Halloween has become a hugely popular time for fun and festivities, but with it comes the potential for a variety of fire hazards. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) encourages everyone to take these simple precautions to stay safe without sacrificing that fun.

4th and Jackson Church of Christ is hosting Trunk or Treat Saturday, Oct. 30 from 5 to 8 p.m.

The Hugo Area Chamber of Commerce held a joint ribbon cutting ceremony for sisters Shaniquia and Lacey Freeman Friday afternoon to celebrate the opening of their businesses. Shaniquia opened Lovely Lashes Beauty Bar at 106 N. Broadway, and Lacey opened Fiya Eatz food trailer, which parks in different locations on the days it’s open. The sisters had a large turnout of family and friends for their ceremony, and both said they’re excited to start serving the community.

ABOVE: CONGRATULATIONS TO KIAMICHI Technology Center’s September Students of the Month, Mikha Thomas and Miranda Alexander! Mikha, a junior at Fort Towson High School, is a student in the Auto Collision program. Miranda, adult Student of the Month, is in the Practical Nursing program. Mikha and Miranda were each presented with a $50 check from FirstBank by Gwen Coffman.

HUGO MIDDLE SCHOOL’S September Students of the Month include: Seventh grader Derek Frost-Jordan; sixth grader Charlie Ward, Jr.; Eighth grader Kevin Wallace. The winners were treated to lunch with Chris Scott, Dean of Students at HMS.

Comments to: andybowman839@gmail.com Coffeetimecolumn.com Remember the story of a certain ornery little 12-year old boy, who showed up at school one morning with an impressive shiner? His black eye was truly a thing of brutal beauty. Upon greeting him, his teacher immediately noticed and asked him in horror, “Who gave you such a terrible black eye?!” His proud response, “Heck, Ma’am, they don’t just go ‘round givin’ these things away.

Oklahoma CareerTech is accepting proposals from schools and technology centers serving rural populations for grant money to recruit students into STEM programs. Oklahoma is one of five states that received a Strategies for Attracting Students to High Quality Career Technical Education grant of $20,000 from Advance CTE.

The Hugo High School Leo Club will be hosting a Bedlam Blood Drive from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28 in the Commons area at the high School. To schedule an appointment, contact Lori Hicks at 580.326.9648.

THE HUGO AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE held a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday to celebrate the Spirit of ‘76 Ice Cream Truck’s most recent addition –– a second truck. Spirit of ‘76 owners Calett and Clifton Morris purchased a second ice cream truck that can be rented for events, parties and festivals. The addition of the truck will allow the Spirit of ‘76 to run its usual routes every day while the second truck handles all special events so the usual route is never disturbed or interrupted. The second truck isn’t available for rent yet, but the Morrises expect it to be debuted soon. Spirit of ‘76 owners Calett and Clifton Morris cut the ribbon at Tuesday’s ceremony while employees Tamara and Ethan Wickson, Hugo Mayor Ernest McCarty, Hugo Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kelli Stacy and Hugo Public Schools Superintendent Earl Dalke look on.

Top: Fifth grade Character Counts (l to r): Trevor Frost-Jordan, Karson Bates, Hattie Craven and Aubri Savignao. Above left: Fourth grade Student of the Month: Blake Parra.