The start of a new year is the perfect opportunity to kick old habits and create new ones. For those thinking about quitting tobacco, programs like the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline can more than double the likelihood of success.

DURANT –– Although COVID prevented the usual pomp and circumstance, the Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority (CNHSA) held a ceremony to celebrate the Indian Health Service awards achieved by several departments for 2020 and 2021 along with service anniversaries for associates who have been with the Nation for 20 years or longer.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has cut the amount of time it recommends people should isolate after testing positive for the Coronavirus, reducing the number of days from 10 to five. Health officials similarly reduced the amount of time a person should quarantine after coming into contact with someone who tests positive.

Every odd-numbered year, recognized political parties in Oklahoma are required to notify the Secretary of the State Election Board whether or not the party will allow registered Independents to vote in its primary elections.

Happy New Year from the Hugo News staff! The deadline for the Calendar of Events is 12 p.m. each Tuesday.

Choctaw County and the entire state of Oklahoma are going to get hit with a very strong cold front for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day and bring a huge temperature drop from 70 degrees on Friday afternoon down to 21 on Saturday night. The temperature on Sunday will even struggle to get out of the upper 30s. A very cold beginning to 2022!

Friday, Dec. 31 Fish French Fries Pinto Beans Hush Puppies Fruit Salad.

Every person in a nursing home has the right to good care, under the law. The law states that the nursing home must help residents “attain or maintain” their highest level of physical, mental and emotional well-being. In order to provide good care, the staff must assess each resident and plan care to support each resident’s life-long patterns, and their current interests, strengths and needs. When residents and family members are involved in the care planning process, they can provide the staff with information needed to make sure residents get the good care they deserve.

Misdemeanor 168 – David Lynn Harris: Tampering with utilities. 169 – Minnie Pearl Harris: Tampering with utilities.