It’s great to be back from my two-week article break. It has been such a busy time for the Rowan Fund between the Foster Care Informational Night and the Christmas lists. Our information night had a g...

DEAR ABBY: My husband works with a group of men who often become vulgar in their conversations. My husband was raised to have respect and dignity, so he is uncomfortable with it. The men discuss their...

Find these Treasures at your local library French writer and illustrator, Jean de Brunhoff was born Dec. 9, 1899 in Paris, France. Jean had three siblings and his father was a successful publisher. He...

The holiday season has arrived, and OICA is preparing a “wish list” for lawmakers in advance of the next legislative session. Our 2020 Children’s Legislative Agenda is driven by the work that occurred...

Last Thursday, November 21, was our Christmas to Remember event. I want to thank all who came out and joined us. The First Assembly of God church graciously let us use their gym and we packed it. Domi...

Dear Abby DEAR ABBY: I am in a 14-year marriage, but there has always been another woman, "Emily," I have thought about almost daily the whole time. My wife and I have just turned 40. We have no kids,...

Nominations are now being accepted for 2019 Henryettan of the Year at the Free-Lance office. Before the end of the year, nominees must be named so they can be announced at the annual Henryetta Chamber...

November is National Native American Heritage Month. This month gives all Americans the opportunity to celebrate the legacy of the first people who called this land home. I am a member of Cherokee Nat...

December 5, 1901 is the birth date of American entrepreneur, animator and film producer Walt Disney in Chicago, Illinois. Walt had four brothers and a sister, raised on a farm in Missouri and at the a...

As we approach Thanksgiving, I want to express my appreciation for everyone who is working to improve the lives of children. I had the opportunity to visit with many of those people in-person this wee...

Next week is Thanksgiving. This week, I pulled out family recipes I make every year, and don’t really need the recipes for, just to make sure I remember everything I need correctly. As I flipped throu...

DEAR ABBY: I have a close friend who is an extreme hoarder. She and her husband have a beautiful, large, custom-built home that is stacked floor to ceiling with clutter. There are only narrow paths to...

November is National Native American Heritage Month. This month gives all Americans the opportunity to celebrate the legacy of the first people who called this land home. I am a member of Cherokee Nat...

Nov. 26, 1922 was the birth date of American cartoonist and creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip, Charles M. Schulz in Minneapolis, Minn. Being an only child, Schulz decided at an early age that he wa...

"Make sure the house is clean and a pot of potatoes is in the oven," says Alex, 6. I'm sure Idaho potato farmers will be glad to know that spuds are finally getting the respect they deserve. Alex, you...

It was an honor and a privilege to speak to a group of concerned Garfield County residents last week about the United State Census and the impact this 2020 count will likely have on our state. The goo...

It’s National Pepper Month! I love yellow peppers and use them in many dishes and will even eat them raw as a snack once in a while. Peppers come in several colors. The most common colors in the store...

DEAR ABBY: My mother-in-law is contemplating a move to the small Southern town my husband and I have called home for more than 10 years. She's a vibrant, well-to-do Southern lady with many friends and...

The holidays are quite literally just around the corner. Depending on which section of the grocery store you step in you are either in the Thanksgiving or Christmas aisle. It can be a tad overwhelming...

This month is National Adoption Month and Nov. 23 is National Adoption Day. What better a time than now to celebrate the joy adoption brings and raise awareness of the necessity of adoption within our...