Two transplanted native Oklahoma women died this week. Although neither woman was necessarily a household name, their influence philanthropically or through literature leaves a legacy for future generations.

Helen Robson Walton, a University of Oklahoma graduate and wife of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, was born in Claremore in 1919. She married in 1943 and eventually moved to northwest Arkansas which is where she died.

Walton had been president of the Walton Family Foundation. According to arkansasbusiness.com, in 2005, the Foundation granted about $158 million through 771 grants, including $38.98 million to Northwest Arkansas entities, $5.82 million to the Delta region of Arkansas and Mississippi, $8.79 million to environmental groups and $79.98 million to K-12 education reform.

Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel, dubbed the Okie Poet who wrote more than 25 books of poetry, was born in Stroud and relocated to California in the late Thirties.

First published in her 50s, she was the subject of a documentary "Down an Old Road: The Poetic Life of Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel." She became the poet laureate of Tulare, Calif.

Oklahoma 's Miss America Lauren Nelson helped N.Y. police officers nab cyber sexual predators.

Using a 14-year-old girl's profile, the native Lawtonian chatted up at least 10 men, four of whom were arrested, the Associated Press reported, while another six conversed with Nelson.

The sting operation was taped for an "America's Most Wanted" segment airing locally at 8 p.m. Saturday on KOKH-25, Cox Cable channel 12.

Way to go Lauren!

Gov. Brad Henry announced the winning Oklahoma commemorative quarter is the state bird and wildflower and the Indian blanket design.

His office said more than 148,000 votes were cast.

"Oklahomans have spoken and the results are clear," Henry said of the online vote.

The No. 2 design proposal won handily. Earning more than 50 percent of the vote, it beat out competing illustrations that featured representations of the Pioneer Woman, a gushing oil derrick, waving wheat, a windmill and a calumet.

The final vote tally:

• No. 2: 76,643
• No. 3: 19,740
• No. 4: 18,976
• No. 1: 17,784
• No. 5: 15,023

What do you think? Are you happy with the Oklahoma quarter design?

As Judge Twyla Mason Gray set Curtis McCarty free today, she ripped into former Oklahoma City police chemist Joyce Gilchrist. Gray wondered where Gilchrist is and why she's not been sent to prison for shoddy forensic work.

What are your thoughts about Gray publicly ridiculing Gilchrist?

A rocket landed in Oklahoma yesterday

Stevie Nicks lipped off a major blunder last night during her Zoo Amphitheatre performance.

Not bothering beforehand to check the map, or check with any locals for that matter, Nicks said she likes to dedicate her song, "Landslide" to someone in the audience.

However, "The Gypsy" said since she did not know anyone in the audience, she would just dedicate it to her favorite Oklahoman, Bill Clinton.

Hmmm. Is that a compliment or insult?

Wanderlist.com has posted a poll to vote for sexiest female local reporters, weathergals (their word not ours), and anchors

Evangelist Jerry Falwell passed away today at age 73.

In Nov. 2005, he cancelled a scheduled Oklahoma City appearance at the Oklahoma Pastor's Conference.

At the time, Duke Westover, Falwell's executive assistant, said the cancellation was due to Falwell's Gulfstream jet being down for maintenance at his headquarters in Lynchburg, Va.

"We have a turboprop aircraft that we use as a backup, but we can't fly it very far west of the Mississippi because Rev. Falwell's doctor won't let him fly that long," Westover said.

Falwell's announced appearance at the conference sparked controversy among some Oklahoma City-area Baptist churches including Edmond's Henderson Hills congregation.

"That was 90 percent relief that we wouldn't have to take extra security measures for Rev. Falwell's appearance," Pastor Jeff Wilson, an elder and education pastor at HHBC, said. "We didn't have to worry about protestors showing up, and we didn't have to expend extra income on security."

Wilson admitted that the other 10 percent had to do with Falwell's controversial reputation.

"Not everyone likes Falwell," Wilson said. "Some controversy would have spilled over and we were concerned. We were hopeful Falwell's appearance wouldn't have an effect on our public image. We had nothing to do with the program, and we agreed to host the conference long before any speakers were picked."

Did you catch Oklahoma jet-pack powered Rocket Man on the "Ellen Degeneres" show today?

Dan Schlund, who soared into fame for the Oklahoma Centennial at the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day, rocketed to the national spotlight during a show segment. The Rocket Man wore bright blue flight suit emblazoned with the Oklahoma Centennial.

If you missed it and are wanting to see it, cable's Oxygen Channel replays the talk show at 1 a.m. Oklahoma time.

Officials with the state agency regulating Oklahoma's space industry say they are not concerned about Rocketplane's funding woes and are hopeful things will work out.

Ken McGill, a member of the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority, told Oklahoma Gazette he has no worries about Rocketplane.

"I am fully aware of the situation and way things are going," he said.

In recent months, reports in the Gazette and other aerospace publications indicate the company, whose investors received an $18 million tax credit from the state, experienced setbacks. Among the issues:

• layoffs of employees including Chief Technical Officer David Urie.
• failing to meet a funding deadline as part of the orbital subsidiary's $207 million NASA contract.
• diverting funds from Rocketplane's suborbital subsidiary to its orbital subsidiary.

Questions arose about the diverted funds since the company received $18 million in state taxpayer money to help build a suborbital tourism ship.

"George French told me it was his personal money that was diverted," McGill said of Rocketplane Chairman George French.

OSIDA Executive Director Bill Khourie said he is hopeful Rocketplane will speed up its operation.

"We're excited and want everyone to be successful," he said. "But as for scheduling, time lines will change. You have to be realistic, but we're optimistic."

However, McGill said he would be concerned if Rocketplane showed no signs of progress by the end of the year.

Should the state be concerned about its $18 million tax-credit investment? - Scott Cooper

More Rocketplane coverage:

Ex-Rocketplane chief engineer says funding diverted from tourism vehicle
Rocketplane lays off manager, seeks $500 million
Rocketplane responds
Texas rocket leaves Oklahoma soil, returns
Rocketplane beat to launch by Texas company
Another rocket company ready to do business with state