The 22nd Judicial District CASA is seeking volunteers, and their next training class will begin May 4. Volunteers are in high demand for this challenging but richly rewarding program. “CASA” stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate and is a nonprofit organization that trains and supervises community volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in court.

Mayor Massad has been working with the lake project committee since the beginning of his term to provide the city with a lake project that is both affordable and doable. This week they would like to announce their vision for the future of Holdenville Lake.

Mayor Massad and the Airport Committee have made even more progress in securing the funds needed to bring the city’s once thriving and top of the line airport back from a state of complete disrepair. Every year the FAA gives each city with an airport a $150,000, 90/10 grant. Meaning the government pays 90% and the city matches 10% of the $150,000. That accumulates every 4 years and if not used, the money goes to another city willing to use it. Right now, Holdenville has accumulated the full $600,000. Word was just received that part of the Covid-19 stimulus package just passed by the federal government changed those 90/10 grants to 100% grants. Meaning the government pays the full $600,000 and the city has to match none of it. This means that the city of Holdenville now has just shy of $2,000,000 to re-do the runway, all taxi ways, hangers, and the terminal at no cost to the city. More on this story as it develops.

The choice for the Ward 1 city council seat could not be more stark. That is why we enthusiastically support candidate Robin Baxley.

Voters in Hughes County who want to have absentee ballots mailed to them for the April 6, 2021 Board of Education and Statutory Municipal General Election should apply now, County Election Board Secretary Brandy Davis said today. Although the County Election Board can accept applications for absentee ballots until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 30 , Davis urged voters who want to vote by absentee ballot to apply early.

Eagle Scout Upgrades Cross Country Course Brandynn Coleman is on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout! The Holdenville High School senior has completed his Eagle Scout project and is in the final stages of achieving the highest rank in scouting. Brandynn’s Eagle Scout service project will be viewed by over 1000 cross country athletes this fall and it will continue to be viewed every fall for years to come! Brandynn’s project establishes the mark that every cross country runner delights in seeing because the soon to be Eagle Scout has replaced the old finish line shoot with a state of the art finish line arch! Every runner who comes around the last curve in Holdenville’s cross country course will strive to be the first to make it to the new shiny arch that will stand at the end of their long grueling race.

Holdenville American Legion Post 32 Adjutant Jeff Hinze shared the news about a new location the local veteran’s organization is moving to with the Holdenville Chamber of Commerce during their luncheon meeting on Thursday, March 18. This building will be used for the Post’s monthly meetings, to provide services to veterans, and host special events for the community.

NEW BUILDING UPDATE - The Holdenville Chamber of Commerce received an informative progress report on the new Security State Bank building under construction at the corner of Hinckley and Oliphant. Kim Carr, SSB Senior Vice President/Marketing Officer, explained she and SSB Vice President Aubie Keesee have been in charge of the project from the ground up, including the design and floor plan, joking that they are still picking out stuff.