The Good

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