Roses are one of the most popular plants in Oklahoma gardens, and many are relatively easy to grow, especially the newer varieties like the Knock Out® rose. Roses offer color and fragrance in the garden, and many make wonderful cut flowers. If you have a garden, you should try your hand at growing roses!. Read more | Preview

That would change years later. For the next seven years, band members came and went. Finally, Black put together a group of musicians that have been with him for more than 20 years. They include guitarist Graham Pugh, bass player Rick Alongi, drummer Bob Gorley and keyboard player Phil Sapper, formerly of Harvey and the Wallbangers. Read more | Preview

“This will not be done with any public money,” said Howe, an Air Force pilot who flew B-52s during the Vietnam war. “Each statue will cost $40,000, but this type of art puts us in a different realm. It will take us into the world of art, which opens new avenues for giving. Read more | Preview

In my presentation, I told the club members about the importance of supporting their local newspaper. After all, we received numerous compliments about our publication and its new appearance, content and local ownership. In this business, compliments can be few and far between, so we enjoyed all of the positive remarks. Read more | Preview

The extraordinary initial line-up of his incredible combo are touring to support their latest recording, “Rocket Science. Read more | Preview

In fact, every night when he goes home, the general’s hat comes off – if only temporarily – and suddenly the commander of one of the most critical U.S. Air Force bases turns into father, husband, scuba diver and avid fan of New England sports teams.. Read more | Preview

This week’s retirement of Midwest City Fire Marshal Jerry Lojka reminded me how an effective and well-intentioned PIO does his job. During the past 14 months I’ve discovered that he knows his job and he understands the role reporters play in the world of news and information. Read more | Preview

Lojka spent 29 years at the Midwest City Fire Department and served in several roles, including firefighter, inspector, investigator, public education officer, public information officer and fire marshal.

His favorite job was that of department spokesman as he answered questions from the press, and conveyed important fire prevention tips to the public.

Midwest City School graduate Lester Claravall will receive the prestigious Lewis Hines Award for Service to Children and Youth during a ceremony in New York City on Monday.

The award will be presented by the National Child Labor Committee, which serves as the sponsor for the Lewis Hines awards...

Several hundred people attended Midwest City’s 15th annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Prayer Breakfast Monday at the Sheraton Hotel’s Reed Conference Center. Featured speakers were former state legislator Angela Monson, Oklahoma City police officer Paco Balderamma and Midwest City graduate and current University of Oklahoma student Rodney Farrow. Read more | Preview

Spiwak bought Chequers in December 2000 and then hired David Long away from Redrock Canyon Grill, on Lake Hefner. He was working under Chef Brad Johnson, well-known executive chef, which gave Long some great training. Long runs the Chequers kitchen with two other front line cooks and Spiwak fills in wherever he is needed. Read more | Preview

“I got my first Don’s Alley paycheck in 1971 while I was in junior high. I worked summers and did dishes and helped on Sundays while I was in Kerr Junior High and Del City High School,” he recalled. “Everybody (in the family) has worked here except Joe. Read more | Preview

In 1983 Mike Murphy, Sr. opened Express-O-Stop and ran the business until 1987 with his son, Mike Murphy, Jr. Then Mike, Jr. took his culinary skills to Harrah in the form of Michael’s Family Restaurant in 1988, but came back to Express-O-Stop in 1991, and finally bought the restaurant from his dad in 1999. Read more | Preview

Jim Dolezel runs on only one speed: fast. He has to, to keep up with restaurant trends and track meets. He has blended the two as a fine art. Dolezel, who hails from Michigan, served a stint in Vietnam in 1971 where he determined “If I ever get out of here nothing will ever be this hard again. Read more | Preview

Discover Oklahoma host and Jones resident Jenifer Reynolds, foreground, smiles as Choctaw High School cheerleaders and patrons at Charlie’s Sports Grill yell from the background during a taping of the show Feb. 22. Discover Oklahoma was taped at the Choctaw restaurant after winning a Facebook contest on “Your Favorite Place to Watch a Thunder Game. Read more | Preview

The story of Old Germany Restaurant, 15920 SE 29th in Choctaw, is well known in Eastern Oklahoma County, and the entire state. In fact, the restaurant has been featured in numerous publications, and is highly recommended on several dining Web sites, including travelok. Read more | Preview

The Midwest City Elks Lodge 1890 will host a Valentine’s comedy-murder mystery dinner and silent auction Saturday, Feb. 11 at the lodge, 8635 SE 15th.

Doors open at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 with the performance of “Gone” With the Wine at 7:15.

Following are Thanksgiving recipes provided by second grade students at Barnes Elementary. Students provided the ingredients and the preparation and cooking directions. Read more | Preview

After 10 years of operating his own restaurant company, Jeff Havern remains as passionate as ever. Read more | Preview

The Buddha Mind Monastery will hold a benefit concert and dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Nick Harroz Midwest City Community Center, 200 N. Midwest Blvd. in Midwest City. Read more | Preview

Individual titles often are harder to come by than team championships. There is no one to rely on. It’s up to the person running, jumping or hurdling to create their own success. If they win, it’s personal glory. If they fail to medal, it’s often considered a personal loss. Read more | Preview

A second question is why didn’t Terry try to escape through a window in the bedroom? Perhaps we’ll never know the answers to this tragedy. Maybe, some day, fire investigators will determine a cause. Even with that, we may never know why Terry did not break out that window and jump. Read more | Preview

The college grads, for the most part, have finished their education. Some may pursue degrees beyond the bachelor’s level. Some may seek degrees in law or medicine. Others may spend the next several years in school working on doctorates that will allow them to teach at the college level. Read more | Preview

Many years ago, I covered a tragic auto accident that left mom, dad and two siblings dead. It occurred in Piedmont and the dad, a veterinarian, had gone on a latenight call to help a wounded animal that had been hit on a rural Canadian County road. The vet’s wife and children decided to tag along. Read more | Preview

Former City Manager Robert Floyd has made allegations the city knowingly overpaid a development firm that was hired to promote the Choctaw Town Square business project along NE 23rd Street. The development firm eventually landed the biggest of all fishes - a Walmart Supercenter. Read more | Preview

On the local level, one Oklahoma County Sheriff candidate is leveling charges against incumbent John Whetsel. The ink was hardly dry on the filing paperwork before allegations of wrongdoing and mismangement hit the emails and faxes of every newspaper and television station in the area. Read more | Preview

Among them were Maj. Jody Williams of the Midwest City Fire Department, Station Chief James Hester, of the Tinker Fire Emergency Service Division, Capt. Mike Davis of the Del City Fire Department, Capt. Kenneth Sloan of the Midwest City Police Department, Lt. Read more | Preview

County who have longed for a newspaper devoted to local interests. Your layout and format are very “user friendly.” Your newspaper is substantive, and covers our local high school sports thoroughly. We enjoy the many colorful photographs.. Read more | Preview

Specifically, that would be a $93 million bond issue that resulted in the construction of two new schools, improvements and renovations to every other school site, special athletic projects, and finally, the construction of a new administration building that was overdue. Read more | Preview

I travel this road many times and really like the 4 lanes. However, when I travel the right lane, going south (West Side) my car suddenly becomes like a boat, rocking from side to side. On the East side, going north, right lane, my car rides as if I’m driving on a washboard, rough and bumpy. Read more | Preview

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