The 2025 Hugo Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade and Contest proved to be a festive triumph, drawing community members together for a joyful celebration of the season. With more than continued on page 4A 80 parade entries, this year’s event showcased creativity, holiday spirit, and strong community pride throughout downtown Hugo.

Boswell Elementary Academic Achievement D Academic Growth C English Language Proficiency Progress D Chronic Absenteeism B Overall D Boswell Middle School Academic Achievement F Academic Growth D English Language Proficiency Progress N/A Chronic Absenteeism B Overall D Boswell High School Academic Achievement D Graduation B English Language Proficiency Progress D Chronic Absenteeism A Postsecondary Opportunities B Overall C Soper Elementary Academic Achievement D Academic Growth C English Language Proficiency Progress N/A Chronic Absenteeism A Overall C Soper High School Academic Achievement C Graduation A English Language Proficiency Progress N/A Chronic Absenteeism A Postsecondary Opportunities A Overall C Fort Towson Elementary Academic Achievement D Academic rowth C English Language Proficiency Progress N/A Chronic Absenteeism B Overall C Fort Towson Junior High Academic Achievement D Academic Growth D English Language Proficiency Progress N/A Chronic Absenteeism B Overall D Fort Towson High School Academic Achievement F Graduation C English Language Proficiency Progress N/A Chronic Absenteeism D Postsecondary Opportunities D Overall F See Hugo Elementary Academic Achievement D Academic Growth D English Language Proficiency Progress C Chronic Absenteeism D Overall D Hugo Intermediate Academic Achievement D Academic Growth D English Language Proficiency Progress F Chronic Absenteeism F Overall D Hugo Middle School Academic Achievement D Academic Growth D English Language Proficiency Progress C Chronic Absenteeism F Overall D Hugo High School Academic Achievement D Graduation F English Language Proficiency Progress C Chronic Absenteeism F Postsecondary Opportunities C Overall D Antlers Elementary Academic Achievement C Academic Growth B English Language Proficiency Progress N/A Chronic Absenteeism F Overall C Antlers Middle School Academic Achievement B Academic Growth B English Language Proficiency Progress C Chronic Absenteeism C Overall B Antlers High School Academic Achievement B Graduation C English Language Proficiency Progress N/A Chronic Absenteeism A Postsecondary Opportunities B Overall B Rattan Elementary Academic Achievement D Academic Growth C English Language Proficiency Progress N/A Chronic Absenteeism A Overall D Rattan Middle School Academic Achievement C Academic Growth B English Language Proficiency Progress N/A Chronic Absenteeism C Overall C Rattan High School Academic Achievement D Graduation D English Language Proficiency Progress N/A Chronic Absenteeism A Postsecondary Opportunities C Overall C Moyers Elementary Academic Achievement D Academic Growth B English Language Proficiency Progress C Chronic Absenteeism C Overall C Moyers High School Academic Achievement D Graduation F English Language Proficiency Progress N/A Chronic Absenteeism C Postsecondary Opportunities C Overall D Valliant Elementary Academic Achievement C Academic Growth C English Language Proficiency Progress C Chronic Absenteeism D Overall C Valliant Middle School Academic Achievement C Academic Growth C English Language Proficiency Progress D Chronic Absenteeism D Overall C Valliant High School Academic Achievement D Graduation B English Language Proficiency Progress C Chronic Absenteeism B Postsecondary Opportunities B Overall D Wright City Elementary Academic Achievement D Academic Growth D English Language Proficiency Progress N/A Chronic Absenteeism B Overall D Wright City Middle School Academic Achievement C Academic Growth D English Language Proficiency Progress N/A Chronic Absenteeism A Overall C Wright City High School Academic Achievement D Graduation B English Language Proficiency Progress N/A Chronic Absenteeism A Postsecondary Opportunities B Overall C Idabel Central Elementary Academic Achievement C Academic Growth C English Language Proficiency Progress F Chronic Absenteeism C Overall C Idabel Primary South Academic Achievement C Academic Growth C English Language Proficiency Progress C Chronic Absenteeism D Overall C Idabel Middle School Academic Achievement D Academic Growth C English Language Proficiency Progress C Chronic Absenteeism D Overall D Idabel High School Academic Achievement D Graduation D English Language Proficiency Progress D Chronic Absenteeism D Postsecondary Opportunities B Overall D Broken Bow Bennett Elementary Academic Achievement C Academic Growth C English Language Proficiency Progress C Chronic Absenteeism A Overall C Broken Bow Dierks Elementary Academic Achievement C Academic Growth C English Language Proficiency Progress B Chronic Absenteeism A Overall C Broken Bow Middle School Academic Achievement D Academic Growth C English Language Proficiency Progress B Chronic Absenteeism D Overall C Broken Bow High School Academic Achievement D Graduation C English Language Proficiency Progress C Chronic Absenteeism C Postsecondary Opportunities B Overall C.

The Fort Towson Historic Site will soon grow its educational programming related to the steamboat Heroine. As the recipient of a $102,179 National Maritime Heritage Grant Program grant, the site will be developing inhouse educational programming on the history and significance of the steamboat Heroine. The Heroine, the oldest steamboat excavated and studied by archeologists, sank in the Red River near Fort Towson in 1838. A joint effort between the Oklahoma Historical Society and the Institute of Nautical Archeology at Texas A&M University led to its excavation and study, revealing its vital role in supplying Fort Towson and the surrounding community.