The Cleveland County OHCE Craft Show will take place May 8-9, 2026, at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds in Norman, Oklahoma. Sponsored by Cleveland County OHCE, this event brings together talented local artisans and crafters for a weekend of shopping, creativity, and community engagement.
The event will feature up to 50 vendor booths showcasing a wide variety of handmade goods, including crafts, home décor, gifts, and more. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet local creators and explore unique, one-of-a-kind items.
The craft show is open to the public with free admission, making it an accessible and family-friendly outing. A concession stand will also be available on-site.
Organizers invite the community to come out and support local vendors while enjoying a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. Whether searching for special gifts or simply wanting to experience local craftsmanship, the Cleveland County OHCE Craft Show offers something for everyone.
Who: The event will be at the Cleveland County OHCE (sponsor and host) May 8-9 at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds, 615 E Robinson St, Norman, OK 73071 and admission is FREE.
For more information, contact (405) 627-4370 or email [email protected] . Event details can also be found on Cleveland County Oklahoma Home and Community Education Facebook page.

Jason Young has long had a passion for music and has turned that passion into helping seniors and Veterans.
Young, who serves as marketing director for SYNERGY HomeCare in Oklahoma City/Tulsa, got his musical start with Ty England, who played for Garth Brooks.
“I was a tour manager, and I worked for guys like Chad Brock and Cledus T. Judd and Aaron Tippin. I toured for about 14 years with bands like Confederate Railroad and worked with Charlie Daniels and people like that,” Young said.
Young was born in Edmond. He currently resides in Yukon.
He started his musical career working for Nashville recording artists Ty England, Chad Brock, and Cledus T Judd. Young formed the Jason Young Band in 2009.
He has released 5 singles to Texas Radio “Long Way Home” – “The Moment” – “Under My Skin” – “Vinyl”-
“POOR” all charted in the Texas Radio Top 30. Since 2017 the single “Long Way Home” was used in the movie
An Evergreen Christmas (IMDB Credited). Their single “Crank It Up” was used in the Amazon movie Shut Up Anthony, (IMDB Credited).
In 2020, Jason Young, along with Cross Canadian Ragweed’s Grady Cross and Randy Ragsdale, formed Cross Rags And Young. Their first single “Family Name” spent 35 weeks on the Texas Charts, 12 weeks in the top ten and 5 weeks at No.3.
Their second single “Reckless” was their first #1 single on Texas Radio and spent more than 30 weeks on the chart. Cross Rags and Young were nominated for Best New Group from Texas Regional Radio and performed along with presenting at the Texas Regional Radio Music. In 2023 Jason became 1 of 5 Oklahoma Artists to represent the State Of Oklahoma Tourism Campaign Imagine.
In 2020 through 2022, Young and his wife Kerri adopted their two sons Charlie and Hudson.

“I was touring a lot and working a ranch. I wanted to be with those kids who were more important to me than this music dream I’d been chasing for 20 years,” he said. “And even though I was having some success in it, I ended up backing off. I wanted to find a real
job, and I knew I wanted to work around seniors.”
Young called a friend who worked for Physician Housecalls, and she happened to be having a networking event the next evening, so she invited him to attend.
“I didn’t even have a résumé,” he said. “I had to go home and get one together after the event, because I hadn’t had a real job in 20 years. I got five interviews that night. I met with Weama Kassem (SYNERGY Homecare owner) that next morning. It was my first interview. I was there for a couple hours. And when I left, I remember being in the parking lot, and I canceled all the other interviews. I knew that’s where I wanted to work. I knew I found a home.”
Young later took on an additional role as Veteran Advocate alongside Marketer Diane Young with SYNERGY. He went on to say, “One thing that inspired me even more was watching Weama Kassem’s love for her clients and veteran clients. She always goes out of her way for them and goes above and beyond. It’s like they are her family. Watching her and the SYNERGY team inspired me to do even more.”
“I’ve been raising money for Veterans off and on for many years and working around a lot of Veterans,” he said. “My grandfather, Tracy Titus, was a World War II Veteran, and he was always an inspiration to me. And so, I wanted to get involved even on a bigger level than what I was.”
Young said he started doing Veteran coffees at local American Legions though the state and was later invited to join the American Legion post in Mustang.
“I joined their group in Mustang, and at the time we were doing maybe three or four veteran coffees a month,” he said. “And one thing that was kind of itching at me was I’d be at these communities, and I would see that they didn’t do these coffees there, and a lot of these guys couldn’t get out. A lot of them were in assisted living, or independent living. They just didn’t want to or couldn’t leave the community.”
Young wanted to bring those coffee events to those communities.
He started visiting those communities and learning about their senior/Veteran residents.
“Every month, I have special guest speakers,” he said. “We did a show-and-tell that was amazing, where these Veterans bring something from their past, and they tell us their story. We’ve also done Veteran trivia about World War II and World War I, which was amazing. We are doing everything we can just to bring the Veterans together.”
Young said another thing they do for Veterans is present them with a challenge coin when they come on service with SYNERGY.
“So, I would give a presentation on the history of the challenge coin, then present them with their very own SYNERGY HomeCare challenge coin whenever they came on service with us,” he said. “I love seeing their faces when we give them that. I go to these events, and now I’m getting phone calls daily saying ‘Hey, my dad’s a veteran. I heard you could help.’”
Young’s next goal is to help create a local gathering space like the Coffee Bunker in Tulsa.
“I went into this place called the Coffee Bunker in Tulsa, and I was blown away. It’s all volunteer work. They’ve got VSOs. They have counselors. They deal with the homeless. They feed veterans lunch every day, donuts every morning,” he said. “They have a library. They have clothes. If you need something, they help you with it. It’s very moving when you’re there, and you’re seeing all these different Veterans come in and hang out all day long. The more I found out about this place, the more I wanted to be a part of it.”
Young has been promoting the idea for an Oklahoma City location.
“I’m excited about trying to get something like that here for our Veterans. I want to do everything I can for Veterans. For all they sacrifice and all they do for us,” he said.
. • by Van Mitchell, staff writer

“I felt like I would be a failure if I got sent home and
didn’t complete basic (training)…I wanted to get the
benefits that the recruiting sergeant had told me about.
I wanna hang in for that. I was focused,” recalled Martha Louise Higgins, using a determined voice.
Born on January 15, 1931, in Clearwater, Florida, Higgins, now 95 years old, reflected on her military and civil service employment. Her enlistment occurred during the Korean War when only one-percent of Airmen were women.
Higgins gained knowledge and tenacity from teachers at her segregated elementary school, St. Matthew Baptist Church, and Pinellas High School in Clearwater, Florida. “I think growing up in Florida, they put a lot of confidence in us. That’s why it didn’t bother me going into the military. They had us thinking we could do anything we wanted to do. And we believed that…Because they knew what we were gonna be up against once we came outta high school.”
She graduated from high school in 1949, attended Florida A&M in Tallahassee for one year as a music major, then joined the Air Force.
Basic training
Basic military training was at Kelly Air Force Base (AFB), San Antonio, Texas. She remembered, “We had inspection every morning…we had to be in formation zero five hundred (5:00
a.m.). They didn’t play…You better time yourself… And there,
a lot of girls, they sent them crybabies home,” she said with emphasis. “You went to formation and…when they start roll call, there was a new girl on your right and maybe a new girl on your left…The sergeant would march us to breakfast. And after breakfast you had to go back to your quarters and get set up for inspection…” Lessons in discipline, time management and teamwork shaped her later service.
Preparing Military Pay
After basic training, Higgins transferred to Ent AFB, Colorado (closed in 1976), as a Disbursement Officer in the Finance Office. She explained the importance of pay accuracy. “We had a cutoff date to get our payroll ready because they knew when was payday. So, we couldn’t post anything on the cards (everything was done by hand) until you got it from personnel.”
Enlisted and officers had separate cards, each about 8” by 10,” organized by alphabet and by rank. Higgins remembers managing letters A through H.
She was the only female of the five Airmen in payroll.
She does not remember instances of sexism or prejustice; she just focused on the job. “They were very nice to me…They
just treated me like I was another Airman…You do your job and you’re rewarded for that…I wanted to get an honorable discharge.”
At Ent, she met and married Harvey Higgins of Luther, Oklahoma, on September 12th, 1953. She did not reenlist. Then Harvey, an active duty Airman, got a remote assignment and Martha went home to Clearwater.
Upon his return, and Martha now a military dependent, they were reassigned to Ent AFB, then Lockbourne AFB, Columbus, Ohio (closed in 1984). That’s where Steven and Timothy, two of her three sons, were born. Harvey’s next assignment took them to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, in October 1964, near Adana.
Overseas Duty
Martha liked working, so she joined civil service as an intelligence coder during the Cold War. She worked in a rundown building. “I had to have a code to get in…And
then I sat at a teletype machine. But I sent out codes all day…They were classified. They cleared me to do that…I couldn’t decipher them…I didn’t know where they were going or who they were going to or what the information (was).”
The Higgins lived on the air base and went to the movies, the NCO Club and recreation center. To reduce their isolation, they drove to the Mediterranean Sea looking for Navy ships and by the American Embassy. “We were looking for the flag. Oh, we saw that flag and we just clap, clap,” she said excitedly, clapping her hands together. “We just clapped for anything that reminded us of home.”
Back in the United States, though, the military’s equality did not exist in civilian society.
Inequality
“I never went to an integrated school, said Higgins. “The first time I experienced integration was when I went into
the military…It (civil rights) was needed because it was so humiliating to us to think we had to get up outta our (bus) seat after we done paid our fare…There was no dignity in that. You going to get up outta your seat to give it to some person who was a different color than you? Now that was wrong.”
Love of Music
Higgins said, “I went back to school under the GI bill
and studied music…I studied music at Mercyhurst in Erie.
It’s a Catholic university.” She also used her musical talent commercially too.
“Oh Lord, Hear my Prayer” and other religious hymns
she wrote have been sold to music producers like Sheet
Music Plus in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Impressed by her vocal abilities, the Columbus Symphony, Columbus, Ohio, and the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra, Erie, Pennsylvania, asked her to sing with the alto section.
Retirement
These days, at the Norman Veterans Center where Higgins lives, she plays the piano for chapel service and for the Knights of Columbus.
She’s proud of her three sons, Steven Higgins, who retired as an Army Lieutenant Colonel, Timothy Higgins, who repairs and installs refrigerators, and David Higgins, a retired Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 2.
Higgins uses a walker but remains mobile. “I can do the twist and the electric slide!” she proudly exclaimed.
Would you like to watch Martha Higgins’ video with the “Making History Project” recorded August 8,
2021, by Patrick Russell, visit
https://making-history-project.com/ or scan this
QR CODE. •
story and photos by Lt Col Richard Stephens, Jr., USAFR, Ret.

How the HISA Grant Can Help Veterans Live More Comfortably at Home

Owning a bathroom remodeling company serving homeowners across Oklahoma, I’ve worked with thousands of families over the years. But nothing means more to me personally than when we get the chance to serve one of our Veterans, especially those whose homes need to be adapted due to disability or aging.
One of the most tangible ways we can say thank you to Veterans for their service is by making daily life a little easier, safer, and more dignified.
That’s why I want to spread the word about the HISA Grant. HISA stands for Home Improvements and Structural Alterations, a benefit available through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that many Veterans either don’t know about or aren’t sure how to use.
If you or a loved one is a Veteran with service-connected or age-related disabilities, the HISA Grant may help pay for necessary bathroom modifications. In some cases, it can cover the majority of the cost of a walk-in shower remodel, grab bars, and other essential safety upgrades.
The Home Improvements and Structural Alterations Grant program, offered by the VA, provides funding for home modifications needed to improve accessibility or to ensure the continuation of treatment for a disability.
HISA Grants cover roll-in or walk-in showers, ADA-compliant toilets or vanities, grab bars and handrails, and non-slip flooring. It also covers retrofitting to include door widening for mobility devices, raising or lowering counters, and improving overall bathroom access.
Unlike some other VA grants, HISA can be used for both service-connected and non-service-connected conditions, making it one of the most flexible programs available.
Under the current VA guidelines, HISA offers up to $6,800 for Veterans with service-connected conditions (or a 50%+ service-connected rating) and up to $2,000 for Veterans with non-service-connected conditions (often age-related). These funds do not need to be repaid. They are grants, not loans.
Depending on the scope of the remodel and the Veteran’s eligibility, this amount can often cover most of the cost of a walk-in shower installation, which is the most common and effective upgrade for accessibility and safety.
For many Veterans, the bathroom is one of the most dangerous rooms in the home. Slippery floors, high bathtub walls, and poor lighting make accidents more likely – especially for those with mobility issues, balance concerns, or chronic conditions. A simple fall in the bathroom can lead to months of recovery or permanent injury.
By remodeling the bathroom with accessibility in mind, Veterans greatly reduce the risk of injury and increase their ability to live independently at home.

Here’s what one of Berdit’s recent Veteran customers said after his remodel. “The walk-in shower installed by Bath Planet of Oklahoma makes it easy for me to get in and out of the shower safely, said Nick K of Sand Springs, Oklahoma. “The handrails and low entry threshold greatly reduce the risk of falling! While in the shower, the showerhead and handheld sprayer make it easy for me to wash myself. The shower seat allows me to comfortably wash my lower legs and feet without fear of falling over.
The ease of showering-along with the safety provided by the grab bars and seat-also gives my wife, Connie, peace of mind, knowing she doesn’t have to worry so much about me while I’m in there! Even our teenage grandsons love using it when they visit!
Thanks to Todd Berdit for noticing my Vietnam Veterans hat and telling me about the HISA Grant from the VA!
To qualify for the HISA Grant, Veterans must be enrolled in the VA healthcare system. They must secure a medical prescription from a VA provider stating the home improvement is necessary. They own or live in the home being modified (or, renters must have a signed and notarized statement from the owner authorizing the improvement or structural alteration). They must obtain a written, itemized estimate of the project’s cost. Then they must submit a completed application, including pictures of the unimproved area.
At Bath Planet of Oklahoma, we’ve helped thousands of Veterans successfully apply for and use their HISA Grant – and we’re happy to walk Veterans through the process from start to finish. This includes help with understanding the paperwork, choosing modifications that meet VA standards and submitting bids and documentation to the VA.
As a licensed plumbing company, they have 13 years of experience in this kind of work in going through the process with the VA. They know how to handle the details so Veterans don’t have to stress about them. They offer free in-home consultations, and are always happy to talk with Veterans and their families to determine if the HISA Grant might help.
Veterans served their country. If you or a loved one is a Veteran struggling with mobility in the bathroom, don’t wait. There are resources available to help, and the HISA Grant is one of the most useful and underutilized programs.
Give their office a call or stop by their showrooms. They will help Veterans explore their options and make the process simple. Their goal is to help Veterans stay safe and comfortable at home, with as little hassle as possible. • by Todd Berdit

by Oklahoma Department of Securities

Imagine you’re a senior living in a quiet retirement community. One day you receive a phone call that sounds exactly like your bank: the number on the screen looks legitimate, and the voice on the other end is professional. The caller tells you your account has been compromised and in order to protect your money, you must act quickly: you’re coached to download a screen-sharing app and log into your account. While you believe you’re doing the right thing, you’re inadvertently handing over the reins to strangers to drain the savings you’ve built over a lifetime.

This isn’t a hypothetical situation. It’s a real scam aimed at older adults and it’s happening across Oklahoma inside the very places designed to keep them safe: retirement communities, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes.
As Administrator at the Oklahoma Department of Securities, I hear versions of this story far too often. Older adults are disproportionately targeted by financial scams including investment, banking and tech-support schemes. Each crime is carefully designed
to prey on the vulnerabilities of seniors, many of whom live in close proximity in communities and facilities for older adults where they feel insulated from crime. That proximity opens the door for entire communities to be exploited by scammers who send convincing emails, make persistent phone calls and knock on doors offering fraudulent services.
The fraudsters of today are master manipulators and skilled actors. They build trust, sometimes over weeks or months, forming relationships online and over the phone using technical jargon, and by appealing to seniors’ hopes and fears. They pose
as bank agents, financial advisors, and friendly companions, and they’re incredibly persuasive, able to coerce seniors into giving away personal information, money, and even real estate to complete strangers. The fallout can be devastating.
Criminals are savvy; they understand why older adults are attractive targets. Seniors often have significant assets, including life savings, retirement accounts and home equity they’ve worked hard for decades to accumulate. Many are navigating major
life transitions: the loss of a spouse who previously handled the finances, smaller social circles, or the move from independent living into a care setting. Some are uncomfortable with new technology, while others may be suffering from memory loss or cognitive decline. Sadly, it’s the perfect storm for opportunistic scammers.
Financial fraud harms more than just a victim’s bank account. Victims often experience shame, anxiety and depression, in addition to financial and identity theft repercussions that can follow them for years. In some cases, victims are left unable to afford the same level of care or living situation. Families may be forced into making difficult financial and caregiving decisions, and relationships can become strained. Yes, money is stolen, but so is peace of mind.
So how can we protect seniors from these devastating scams? It requires a coordinated effort among caregivers and families, but a few practical steps can make a big difference:
Prevent: Prevention begins with education. Raise awareness about common red flags like urgent requests for money or asking to download software. Financial safety should be discussed as routinely as physical safety.
Recognize: Pay attention to warning signs, such as large withdrawals, extended time on the phone with unknown callers or new online “friends” who request financial assistance.
Record: Document concerns including message screenshots, call logs and names used by suspicious individuals.
Report: Notify banks, law enforcement and agencies like the Oklahoma Department of Securities to step in. Quick reporting can prevent additional losses and help in recovering funds.
Oklahoma’s seniors deserve to spend their golden years in peace, not defending themselves from criminals looking to defraud them, and together we can make sure they’re protected. A single phone call can upend a lifetime of hard work, but
a single conversation about the dangers of financial fraud can help stop these scammers in their tracks.

U.S. Air Force Veteran and martial arts icon and “Walker, Texas Ranger” star died on March 19, 2026, at the age of 86 in Kauai, Hawaii.

The Oklahoma State House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring actor and Oklahoma Native Chuck Norris and the bill (HCR 1021) moves to the state Senate for further consideration. The bill was authored by State Rep. Stacy Jo Adams, R-Duncan and Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, is the bills Senate author. The bill formally recognizes Norris for humble beginnings to international fame.

Born Carlos Ray Norris Jr. in 1940, in Ryan, OK before moving to Torrance, California with his family at age 12. Chuck Norris didn’t begin life as a larger-than-life icon. He grew up shy and unassuming, far from the fearless persona he would later embody. After joining the United States Air Force, he was stationed in South Korea, where he first encountered martial arts. What began as curiosity quickly turned into obsession. Norris trained relentlessly, eventually earning black belts in multiple disciplines and becoming a world champion in karate.

His fighting career alone would have been enough to secure his place in history. Norris dominated tournament circuits in the 1960s, defeating top competitors and earning respect for his precision, speed, and discipline. But his ambitions extended beyond the mat. He saw potential in bringing martial arts to a wider audience, and that vision led him into Hollywood.

Norris’s film career began modestly, but his big break came when he fought Bruce Lee in the film Way of the Dragon. The fight scene, set in the Roman Colosseum, became iconic, showcasing Norris as a credible and formidable opponent to one of the greatest martial
artists of all time. From there, he built a career as an action star throughout the 1970s and 1980s, appearing in films like Good Guys Wear Black, Lone Wolf McQuade, and the Missing in Action series.

In the 1990s, Norris found renewed fame through television with Walker, Texas Ranger. The show became a cultural staple, running for eight seasons and introducing him to a new generation of fans. As Cordell Walker, he played a Texas Ranger who combined martial arts skills with a strong sense of justice, often delivering lessons about right and wrong alongside the action.

But perhaps the most unexpected chapter of Chuck Norris’s legacy came in the age of the internet. In the mid-2000s, “Chuck Norris facts” began circulating online—short, exaggerated jokes that portrayed him as an all-powerful figure. Lines like “Chuck Norris doesn’t do push-ups; he pushes the Earth down” transformed him into a comedic legend. Rather than resist the jokes, Norris embraced them, showing a sense of humor that only strengthened his popularity.

Beyond entertainment, Norris was also been involved in philanthropy and community work. He founded programs aimed at helping young people develop discipline and confidence through martial arts training. His emphasis on character, respect, and perseverance reflects the same values that defined his career.

What makes Chuck Norris truly fascinating is the contrast between the man and the myth. In reality, he was disciplined, thoughtful, and grounded. In popular culture, he is nearly superhuman. Yet these two versions don’t conflict—they complement each other. The myth exaggerates qualities that genuinely exist: strength, resilience, and determination.

Chuck Norris remains a symbol that spans generations. Older fans remember his films and television shows, while younger audiences know him through memes and internet culture. Few individuals manage to stay relevant across such different eras, but Norris has done so effortlessly.

In the end, Chuck Norris represents more than just action movies or jokes. He embodies the idea that ordinary beginnings can lead to extraordinary impact. Whether as a martial artist, actor, or cultural icon, his legacy continues to endure—part truth, part legend, and entirely unforgettable.

The Norris faimly said “It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning.

(Ret.) United States Army Master Sergeant Aaron Hudgins said the loss of his late wife J.J. Hudgins forced him to take a closer look at what his future mission in life would look like.
He found that mission through the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) where he serves as Director of the Central Oklahoma Chapter of TMF.
TMF unites communities to strengthen our nation by empowering veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations. In 2007, 1st Lt Travis Manion, USMC, was killed in Iraq while saving his wounded teammates. Today, Travis’ legacy lives on in the words he spoke before leaving for his final deployment, “If Not Me, Then Who…”.
Guided by this ethos, veterans continue their service, build connections with each other, and thrive in their post-military lives by serving as character role models to youth. As a result, communities prosper and the character of our nation’s heroes lives on in the next generation.
Manion gave the ultimate sacrifice on April 29, 2007, on his second deployment to Iraq. While on patrol searching for a suspected insurgent house in Fallujah, Travis, his fellow Marines, and Iraqi Army counterparts were ambushed.
Manion led a counterattack against enemy forces, drawing fire away from his wounded comrades and allowing every member of his patrol to survive. For his actions, he was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star with Valor. Today, over 300,000 Spartans nationwide carry forward the legacy of fallen heroes like Travis by leading with character and living out the “If Not Me, Then Who…” ethos.
TMF Chapters are local volunteer groups led by veterans, families of fallen heroes, and inspired civilians who have a passion for the Travis Manion Foundation mission. Currently, TMF Chapters exist in nearly 40 locations throughout the country – identifying and executing local service projects and hosting events that connect and unite their communities. Chapters allow Spartans to expand the reach of TMF and engage with local volunteers to make a meaningful contribution to their surroundings while upholding the “If Not Me, Then Who…” ethos.
Their best-in-class programs are designed to develop, heal and bring together veterans, families of the fallen, youth and inspired civilians from all walks of life. From their Character Does Matter youth mentoring program to community service projects and service-based trips, TMF programs give Americans an opportunity to honor the legacy of fallen heroes through service.
JJ Hudgins was injured while training for her mission at Fort Bliss. She was medically discharged from the Army after a broken hip was deemed an “unrecoverable injury.”
She was home for just 10 days before passing away on April 28, 2018.
“The truth is that my involvement in this mission wasn’t shaped by one moment or one project. It was shaped by 26 years of service in the United States Army and, more importantly, by the personal tragedy of losing my wife, Jari J. Hudgins,” Aaron Hudgins said. “That loss changed my life and forced me to confront grief, purpose, and responsibility in a way I never had before.”
He continued, “The man I am today and the work I do through the Travis Manion Foundation, is the result of both those experiences. My military career taught me about duty, leadership, and sacrifice. Losing Jari taught me the weight of that sacrifice and the importance of honoring it by continuing to serve others.”
Hudgins said TMF’s service projects caught the attention of Ava Garrett, an 8-year-old from Guthrie who was inspired to make a financial donation to the Oklahoma Chapter of the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF).

“I got an email from a little girl, Ava Garrett,” Hudgins said. “I didn’t know her. Never met her. She has a business in Guthrie where she tags people’s front yards with logos. They (parents) drive around her neighborhood and takes donations, and then she’ll spray paint 1776 or USA or OU or whatever. She raised $600 in about a month. Well, she wanted to donate a percentage of her money to an organization. Somehow, she found out about us.”
Hudgins added, “With the help of her mom, I got a random text out of nowhere. She goes, ‘My daughter wants to donate some of her money to your organization,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, okay. Yeah, sure.’ When she told me how much it was, it was $200. I was like, ‘That’s a lot of money for a kid to give.’ She’s like, ‘Yeah, but she really wants to do this.’ I was like, ‘Well then, I will personally come down there,’ so I drove to her house.”
Hudgins said Ava presented him $200, which funded overnight bags for DHS foster kids through a TMF Edmond Santa Fe High School service project.
“The biggest thing that we do is legacy projects, which are service projects for the community that are built around honoring our fallen heroes,” he said. “While I’ve been doing it, every legacy project we do for the community,nd it could be anything. We put bags together for foster care kids. Because when they leave in the middle of the night, they don’t have anything with them. We put bags together that have a blanket, snacks, a stuffy, a nightlight, something that they could take with them that is theirs.”
Hudgins continued, “She (Ava) handed me over $200, and so that funded the entire overnight bags for the DHS foster kids. She funded that entire project, all herself. So, all the money that it took to put those bags together came from an eight-year-old little girl, and I was beyond touched. We brought her back so that she could see where that money went because I was like, ‘I want you to see this.’ So, when I brought her in, I didn’t tell her, and the entire girl’s pom squad was waiting for her. I made it a point to try to recognize her every chance I get because that’s such a profound gesture of service and gratitude to give back to an organization.”
He added, “We were so proud of the Teams of Character Pom Squad and the inspiring Ava Garrett, whose heart for service continues to make a real impact in our community. These young leaders represent exactly what it means to live out character in action.”
Hudgins said the Oklahoma TMF Spartans were recently recognized at the Oklahoma State Capitol.
“Yesterday was a powerful day at the Oklahoma State Capitol as the Travis Manion Foundation, Oklahoma Chapter had the honor of being with some amazing young leaders,” he said. “This was from our event last November where we honored fallen Oklahoma Hero SPC Sarina Butcher, the first female soldier from Oklahoma killed in action on 11 November 2011. I was also recognized as Veteran of the week.”
Hudgins said during their visit, their team had the opportunity to meet with multiple state representatives and spend time with Gov. Kevin Stitt sharing the mission of TMF and highlighting how Oklahoma youth are stepping up to lead through service.
“What stood out most wasn’t just the recognition, it was seeing the next generation confidently representing values that matter: character, service, and community,” he said. “Stories like Ava’s are important because they show the mission in action. But the deeper story is how service, loss, and resilience can shape a person’s life and drive them to help others find purpose and character in their own.”
For more information about the Travis Manion Foundation visit www.travismanion.org. • by Van Mitchell, staff writer

Car enthusiasts, families, and travelers along historic Route 66 are invited to attend the Third Annual Classic Cars A-Round the Barn Car Show on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the historic Arcadia Round Barn. This fun, family-friendly event welcomes all classic cars, motorcycles, trucks, and unique vehicles to participate in a day of vintage style and community celebration at one of Oklahoma’s most iconic landmarks along Route 66.
Visitors can enjoy a full day of activities including: Classic Car Show, Round Barn Tours, Food Trucks, Live Music, Local Vendors and more surprises throughout the day
Event Schedule • 8:00 a.m. – Vehicle Registration Begins 11:00 a.m. – Judging • 1:00 p.m. – Awards Presentation
Vehicle registration is $20 per entry and will be available on the day of the show only.
The event is sponsored by the Arcadia Historical & Preservation Society and serves as an important fundraiser to support the preservation and maintenance of the historic Round Barn. The Arcadia Round Barn is maintained by the society as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and all proceeds from the car show directly support the care and upkeep of this beloved landmark.
“The Round Barn has welcomed travelers and the local community for generations,” organizers say. “Events like this help ensure the barn continues to stand proudly along Route 66 for years to come.”