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.

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.

Given the level of insanity erupting at all levels in America, it wasn’t really a shock when the huge, multinational corporation Unilever announced in early March that it was pulling the word “normal” from at least half of its products.

MARRIAGE Raymond Sinohul, Dustin and Brandi Jean Roberts, Benton AR DIVORCE Racheal Nicole Hamilton vs. David S.

Lynda DeShield’s honesty and integrity are well known in this community. Lynda moved to Holdenville in 1977 and purchased her salon, Hair Hut in 1978. For over 50 years Lynda has owned and operated a successful business. Lynda recalls first moving here and seeing every building on Main Street and beyond full of business and industry. She remembers the people were kind and seemed to try to work together for the city. It seems that much of that has changed today. There is a small group of people who criticize every city official for every decision they make. They blame every problem on the city government and work to tear the citizens and the city council apart. Lynda’s vision is to repair that relationship once again.

The Holdenville Police Department responded to a call at the Corner Clinic last Tuesday, March 16 at 8:23am. Upon arriving, the owner of the clinic, Stephanie Keesee informed the officer that a brick had been thrown through one of their windows. She showed the officer the footage from their security camera which showed a male wearing a red hoodie riding a bicycle on the sidewalk up N. Hinckley. The individual left the camera frame for a short period of time then came back into view, riding up the ramp of the Corner Clinic close to the building where he proceeded to throw a brick through a window. The suspect was spotted later that day riding his bicycle close to the scene of the crime wearing a blue shirt, grey bandana on his head, and had blond hair and facial hair. If you have any information that can help lead to the arrest of this criminal please contact the Holdenville Police Department at (405) 379–6627.

The Oklahoma Corporate Commission (OCC) reminds residential and business customers served by the 405 area code that they will soon be required to dial the area code when making any call, local or long distant. This mandatory dialing begins on April 24. Also, beginning on May 24, new customers may be assigned a 572 area code instead of 405.