By Bob Hilliard Buffalo, Texas wethepeoplehandbook@gmail.com Misconceptions! Let’s clear a common misconception which we have been led to believe in the past. Are we a democracy? NO!! Absolutely not! But this is propagated daily in the media by reporters and politicians.

Oklahoma placed fourth among 11 states that competed in the 42nd annual National 4-H Forestry Invitational from Sunday, July 24 through Wednesday, July 27. Teams from Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida placed first, second and third, respectively. Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Utah also competed in this year’s Invitational.

HUGO –– The vacant Ward 4 council seat was finally filled after a special meeting held by the Hugo City Council last Thursday. Upon a recommendation and a motion by councilman Darren Frazier, Corby Johnson was placed in the position.

Youth Services for Choctaw, Pushmataha and McCurtain Counties and the community held its Fourth Annual Back 2 School Bash at the Hugo Agriplex. More than 600 backpacks and school supplies were handed out by youth volunteers and community partners. Local organizations and businesses supplied freebies and pamphlets to connect students and their families with local resources and services available. For more information on how to get involved for the Fifth Annual event, contact YS4CPM at 580.326.3382.

Game Wardens Jim Gillham (Atoka County) and Andrew Potter (Choctaw County) recently received information and began an investigation leading to the seizure of multiple illegal electrofishing devices at Hugo Lake. Recently retired Oklahoma Game Warden, and newly appointed Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Game Warden Manager, Jay Harvey, noticed a suspicious boat tied off at the lake while fishing with his son. The boat had what appeared to be a bar telephone shocker in open view.

Under the guidance of new head coach Brent Venables, the Oklahoma Sooners continue to climb in the national recruiting ranks as they have announced a number of four and five-star recruits in the last two weeks.

Saving the Rock Pocketbook mussels in the Kiamichi River has been the fight for saving the Kiamichi River also. For years the citizens of the region have pleaded with the state of Oklahoma to help realize the mussels’ status as endangered and protect them from loss of water by selling or appropriating too much water from the Kiamichi River. As of July 22, 2022, Oklahoma City has presented us a new face, and changed their minds. Here’s the gist of it: