The State Capitol is shifting into high-gear this month as we count down the days until the new legislative session, which begins Mon., Feb. 7. Our next deadline of Jan. 20 is the final day to introdu...

With the beginning of the 2nd Session of the 58th Oklahoma Legislature in less than a month, bills are being drafted by legislative staffers for lawmakers’ consideration. Legislators filed more than 3...

Often in the midst of all the chaos I have learned that sometimes silence is best. Remaining silent is definitely better than just meaningless or hurtful words that never should be spoken. Sometimes b...

Happy New Year! I hope your celebration of the beginning of 2022 was fun, and in these current times, safe! Like so many of you, I contemplated my New Year’s resolutions. Doing that made me curious ab...

Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino released a message to Oklahoma Air National Guard members last week: To the Airmen of the Oklahoma Air National Guard, The Department of Defense (DoD) has indicated it wil...

As we say goodbye to last year and hello to this New Year, I am more determined than ever to stay focused on my word from the Lord - “Purposeful.” I want to be purposeful in 2022. The definition of pu...

We held our business meeting on Dec. 17. 2001 with Becky Blackwell leading the meeting with our pledge to the flag. Lisa did our minutes and treasurer report. Both were approved We had two birthdays, ...

With all my trips around the sun I’ve realized incidents happen because life happens. We just have to figure out how to learn from it all. Fifty-three years ago on December 30, 1968, my mother and fa...

Isaiah 9:6 tells us: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of...

In October, I wrote a column about an interim study hosted by the House to examine rural ambulance services. I have heard from constituents who live just across the county line from an emergency medic...

AARP Oklahoma is extremely disappointed with today’s (Dec. 17) ruling by the majority of Oklahoma’s Corporation Commissioners which forces more than 870,000 Oklahomans to pick up the tab for all the c...

The end of each year gives us an opportunity to reflect on the year behind us and look forward to what is to come. As I look back on what 2021 has brought our country, I can’t help but think of two re...

During this busy holiday season of decking the halls and all the sleigh bells ringing, it is easy to get overwhelmed with all the merriment of festivities until you feel like Ebenezer Scrooge and just...

As I have considered how I wanted to end this year, I knew I wanted to try to bring a message of hope and unity. We are truly living in dark days, where it seems we have lost any pretense of civility ...

The opioid crisis is one of the biggest health challenges facing America. In one year, from April 2020 to April 2021, we saw a record high of over 100,000 overdose deaths. And the latest data shows sy...

Now that we’ve wrapped up our redistricting special session, we’re preparing for our regular legislative session coming up next year, and the first deadlines are quickly approaching. Legislators must ...

Over the weekend, I drove down to Arlington to watch some college football with friends from my days at Oklahoma State. While the game did not end the way I had hoped, it was still a great time and a ...

As this year winds down and my family and I are preparing to begin a New Year, I decided to plant my charity seed into a church that has guided me tremendously throughout the past several years. Thoug...

The views or opinions expressed in any Letters to the Editor do not necessarily reflect the views of the McIntosh County Democrat. Markwayne Mullin better mull it over some more. I thought Christmas w...

Despite not being much of an athlete, I enjoy participating in sports. I still remember the playground when our physical education teacher would encourage us as a class to do organized exercises toget...