Truity Credit Union and Bartlesville Radio would like to thank Paula Barnes and Kelly Willis from the Mutual Girls Club of Bartlesville. Paula and Kelly are helping make facemasks for the Bartlesville community.
Truity Credit Union and Bartlesville Radio thank Paula Barnes and Kelly Willis for being today’s Hometown Hero. If you would like to submit a Hometown Hero, go to Bartlesvilleradio.com and click on the Hometown Hero link.  

More than half of the households in the United States have responded to the United States census. To encourage even more people complete the census, this weekend will be marked as Digital Action Weekend.
To assist with this, the United States Census Bureau is asking that supporters use the #2020Census or Censo2020 when posting on social media platforms this weekend. They ask that you post content on social media showing your commitment to responding to the 2020 Census.
Other ways to help spread the word include sharing and liking posts from the 2020 United States Census Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to get the most current information on 2020 Census operations.
In the state of Oklahoma, nearly 49 percent of households have responded. According to 2020census.gov, nearly 49 percent of households in Washington County have responded. In Nowata County 30 percent of the people have responded and 26 percent of those living in Osage County have sent in a response.   
You may respond to the census by mail, phone or by going to 2020census.gov. All information submitted is private and confidential. 

Pawhuska Schools have rescheduled their graduation for Friday, June 26th at 7:30 in the evening. The new date is contingent upon all social distancing bans being lifted by this time and the graduation will take place at Ormond Beach Memorial Stadium.


In a press release sent out Wednesday afternoon, Pawhuska Superintendent David Cash said the following:


“Given this year's unprecedented disruption, the Class of 2020 will definitely go down in history as having the most memorable of graduation ceremonies. Graduation is a most significant time for families and friends to celebrate the accomplishments of our young people. In setting this date however, we also realize that safety measures for large public gatherings may still be in place. For that reason we will make plans for a “virtual type graduation” in the event we need to cancel the June 26th ceremony for safety reasons.”


Cash went on to say that a virtual graduation isn't the school's preference, but an alternate plan must be in place if necessary.

Schools and colleges alike are trying to go about finding the proper way to honor their 2020 graduates. Oklahoma Wesleyan University and President Jim Dunn are still hoping to have an in-person graduation on Saturday, Aug. 22nd, but in the meantime they will be conducting a virtual graduation on Saturday, May 9th.


Dunn has been asked by students if the May 9th graduation officially makes them a graduate or if they have to wait until August.


The virtual graduation will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will be streamed live on Facebook.Kjirsten Brown will deliver the student testimonial, while Abby Powell and Ally Umfleet will ring Sam's Bell, an honor given to those who embody the spirit and mission of Oklahoma Wesleyan University.   

Entering the month of April, the unemployment rate in Washington County sat at 2.9 percent. According to ok.gov, Nowata County saw an unemployment rate of 2.9 percent and Osage County’s unemployment rate was 3.3 percent.
On Tuesday, Governor Kevin Stitt said nearly 294,000 Oklahomans have filed for unemployment since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, so those numbers are sure to go up when the new numbers come out next week. Stitt added that about 13 percent of the state’s population has filed for unemployment and Oklahoma has paid out more than $307 million in benefits since the pandemic began.
Oklahoma Workforce offices were closed and unavailable for comment.

Truity Credit Union and Bartlesville Radio would like to thank all Internet Service Providers across the area.
All ISP workers continue to make service calls to keep everyone’s Internet up and running. This allows people working from home and those needing to stay connected to the world to continue to do so.
Truity Credit Union and Bartlesville Radio thank all Internet Service Providers for the hard work they are doing during this difficult time.

The City of Skiatook has decided to offer two washable facemasks for each household who is a current utility customer in the City of Skiatook at no charge.
A Facebook post from the City of Skiatook states that the masks are washable up to 30 times and they are going at a limited basis. The fire department has begun going door-to-door handing these masks out to the elderly. The general public can go to the Skiatook Fire Station number two at 765 Lenapah to pick up their masks through May 1st.
Residents must provide a current Skiatook Utility bill and ID matching the account to receive the masks. The City asks that if you have the ability to get masks, don’t take advantage of the offer. They added that depending on the response and quantities, they may provide more in the future.  

Even with the COVID-19 pandemic reeking havoc on the nation, enrollment numbers at Oklahoma Wesleyan University are up for fall 2020 semester. President Jim Dunn is encouraged by what he is seeing at the moment.


During this difficult time, Dunn understands if a student is unable to come back to campus, but he wants to stay in touch with them throughout this process.


In person classes for fall classes are supposed to start on September 1st. Dunn says they are optimistic about opening for the fall and they will do their best to keep everybody safe and healthy with the protocols that are necessary. 

Truity Credit Union and Bartlesville Radio would like to thank the Tower Two Recovery Nurses who have masks provided from the Bartlesville Southern Baptist Church.
The Tower Two Recovery Nurses provide excellent care for those in recovery from surgery. The Bartlesville Southern Baptist Church has helped keep them safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Truity Credit Union and Bartlesville Radio thank the Tower Two Recovery Nurses for their hard work and the Bartlesville Southern Baptist Church for providing masks. If you would like to submit a Hometown Hero, go to Bartlesvilleradio.com and click on the Hometown Hero link.   
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A Pawhuska Husky football team that went 11-2 a year ago was looking forward to beginning off-season activities and preparing for an even better year in 2020 has had to begin their preparations in a different manner than they expected. Football coach Matt Hennesy says rather than in-person meetings, they are holding virtual meetings to conduct business. 


Hennesy says he feels like this is a time his team can mature even though they aren't practicing together as a team. 


The players can still go to the football field to utilize the track, run bleachers, flip tires and push sleds.