OKLAHOMA CITY –– Attorney General John O’Connor and Governor Kevin Stitt released the following statements following the unanimous ruling by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals that the McGirt case does not apply to convictions retroactively.

The Good Shepherd and His Sheep 1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. a They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” 19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?” 21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Aleph 1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. 2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart— 3 they do no wrong but follow his ways.

Jeremiah’s Complaint 1 You are always righteous, Lord, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? 2 You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit.

HAWORTH — With anticipation high for a big 2021 fall baseball season, the Rattan RAMS overcame an 0-1 first-inning deficit to slam the Haworth Lions Monday with a decisive 10-1 win. Haworth opened the game in the first inning with a one-run lead when Qualls singled on a 3-2 count and scored one run.

The Buffaloes will be having their annual PIE AUCTION FUNDRAISER on Tuesday, Aug. 17, at 6:30 p.m. The event is one of the most popular of the year and helps the team raise funds for needed items for the upcoming football season.

Oklahoma came in at No. 3 in the USA Today Sports American Football Coaches Association Top 25 preseason poll released Tuesday.

New Rules for Turkey Hunting to Begin This Fall In a special meeting June 28, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Com mission approved significant changes for wild turkey hunting season dates and bag limits. The changes will become effective for the fall 2021 wild turkey season going forward.