ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVE DONATIONS - Hughes County American Farmers and Ranchers Insurance Company of Holdenville made donations to a trio of local organizations that Agent Robert Taylor and the board members of American Farmers and Ranchers Insurance had voted on to help with needs in the Holdenville community. President Leon Barrett, Vice President Gary Vinson, and Agent Taylor presented checks to the Holdenville American Legion, Holdenville Future Farmers of America (FFA), and the Holdenville Ministerial Alliance on Friday, December 11.

A special thanks to Core Civic who made a generous donation to the Holdenville Fire Deptarment’s Toys for Tots drive. Pictured are Fireman Colton Bridger, Santa Claus (Glen Robinson), and Santa’s Elf (Karen Hefner).

Augie Robinson has been a good boy all year and is eagerly waiting for Santa to arrive. Christmas music at its best! A special thanks to Julie Wilkinson and her daughters (L to R) Bonnie, Olivia, and Lorena for bringing special Christmas music at the Church of the Nazarene recently.

Dear Santa: I am a little boy 4 ½ years old. I have been a very good boy all year.

The first snowman that we saw Sunday was built by Zachary Stallcup, Age 8. He did a great job! One of our favorite holiday traditions each year is to visit the Nativity at the home of Marie Grimes.

Good morning to you. It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas – especially with the snow this week. Let’s look at the long Christmas Journey that Mary and Joseph took more than two thousand years ago. Joseph and his pregnant wife, Mary encountered every challenge at Christmas, so let’s see what we can learn from their experience. It appears that Mary and Joseph were compelled to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem in Judea. That is, had it not been for Caesar Augustus declaring a census throughout the Roman Empire, they might not have left Nazareth at all (Luke 2:1).

HUGHES COUNTY COURT RECORDS FELONIES Karen Oliver— trafficking in illegal drugs Kristina Pack— domestic assault & battery by strangulation Joseph Anthony Paxton—eluding/ attempting to elude Police Officer Jonas Smith—driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol MISDEMEANORS Mark Lester Green— possession of controlled dangerous substance Paul Thomas Riley— public intoxication David L. Scott—public intoxication Billy Wayne Stephens—protective order violation MARRIAGES Jacob Travis Blazer and Taylor Mae Muncey, both of Shawnee Carlos L.

Residents at Heritage Village and Boyce Manor Nursing Homes recently received a thoughtful reminder that, even though the COVID-19 virus has severely limited the number of family and friends that are allowed to visit them face to face, they are far from being forgotten.

The Holdenville Police Department has declared war on the thieves and vandals damaging our local businesses and engaging in the petty theft of our citizens. In the past month alone multiple business and several homeowners have been broken into and had their property stolen and destroyed. It is believed to be the same small group of thieves using police scanners and scouts to listen and watch for police on patrol so they can avoid being caught committing the robberies. One local business owner said, “We are all concerned about it and we want to implement some measures to stop it for good. There has been a lot of damage over this past year, there has been several breakins. Just last week they got into The Motorcycle Shop just off the highway by destroying the front door with a cinder block and stole three chainsaws and all the petty cash. It’s just frustrating. We work hard to build these businesses up and we have to pay our way. We don’t run around stealing things. We want to see if we can work out some measures to stop it.” Among some of the ideas raised by local citizens have been increased lighting, security cameras and guard dogs. Chief of Police Conny Clay said, “There was no easy fix to the problem, but we have got to try and deter them as much as we possibly can and make it as hard for them as we can.” Chief Clay says that security cameras, increased lighting and guard dogs are proven methods to deter thieves and vandals, but he would like to take it one step further. Chief Clay is forming a Citizens Neighborhood Watch Committee to help patrol our neighborhoods at night. There will be a direct hotline that will ring a cell phone of the officers on duty that members of the committee can call directly when they see a crime in progress. This will avoid being picked up by the criminal’s police scanner and give the police a better chance of catching the criminals in action. If any of our citizens are interested in being part of the Neighborhood Watch Committee, please attend the first meeting Saturday, December 19 at 12:00pm at the Civic Center (124 N. Creek). The Police Department will be increasing patrol during nights and weekends and pulling over anyone and anything out after curfew. If you are a law-abiding citizen, you have no need to worry, the police are here to protect you. To the gang of thieves terrorizing our community: you’ve been warned.

The Holdenville community mourns the loss of Cecelia Louie, better known as “CeCe” to most of her friends. Holdenville Police Chief Conny Clay explains Cecelia died after being struck by a truck Wednesday evening, December 9. The fatality is being investigated by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, but Chief Clay states there is no reason to believe her death was anything other than a tragic accident. There was no indication of alcohol after the driver voluntarily submitted to a test. The driver stated that she was wearing dark clothing and he didn’t see her in the road as he came over the hill until it was too late to avoid hitting her, Clay added.