Ledger/LCJ newsletter 12-27-2022

The Ledger/LCJ newsletter for Tuesday

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Bible verse of the day 12-27-2022

The Bible verse of the day for Tuesday:

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

--2 Corinthians 3:17

The 1440 Daily Bulletin for today

Today’s Daily Chatter

Commissioners’ agenda 12-27-2022

The LeFlore County commissioners will meet in a regular business meeting 9 a.m. Tuesday in the office of the board of county commissioners.

AGENDA:

1. Call to order.

2. Minutes of previous meetings.

3. Purchase orders/payroll.

4. Bonds.

5. Monthly fee reports.

6. Transfer of appropriations.

7. Blanket purchase orders.

8. New business.

9. Current bridge and road projects.

10. Contract labor/service agreements.

11. Burn ban.

12. Conser Road projects.

13. Tabled from previous meeting: Open and possibly award bid regarding 6-month highway materials.

14. Discuss and possibly approve public health resolution allowing county treasurer to reinvest surplus public health funds.

15. Adjourn.

Life in small slices

By LEON YOUNGBLOOD

Having made it through Christmas and the miserable cold that came with it, some of us older fellows began the last week of 2022 philosophizing about the good and bad aspects of the waning year among other things.  This was over lunch at one of our county’s buffet restaurants, our excursion intended to relieve the “cabin fever” we were suffering. 

BRIAR CIRCLE

Not that all of us stayed indoors during the freeze.  Water pipes froze and burst, electric power failed, animals had to be fed, and other such things got people out, but generally without enthusiasm.  So naturally, we talked about the weather.  That got us to heating costs, which took us to the high price of gas and diesel fuel, the price of eggs, illegal immigrants and the American tax payer, inflation’s effect upon the cost of Christmas, and whether or not 2023 will be better.  Various ailments related to aging dimmed any light at the end of the tunnel.  Cataracts, aching knees, dementia, heart conditions, toenail fungus, receding hairlines and other health issues zapped our energy for anything except overeating.  We began to doubt if our motley group would make it to New Year’s!  If we did, how would we ever be able to afford it?

Our friend Gene was not unresponsive to the group’s comments, musings and observations. but he had not said much.  He was intelligent, good natured, mild-mannered, healthy, and he could be irritating in a lot of other ways, too.  He was asked what he thought about the weather and the ill condition of the world.

“I can’t do anything about the weather,” Gene answered.  “I can’t do anything about the world’s problems, either.  All I can do is try to take life in small slices.”

“Life in small slices.”  This made sense, somehow, in a vague sort of way.  We requested clarification.

Gene explained.  “Take the weather.  It’s like this every year.  We will have cold fronts that burst in and mess everything up for a few days.  Then it will warm up for a few days.  It comes and goes, and in the summer, we’ll be too hot and too dry, and we won’t be happy about that.  Nothing can be done about the weather, so stop complaining and deal with it.

“Likewise, most of us can’t do much about how much fuel cost, except maybe vote in every election.  Things will change, and the best options will come out on top eventually. 

“Regarding our health, we’re probably living in the best time in history to be sick.  Medical advances make life better for so many people who otherwise wouldn’t have a chance—but take life in small slices, or small doses, whatever you want to call it.  If you take it all at once, it’ll choke you.”

The gloomiest man with us muttered, “‘Don’t worry, be happy.’  Gene, you’re an optimist.  Life usually cures that.  Over 180,000 people worldwide die every day, mostly by painful little slices.  That’s a big slice of life to deal with, ain’t it?  I mean, some things don’t come in small slices.”—and he pointed out his need for a walker, my diabetes and Parkinson’s, another’s cancer, and would have rattled on if Gene had not interrupted. 

“No,” Gene admitted.  “But, ‘sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.’  You can’t help everyone, but you can help someone.  Good can be served in small slices, too.  It adds up.”

Our gloomy friend was not swayed, but said he could appreciate Gene’s point of view.

As we left, our waitress told us, “Gentlemen, y’all are clear.  Some folks saw Gene, paid your entire party’s bill, and said, ‘Tell that bunch of old reprobates to have a blessed New Year!’”

This was cheerful news!  Mister Gloom winced, and touched by this kindness, said, “Hmm, life in small slices.  Well—maybe I will have to think about that.”

LeFlore County weather 12-27-2022

Clear skies and slightly warmer Wednesday in LeFlore County.

The high will be 47 degrees with a low of 30.

Sunrise is 7:25 a.m. Sunset is 5:14 p.m.

Average temperatures for Dec. 27 are a high of 50 and low of 27. Records for the date were a high of 69 in 1993 and a record low of 16 in 1989.

Last year on this date, the high was 70 with a low of 52.  

LeFlore County calendar

The calendar of events lists the upcoming events in the area. This is a free service, so if you or your group have an event coming up and would like it added to the calendar, please email craig@heavenerledger.com or text (918) 649-4712.                                                                                                                                                                       

Tuesday

County commissioners meet 9 a.m.

Funeral service for David Harold McConnell

Poteau Evening Lions Club meet 6 p.m. CASC

Wednesday

Poteau Rotary Club meets noon at EOMC

High school basketball: Pocola girls in TOC; Pocola boys in Bank 7 Holiday Classic

Thursday

Poteau Kiwanis Club meets noon

Heavener VFW bingo 6 p.m. Highway 59 North 

High school basketball: Pocola girls in TOC; Pocola boys in Bank 7 Holiday Classic

Friday

High school basketball: Pocola girls in TOC; Pocola boys in Bank 7 Holiday Classic

Monday

LeFlore County commissioners meet 9 a.m.

Heavener Lions Club meets 5 p.m. Simple Simon’s

City of Poteau meetings 

Blast from the past 12-27-2021

This is the blast from the past for Tuesday. This is a feature we post daily on the Ledger/LCJs daily newsletter of a picture from the past of the people, places and events from Heavener and LeFlore County.

From 1956, Coy Robertson and daughter Anita are shown in front of the Oklahoma Tire and Supply building, which now hosts Rice Furniture in downtown Heavener.

If you have an old photo to use in our blast from the past, please email craig@heavenerledger.com.

Did you know 12-26-2022

Did you know is a feature we run exclusively on the Ledger/LCJ daily newsletter focusing on the people and places of LeFlore County.

Three Stick Monument, honoring land, wood and water atop Kiamichi Mountain was dedicated in 1958.

If you have an interesting fact or figure about LeFlore County, email it to craig@heavenerledger.com.

Little Ledger 12-27-2022

By CRAIG HALL

After a long day, the Hall family is back in civilized time.

As mentioned earlier, we had a water leak on Christmas Day and had to turn all the water off for the house.

So just like in the old days when the pioneers would walk down to the river to get water, I carried buckets of water up to my brother’s house. I woke him up, unfortunately, since his dog was barking at me, but he still seemed to be in good spirits.

We were obviously not the only one troubled by the frigid days of late last week, but it was a royal pain in the bootie. It was easy for me when I had to tinkle, I just went outside to a covered location and let it rip. Trish the Wife is not a pee outside person, thus, we had to have water to help flush.

Luckily Kyle and his helper from Baker Plumbing rescued us last night and we now have running water, as a family should have in the 2020’s. This is from the one does not realize how much something is needed until they don’t have it department.

I have always thought the generations that came before us was tougher. Now, I have no doubt. All I have to do is think of going to the outhouse in the middle of the night when the wind chill factor is negative 10-15 degrees. I figure doing Number Two was not a pleasant act, or that Number One was not much better, just quicker.

Since the repair came a little later than I expected, I did the YouTube thing and checked out how to fix a busted water pipe. It did not like that difficult, but turned out to be totally different than I expected. I thought we would have to remove the whole panel covering that section, but they simply figured out where the lead was and cut a hole, then had to solder the hole.  The biggest problem was it was in a narrow space and the whole was on the other side of the pipe. Finally, they made another hold to fix the original hole, then fixed the new hole and presto, we weren’t exactly cooking with gas at that moment, but could actually flush a toilet, which I have never actually enjoyed previously.

As I mentioned previously, I had a heater going outside during the night, but should have had it running at all times when the temperature was that low. But I used the heater to help keep our unwanted kittens warm.

Kyle said the pipe busting was going to happen sometime because when the building was built, the pipe was outside the insulation, exposing it to more cold, instead of inside the insulation, which would at least give another layer of protection.

The conclusion of this column is never forget to appreciate the small things as sometimes they are not available.