February 11th, 1939 is the birthdate of Jane Yolen, American writer of fantasy, science fiction and children’s books. Born in New York City her family moved to California for a couple years and back t...

“Accounting. . . what am I doing in accounting?” My course choice made no sense. Enrolling in Okmulgee Tech had come without the benefit of academic counselling – or common sense. I knew nothing of bo...

The House and Senate Veterans’ Caucus held its first meeting for the 2019 legislative session Thursday morning. Rep. Jay Steagall from the House of Representatives, and Sen. Paul Rosino from the State...

DEAR ABBY: I am a single mom. A few months ago I met a man who contacted me on social media. After meeting him, I realized he was married, but he was not happy. Unfortunately, his wife has a terminal ...

Recently, I published a series of articles about “scaling” Okmulgee and suggested ways we might help take our town to the next level. Many of you followed these articles and have asked me to elaborate...

In his State of the Union address, President Trump asked Americans to choose greatness. The guests of the White House depicted that message, too. Buzz Aldrin, the astronaut who planted the American Fl...

On Monday, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) and the Oklahoma Women’s Coalition held our second Women and Children First advocacy training program. It was a great event – we doubled our...

This is not a February valentine column about a love between a man and woman. Rather, it is about a complex love between a father and son. Recently, my wife and I watched Ragamuffin, a movie about the...

The Living Faith Many times I have been approached by my church-members as their spiritual mentor exposing their life’s burdens and drudgeries. Whenever I hear their problems, my inner spirit reminds ...

February is National Cherry Month! I am so excited. Cherry is one of my all-time favorite fruits. I will sit and eat them straight from the bag if I find fresh cherries at the store. Growing up, we ev...

Where were you when. . .? —- “Did you hear the president got shot?” During school summers – when not bailing hay with him – I helped my dad as “senior gofer” in his small business. At City Plumbing my...

  Tomorrow, February 2nd, 2019 will be Punxsutawney Phil’s 133rd prediction of our upcoming weather. This world’s most famous folk lore celebration will take place as we wait to see if Phil (the weath...

My office has heard from a number of constituents recently who are receiving scam phone calls from individuals pretending to be with the Social Security Administration. Thousands of people are victims...

This week’s question is more like a request, but I’m happy to comply. Q: Please tell your readers about the MCN Physical Rehabilitation Center. This is a wonderful facility that many residents of Okmu...

We are now less than a week away from the beginning of the 2019 Oklahoma Legislative Session and Governor Kevin Stitt’s first State of the State address. Lawmakers are holding pre-session budget heari...

The Living Faith Many times I have been approached by my church-members as their spiritual mentor exposing their life’s burdens and drudgeries. Whenever I hear their problems, my inner spirit reminds ...

Lewis Carroll (01-27-1832 to 01-14-1898) English writer famous for his children’s fiction Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass. We have (JF) Alice’s Adventures in ...

“I see black faces.” ReverendAlta, our lady minister, spoke the words to me on a Sunday evening not long before I was to graduate Preston High. “Jerry, there are many gathered, a sea of black faces. I...

If you have read my column enough, you know I like to base my column on whatever celebration day of the month it is. There are a lot of them and it makes it easy to decide what to write about sometime...

DEAR ABBY: I gave birth a month ago to a wonderful baby boy. My husband and I originally planned to put him in day care when I go back to work. I carefully researched and eventually found one I was co...