(StatePoint) The U.S. Department of Energy reports that lowincome households face an energy burden – the portion of income spent on home energy costs – three times higher than otherhouseholds, leadingto tough budgeting decisions for many Americans.

(StatePoint) From getting your home ready for guests and finding the perfect gifts to preparing a delicious meal, the holidays can seem overwhelming and expensive – but they don’t have to be. Take the following steps to save time and money on seasonal essentials.

Edison Elementary held its first Rise and Shine Assembly on Thursday, Oct. 26. The assembly included Red Ribbon guest speakers from Bristow’s Police Department and student perfect attendance recognition. The school had approximately 20 percent of its student body neither absent nor tardy for the first quarter. Those students received a coupon for a free 16 ounce drink from Coop’s Stop -N- Shop, coupon for a free steak finger kid’s meal from Charlie’s Chicken perfect attendance brag tag and their name in a hat for a drawing to win a new bicycle donated by our Mayor, Kris Wyatt. Special thanks to Mayor Kris Wyatt, Bristow Police Department, Coop’s Stop-N-Stop and Charlie’s Chicken for their donations and support of Edison Elementary students. A special thank you to Mrs. Ponder and Ms. Linda Kay Herman for their presence during the assembly.

Loving Hearts Ministr y on 66 Focus on Recovery. Meets every Monday at 6 p.m.

The leader training topics and those committed to attend and present at the local club are as follows: Jan.- Joyce-Lifelong Learning; Feb.-Norma-History of OSU/Cooperative Ext ension; March-Rebecca-Best/Most Affordable Meats; April-Teresa-Flowers Here and Forever; May-Joyce-District Lesson; June-Carolyn-Better Balance and Fall Risk Reduction; Aug.-How to be Good Worker Bee-Kathy; Sept.State Lesson-Judy; Oct.-From OK to You/Utilizing MIOCarolyn; Nov.-Guiltless Gourmet Holiday Goodies-Teresa; and Dec.-Club Choice-Ray. Presenters welcome assistants.

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The new and improved Chamber of Commerce, along with Bristow City Mayor Kris Wyatt, joined in welcoming three new businesses to the area by having a ribbon cutting on Dec. 5, 2023. Welcoming to the community is Lex's Salon and Tanning, located on South Main, owned by Alexis Ackers, The Print Shop, located on North Main Street, owned by Samantha Palmer and The Popcorn Shack, located on South Main, owned by Ronda McBrayer. The new board of the area chamber consists of John Tidwell, chamber director, Joey Varner, Krista Burden, Jeryn Fletcher, Ashley Powell, Chapman Shields, Chelsey Wilson and Jasmine Ihle. The Bristow Area Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to act as advocate on behalf of the general welfare and prosperity of the Bristow area so that its citizens and all sectors of business shall prosper. The Bristow Area Chamber is dedicated to sustaining a strong business climate in a community.

(StatePoint) Every day, cybercriminals create new methods of obtaining private financial information from unsuspecting individuals, most commonly employing tactics like emailing strangers and convincing them to either share personal information or take an action that compromises their systems and devices. Known as “phishing,” these cybercrime attempts can also come by way of short message service (SMS) or text messaging, and when they do, it’s called “smishing.”