What you need to know about Blaine County today
SWOSU announces fall graduates
A total of 409 students at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford and Sayre completed requirements for either associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees after the 2020 fall semester.
These students can participate in the convocation exercises in 2021 tentatively scheduled for April 30-May 1 on the Weatherford campus.
The list contains the following students from Watonga:
Shawn Allan Gorman, educational administration, master of education; Ashley Suzanne Crews, engineering technology, bachelor of science; and La Tara Blankenship, health science, bachelor of applied science.
Oklahoma Scholarship Competition Deadline Feb. 26
The Oklahoma Scholarship Competition provides an opportunity for Oklahoma high school students to earn much-needed funds for college. With at least ten $1,000 cash scholarships/tuition grants in each of Oklahoma’s 77 counties, students in grades 9 through 12 must register by the Friday, February 26th deadline to participate.
“The Oklahoma Scholarship Competition is designed to reward Oklahoma students who have taken an interest in Oklahoma’s rich history by supporting their dreams of pursuing higher education,” said Gini Moore Campbell, vice president for the Oklahoma Hall of Fame & Gaylord-Pickens Museum.
The online examination will be accessible Friday, March 5th through Sunday, March 14th with content coming primarily from stateadopted Oklahoma History textbooks. Students must be pre-registered at oklahomahof.com by Friday, February 26th to participate.
Individual donors and Oklahoma colleges and universities provide the cash scholarships and tuition grants in the counties of their choice. To see a list of scholarships available in each county, to register for the examination, and to download a supplemental study guide visit oklahomahof.com.
Founded in 1927, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame preserves Oklahoma’s unique history while promoting pride in our great state. Through each of its programs and the Gaylord-Pickens Museum, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame honors our state’s rich tradition by telling Oklahoma’s story through its people. For information about the Oklahoma Scholarship Competition or becoming a scholarship donor contact Gini Moore Campbell, vice president, at 405.523.3202 or gmc@oklahomahof.com.
Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Holiday Match is a Success
Thanks to the generosity of many, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma's Holiday Match campaign will help provide more than 13 million meals to our neighbors facing hunger. The match was made possible thanks to match sponsor APMEX with special support from the Cresap Family Foundation. Funds raised through the match will help the Regional Food Bank meet the increased demand for food assistance caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This year, the Holiday Match donations come at a very crucial time for the Regional Food Bank. We and our partners are serving more Oklahomans because too many of our neighbors have been impacted by the pandemic,” said Stacy Dykstra, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank. "We are blessed to have partners like our match sponsor APMEX and the Cresap Family Foundation. Their leadership helped to inspire others to support our mission." Generous gifts frommatch sponsor APMEX and additional support from the Cresap Family Foundation helped meet every donation made, up to $700,000, between Nov. 15 and Jan. 15. Overall, $3.3 million was raised through the match.
The Regional Food Bank and its partners continue to see up to a 30% increase in Oklahomans seeking food assistance for the first time. This increased need for food assistance is expected to continue long after the COVID-19 pandemic has ended.
Learn more about the fight against hunger in Oklahoma by visiting rfbo.org.
Hutch’s C-Store employees, customers help rescue christmas for the most vulnerable
2020 was the 10th anniversary of the partnership between The Salvation Army and Hutchinson Oil/Hutch’s C-Stores! The Salvation Army is so very grateful for such a longstanding relationship. A very generous donation from Hutchinson Oil/Hutch’s C-Stores was recently received to help support the most vulnerable across Western, Southwestern, and Northwestern Oklahoma and Kansas. With 2020 having been a year of so many challenges, The Salvation Army thanks everyone who helped to Rescue Christmas in 2020 with unprecedented generosity.
Like the past, Hutch’s loyal customers could donate at each location from Thanksgiving thru the end of the year. This year, a new giving option was provided which allowed customers to donate increments of $1 to The Salvation Army at the cash register. The program was beyond successful and surpassed the goals which were set for each store. The Salvation Army is very grateful to everyone who donated to help make a difference in their communities.
“Our family and employees, as well as our customers, really stepped up this year to make this campaign a success. I think all of us recognized that more families were in need this year and wanted to help. We’ve been putting these kettles out in our stores now for ten years, and it has become a holiday tradition that we look forward to. I think it helps remind us and our employees daily what this season is really about and that is giving back. Thank you to all our employees and customers for being so generous.” Linda Hutchinson
With the Hutchinson’s matching donation, $21,946.22 has been donated to The Salvation Army on behalf of C-Store customers and employees. The contribution helps bring hope to the hopeless, food for the hungry, and so much more in the counties where Hutch’s C-Stores are located. Hutch’s C-Stores located in Watonga participated in the campaign.
“We are so grateful to Hutchinson Oil, Hutch’s C-Stores and customers for their support of The Salvation Army. With fundraising concerns this past Christmas season due to the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Salvation Army asked our partners and community members to help us Rescue Christmas. Hutch’s really came to the rescue with their donation and it allows us to continue to meet the most need by Doing the Most Good in the communities we serve. We are so grateful for their partnership and donation! With so many having to think of doing things differently in our day to day lives, and many struggling to do so, this gift will make an impact long into 2021 for our neighbors in need,” states Doug Goetzinger, Divisional Development Director for the Arkansas-Oklahoma Salvation Army.
4.2 magnitude earthquake in Oklahoma felt by residents
A 4.2 magnitude earthquake was felt in Watonga and Geary on the morning of Feb. 19.
The U.S. Geological Survey reports that the earthquake originated on the border of Kansas and Oklahoma in the town of Manchester, Oklahoma.
The effects of the earthquake were felt around the state as people in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Salinas, Kansas reported feeling it on the USGS website.
USGS reported that the depth of the earthquake was about four miles and occurred at 7:56 a.m.
Residents took to Facebook to ask if others had felt the earthquake with others saying that they had.