The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) applauded a federal court decision last week that ordered the extension of the Census deadline to the original October 31 date. That extra month will m...

Not much ‘going and coming’ here at the retirement village on these days when the temperature is trying it’s best to get to one hundred degrees! As my old daddy used to say, “It is hotter than blue bl...

Several years ago, Andy developed a “hitch-in-his-get-along” as his Mom used to call it. Back when he was playing racquetball on a regular basis, while competing in a heated game he had run full speed...

Shel Silverstein, American author of children’s books, songs and cartoons, was born into a Jewish family on Sept. 25, 1930 in Chicago, Ill. He was attending the Fine Arts Academy in Chicago when he wa...

It is carnival and fair time! Unfortunately, covid has cancelled a lot of these celebrations this year. That doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fair foods though! I have put together a series of...

Thank you to each of you who wished me a “happy birthday” this past Friday. Hitting the age of 50 was pretty special as the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy worked with the OK, Let’s Count progra...

Folks, I find this hard to believe! I am reading my great grandmother’s journals! How in this world have they survived, lo, these many years? The ones I am currently reading, have a date of 1930! That...

“It means to love God more than your puppies,” says Tori, 7. “It means you’re not supposed to love money or toys,” says Tyler, 10. “Instead, God wants you to love him. He doesn’t mean that you can nev...

It is carnival and fair time! Unfortunately, covid has cancelled a lot of these celebrations this year. That doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fair foods though! I am going to put together a se...

Woodrow Wilson Rawls was born Sept. 24, 1913 in Scraper, Okla., an unincorporated community in Cherokee County. The 2010 census showed a population of 191 and today it is around 250. Scraper is locate...

As if things weren’t hard enough for Oklahoma’s small businesses, news comes that the Trump administration plans to claw back a chunk of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds legitimate business...

Part of life is growing older, and I have the distinct pleasure of hitting the halfcentury mark this week. If you would have asked me in my younger days if I would have lived the life that I have, I d...

Folks, I have been to two goat roping’s and a county fair, and now I have been to Cruise Knight! I saw a number of beautiful old cars, as old as I am. Also, saw trucks and even a school bus, older tha...

As a kid, Andy was outdoors during much of the summer months. And not lying by the pool with a Coke in one hand and a fetch-it stick for his dog in the other. His dad started him at age nine to help i...

September 11 is National Hot Cross Buns Day! This is a sweet, spiced bun adorned with a cross. They are a quintessential Easter food but the National Day is in September. Go figure. There are many leg...

One of the most fulfilling parts of our job at the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy is to engage with our state’s young people and allow them to display their talents. The “Kid Governor” program ...

Labor Day is Monday September 7 this year. Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers and is traditionally observed on the first Monday in September. Labor Day or...

Tony DiTerlizzi, American fantasy artist, motion picture producer and author of children’s books, was born Sept. 6, 1969 in Los Angeles, Calif. The first of three children born into an artistic househ...

You all, I woke up with a bit of a rebellious spirit this morning. I am tired of this! I do not want to be self-quarantined, anymore! I want to be free to come and go as I please! I do not want to kee...

Dear Editor, I just read Markwayne Mullin’s column in the Free-Lance entitled, “Don’t use postal service as a political pawn.” In his column, he accused Nancy Pelosi of trying to scare people “so she ...