Annual Groundhog Supper sees changes
The 76th annual Methodist Men’s Groundhog Supper will be a little different this year because of COVID-19.
The meals for the Feb. 3 event will be carryout or delivery only this year. They will be serving meals from 5-7 p.m. The cost will be $8 for adults and $5 for children. The meal will be sauerkraut and sausage, with a salad, chips and dessert.
You can call – or text – in advance to place your order. The phone number is 580-660-1788.
“In the past, we’ve had 200 people visiting and eating,” said Brad Babek, of the Methodist Men. With the rise in COVID-19 numbers, officials thought it would be safer to go to a carryout or delivery only option this year.
Washita County students make OU honor roll
The University of Oklahoma announced today the students named to its fall 2020 honor roll, a distinction given to those who achieve the highest academic standards.
A total of 9,299 students were named to the fall 2020 honor roll. Of these students, 4,003 were named to the President’s Honor Roll for earning an “A” grade in all their courses.
The honor roll recognizes undergraduate students in the academic programs based at OU’s Norman campus and at the OU Health Sciences Center. In most colleges, full-time undergraduate students who completed 12 or more hours with a grade-point average of 4.0 were named to the President’s Honor Roll. Students on the Norman campus with a gradepoint average of 3.5 or higher were included in the Dean’s Honor Roll. Crimson Putman of
Cordell made the president’s honor roll.
Other Washita County students to earn honors:
From Burns Flat: Faith Sowers made the dean’s honor roll
Salvation Army: Red Kettle campaign successful
The Salvation Army Service Unit of Beckham, Custer, Roger Mills and Washita Counties saw an increase in donations and households served in 2020.
The Red Kettle campaign raised $19,903.00 in these same Counties, an increase of 25.4 percent over the 2019 campaign, according to a press release. Residents generously contributed to the 2020 Red Kettle Christmas Campaign, which benefits those in need in the community during the Christmas season and year-round.
The Salvation Army attributes the 130-year-old campaign’s ongoing success to the continued support of retailers who invited the Red Kettle bell ringers to their front doors, volunteers who generously gave their time and the overall generosity of the community.
As COVID-19 continues to present challenges for all of us, and with one of six people in the United States living in poverty, The Salvation Army continues to be there for those who are hurting. Every dollar is critical to ensure it can continue to provide services to the most vulnerable in our community.
“We are so very appreciative of everyone who placed money in the kettles,” the organization said in a press press release.
Over 186 volunteers served 299 hours during November and December. The hours served by the volunteers helped meet the number of households seeking assistance through The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree. The Angel Tree program provided 63 children in local communities with Christmas gifts.
“Many families who gave last year could not afford to donate this year, but we noticed those that could donate gave more than they did last year,” Cindy Abney, case manager, said. “Over and over I watched donors take all the folding money from their wallet, fold it in half and put it in the Kettle. The kindness, compassion and generosity of those in the communities I witnessed while ringing this year literally had me in tears at times.”
SWOSU jazz event goes virtual this year
It might be virtually but the 51st annual SWOSU Jazz Festival will still take place this year on Feb. 11-12.
The Southwestern Oklahoma State University event in Weatherford will not feature any visiting artists or bands due to COVID-19 but the festival will still be swingin’ online with free concerts.
Headliner for this year’s event is Texas drummer Stockton Helbing and his bandmates pianist Josh Hanlon and bassist James Driscoll.
The trio will present a livestream concert at 7 p.m. Feb. 11.
On Feb. 12, the day will start with Helbing providing free masterclasses. In addition to his drum set masterclasses, there will be three members of the New York City-based DIVA Jazz Orchestra on hand to give jazz directing, saxophone and trombone classes. Drummer Sherrie Maricle is the leader of the band, and her colleagues Alexa Tarantino and Jennifer Krupa are excited to be a part of the SWOSU jazz tradition.
The festival concludes with a concert by Jazz Ensembles ‘A’ and ‘B’ at 8 p.m. on Friday evening. Jazz ‘A’, led by Dr. Richard Tirk, will present music written and arranged by Helbing while Jazz ‘B’, co-led by graduate students Megan Levendosky and Pamela Welborn, will be playing several great standards.
All events are free and open to the public. Links to the concerts will be provided later on the SWOSU website.
The 51st Annual SWOSU Jazz Festival is generously supported by the SWOSU Foundation, Oklahoma Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and several individual patrons. For more information, please visit www.swosujazz.com or contact the SWOSU Music Department at 580.774.3708.
SWOSU Ramping Up COVID-19 Vaccines
COVID-19 vaccinations are being given on Fridays at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, and the number of people treated will be going up.
SWOSU College of Pharmacy Rural Health Center Coordinator Randy Curry said 300 vaccinations were given at the initial clinic held January 8 at the Pioneer Cellular Event Center (900 N. Seventh Street) on the SWOSU campus. That number will increase starting Friday, January 15, when the site could potentially give up to 940 vaccinations.
Curry said the Pioneer Cellular Event Center site has been approved and set up as a point of distribution. The vaccinations being given now at SWOSU are for people over 65 years of age.
All appointments should be set up through the online portal of the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH): https://vaccinate.oklahoma.gov/
Several SWOSU departments have been helping with clinics at Weatherford, Clinton and Taloga. Faculty and students from the College of Pharmacy, School of Nursing and School of Allied Health have been assisting with clinics.
“I am very proud of everyone involved with this important initiative,” said SWOSU President Randy Beutler.
Residents coming to the Pioneer Cellular Event Center should enter through the west doors. Appointments are required. Masks and distancing are required.