Getting started with recycling at a young age has been a philosophy of Sheri Rhodes, Shawnee Early Childhood Center teacher, for about five years.

Shawnee Medical Center employees held a food drive through the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

Some employees at a city-owned ambulance service are volunteering to take a drug test while authorities look into missing narcotics at the agency.

Downtown Shawnee, Inc. has announced the 2nd Annual Downtown Business Merchants Design Contest. Downtown businesses will be judged based on best use of lights, window and door display, originality and amount of work put into the design.

Chapter 2654 of the American Association of Retired Persons will meet at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Liberty Baptist Church cafeteria. Board members meet at 9:30 a.m.

Pioneer Library System customers can reduce their existing library fines and help feed the hungry in their communities by taking advantage of the Food for Fines program Nov. 30 through Dec. 6.
Any non-perishable food item brought into the library that week is worth $1 in reduction of existing library fines.

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $80,000 to the Citizen Potawatomi Nation of Oklahoma.

Unity Health Center ended its 2009 United Way pledge drive with record-breaking numbers for itself and the county for the third consecutive year.

The Tecumseh of Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards banquet Thursday night to celebrate those whose time and talents have resulted in many accomplishments for the chamber and city over the past year.

The night’s theme: “Tecumseh Today, Working Toward Tomorrow.”

A McLoud woman, Mary Jo Garrison, died Wednesday night in a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of SH 102 and Hazel Dell Road.

In appreciation of the community support it receives each year, Unity Health Center will hold a free, holiday lighting ceremony at 6 p.m., Nov. 30 at the main entrance of its north campus.

The decline in sales tax revenue for Shawnee through November 2009 continues to reveal a weakened local economy, but city officials said that improvement of the numbers depends largely on Shawnee’s citizens.

Several parents across Shawnee might have found it a bit harder to sleep Wednesday after attending a Reality House Party presented by Gateway to Prevention and Recovery and the 2Much2Lose Initiative.
“There are a lot of parents having heart palpitations across the state at what they are seeing at these ‘parties,’” Jan Tipton, director of training and prevention for Gateway, said.

The East Central University Singers, the University Chorale and the ECU Gospel Choir will perform at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 1300 E. Beverly in Ada. Admission is free.

Seminole State College will offer a two-day personal self-defense training through a community service course Tuesday, Dec. 1 and Thursday, Dec. 3.

Habitat for Humanity of Shawnee, Inc., will host a work day on the house being constructed off Ken Del Drive on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 8:30 a.m.

A Chandler man critically injured in an accident earlier this month died Nov. 11 from his injuries, according an updated report released Wednesday by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Tonight is the Reality House Party, presented by Gateway to Prevention in an effort to educate adults about the dangers of underage drinking.

FireLake and FireLake Grand Casino will collect new toys for area children. Each toy donated will be given to the Pottawatomie County Salvation Army for their Angel Tree campaign.

Deanne Maynard, who attended Oklahoma Baptist University more than 25 years ago as an elementary education major, has published a children’s book titled “A Whisper on Your Pillow.”
The book is slated to be released Dec. 8 — just in time for Christmas.