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Motorcyles, trikes, vendor booths and food trucks could be found lining Bell Avenue in Downtown Shawnee for "Rides and Rods" on June 18. There were also 20 to 30 hotrods on Main Street, according to the "Rides & Rods Shawnee Oklahoma" Facebook page. This event happens on the third Thursday each month, April through October. Photos by Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

Motorcyles, trikes, vendor booths and food trucks could be found lining Bell Avenue in Downtown Shawnee for "Rides and Rods" on June 18. There were also 20 to 30 hotrods on Main Street, according to the "Rides & Rods Shawnee Oklahoma" Facebook page. This event happens on the third Thursday each month, April through October. Photos by Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

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Rides & Rods in Downtown Shawnee

News Staff
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Clyde Hamlin, 5, of Tecumseh, and Callie Luck, 3, of Shawnee, ride on the carousel at the 131st Annual McLoud Blackberry Festival on June 20. The two-day festival also featured vendor booths, live music, kids games and a parade. Photos by Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

Clyde Hamlin, 5, of Tecumseh, and Callie Luck, 3, of Shawnee, ride on the carousel at the 131st Annual McLoud Blackberry Festival on June 20. The two-day festival also featured vendor booths, live music, kids games and a parade. Photos by Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

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McLoud's 131st Blackberry Festival welcomes thousands of visitors

News Staff
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Click on the camera banner ad below to see all of our photos from the festival!
Zane Dowell, 4, of McLoud, plucks the strings on Erin Yeaman's cello and gets a reaction during the 'Tunes and Tales with Erin Yeaman' McLoud Public Library program, held on June 18 at the Ray Large American Legion Post 244. Yeaman also played her cello along to three children's books and read 'The Three Little Pigs,' as volunteers made sound effects. In addition to being a composer and voice actor, Yeaman provides music for Scholastic audio books.

Zane Dowell, 4, of McLoud, plucks the strings on Erin Yeaman's cello and gets a reaction during the 'Tunes and Tales with Erin Yeaman' McLoud Public Library program, held on June 18 at the Ray Large American Legion Post 244. Yeaman also played her cello along to three children's books and read 'The Three Little Pigs,' as volunteers made sound effects. In addition to being a composer and voice actor, Yeaman provides music for Scholastic audio books.

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We Love Libraries

News Staff
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Luke Elliott, 9, of McLoud, crumples paper to make the sound effect for fire, as two other volunteers look on, and Erin Yeaman of Norman reads "The Three Little Pigs." Yeaman was showing how ordinary items can "make music.
Dale Superintendent Will Jones addresses the board of County Commissioners with a request to purchase land using the education sales tax fund. The request was approved. Suzie Campbell, Countywide & Sun

Dale Superintendent Will Jones addresses the board of County Commissioners with a request to purchase land using the education sales tax fund. The request was approved. Suzie Campbell, Countywide & Sun

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Dale Schools land purchase, road and odor complaints highlight meeting

Suzie Campbell Suzie@countywidenews.com
Thursday, June 25, 2026
The Board of County Commissioners approved a request from Dale Public Schools to purchase four lots near the school for $65,000. Superintendent Will Jones said the property, located in Block 5 (lots 21-24), adjoins existing school-owned land and is intended for future expansion.
Dr. Wendle Richards spoke to the board about the biohazard smell affecting the 45 acres on Hazel Dell Rd. that he owns and lives on. Photo Provided

Dr. Wendle Richards spoke to the board about the biohazard smell affecting the 45 acres on Hazel Dell Rd. that he owns and lives on. Photo Provided

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Odor issue dominates citizen comments

Julie Talton Julie@countywidenews.com
Thursday, June 18, 2026
The City of Shawnee held a special meeting on June 9 at 10 am to approve ratification on action taken by the Board of Trustees of the Shawnee Airport Authority to amend a contract regarding the sale of certain Shawnee Airport Authority real property to the YMCA.

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Seat filled at McLoud Special meeting

Julie Talton Julie@countywidenews.com
Thursday, June 18, 2026
The McLoud City Council held a special meeting on June 12 to amend the budget and approve the resolution. It passed unanimously.On June 16, they held another special meeting to discuss filling an empty seat on their council, vacated by Becky Carpenter.
Amanda Kelly was sworn in to Ward #4 Seat at the June Tecumseh School Board meeting by Board President Iva Bingham. Board members, Nicole Sanchez and Lance Phelps look on. Since Kelly does not live in the ward boundaries, she will finish out the term, ending in two years. Julie Talton, Countywide & Sun

Amanda Kelly was sworn in to Ward #4 Seat at the June Tecumseh School Board meeting by Board President Iva Bingham. Board members, Nicole Sanchez and Lance Phelps look on. Since Kelly does not live in the ward boundaries, she will finish out the term, ending in two years. Julie Talton, Countywide & Sun

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TPS Board fully seated again

Julie Talton Julie@countywidenews.cm
Thursday, June 18, 2026
The Tecumseh School Board immediately went into executive session to interview a new candidate to fill Seat 4 to start their June meeting. After a lengthy interview, the board reconvened and appointed Amanda Kelly to fill the seat.
Photo provided by Parkinson’s Foundation of Oklahoma

Photo provided by Parkinson’s Foundation of Oklahoma

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Avedis awards $5,000 grant to Parkinson’s care

News Staff
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Avedis Foundation has awarded a $5,000.00 grant to support Parkinson’s care and resources in Pottawatomie County. This investment will strengthen access to critical, community- based programs in Shawnee that address the daily challenges of living with Parkinson’s disease.
Fire Win the West

Fire Win the West

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Fire Win the West

News Staff
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Retiring Citizen Potawatomi Nation (CPN) Vice Chairman Linda Capps is presented with the 2026 West Regional Champions trophy by The Basketball League (TBL) CEO Evelyn Magley, after the Potawatomi Fire won their second game against the 4 Bears Roar from North Dakota, 137-124, on June 14.