November 2024

Everything published in November 2024.

Community·November 21, 2024

Thankfulness isn't just for Thanksgiving

•Gratitude practice benefits mental and physical health year-round, not just in November.
•Our brains naturally focus on negative things, making intentional gratitude practice necessary for most.
•Grateful people report higher life satisfaction, better relationships, and lower depression and anxiety rates.

Community·November 21, 2024

•Fentanyl is 50-100 times stronger than morphine and is now a leading cause of overdose deaths nationwide.
•Counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl look identical to real medications but can be lethal in tiny amounts.
•Never take prescription pills unless they come directly from a licensed pharmacy.

Community·November 20, 2024

•NOC wrestling programs debut with Red and Black Scrimmage on October 24 at 5 p.m.
•First National Bank of Oklahoma donated new mats to support the men's and women's wrestling teams.
•Men's wrestling returns to NOC after a 30-year absence; women's program is brand new.

Community·November 20, 2024

•Lauren Payne built her photography skills shooting fishing competitions across the nation for her family's business after college.
•She was one of few women in the male-dominated fishing industry, earning the nickname "the girl who'd eat all the sandwiches."
•Payne continuously improved her craft through Nikon classes, internships, and membership in the Professional Photographers of America.

Community·November 19, 2024

•Under My Wing Academy opened July 1 to address Ponca City's childcare shortage of about 900 spots.
•Founder Kristan Lawson credits mentorship from her grandmother for overcoming hardship and achieving her dream.
•The academy prioritizes low teacher-to-student ratios and pays staff well above minimum wage for quality care.

•Local nonprofits need extra support during the holidays to help vulnerable community members.
•Survivor Resource Network helps domestic violence and abuse survivors through shelter, counseling, and advocacy services.
•SRN needs gift cards, clothing, hygiene products, toys, food, and monetary donations this season.

The Sunny Side·November 12, 2024

•Homesteading provides simplicity and responsibility through caring for plants and animals.
•Shift from reactive "fix-it" thinking to proactive prevention prevents most problems before they start.
•Healthy environments naturally support wellness; illness often signals environmental issues, not individual failures.

Letter from the Editor·November 3, 2024

•Editor encourages readers to focus on mending broken relationships rather than ending or starting them.
•Time can heal old wounds, though some relationships are too damaged to salvage and should be released.
•Thanksgiving is an ideal time to reach out and attempt reconciling with estranged friends, family, or former loves.

Chamber Connection·November 2, 2024

•Chamber's Santa Buck Giveaway began in late 1980s/early 1990s via Main Street Program initiative.
•Original grand prize was a 1965 Mustang; three different colored Mustangs were given away consecutively.
•First drawing drew estimated 4,000 people to downtown Ponca City hoping to win the iconic car.

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