Pecan lovin’ neighbor helps out

Roy Shepherd, 93 years young, gathers pecans produced from two trees in his neighbor’s yard on Sherwood Road. In a special arrangement, so far this season he’s picked up approximately 40 gallons of pecans in exchange for a share of the bounty.

Pandemic inspires creative communications

Since medically unnecessary visitations have been suspended for the time being at long-term care facilities, Grace Living Center resident Judith Harnois makes a video for family members with help from CNA Valeria Juarez, left, and Grace media specialist Stormy Flores. Flores said residents may make up to five one-minute-long videos per day, which she then forwards to loved ones.

The latest local casualty in the fight against COVID-19 is Western Plains Library System, which closed all seven of its branches at the end of the day on Tuesday. WPLS plans to reopen on April 6 if conditions warrant, said director Tim Miller, and in the meantime the library will still be providing digital service to its customers.

It’s not unusual for Clinton Public Schools’ maintenance staff to work during school breaks while classrooms are empty, but during spring break this week they’re performing disinfecting procedures that are normally reserved for the height of flu season.

Following guidance issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, skilled nursing facilities and long-term care facilities in Clinton have suspended all medically unnecessary visits indefinitely while the state works to contain the COVID-19 virus.

Associate District Judge Jill Weedon greeted visitors with a tape measure during Monday’s Custer County Commissioners Meeting in Courtroom 1 of the Custer County Courthouse in Arapaho.

It’s a jungle out there

Kids from Clinton’s Big Five Head Start program who dressed up as animals for “Dr. Seuss Week” included, front row from left (sitting), Mahi Patel as Minnie Mouse; Evalina Martinez, bunny; and Giovanni Hernandez, dinosaur; and back row, Thiago Mitchell, raccoon, Maricel Bonilla, Minnie Mouse; and Jonathan Gonzales as a tiger.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister called an emergency meeting of the State Board of Education for 4 p.m. Monday to authorize the closure of all Oklahoma schools beginning March 17 and lasting until April 6.

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