People and Places

Leland Melvin and his dogs for his official NASA portrait. (Credit: NASA)

Leland Melvin and his dogs for his official NASA portrait. (Credit: NASA)

Leland Melvin at the Tecumseh Public Library

News Staff
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Pioneer Library System is thrilled to announce engineer and former astronaut Leland Melvin as the 2025 keynote speaker for the annual Spark a Change series.
SSC Web and Multimedia Coordinator Brooks Nickell (left) and SSC Director of Communications Josh Hutton (right) won Best of Show at the 2025 Oklahoma College Public Relations Association Annual Conference on July 14 at the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel in Catoosa. The award-winning entry “Undercover President” was written by Hutton and filmed and edited by Nickell. Photo Provided

SSC Web and Multimedia Coordinator Brooks Nickell (left) and SSC Director of Communications Josh Hutton (right) won Best of Show at the 2025 Oklahoma College Public Relations Association Annual Conference on July 14 at the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel in Catoosa. The award-winning entry “Undercover President” was written by Hutton and filmed and edited by Nickell. Photo Provided

SSC TEAM WINS BEST OF SHOW

News Staff
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Seminole State College’s Public Relations team earned the Best of Show award at the 2025 Oklahoma College Public Relations Association (OCPRA) Annual Conference, held July 13-15 at the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel in Catoosa.
Class of 1971 - All photos provided

Class of 1971 - All photos provided

Earlsboro Alumni hold annual reunion

News Staff
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
The annual Earlsboro Alumni Reunion was held Saturday, June 14, 2025 in the Wes Jeske Auditorium. Earlsboro Days, sponsored by the Town of Earlsboro, was held that morning featuring a car show, silent auction, games, vendors and food trucks on Main Street.
Campbell named President of Oklahoma Press Association

Campbell named President of Oklahoma Press Association

Campbell named President of Oklahoma Press Association

News Staff
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Suzie Campbell, publisher of the Countywide & Sun in Tecumseh, officially assumed the role of president of the Oklahoma Press Association (OPA) on July 1.OPA members elected Campbell during the association’s annual business meeting, held June 6-7 at the OPA Convention in Shawnee.

Shawnee implements policy for student devices

News Staff
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Shawnee, OK – July 1, 2025 — Shawnee Public Schools is proud to announce the implementation of a new Personal Electronic Device Policy, approved by the Shawnee Board of Education on June 30, 2025, designed to support student focus, engagement, and well-being during the school day.
A 1930 Ford Model A, owned by Joe Scheidt, stands out at the Downtown Auto at Sundown Car Show in Shawnee on June 14.

A 1930 Ford Model A, owned by Joe Scheidt, stands out at the Downtown Auto at Sundown Car Show in Shawnee on June 14.

Over 100 automobiles line the streets for the Downtown car show

News Staff
Thursday, June 19, 2025
After the rains cleared on Saturday, June 14, nearly 100 registered vehicles—and about 20 more unregistered—filled the stretch of Main between Beard Street and Kickapoo Avenue for the annual Downtown Auto Body at Sundown Car Show in Shawnee. The following is a list of the winners: Why Not?
Citizen Potawatomi Nation Chairman John 'Rocky' Barrett was recently honored as the Tribal Leader of the Year at the 43rd Annual NAFOA (Native American Finance Officers Association) conference held the end of April in New Orleans. Photo provided by CPN

Citizen Potawatomi Nation Chairman John 'Rocky' Barrett was recently honored as the Tribal Leader of the Year at the 43rd Annual NAFOA (Native American Finance Officers Association) conference held the end of April in New Orleans. Photo provided by CPN

Chairman Barrett honored as Tribal Leader of the Year

News Staff
Thursday, June 19, 2025
By TINA BRIDENSTINE, Citizen Potawatomi Nation Public Information DepartmentNAFOA ( Native American Finance Offi cers Association) honored Chairman John “Rocky” Barrett as the Tribal Leader of the Year at its 43rd annual conference at the end of April in New Orleans.
Natasha Dunagan poses with her first place Feature Story plaque at the OPA Awards Convention last weekend. 'I love writing feature stories. It is my way of helping get someone's story out to the public. It feeds the kid in me who loved listening to the grownups talk. I've always been curious about life stories.' Julie Talton, Countywide & Sun

Natasha Dunagan poses with her first place Feature Story plaque at the OPA Awards Convention last weekend. 'I love writing feature stories. It is my way of helping get someone's story out to the public. It feeds the kid in me who loved listening to the grownups talk. I've always been curious about life stories.' Julie Talton, Countywide & Sun

Countywide & Sun collects 14 OPA awards

Natasha Dunagan Natasha@countywidenews.com
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
The annual Oklahoma Press Association Convention returned to the Grand Casino Hotel and Resort, June 6-7, and celebrated the best newspaper coverage from across the state with its 2024 Better Newspaper Contest.