DURANT –– The Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority received two NIHB Outstanding Service Awards during the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) Heroes in Health Awards Gala recently. Following the presidential declaration of the National State of Emergency, in response to COVID-19, the Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority (CNHSA) initiated a COVID-19 Response Team that has worked in high gear.

• State and local health departments encourage families to stay safe, avoid large gatherings and follow CDC guidelines OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma State Department of Health released its official safety recommendations for families across the state of Oklahoma celebrating Thanksgiving amid COVID-19. “We look forward to this time of year to spend time with family and friends, but with the rapid increase of coronavirus cases we’ve seen over the last month, we should reevaluate how we celebrate Thanksgiving this year,” said Dr.

It’s time to think spring. Fall is the time to plant tulips, daffodils, crocus and other spring flowering bulbs. Use these early bloomers to welcome spring to your landscape. You’ll appreciate the color and cheery blooms after another long winter passes.

• The 2021 Forum will be virtual and registration is free Registration is now open for the 97th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum (AOF), the largest annual meeting and premiere event of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The first annual “Light Up Hugo” storefront decorating contest is taking entries. There is no entry fee. The winner will receive an off-season cabin stay for up to five people from Jan. 3 to Feb. 7, plus four tickets to the Endangered Ark Foundation. This package is worth $400. To enter, just call the Hugo Chamber of Commerce at 580.326.7511, email hugo-chamber@sbcglobal.net or go by the office at 200 S. Broadway St. in Hugo. Deadline to enter is Dec. 11. Judging will take place on Dec. 14.

Thanksgiving is going to be great with sunshine and 69 degrees after a morning low of 38. Scattered showers will return to the area from Friday through Sunday and it gets a little cooler with highs going from the low-60s on Friday to the mid-50s on Sunday. I think we could see three or four nights next week with temperatures at or below freezing.

Felony 091 – Shane Lee Cunningham: Possession of firearm after former felony conviction. 092 – Rylee Allen Finch: Domestic abuse, assault and battery.

Soper Public School has released its new COVID-19 plan for returning to school after Thanksgiving break. The plan, which would affect fourth through 12th grade would go into effect Nov. 30 and continue through Jan. 4, 2020.

IRIS GARDEN CLUB Yard of the Month winner for October is Meredith Russell, 1218 N. B St. in Hugo. Her yard features beautiful begonias, other flowers and trees and is very neat. Pictured (l to r): Harolynn Wofford, Meredith, Holly Lowrance and Sammye Thacker. Photo Courtesy / Rick Lowrance