Hugo football coach David Barker says the Buffaloes are primed and ready to tee it up against his old alma mater — the Dickson Comets — at Gene Nesbit Stadium Friday night. Barker said the Comets will bring a quick and athletic junior quarterback to lead their offense that likes to spread-it-out with as many as five receivers, including one speed-burner, on a play.

KEAIRA SPEARmoves over from her shortstop position to take the throw to second base for Hugo’s Lady Buffaloes in softball action against Valliant’s Lady Dawgs..

Quanah Parker’s “Hereford Bull” is a work of fiction in the western, alternative-history and action sub-genres, and was penned by professor and film and television author Alan Nafzger. Written as his first western novel, this adventure sees our titular Hereford bull being stolen from the Comanche Indian Reservation and lead across the border into Texas by corrupt Texas Rangers. In real life history, Quanah Parker had to just lump it as he couldn’t by law enter Texas. However, the novel takes an unusual premise for a western as friends Charles Goodnight and Randell Mackenzie accompany the chief in an adventure to retrieve the bull. With the two western legends along for the ride and as security, conflicts soon arise in Texas, and that’s before they discover they’ve been followed off the reservation by a group of Comanche boys looking for one last buffalo hunt. Given the animosity Texans had for Comanches and especially natives off the reservation, the entire adventure puts them all in deep danger.

Shortly before noon last Wednesday, Aug. 12, Hugo Chief of Police John Mitchell confirmed two men perished early Wednesday morning, when they were working on a railroad car at Trinity RailCar in Hugo. Mitchell said a number of law enforcement, fire and EMT officers converged on the plant (Hugo PD, Hugo Fire Dept., Choctaw County EMS, Choctaw County Sheriff’s Dept., and Oklahoma Highway Patrol) Wednesday morning. “We got there as Trinity employees and Hugo Fire Department officers were removing the two men from one of the cars. It was about half-in and half-out of the building,” Chief Mitchell stated. Both were said to be unresponsive and were transported to Choctaw Memorial Hospital in Hugo and declared deceased.”

Choctaw County Ambulance Authority has some new tools on hand to help save lives –– three LUCAS Chest Compression Systems. The refurbished devices were purchased at a discounted rate of three for the price of one, Ambulance Authority Executive Director Randy Springfield said, recently.

• Come and meet Whimpy’s baby boy HUGO –– Endangered Ark Foundation will host its first ever baby shower honoring the newest addition to the EAF herd born on Aug. 2.

RATTAN –– The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and its division of Strategic Development awarded the town of Rattan $89,531 that will be used to match a USDA grant to enhance the community and make it a safer, more desirable place to live.

GINGERBREAD PRESCHOOLERS caught the Gingerbread man last week. Pictured with Mrs. Tollett are: Jacob Moore, Hazen Parsons, Nolan Davis, Jaxon Davis, Kyston Cox, Lakyn Carter, Allie Johnson, Spencer Debo, Alaina Carlile, Grayson Harrison, Chapman Atteberry, Addilyn Methvin, Pryce Scott, Kendall Day, Haley Allen, Keaton Davidson, Cade Lemmons, Kaybreigh Billy, Jace Hayes, Delaney Males, Leedey Duncan, Easton Pound and Claire Dyer. Not pictured are Shiloh Crow and Elina Dervishi.

STILLWATER –– With some schools opting to forego inperson classes, many parents and students find themselves in a challenging situation. Oklahoma State University College of Education and Human Sciences faculty members are sharing their expertise on how to effectively navigate and balance the new normal of online learning due to COVID-19 by providing educational resources for families.