PRESS RELEASE

As we celebrate Independence Day and America’s
250th birthday, all of us at Oklahoma’s Choice
Weekly would like to extend our sincere gratitude
to the people, businesses, organizations, and
communities that make our part of Oklahoma such
a special place to call home.
For 250 years, America has been shaped by
hardworking men and women who believed in
faith, family, freedom, and community. Those values
continue to shine brightly across the towns we serve
every day.
We see them in the small business owner opening
the doors before sunrise. We see them in the farmer
working long hours to provide for a family. We
see them in teachers, first responders, healthcare
workers, volunteers, veterans, and community
leaders who dedicate themselves to making a
difference in the lives of others.
We also see them in the families who support local
businesses, attend community events, cheer from
the sidelines, lend a helping hand to a neighbor,
and work together to build stronger communities for
future generations.
As fireworks light up the Oklahoma sky this Fourth
of July, we hope everyone takes a moment to reflect
on the blessings we share, the freedoms we enjoy,
and the sacrifices made by those who came before
us.
From all of us at Oklahoma’s Choice Weekly,
thank you for allowing us to be a small part of your
communities. It is an honor and privilege that we
never take for granted.
We wish you and your family a safe, happy, and
blessed Independence Day.
Happy 250th Birthday, America!

Anesa K. Chastain Jones, General Manager/Graphics Director, 918-285-1314

Jon McQuillen, Central Territory Sales Representative, 918-873-0097

Wendi Stultz, Accounting/Classifieds, 918-528-7689

Misty Crouse, Social Media/Distribution, 918-528-7689

Getting to Know the Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence is a formal document that served
as the signatory colonies’ statement that they were now ‘free and
independent States.’ It is a vital document in American history.
On July 1, 1776, delegates from the original 13 colonies, making
up the Second Continental Congress, met in Philadelphia to vote
on Richard Henry Lee’s motion for independence. After some
deliberation, ultimately 12 of the 13 delegates voted in favor. In
recognition of those 12 delegates, here are 12 facts regarding the
Declaration of Independence.

1. The drafted document was officially adopted on July 4, 1776, two days after freedom from Britain was approved. However, most delegates signed the document on August 2, 1776, while others signed on a later date. John Dickinson and Robert R. Livingston never signed the Declaration of Independence.
2. John Dunlap was the official printer of Congress at the time. He worked all night and into the morning of July 5 to produce the large, single-sided sheet, known as a broadside. About 200 copies of Dunlap’s broadside were made.
3. The University of Virginia owns two copies of a rare early printing of the Declaration. It is on display in the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library. It is believed the copy once belonged to George Washington.
4. Benjamin Franklin, George Read, Roger Sherman, Robert Morris, George Clymer, and James Wilson signed both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
5. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were hidden at Fort Knox during World War II, two weeks after Pearl Harbor was attacked.
6. Despite what the movie ‘National Treasure’ will have one believe, the message on the back of the document is visible and reads ‘Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th July 1776.’
7. Richard Stockton, a lawyer from New Jersey, was a signer of the Declaration who later recanted his support of the American revolution. He subsequently swore his allegiance to King George III after being captured by the British.
8. In 1989, an original Dunlap Broadside was found hidden behind a picture a Philadelphia man bought at a flea market for $4. It later sold for $8.1 million. Ultimately, 26 copies of the original prints have been found.
9. The United States celebrates Independence Day on July 4th, even though independence was accepted on July 2nd.
10. Early on, not everyone in America was supportive of the Declaration of Independence. Partisan politics led to discord. Federalist John Adams was feuding with Republicans and Thomas Jefferson. The anniversary date of the signing was not widely celebrated until the Federalists were no longer involved in politics.
11. The one-year anniversary of Independence Day and the celebration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence slipped the minds of Congress in 1777. When they remembered it was July 3rd, they planned a last-minute celebration on July 4th, and each year thereafter.
12. John Trumbull’s painting ‘Declaration of Independence,’ which was made into a lithograph replica by Ralph Trembly, hangs in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. It is a fictional depiction of the five-man drafting committee presenting their draft to Congress, and not the signing. The painting shows 42 of the 56 signees, since Trumbull couldn’t get likenesses of all involved. The men featured in the painting were never all in the room at the same time during the Declaration’s debate and signing.
    The Declaration of Independence is a key document in American history, and its words are
    celebrated each Independence Day.

Resources

Pantry Finder

Hunger Free OK Food Bank Finder Our Daily Bread Stillwater

Mini Pantry Legacy Park Retirement Apartments: 498 E Virginia Ave, Stillwater, OK 74075

Do you have a free mini pantry in your area? Want to get the word out? Tag us on Facebook or email us, and we will post it here and share on our Socials.

Email us here

*Updated 11/6/2025*

Volume 6 Issue 26

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

I Named My Favorite Pumpkin After a Saint

By Anesa K. Chastain Jones, General Manager/Graphics Director

Every October, I carve pumpkins. It’s my Halloween tradition, no skipping, no excuses. Doesn’t matter how busy life gets or what chaos is going on at some point, I’m sitting down with a knife, a scoop, and a pumpkin that has no idea what’s coming.

The smell, the mess, the feel of it all, it’s oddly therapeutic. The table’s covered in newspaper like a crime scene, pumpkin guts everywhere, and everyone’s got a “plan” until the carving starts to lean or the top won’t fit back on. But that’s the fun of it. You never really know what you’re going to end up with.

I’ve carved plenty over the years, some great, some that looked like they’d been through a storm but my all-time favorite was one I named St. Benedict. It had a raven perched on a gravestone, with the candlelight flickering through the cuts just right so it looked alive. There was something about it, haunting but peaceful, like it meant something beyond Halloween night. It wasn’t just a pumpkin. It had a presence.

That’s what I love about carving. It’s not about perfect lines or who’s got the best design on the block. It’s about slowing down, getting messy, and making something that’s yours. It’s about the glow on the porch when the night hits just right, the laughter in the background, and that little bit of magic that sneaks in
when you least expect it.

Pumpkin carving isn’t an art form. It’s a memory, one you can hold in your hands, light up, and watch come to life.

Volume 6 Issue 23

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Volume 6 Issue 17

August 27, 2025

Payne County Youth Services Receives OSU College of Education and Human Sciences Student Impact Award

Payne County Youth Services was honored to receive the Student Impact Award at the recent College of Education and Human Sciences Faculty and Staff Fall Kickoff Meeting on the OSU Stillwater campus.

Presented by Dr. Deana Hildebrand, along with Dean Pedersen, a plaque was given to PCYS representatives Janet Fultz, Executive Director, and Judith Christiansen, Shelter Director. The award will be displayed at the PCYS Emergency Youth Shelter.

This award was based on a partnership with OSU Department of Nutritional Sciences which began approximately 7 years ago. The partnership brings 3-4 student interns from the nutrition department to work with PCYS staff and clients and focuses on the youth shelter and transitional living programs. Interns assist with teaching clients about nutrition, the importance of and skills for integrating healthy eating and nutritional intelligence into daily life and assists with meal planning and preparation. Interns in this program gain insight into working with children, youth and families who experience significant food insecurity, or mental health related eating challenges, which may be related not only to poverty and availability of healthy food, but also to the youth’s experience of abuse, neglect, and other trauma.

“In the award presentation, Dr. Hildebrand stated she hoped the work the students were doing at the shelter was at least as impactful for the agency and clients as was the experience that the students received,” stated Janet Fultz, Executive Director at PCYS. “I can assure all involved that the agency and clients are receiving amazing resources and support from the student interns, faculty and partnership. The interns are amazing in their dedication and interactions with our kids, and we are very grateful for this partnership. We enjoy working with Dr. Hildebrand and Dr. Harriet E. T. Okronipa, Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences.”

PCYS offers several internships in association with OSU at both undergraduate and graduate program levels. For more information regarding internship or volunteer opportunities, or to donate to PCYS, you can find them on Facebook, Instagram, visit their website at www.pcys.org, or Call 405-377-3380 . PCYS is a private, non profit, 501(c)3 organization and all donations are tax deductible.

Volume 6 Issue 9

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Thank You for Making the 66th Annual 101 Wild West Rodeo a Record-Setting Success!

The 101 Wild West Rodeo Committee would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the incredible community, fans, and sponsors who made this 66th Annual 101 Wild West Rodeo one for the history books.

Thanks to your support, this year’s rodeo was a record-setting event filled with unforgettable moments, top-tier competition, and the unmatched spirit of the Wild West that defines Ponca City. Your enthusiasm, dedication, and continued belief in this hometown tradition are what keep it alive and thriving.

To our sponsors, thank you for standing behind us and helping bring the vision to life. Your contributions play a vital role in creating an event that brings families, friends, and rodeo fans together year after year.

As we began planning for next year, we invite you to stay connected. Follow us on social media @101Rodeo and visit our website at 101wildwestrodeo.com for highlights from this year and updates about the 67th Annual 101 Wild West Rodeo.

The 101 Wild West Rodeo Committee

Volume 6 Issue 8

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Ponca City Gospel Jubilee

I, Vickie Wright, took the Gospel Jubilee over in 2017 from Melissa and Jay Fletcher. 2018. I married Dennis Vaughan, and together we became a team to make it through several management changes.

I was pretty scared to take over as manager, but I felt led by the Lord.

I had been on the road ministering in song and word for over 30 years as Wright Track Ministries. I knew nothing about managing a band, or the in and outs of running a Jubilee but decided to let God work all that out.

Being on the road, I knew several singing groups and started contacting them to come and sing at the Jubilee, and our outreach to new groups began to spread. The Gospel Jubilee in a non-denominational, non-profit organization that runs solely on donations. Everyone who volunteers at the Jubilee(band members, concession workers, sound technicians, and general workers) all volunteers their time and talents to the Jubilee for the Lord.

We all understand it’s a ministry that takes a village to run. God began to bring in new volunteers and band members who were talented in their areas. Many of the Jubilee band members are like me, they traveled in their own ministries for years. God just began to put together a wonderful bunch of faith-filled people. I work hard to keep a five-dollar donation at the door so everyone can afford. (Not mandatory) My goal is to keep it a comfortable, safe family, Christian-oriented environment that the whole family can enjoy.

The community began to donate prizes for Saturday night drawings. Which everyone loves, and that continues to grow all the time. ( Rib Crib, KFC, Cobbs, Ponca Beauty College, Tractor Supply, Pet Sence, Danny BBQ, Head Country, Sonic, and private individuals. To name a few.)

Free desserts are donated every Saturday as well for everyone to enjoy during mid-break.

Some people mistake us for a church, but we offer Christian entertainment for the family. The Jubilee is used greatly by the Lord.