Phillip Eugene Wafford, resident of Pomaria, S.C., passed away on Friday, April 25, 2025 at Newberry Health, in Newberry, S.C. He was born on April 9, 1977 in Hugo, Okla., and grew up in Wright City, Okla.

“I couldn’t be more blessed to be Lt. Governor in this time in history,” Matt Pinnell.

• Consumers urged to not click links from unknown sources or give out personal information The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is advising consumers to be wary of the pervasive smishing text scam plaguing Oklahomans this week. Scam text messages have been targeting tolling authorities nationwide for the past year.

• Haven Apartments now accepting 6–12-month leases The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma officially opened its newest multi-family housing unit in Durant, Okla., with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, April 22. The Haven Apartments in Durant, located on 25 acres, offers 216 oneand two-bedroom units providing a comfortable and convenient living experience.

Members of the Choctaw County Bar Association will participate in the statewide Ask A Lawyer event on Thursday, May 1, in celebration of Oklahoma’s annual Law Day. During the event, attorney J. Frank Wolf III, who serves as the local Law Day chair, will work in conjunction with the Oklahoma Bar Association Law Day Committee and hundreds of other lawyers across the state to provide free legal advice to Oklahomans.

Funeral services for Dante Arthur Belvin, of Boswell, Okla., will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 2, 2025 at Good Spring Presbyterian Church in Boswell. Dante passed away April 25, 2025, at the age of 82.

Funeral services for Jimmy “Jim” Wayne Nesbit, of Hugo, Okla., will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 4th and Jackson Church of Christ in Hugo. Jimmy passed away April 27, 2025, at the age of 71. Jimmy Wayne Nesbit was born on June 30, 1953 in Hugo, Okla., the son of Rupert Leroy “Perk” Nesbit and Carmen (Purtell) Nesbit. He was preceded in death by his parents. Jim was a lifelong resident of Hugo, Okla., and a graduate of Hugo High School, Class of 1971. He married his beloved wife, Deanna Squires on Nov. 26, 1976 in Durant, Okla.

Shape Your Future, a program of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), is encouraging Oklahoma students, families and school staff to get active and roll into class this May 8 in celebration of National Bike and Roll to School Day. The event also encourages communities across the state to promote safe, accessible routes for students who choose to bike, walk, scoot, skate or roll to school –– including those in wheelchairs, strollers or other mobility devices.

Martha Jo (Robinson) Arbuckle, age 86, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Nov. 22, 2024.

• Oklahoma Human Services to begin processing Cohort 10, will host informational meetings Oklahoma has made a dramatic reduction in the wait time for Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) — from 13 years in 2022 to just one year in 2025. The shortened wait follows legislative investments beginning in 2022, when the state allocated funds to address a backlog of more than 5,000 applicants.