News

Most Impactful Stories of 2025

Editor’s note: This is a slightly different approach to reviewing the year. We have revisited the top stories for the year. These were selected by the impact they had on the community, not whether the newspaper supported or disagreed with the topic.

Rebuilding Our Military Defending Our Homeland

“The men and women who serve in our armed forces are true patriots. Over 342 million Americans wake up each and every morning in a safe and peaceful nation because of our heroes in the military.

A Bubble Off Plumb

Not everyone can be with their family at the holidays, and not everyone wants to be with their family at the holidays.Let’s face it, there can be a lot of old hurts hanging around when it comes to family and those hurts seem to cut a little deeper when the Christmas trees light up.

Bill Could Require Public Comment on Agendas

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Brian Guthrie, RBixby, filed legislation this week to update the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act to require all public bodies to provide a reasonable opportunity for public comment on agenda items before any official action is taken.

Polling Place Change

The polling place for Precinct 16 has changed, according to Brenda Rice, the Secretary of the Blaine County Election Board. Letters and new voter IDs have been mailed out to the affected voters.Voters in Precinct 16 formerly voted at The Greenfield Baptist Church, 204 N 4th.

Bipartisan Indian Buffalo Management Act Reintroduced

WASHINGTON– U.S. Senators Markwayne Mullin (ROK) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) reintroduced the bipartisan Indian Buffalo Management Act, legislation that promotes Tribal capacity to own and manage buffalo on tribal lands.The Indian Buffalo Management Act directs the U.S.

Hydro Woman Injured

A Hydro woman was injured Dec. 16 in a single vehicle accident.According to a report from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Destry Christensen, 28, was driving in a wheat field east of County Road 2390 when the vehicle dropped off into a washed out waterway.

Oklahoma Primaries Closed to Independents

(OKLAHOMA CITY) – State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax has announced that no political party filed a notice to allow Independents to vote in its primaries and runoff primaries during the 2026-2027 election years.

Theater Facelift Begins

Shown (L-R) are Memo Wright, a framer, Richard Adamson, contract manager from Old House Rescue, Patt Curtin and Marie Tech of the Watonga Community Theater. The façade on the theater is being revamped to match the art deco style of the new marquee.