Jennie TeBeest said, “Just do the right thing.” We were young girls sitting in a Bible study and the question came up on how you make good choices. Jennie was in her 70s and we all knew she had lived through some tough times. That was her advice. I’ve always thought it was probably the smartest advice I ever heard. Good chance I’ve been given lots of good advice, but I wasn’t always listening.
Last weekend Main Street partnered with OPSU Baseball players and Coach Keith and with Monica Ronne and the Oklahoma Family Network to put on the Special Game Day. Sponsors blessed us, volunteers helped us, families played with us, and spectators cheered us. It was truly a special day for a lot of special people. I was humbled. It was the right thing to do.
There were so many heroes on the field that day. Caregivers were heroes. Players were heroes. To be among that many caring and giving people brings all sorts of emotions to the front. Love is the main emotion.
And pride. I am so proud to be part of the group of people that was there that day.
Lately there have been so many things of which to be proud. Ami Torres Acuna, an OPSU student from Guymon, won the National Hispanic College Quiz. I got to go to the Premiere Party and watch her on television. I watched her just stomp on the other contestants. It was amazing and it was wonderful. What was almost as good was the fabulous party that her employers put on for her. And it was Ami’s party. Brown and Associates did a great job. And Ami is a champion. Wow.
The school bond issue passed. Some people stepped up and gave the issue some priority in town. They stepped out and they stepped up and people listened because they’re people we trust. Sally Hawkins and Mike Ray said we needed to invest in our youth and 71% of the voters heard them.
This makes me recall something someone in our Sept. 2017 Living Lutheran magazine said, “I try to change lives through education. Education is key to improving life, fostering understanding, and creating problem – solvers.” We need to all remember how important education is.
There are also heroes on some of our Main Street banners now. Mayor Jim Norris and the American Legion Post 31 members have the Guymon Military Banner Program where for $150 you can purchase a banner to honor a friend or family member from Texas County who served our country in the military. You can go to www.TroopBanners.com/Guymon to see what they look like.
One more hero that needs to be mentioned. Addison Helton is the cover of the Bountiful Blessings 2017 calendar put out by the Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma. A cover girl hero right here in Guymon, Oklahoma. Another proud moment for this community.
Time to stop bragging on ourselves and our neighbors and talk about what’s happening in town.
- Harvest Fest is Sat., Oct. 14, from 4 – 10 pm and happens downtown. This is an event put on by the Guymon Cultural Downtown District Committee.
- Breakfast and Business: Managing to Retire is a class on Wed., Oct. 18, and will be taught by Kyle Hawkins. The class series is sponsored by Main Street, Chamber, and PREDCI and hosted by Bank of the Panhandle.
- The HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) class is Tues., Oct. 24, at the Guymon Fire Department classroom with the first class from 9 – 10 and the second class from 10:15 – 11:15. It is free to Main Street Guymon members and cost $5 for non – members. There is a limit of 25 per class, so call in your reservation to 338-6246.
- Nov. 1 is the grand opening of Inspirations at 1102 N. Main. Fran Berry and Kay Herald are bringing this place to shop, to create, and to meet. You can shop for home décor, seasonal decorations, antiques, gift items, and they offer consignments. Hours are 9:00 to 6:00. Love when new shops open.
- Just south of Inspirations and across the street is the great new shop, Whispering Bliss, which has clothing and gift items. It is at 1009 N. Main.
- And just one house over from Whispering Bliss is By His Hands, a health food store where Todd Johnson’s chiropractic office used to be at 1001 N. Main. That block looks like a place to explore on November 1.
It’s a great time to be from Guymon and a great place to live.
See you on the bricks!