Columns & Opinions
By Janis Risley EXTENSION EDUCTOR, FCS/4-H SEQUOYAH COUNTY 
July 25, 2024
It’s estimated that more than one-third of adults in the U.S. are getting less than seven hours of sleep daily. Prolonged lack of sleep can lead to serious health consequences, including immunodeficie...
Columns & Opinions, Sports
THE DIAMOND MINE
By BY DAVID SEELEY SPORTS EDITOR 
July 25, 2024
Congratulations to four individuals who were a part of the Class of 2024 to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame over the weekend — former players Adrian Beltre, Joe Mauer and Todd Helton along ...
Columns & Opinions
SALLISAW TOPS
By Billie Anthony 
July 25, 2024
Monday’s attendance was 15. We had a net of 8.9 pounds. I had the best weight loss for the week with 3.6 pounds. Our Ladder Contest has two members tied to win on the second rung to the top. Good luck...
Columns & Opinions
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler 
July 25, 2024
'The night is spent, the day is at hand ... ‘ Therefore, let us get rid of everything that causes darkness. Let us put on all that is light and be happy and joyful. Let us polish the windows of our so...
Columns & Opinions, Religion
BLACKGUM CHRISTIAN UNION CHURCH
By Pastor Reggie Kelley 
July 23, 2024
HEAVEN’S OUR ETERNAL HOME IF YOU KNOW JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR KNOW JESUS CHRIST, NOW ETERNAL LIFE! NO JESUS CHRIST, NO ETERNAL LIFE! THE ROAD TO HEAVEN IS NARROW AND FEW WILL GO THERE! He...
Columns & Opinions
COMMENTARY
By JANELLE STECKLEIN OKLAHOMA VOICE 
July 18, 2024
Every time it seems like our public school policies can’t get any more bizarre, our education officials manage to up the ante. In the past month alone, they’ve announced that: • Bibles must be used in...
Columns & Opinions, Sports
THE DIAMOND MINE
By DAVID SEELEY SPORTS EDITOR 
July 18, 2024
Another Major League Baseball All-Star Game, a.k.a. “The Mid-Summer Classic,” is now in the books. The American League rebounded from last year’s loss to the National League much in the same way the N...
Columns & Opinions
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler 
July 18, 2024
So much is taken for granted until the inevitable change makes us sit up and take notice. If the little daily, homely pursuits seem tedious and unfulfilling, it is only because we do not realize how t...
Columns & Opinions
By Janis Risley EDUCTOR, FCS/4-H 
July 18, 2024
When a couple goes through a divorce, each parent may have feelings of grief, loss, anger or anxiety. To help suppress those feelings, some people try to stay busy but this can add additional stress. ...
Columns & Opinions, Religion
BLACKGUM CHRISTIAN UNION CHURCH
By Pastor Reggie Kelley 
July 16, 2024
NEVER USE THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN! NEVER BLASPHEME GOD’S HOLY NAME! THIS SHOULD NEVER BE! GOD’S NAME IS SUPREMELY HOLY! IN OTHER WORDS: WATCH YOUR MOUTH! Exodus 20:1-26 1And God spake all these words,...
Columns & Opinions
CHIEF CHAT
By Chuck Hoskin Jr. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief 
July 16, 2024
A recent Tulsa World report revealed an unfortunate but all-too-real statistic: American Indians in Oklahoma die on average 17 years earlier than their non-Indigenous neighbors. While this finding is ...
Columns & Opinions, News
SALLISAW TOPS
By Billie Anthony 
July 11, 2024
Monday’s membership attendance was 13. We missed our other five members. Cindy had the best weight loss for the second week in a row with 3.2 pounds. Way to go Cindy! We had a chapter net loss of 8.9 ...
Columns & Opinions
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler 
July 11, 2024
No one fools like we fool ourselves. There’s hardly a subject about which we are more ignorant than ourselves. Our thoughts run wild, fed by five senses which takes their information from outside sour...
Columns & Opinions, Sports
THE DIAMOND MINE
MLB All-Star Game slated Tuesday night in Arlington
By BY DAVID SEELEY SPORTS EDITOR 
July 11, 2024
The 2024 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, a.k.a. “The Mid-Summer Classic,” will take place Tuesday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas — the home of the World Series champion Texas Range...
Columns & Opinions
July 9, 2024
My name is Evan Breedlove and I have spent most of my career working with, developing and administering health insurance plans for employees and clients. As we get older, health care becomes more impo...
Columns & Opinions, Religion
BLACKGUM CHRISTIAN UNION CHURCH
By Pastor Reggie Kelley 
July 9, 2024
I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I’M SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT LONG HOME THAT’S OUT OF THIS WORLD! GIVE GOD THE PRAISE AND GLORY FOREVER! Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 1Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy ...
Columns & Opinions
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler 
July 4, 2024
Did you lose? No, you didn’t. It is a sign that something bigger awaits your attention. Don’t let fear of failure keep you from moving out and up. When we feel we have lost, it does something that neg...
B: Sports, Columns & Opinions
THE DIAMOND MINE
R.I.P., Stan Abel, Orlando Cepeda
July 4, 2024
We continue to lose state and national sports icons. Last weekend, we heard of the passing of former Oklahoma wrestling coach Stan Abel just about a day or so before the passing of Major League Baseba...
Columns & Opinions
JUST THINKIN'
By Just Thinkin' Hal McBride SPECIAL TO YOUR TIMES 
July 4, 2024
As with so many of my fellow citizens, I watched and listened to the Presidential Debate CNN hosted this past week. I believe, like most, my take-aways were tinted by my predispositions. Still, I hear...
Columns & Opinions, Religion
BLACKGUM CHRISTIAN UNION CHURCH
By Pastor Reggie Kelley 
July 2, 2024
IT’S SAD TO SAY, BUT MANY ARE GOING TO CHOOSE HELL OVER HEAVEN! THE ROAD TO HELL IS FILLED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS A FILTY RAGS BEFORE THE LORD! WHICH ROAD ARE YOU TRAVELING? KN...