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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

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

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Avedis Foundation Awards $10,000 Grant to American Red Cross

News Staff
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Avedis Foundation has awarded a $10,000 grant to the American Red Cross to support disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts across Pottawatomie County.The funding will help the local American Red Cross provide critical services to individuals and families impacted by home fires, severe...
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

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

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Project: SAFE receives $74,619.39 grant from Avedis Foundation

News Staff
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Avedis Foundation awarded a $74,619.39 grant to Project: SAFE to support the organization’s Legacy transition plan and ensure continued stability and services during an upcoming leadership change.The funding will assist Project: SAFE in implementing a transition strategy designed to maintain...
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

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

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Retired Brig. Gen. Ben Robinson recalls commanding AWACS on 9/11

Natasha Dunagan Natasha@countywidenews.com
Thursday, June 25, 2026
It has been almost 25 years since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.But retired Brigadier General Ben Robinson, who lives in his wife Linda’s hometown of Shawnee, can remember all the details.“I remember about three major things.
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

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

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Brooksville Fundraiser raises $3,000 toward cemetery pavilion, restrooms

News Staff
Thursday, June 25, 2026
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."
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.