Kiwanis keeps the Christmas spirit alive in December

December and year-end activities keep everyone busy, but Kiwanis Club members keep the spirit of Christmas alive despite busy schedules. Student of the Month awards, Pancake Day sales recognitions, and informative speakers filled the calendar.

Durant High School Student of the Month of December is Aiden Sager. Mr. Sager is an accomplished scholar as well as a fine athlete. He has earned a 4.0 GPA and is therefore a member of National Honor Society and Oklahoma Honor Society. Aiden is also enrolled concurrently at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Sager is a DHS cross country and track state qualifier. In addition, he was awarded Champion of Character as a sophomore, junior, and senior.

In regard to his commitment to community service, Aiden serves on the Youth Advisory Board. These members choose local businesses or organizations in which they volunteer time and talents. His philosophy is that “in school and athletics I strive to be the friend and leader in and out of school.”

Sager plans a future as a college student majoring in graphic design.

Sager’s parents are Cliff Sager and Lisa Sager, 2022-2023 DISD Teacher of the Year. In attendance was his father and DHS Counselor Kelly Kane. As DHS Senior of the Month for December, Aiden is eligible to receive the Kiwanis Durant Senior of the Year scholarship of $1,000. He was awarded a certificate and a gift card.

Bryan County Kiwanis Senior of the Month for December is Carson Culbreath from Caddo High School. Mr. Culbreath also excels in the classroom as well as in athletics. He carries a 4.0 GPA and is on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll while taking 12.5 hours in concurrent college classes. Carson is a member of National Honor Society. Culbreath is a team member of Caddo’s State Qualifying Baseball Champions and All Conference. In addition, Carson was a member of the State Champion Basketball team.

Through programs at Caddo Public Schools, he assists in elementary athletics. Carson also helps local adults with property management. Community service is achieved through his membership in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and participation in Red Ribbon Week for drug awareness.

In the future, Mr. Culbreath plans to pursue a degree in a field related to athletic training or wildlife management. Continuing his baseball career is also a goal; he has signed with Murray State College. He said,”I would love the opportunity to continue my educational journey and give back to the community someday.”

Carson was awarded a certificate and gift card. He is now a candidate to be named Bryan County Kiwanis Senior of the Year and to be awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Joining him at this ceremony were his parents James and Krystle Culbreath and Caddo Public School representative J.T. Busby.

“Prestigious” awards were also given to Kiwanis Pancake Ticket top salesmen. The Top Sales title went to Tommy Kramer. The coveted Golden Spatula Award was given to Jason Manous, leader of the winning sales team. Top Banana Award for top sales for the second-place team was presented to Bart Rustin.

Kiwanis guest speakers are eclectic and informative. December speakers shared information about the national blood supply shortage, bee keeping, and the Choctaw Cultural Center’s varied opportunities.

Executive Director of the Oklahoma Blood Institute, Susan Crews, spoke about the crucial need for blood donors nationwide as well as the benefits of being a blood donor. Every two seconds some fellow American will need blood. Over 1,200 blood donations are needed every day for our local hospitals. With such a dire need, only ten percent of eligible adults will donate their time and life-giving blood. No matter what your blood type, everyones blood is in demand especially the universal donors with O-.

Most people in good health can donate. Young donors must be sixteen; sixteen- to seventeen-year-olds must weigh 125 pounds. Donors eighteen and older must weigh at least 110 pounds. Even people with health concerns like high blood pressure or high cholesterol can donate if their conditions are well managed. Donations from young blood donors have declined by forty-seven percent so the need is great.

There are benefits to donating beyond cookies and sodas. Donors receive a free wellness check of body temperature, pulse rate, blood pres- sure, and cholesterol numbers. Underlying health concerns may be discovered. There is an emotional boost from knowing you have helped save a life. Mental health improves with acts of kindness. And there are always free, fun tee shirts or tickets for entertainment.

OBI offers a Donor Benefit Program. Crews reminded club members that “Individuals and donor groups who voluntarily donate blood to support a sufficient community blood supply may qualify for a tangible benefit beyond the satisfaction of giving the gift of life.” To learn about specific benefits, call 405419-1302.

Kiwanians were asked to consider

becoming a Power Red Donor of red blood cells, the blood product most needed by patients. Only red blood cells are harvested. Plasma, platelets, and saline are returned to the donor. The procedure usually only takes ten more minutes than a typical donation. Blood types especially appreciated are O+, O-, A-, and B-.

After donating blood, Kiwanians may need a sweet treat. Apiarist or master beekeeper Robert Holliday informed club members about the benefits and challenges of tending honeybees.

This year he harvested 320 pounds of honey. Successful bee keeping involves maintaining the bee population especially during the winter dormant period by “feeding” them with sugar.

Hives must be protected from predators such as mice, wax moths, and ants as well as blight infection. Hive size is vital. Bee colonies will grow to meet the size of the bee box or hive. When the hive becomes too populated, the bees swarm to find a new home.

Beekeepers need little complicated equipment such as a cloth or canvas “bee” jacket or full suit, a helmet with veil, and gloves of leather or latex. A smoker produces smoke to calm the bees allowing honey to be harvested, to place new combs, and to maintain a healthy hive.

Bees prove to intelligent and highly organized creatures. A honeybee can fly up to fifteen miles per hour. In a lifetime a honeybee worker may only produce an average of 1/12 teaspoon of honey. Bees often fly

55,000 miles in a route of 2 million flower visits. The shape of a honey comb is a hexagon with walls capable of supporting twenty-five times a bee’s weight. Honeybees beat their wings 11,400 times a minute and never sleep.

The benefits of eating honey include getting a natural energy boost and absorbing a variety of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids. Honey is a antimicrobial agent effective to treat minor burns or scrapes. Despite occasional stings, bees are our friends.

To conclude December guest speakers was Cheyhoma Duggar, Director of the Choctaw Cultural Center and a proud member of the Choctaw Tribe. She explained that our state name of Oklahoma is a Choctaw word often defined as “red people.” A more apt meaning is”people who persevere.”

The Choctaw Cultural Center houses permanent exhibits to highlight Choctaw history that reaches back 14,000 years through oral traditions and ancient artifacts. These immersive experiences are made possible through modern technologies and interactive displays.

In addition to the Cultural Center’s permanent exhibitions are the Luksi Children’s Center and classrooms for classes like beading, basket making, genealogy, and the Choctaw language.

Traveling exhibitions are in residence form six to eighteen months.

Outdoor exhibits are traditional Choctaw houses, dance circle, heirloom garden, and a mound inspired by the Choctaw’s original home in Alabama

and Mississippi before their forced removal on the Trail of Tears to Indian Territory.

Center amenities are the Chaputi Café, Hvshi Gift Shop, and Kwoi Chito Theater.

Cultural Center memberships are available to everyone. Members receive many benefits such as complementary center admission, café and store discounts, invitations to members only events, and advanced notice for classes and workshops.

For every guest speaker, Kiwanis donates to Kiwanis International Project Eliminate. Each donation saves fifteen lives from neonatal tetanus. If you would like to help the children of Bryan County and the world, visit a Kiwanis meeting, Wednesdays at noon, at Roma Italian Restaurant.