In a very moving moment at the Holdenville High School Band concert last week, Band Director Sam Crosby announced a last minute change in the opening song for the concert band that evening. The band was set to play a song entitled Moscow 1942. They practiced the piece for several weeks. That was before Putin and his Russian forces invaded the free country of Ukraine. Mr. Crosby felt it would be inappropriate to play the Russian piece during this time of war and decided to have the concert band play the Ukrainian National Anthem instead. The piece is entitled, “Shche ne vmerla Ukrainy i slava, i volia” (Ukrainian: Ще не вмерла України і слава, і воля) literally translated as ”Glory and Freedom of Ukraine has not yet Perished” also known by its official title of “State Anthem of Ukraine” (Державний Гімн України, Derzhavnyi Himn Ukrainy). The band had only one day to practice but it made for an incredible, unforgettable moment. Everyone in attendance stood to their feet and removed their hats for the entirety of the piece. Holdenville Schools and the people of Holdenville support and pray for the good people of Ukraine during this dangerous, uncertain time.

Fully funding the police has been made a top priority for the Holdenville City Council. With a unanimous vote in the last city council meeting, all Holdenville police officers received what amounts to a more than a $300 per month raise. The department has struggled in recent years to attract and keep a fully staffed department. While several good officers have come to work for the department, almost all have left in a very short time citing better job offers from surrounding departments and agencies as their reason for leaving. Councilman Lynn Lantz proposed to the council that by eliminating one officer position from the budget, making the Holdenville Police Department an eight man department rather than a nine man department, the salary from the ninth officer position could be distributed evenly among the remaining eight officer positions. That means the starting pay for a CLEET certified officer just increased $3500.00 per year from $29,500.00 to $33,000.00 making it one of the highest paid salaries for a starting officer in the area.

THE HOLDENVILLE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE was happy to officially welcome Bill and Julie Wilkinson into membership this past Sunday. They have been an intrical part of the church fellowship for many years. They are pictured above with (L-R): Son-in-law Gunner Fullbright, daughter Olivia Fullbright holding granddaughter Rosalyn. Bill Wilkinson holding granddaughter Juliet, Julie Wilkinson, Pastor Dane Robinson, daughter Bonnie Workman holding their grandson AJ, and son-in-law Alex Workman.

Friends. As many of you know, Russia declared war and attacked in the dark throughout all of Ukraine.

February 25, 2022 Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) has confirmed that he will retire at the end of 2022, confirming scattered reports that such an announcement was imminent.

It seems unfathomable that a week ago, the world’s televisions were full of triumph and sport, international spirit and respect. Those same screens are unrecognizable now, as people from every continent woke up to a new reality: war. As images flash across monitors of explosions along the Ukrainian front, there’s a certain disbelief that any of this is real. Families, hunkered down in bomb shelters. Children, pinned with bright stickers listing their blood types, parents› names, and phone numbers. Mothers and fathers, braced for news that their soldier sons have fallen. A new winter is blowing through the West, and no one is sure how -- or where -- it will end.

Felony charges have been filed against Brian Anderson for aggravated assault and battery upon a police officer after an altercation with two Hughes County Sheriff’s deputies. Deputy Cook and Deputy Whisnant made contact with a man and woman parked in a vehicle at the intersection of Oak and Main Streets. The vehicle had an out of state tag which had expired in November of 2021. The woman in the vehicle was found to have several warrants through Holdenville Police Department. Upon attempting to speak with him regarding messages he had sent to a drug court participant, Anderson became very aggressive with Deputy Cook. Anderson attempted to walk away from the deputy stating that he would not talk to him. Deputy Cook followed him on foot and informed Anderson that he was being detained. As Deputy Cook grasped Anderson’s wrist to place him under detainment, Anderson cursed at the officer and then struck him in the chest with his right forearm. Anderson was placed on the wall next to them while Deputy Cook continued to try to detain him. Anderson again attempted to strike Deputy Cook in the upper chest/lower neck area. Deputy Wooten assisted Deputy Cook in placing Anderson on the ground and under arrest for assault and battery upon a police officer and obstruction.

District 24 State Representative David Smith will hold a town hall meeting for all constiuents in the area who may have questions for him. The Oklahoma State Legislature is currently in session and Representative Smith has information he’d like to share concerning bills coming up for a vote this year. Representative Smith invites you to the Holdenville Church of the Nazarene fellowship hall at 323 S. Oak at 12:00pm. Refreshments will be served. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet your State Representative.

The Singing ChurchWomen (SCW) of Oklahoma is one of the performing groups sponsored in part by the Oklahoma Baptist. The group, which began in the fall of 1989 by founding director, James D. Woodward, now numbers nearly 350 active singing members. The phenomenal growth and statewide popularity are due in large part to the leadership and vision of Dr. Bill Green who directed the group from 1991 (following Woodward’s death) until 2009. The group’s next director, Dr. Ken Gabrielse, celebrated the 20 anniversary of the group and focused on a worship service concert, continued by their next director, Bart Morrison. Currently, the group is under the direction of the Oklahoma Baptist Worship and Music Specialist, Dr. Randy C. Lind, who also conducts the Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma.

MARCH 1 ST 1781: The Continental Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation. It was the first collective agreement by the 13 founding states of the United States of America.