Opinion

November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 60 days remain until the end of the year. 1512 – The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo, is exhibited to the public for the first time.

EWS Hi, everybody! Well, it’s trying to be winter already. We never seem to get to enjoy fall or spring.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University has announced a groundbreaking workforce development system, with an investment of $6.1 million over five years. The contract was awarded by Oklahoma Human Services and will be led by SWOSU Project Directors Dr. Amy Barnett, Dr. Kalie Kerth and Amy Martin.

Honestly, if ONE MORE electronic device in this house gives me trouble, I'm gonna go mad! (No cracks, please.) Last week when my laptop battery died, I had to leave it with a repairman overnight. It was the longest 24 hours ever. I felt like I'd lost a limb. If it weren't for my phone, I'd have been completely lost but it's back to working like its old self and it had better stay that way.

It seems the City of Watonga isn’t the only entity suffering growing pains. Apparently, two members of office staff in the Blaine County Courthouse committed what was deemed a very serious infraction and were dismissed.

Manufacturing has brought Oklahoma tremendous economic growth and stability throughout the years, and I’m proud to celebrate National Manufacturing Week alongside our small businesses, stakeholders, and state manufacturers. It’s an honor to serve a state that continues to push the envelope with cutting- edge innovation, technological development, and sustainable growth.

I’m sure there are a boatload of John Wayne fans out there. We love the Duke in all his incarnations. When I was a kid, the Cowboys came out. I’d read the Dale Jennings book long before and loved the story and the adventure. That was, of course, before I spent a lot of days in the saddle pushing cattle where they didn’t want to go. The romance was still intact.

October marks the 20th anniversary of Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This initiative, first designated by President George W. Bush and Congress in 2004, focuses on protecting consumers from cyber threats. In our everincreasingly digital world, I think it's crucial for Oklahomans to understand the dangers of cybercrime. Criminals can steal your identity and money without you even realizing it! However, you don't have to be the victim of cybercrime. There are some simple steps you can take to keep yourself safe online.

To the Editor: Recycling of plastics, metals and cardboard has been available in Watonga since February 2022. The recycling center is located at 313 East Second Street. The hours are 8-10 a.m. on Tuesdays and 3-6 p.m. on Thursdays.

If you have ever had surgery, and in particular, open-heart surgery, then you have benefitted from Thomas B. Ferguson, the grandson of Thompson Benton and Elva Shartel Ferguson.