Voters interested in voting by absentee ballot for any of the elections during the 2023 election year may request absentee ballots now using the State Election Board’s OK Voter Portal at oklahoma. gov/elections/ovp or download and print an application from the State Election Board website at oklahoma.gov/ elections. Applications are also available at the Choctaw County Election Board. Signed applications may be hand delivered, emailed, faxed, or mailed to the County Election Board.

Cheyenne, OK — Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) released the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced a final rule revising the definition of “Waters of the United States”- or WOTUS: “I am extremely discouraged by the EPA’s actions regulating wetlands and waters in a manner inconsistent with the Clean Water Act,” said Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03). “During this time when increased agriculture production and growth are critical, the rule fails to provide certainty for America’s farmers and ranchers. Furthermore, the Biden Administration’s contradictory rule ensures lengthy litigation surrounding the scope of federal regulatory authority of our nation’s waterways will continue with confusion and regulatory uncertainty. Oklahoma’s farmers, ranchers, and landowners have demonstrated their responsible stewardship of the land for generations, and I will continue to stand with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in opposition to the continued inconsistent interpretation of WOTUS and the Clean Water Act.” In 2015, the Obama Administration’s WOTUS Rule significantly expanded the definition of “waters of the United States” and gave the federal government authority to regulate almost any waters; including streams, ditches, ponds, and creeks.

An Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist hopes a new, twoyear grant will help him pinpoint the genetic variants that can cause age-related hearing loss. Scientist Gaurav Varshney, Ph.D., will receive $469,000 from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, a part of the National Institutes of Health.

Every year an estimated 2.1 million older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect or exploitation. That is only part of the picture: Experts believe that for every case of elder abuse or neglect reported, five cases go unreported.

Contributing Writer The $5 million Soper Road Project has been in the making for 12 years and its official culmination came just a few days before former Choctaw County Dist. 1 Commissioner Ronnie Thompson’s term came to an end.

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First Baby Rules The winning baby’s parents must be residents of Choctaw County! The parents of the newborn baby must come by the Hugo News and pick up a form that will specify the rules. They must present the Hugo News a copy of the birth certificate, the exact time of the baby’s birth specified by the attending physician and proof of residency (such as a utility bill or voter’s registration card).

Extremely cold weather is gripping much of the nation, including areas of Region 6 where these temperatures are a rare occurrence. Staying warm and dry is important when temperatures may dip into single digits and wind chills into subzero levels.

The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) offers free resources to help Oklahomans achieve their New Year’s health resolutions through small daily steps. Whether you wish to eat more nutritiously, move more or start living tobacco free, TSET programs like the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline and Shape Your Future can help you plan — and stay encouraged — to reach your goals.