Opinion

Dear Editor, Generosity throughout Watonga contributed to a successful shoebox gift collection season at drop-off locations for the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child. Across the U.S., the project collected 10 million shoebox gifts in 2023.

This should probably be a paid advertisement. Don’t let the office manager know, or I will be on the hook for it.

I was born in Mangum and spent my formative years in Altus. Although I live in Oklahoma City today, I feel a deep connection to Oklahoma’s rural communities. I also feel a deep sadness as I watch those communities fight for their survival, and in some cases be hollowed out as they lose major employers and economic opportunity. The impending loss of the Ardmore Michelin plant and its 1400+ jobs is another body blow, not just to that community, but all of us who want to see rural Oklahoma survive and thrive.

TB Ferguson as U.S. Postmaster One of the institutions of these United State for which I have a high regard is the United States Postal System.

Sometimes we decide to change things up at the New Year and sometimes life changes things for us. That happened to me recently.

Oh my word. What am I going to do with my husband? Some days he's practically a saint who can do no wrong (in the eyes of his kids and grandkids anyway). I have lived with him for 50 years so I know better and some days I feel like I could strangle him. Today is one of those days. (He's still here so biting my tongue is my best option.)

Mrs. T.B.

Hi, everybody! I hope you are all doing well and off to a great New Year. John was sick last week but is doing much better now. I have my days, some better than others. I just hope 2024 goes better than 2023. It’s going to be an interesting year, that’s for sure.

In the stories on the front page there is all kind of information, but let me kick out some in a nutshell. Garbage pickup is going to consolidate into two days a week.

On Christmas morning, 1776, as George Washington traversed the freezing waters of the Delaware River, his endeavor seemed more like a last-ditch-effort than a major battlefield operation. Under his command, the first year of America’s fight for independence had not gone his way, and after losing a string of key battles, Washington saw his targets on the other side of the Delaware as an opportunity to shift his luck.