Pottawatomie County is Good

Most runners would call losing a shoe at the starting line a race-ending problem. But Kamryn Hobia, a 6th grader at Pleasant Grove Public School, treated it like a minor detail. On Saturday, October 3rd in Shawnee, Oklahoma, Kamryn won the ORES Division II Girls State XC Meet, finishing as the fastest in the state in her division. And she did it on a rainy day, after losing a shoe right at the start of the race. Cross country is a sport built on grit. Races are long, and ther

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and this year, it didn't pass through Pottawatomie County unnoticed thanks to a Shawnee graduate student. On Saturday, September 26, nearly 90 people gathered at KidSpace Park for Shawnee's Out of the Darkness Walk, the first for Pottawatomie County. The Out of the Darkness Walks are an effort of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to raise awareness and bring hope to those affected by suicide. Behind Shawnee's walk

Some awards earn dust on a shelf. Others, like this year's April Stobbe Community Service Award, are earned through decades of tireless, selfless work for others. At their annual Harvest Moon fundraiser event, Community Market of Pottawatomie County presented Jon Greenwood with this year's April Stobbe Community Service Award. The award, now in its fifth year, honors April Stobbe, one of Community Market's founding board members, and recognizes someone who has gone above and

A new scholarship program from Boomarang Diner means your burger and Pickle-Os could make it possible for Pottawatomie County kids to continue their education after high school. The Pottawatomie County-based diner chain recently announced its Keep Giving Back scholarship program, which will award 59 scholarships — one for each of its locations — to students in the communities they serve. Headquartered right here in Shawnee, Oklahoma, Boomarang Diner has grown into one of Okla

There was no assembly, no announcement, no reason on the calendar for it. Mrs. Howser and Mrs. Lynch just decided lunch at Bethel High School needed a little something extra. The two teachers set up a small lemonade stand during the lunch period, treating students to a free cold cup in the middle of an otherwise ordinary school day. It wasn't tied to a fundraiser or a special event. Simply just two teachers going above and beyond who thought their students could use a moment

Some nights, football is just football. This one was bigger than that. On the 25th anniversary of September 11, Shawnee High School's home opener became a tribute to the first responders who serve Shawnee every day. Shawnee Public Schools used the milestone to honor the men and women who show up when the community needs them most, weaving that recognition directly into the biggest night of the young football season. Serving as honorary captains for the game were Major Tyler F

Without fail, every year, members of the Shawnee Fire Department — and often their family members — take part in the OKC 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, honoring the firefighters and first responders who gave their lives on September 11, 2001. Meant to mirror the climb so many firefighters and first responders made that day, the physically grueling event is a reminder to never forget the sacrifice and tragedy of that September morning in New York City. Wearing full turnout gear, p

Most school nurses spend their days handling scraped knees, headaches, and the occasional fever check. This year, Pleasant Grove's school nurse decided that wasn't enough. Thanks to a push by school nurse Rhiannon Webb, Pleasant Grove Public School is partnering with the Oklahoma State University Health Sciences Virtual Care Program for the 2026-2027 school year, bringing free, on-campus healthcare directly to students in Shawnee. The program allows students to see a doctor v

Most first lemonade stands end with a shoebox of quarters and a proud kid covered in sugar. Merritt Grace Nichols had bigger plans. The Dale kindergartner set up her very first lemonade stand on a hot September morning, serving more than 20 customers. But the lemonade wasn't the sweetest part of the day. Merritt chose to donate half of her proceeds to Legacy Parenting Center, directing the money toward diapers for Pottawatomie County babies and families in need. Diapers are o

Some restaurants are known for their menu. At Sunny Side Up in Shawnee, Oklahoma, the diner is just as well known for Valerie. If you've eaten at Sunny Side Up sometime in the last two decades, chances are you've met her. According to a recent shoutout submitted by a longtime customer, Valerie has spent years greeting guests with a smile and a memory that puts most regulars to shame. Even after a year away from the restaurant, one diner returned to find Valerie still remember

Big community events tend to be measured in numbers. How many agencies showed up, how many families came through, how many photos got taken. But sometimes the good that sticks happens in the in-between. On August 22, Cops N Kids brought more than 30 law enforcement agencies together at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center in Shawnee to meet the Pottawatomie County kids and families they serve. It's an event built around giving officers a chance to be seen as people first, badges

For a lot of elementary students, high schoolers can feel like a different species entirely. Older, cooler, and a little out of reach. Last week in Dale, that gap got a little smaller. Members of Dale FFA's Leadership Team showed up bright and early to help with the elementary car line, opening doors for parents and giving Little Pirates a few surprise smiles at the start of the school day. For the elementary kids on the receiving end, it was likely just a fun, unexpected mom