The Hughes County Emergency Medical Service (HCEMS) is asking voters to approve another $950,000 bond issue for continuing improvements to the services they provide. HCEMS Operations Director Chris Miller stressed that the renewal will NOT require any tax increase but will instead simply continue the rate that is currently in place.

Many of us have played Secret Santa over the years but here may be the best “Secret Santa” of all…. During the winter of 1971, young Larry Stewart from Mississippi was at the end of his rope.

I really enjoy watching Christmas movies. The old classics are my favorites and at the top of the list is “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Dayna and I watch it every year. Among our other favorites are “Christmas in Connecticut”, “Miracle on 34 Street”, “White Christmas”, and “The Bishop’s Wife.”

O, Say Can You See??? This is one of those stories that I wish I could take credit for, but my thanks go to fellow Holdenville Wolverine Donna (Gordon) Klick of Choctaw, who is always on the lookout to help this old man out. She’s outdone herself this time.

My dad believed that almost anything could be fixed with either a coat hanger or duct tape and he was usually right. Like my dad, I keep duct tape available in both our home and office.

Our longtime friend Debbie Wilson is always busy helping our county. We really appreciate all the work she has done to make sure we have a county fair. There are a lot of events planned and we hope the weather is agreeable . . . while having lunch at Rudy Alans we saw several friends including Patsy Gaddy Law, Jack Chapman, Jim and Brenda Cates, and Denny and Crystal Langdon. Also enjoying “not cooking” were Mearl and Clara Edwards and Beverly Chapman. We didn’t get to see them but know they were there . . .

Jim Priest is CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma and can be reached at jpriest@okgoodwill.org. T’was the Night Before Christmas, a poem by Clement Clarke Moore The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hope that Saint Nicholas soon would be there….

Comments to: andybowman839@gmail.com Coffeetimecolumn.com “JUST SICK AND TIRED…” Back in the ancient days of Fred Flintstone and no cell phones, when he was a young dad and a wet-behind-the-ears pastor, Andy had a habit. No, not a habit like we refer to today.

Jim Priest is CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma and can be reached at jpriest@okgoodwill.org. Thankful for 2020? A friend of mine recently posted a Facebook Live video in which she discussed a dilemma she faced: how to respond honestly to people when they ask “How are you?” My friend said she wanted to be honest with them and tell them this year of COVID has been difficult, tiring, and challenging beyond measure.

Comments to: andybowman839@gmail.com Coffeetimecolumn.com “IN A FIZZ” While working in my front yard the other day, I noticed the mailman zip past our house without stopping. Not too unusual and my only thought was, “Evidently had no mail today.” But just a few minutes later here he came again, from the other direction.