Oklahoma Blood Institute has less than half of the blood supply needed, threatening a critical blood shortage for local patients, and creating an immediate need for blood donors. The national blood supply has stayed near emergency levels for months, having never recovered from COVID-related challenges.

Wheat is typically milled/ground into flour that is then used to make bread, pasta, crackers, and many other products. Wheat is one of the oldest and most important of the cereal crops. It is the second largest grain planted worldwide, based on acreage and production volume. China, India, and Russia are the countries who produce the most wheat. Combined those three nations produce 41% of the world’s total wheat. America and Canada round out the top five, Ukraine is No. 6. Ukraine is the fifth largest exporter of wheat in the world, but have halted exports of wheat to insure a domestic food supply for their own people. The United States produces 2.2 billion bushels of wheat per year and consumes a little over half that amount.

For agricultural soils in the midwestern U.S. to continue to be productive, conservation practices must be widely implemented, according to a new report from the Center for Rural Affairs.

The Choctaw Nation Princess and Royalty Program is beginning plans for the 2022-23 princess pageants in each of its 12 districts. All contestants must be between the ages of 8-22 years old and compete in their respective division: Little Miss - 8-12 years old; Junior Miss - 13-17 years old; and Miss Choctaw Nation - 18-22 years old.

Happy Anniversary to Dale and Georgia Harrison (April 11)! The Lions Club is hosting a community Easter egg hunt Saturday, April 16 at 2 p.m. at Ansley Park with giveaways and prize eggs.

Today’s Scripture: Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.

Much cooler temperatures move in for the middle of the week and I wouldn’t be surprised to drop to around 39 degrees by Thursday morning. Thursday and Friday are looking beautiful with sunny and 75 to 80 degrees. The weekend will be in the low-80s with just a few pop-up thunderstorms possible.

Sam Seimer, a senior at Fort Towson, recently signed with the Murray State College Rodeo Team in Tishomingo, Okla. Sam is pictured with Todd Smith, rodeo coach at MSC, and his parents, Charlie and Jennifer Seimer. Sam is a member of the Texas High School Rodeo Region IV Association and the National High School Rodeo Association.

Choctaw Nation Outreach Services alongside the city of Antlers will host a 5K run/ one-mile awareness walk on May 7, 2022, to remember missing and murdered Indigenous women. Indigenous women experience violence at an alarming rate.

Friday, April 15 Steak Fingers Potato Wedges Green Peas Rolls Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Wednesday, April 20 Roast Beef & Gravy Mashed Potatoes Purple-Hull Peas Corn Bread Peach Cobbler.