united in marriage at 5 p.m. May 24, 2008, at First Baptist Church of McLoud with Vern Sharette officiating.
The bride’s parents are Susan and Vernon Bouse; and Tim and Terri Huff. Her grandparents are Vernon and Robbie Huff; Paul and Wilma Chastain; Ines Bouse; and JoAnn Napolean.
The groom’s parents are Legus and Connie Harjo. His grandparents are Bobby and Gerry Russell; and Legus Sr. and Hattie Harjo.
Serving as maid of honor is Rachel Brannon.
Bridesmaids are Tia Napolean, Rachel Harjo and Heather Culwell.
Serving as best men are Heath Tinnon and Shawn Sandlin.
Groomsmen are Zac Northrip and Josh Harjo.
Flower girls are Brooklyn Harjo, Stephanie Huff and Jade Bouse.
Ring bearer is Mason Harjo.
Serving as usher is Tim Huff Jr.
Keepers of the guest book will be Sean Jeon and Katie Paningsoro.
Server is Sheenia Huff.
The couple will take a wedding trip to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
They will live in McLoud.

 Joseph and Joyce Mauldin of Shawnee celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at a private family gathering hosted by their children at an Oklahoma City restaurant.
They graduated from Dale High School and were married March 27, 1948, in the bride’s home.
Their children and their spouses are Ronnie and Marla Mauldin; Mike and Marsha Mauldin; Darla and Terry Mitchell; and Jennifer and Shawn Beggs.
Their grandchildren are Craig Mauldin, Lisa Swinney, Barry Mauldin, Brett Mauldin, Joseph Mitchell, Terri Mitchell, Ashton Beggs and Connor Beggs.
They have two great-great-grandchildren, Logan and Elijah Swinney.
Joe worked as a vendor for various companies for 43 years, including Mendouca Dairy, Wonder Bread and Frito-Lay. Joe enjoys ballgames, fishing and playing Moon.
Joyce is a homemaker and owned and maintained rental property. Her hobbies  are oil painting, scrapbooking, fishing, playing Moon and singing.
They are active members of Church of God 7th Day and are natives of the Shawnee area.
They are planning a trip to Niagra Falls in the summer as part of the celebration.

Ashley Janay Saulsberry and Michael “Brad”field Taron, both of Shawnee, announce their engagement and upcoming marriage Oct. 18, 2008, at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Shawnee.
The bride-to-be’s parents are Robert and Connie Saulsberry of Eufaula.
Her grandparents are Doyle and Margie Pitts of Macomb; and the late Robert John and Eulean Saulsberry.
She is a 2000 graduate of Shawnee High School and a 2006 graduate of The University College of Dentistry.
She is employed as a dental hygienist at Central Oklahoma Family Medical Center in Konawa.
The groom-elect’s parents are Leonard and Bevlyn Taron of Shawnee.
His grandparents are June Bradford of Shawnee and the late Jack Bradfield; and the late Pierre and Lelia Taron.
He is a 1995 graduate of Shawnee High School and attended The University of Oklahoma. He earned a certificate as a  Microsoft certified systems engineer.
He is employed at Firelake Grand Casino.

Jan Paul and Molly Susan Martin are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception at 1:30 p.m., May 24, 2008, in Dallas, Texas. They were married March 23, 1958, at Romulus Baptist Church, Pottawatomie County.
Their children and their spouses are Susan Prather and husband Keith of Ridgway, Colo.; Sharra Weaver and husband Kyle of Lake Dallas, Texas; and Shelly Kraal and husband Steven of The Colony, Texas.
Their grandchildren are Rachel Folk, Jesse Prather, Molly Prather, Nathanael Folk and Sklya Kraal.
Jan is retired. Molly is a retired teacher, special education and diagnostician consultant and short-term missionary.
They attend Irving Bible Church, Irving, Texas.
While raising their three daughters, both Jan and Molly went back to college and earned their bachelors’ degrees — Jan in political science and Molly graduated cum laude with a degree in special education. After living in Oklahoma for 12 years they relocated to Irving. Before taking medical retirement, Jan worked in several officers’ positons in various banks in Dallas. Molly, while teaching, went on to graduate with a masters degree to hold the position as a school special education diagnostician. She still works part time as a diagnostician/consultant to DFW schools in order to finance her penchante for travel and short-term mission work overseas.
For those who cannot attend the celebration, but would like to send well wishes, e-mail susan@ridgwayco.com. 
Also, the Web site, www.susanprather.com, has a link available to learn about festivities information.