If you follow the national ag press, you already know that the general consensus among farm policy experts seems to be that there is little hope for a new Farm Bill any time before spring, with many m...

One of the most important events on the annual calendar of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) is our Fall Forum. Held each October or November, this event is where advocates from across ...

DEAR ABBY: My nephew is getting married soon, and he and his father are having issues with the guest list. My brother-in-law has a few immediate family members who don’t know their limit when it comes...

Last weekend’s party was a good one. I have to admit though, I am beginning to wonder if, at 45, I am getting a little too old for the late nights trying to get everything ready for the party. Between...

The pursuit of happiness is our right. The Declaration of Independence says so. I’m not going to argue that issue, we have a right to pursue happiness. But, that doesn’t guarantee that we are going to...

During unsettling times, whether marked by terrifying conditions or those less dramatic, the prevailing hope in most is to catch sight of the proverbial ‘North Star.’ For centuries and for myriads of ...

DEAR ABBY: I am a man in my 50s. A few months ago, I had a routine doctor’s appointment, with a new primary care physician. I intended the appointment to be a complete, regular physical. I don’t (than...

The Scene: Tuesday, Oct. 18, 5 p.m. at Okmulgee City Hall With the strike of a gavel, the city council meeting is brought to order. Roll call of members is given, Pledge of Allegiance is said and the ...

DEAR ABBY: I’m a cross-dresser who is able to enjoy wearing women’s clothes in private at home. With Halloween around the corner, I want nothing more than to be fully dressed as a woman and go outside...

Over the years, I have written several articles about how livestock can help save the planet. Take cows for example - they help with nutrient cycling, they reduce wildfire danger by eating the undergr...

I usually start each weekday morning by flipping channels on the four main networks to catch up on local and state news, then continue that during the time I have before work. One of my favorite segme...

It is that time again for me. The annual AVMC Halloween Party is this Saturday in Okmulgee at the VFW. It’s been 20 years! I am super busy this week preparing but I didn’t go easy on myself, a fact I ...

The average cost to raise a child in the U.S. is between $15,000 and $17,500 per year according to several sources. Wow! I know when I was growing up that the cost was not nearly that high, but it was...

Jim’s departure caught me off guard. Once I got an introductory taste (it seemed that someone had dropped a savory appetizer on my plate) of the school’s environment with its diverse cultures, I retur...

I had a dream. And in this dream I had been following my Savior - my Guide, my Light, my Path - for a while already. He had led me past many, many obstacles and pitfalls - for which I was most gratefu...

DEAR ABBY: I’m a lesbian. My wife and I have been married for nine years, but since COVID and my mother’s death, we have had problems. I met a man online; he’s an actor. We grew close via the internet...

DEAR ABBY: I have been with my man for seven years and I keep asking him when we’re getting married. He said we would - “someday.” Then COVID came along. Now he says after the pandemic is completely o...

Children will often call for a “do-over” when involved in a game on the playground. Similarly, golfers might take a “mulligan” to attempt a shot a second time when the first went awry. In life, you do...

Make it a brown one We need a brown revolution. Most of us are familiar with the green revolution - the explosion of agriculture production that happened between the 1940’s and 1970’s, due largely to ...

Spaghetti squash is a winter vegetable, but readily available year round. It has a nice, nutty flavor and is super easy to cook. It’s a trifecta of perfection when it comes to choices-available, flavo...