New findings from scientists at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation could clarify a lingering mystery about chemical changes in the brain that occur during stress-induced drug abuse relapse of methamphetamine and cocaine.

The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) announced a $2 million allocation to the state Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) to fund statewide evidencebased substance abuse interventions. State law requires part of Oklahoma’s medical marijuana excise tax revenue to fund anti-drug and rehabilitation programs.

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed a positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. The virus was found in a commercial poultry flock.

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Team are excited to announce the launch of the first annual school garden contest for Oklahoma. Applications opened on May 1 for any public or private PK-12 school, early childhood education facility, and alternative learning environment to participate. The deadline to enter is Sunday, June 15, 2022 at 11:50 p.m.

Felony 030 – Jakavious Meeks: Prisoner placing body fluid on government employee. 031 – Nickolas Allen Jones: Burglary, third degree.

Being honored as the Oklahoma District 19 Superintendent of the Year makes looking back at the past nine years of being a part of the Hugo Community and serving the students and staff of Hugo Public Schools even more meaningful. I am both proud of the progress we have made and am sad to be leaving. My intention was always to finish my years in education at Hugo and retire in Choctaw County. Living apart from my wonderful wife, Rena, was too much of a hardship. I have accepted an offer to be the Superintendent of Salina Public Schools and the Hugo Board members have tentatively agreed to allow me to resign my position in Hugo. Returning to northeast Oklahoma will also mean that I will be much closer to my son and his family. I am excited about getting to be a bigger part of my 6-year-old granddaughter’s childhood.

Graveside services for Bobby Lee Vantrees, of Hugo, Okla., will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 6, 2022 at Wade Family Cemetery in Unger, Okla.

Larry K. Speer, of Boswell, Okla., passed away April 28, 2022, at the age of 75.

Memorial services for Peggy Lee Gillean will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 6, 2022 at the Prater-Lampton-Mills & Coffey Chapel in Hugo, Okla., with Brett Gillean officiating. Peggy passed away Wednesday, April 27, 2022, in Rowlett, Texas, at the age of 85.

All across the 50 states, local governments are morphing, changing, breathing new life into rules under which citizens are to be governed. At the same time, governments (including Uncle Sam) are struggling to understand exactly what the framers of the Constitution meant when they wrote the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”