More turnpike construction

Turnpike drivers will start to see more construction in 2025 after the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority board approved updates to construction management contracts for ACCESS Oklahoma in their monthly meeting on Tuesday, according to a press release.

Commission accepts bid

Lincoln County commissioners this week awarded a bid for construction of a new OSU Extension Office Building at the fairgrounds.They also agreed to make modifications to the jail expansion/renovation project, opting to scrap the expansion but go ahead with the renovation.

Chandler board of education

Chandler Board of Education members this week accepted the resignations of several personnel and employed a new I.T. technician.They also were presented with the College Remediation report and the dropout report.School Supt. Scott Baade said the board members voted to employ Ian Hamilton as an I.T.

Local choirs, singers excel

Choirs at local junior high and high schools definitely have something to sing about. Stroud and Chandler saw several students make ECOCDA choirs last week.Director Leslie Anderson at Stroud said she is very excited for her six students who made the honor hoirs.

Chandler house fire

Week in pictures

Meeker school board approves estimate

Meeker Board of Education members here this week approved the final 20242025 Estimate of Needs and heard from a few parents about what turned out to be a rumored threat at the school last week.School Supt. Jeff Pruitt said the 2024-2025 Estimate of Needs totals $10,223,353.62.

Highlanders

Kindra and I went to the annual Highland Gathering in Choctaw Saturday to mingle a bit with those who carry samples of the same DNA we do.Neither Kindra nor I knew we had much Scottish ancestry until we took DNA tests.Turns out, she is more Scottish than anything. Close to 40 percent,or thereabouts.

Anticipating Halloween

This year’s Halloween night is just two weeks away. Not sure even what all the times are in the communities for Trick or Treaters to make their way through neighborhoods and some businesses in Lincoln County, though Meeker’s is between 6 and 8 p.m. on Halloween, Oct. 31.

Town Talk

Julie Bivin, my mother Aleta Smalley, and I traveled to Albia, Iowa this past week to visit the Welcome Home Soldier Memorial.The Memorial was a vision of local resident and Vietnam veteran Jim Keller and seeing it was worth the trip.