Relay for Life of Pottawatomie County Co-Chair Jana Grubbs hands out carnations to cancer survivors after they tell about their journey during the event, held at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center Fred Humphries Arena on May 29. Cancer survivor Nikki Robinson was the speaker that night. There were 54 registered survivors at RFL this year, and 11 area teams raised $28,299 for the American Cancer Society, as of June 1. Photos by Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

Pictured from left are: Leah Young, Community Disaster Program Specialist American Red Cross, Kathy Laster, Ph.D., President & CEO Avedis Foundation, Ryan Corley, Executive Director American Red Cross and Tracy Meeuwsen, Sr. Program Director-Data Analyst. Photo provided by Avedis Foundation

Avedis Foundation awards Project: SAFE a grant to assist with leadership transitioning. From left: Tracy Meeuwsen, Sr. Program Director-Data Analyst, Renee Clemmons, Executive Director Project: SAFE and Kathy Laster, Ph.D., President & CEO Avedis Foundation Photo Provided

Retired Brigadier General Ben Robinson spoke to members of the Shawnee Veterans Memorial Committee (SVMC) and the public at the Pottawatomie County Veterans Educational Museum on June 11. Robinson was the commander of the 552nd Air Control Wing, based at Tinker AFB, during the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and he recounted the day-by-day progression of events during that time, using a slide show. See full caption below. Photos by Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

Ronnie and Joy Deatherage, with Carter's Beef in Tecumseh, pose with Frank Phillips of Brooksville. Carter's Beef donated 100 pounds of hamburger for the fundraiser, held at the Brooksville Community Center on June 20. J. Deatherage said the Brooksville community bought a quarter side of beef worth $1,134 for a drawing to raise money for the Brooksville Cemetery pavilion and restroom. Michael Watters won the drawing, and the event raised about $3,000. Photo courtesy of Ashaley Crawford

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

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

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.