LCJ newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Today’s Bible verse
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:12
Daily inspiration
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
- John Wooden
Obituary for Patsy Vinson
Funeral service for Patsy Joyce Vinson, 81, of Heavener is 2 p.m., Tuesday at Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home in Heavener with Brother Joe Haydon Hall officiating. Burial will follow in Stapp-Zoe Cemetery, under the direction of Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home of Heavener.
She was born Dec. 14, 1943 in the Haw Creek community in Heavener to Virgil and Susie (Ayers) Williams and passed away Jan. 10, 2025 in Heavener.
Patsy was a life-long resident of the area and a poultry farmer. She was a member of the Big Creek Baptist Church and the Kiwanis Club. Patsy was the Nutritionist Coordinator for the Heavener Senior Citizens Center for many years. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Patsy will be missed by all who loved and knew her.
Survivors are two daughters Patty McCraw and husband Howard of Poteau, and Rose Baker of Heavener; two sons Monty Bost of Heavener, and George Vinson and wife Pamela of Heavener; generations of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; two sisters Virgie Steelman of Wister, and
Judy Irvin of Heavener; one sister-in-law, Patsy Williams, of Heavener’ numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other loved ones, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harlan Vinson; a son, Gary Don Bost-Vinson; a granddaughter, Julie Kay Miller; a brother, Tommy Williams; and a brother-in-law, Clyde Steelman.
Pallbearers are Ricky Ford, Curtis Paul Faulkenberry, Skip Baxter, David David and Chad Beames.
Viewing is from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Tuesday, with the family visiting with friends from 5 until 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Ernie Lee McDaniel, 71, of Wister was born Aug. 23, 1953 in Poteau to Lester Lee and Bernadean (Loomis) McDaniel and passed away Jan. 9, 2025 in Poteau.
No services are scheduled at this time. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Dowden-Roberts Cremation Center of Poteau.
Ernie was a longtime resident of the area and a painter. He loved painting and fishing. Ernie loved spending time with his family and friends and will be deeply missed.
Survivors are two daughters Barbara McDaniel of Miami, and Stephanie Johnson of Poteau; four sons Wesley McDaniel of Poteau, Nathan McDaniel of Oklahoma, Billy Jo McDaniel of Kansas and Zackary McDaniel of Grand Prairie, Texas; one sister, Frances Ruth Burroughs, of Wister; one brother
Charles McDaniel and wife Tracey of Wister; numerous grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other loved ones, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Quida Faye McDaniel; one son, Roberts Lee McDaniel; and one daughter, Daniella McCullah.
ATHENS, Georgia. (AP) — Dakota Leffew and Asa Newell each scored 15 points and Georgia held off No. 17 Oklahoma 72-62 on Saturday night for its second consecutive win over a Top 25 team.
Georgia (14-2, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) made its bid to enter the Top 25 by beating No. 6 Kentucky 82-69 on Tuesday night and then giving the Sooners (13-3, 0-3) their third consecutive loss.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The Oklahoma State men's basketball team fell to Utah, 83-62, on Saturday night at the Huntsman Center.
OSU dropped to 9-6 overall, 1-3 in Big 12 play, while Utah improved to 9-6 and 1-3.
Utah scored the game's first 12 points and led comfortably the rest of the night.
The Utes shot 55.6% from the field to OSU's 33.3%, helped by 12 dunks and 10 layups. They had a 46-24 advantage in the paint.
Ezra Ausar (21 points), Jake Wahlin (16) and Keanu Dawes (16) led a balanced Utah scoring attack.
Bryce Thompson paced the Cowboys with 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting and reserves Marchelus "Chi Chi" Avery and Brandon Newman added 13 and 10 respectively.
Avery's three-point play and a Robert Jennings driving layup helped slice the lead back to 11 (37-26), but Newman missed a three ahead of the horn that would have pulled the Cowboys to within eight at halftime.
Instead, Utah scored the first six points of the second half to rebuild it lead and continued adding to it, pushing the margin to as many as 26 points near the 8:00-mark.
Playing without defensive sparkplug, Arturo Dean (illness), the Cowboys to struggle to create turnovers or transition baskets. They scored just nine points off 11 takeaways and had only five fastbreak points (roughly a third of their season average coming in).
Against a large Utah front line, OSU pulled 18 offensive rebounds and finished with a 40-39 overall advantage on the glass. The Cowboys outscored their hosts 15-6 on second-chance opportunities.
The Cowboys will return to action Tuesday, Jan. 14, when they visit BYU. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT at the Marriott Center and the game will stream on ESPN+.
FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas made several runs at #8 Florida but the Gators answered each time in a 71-63 win Saturday afternoon at Bud Walton Arena.
First, Arkansas used a 7-0 run, capped by a D.J. Wagner dunk, to cut the Razorback deficit to three (53-50). Then, Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr., hit a 3-pointer. Later, Arkansas had some momentum before Florida’s Alex Condon sealed the game with a 3-pointer with 2:02 left.
The defensive battle saw Florida shoot just 39.1% while Arkansas shot 30%. The Gators only shot 28.6% from 3-point range, but all eight of their makes came a key moments. Arkansas was just 3-of-16 from 3-point. Part of that strong defensive effort was Arkansas blocking eight shots and Florida blocking seven.
The Razorbacks were able to stay within striking distance as they posted season highs in both free throws made (24) and free throw attempts (35).
Alijah Martin led four Gators in double figures with 14 points. Alex Condon posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Adou Thiero led the Razorbacks with 17 points. Boogie Fland had 15 points and four assists. Jonas Aidoo just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds while adding three blocked shots.
Arkansas plays its next two games on the road, first at LSU on Tuesday (Jan. 14) then at Mizzou on Saturday (Jan. 18).
Mostly clear skies expected
The LeFlore County weather forecast for Sunday is look for freezing fog again Sunday morning, before skies clear with colder temperatures overnight in LeFlore County and the area.
The high is forecast to be 47 degrees with a low of 27. Sunrise was 7:26 a.m. Sunset is 5:28 p.m.
Today in history
2010
Massive earthquake strikes Haiti
On January 12, 2010, Haiti is devastated by a massive earthquake. It drew an outpouring of support from around the globe, but the small nation has yet to fully recover. Haiti has a history of seismic activity—devastating earthquakes were recorded there in 1751, 1770, 1842 and 1946. The island of... read more
