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Thanksgiving 2023 is history and beautiful Christmas color has appeared on Main Street USA. Neighborhoods shine and glisten with lights, pretend snow and reindeer.

Jessica Jefferson of Clinton, Oklahoma has been named the 2023 Drs. Bob and Nancy Maynard Scholar at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) for the 2023-24 academic year.

WASHINGTON, DC – Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Tim Scott (R-SC) introduced the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act. This legislation protects child welfare providers from being discriminated against for acting in accordance with their deeply held religious beliefs and prohibits federal, state and local government agencies that receive federal adoption assistance funding from discriminating against child welfare service providers based on the providers’ unwillingness to take action contrary to their sincerely held religious beliefs.

Like the sex offender registry list, Oklahoma requires defendants found guilty of certain violent crimes to register.

Charles V. Williams, Jr., age 92, departed this life on November 25, 2023. He was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on December 29, 1930, to Charles V. Williams, Sr. and Meredith Hewitt. He graduated from Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Later he graduated from the University of Tulsa in 1958 earning a Bachelor of Arts degree and later a Juris Doctor degree in 1961. Prior to attending college, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1950 just after the beginning of the Korean conflict and was discharged August of 1953. While in the Air Force, he was a Flight chief putting basic trainees through boot camp and ended up at Vance Air Force base in Enid working on B-25’s. He retired from civilian life as an Assistant District Attorney from 1974 to 1992 working in Beckham and Blaine counties. Prior to serving as Assistant District Attorney, he was a claims manager for Western Insurance Company in Elk City, Oklahoma from 1963 to 1967. After that he moved to Raleigh, North Carolina where he worked for the North Carolina Department of Labor implementing the Occupational Safety and Health Act. After retiring in 1992, he was appointed as a District Judge in 1993 for the Osage Nation Tribal court in Pawhuska, he being an Osage Indian himself. In 1993 he was reelected for the same position for a twoyear period. He was an accomplished musician playing the piano and being in an 11-piece band at the age of eleven and other bands while in the service and during civilian life. In 1942, during World War II, he played with Larry Lee Skinner and his Sunshine Band for a war bond rally and was on the same stage with the actress Bette Davis. He is survived by the lady of his life, Darla Williams. He is also survived by four stepsons: Mark Jarvis of Overland Park, Kansas, Eric Cox of Amarillo, Texas, David Jarvis of Houston, Texas, and Phillip Cox. He was preceded in death by his grandparents who raised him, his parents, and one stepson, Phillip Jarvis.

In last week’s Beckham County Record, we reported upon a multiple fatality colli-sion that left Jose Paxtor Oxlaj charged with first-degree manslaughter.

Voters in Beckham County who want absentee ballots mailed to them for the January 9 , 2023 Special Election should apply now, County Election Board Secretary Sherron Manning said today.

15th, December 2023, is the last day to apply for voter registration in order to be eligible to vote in the January 9th, 2024, Beckham Special, Beckham County Election Board Secretary Sherron Manning said today. Manning said that persons who are United States Citizens, residents of Oklahoma, and at least 17 ½ years old are eligible to apply for voter registration. However, you must be at least 18 years old to vote. Applications must be received by the County Election Board or postmarked no later than midnight, December 15th, 2023. Applications postmarked after that time will be accepted, but will not be processed until after the January 9, 2024 Election. Applications may also be submitted to any motor vehicle agency that is also an official voter registration agency by the submission deadline. Applicants will be notified in writing when their application has been processed. Approved voters will receive a Voter Identification Card in the mail. Some may receive a letter that explains the reason or reasons the application was not approved. Manning said those who do not receive a response within 30 days of submitting their application should contact the County Election Board office immediately. The Beckham County Election Board reminds voters that applications must be approved by the County Election Board Secretary in order to vote. Registered voters who have moved to Beckham County from a different county or state will need to complete a new Voter Registration Application in order to be eligible for elections in Beckham County. If you have moved within the county and need to update your address, you may make changes online using the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma. gov/elections/ovp or complete a Voter Registration Application.

The November meeting of the Washita NSDAR was held on November 13, 2023 at the Café Clinton with the Vice Regent, Doris Minor, and Chaplain Judy Tracy opening with the DAR Ritual. Leading the Pledge of Allegiance was Evely Hart, followed by the American’s Creed by Marilyn Wilson, Robetha Fariss leading the preamble to the Constitution and State Regent, Nancy Lisle, led the Oklahoma Flag Salute.

With Thanksgiving behind us, Christmas is in the air now! I understand Santa Claus will be at the Erick Fire Barn at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, 12/10. Come on out and take pictures with him!

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