National Police Week-Honoring the Heroes Who Protect Us All

Welcome back. Sonny Smith, Johnson County, Arkansas Sheriff’s office, Sean Renfro, Jefferson County, Colorado Sheriff’s office, Kerrie Orozco Omaha, Nebraska Police Department, Joseph Abdella, Detroit, Michigan Police Department. What do these men and women, along with one hundred and thirty-seven other law enforcement officers have in common with Dee S. Nicholas from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol? If you guessed that they all died in the line of duty you would have guessed right but this isn’t over a period of years, friend these are the officers who died in the year 2015 alone and I for one find this number quite staggering.

If you haven’t heard its National Police Week and it was  President John F. Kennedy who signed the proclamations for May 15h to be set aside as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week following that date to be Police Week.

Washington, D.C. will be packed as events are planned all week for the thousands of men and women in law enforcement who will be gathering there. Through the official police week website I also found there are over nineteen guard teams spread around the country and six pipe and drum teams equally spread across the U.S. who will be coming to Washington to pay tribute to the fallen. After some more research I realized that I am guilty of forgetting to recognize these honorable individuals and I need to thank those who protect us. Many of these people give their lives so this week join me in thanking a cop for their service.

Now here’s a quick wrap-up of Elder Care’s The Good, The Bad and The Barbeque. The party went without a hitch, good music, food, friends, fine weather and fantastic scenery.  Well if you missed it, the Elder Care committee is already planning something really special for 2017 so mark Mother’s Day weekend on your calendar for next year at the Cross Bell Ranch.

I also want to thank all the folks at Mid America Feeds in Talala, OK for their hospitality Saturday morning during what has to be one of the biggest customer appreciation days around. While I was there it came to me that these farmers and ranchers, in our area and around the country, are providing our groceries and we need to support them. One way is to shop at the local farmers’ markets. The Bartlesville Farmers Market opened last weekend in the park next to the Bartlesville Chamber of Commerce Headquarters in the historic Santa Fe Depot. If you haven’t been to the market before they always have a wide selection of locally grown produce, as well as baked goods, honey and handmade items. With live music and giveaways thrown in this is a tasty and entertaining way to spend Saturday mornings.

On another subject, as you readers know Reserve Deputy Sheriff Robert Bates was denied bond last week. I was there and talked to several family members on both sides, putting together one last piece which I plan to complete after Bates’ sentencing on May 31st.

In the meantime I am scheduling several book signings with OU legend Joe Washington in Oklahoma City. Those dates are coming up soon and I’ll keep you readers in the loop.

Till then I’ll see ya down the road…..

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