People and Places

A member of the Shawnee Tractor Club waves to a young boy during the McLoud Blackberry Festival Parade on July 13, 2024. There were 75 entries in the parade. File photo

A member of the Shawnee Tractor Club waves to a young boy during the McLoud Blackberry Festival Parade on July 13, 2024. There were 75 entries in the parade. File photo

Celebrate Oklahoma’s Longest-Running Food Festival

News Staff
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
McLOUD, OK, May 31, 2025 – The 2025 McLoud Blackberry Festival begins at 5 pm on Friday, June 20th, and runs all day Saturday, June 21. The festival is held in a new area of McLoud Veterans Memorial Park on 8th Street in McLoud, Oklahoma - just east of OKC.
David Henry, pictured above, will be presented with the 2025 'We’re Here for Good’ Service Award at the Avedis Foundation’s Speaker Series luncheon on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center in Shawnee, OK. Those who wish to attend this free event are encouraged to register at gopogo.org/healthweek. Photo provided

David Henry, pictured above, will be presented with the 2025 'We’re Here for Good’ Service Award at the Avedis Foundation’s Speaker Series luncheon on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center in Shawnee, OK. Those who wish to attend this free event are encouraged to register at gopogo.org/healthweek. Photo provided

Avedis Foundation to honor David Henry and welcome former NRL Safety and speaker Shamiel Gary

News Staff
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Foundation to present ‘We’re Here for Good’ Service Award May 29.
Jessica Nickerson

Jessica Nickerson

SCI Chief of Staff named to 2025 Achievers Under 40

News Staff
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Shawnee, OK (April 22, 2025) — South Central Industries (SCI) is proud to announce that Jessica Nickerson, Chief of Staff and Director of Community & Housing Development, has been named to The Journal Record’s 2025 Achievers Under 40, honoring young leaders across Oklahoma who are making meaningful...
Shawnee Public Schools Director of Library Services and Middle School Librarian Cherity Pennington pauses for a photo in the United Arab Emirates. Pennington was invited to speak at the first ALA Sharjah School Librarians Conference in April. Photo courtesy of Cherity Pennington

Shawnee Public Schools Director of Library Services and Middle School Librarian Cherity Pennington pauses for a photo in the United Arab Emirates. Pennington was invited to speak at the first ALA Sharjah School Librarians Conference in April. Photo courtesy of Cherity Pennington

Pennington Represents SPS in United Arab Emirates

Natasha Dunagan Natasha@countywidenews.com
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
It was the first conference of its kind and the first time Cherity Pennington got to travel internationally.
Kitt Wakeley

Kitt Wakeley

ECU to Honor Alumnus Kitt Wakeley

Kitt Wakeley
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
ADA, Oklahoma – East Central University (ECU) is proud to announce that distinguished alumnus Kitt Wakeley will be honored at the university’s Evening of Honors and Recognition event on Thursday, May 16, at 6 p.m.
Family members of the late Air Force veteran Tom Combs traveled from Nebraska, Missouri, Altus and Moore for the rededication ceremony of the bingo hall at American Legion Post #16 in Shawnee on March 29. Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

Family members of the late Air Force veteran Tom Combs traveled from Nebraska, Missouri, Altus and Moore for the rededication ceremony of the bingo hall at American Legion Post #16 in Shawnee on March 29. Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

American Legion Post #16 Rededicates Bingo Hall

Natasha Dunagan Natasha@countywidenews.com
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
The Shawnee American Legion Post #16 reopened six months ago - since it was renovated after the 2023 tornado - but something was missing.
Seminole State College Assistant Professor of English Paul Juhasz was recently named a finalist for the 2025 Oklahoma Book Awards. The event will take place on May 16 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Photo provided by SSC

Seminole State College Assistant Professor of English Paul Juhasz was recently named a finalist for the 2025 Oklahoma Book Awards. The event will take place on May 16 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Photo provided by SSC

SSC Professor Named Finalist for Oklahoma Book Award

News Staff
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Seminole State College Assistant Professor of English Paul Juhasz has been named a finalist for the 2025 Oklahoma Book Award in poetry for his latest collection, “The Fires of Heraclitus.
A new Oklahoma Literary Sites Register plaque for the late author Tony Hillerman is unveiled during a dedication ceremony at Shawnee Public Library on March 15 in celebration of the 100th anniversary of his birth year. Shown, from left, are Anne Hillerman, author and daughter of Hillerman; Lisa Wells, Pioneer Library Systems Director; Mary Sims, Shawnee library branch manager; Dr. Bill Hagen, Emeritus Professor of English at OBU; and, Angie Lewis, President of Friends of Libraries in Oklahoma.

A new Oklahoma Literary Sites Register plaque for the late author Tony Hillerman is unveiled during a dedication ceremony at Shawnee Public Library on March 15 in celebration of the 100th anniversary of his birth year. Shown, from left, are Anne Hillerman, author and daughter of Hillerman; Lisa Wells, Pioneer Library Systems Director; Mary Sims, Shawnee library branch manager; Dr. Bill Hagen, Emeritus Professor of English at OBU; and, Angie Lewis, President of Friends of Libraries in Oklahoma.

Anne Hillerman speaks for Oklahoma Literary Site Plaque Dedication at Shawnee Library

Natasha Dunagan
Thursday, March 20, 2025
The Shawnee Public Library is now an Oklahoma Literary Site, through the Friends of Libraries in Oklahoma (FOLIO). After a plaque dedication ceremony on Mar. 15, it will always be linked to the memory of author Tony Hillerman.
Oklahoma Literary site dedication for Tony Hillerman at Shawnee Public Library

Oklahoma Literary site dedication for Tony Hillerman at Shawnee Public Library

Oklahoma Literary site dedication for Tony Hillerman at Shawnee Public Library

News Staff
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Shawnee, OK. March 2025 - A new Oklahoma Literary Site will honor Tony Hillerman this week through a dedication ceremony on Saturday, March 15, at 10 am, at the Pioneer Library System’s Shawnee Public Library, located at 101 N. Philadelphia Avenue, in Shawnee.
Tecumseh Chamber Director Kimberly Elliott has been selected for U.S. Chamber Foundation Education and Workforce Fellowship Program. Fellowship Provides State and Local Business Leaders with Opportunities to Engage Nationally on Critical Education and Workforce Issues. Photo provided

Tecumseh Chamber Director Kimberly Elliott has been selected for U.S. Chamber Foundation Education and Workforce Fellowship Program. Fellowship Provides State and Local Business Leaders with Opportunities to Engage Nationally on Critical Education and Workforce Issues. Photo provided

Elliot Selected For Fellowship Program

News Staff
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation today announced Kimberly Elliott, Executive Director of the Tecumseh Chamber of Commerce was selected to participate in the eleventh cohort of its premiere business leadership program.