A full set of teeth, obviously, was not required but the spirit was Thursday night when Harmony Elementary School hosted its annual Christmas program.
 

Ron D. Cackler gave his heart to Cushing Regional Hospital.
Cackler, lifelong Cushing resident and hospital CEO, died Dec. 16, 2008 — one day shy of his 61st birthday — in a Tulsa hospital.
Cackler died shortly after 8 a.m. from what Dr. Mike Babb, longtime friend and colleague, called “not the usual sense of a heart attack.”
“It was more of an aortic valve sort of thing,” Babb said of the health issues that had hospitalized Cackler for about a week.
“I guess you can say he gave his heart to the hospital.”

Cushing residents were unified in voicing their approval of amendments to the city charter. Unified in 8-0 fashion.
Voters on Tuesday approved all eight proposed amendments to the 80-year-old charter. Seven of the eight were approved by what is considered “landslide” margins.
“I was kind of surprised that all eight of them passed,” Mayor John Henckel said. “I was glad the ones I was most concerned with made it.”

The future of Cushing will be changed forever on Tuesday.
Or, maybe not.
Cushing voters on Tuesday will be asked to decide the fate or eight proposed amendments to the city charter. The eight, special election supporters insist, will help bring the city more into step with today’s economy and happenings.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Only registered voters who live within the city limits will be eligible to vote.

By Monique Headley
Staff Writer
Musical expectations and achievements long have been high for the pitch-perfect Cushing Choraliers. This weekend the group will pitch its abilities to the public.
The second annual Cushing Choir Dinner Theatre is 7 p.m. Saturday.
The event will feature students from Cushing Middle School and Cushing High School joining together in song. Because of great success in its debut a year ago, the event has moved to Tiger Fieldhouse on the CHS campus.

Their decision was not unanimous and neither is their support.
Members of the board of directors of the Cushing Chamber of Commerce and Industry fell short of giving support to the eight proposed amendments to the Cushing city charter.
Board members during their regular meeting Thursday voted 9-3 not to support all eight proposals. Cushing voters on Dec. 9 will decide the fate of the issues.
Joe Manning, former mayor and current vice mayor, attended Thursday’s meeing and explained each of the proposed changes from the city commission’s point of view.

Thomas E. Maloney, World War II hero, lifelong Cushing resident, businessman and civic leader, died Nov. 16, 2008 at his home. He was 85.
A rosary service will be 7 p.m. Wednesday at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Cushing. Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Thursday, also at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. The Rev. Matt LaChance will officiate.
Burial with full military honors will be in St. Leo Cemetery.

Enbridge Energy continues to play the role of good corporate neighbor.
This time by helping Cushing Police Department take a bigger bite out of crime.
Police Chief Terry Brannon and other CPD officials on Friday welcomed a pair of donations from Enbridge that are sure to help the cause, Brannon said.
Enbridge gave CPD a 2004 Chevrolet Trail Blazer and $1,000 to get it ready for use in the police department’s canine division.
“This is a wonderful gesture on Enbridge’s part,” Brannon said. “They are such a good community partner.”

They have run down a dream and deserve great praise, Dr. Frank Denney said. But their work is not yet done.
Denney, 2009 United Fund drive chairman, met last week with team captains and announced this year’s goal had been surpassed. But he does not want Cushing area residents to think they should stop giving.
“The concern you have in something like this is people say, ‘Well, they have reached their goal; they don’t need me any more,’” Denney said.

Pardon Terry Bower and Jeff Edwards if they seem a bit like expectant fathers. After all, their baby will be born on Friday.
Bower and Edwards are manager and assistant manager, respectively, for Atwoods No. 36. The store opens at Friday at 2004 E. Main St.
“There may be a few glitches but we will be fully functional,” Bower said amid 11th-hour stocking and configurations of displays inside the facility. “That’s what these ‘soft’ openings are for.”