CHERRYVALE — “Tame the Tornadoes” will be the theme for Spirit Week activities next week at Cherryvale High School.

Events will culminate with the crowning of the 2008 Fall Homecoming Queen at coronation ceremonies prior to Oct. 10 football game between the Eureka Tornadoes and Cherryvale Chargers.

Three CHS senior girls are vying for the crown title. They are Abby Ezard, Alex Hugo and Kelsey Overacker. Their escorts will be Ryan Studebaker, Kenan Booe and Brett Thornton.

Each day of Spirit Week will be designated with a special theme. They include:

• Monday:  “Confuse the Tornadoes.” Students and faculty are to wear mismatched clothes, inside out and backwards.

• Tuesday: “Class Unity-Show Your Colors.” Seniors are to wear black, juniors wear white, sophomores wear red, and freshmen wear blue.

• Wednesday: “Sports Fan Day.” Students are to wear their favorite pro or college team shirt.

• Thursday: “Bruise ‘Em Day.” Wear black and blue.

• Friday: “Tame the Tornadoes.” Students and faculty are to wear Charger shirts or sweatshirts.

Among the other events of Spirit Week is a bonfire set for 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 9 at the CHS south parking lot.

A homecoming parade will be held on Friday, Oct. 10, beginning at 1:45 p.m., and culminating with a pep rally at Logan Park. The public is invited to attend.

A homecoming dance will be held in the CHS Commons Area following the Oct. 10 football game.

BY RUDY TAYLOR
Montgomery County Chronicle

CANEY — Isabella, the golden retriever who nursed three baby tigers into stardom, invited Tom and Allie Harvey to accompany her to New York City last week.

At least, that’s the way it looked from the outside of the limousine that escorted them through the streets of Manhattan.

While the Harveys are the ones who are being sought by big-time television such as the NBC Today Show, Fox News, Oprah and Ellen, they just couldn’t do it without the charm of the dog who steals the hearts of everyone who meets her.

“She’s pretty lovable,” Tom Harvey said with a grin. “Then when we add the baby tigers to the scene, Allie and I just step back and let everybody ooh and ahh.”

After their first round of international publicity, which included remote TV stints on the “Today” show, Fox Television, and a dozen other broadcast and print formats, the Harveys were called by a “Today” producer saying NBC would foot the bill if they brought Isabella and the three tiger cubs to the Big Apple.

On Friday morning, Sept. 19, the entire entourage of Harveys, dogs and tigers arrived in Manhattan after a two-day drive in a 42-foot recreational vehicle (Allie flew since she couldn’t miss her job as a teacher).

“When we arrived, NBC put us up in the Essex Hotel with a suite that overlooked Central Park,” Tom said. “We couldn’t believe our eyes. They wanted us to bring the tigers and Isabella to the suite and they gave me a special parking place for the RV.”

And, the fun was only beginning.

A limousine arrived long before daylight to take them to the famed address — 30 Rock — where the NBC Today Show airs its live show each day. It was more than an hour into the program before they were featured, and in the meantime the show “teased” with numerous promotions about Isabella and her friends from Kansas.

Finally, co-host Matt Lauer looked at Meredith Vieira and said, “We really want to spend some time with the Harveys from Kansas, so bring them on out.”

Tom and Allie looked the part of two veteran zoo keepers, and at their feet was one sleeping tiger cub with two others bouncing over their legs and playing with the calm Isabella.

Lauer and Vieira made over the cubs and smoothed the hair on Isabella’s head as Tom and Allie told their story.

They referred to the whole episode as a miracle. They told about the Safari Zoological Park and its financial challenges. They said both of them had prayed that God give them an answer by Aug. 1 or they would start shutting down the park.

“On August the first, we were on live television with you,” he said to Lauer and Vieira. “We call that a miracle.”

The online magazine produced by NBC also featured the Harveys and their story for several days following their on-air appearance.

A highlight of the trip may have been an unannounced knock on the Harveys’ RV door. “I was feeding the dogs and starting to pack up things when a man appears at my door and introduces himself as Bob De Niro.

“I couldn’t believe me eyes,” said Harvey who invited famous actor Robert De Niro to come inside for a visit — but mostly to get acquainted with Isabella and the tiger cubs.

He spent quite some time with the Harveys and they are staying in touch with him, possibly leading to a future joint venture. In addition to his acting career, De Niro is half owner of a film production company.

“The trip to New York allowed me to firm up the book commitment that I had been offered by Harper and Collins Publishers, and to look into other offers which might include movie rights to this story,” Tom said.

On his way back to Kansas, Harvey was called on his cell phone by a producer from the Oprah television show, asking if they might use some of his video footage. So, last week, Oprah gave the Harveys an on-air boost and briefly told the story of Isabella and the cubs.

He also has been contacted by the Ellen Degeneres program and the Harveys may be featured on that program, as well.

“This has been a true miracle,” said Tom. “Allie and I try our best to draw attention to God and his great story of mercy and love. And, everybody seems to welcome it, as long as Isabella is there to keep everything calm and friendly.”

“You know, we couldn’t have done this without her,” he said.

BY ANDY TAYLOR
Montgomery County Chronicle

When Ryan Miller was a kid in Montgomery County, his toy box was filled with Hot Wheels and other toy cars.

Those days with Ryan imagining himself behind the wheel of a hot rod weren’t just dreams, they were considered job training.

Raised in the Independence-Dearing area and a 1999 graduate of Caney Valley High School, Miller is now an accomplished builder and designer of hot rods and other high-performance vehicles. And, when he attended Tyro Christian Church’s annual car show two weeks ago, he brought with him a custom hot rod that not only caught the attention of the car show crowd but also has captured the eyes of the Hot Wheels company.

Miller works at Bright Built Hot Rods in Salina, Kan. He and other shop workers recently converted a 1931 Chrysler 309 into a dynamic hot rod that has all of the shape and shine of a Hot Wheels car.

That was the goal for Miller and the others at Bright Built Hot Rods — to create a tricked-out vehicle that could be used as a model for a Hot Wheels collectible.

Did their dream come to reality?

Everso close.

Bright Built Hot Rods submitted the car into the Hot Wheels PPG Paint Your Ride Contest. The vehicle, which was one of 400 in the competition, was among the 12 national finalists.

The 12 finalists competed in the Goodguys PPG Paint Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, recently, where the grand champion would have the privilege of having the winning car used as a model for the Hot Wheels company. The Bright Built Hot Rod finished in second place in narrow voting. Although the “rat rod” car, which the Bright Built crew has named “Rat Reborn,” was not considered a champion, it did receive ample oohs and aahs from the judges and hot rod lovers. It will appear on the 2009 calendar produced by PPG Paint.

“We did not win the competition but we did take home second place which was fine by us because now we get to show the car and drive it anytime,” said Miller. Had “Rat Reborn” been a national champion and a Hot Wheels model, the car would have likely been used solely for show purposes.

Miller said the Bright Built crew spent nine months transforming the car into the final product. The car was destined for the scrap heap before the crew decided to make it into a classic hot rod.

“Myself and three others, Derek Moline, Tom Russell and Calvin Calp, spent our free time and after hours working on the car,” said Miller. “The body has been chopped and channeled. The frame has been flipped and stretched and has air ride in the rear of the car. We also dropped a 1956 330 Desoto Hemi engine in the car, and the engine is backed by a GM 350 turbo transmission. It also has a Weiand 6-71 blower and three two-barrel carburetors. It has a 1972 Chevy pickup rear axle.”

The car was painted with one of the 12 colors used by Hot Wheels. The flames glowing in “anti freeze green” paint captures the eye quickly as they seem to pour from the chrome engine and spill out onto the body.

Ever since it was completed, “Rat Reborn” has made it to many weekend car shows, where it usually earns top honors. And, Miller said it was neat to have the car back in his home county two weeks ago to see the reaction it would draw from area car buffs.

“It seemed to get a lot of attention and spark a lot of conversation,” he said.

After graduation from Caney Valley High School, Miller attended Coffeyville Community College and graduated from Pittsburg State University in 2003 with a degree in automotive technology.

He is the son of Bob and Rhonda Miller of rural Dearing.

Information about the hot rods built by Bright Built Hot Rods can be found at www.brightbuilthotrods.com.

BY ANDY TAYLOR
Montgomery County Chronicle

CHERRYVALE — A rural Cherryvale barn has been chosen for a restoration project sponsored by the Campbell Soup Company and the National FFA Alumni Organization.

The barn at the Gary Cotterill farm, located three miles northwest of Cherryvale, has been selected for the “Help Grow Your Soup” campaign, whereby the Campbell Soup Company will provide funds to restore an authentic barn in the name of agricultural preservation. The preservation efforts has already begun with more work scheduled in spring 2009. The Cherryvale High School FFA Chapter and Cherryvale FFA Alumni Association will be providing some of the labor.

Campbell Soup Company also will restore barns in Nashville, Tenn., Reddick, Ill., Corfu, N.Y., and Molalla, Ore., beginning next spring.

Cotterill said he was glad to be chosen for the preservation project. The barn is among the oldest structures on the family farm.

“My longterm goals are to pass this farm on to the next generation in better shape than when we bought it,” Cotterill said, adding that barn is nearing 100 years of age. “It’s a great old barn. It’s a solid structure. You won’t find any cracks in the foundation.”

Three generations of Cotterill family members have learned the way of family farming in that barn, where the name “Cotterill Family” hangs proudly above an east entrance.

The Cotterill farm includes 260 cows, 260 yearlings, 16 ewes, rams and horses on 1,480 continuous acres of bluestem, fescue and bermuda grassland.

Cotterill says he uses the barn primarily for hay storage, however one portion of the structure is used as a lamb nursery in the winter.

“The second floor can hold 3,000 square hay bales without any problem,” he said.

Sam Atherton of Cherryvale and president-elect of the National FFA Alumni Association said the barns chosen for the preservation program will be fully restored to illustrate the importance of agriculture in America.

“Nothing represents the role of agriculture quite like a barn,” said Atherton. “It’s the central point of all farm activities. And, preserving the barns will make this a memorable educational opportunity for FFA members who assist.”

The preservation process will be capped with a fresh coat of red paint — Campbell’s soup red — to make the barn a noticeable icon on the American landscape, Atherton said.

Beginning on Sept. 29, Campbell Soup consumers can help to promote the role of agriculture in America when they visit www.HelpGrowYourSoup.com. After clicking on the red barn icon on the website, Campbell Soup Company will donate $1 (up to $250,00) to the National FFA Organization to support its educational and sustainability efforts through the barn preservation project.

The national spokesperson for Campbell Soup’s Company “Help Grow Your Soup” campaign is country musician/songwriter Jewel. She was reared on a homestead in Alaska and now lives on a working ranch in Texas with her husband and noted bullrider Ty Murray.  Jewel says growing up on a farm helped her appreciate the important role farming plays in ensuring families have good, quality food on their tables.

“Most people don’t realize that the American farm is one of our most precious national resources,” said Jewel. “As a singer, I travel the world and experience new and exciting traditions. Yet to me, American farming continues to be one of the most valuable. As someone who has deep roots on the farm, I’m proud to support the future of agriculture across America.”

Garage sale shoppers will hit the streets in Caney this Saturday, Oct. 4, when the Caney Chamber of Commerce sponsors its semi-annual citywide rummage sales event.

Shoppers’ maps will be available on Friday, Oct. 3, and Saturday, Oct. 4, at the two Gunny Sacks and Casey’s convenience stores located on highway 75 in Caney and Town and Country Market on W. 4th Street. Maps can also be picked up on Friday, Oct. 3, at the chamber office from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and at Good News from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Those hosting a yard sale on Saturday, Oct. 4, are:

First Christian Church, 4th and Main; Sheila Carinder, 101 E. Orange; Jackie Deal, 300 S. State; Eva James, 500 S. Spring; Alice Caouette, 214 E. 4th; Can-Kan Dreambuilders, 100 N. Ridgeway; Carie Eytcheson, 201 W. 9th; Brad  Billingsley, 212 W. Orange; Kasey Neal, 211 W. 4th; Allan family, 303 S. Fawn; Lacy Owensby, 607 E. 4th; Eubia Hunter, 502 S. Wood; Jana Parker, 110 E. Church; Mike Wren, 103 E. Rose; Ivan Lumley, 701 S. State; Linda Lowry, 206 E. 1st; Teresa Mantooth, 111 E. 2nd and Dana Brown, 100 W. Orange.

Also WeEtta Cranor, 112 W. 8th Ave.; Pam Avery, 101 S. Foreman; Alpha Ross, 703 N. State; Kristi Jacobs, 1467 CR 1700 (first house south of Kopco); PC’s4U, 400 N. McGee; Lisa Parks, 309 E. 1st; Sheri Thompson, 3rd and McGee; Lana Freisberg, 600 S. Fawn; Shelly Gilliland, 1001 S. High; Sheila Griffitt, 311 S. State; Brenda Jones, 201 N. Spring; Parks family, 314 N. Vine; Sylvia Winson, 300 N. Wood; and Sherry Owen, 209 W. 4th; Jessica Hensley, 106 W. Third; J’s Corner Store in Tyro; Starla Martin, 906 E. 1st; Valla Rolls, 410 N. Bradley; Dixon family, 412 N. Smith; Kay Wallace, 408 N. Cedar; Megan Gaston, 409 N. Bradley; Steve Campbell, 399971 W. 300 Road (south of Caney); Verena Mann, 211 E. 11th; Orcutt family, Hwy. 166 in Tyro; Joyce Wright, 510 N. Cedar; G&G Salvage, 1875 Hwy 75, north of Caney.