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Comanche County Veterans Council Chairman George Keck explains how to sign up for the Oklahoma Veterans Registry during an Aug. 20 meeting at Bingo Country in Lawton. Disabled veterans who are exempt from sales taxes must register with the state by July 1, 2023, to keep the exemption. ERIC SWANSON | SOUTHWEST CHRONICLE

Comanche County Veterans Council Chairman George Keck explains how to sign up for the Oklahoma Veterans Registry during an Aug. 20 meeting at Bingo Country in Lawton. Disabled veterans who are exempt from sales taxes must register with the state by July 1, 2023, to keep the exemption. ERIC SWANSON | SOUTHWEST CHRONICLE

A look back on the news of 2022

Eric Swanson
Friday, December 30, 2022
County commissioners Cargill, Turner unseated Comanche County Commission Chairman Alvin Cargill and Commissioner Gail Turner were unseated this year.
The Elgin Owl mascot performs on the sideline of the Elgin-Midwest City football game earlier this season. HUGH SCOTT JR. | SOUTHWEST CHRONICLE

The Elgin Owl mascot performs on the sideline of the Elgin-Midwest City football game earlier this season. HUGH SCOTT JR. | SOUTHWEST CHRONICLE

Elgin Owl mascot to perform at Citrus Bowl

Tim Farley
Friday, December 30, 2022
ELGIN – Ben Roberts will perform at the Jan. 2 Citrus Bowl, but not as a player. Instead, the senior from Elgin High School will be part of the one-of-a-kind pre-game show that features dancers, cheerleaders and mascots from all over the country.

Elgin wins team mat title, 8 Owls crowned champs

Tim Farley
Friday, December 23, 2022
WEATHERFORD — Eight Elgin wrestlers were crowned champions as the Owls won the team title at the Max Dippel Memorial Tournament in Weatherford last weekend. The Owls won the tournament with 331 points followed by Weatherford in the runner-up spot with 208.5 points. Elgin is ranked No.
Hugh Scott Jr. | Southwest Chronicle Sterling’s Hayden Taliaferro (1) keeps a close eye on the ball as he prepares to tip off the first quarter of the Dec. 16 game with Apache. Apache defeated the Tigers 66-46 as Sterling dropped to 6-6 for the season.

Hugh Scott Jr. | Southwest Chronicle Sterling’s Hayden Taliaferro (1) keeps a close eye on the ball as he prepares to tip off the first quarter of the Dec. 16 game with Apache. Apache defeated the Tigers 66-46 as Sterling dropped to 6-6 for the season.

Apache outduels Sterling Tigers, 66-46

Tim Farley
Friday, December 23, 2022
STERLING — A 21-point third quarter pushed Apache to a 66-46 victory over the Sterling Tigers last week. Sterling took the lead at 30-29 on a bucket by senior Nate Anderson with 6:27 left in the third period, but a 19-5 scoring run by Apache left no doubt about the outcome.
Hugh Scott Jr. | Southwest Chronicle Sterling’s Ashlyn Clift drives the lane during action against Apache on Dec. 16. Clift finished with five points.

Hugh Scott Jr. | Southwest Chronicle Sterling’s Ashlyn Clift drives the lane during action against Apache on Dec. 16. Clift finished with five points.

Lady Tigers beat Apache to win 5th game in 6 tries

Tim Farley
Friday, December 23, 2022
STERLING — Sterling’s Lady Tigers ended the first half of the season with a resounding 54-29 victory over Apache while claiming their fifth win in the last six games. Sterling started fast outscoring the Lady Warriors 14-2 in the first quarter.
Hugh Scott Jr. | Southwest Chronicle Elgin senior Jaylon Nettles passes the ball to a teammate during the Duncan game Dec. 13.

Hugh Scott Jr. | Southwest Chronicle Elgin senior Jaylon Nettles passes the ball to a teammate during the Duncan game Dec. 13.

Newcastle races past Elgin Owls, 69-36

Tim Farley
Friday, December 23, 2022
NEWCASTLE — The Newcastle Racers went full speed against Elgin while easily defeating the Owls 69-36 in a Western Conference matchup last week. Newcastle, ranked No. 6 in Class 4A, had little trouble with the Owls who were missing post player Christian Reed. “That hurt us.
Hugh Scott Jr. | Southwest Chronicle Lady Owl junior Addy Choate battles for the ball with a Duncan player during the Dec. 13 come-from-behind 57-54 win. Elgin defeated Western Conference foe Newcastle 43-24 on Dec. 16.

Hugh Scott Jr. | Southwest Chronicle Lady Owl junior Addy Choate battles for the ball with a Duncan player during the Dec. 13 come-from-behind 57-54 win. Elgin defeated Western Conference foe Newcastle 43-24 on Dec. 16.

Elgin earns fifth win, defeats Newcastle 43-24

Tim Farley
Friday, December 23, 2022
NEWCASTLE — A fast start by the Lady Owls propelled Elgin to a 43-24 win over the Newcastle Racers on Dec. 16. The victory improved Elgin’s season record to 5-1 with the only loss occurring during the finals of the Boomerang Classic in Dale earlier this month.
Randy Mitchell | Southwest Chronicle Above, A male great-tailed grackle perches on a sign. Notice the elongated tail and iridescent purple and black coloring.

Randy Mitchell | Southwest Chronicle Above, A male great-tailed grackle perches on a sign. Notice the elongated tail and iridescent purple and black coloring.

Parking lot chickens (Great-tailed grackle)

Randy Mitchell - Special to Southwest Ledger
Friday, December 23, 2022
This week’s featured creature is a most peculiar bird. It is abundant, and you’ve almost certainly seen it at busy department store parking lots. In fact, where people go, so goes the great-tailed grackle.
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