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COVID-19 financial thoughts
April is Financial Literacy Month. This is the time each year consumers are reminded to reflect on their financial well-being and consider possible changes to their behavior. As we navigate our way...
Every day is a new plan
Announcement: The Alva Police Department wants you to know that running from them is not social distancing! It almost looks like an episode of the Twilight Zone with all the closed businesses and...
Organic vs non-organic
Now that the fuel prices have dropped, I’m treating my vehicles to premium. Will it increase mileage, performance or engine life? In some vehicles, yes, according to research by Road and Track...
Murdock's Minutes
Late last week, Congress passed a $2 trillion relief bill to help individuals, families, businesses and states in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The package includes $150 billion in emergency funding for state and local governments, including at...
Random Thoughts: Educated to the Nth degree – Part 2
After Michael Nicholson graduated from high school, he spent four years earning a bachelor’s degree and another three years completing a master’s degree. In the meantime, he got married and went t...
Carl's Capitol Comments: Relief available to constituents
First, I would like to say please heed the warnings about personal distancing and keeping your hands clean. The difference between this and other viruses is that you can have the virus in your system for up to 14 days WITHOUT any symptoms. Thus, all...
Making use of time at home
Saturday I spoke on the phone with an Alva woman who described herself as elderly. She was spending a lot of time at home. She became emotional as she described how much it meant to her to see the...
Senate Review: Restrictions, work-arounds and advice from my daughter
Gov. Kevin Stitt announced a series of new temporary restrictions that will impact the daily lives of many across District 19 on Tuesday. Headlining the restrictions was the “Safer at Home” order, which requires those in vulnerable populations to...
The American people, in general, are pretty neat
All over the country help is being given in all kinds of ways. Locally several people are making masks for at-risk people. The schools are feeding kids. Several people are delivering meals....
Paper
“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. Brown paper packages tied up with strings, these are a few of my favorite things.” Julie Andrews sang...
Letter to the Editor: 'I am worried about my hometown'
I would like to offer my opinion on COVID-19 as a former Alva resident and a future infectious disease physician in training. I work at a major academic medical center where I have access to ICU beds, rapid testing and specialists. Even with these...
Murdock's Minutes: First, don't panic; use common sense and be a good neighbor
There have been a lot of changes in the state in just the past week due to COVID-19. But first and foremost, I continue to tell people not to panic. Yes, be careful about spreading germs by practicing good hygiene. Cover your mouth when you cough,...
Random Thoughts: Educated to the Nth degree – part 1
An administrator at Northwestern Oklahoma State University once told me that NWOSU was the primary thing that distinguishes Alva from other small-town county seats in this part of our state....
Carl's Capitol Comments: The virus in the room
Alright, let’s talk about the virus in the room. COVID-19 is much on everyone’s mind. I want to give some facts the Legislature received from the state health commissioner. He said the reason such extreme measures are being taken – schools,...
Letter to the Editor The Cross
In four weeks, we will be observing Easter. This community (Cherokee), along with many others, entertains some sort of Morning Sunrise Service, which depicts the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The setting of this event is usually in the country, on a...
We're in uncharted territory
We are certainly experiencing an interesting time. It’s uncharted territory for most of us. Some people react with panic. Others refuse to pay attention to guidelines. Most of us are just staying...
Senate Review
As I’m sure you all know, the coronavirus pandemic has quickly swept across the United States. The virus has now been reported in all 50 states, and numbers continue to rise daily here in Oklahoma. It’s hard to think that life was normal a...
The government-sponsored panic is moving along
Time will tell how this compares to other health outbreaks that got less attention. There is talk of the government helping people exist with payments. I think for businesses and workers alike this...
Sustainability
When we think of sustainability, we should think about organizations as well as the environment. Our society is constantly evolving and since we share this Earth for the foreseeable future, we must...
Murdock's Minutes: Senate sends 384 bills to House; begins work on 411 bills from House
This past Thursday was the deadline for floor votes in the Senate on bills that were introduced in this chamber. We’ve had some long days in recent weeks as we voted on hundreds of bills, first in committee and then on the floor. As of our deadline...
Random Thoughts: More annoying TV commercials
Previously, I wrote about television ads that drive me crazy. I thought I was finished with that topic, but I feel compelled to revisit it. Currently, there are at least three advertisements running...
Carl's Capitol Comments
We had another really busy week in the House this past week as we faced the deadline to have all House bills passed off the House floor. We had until March 12 to pass all House bills to the Senate and vice versa. At last count, it looked like we...
Be aware of the needs around you
Each day seems to bring more news about efforts to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. At first, the cases and the closures seemed far away. First a Thunder game was canc...
Covid-19, formerly coronavirus, hit home for us last week
Cleo and I have missed the last two Wichita swap meets due to health issues. We decided to go this year, because we both felt pretty good, and had no appointments to keep. I have a friend that was...
Spiritually Speaking
A few passages of Scripture come immediately to mind: Throw yourself down, for God will give His angels charge over you and you will not dash your foot against a stone (or perhaps) let anyone among you who thinks that he stands, take heed lest ye...
