The O'Colly, Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Holgorsen, Smith bring Big 12 experience to adjusting Houston

bility remaining.

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Fall gardens created during summer

Many gardeners get their hands dirtiest during the summer months; however, even though summer might be the busiest growing season, gardening is a year-round activity.

Gardening is an activity that is good for the mind and creates fresh produce that benefits the body. Serving from garden to table can benefit families and allow gardeners to be proud of their own home-grown fresh fruits and vegetables.

“It’s so satisfying growing some of the foods you serve at home,” said Oklahoma State University Extension consumer horticulturist David Hillock. “Planting a fall garden will enable families to enjoy those fresh flavors even longer.

It is important that before the fall season arrives, gardeners decide what they want to plant and harvest during the fall before the first chill of the season, Hillock said.

“People who garden develop an appreciation and a desire for fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables,” Hillock said. “Some of the best quality

conditions for the soil yielding the fruits and vegetables.

garden vegetables in Oklahoma are grown and harvested in the fall when warm, sunny days are followed by cool, humid nights.”

This mixture of hot days and cool nights produce the best conditions for the soil

yielding the fruits and vegetables. However, even though the weather allows for great soil conditions, gardeners still need to tend to the soil themselves.

See Gardens on 6

Calif Poncy Staff Reporter

Over the next few weeks, The O’Colly sports staff will release its Big 12 preseason rankings in the form of team previews. This time, it’s the Houston Cougars, which our writers picked to finish 11th.

After finishing its stint in the AAC with an 8-5 record, the Houston Cougars were forced to make many changes as they prepared to move to the Big 12.

Like fellow new members UCF, Cincinnati and BYU, UH saw massive turnover in the transfer portal, and it dug heavily into the portal to find replacements. But the hole made by the loss of star running back Alton McCaskill to the transfer portal is a difficult one to fill.

During his freshman season, McCaskill burst onto the scene, rushing for nearly 1,000 yards on 189 carries.

Like many of his teammates, McCaskill used his strong showing as a springboard to leave town, heading to Colorado where he will still have three years of eligi-

While it’s easy to look at the Cougars’ losses at key positions and write them off, coach Dana Holgorsen and his staff were able to bring in several players with Big 12 experience, something the seasoned leader of UH said the team emphasizes. Holgorsen mentioned incoming quarterback Donovan Smith, formerly of Texas Tech, as someone the team brought in for this reason.

“I felt like it was important to bring a guy in with Big 12 experience, and we did that at a number of other positions as well,” Holgorsen said.

Smith is expected to win the quarterback competition against Lucas Coley and be Houston’s Week 1 starter, and with Smith’s experience at TTU, the former Red Raider should provide the Cougars’ offense with a steady hand at quarterback.

“Donovan has impressed me,” Holgorsen said.

“I think his best days are ahead of him, he’s only been playing quarterback for a couple of years, so he’s got the upper hand right now based on 21 games of experience.”

Smith is replacing longtime Cougars starter Clayton Tune, who is now a member of the Arizona Cardinals.

What are the games of the week in the Big 12 in 2023?

calibur program like Penn State for the first week of the season, but, c’mon, who isn’t going to watch Deion Sanders’ Colorado debut at TCU.

It’s an 11 a.m. game on FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff, and with not many other great matchups in week one, Colorado facing the national champion runner-ups may be the best game on Saturday.

College football is near, which means waking up for ESPN’s College GameDay way too early and sitting in that same spot on the couch until Sunday. There are great games each week across the country, and especially in the Big 12 this season with 14 teams in the conference. Here’s the best games each week to mark on your calendar.

Week 1: Colorado at TCU Sure, West Virginia is the only team brave (or dumb) enough to schedule a high-

Week 2: Texas at Ala-

bama

If you don’t think it’s Texas-Alabama, it’s because you’re at Gaylord Memorial that day.

Alabama has only lost twice at home in the past 10 years. One when Joe Burrow made a stop on his Heisman tour in 2019 and the other in 2015 to Chad Kelly. Can Quinn Ewers be the third? He might’ve been able to beat the Tide at home last season before a broken collar bone took him out in the second quarter. Alabama looks different

this year, too. There isn’t a Heisman favorite taking snaps. In fact, the starting quarterback hasn’t been named. So, this could be the year Texas starts a season-long “We’re back” tour in Tuscaloosa.

Week 3: TCU at Houston Though BYU-Arkansas is an intriguing matchup on name-recognition alone, I expect the Razorbacks to thrash the Cougs in Fayetteville.

Meanwhile, the other new Big 12 Cougs will host TCU in the first conference game of the season. The environment is sure to be something on its own. Either Houston fans pack the stadium in its first game in the conference, or TCU alumni invade. The game should be good, too. This could be the first glimpse into whether the Horned Frogs are ready to run-it-back or if Houston is a legit threat in the conference.

Courtesy of OSU Agriculture

This mixture of hot days and cool nights produce the best

Courtesy of Davis Cordova

This is the last season with OU and Texas in the league and the only season with 14 teams in the Big 12. So, there are plenty of must-watch matchups.

Courtesy of Houston Athletics

Houston coach Dana Holgorsen brought in transfer quarterback Donovan Smith from Texas Tech. See

Lauren King Staff Reporter

Gabriel Trevino Columnist

Positions preview

OSU could get back to three-headed rushing attack

combination of three running backs in the past but haven’t had that depth in recent years. In 2023, they might have that ability again. OSU returns redshirt sophomore Jaden Nixon, sophomore Ollie Gordon and redshirt senior transfer Elijah Collins. All three have played substantial snaps, giving OSU quality depth and experience in the backfield.

the Doak Walker Award as college football’s top running back. Collins had 318 rushing yards last season but was still in a reserve role.

Now, he’s looking for a fresh start in Stillwater, and the Cowboys have an experienced back.

No, it wasn’t an illusion or recency bias, the OSU rushing game was uncharacteristically unproductive in 2022.

The Cowboys’ 1,633 rushing yards was the lowest total since Mike Gundy became head coach in 2005, and the rushing game was only that productive because quarterback Spencer Sanders ran for 391 yards, which ranked second on the team. Only Dominic Richardson rushed for more yards – 543 – which is still low for a starting back.

Now, an already-struggling OSU run game is without Richardson and Sanders, who accounted for more than 57% of rushing yards. Gundy said the Cowboys will focus on getting the run game back up and going, but what’s left to get the job done at running back?

The Cowboys have utilized a

“The good news is the guys who will be playing in the games for us next year have been through (live snaps),” said Gundy, in April during spring practice. “We’ve gone through a number of years where we didn’t have that luxury... We have (three) guys that will be playing in the games next year who have all taken hits and they’re not freshmen.”

Gundy likes to replenish in the portal what he lost in the portal. When OSU lost Richardson to Baylor, the Cowboys picked up experience to pair with its sophomore backs in Michigan State transfer Collins.

In 2019, Collins had a breakout redshirt freshmen season as a starter for the Spartans, and he led the team with 988 rushing yards, which also ranked fourth in the Big Ten. Then, he battled COVID in 2020, which limited his playing time, and he was replaced by Kenneth Walker III in 2021, who won

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“He is very mature,” Gundy said. “The one thing I have appreciated with the new guys coming in is it’s the first time we have veteran guys who are 22 or 23 years old that are at a new school and their excitement level is high because they want to be here and chose to be here. I think he is a good example of that. He is always in a good mood, always smiling, always at the office and so I’m excited to watch him develop.”

OSU’s third and fourth leading rushers from a year ago, Gordon and Nixon, each have shown flashes of explosiveness. As a true freshman, Gordon played sparingly behind Richardson and Nixon, but he was handed a heavier load in the final two games, where he combined for 181 yards at an average of 6.2 yards a rush. At 6-foot-1, 211 pounds, Gordon is a stout back that can barrel through defenses.

Nixon turned heads in a reserve role as a freshman but only rushed for 181 yards as a redshirt freshman in

2022. He’s a quick back, though, and he caught a few passes, racking up 189 receiving yards and three rushing touchdowns last year. Both he and Gordon are poised to step take on more carries. Health and effectiveness of the offensive line will have much to say in the success of the rushing game, but the depth and potential is there at running back for the Cowboys to have a threeheaded attack.

“You can know what your style is, and you can also adapt to a little bit of change in the style,” Gordon said. “All our backs are different. Jaden Nixon is the speed back. I’m more downhill. Elijah Collins is more of a mixture of the both of us. He can make you miss but also will knock you over. With that, I don’t think defenses can really game plan for us if we all have different things.”

OSU also reintroduced the fullback position after the dissolution of the Cowboy back position. Fullback will be manned by two redshirt seniors in Braden Cassity and Jake Schultz, who were both block-heavy Cowboy backs. Neither have been huge offensive threats -- Cassity has 123 career receiving yards, and Schultz has only 16.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of Chase Davis

Sophomore Ollie Gordon emerged as a viable option at running back for the Cowboys after averaging 6.2 yards a carry in OSU’s final two games.

Braden Bush

Sports Editor

Week 4: UCF at Kansas State

Facing the retooled reigning conference champion is a tough ask for a team making its debut in Power Five, but UCF seems up for it. Coach Gus Malzahn isn’t new to Power Five, and with the way he spoke about quarterback John Rhys Plumlee at Big 12 media days, neither should his team.

Week 5: Kansas at Texas

Texas became the joke of the 2021 season when it gave lowly Kansas its first conference away win since ‘08. Now, in a matchup of Big 12 preseason offensive player of the year Jalon Daniels and defensive player of the year Jaylan Ford, UT-KU could be something fun. Week 6: Oklahoma at Texas (Dallas)

The Big 12 will no longer see the Red-River game after this season, and this last one should be fun after last year’s dud. Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said he wanted to “celebrate” Texas and Oklahoma in their last year in the conference, so maybe there’s something special in Dallas that weekend. Otherwise, it should be a good ‘ole fashioned football game.

Week 7: Kansas State at Texas Tech

If both teams enter this game undefeated, or with one loss, this will look to be one of the best games in the country and could decide postseason scenarios. Texas Tech is a tough team to play on the road. Ask Houston, Texas and Oklahoma, who all visited Lubbock last season and played in a down-to-the-line game. The winner will show they’re legit in the Big 12 and NCAA.

Week 8: Texas at Houston

This series used to be played in the Astrodome? That’s cool.

Anyway, like week three, either Houston fans show in droves or TDECU Stadium is overrun by burnt orange. This will be another test for Texas on the road, but if they’ve got to this point unscathed, it shouldn’t be too difficult for the Horns. Though, if there is an upset this week, it could be here.

Week 9: Oklahoma at Kansas

By this time in the season (at least, hopefully, or OU fans may never rest), the Sooners defense should be one of the top units in the Big 12. We’ll also likely see Jalon Daniels and the Kansas offense become one of the better rushing teams in the conference, which on paper already creates a nice matchup. Kansas fans have been waiting to be competitive for 15 years, and with OU in its last season in the Big 12, a field rush could end this game.

Week 10: Oklahoma at Oklahoma State

This one is just for bragging rights. No matter the 91-19 all-time series record, if Oklahoma wins, it will always have the last laugh over little brother. But if OSU wins, it

could hold it over the Sooners’ head for the rest of time (or at least until both schools miss each other and schedule a game in the 2030s).

Week 11: Texas at TCU

Texas got throttled by the TCU machine at DKR last season, and the Longhorns will be looking to return the favor this season. Hopefully TCU doesn’t have a playoff slump, and this one could be exciting between

Chandler Morris and Quinn Ewers. Or, just maybe — Texas has been bad and Arch Manning is running around Fort Worth. I doubt it, but it should be fun.

Week 12: UCF at Texas Tech

Not sure why, but this has 11 a.m. written all over it. Both teams should be fun to watch this season and that’s basically my only reasoning for this. The

rest of the games this week aren’t the most exciting (besides Kansas and Kansas State, but I’d rather watch that in basketball). Who knows, maybe this becomes a rivalry in the future Big 12.

Week 13: Texas Tech at Texas Black Friday college football games are always fun, and this one should be, too. Texas Tech will have one last chance

to beat its eternal rival (does Texas see it that way too?) after winning in overtime last year in Lubbock. This series gave us the Michael Crabtree touchdown, and I’m sure Texas Tech will be posting that play everywhere before Texas leaves for the SEC.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of Davis Cordova

The Big 12 is full of intriguing matchups in 2023, beginning Week 1 with TCU taking on Colorado in coach Deion Sanders’ debut with the Buffaloes.

Houston...

sports

ered offense last season. The Cougars were in the top 25 nationally in almost every passing statistic, and having a potent aerial attack in unison with McCaskill paved the way for UH to have the 13th-ranked scoring offense.

584 receiving yards and seven touchdowns as a freshman last season and figures to be a top option at pass catcher in 2023.

high-level running backs.

UH returns defensive end Nelson Ceaser, who had a team second-best four sacks, an interception and 36 tackles in 2022, giving the Cougars a chance a solid leader on the defensive front.

“It’s a little different offense that we run here,” Smith said during spring practices. “Tech is more of throw it deep type stuff. But here, we have a lot more options to do. We have wide receivers that can get open, too.”

Tune led UH to have a high-pow-

Without McCaskill, the Cougars will rely on Tony Mathis Jr., who spent four years at West Virginia before transferring to UH this spring. Last season, he ran for 562 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 4.2 yards a carry.

At receiver, Matthew Golden had

The Cougar offense will have a high bar to live up to, but the defense has nowhere to go but up.

Continued from 1 sports.ed@ocolly.com

Holgorsen attempted to bolster the Cougars’ defensive unit by bringing players into the secondary and linebacker rooms, but Houston could still struggle on the defensive line to stop the run in a conference that boasts multiple

“Better get ready to line up and prepare your best each and every week to put your best foot forward,” Holgorsen said, “and I think we will do that, and I think we’ll be competitive.”

Courtesy of Davis Cordova

The Cougars brought in Texas Tech transfer Donovan Smith, who is expected to take over at quarterback.

OSU ranked most affordable online education in emergency management

Mallory Pool Staff Reporter

The fire and emergency management program (FEMP) under the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology (CEAT) at Oklahoma State University was ranked the most affordable program by OnlineU.

An emergency management master’s degree at OSU is designed for full or part-time professionals or students who are seeking to obtain managerial or administrative roles in fire or emergency management. Whether online or in person, the program gives an overview of different concepts and theories of risk assessment and helps participants develop the necessary managerial skills.

Several of the online emergency management master’s programs have courses and classes that include risk mitigation, disaster response and terrorism. On top of the coursework, online participants can expect to finish a practicum, thesis or capstone project in order to graduate. After, they can then pursue careers like security officers, management specialists and business community managers.

OSU’s FEMP program, established in 1996, is one of the oldest and most prestigious programs in the country. The program began as a Master of Arts with a specialty in fire and emergency management under the School of Political Science. Three years later, the degree changed to the Master of Science in fire and emergency management administration under CEAT. The curriculum encompasses strategic administration and organizational management, public policy, leadership, human dimensions of disaster and terrorism.

“The Master of Science was also ranked No. 1 for Best

Online Master’s Programs in Emergency Management in 2022 by Online Masters Degrees,” said Haley Murphy, associate professor and program coordinator for the Fire and Emergency Management Administration program.

“Graduates from the program are making a real impact in their organizations and com-

munities by applying the skills they learned in this program.”

OSU provides a range of fire programs, which include a master’s and doctoral degree in fire and emergency management, a minor in emergency management and a minor, bachelor’s and master’s degree in fire protection and safety engineering technology.

OnlineU has aided in inspiring students to achieve their education and professional goals since 2004 by finding the best valued online degrees by conducting manual research on thousands of programs every year. This gives accurate and detailed cost and salary information of alumni from the colleges in question.

OnlineU publishes rankings over the course of hundreds of online degree programs. It has composed reviews from more than 13,000 online students and publishes complete news articles and guides to aid students in finding the best degree for their goals.

news.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of OSU

OSU provides a range of fire programs, which include a master’s and doctoral degree in fire and emergency management, a minor in emergency management and a minor, bachelor’s and master’s degree in fire protection and safety engineering technology.

Gardens...

Improving the soil must be done before and during the gardening season. Depending on the natural state of the soil, various fertilizers and organic matter are necessary for plant growth. Hillock said these variables improve waterlogging and root growth, which strengthen nutrient availability.

When planting, gardeners can choose between direct-planting seeds or using transplants. Opposed to directplanting, it can be easier to plant seeds early and protect them under partial shade and with insect protection, then transplant the seeds into the garden.

“Gardeners who want to grow their own transplants will have a larger selection of seeds to purchase as opposed to the availability of transplants at the nursery,” said Casey Hentges, host of “Oklahoma Gardening” OSU Agriculture’s television program. “Seeds left over from the spring garden can be used in the fall garden as long as they were stored in a cool, dry location or in a refrigerator or freezer.”

When choosing which plants to grow during the fall, gardeners need to remember that plants grown in the spring can be continued into the fall, including tomato, okra, spinach, pepper, sweet potato and cowpea. Some of the best crops for fall gardening include broccoli, pole and lima beans, cauliflower, cilantro, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, eggplant, leaf lettuce, pumpkin, summer and winter squash, tomatillo and sweet corn.

“Some plants, such as radishes, mature in as little as 20 days, but other vegetables like broccoli and pumpkin can take 100 days or more before harvest,” Hentges said. “Gardeners need to make sure they have enough time between planting and harvest before winter sets in.”

While Hentges warns gardeners to be aware of the

maturity rate of plants before harvest, Hillock warns gardeners of the overall quantity of plants and how certain factors may impact the numbers of a good crop.

Leading into the fall months, the weather causes high soil temperatures, high light intensity and rapidly dry-

ing soil. In order to avoid these issues and bring forth a full stand of plants, the crop needs an abundance of shade and water for germination.

“In order to germinate, viable seeds must have the proper temperature, adequate moisture and sufficient oxygen,” Hillock said. “Consider drip irrigation to make the

watering process easier and more efficient.”

The conditions that favor seed germination also favor the growth of grass and broadleaf weed plants, which take valuable soil nutrients and moisture. To eliminate this problem, gardeners must mulch the soil or cultivate the soil when the weeds are small and can be

easily destroyed.

Continued from 1 news.ed@ocolly.com

To eliminate damage to plants caused by insect pests, Hillock suggests frequent checks and immediate protective measures be used. In order to control the damage, gardeners must determine what kind of pests are at fault by using the fact sheet EPP-7313.

File Photo

Gardening is an activity that is good for the mind and creates fresh produce that benefits the body.

Final project for Block 34 presented in city hall meeting

the newly finished $13,000,000 project to the city council. Steve Irby, the owner of Kicker, was responsible for donating $3,000,000 and was also present at the city hall meeting.

The future of Block 34 in Stillwater is defined.

On Monday, the city of Stillwater held its biweekly city hall meeting. It counted the presence of Jim Beckstrom, the chairman of the Stillwater Community Center Foundation and part of Block 34 Citizen Task Force, who was responsible for showing and explaining

On tuesday, Steve Irby, Jim Beckstrom and City of Stillwater Administration announced that development of Block 34 is now fully funded and designs are complete, with bid process to begin in September.

After 10 years of brainstorming ideas on what the vacant block in Downtown Stillwater, known as Block 34, could eventually turn out to be, the final project presents an inclusive music play area, water play area, musicians walk, musician recognition features,

westside gardens, drinking fountains and bike, beer garden and picnic tables and a special place for donor recognition. Beckstrom said Block 34 will have a classic design and significantly improve the quality of Stillwater residents. The tentative schedule for the end of construction is pre-spring weather in 2025.

For a better look at the project, residents can visit the city of Stillwatwer website.

At the same meeting, Mayor Will Joyce said the construction on North Perkins Road US 177 remains on schedule for all four lanes to be completed by the end of August. The construction, which started in February

2022, was a join project between the city and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. According to the city of Stillwater website, the city is responsible for the design of utility relocation and rights of ways acquisitions, and ODOT is responsible for construction. A new website for the city of Stillwater was announced at the city hall meeting and it was launched on Tuesday. The new website holds better features than the previous one and a new layout. Stillwater residents can go to https://stillwaterok.gov/ for a look at the new website.

news.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of the City of Stillwater

The proposed Northwest Glade, West Clearing, and Southwest Garden features for Block 34 will bound the north, central, and south parts of the Musicians Walk, respectively.

Luisa Clausen Editor-in-Chief

Truckin’ on

A Philly Ukrainian American is working to deliver wheels to

Jeff Gammage

So here’s the plan: Raise $8,000 to buy the truck, a big, used 2000 Ford F250 diesel, and ship it 4,300 miles across the world from South Jersey to Europe.

From there — maybe Poland or Germany — contacts at the nonprofit Amicus Ukraine will get the truck to Ukraine, then deliver it to Ukrainian military units. They’ll outfit the vehicle and drive it into the front lines, using its strength to haul equipment, evacuate the wounded, and fight the Russians.

Simple, right?

OK, admits Roman Strakovsky, a Mount Airy data analyst and co-founder of Philly Stands With Ukraine, maybe the whole thing sounds a little far-fetched.

To send an old vehicle that far. To pay to ship 5,600 pounds of truck overseas – not exactly like mailing a box of socks.

But, he said, Ukrainian forces desperately need trucks. And the scarcities and demands of war actually make it more logical and economical to buy here and send there, rather than try to find the right truck among expensive, picked-over stock in Europe.

“My wife thinks I’m a little bit crazy,” said Strakovsky, who volunteers for Kyiv-based Amicus Ukraine.

Friends have gently suggested the same, but “once you get into the specifics, and explain why it’s necessary, and the logistics, they get it.”

This particular Ford, a white, four-wheel drive superduty crew cab Lariat, waits at Brothers Auto Center, a

used-car dealership in Clayton, located just south of Glassboro in Gloucester County.

So far the on-line fundraising effort has brought in about $1,700 of the $8,000 cost. That breaks down to roughly $6,500 for the truck and another $1,500 or so to ship it.

It marks another big effort by a Philadelphia-area Ukrainian American community that has stepped forward to help compatriots at home. Local Ukrainian American churches, charities, and organizations have sent millions of dollars worth of goods and supplies.

At one point the sisters of St. Basil in Jenkintown had boxes stacked high overhead, filled with sleeping bags, medicines, clothing, walkers, wheelchairs, ramen noodles, granola bars, and more.

The Philadelphia region

is home to one of the nation’s largest Ukrainian American communities, some 70,000 people who are immigrants or hold ancestry.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the United States and other Western allies have delivered billions of dollars in weapons. Ukraine has defended itself, not only with its military, but with everything it can find. That’s included turning passenger trucks and SUVs into war vehicles, mounted with gunnery systems.

Amicus Ukraine has imported nearly 100 trucks, SUVs, buses, station wagons, and ambulances, which are used to move everything from humanitarian supplies to people to ammunition.

Director Vitalii Naumenko said in a phone call from Kyiv that trucks are the vehicles most in demand,

front-line troops

needed for their pulling power and durability on roads that are often damaged. Ukrainian fighting units always ask for more trucks, he said.

Naumenko is a former high-ranking Ukraine customs official who has used his contacts in the Baltic region to import vehicles, often ones that have been confiscated by authorities in Lithuania.

That country, the first to declare full independence from the Soviet Union after the fall of the Berlin Wall, has been sympathetic to Ukraine as it navigates its own tense relationship with Moscow.

Unfortunately, Naumenko said, trucks have become hard to find in Europe. And when located they tend to be priced excessively.

Strakovsky said that’s where he comes in, living in America, the land of the

pick-up. After hearing about the need for trucks, he started looking at advertisements and evaluating possibilities.

This Ford is a 2000 model, with just under 300,000 miles on the odometer.

A new one can easily cost more than $50,000. But there’s little point spending that amount of money.

Naumenko said trucksturned-combat-vehicles have short lifespans, because they immediately become targets of Russian forces.

“They’ll shoot at anything that moves,” he said.

Beside the military use, Naumenko said, the delivery of trucks holds important meaning for Ukrainian troops.

“They know they’re not alone in this,” he said. “That people aren’t standing aside, but stepping up and helping, especially in the U.S.”

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

HIMALAYAN GROCERY STORE

Courtesy of TYGER WILLIAMS

Roman Strakovsky, 40, a cofounder of Philly Stands with Ukraine, at his home in Mount Airy, Pennsylvania.

The Philadelphia Inquirer

Come check out the wide variety of elegant clothing at Formal Fantasy!

Located on 121 E. 9th Ave, Downtown Stillwater

The best selection of beer, wine and liquor that Stillwater has to offer! Perfect for all your game day needs, come to Brown’s Bottle Shop located on 128 N. Main

“The Original Hideaway, located on the corner of Knoblock and University. Serving quality pizza and more since 1957.”

Murphy’s Department Store

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Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black

Tribune Content Agency

Linda Black Horoscopes

Today’s Birthday (07/26/23). Professional prizes abound this year. Pennies saved in a steady trickle add up nicely over time. Make summer household changes for surging autumn creativity with professional rewards. Clarifying misunderstandings and disinformation next spring leads to research revealing treasure. Your work is gaining respect and attention.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 7 — Prioritize financial practicalities. Don’t let what seems like a big problem take you off course. You’re building for the future. Keep contributing to the shared pot.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 9 — Share support with your partner. Provide stability in a challenging moment. Stay flexible around barriers. Creativity and romance can spark after things quiet down.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 9 — Prioritize health, work and vitality. Despite challenges, you’re growing stronger. Heed recommendations and warnings. Focus on what you know works. Maintain momentum for long-term gain.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Fun could get interrupted by unexpected changes and complications. Stay cool when tempers flare. Avoid trouble or unnecessary quarrels. Love wins in the end.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 7 — Savor simple pleasures at home. Avoid travel, traffic or roadblocks. Manage domestic responsibilities for ease and family support. Reduce clutter and chaos. Peaceful settings recharge.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Abandon preconceptions. Look to philosophers, musicians and poets for inspiration. Practice your creative skills. Write, edit and revise. Share beauty and passion.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 9 — Monitor accounts closely and monitor the gap between income and outflow. Stick to practical plans. New evidence threatens complacency. Build regular backups into your plans.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 9 — You’re gaining influence, despite any self-doubt. Get outside your own monologue. Focus on personal priorities. You’re making positive changes and learning valuable new tricks.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 6 — Unplug and recharge. Find a peaceful spot for private planning and organization. Look at things from a different angle. Meditate on what’s ahead.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — Ask your team for ideas around a breakdown or change. Others can see where you cannot. Start small and build from that. Friends offer support.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 7 — Forge ahead professionally. Strategize carefully. Build and grow from strong basic structures. Don’t rely on unstable sources. Learn a clever workaround for a stuck area.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Explore to test a theory. Obstacles could cause delays. Assess the situation carefully before advancing. Investigations may not go as planned. Stick to stable footing.

1

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Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Lewis

Alan Olschwang

Solution to Tuesday’s puzzle

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk