DURANT –– With more than 400 COVID-19 vaccines given to Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority (CNHSA) employees, the Choctaw Nation is ready to give the vaccination to the next tier of individuals.

CHOCTAW COUNTY –– A Hugo man was injured Saturday after a three-vehicle collision two miles west of Hugo on Hwy. 70.

Becky Reynolds, Executive Director of Little Dixie Community Action Agency, announced Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, the selection of Macy Jo Self to fill the position of Associate Director with the primary responsibility for housing and housing-related programs. In this new role, Self will provide leadership and guidance over several programs including: Multifamily apartments, self-help housing, housing counseling, weatherization, Youth- Build, business and residential lending programs, emergency services, utility assistance and many other supportive services.

Friday, Jan. 15, is the last day to apply for voter registration in order to be eligible to vote in the Feb.

ARDMORE — Noble Research Institute has been recognized as one of the 2020 Top Workplaces in Oklahoma among large-sized companies. Noble placed No.

LYONS, NEBRASKA – Seeking to address market disruptions created by the coronavirus pandemic, a stimulus package approved Monday by Congress included funds to directly support small-scale meat processors to help them expand and distribute meat across state lines, a decision applauded by Johnathan Hladik, policy director for the Center for Rural Affairs.

Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS) has released its annual report for State Fiscal Year 2020 (SFY 2020). In congruence with the agency’s True North Strategy to become more innovative, the report is the agency’s first fully digital report.

• Institute announced donation of 11 ultra cold storage units to ensure rural communities can access COVID-19 vaccine OKLAHOMA CITY — Noble Research Institute has coordinated with the Oklahoma State Department of Health to donate 11 ultra-cold industrial freezers that will be used to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine across the state of Oklahoma. One of the biggest hurdles to overcome in safely distributing the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is that it must be shipped and stored in ultra-cold temperatures of about -94 degrees Fahrenheit (around four times colder than a standard home freezer).

DURANT –– As COVID-19 cases and holiday travel increase in the area, the Choctaw Nation Emergency Management is delivering pallets of free masks across the Nation’s jurisdiction to try and reduce the spread of Coronavirus.

It looks like we are going to stay in a very active weather pattern through Thursday with occasional rain and possibly a thunderstorm or two –– very wet weather leading us up to the new year. Skies will become partly sunny with highs in the mid-40s on New Year’s Day and we will enjoy dry weather for the weekend with highs in the 50s. I expect us to hit 60 degrees early next week.