MARRIAGE Jerry Mac Bowen and Kimberly Denise Walker, both of Wetumka CIVIL Jackie Lee Siegrist Jr. vs.

Faith Freewill Baptist hosted the Holdenville Ministerial Alliance Community Good Friday Service last Friday night. One of the highlights of the service was Kobe Johnson, great grandson of Rev. Richard and Sister Turner, founders of the Loaves and Fishes Ministry. Kobe spoke of his legacy of godly great grandparents, both Rev. and Sister Turner and Bill and Loyce Muse. He also spoke of our call to give and serve as Christians in our communities. This past year, the Holdenville Ministerial Alliance served 2080 people. They gave away over 66,000 pounds (over 33.31 tons!) of food to citizens in Holdenville. The Alliance helped an estimated 1, 728 familes over the past 12 months. They continue the legacy of self sacrifice and selfless giving which Rev. Turner always modeled. Rev. Turner’s great grandson Kobe Johson is pictured above with his family. Front Row (L-R): Sister Kailyn Johnson, Great-Grandmother Loyce Muse, Grandmother Laquita Turner, Mother Amie Johnson. Back row (L-R): Clinton Roland, Kobe Johnson, and Father Darin Johnson. More pictures page 2.

Entry level employees received a raise last Tuesday night at the Holdenville City Council meeting. The city has long been faced with the problem of losing good employees to other entities who offer them more money and city employees have long been faced with the problem of not being able to earn a living wage working for the city. Mayor Massad commented that the council has been trying to get all employees up over $10.00 an hour for over a year and a half but the money just wasn’t in the budget. He stated that he believes now the finance committee has been able to work this wage increase into the current budget. Councilman Lynn Lantz, chairman of the Finance Committee, commented that he and fellow finance committee member, Councilwoman Julie West had found money in the budget for the remainder of this fiscal year to go ahead and approve these raises. He further stated that they were working on next fiscal year’s budget set to start on July 1 of this year and was confident there would be enough money to sustain the amount given in raises. 18 employees were recommended to the council for a raise from $9.12 an hour to $10.00 an hour. There was no discussion among the council before Councilwoman Lori Babb made a motion to approve the raises, seconded by Councilwoman Jeanna Gordon. The measure passed with a unanimous vote.

King David Olney and Queen Stevi Huff Ryan Rodgers and Kayton Bruner THE SOFTBALL GIRLS TRADED THEIR JERSEYS FOR STUNNING DRESS AT THIS YEAR’S PROM. Pictured are: Isabella Adam, Jessica Moore, Leah’Lah Bowen, Emmy Mariott, Belle McFarland, Stevi Huff, Cheyenne Fixico.

Maelei Carol, Kaylee Sullivan, and Shelby Grissom Lankston Pembrook and Brooklyn Siegrist Audrey Miller, Jenna Briggs, and Mackenzie Fowler Justice Morris Tallon Rivers Kacie Briones and Sydney Robinson.

Secretary Ryan Walters sent two letters ahead of the Stillwater School Board’s Tuesday meeting. One letter was sent to the Stillwater School Board and urged the board to take action and end its current bathroom policy that allows students to choose the bathroom that aligns with their self-proclaimed gender identity and not biology. A second letter was sent to Attorney General John O’Connor, asking the Attorney General’s office to get involved and stop the board’s current bathroom policy. Attorney General O’Connor did send a letter to Superintendent Washington outlining that there is no legal precedent that permits biological males into women’s restrooms based on their gender identity and vice versa. A copy of all three letters can be found below.

Of course there’s no such thing as “trans kids.” And to the extent that “gender dysphoria” is even a meaningful, useful “diagnosis” of something (which is doubtful), there are no “dysphoric kids” who need medical treatment for their distress.

Spring Sport Teams Battle Weather The weather is always a potential determining factor is spring sports. Every day has the potential of being perfect and/ or let’s say not perfect.