Columns & Opinions
SALLISAW TOPS
By Billie Anthony 
December 2, 2025
Fourteen members weighed in today. This week new member, Jim, had our best weight loss with a 4.4 pounds. Weigh to go, Jim! Keep up the good work. Today was after Thanksgiving and our chapter had a ne...
Columns & Opinions, Religion
BLACKGUM CHRISTIAN UNION CHURCH
By Pastor Reggie Kelley 
December 2, 2025
BROTHERS, SISTERS, FAMILY, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, NO MATTER WHAT THIS WORLD TELLS YOU/ME/US—THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY THROUGH HEAVEN’S GATES! THAT WAY IS ONLY WITH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOR! John 1...
Columns & Opinions
SALLISAW TOPS
By Billie Anthony 
November 27, 2025
Monday, we had 15 TOPS members to weigh in. This week Brenda H had our best weight loss with a 4.1 pounds. Weigh to go, Brenda! Keep up the good work. The two-bit bowl will wait until next week to be ...
B: Sports, Columns & Opinions
GRIDIRON NOTES
By DAVID SEELEY SPORTS EDITOR 
November 27, 2025
The Vian Wolverines are going to have to wait another week before getting their chance to meet the Davis Wolves in the Class 2A, Division II state semifinals — and avenge last year’s state title game ...
Columns & Opinions
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler 
November 27, 2025
Over night the woods changed their colors and leaves fall like huge brown snowflakes. Many trees hold their leaves but change their colors until it freezes or there is heavy rain. The poem we hear at ...
Columns & Opinions, Sports
CAGE NOTES
November 25, 2025
First off, welcome to the first edition of the Cage Notes Column for the 202526 high school basketball season. It’s hard to believe, but the 2025-26 high school basketball season will begin next week....
Columns & Opinions
CHIEF CHAT
By Chuck Hoskin Jr. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief 
November 25, 2025
If you live within the Cherokee Nation and see a rural transit vehicle, Cherokee Nation along with some great partners helped make it possible. It is a great investment. Cherokee Nation budgets more t...
Columns & Opinions, Religion
BLACKGUM CHRISTIAN UNION CHURCH
By Pastor Reggie Kelley 
November 25, 2025
CHERISH THE LORD ALL YOUR/ MY/OUR DAYS! GLORIFY THE LORD AS BEST A HE KNOWS YOU/ ME/WE CAN! PRAISE THE LORD TO THE HIGHEST! Deuteronomy 10:1-22 1At that time the Lord said unto me, Hew thee two tables...
Columns & Opinions
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler 
November 20, 2025
Mark Twain continually taught us with tart humor. He said he never let his schooling interfere with his education. There is so much we have to learn in order to communicate with each other, to know wh...
B: Sports, Columns & Opinions
GRIDIRON NOTES
By DAVID SEELEY SPORTS EDITOR 
November 20, 2025
Last Friday night was not how the Sallisaw Black Diamonds wanted to finish the season, falling in the Class 4A playoffs opening round, losing 35-14 to the Grove Ridgerunners. However, for the third st...
Columns & Opinions
CHIEF CHAT
By Chuck Hoskin Jr. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief 
November 18, 2025
Our duty to care for those who have served our tribal Nation and our country is among our greatest honors in Cherokee Nation. From historic military enlistment to modern-day participation and active d...
Columns & Opinions
SALLISAW TOPS
By Billie Anthony 
November 18, 2025
Monday, we had 11 TOPS and one KOPS members to weigh in. Cindy had our best weight loss for the week with a 5.6 pounds. Weigh to go, Cindy! Keep up the good work. The two-bit bowl winner was Willine w...
Columns & Opinions, Religion
BLACKGUM CHRISTIAN UNION CHURCH
By Pastor Reggie Kelley 
November 18, 2025
PREACH THE WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST! BE A LAMP OF THE GLORY OF THE LORD! CHRISTIANS ARE PREACHERS FOR JESUS CHRIST WHO IS THE GLORY OF THE LORD! 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 1Therefore seeing we have this minist...
Columns & Opinions, Sports
GRIDIRON NOTES
By DAVID SEELEY SPORTS EDITOR 
November 13, 2025
For those veterans who are heading to any of our local three playoff games tonight — Sallisaw at Grove, Keys at Vian or Webbers Falls at Waukomis — you are going to receive a special honor thanks to t...
Columns & Opinions
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler 
November 13, 2025
As double dealing as the world seems at times, the whole thing is run on trust. We could not make it one day without that trust. From world leaders to the smallest thing we can buy at the grocery stor...
Columns & Opinions
By Lynn Adams Staff Writer 
November 13, 2025
Franklin Delano Roosevelt is known for quite a few achievements we often take for granted. He established Social Security, the minimum wage and the 40-hour work week. His “New Deal” introduced program...
Columns & Opinions
CHIEF CHAT
By Chuck Hoskin Jr. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief 
November 11, 2025
As Cherokee Nation citizens, we draw strength from those who came before us. Our elders are the foundation of our communities, the keepers of our history, and the heart of our families. As we gathered...
Columns & Opinions, Religion
BLACKGUM CHRISTIAN UNION CHURCH
By Pastor Reggie Kelley 
November 11, 2025
ALL PEOPLE CAN COME TO THE LORD! HE GAVE ALL PEOPLE THE FREE CHOICE TO KNOW HIM AS BEST AS GOD KNOWS THEY CAN! EVERYTHING IS IN GOD’S TIME! GIVE GOD THE GLORY FOREVER! Isaiah 60:1-22 1Arise, shine; fo...
Columns & Opinions, Sports
KILGORE'S CORNER
November 6, 2025
Leaf peepers, it is your time of year. There are many places in Oklahoma to see some beautiful fall foliage which is just coming into peak color this week. It has been at moderate to high color and sh...
Columns & Opinions, Sports
GRIDIRON NOTES
By DAVID SEELEY SPORTS EDITOR 
November 6, 2025
It just seems like I was doing football photograph days for the 2025 High School Football Preview, which was published in August. Beginning with Vian’s District 2AII-4 showdown Thursday night at Valli...