January 2025

Everything published in January 2025.

Community·January 31, 2025

Ponca City High School’s DECA Program Spreads Kindness to the Community and Beyond

•Ponca City High School's DECA program teaches career skills in marketing, management, hospitality, entrepreneurship and finance.
•Teacher Heather Monks led students through a six-week kindness curriculum with IDD students practicing daily acts of goodwill.
•DECA students took IDD children on their first-ever field trip reward to the Northern Oklahoma Humane Society.

Community·January 21, 2025

•Ponca Playhouse opens "The Little Prince" January 24-February 2 with shows Friday-Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2pm.
•The stage adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's classic explores imagination and wonder through a child's perspective.
•Director Maya Arana emphasizes the show's message about reclaiming childhood creativity lost to adult responsibilities.

Community·January 7, 2025

•Girl Scouts Troop 307 in Ponca City has five members from grades 8-12 led by girl officers.
•All Scout projects are girl-led with adult facilitators supporting their brainstormed ideas and goals.
•Scouts earn badges, complete quarterly service projects, and pursue bronze, silver, or gold awards.

The Sunny Side·January 6, 2025

•Winter's natural pause helps certain fruits bloom and enables crops like winter wheat and maple syrup.
•Cold exposure boosts immunity, increases metabolism, burns fat, and reduces allergens in winter months.
•Winter's stillness provides space to reflect on the past year and plan for future goals.

Community·January 5, 2025

•Pickleball was invented in 1965 by three dads near Seattle seeking activities for bored kids.
•Alan Phillips became a USA Pickleball Co-Ambassador and is leading the sport's growth in Ponca City.
•The Country Club hosts pickleball courts and has capacity for 32 players in tournaments.

Letter from the Editor·January 3, 2025

•Editor celebrates son's Eagle Scout achievement after overcoming doubt
•Breaking large goals into smaller tasks makes overwhelming projects feel manageable
•Strong teams accomplish more than individuals working alone can achieve

Community·January 2, 2025

•Ponca City has over 10 Free Little Libraries offering accessible books to residents.
•The "take a book, leave a book" concept has evolved to serve those without books.
•These neighborhood libraries help children and seniors who can't easily reach the public library.

You're all caught up