Wow. Just wow.

House chores I gotta admit, I don’t read the professional journal Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences. Frankly, all three of those words kinda intimidate me.

A few years ago, many of you got a lot more enjoyment out of my dilemma with excess squirrels than I figured you deserved. The squirrel that took to church going got the most attention after the preacher and the deacons went in hot pursuit of this uninvited non-baptistic rodent. It was later identified as a Nazarene squirrel. Although the Nazarenes denied even knowing the rodent. And this was on a Sunday sabbath day no less. Then about that same time period while I was off visiting my kids down in South Florida a different squirrel moved into my house. It made quite a mess too before my daughter enlisted Chock Tilley to come up and catch the criminal varmint. He did and that was the end of those aggravating rodents. I thought.

I heard a troubling report the other day. White women are dying at a younger age than in the past, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Although the life expectancy for non-Hispanic white women declined, on average, by only one month, it’s the first time since the government began keeping records that white women’s life expectancy has declined at all; usually, life expectancy for this group goes up.

Jim Priest is CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma and can be reached at jpriest@okgoodwill.org. “You’re just like your grandpa.” I wish I had a nickel for all the times I heard that phrase through my growing up years.

I was in Ada recently and saw my good friends Jim and Joyce Herrington. They were living in Ada but have moved to Hillsboro, North Carolina. As most of you remember, their son John is an astronaut and has had a remarkable life. We haven’t seen him in several years, but he has been a real credit to our county……We also saw Dillon Yeager and had a great visit. Dillon is the son of the late Sheriff Houston Yeager. Houston was not only a great Sheriff, but also a dear friend. Dillon is an exceptional young man and he and his family live in Ada…..Speaking of outstanding lawmen, we saw our favorite Highway Patrolman Brian Iker. Hughes County is fortunate to have him. We appreciate all he does to make our county a safer place to live……Saw my friend Robert Marsh recently. If your lawnmower isn’t running right, he is the guy to call…..The open house for Ryan Pitts Law was outstanding. A large crowd attended the event including Santa and Mrs. Claus. Ryan and Hillary are good friends, and we are so proud of their new office building. It is amazing……A special thank you to Peggy Tatum for the homemade candy, which was all so delicious! We always enjoy all her sweet treats! Dub and Peggy are longtime friends and we appreciate all the kind things they do for so many throughout the year….Had a good visit with my longtime friend Larry Collier. He owned the local theaters (Grand and Collier) for many years. I will never forget the night that the Grand burned. It was devastating and Larry and his wife were fortunate to get out alive. Going to the movies was one of my favorite things to do as a youngster and now the closest theater is in Seminole. Our generation had four theaters to choose from: Grand, Dixie, Liberty and the Buckskin Drive-In. Great days and great memories……I met a gentleman from the Gerty area who is a Korean War Veteran. His name is Coy Tucker. We had a really good visit and I hope to interview him in the near future. The late Herbert Friend wrote some very interesting articles in the past. Today we want to share the one he wrote about The Edward Beale Scouts. Edward Beale Scouts Wagon trail Hughes County Path Covered by Early Pioneer by Herbert Friend In 1858 Edward F. Beale was commissioned to survey a wagon road to the west across the Indian Territory. He sought the services of Jesse Chisholm and Black Beaver (Delaware Chief) as guides, but each of them declined to serve, in which event he decided to strike out on his own without a guide, which was not too risky for him as he had on several occasions theretofore had experiences in the frontier. In October Beale set out on his mission from Fort Smith, Ark. He followed the Arkansas River along its south bank to the Canadian River, which he crossed a few miles above the confluence of the North Canadian River. He had some disagreeable experiences here as he purchased supplies. An excessive price was charged for corn. He reported that many reasons were given for the high prices of the corn, but that the real reason was “that a Government train and its quartermaster’s drafts (horses) were on the road.” Starting early the next

What’s really worthwhile? What’s the point of all this effort and energy we expend day in and day out? Where’s the goal line? Or, to put the question another way: What’s the purpose in our lives? Many of us are so inundated with the flood of events, information, and obligations of everyday living that we hardly have the time to ask ourselves these questions, much less answer them. Enjoying a lazy morning and a cup of hot tea on the porch while contemplating why we’re here on planet Earth is a luxury most of us simply can’t afford.

It’s been six years since I completed my 57th and final year as a teacher and I’ll be honest with you, in many ways I am glad that I am not having to face the classroom (and out of classroom) challenges that teachers are facing in this topsy-turvy year of the COVID and the situations it creates.

The nation’s EMS system is facing a crippling workforce shortage, a long-term problem that has been building for more than a decade. It threatens to undermine our emergency 9-1-1 infrastructure and deserves urgent attention by the Congress.

Hi Bill, Dayna, I saw the picture in the paper of dad with the 1958 HHS Girls basketball team he coached. Thanks so much. I think that was his first year in Holdenville from Yeager. Anyway, he’s 96 and hanging in there. His memory is not what it used to be, but he still remembers Holdenville. You know we lost mom to Covid in January, and we really appreciate the graveside service Bill and Dane officiated. I’d like to ask you to let any of dad’s former students or players know that if they’d like to send dad a Christmas card they can send it to: