Body • New tick pathogens identified on the reservation The Choctaw Nation Public Health Department has released the updated 2026 Choctaw Nation Tick Guide, (https://www. choctawnation.com/wp-content/ uploads/2023/08/tick-guidefact-sheet.

Body The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has received a $3 million federal grant to investigate how methamphetamine triggers a vicious cycle of addiction in the brain. By the end of the five-year National Institutes of Health grant, OMRF’s Mike Beckstead, Ph.D.

Body As Alcohol Awareness Month coincides with prom season, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) is reminding Oklahomans to plan ahead and make safe choices around alcohol use.

Body Bowman Comments to: andybowman839@ gmail. com Coffeetimecolumn.

Body With his first significant grant from the National Institutes of Health, an Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist will investigate how bone marrow forms inside the skull. His findings ultimately could lead to improved treatment options for brain injuries and diseases.

Body It’s National Youth Sports Safety Month, and Delta Dental of Oklahoma is celebrating by providing free mouthguards to youth athletes across the state. Parents, coaches and league commissioners can secure free mouthguards for their young athletes by submitting a request online.

Body STILLWATER –– A Choctaw County student was honored by the Oklahoma State University Ferguson College of Agriculture with academic scholarship support for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Body The exhibition Our Lands, Our Legacy: A Journey Through Choctaw Natural Resources: Hvpi Yakni, Hvpi Nan Ilhpita has proven popular with more than 10,600 visitors coming through the doors of the Choctaw Cultural Center since it opened at the end of July.

Body HUGO LAKE — Cooper Clark poses with a turkey harvested during the 11th annual youth turkey hunt at Hugo Lake, April 5, 2026. Clark was one of two participants to successfully harvest a turkey during the event.

Body Insight School of Oklahoma (ISOK) is recognizing Hugo resident and 11thgrade English language arts teacher Abigail Woods with its 2026 Rising Ember Award.