July 28 is National Milk Chocolate Day! I haven’t dedicated a whole column to chocolate since 2019 so I thought I would do it again now. After all, I am a self-diagnosed chocaholic - to the core! Choc...

To be successful in most endeavors, it’s important to develop good habits - and that’s certainly the case for investors. And the earlier one develops these habits, the better. So, if you have teenager...

Hello Okmulgee County friends and neighbors. How many of you have the love of nature in your heart? Specifically, fishing, swimming and the like.By now, you’ve figured out we are a long way from the o...

Have you noticed in these recent years, you really can’t believe anything anymore? If you see a photo on the internet, it’s most likely been doctored. Photoshop creates its own reality. Hear someone t...

As a widow, one of the most frustrating things for me is dealing with home repairs. I don’t mind things that I can fix with zip ties, baling wire, a hammer or drill. Frankly, I think I’m hell on wheel...

First Family FCU had a Back 2 School Box. Those who donated were entered into a drawing for $100.Wildlife food plots and deer management workshops were planned in the fall for sportsmen and hunters.He...

“God’s lesson is that you can run from me, but you can’t hide,” says Kate, age 10.“If you are playing hide and go seek or if somebody can’t find you, God can,” says Sara, 10.We all think we’re experts...

I recently had the pleasure of visiting a program in Tahlequah geared toward support of families experiencing great needs. The innovative way in which they are locally dealing with societal issues in ...

After spending decades in the workforce, you might look forward to the day you retire. But if you decide, for one reason or another, that you’d like to redefine “retirement” to include part-time work ...

Cheating - taking what you didn’t earn. Yeah, that’s a real self-esteem builder. “I’m not brainy enough or strong enough to do it myself, I have to ‘borrow’ from someone else.”Stealing - So, you are t...

Canadian author Paulette Bourgeois celebrates her birth date July 20, 1951, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.In 1974, Paulette received her B.S. in Occupational Therapy from the University of Western Ont...

Henryetta considered repairing the million gallon water tank. The repairs cost between $300,000 and $400,000 but were expected to cost almost $1 million.The Henryetta Free-Lance had price changes for ...

The older I get, the more aware I become of just how precious our “time” really is. When Steve died, that particular lesson came down on my head like thunder and lightning. Losing someone precious dri...

Each summer, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) holds our annual Heroes Ball to celebrate champions for children selected by our Board of Directors.This year, our honorees are the Cherok...

OHCE recognized their 30-year and 10-year members.OCSO arrested five people after a car-jacking. Officers were led through a series of twists and turns, but the incident resulted in the arrests being ...

“Maybe the things Jesus asks people to do are so hard that they do not want to do it,” says Maggie, 11. “It’s easier to quit.”Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is difficult because one is usually swimm...

With summer in full swing, camping enthusiasts are eagerly venturing into the great outdoors, seeking solace in nature’s embrace. However, amidst the beauty and tranquility of camping lies an unseen t...

We all know that home is the best place to be. Sometimes some of us, in Okmulgee, need to get a break from our beautiful neighbors, scenery and atmosphere. That just happened to our family and we head...

Are you one of those good folks? The kind who sees someone with their skirt caught up in their underwear, food in their teeth or a booger hanging out their nose, will you tell them? Seriously, do you?...

Do this one. (If your spouse is a bit squeamish, then best accomplish this without them being in the kitchen) Catch a live toad. Fill a large pan with cool water and place the pan on the stove. Put th...