Whitney Sides hit her goal, $10,000.

Actually, she topped her goal by $883. 

That’s how much was raised in memory of her late son, Colsen Girty, a 10-year-old boy who dreamed of being president and taking care of homeless people. Colsen was killed in an auto accident July 31, 2021.

His mother, with help from others, works to keep his dreams alive and in doing so, bring a little cheer to other children. 

Canadian County commissioners voted to increase the sheriff’s base salary to the maximum allowed by state statute. Commissioners voted 2-1 at their Dec. 2 meeting to raise that base pay to $74,500.

Board Chairman Tom Manske and District 3 Commissioner Tracey Rider voted yes, while District 2 Commissioner Dave Anderson voted no.

“On behalf of myself, everybody in the sheriff’s office and the citizens, we thank you and Commissioner Rider for the support,” Sheriff Chris West told Manske.

Fifty-one percent of the state of Oklahoma is classified as a maternity care desert, or an area without a single birthing facility or obstetric clinician.

This statistic makes Oklahoma’s rate of maternity care deserts the third-highest in the nation, according to a report released in September by the March of Dimes.  

Okarche High School Guard Squad members Bailey Bomhak (left) and Kaytlin Steelman cheer with other squad members during a timeout at a recent home basketball game.