I’m thinking a lot this week about the loss of a spouse. Not my spouse, fortunately. We went through that scare seven years ago when Diane was diagnosed with cancer. Fortunately, she has been cancer free since going through surgery, chemo, radiation, hair loss, and the emotional rollercoaster they call “treatment. Her scans have all been clear but that scare makes recent events even more poignant to me.

This is an excellent reminder; Worth repeating. In 57 years of teaching, there are many things I wish I had done.

The March release from the Oklahoma Tax Commission states that the March distribution of sales tax collections by the Oklahoma Tax Commission primarily represents local tax receipts from January business. Companies that remit more than $2,500 monthly in sales tax receipts are required to file and pay electronically. The monies they reported this period represent sales from January 16 to 31 and estimated sales from February 1 to the 15 .

Easter Sunday was such a great day. Our son Tim and Allen and Kathryn Brigdon brought the special music and I have never heard better. What a blessing. Dane brought a wonderful message and it was almost 1:00 before Dayna and I got home. It was the largest crowd we have had since the pre pandemic days and it was so good to see so many that we had been missing, Every Easter my mom would fix a ham, cole slaw and potato salad for all of us. That is what Dayna decided to do since we had all of our grandkids except one and the meal was delicious. WE have to give some of the credit to J.R. Inselman who smoked a ham for us and it was the best I have ever tasted . . . A special thank ;you to our local Kiwanis Club for sponsoring the Easter Egg hunt. There was a large turn-out and the kids had a great time and no one left without a bunch of Easter eggs . . . Sister Kelly called me recently to tell me she had just been to Allegiance Health in Midwest City for physical therapy. The therapist asked her where she was from and she said Holdenville. He replied that some of his family used to live there and in the past he had visited his grandparents often. His grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Gene Ball and his dad was the late Randy Ball. Randy was not only a life-long friend but also my classmate. Randy’s grandfather was Sheriff Harve Ball who was well known not only in our area but across the state. The last time I saw Joey was at out 40 th class reunion when he came with his dad. Randy was so proud of him and so are we . . . My good friend Phillip Wood was asking about how much we thought of the late Ronnie Cherry. Phillip told me that he would never forget that Ronnie had a steering wheel from a car on his bicycle. Phillip said that was the only bike he ever saw like that. He added that when he would go to the Dixie Theater he could always tell if Ronnie was there by looking for that bike. Our good friend Dave Carter receiving several compliments on how great the church lawn looked Sunday. Dave is a blessing to so many in so many different ways . . . For the first time in a long time I had the opportunity to visit with Dale Jenkins. I don’t know of anyone that has done more for this community than Dale. Dale, Vicki Mackey and Della Cherry did an incredible job when they were in charge of the HHS alumni reunion. No one will ever know the hours these three put in but their accomplishments are still remembered . . . Also saw Mike Stallings and learned about some very special chickens he is raising and hope to have a story on them in the near future . . . While voting Tuesday I saw Jerry and Norma King and had a good visit. It has been a long time since I have seen them.

During the March 29 City Council Candidate Town Hall meeting there was a discussion of local forms of government, including the current “Al-dermanic” form with a strong mayor, as well as a City Manager form of government. As the meeting was coming to a close, a voice towards the back of the room interrupted after realizing there would be no questions from the audience.

A petition alleging irregularities in the Statutory Municipal General Election for Town of Calvin Board of Trustees has been filed with the Secretary of the County Election Board, by candidate Mike Troup, challenging the announced results of the election held on April 6, 2021.

A Seminole man was kidnapped, beaten, robbed and left naked on a rural road near Varnum High School Tuesday afternoon, leading to the arrest of three suspects. Quintrez Edwards, 26, was arrested on charges of robbery/attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping and criminal probable cause warrants.

A Seminole man was shot twice late Tuesday night and the suspected shooter has been booked into the county jail on two felony charges. John Reese Blackshire, 29, was arrested at his Holdenville residence in connection with the shooting of Ben Walls and faces charges of shooting with intent to skill and first-degree burglary.