IFYR kicks off on Sunday

This year’s International Finals Youth Rodeo officially kicks off Sunday evening with the first performance at 8 p.m. at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center. Official check-in begins at 8 a.m. on Friday. It will run until 11 p.m. Friday night, then reopen at 7 a.m.

Frank Lucas: The voice we need in Congress

With primary elections coming up next week, we will face an important choice about who will be our voice in Congress.

Wobbly woes on the highway

My car gave a heart dropping jolt as we hit the tightest part of the highway’s curve. The sun was calmly going down and yet the empty pavement mercilessly tossed us into the air by means of one of its many hidden potholes.

Flowers in the bed

My wife Pat had been discussing recently that she wanted more color in the front flower bed. She had some yellow pansies in it, but they weren’t showing up like she wanted. She had thought about going to get some new flowers the weekend before last.

Baler snakes

I was mowing Saturday and was close to being finished when the mower screeched and stopped like I’d hit a wall. A quick inspection showed that I had sucked up a piece of electric fence wire.

Town Talk

Veteran banners will be going up on Main Street this month and remain until November. They are still available for purchase. The cost is $125 for one side of a banner. If you would like to honor a veteran, please contact me at 918-527-9833. Veterans do not have to be Stroud residents or graduates.

Hailing longer afternoons

Daylight Savings Time returned this past weekend. According to the calendar, we’ll have it until Nov. 6 when it goes back. I’m happy for the return once again because there is more time in the evening for opportunities for activities.

Town Talk

March is full of birthdays in the Smalley household. I recently found out a dear friend of mine also celebrates a birthday in March – Pat Owens. If you have lived in Stroud any length of time, I’m sure you know Pat Owens. She was Dr. Market’s nurse for many years.

A visitor

Sunday afternoon I was at the dining room table, working on this week’s edition of the newspaper. J.R. the camerabreaking cat jumped on the window sill, crouched and started staring at something outside between the air conditioner and the dining room wall. J.R.

Town Talk

Can you believe March is already here? I was driving down Main Street Tuesday morning and noticed the few straggling dead flowers in our downtown flowerpots. Town Talk is anxious to get those filled with gorgeous spring flowers which helps Stroud look alive.