America has always been a land of hard work and struggles but always with the hope and dream of success and prosperity. On the 4th of July we celebrate our Declaration of Independence which was ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.

Photos Courtesy / Randy Sander.

The 85th annual Boswell Homecoming –– the longest running homecoming in the state –– was held over the weekend, with many events, including: The parade, car show, corn hole competition, power wheels race, talent show, the annual rodeo and street dance, and many more. Photos Courtesy / Randa Bacon

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) is announcing the arrest of Meaonia Michelle Allen in connection with the death of Baby Doe in 1993. Allen, 53, turned herself in to an OSBI Special Agent in Hugo, Okla., Friday for an outstanding warrant for one count of murder in the first degree – deliberate intent. Bond was denied.

Local State Farm agent, Kevin Cory (Hugo) has a long history of demonstrating what it means to be a Good Neighbor by stepping up to help his community. On June 21, 2022 Cory presented the Boys and Girls Club with a $10,000 grant from State Farm as part of our Outstanding Community Engagement Program.

New findings from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation may give doctors more certainty when diagnosing multiple sclerosis relapse in patients. Someday, said OMRF scientist Bob Axtell, Ph.D., who led the study, the results could help detect a relapse sooner or perhaps even prevent it.

• Or do your daily chores provide the workout you need? When we were young and in good health it seldom, if ever, occurred to us that one day we would be too old to dance the night away. We were full of vim and vinegar.

It’s not too late to sign up for the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline’s limited time offer of four times more free gum, lozenges or patches. Through June, Oklahomans who sign up for the Helpline’s All Access plan will get at least eight weeks of nicotine replacement therapy and five Quit Coach calls for free. Since this special offer kicked off in April, thousands of Oklahomans have already signed up for the extra free benefits.

The stronger land prices of late 2021 continued higher through the first half of 2022. After a calm period at the start of the year in which the land market remained steady, sales prices took another jump up as a result of the outbreak of war in Ukraine and ongoing inflation fears. Farmers saw stronger commodity prices and investors wanted a low-risk inflation hedging investment, which together propelled the competition for good cropland.

Two different funding opportunities, the Oklahoma Healthy Food Financing Program and the Agricultural Enhancement and Diversification Program, are now available through the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Applications will close July 1, 2022.