January is School Board Appreciation month and Holdenville Public schools would like to recognize and say thank you for the service and support of our local school board. The following members of the board serve a 5 year term and throughout their term, spend countless hours supporting our school system.

Arthur Ray Jones, AKA Baby Ray, AKA Arthur R, from Lamar, was born June 14, 1934, to Jack and Opal Jones at their home in Lamar, Oklahoma. He was the baby boy of 7 children: Delores, Leland, Pat, Wallace, Ray, Merl Dean and Nancy Kaye.

My birthday was last week and while it will not be cause for the celebration that Preston Dunlap will have in a couple of weeks when he turns 17, it is still significant, to me, anyway. Some little known, and possibly not very interesting facts: I was born at home (3½ miles west and half mile south of Holdenville) in a oneroom house on January 12, 1936.

After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to Target. Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out. Equally unfortunate, my wife is like most women— she loves to browse.

When one Holdenville citizen’s water, sewer, and trash bill rose from around $77 in September, $260 in October and then up over $500 in November, primarily in water use charges, the man said, he was shocked.

After hitting the ground running during his first week in office, Erik Johnson is settling in and establishing goals as District 22’s newest District Attorney. “My goal is to work closely with all law enforcement throughout the district, including tribal, federal, municipal, and county agencies,” said Johnson.

WHEN I GROW UP You were asked this question countless times when you were young and you’ve asked it innumerable times to little kids: “What do you want to be when you grow up”? A slightly different version of the question was put to me when I was young: “What do you want to be IF you ever grow up?” Based on my behavior as a child some adults weren’t sure I WOULD grow up. Regardless of your age it’s a good question to ask yourself.

On Sunday, January 15th Jim Smith of Yeager, OK, celebrated his 82nd birthday at RibCrib in Shawnee with his children, Tracey and Vaughn Johnson, Becky and Kerry Brinlee, Rusty Smith and Pamela. His grandchildren, Jake and Brieann Johnson and great-grandchildren, Cora and Maddie Johnson and with Pamela’s grandson Logan and his girlfriend Avril.

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT’S Tredyn Armstrong, Jacob Gentry, Tara Keesee, Tate Keesee, Heston Nolen and Jackson O’Kelley PRINCIPAL’S Taos Cook, Landon Golden, Leah Harjochee, AJ Jackson, Graycee Janes, Brittany Loera, Rylan Mayfield,Landri Mills, Manning Robertson, Sloane Van Haren and Kaylee wilkes HIGH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT’S Tanna Brown, Gage Keesee, Kara Mayfield, Grady Mills, Harlee Nolen, Josh Pugh, Aleeah Rich, Kami Richmond, Lathan Rogers, Whittany Spangler, Avery Tyler and Gracelyn Wulf PRINCIPAL’S Bella Allen, Kandess Bridger, Ava O’Kelley, Orion Pointer, Cracie Provence, Caitlynn Rosenow, Elexis Stafford, Kash Van Haren, Laci Story, Manning Turner, Tyler Armstrong, Trenton golden, Willow Van Haren, Tyler freeman, Noah Gentry, Caden Lee, Mattie Robertson, Dalton Robinson, Dixie Hall, Gracie Hall, Grace English, Reese Harris, Laney Moreno, Taden Freeman, Jake Simmons, Javen Factor, Michael Simrell, Shay Stambaugh, Genny Maxwell, gracie Phillips and Marli Richmond..

HUGHES COUNTY COURT RECORDS MISDEMEANORS Albert Michael Reyna—threaten to perform act of violence DIVORCE Whitney Joelle McCarrah vs. Anthony Wayne McGarrah Jr.