The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 1

Friday THE Oklahoman NEWS0K.COM 50C FEBRUARY 23, 2007 She left a mess Lost in the mail Oklahoma City gets ready for a year without the NBA Who would you pick? An Eakley man's widow has received her husband's Silver Star. STATE 11A WEEKEND LOOK Quadriplegic gives birth to healthy boy It's been two weeks since the famous-for-being-famous Anna Nicole Smith died, and the messy aftermath seems to have eclipsed even her bizarre life. Blubbering on the bench The gift Fugitive foiled by clever travelers Circuit Judge Larry Seidlin wept Thursday while granting custody of Smith's remains to her baby's guardian. Court winners By John Estus Staff Writer TONKAWA Travelers duped a hitchhiking fugitive into thinking they would help him Thursday night, but drove him straight to law enforcement authorities instead. The capture ended a manhunt that started five hours earlier when Christopher Wayne Smith fled the Osage County Courthouse in Pa-whuska.

Smith showed up to court late to appear on a stolen-prop-erty charge and fled from the courthouse when a deputy See FUGITIVE, back page Richard Milstein, the court-appointed guardian of Smith's baby daughter, who decided Smith will rest in the Bahamas beside her son. The medical examiner, who just wanted them to hurry as Smith's body has been decomposing rapidly. Court loser Wilma Mankiller LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN Quadriplegic Nannette Bert gives a kiss Thursday to her newborn, Praze Edward Ramon Bert, at the Children's Hospital at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City. The baby was born at 3:34 a.m. Thursday, weighing 6 lbs.

3 oz. and measuring 19 inches. Virgie Arthur, Smith's mother, who wanted to bury her in Texas. Mankiller opens up dialogue Centennial offers a chance to see new perspectives, former Cherokee chief says. To be resolved The mother, who had no sensation below her neck, said she felt the baby kick.

By Judy Gibbs Robinson Staff Writer No fan of the OJUU, Oklahoma Wilma One family's story Nannette, 41, and William "Wonka" Bert, 51, have been married 17 years. They also have a 16-year-old son, Chozin. On April 14, 1993, Nannette Bert was driving down a dark highway between Lawton and Carnegie when her vehicle slammed into a bull. The collision broke her neck and crushed three vertebrae. Chozin, then a baby, was in the back seat unharmed.

William Bert was devastated. Nannette Bert had not felt anything below the neck in 13 years. "I was so happy I could feel my baby kick," she said. Mankiller said she agreed to By Ron Jackson Staff Writer Every time Nannette and William "Wonka" Bert speak their child's name, they will be reminded of the gift bestowed upon them in the form of a healthy 6-pound, 3-ounce boy. Nannette, a quadriplegic since 1993, delivered Praze Edward Ramon Bert at 3:34 a.m.

Thursday at Children's Hospital after 30 hours of labor. The full-term delivery occurred without any difficulties, and left the Carnegie couple's doctors, nurses and family in awe. "Praze," said William, his smile outshining the exhaustion that had overtaken his body. "Praze as in praise the Lord." Nearby, Nannette Bert lay in a hospital bed weary from her journey and overwhelmed by emotion. Praze lay by her side, cradled by her left arm.

"When it was time, all the doctors rushed into the room," said Nannette See BABY, back page BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN Chozin Bert, 16, right, touches his brother, Praze Edward Ramon Bert, as their parents, Nannette and William Bert, watch. give the 2007 Centennial Lecture in the Humanities because it was important an American Indian be heard. The lecture, an official centennial project, gives tribal people an incredible opportu- See MANKILLER, Page 2A Paternity claims for 5-month-old Dannielynn, have come from: Howard K. Stern, her companion Larry Birkhead, her ex-boyfriend Prince Frederic von Anhalt, Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband "Submit to the DNA Enough baloney," Seidlin said. What about the millions? The baby could inherit millions.

Smith has been fighting for the $500 million fortune of her late husband, Texas oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II. Coming distractions totakweraqe NEW59 JneC of the birth at 10 p.m. Tuesday on News9 Online atNewsOK.com OnlineatNewsOK.com Hear an interview with Wilma Mankiller Watch a special video produced by The Oklahoman. Share your thoughts 'Makeover' drives home a point: Altruism Online atNewsOK.com More information and photos of the new home and about the show By Chad Previch Staff Writer LAWTON An Iraqi war veteran whose vertebrae were severed during an enemy attack three years ago and his family received a new home Thursday as part of the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" television show.

The Lawton home was presented to Gene and Peggy BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN Westbrook about 2 p.m. More than 2,000 people, including Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, witnessed the unveiling of the home. ABC will air the show April 8.

See HOME, back page The shaven Britney Spears is eclipsing Smith's wild story with heron-again, off-again rehab tries. Third time's charm. More, Page 3A Gene Westbrook is lowered from a van as "Extreme Makeover" hostTy Pennington hugs Elizabeth Westbrook, 15. Crews wait Thursday at the home built by ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." TODAY'S PRAYER QUICK INDEX WEATHER -w Stormy night CAN'T WE ALL GET Vista, Microsoft's new operating system is reigniting compatibility issues with Apple Inc. Page IB Five sections Volume No.

116, No. 47 Copyright 2007 The Oklahoma Publishing Oklahoma City, OK All rights reserved Lord, we pray for all those who feel imprisoned by the world, that they may find freedom in Your word. Amen. Advice 7D Deaths 14A Business IB Lottery 2A Classified IE Movies 4D Comics 16E Opinion 8A Crossword 12E Sports 1C High: 65 Low: 44 Page 16A l57942ll11111llll2.