If you are into Native American history, you will want to make it out to the Osage Nation Museum sometime during the New Year.
On Thursday, Jan. 3 from 5 until 7 the museum will host an opening night reception featuring its latest exhibit, “Patriot Nations: Native Americans in our Nation’s Armed Forces.”  
The 16 panel exhibit has been loaned out from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian and will be on display through June 12 and is located at 819 Grandview Ave. in Pawhuska. For more information, call 918-287-5441.
In addition to the exhibit, if you are looking for a way to lend a helping hand, the Osage Nation is hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, Jan. 8 from 9:30 in the morning until 2:30 in the afternoon at the Law Building in Pawhuska, which is located at 1071 Grandview Lane. It will be in conference room 121A.
For more information, call Mrs. Jamie Clark at 918-287-5482 or email her at Jamie.clark@osagenation-nsn.gov. 

After having a week off to celebrate the Christmas holiday, the Osage County Commissioners will reconvene at the Osage County Courthouse on Monday for a regular scheduled meeting.
At the meeting, they will elect the Chairman of the Board, along with the Vice-Chair and Second Vice-Chair.
There will be discussion and possible action regarding talk of the Indian Nations Council of Governments.
There will be discussion regarding a tort claim from Garry England and possible action to sign a 2019 emergency management performance grant for $25,000.
The County Commissioners will talk about possibly advertising for a full-time janitorial worker and acknowledge the letter removing Tom Teel as District Number Two Requisitioning Officer and adding Kandy Jump.
The meeting begins at 10 clock in the morning for those interested in attending.    

The town of Fairfax has filed a lawsuit against EmpowerHMS, a North Kansas City company that operates about 20 hospitals nationwide. The town has filed the suit in the Osage County District Court asking for the return of its hospital.
The suit alleges a breach of contract, along with deceit on the part of corporate interests currently controlling the Fairfax Community Hospital.
According to the News on 6, the company has been late in paying their employees at offices in Fairfax, Prague, Stigler and Drumright. The lawsuit was filed on Dec. 13.
On Friday, Dec. 21, Fairfax Mayor Burley Hathcoat told the Pawhuska Journal-Capital that hospital employees had been paid. Hathcoat said he doesn’t know if the lawsuit had anything to do with the payment, but Hathcoat was quoted as saying, “Hopefully it will stir something up for us.”
Additionally, when the hospital was bought out nearly nine years ago, they were allegedly promised a new hospital facility to replace the current one. The new facility has never came. 
We will have updates on this story as they become available.  

Emergency crews responded to a boating incident on Oologah Lake Monday afternoon involving four individuals.
According to the News on 6, Nowata County Sheriff Terry Sue Barnett said they received a 911 phone call from a man whose boat had sunk.
After receiving the call for help, emergency crews responded to a boat ramp at Duck Creek Cove near E. 240 Rd. and Park Rd.
Another boater on the lake came to the family’s aid, rescuing the man, his wife and two kids. The sheriff said all four individuals were OK and refused medical treatment from the Northwest Fire Department.  

Friday marked the second year in a row that the Patriot Auto Group has helped kids in need by giving out bicycles just in time for the holidays. Dealer Tatton Manning said last year was great, but this year has been an even bigger success.
Sharon Reese, Executive Director of the Westside Community Center, says she is thankful for the Patriot Auto Group for helping with their Christmas this year.
Manning says that he was glad his team of employees could do thisduring this time of the year.
Manning added that he would like to thank Wal Mart for their assistance in the program along with Lance Wyatt of Lance's Classic Landscaping.
​

As traffic picks up over the Holiday weekend, you should be advised that it would be best to avoid certain area roads due to road work and ongoing projects.
In Washington County just north of Ramona, you can expect various lane closures on north and southbound lanes near US 75 for an intersection modification project. Traffic is also narrowed to one lane in each direction between S. Quapaw Ave and S. Comanche Ave. for a bridge project here in Bartlesville.   
In Nowata County, all lanes of east and westbound traffic on State Highway 60 are closed from three miles east of the US Highway 169 junction to approximately three miles west of State Highway 28 junction. Traffic is directed to use US Highway 169 and State Highway 28 as a detour.   
Also in Osage County, State Highway 20 is narrowed to one lane with temporary signals in place at Boar Creek, east of the State Highway 99 junction in Hominy for a bridge project. 

Friday, Jan. 18, 2019 will be your last day to apply for voter registration in order to be eligible to vote in the Feb. 12, 2019 primary election for Osage County.
You may apply at the Osage County Election Board located at 630 Kihekah Ave. in Pawhuska. There are also application forms available at most post offices, tag offices and public libraries around the county. To fill out an application online, you may visit www.osage.counties.orgor the state website www.elections.ok.gov.
The County Election Board responds in writing to every person who submits an application for voter application. The response is either a voter identification card or a letter explaining the reason why the voter registration wasn’t approved. If you haven’t heard a response within 30 days, you should contact the County Election Board Office at 918-287-3036 or email OsageCounty@elections.ok.gov. 

If you feel like getting others in the Christmas spirit or want to get yourself in the spirit, then take part in the 24th annual Christmas Caroling celebration at 6:30 this evening in downtown Pawhuska.
Carolers will be leaving Grill 125 at 6:30 and return at 7:30 for refreshments and funny caroling awards. You are encouraged to wear Christmas specific clothing for the event. For more information, contact Elizabeth Hembree.      

Thursday marked the 19th annual Green Country Christmas Giveaway. There were 12 prize packages given away. We had a chance to catch up with Garry Chapman from Dewey, who won a lot of great prizes, including a set of tires from Doenges Family of Autos and $1,000 in cash from Cherokee Casino in Ramona.
Deanna Long of Bartlesville was fortunate enough to win $3,000 in cash from Cherokee Casino Ramona, along with a $2,000 gift certificate to Heritage Roofing and a Triple A membership to Paul's Wrecker Service. 
We would like to thank all of our participants and sponsors for making this event possible.

The 19th annual Green Country Christmas drawing was Thursday morning and the grand prize drawing was a $5,000 cash prize from Bartlesville Radio. Paul’s Wrecker Service also threw in a Triple A membership.
We were able to catch up with a very excited Melanie Anderson from Bartlesville.
Kyla Swanson, Jeanie Jackson, Cheryl Wheeler, Barbara Carlson, Melissa Camp bell, Tamera Patterson, Garry Chapman, Teresa Moll, Toni Parry, Valorie McKay and Deanna Long were also winners.
We would like to thank all of our participants and sponsors for making this event possible.