Frisco Depot Museum had a wonderful month of visitors for February with a total of 46 visitors. They were from Sawyer, Nelson, Hugo, Fort Towson, Tishomingo, Antlers and Miami, Okla. The Depot also had visitors from Paris, Garland, Sherman, Bonham and Pasadena, Texas. A couple from Terra Alta, W.V., had never been to Hugo but loved this part of Oklahoma.

TVSHKA HOMMA –– The Easter Bunny is planning a helicopter egg drop at Chief Batton’s Easter Celebration this year. Weather permitting, 11,000 candyand-prize-filled plastic eggs will fall from the sky over the Choctaw Capitol Grounds at Tvshka Homma beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 8. Children ages 2-10 years old and elders, ages 55 and up will take their turn at the starting line for egg hunts.

The Iris Garden Club of Hugo met on March 27 at ACE Hardware in downtown Hugo. The club holds a meeting each year that is open to the public and ACE graciously hosted it again this year.

With U.S. House and Senate congressional committees considering funding for 2024, the Center for Rural Affairs and 30 organizations from across the country are asking for their continued support of rural small businesses.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development has announced the availability of approximately $31 million in funding for projects as part of the Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) program.

Senate Ed Proposal is a “Some Win, Most Lose” Plan In February, Oklahoma House Republicans authored historic appropriations into public education through a two-part plan designed to provide educational freedom and opportunities for all Oklahoma students, parents, teachers and schools. A month later, the Senate carelessly amended our proposed $500 million investment into Oklahoma’s public schools and butchered educational choices for parents.

CHOCTAW COUNTY –– A Fort Towson man was airlifted to a Texas hospital after motor vehicle wreck Saturday on OK 109, approximately two miles south of Fort Towson. According to reports from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Julius Vernon, 42, was traveling southbound on OK 109 when his vehicle ran off the left side of the roadway and traveled 173 feet before striking a tree.

CHOCTAW COUNTY –– A Paris, Texas, man was airlifted to a Texas hospital last Wednesday after the motor vehicle he was driving struck a tree in Swink, Okla. According to reports from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Jesse Black, 55, was westbound on US.

On the third Saturday of each month, young visitors are encouraged to learn about history through fun, hands-on historic activities during the Kids Make History series at the Fort Towson Historic Site. The research-based programs will include games, cooking, historic arts and crafts, and reenacting skills.

Congratulations to the winners of the 65th Miss Boswell High Pageant. Bella Manous: Miss Boswell High 2023; Top Talent Award; Top Interview Award. Rilee Ribera: First Runner Up. Jessenia Rubio: Second Runner Up; Miss Congeniality.