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Artist Marcia Crook poses with Amanda Johnson, after Johnson chose her artwork, at the annual "Off the Wall" event at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art on April 24. See full cutline below.

Artist Marcia Crook poses with Amanda Johnson, after Johnson chose her artwork, at the annual "Off the Wall" event at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art on April 24. See full cutline below.

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MGMoA hosts annual '"Off The Wall" event

News Staff
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Artist Marcia Crook poses with Amanda Johnson, after Johnson chose her artwork, at the annual 'Off the Wall' event at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art on April 24. Around "200 people attended, and we raised about $11,000," said MGMoA Director of Development Sylwia Partyka in an email.
Pictured right, Shawnee's Lane Cowan poses with a helmet he made and sold at the Fifth Annual Secret Garden Medieval and Fantasy Faire held behind Shawnee Mall on April 25-26. Cowan says he will gladly participate again next time and bring more inventory, as he almost sold out. All booth owners were required to dress up for the event that brought out quite a crowd. Julie Talton, Countywide & Sun

Pictured right, Shawnee's Lane Cowan poses with a helmet he made and sold at the Fifth Annual Secret Garden Medieval and Fantasy Faire held behind Shawnee Mall on April 25-26. Cowan says he will gladly participate again next time and bring more inventory, as he almost sold out. All booth owners were required to dress up for the event that brought out quite a crowd. Julie Talton, Countywide & Sun

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Fifth annual Secret Garden Medieval and Fantasy Faire

News Staff
Thursday, April 30, 2026
North Rock Creek Cast and Crew are directed by Brandy Bond and choreographed by Marysa Rake and Hadley Dyer. They will be performing at the Sarkeys Performing Arts Center at St. Gregory's on April 30 - May 2 at 7 pm with an additional 2 pm on May 2. Julie Talton, Countywide & Sun, See full cutline below.

North Rock Creek Cast and Crew are directed by Brandy Bond and choreographed by Marysa Rake and Hadley Dyer. They will be performing at the Sarkeys Performing Arts Center at St. Gregory's on April 30 - May 2 at 7 pm with an additional 2 pm on May 2. Julie Talton, Countywide & Sun, See full cutline below.

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Newsies!: NRC drama to perform at Sarkeys Performing Arts Center

News Staff
Thursday, April 30, 2026
North Rock Creek Cast and Crew are directed by Brandy Bond and choreographed by Marysa Rake and Hadley Dyer. They will be performing at the Sarkeys Performing Arts Center at St. Gregory's on April 30 - May 2 at 7 pm, with an additional 2 pm on May 2.
Kayxandra 'KC' Campbell (center) is joined by CACCO board members Kelly Metcalf (left), and Julana States, for a photo after receiving the Mary Ellen Wilson Award at the 2026 Outstanding Child Abuse Prevention Awards held at the Oklahoma State Capitol on Apr. 24, 2026. Photo provided by ODHS

Kayxandra 'KC' Campbell (center) is joined by CACCO board members Kelly Metcalf (left), and Julana States, for a photo after receiving the Mary Ellen Wilson Award at the 2026 Outstanding Child Abuse Prevention Awards held at the Oklahoma State Capitol on Apr. 24, 2026. Photo provided by ODHS

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Hope for children grows in our community

Julie Talton Julie@countywidenews.com
Thursday, April 30, 2026
During April showers, we witness new growth, newfound hope, and new beginnings. This makes April ideal for National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Bethel High School Biology teacher Vanessa Jones speaks about connections between the components for zombie fires, discussed and written by her Honors Biology students, on April 23. Jones is an Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Top-10 Finalist. Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

Bethel High School Biology teacher Vanessa Jones speaks about connections between the components for zombie fires, discussed and written by her Honors Biology students, on April 23. Jones is an Oklahoma Teacher of the Year Top-10 Finalist. Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

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Bethel Biology Teacher State Top-Ten Finalist

Natasha Dunagan Natasha@countywidenews.com
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Vanessa Jones is not the science teacher most people remember from high school.
Serena Neely, a first-grade teacher at Will Rogers Elementary in Shawnee, serves a snack to her students on April 16. Neely was the District Teacher of the Year for 2024-'25, and she is a top-10 finalist for State Teacher of the Year. Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

Serena Neely, a first-grade teacher at Will Rogers Elementary in Shawnee, serves a snack to her students on April 16. Neely was the District Teacher of the Year for 2024-'25, and she is a top-10 finalist for State Teacher of the Year. Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

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Shawnee teacher named State Teacher of the Year finalist

Natasha Dunagan Natasha@countywidenews.com
Thursday, April 23, 2026
In her first-grade classroom, Serena Neely leads her students in the flyswatter game. Two lines of students take turns with two flyswatters.
A quick photo of the 'Charlie Brown' cast as they finish rehearsals. Cast members pictured: Annika Jennings , Elijah Gragg, Kelli Curtis, Lane Cowan, Cierra Farris, Cam Taylor. This is SLTs final show for this season. Photo provided by SLT

A quick photo of the 'Charlie Brown' cast as they finish rehearsals. Cast members pictured: Annika Jennings , Elijah Gragg, Kelli Curtis, Lane Cowan, Cierra Farris, Cam Taylor. This is SLTs final show for this season. Photo provided by SLT

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SLT’s season finale: “Charlie Brown” musical opens April 24

News Staff
Thursday, April 23, 2026
“You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”, the longtime favorite stage musical based on the “Peanuts” comic book characters created by Charles Schulz is Shawnee Little Theatre’s season finale opening April 24.This production marks the third time in its 59-year history that SLT has presented the...
Terri Williams, Amber O'Shell, Kara McLain, Angela Paige, Ashley Steward, Angie Henson, Jennifer Lewis and Katie Marrs were honored at the Tecumseh Chamber of Commerce Teacher Luncheon on April 21. Photos by Julie Talton, Countywide & Sun

Terri Williams, Amber O'Shell, Kara McLain, Angela Paige, Ashley Steward, Angie Henson, Jennifer Lewis and Katie Marrs were honored at the Tecumseh Chamber of Commerce Teacher Luncheon on April 21. Photos by Julie Talton, Countywide & Sun

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Tecumseh Public Schools Teacher Luncheon

News Staff
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Terri Williams, Amber O'Shell, Kara McLain, Angela Paige, Ashley Steward, Angie Henson, Jennifer Lewis and Katie Marrs were honored at the Tecumseh Chamber of Commerce Teacher Luncheon on April 21.Angela Paige, Presidents' Award - TECC Principal Giaudrone said this about her, "She loves big and I...

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MGMoA Hosts High-Energy “Off the Wall” Art Fundraiser

News Staff
Thursday, April 23, 2026
(SHAWNEE, Okla.) – The Mabee- Gerrer Museum of Art invites the community to its fast-paced and highly anticipated “Off the Wall” fundraiser on April 24 at 6 p.m. The interactive event offers attendees the unique opportunity to take home original artwork created and donated by talented local artists...