One funeral, a wedding, and noodling
Yesterday ended one of the more personally memorable weekends for me in recent years. I celebrated the life of a colleague at his funeral; witnessed the marriage of another friend; missed my parents wedding anniversary by one day (not proud of that); and was on-set for the production finale of “Noodling”. Saturday, August 7, began with the funeral of Pauls Valley Police Chief Scott Robbins in Wynnewood, Okla. Saturday then ended with the wedding of Ryan Willis, and... Read More
Local coach leads team to state championship
The 2009-2010 Valley Girls: left-to-right in back--Assistant Head Coach Callie Henry, and Head Coach Brandon Henry; l-to-r in middle--Jordyn Dudley, Kaycee Kraft, Taylor Durham, Macy Riddle, Hali Humphrey, and Ericka Bratcher; l-to-r in front--Sarah Henry, Morgan Posey, Logan Martin, Abby Balderama (not pictured), Abby Weatherford, and Aylin Nunez (Photo by Alison Humphrey) Brandon Henry, of Pauls Valley, Okla., recently did the unthinkable with a cast of unlikely characters.... Read More
What “Twilight” Taught a Small Town
While the story of Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, and Jacob Black has made author Stephenie Meyer internationally known, it has also made a small town in upstate Washington, USA, famous. The series, “Twilight”, based upon the interwoven lives of teenagers, vampires, and wolves, has spawned a franchise of themed-movies and merchandise. It has also launched the acting careers of several previously unknown performers, and put the city of Forks, Washington, back on the world... Read More
Using social media is like living in a small town
If you use social media then you know what it’s like to live in a small town. Granted, you may not have a physical street address, or that one blinking traffic light to slow you down. The population may be in the millions, the thousands, or—if you live in a small, small town—one hundred or less. You have your favorite places, and you know how to find them. You also know when, and why you frequent them. There are locals, and there are those just passing through. You... Read More
A Week of Giving: Wynnewood Book Drive
Day One _ Day Two _ Day Three _ Day Four _ Day Five “Life-transforming ideas have always come to me through books,” American author Bell Hooks once said. Perhaps that is the idea that best explains a book drive being led by one Wynnewood, Okla., resident. Mike Dyson, a children’s author and therapist, resides in the same Garvin County community in which he’s striving to make a difference. And he intends to do it with books. “Reading a book is... Read More
A Week of Giving: Coats For Kids
Day One _ Day Two _ Day Three _ Day Four _ Day Five “I don’t want kids to be cold in the winter.” That’s it. That’s why she does it. In LaWanda Vaughn’s own words, that’s the reason she started giving coats to school children. “I just don’t want a kid to be cold,” she said. “I call my program the ‘Coats For Kids’.” According to the Pauls Valley, Okla., resident, no one asked her to care. No one... Read More
A Week of Giving: Introduction
Day One _ Day Two _ Day Three _ Day Four _ Day Five ‘Business’ as usual The holidays come once a year in the States; yet the the needs of our society seem constant against the backdrop of our seasonal wants. We begin the end of our calendar year’s by giving thanks on a day appropriately entitled “Thanksgiving”, and then get down to business. The following day—Black Friday—has become synonymous with record sales, shopping, and the “official”... Read More
'All The Bad Stuff' Parents Never Want
“I feel like the best way to know about something is from the inside, and I’ve been on the inside.” Words spoken by a mother who has seen—firsthand—the affects that drugs can have on a child. Her child. Her only son. My son did all the bad stuff that every parent would not want their child to do. ~ Lisa Castillo “My son did all the bad stuff that every parent would not want their child to do,” said Lisa Castillo. “I’m willing... Read More
If you had a city…
If you had a city, what would be its name? What would be its purpose? How would you describe it? What would define its boundaries? Who would you welcome to live there? Visit the “City of Hope“ SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "If you had a city…", url: "http://highwayexit72.com/?p=2215" }); Read More
Technology in a Small Town
Dictionary.com defines a “small town” as a “community of people smaller than a (village)”, or a “a small community or group of houses in a rural area.” Further, Wikipedia.org reports that the population of a “town” measures “less than 10,000 people”. Take for example: Pauls Valley, Okla. With a base population of 6,000-plus residents, the city’s motto is: “Not Your Ordinary Small Town“. Located between... Read More
