Kathy Parker
Associate District Judge Shawn Taylor visited Adair Chamber of Commerce Tuesday. Taylor and his wife Michelle live in the Adair School District. She is the Adair High School Counselor.
Taylor was appointed to his post by Governor Brad Henry. He explained the anatomy of the district court system.
Mayes, Rogers and Craig Counties make up a district. The District Judge is Terry McBride. In addition to the associate judge, the district judge appoints special judges. There are three in Rogers County, one in Mayes County and Craig County is rotated from those.
“Special judges have more restrictions on what they can hear,” Taylor said, explaining criminal cases are mostly handled by the district judge. He said Mayes County judges cover each others’ dockets. “We’ve got good team work,” Taylor said. He said the cases he covers are mostly guardianships, probate, and divorce.
The Taylors moved to Mayes County from Tulsa
six years ago to raise their children Jack and Grace, ages 6 and 5. “We picked to come here. We’ve never regretted it a day.”
Taylor was born in Nowata, then spent three years growing up in Japan where his father was stationed in the Air Force. He ended up finishing school in LeFlore County where his father was a game ranger and his mother was the high school librarian. He began college at East Central in Ada, then completed his undergraduate degree at OSU. “I tried engineering, but the chemistry was too hard,” Taylor joked. He switched to business, then went to law school at OU.
Taylor said it is different to be on the other side of the bench. “As an attorney, you’ve prepared for that all your life.”
Jack Pryor reported Adair did not get the grant from Oklahoma Department of Transportation to plant
trees along the highway
approaches in to town. “ODOT says the area is for drainage only,” Pryor said, “so we can’t plant there.” He said he is checking to see if railroad and road easements meet. “They encouraged us to apply next year when we have a place to plant the trees.”
Michelle Taylor presented the Adair High School Students of the Month, Kayli Smith and C.J. Frederick.
Secretary Mary Steiner reported the checking account balance is $8,272.31, after paying the Chamber’s $500 scholarship and buying meat for the banquet.
The chamber’s fall
banquet is Oct. 15. Some adjustments have been necessary since Warrior’s Den cafe went out of business, but the prime rib meal will be served along with entertainment from Will Rogers impersonator Andy Hogan. Steiner said 31 people had signed up for the banquet Tuesday.
Christmas In The Country is Nov. 14 from
9 a.m. to 4 p.m., including the car show, a pet show at 10:30 a.m., spaghetti eating contest at noon and parade at 1 p.m. Other attractions include food, a Jupiter jump and obstacle course for kids and the Santa booth.
President Randy Ross said he and Dr. Bill Van De Linder will end their chamber board terms this year. He asked for nominations for one member to fill a five-year board position. The membership elected Kathy Hipp to the board.
