Pauls Valley, Oklahoma —
While plans for transitioning clients from the Southern Oklahoma Resource Center into community based settings will certainly be the topic of focus for the next year or more, there are signs the holidays will be celebrated at least one more time.
It’s hard for many not to imagine a tradition of lights, music and entertainment continuing, but if anything it’s more of a reason for those like longtime SORC case manager Brian Abney to make sure it counts.
Part of making the season jolly is the return of their annual Christmas program this afternoon, something he salvaged from a department which was cut several years ago.
“People are helping us to make sure this is special, because this will likely be the last SORC Christmas program,” said Abney.
“We’re moving forward because it’s the right thing to do.”
Teaming up with Abney will be fellow employees like the campus chaplain Bill Crawford, who is using a lifelong love of magic to include his range of visual tricks once again in the show. Though he normally charges for performances it’s been something he’s donated each time around and is open to anyone on campus as well as those who formerly were residents.
“I became interested in magic when I was 5,” said Crawford. “I enjoy doing it for the staff, the clients, anyone that will watch it.”
All the fun gets going at 1 p.m. in the gymnasium and also includes a living nativity reenactment, a favorite of case manager Randy Smith, who usually gets to play Joseph.
He’s had a couple of separate stints with the former state school and wouldn’t miss the opportunity to at least be involved one more time.
“It’s worth it just to see the look on their face,” said Smith. “How much they enjoy it.”
It’s basically an opportunity for any client or staff member to cut loose whether for laughs or sing a familiar holiday tune. Everything on campus pretty much halts for the event, complimented by a well decorated stage.
For Abney it’s another chapter to add to a lot of good memories, one of his favorite attached to Santa’s regular client visits.
He will never forget one year after the festivities where one client would not let the man in the red suit go until he made sure he knew what his Christmas wishes were.
“He wanted to make sure he got what he wanted,” said Abney, adding how there will even be a visit by the Whitebead Chimaleers. “It’s kind of a celebration atmosphere... Most of them know what this is about.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
Hoping to at least make one more holiday jolly for the Southern Oklahoma Resource Center, case managers Brian Abney (above) and Randy Smith (left) finish up decorations recently in the gymnasium. The campus will be hosting a Christmas program today at 1 p.m. where both clients and staff will perform holiday traditions like songs, a magic show and a nativity scene. Ezra Mann
Discussion
Holiday spirit moves SORC forward
- Local News
-
-
Learning with the Flow
-
Storm too close for comfort
Historical record will forever mark May 20 as one of the somber moments for the residents of Moore, Oklahoma, but for a handful of emergency officials in the Pauls Valley area, conditions were right for a similar tragedy to unfold here as well.
-
PV rallies around tornado victims
As Oklahoma begins to pick up the pieces and seek a way to cope with the tragedy experienced by a devastating tornado Monday in cities like Moore, there is once again a ray of hope emerging from individuals who are rallying around those in the storm’s path.
-
There is a message with tornado sirens
The sounds of tornado sirens filled the air around much of Pauls Valley when a threatening storm approached on Monday afternoon.
-
Helping meet needs in Moore
-
Home invasion case gets new pleas
A long prison sentence and a couple of guilty pleas came Monday in the case of a couple of violent Pauls Valley area home invasions dating back to 2010.
-
Storm danger threatens much of state
It’s been a busy few days for emergency officials of all kinds with severe storms, some packing powerful tornadoes, threatening to sweep through various parts of Oklahoma.
-
Pauls Valley Wall Cloud
-
Young Grads with Honors
-
Special athletes get special support
It was special to say the least for a group of Garvin County law enforcement officers to see for themselves what an experience the state Special Olympics meet can be.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying
Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
Jersey Shore Open for Business
Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington
New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access
First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
