Keep Oklahoma Beautiful has named the Ardmore Beautification Council as a finalist in two separate categories for its environmental excellence awards to be presented on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

The Festival of Lights Drive Thru Display is one of the state’s premier holiday destinations. With more than 125 displays covering the 1.5-mile drive through Regional Park, the event also represents one of Oklahoma’s most successful public/private community partnerships.

Rhonda Walker, with The Bramlett Agency, recently completed the Future Insurance Leaders of Oklahoma Program.

If the theme for the 2009 Toys For Tot Southern Oklahoma Children’s Christmas Parade is accurate, this year’s holiday will hold some special magic for everybody.

Week of Nov. 16

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation spreads concrete on Broadway street Saturday repairing deep grooves in the road. The west bound lane will be repaired from Commerce street to Holiday Drive. The east bound lane will be repaired from Commerce street to Rockford Road.

The Iowa Department of Public Health posted an announcement on its Web site last week, stating that a 12-year- old house cat had tested positive for the H1N1 flu virus. Two of three family members had exhibited “flu-like” symptoms the week before the cat became symptomatic.

Austin Powell gives away a sack of potatoes Saturday at the Colvert Ministry Center parking lot. First United Methodist Church secured 41,000 pounds of potatoes and gave half to other churches and the other half to the community.

The Southern Oklahoma Republican Women’s Club will have its monthly meeting on Monday at the Prairie Kitchen in Ardmore. The meeting will begin at noon.

The Carter County Retired Educators’ Association will meet Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Ponders Restaurant. The program will be presented by Dr. Rick Baggett, minister of First Presbyterian Church.