What you need to know about Blaine County today
Watonga students make Central Oklahoma honor rolls
The University of Central Oklahoma recently announced the students named to the university’s honor rolls, a distinction given to those who achieve the highest academic standards.
For the fall 2020 semester, 1,599 students were named to the President’s Honor Roll, an honor achieved by those who recorded a “straight-A” or 4.0 GPA.
In addition, 1,800 students were named to the Dean’s Honor Roll, a list of those who achieved a 3.5 GPA or better for the semester and no grade lower than a B.
To be eligible for the President’s or Dean’s lists, students must complete at least 12 hours of on-campus class credit for the semester.
The following Watonga students made the honor rolls:
Lavender Guadelupe Cisneros made the President’s Honor Roll.
Ruby Gayle Edsall and Eden Abagale Waggoner Made the Dean’s Honor Roll.
Underage Alcohol Consumption and Conversation Tips for Parents
The Red Rock Regional Prevention Coordinator (RPC) would like to remind the public that excessive alcohol use is responsible for more than 4,300 deaths among youth every year. Even though alcohol is illegal to purchase for those under 21 years of age, around 11% of all alcohol consumed in our nation is done so by those under 21.
It is no secret there are many harms associated with underage drinking including traffic crashes, violent crime, unintentional injuries, and even death. There are many steps parents can take to prevent underage drinking, but the most important is talking with your children. Conversation tips are listed below:
•Show them you disapprove of underage alcohol use as well as other drugs
•Show them you care about their health, wellness, and success in life
•Show them you’re a good source of information regarding drugs and alcohol
•Show them you are paying attention and that you discourage risky behaviors
•Build their skills and strategies to avoid underage alcohol and drug use
For more information on underage drinking and other substance abuse prevention topics, please visit http://www.samhsa.gov/und erage-drinking-topic or call the Red Rock Regional Prevention Coordinator at 405-401-2390.
Specialty crop grants now available
Funding opportunities to enhance the specialty crop industry within the state are now available, thanks to the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Marketing Services. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, local, state, and federal government entities, for-profit organizations and colleges and universities.
“The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is a great opportunity to fund research, education, and outreach projects that benefit Oklahoma’s fruit and vegetable producers,” said Jason Harvey, ODAFF Agriculture Marketing Coordinator,
To be eligible, projects must enhance the competitiveness of an Oklahoma specialty crop, and they must benefit a specialty crop segment as a whole. Grant funds will not be awarded for projects that solely benefit a single business or provide a profit to a single organization, institution or individual.
Projects involving the following specialty crops are eligible: fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, culinary herbs and spices, medicinal plants, as well as nursery, floriculture and horticulture crops. Proposals may be for but not limited to: research, promotion, marketing, nutrition, food safety and security, education, increased knowledge and consumption, improved efficiency and reduced costs of distribution systems, conservation, product development, food agricultural practices, good handling practices and good manufacturing practices. Grant proposal applica
tions must be received via a two part process: first, an electronic copy of the application must be emailed to Jason.harvey@ag.ok.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 17; next, five signed, printed copies of the application must be mailed to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, & Forestry before 5 p.m. on March 17, 2021.
Applications must be received by the grant deadline. Applications that do not adhere to this deadline will not be accepted.
Online resources include a Specialty Crop Grant Program application, grant application manual, and an evaluation form. Go to http://www.ag.ok.gov/mktdev/scg.htm for details.
For additional information, contact Jason Harvey at 405-606-1477.