McALESTER —
At the next meeting of the McAlester City Council, a representative for a church association said he planned to present a resolution against the city’s decision to remove street sign silhouettes with soldiers kneeling before a cross.
“I’m on the agenda for the Aug. 28 meeting,” said James Prince, chairman of the Gaines Creek Association of Free Will Baptists. He referred to the McAlester City Council’s meeting set for 6 p.m. that day at city hall.
City council meetings are open to the public.
City Manager Pete Stasiak said he had the silhouettes removed after he received a complaint and after checking with city attorney Joe Ervin. He said Ervin told him the religious depictions atop city-owned signs would be a conflict of church and state.
Tuesday, Stasiak he did not recall who made the initial complaint to remove the silhouettes.
“That was months ago,” Stasiak said. “I don’t remember who it was.”
Meanwhile, the city manager said he has not seen the proposed resolution from the Gaines Creek group.
Prince said he will present the resolution asking the city council to reverse the Stasiak decision to remove the silhouettes.
The association includes six Free Will Baptist churches: New Hope, Fellowship, Canadian Shores, Stuart, Bethel and Tannehill.
The silhouettes were placed on street signs throughout downtown by the city and were paid for by McAlester resident Bob Wallace. The silhouettes — black, one-dimensional cutouts — depict mostly small town- and western-themed scenes. Only the ones with crosses were removed by the city.
McAlester resident Bill Derichsweiler said he was given the religious silhouettes by Wallace after they were removed and he questioned the reason.
“I couldn’t believe the city took those silhouettes down,” Derichsweiler said.
Last month, Wallace said he wasn’t happy with the city’s decision.
“I was upset and shocked,” he said. “We are in the Bible belt. This is a Christian nation.
“We’ve drifted so far away from Christian values.”
He said when the silhouettes were originally installed on the city street signs, he worked with Stasiak and then went with city workers to each sign. The ones bearing crosses were placed on signs near the churches on Washington Avenue, Derichsweiler said.
Meanwhile, the resolution dated Aug. 12 asks the McAlester City Council to reverse the city manager’s decision because removal discriminates against Christians. And that because the silhouettes picture soldiers kneeling in silent prayer, they should be allowed.
“The Gaines Creek Association of Free Will Baptists stand opposed to the removal of the ‘figurines’ depicting U.S. military kneeling in silent prayer ...”
Jeanne LeFlore writes for the McAlester News.
State News
Church group takes up cross issue with City of McAlester
- State News
-
-
3rd grader left ill-fated school with minutes to spare
Scott Lewis picked up his son, Zack, from Plaza Towers Elementary School as hail pounded the school Monday afternoon. About 5 minutes after they left, said Lewis, the monster tornado smashed into the building.
Seven of Zack’s third-grade classmates were killed when the tornado knocked down the school’s walls and ceilings. Others were injured; several remain hospitalized, Lewis said. -
Weather expert: Schools need shelters
Ninety-four percent of Oklahoma schools do not have tornado shelters, according to Gov. Mary Fallin, even though at least one weather expert says they should be standard. With two Moore schools destroyed in Monday’s EF-5 tornado — and ...
-
TIMELAPSE: Take a tour through the damage in Moore
Take a driving tour of the damage in Moore caused by Monday's tornado.
-
Moore mayor wants tornado shelters in new homes
Moore Mayor Glenn Lewis wants tornado shelters in all new homes in his city, where an EF-5 tornado damaged or destroyed more than 12,500 homes Monday afternoon. A proposed ordinance would require a shelter inside or outside each new residence.
-
Rescue workers, tornado victims find respite in college dorms
Monday’s tornado put an estimated 20,000 people out of their houses, which were damaged or destroyed. Some of those victims — and the rescue workers who’ve come to help them — are staying a few miles south, in dormitories at the University of Oklahoma.
More than 300 individuals and families left homeless by the storm are staying at OU, where the university is providing beds, hot water and meals, often delivered by a familiar face. The university also housed 287 first-responders from Texas, Nebraska, Kansas and Tennessee. -
Mom delivered baby as tornado struck
Shayla Taylor’s second child was moments from birth as an EF-5 tornado bore down on Moore Medical Center on Monday afternoon.
Her labor was too far along to move her to safety with the rest of those in the hospital, her nurses decided. So as her husband, Jerome, and their 4-year-old son, Shaiden, went downstairs with the others, she and four nurses stayed upstairs and braced for the worst. -
Storm-weary residents return to their homes
Digging through the rubble of an unrecognizable city, people in this Oklahoma City suburb found familiar pieces of life before Monday’s tornado.
Work crews recovered a dresser that belonged to Rachel Hernandez from the remains of her home near Southeast Fourth Street and Bryant Avenue. Inside was a treasured photo of her grandmother at age 17.
“I had an entire collection of family photos in that dresser,” said Hernandez, who also salvaged a German antique pot, as well as some mementoes she didn’t recognize. -
AUDIO: Residents share their tornado experiences
Moore, Okla., residents talk about living through Monday's EF-5 tornado.
-
Photos: Aftermath of massive tornado in Moore
Storm victims were pulled from the rubble and residents began surveying the damage late Monday and early Tuesday in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, where a powerful tornado destroyed entire neighborhoods and left dozens dead.
-
VIDEO: Pres. Obama's remarks on the Okla. tornado
President Obama speaks on Monday's deadly Okla. tornado.
- More State News Headlines
-
