My name is Sammy Joe Drinkard, Jr. I am and have always been a Hugo Buffalo! I attended Hugo Public Schools from kindergarten to graduation. I was extremely active in the Agriculture program throughout high school. I worked as a janitor at the Hugo Middle School under Mr. Young and Alvin Johnson. I left HPS to further my education, first at Murray State College then on to Oklahoma State University, where I received my degree in Agriculture Education.

The “Be the Best in Oklahoma” 4-H State Public Speaking contest is conducted for the purpose of promoting a greater interest in public speaking and to allow all 4-H members the opportunity to develop and polish their public speaking skills. The contest was held in Ada, Okla.

Oklahoma Ecology Project It’s almost “bonus monarch” time in Oklahoma. Scientists say it’s time for monarch taggers to order their sticky stocks and ready their catch nets and for avid observers to fire up their apps to burn up the internet.

By Andy and Renie Bowman Comments to: andybowman839@gmail.com Coffeetimecolumn. com Of course you’ve been there many times before. A deaddark night when you have no electricity for some reason, so you light a candle. And immediately that thing shines like a diamond that has a heavy spotlight six inches from it. No mistaking where it is. If you are carrying it, everyone around knows it’s you, and they know when you’re coming their way. Because burning candles don’t hide well in the dark.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond has asked members of the state Pardon and Parole Board to reject clemency for Emmanuel Littlejohn, who was convicted of brutally murdering Kenny Meers during a convenience store robbery in June 1992.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has announced a series of public meetings concerning a proposed hydro-power plant project on the upper reaches of Kiamichi River in the general area of the common boundaries of Pushmataha, Latimer and LeFlore Counties. The project applicant is The Southeast Oklahoma Power Corporation (SEOPC), which plans to construct a 1,200-megawatt pumped-storage hydroelectric facility and transfer the power 100 miles south into Northeast Texas.

Makalyn Mitchell, of Valliant, earned an Associate of Arts in General Studies from University of Maryland Global Campus in spring 2024. Mitchell was one of more than 14,000 students worldwide who earned degrees from UMGC in the 2023-24.

The Daughters of the American Revolution is a national organization that was established Oct. 11, 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism for God, Home and Country. The NSDAR was incorporated in 1896 by an Act of Congress.

Leaders and innovators across Native American tribes were recognized at the Annual Oklahoma City Area Director’s Indian Health Services awards ceremony in Oklahoma City. Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority (CNHSA) associates received several honors which were presented.

• LIFT Community Action Agency receives $263,497 from the Potts Family Foundation LIFT Community Action Agency has been awarded a contract from the Potts Family Foundation (PFF) to establish a Family Resource Center (FRC) through the Know and Grow Oklahoma: Building Resilient Children, Families & Communities initiative. This opportunity allows the agency to increase services to Choctaw, McCurtain and Pushmataha Counties.