We often played games in the church youth group that made people look silly. They weren’t intended to hurt or harm. They were actually meant to make a person feel accepted - a part of the group. I’m n...

• A routine county-funds appeal erupted into drama when District Judge James Hepburn allegedly called attorney George Beidleman a liar and twice offered to settle the dispute with his fists. The clash...

DEAR ABBY: I am a longtime divorcee and a retiree with grown kids. What is troubling me is I’ve always had an issue with taking a shower and all the oil and dirt flowing down my body. I think it’s gro...

Over our years of marriage, Ann and I have spent a lot of time in each other’s company. We routinely live our lives in an almost continuous state of interaction. We eat together. We travel together (w...

• A bench warrant was issued for Mattie Nail, an Okmulgee woman whose two-year manslaughter sentence had just been upheld by the appellate court. Authorities couldn’t locate her, even though she was o...

DEAR ABBY: My best friend, “Brooke,” started dating a man, “Angus,” last year. From the start, he made a poor impression. He met Brooke while he was dating another woman but didn’t tell Brooke about h...

The conversation of immigration continues to weigh heavily on many Americans, especially following the death of a Minnesotan over the weekend who was protesting. Eight people have been killed since th...

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been married for 40 years and share the same friendships joint, his and mine. We have camped, hosted parties and traveled with the same friends. My problem is my husba...

I made a trip to Peru with a christian organization that was providing training for poor Peruvian pastors. We had some free time between sessions, so we had the chance to take in some cultural activit...

The “training wheels” metaphor serves well in much of life. No one makes very much headway in any “growth skill” apart from this thing we call training. Equipping. Tutoring. Apprenticing. Without guid...

The final pre-session deadline has been reached for the Oklahoma Legislature with the completion of bill filing for the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma State Senate. Over the past m...

DEAR ABBY: I have three daughters with children of their own. Every year, we have a family vacation. My daughter “Monica’s” children, ages 8 and 9, whom I love and see regularly, behave badly. They cu...

Jan. 20, 2017, is a date etched into the heart of this newsroom and into my own life. It was the day the newspaper family at the Okmulgee Times and Henryetta Free-Lance lost not just a leader and edit...

• A lively home‑talent show, “The Jollies of 1926,” packed the Orpheum Theatre with a fast‑moving mix of musician comedy, lively entertainment acts, songs and dance numbers. Dudley Monk led the minstr...

DEAR ABBY: I’m a 51-year-old mother and grandmother whose kids don’t talk to me. The reason: My son, “Aaron,” was sexually assaulted by his friend, “Eli,” and I told him his friend was no longer allow...

Note: A new column, Extension Corner, will begin regularly updates on events, activities and more from the Okmulgee OSU Extension, 4-H and other ag-related news and helpful hints. -Should you wash raw...

She says, “Why do you always leave your dishes on the table?” “Always” might be a bit stronger than actual reality, but the sentiment being powerfully expressed is, “You leave your dirty dishes on the...

“A happy marriage is built on love, trust, and the ability to pretend you didn’t hear that last comment.” There’s nothing like a lighthearted quip passing through the pen of an esteemed author from In...

Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. famously stated, “Taxes are what we pay for civilized society.” This quote illustrates that taxation is a necessary component to fund public services, i...

DEAR ABBY: My son married a lovely woman, “Noelle,” two years ago. They live a couple of hours away and have a one-year-old son, my third grandchild. Noelle’s parents live 10 miles from my home. She a...