What was the original name of 8th Street in Woodward, Oklahoma?

💙 Welcome Message

Good Sunday, Woodward!

I’m so glad you’re here.

Every week when I sit down to put this together, I think about the people opening this email — neighbors, friends, families who care about this town just as much as I do. Woodward isn’t just a dot on a map… it’s Friday night lights, friendly waves at the grocery store, church on Sunday, and the kind of place where people still show up for each other.

My goal with Woodward Shoutouts is simple:

To help you stay connected, feel encouraged, and maybe even discover something new happening right here in our own backyard.

Whether you’re here for the events, the weather, the local stories, or just something uplifting to read with your morning coffee — I’m grateful you’re part of this community.

Let’s dive in.

📅 What’s Happening Around Woodward Next Week

☀️ Weather Outlook for the Week Ahead

Here’s a quick look at what next week has in store so you can plan ahead:

• Saturday: Sunny and pleasant — 67° / 45°

• Sunday: Windy and warmer — 75° / 50°

• Monday: Windy and hot — 80° / 48°

• Tuesday: Mostly sunny — 74° / 45°

• Wednesday: Partly sunny — 72° / 38°

• Thursday: Cooler but sunny — 69° / 33°

• Friday: Chilly with sunshine — 58° / 34°

•  

🌬️ Expect some wind early in the week, with cooler mornings toward the end — perfect reminder to grab a light jacket before heading out.

Biscuit, a resilient Siberian Husky, spent his life chained before being rescued from neglect in Kentucky.

Amy Hines of Dogs Deserve Better found Biscuit and seven other dogs in dire conditions, confined without shelter or care.

Through determination, Amy secured their freedom and transported them to the Good News Rehab Center in Virginia, marking the start of their healing and adoption journeys.

For the first time, Biscuit experienced the thrill of running across open fields, symbolizing his newfound liberty and joy.

His transformation underscores the compassionate mission of organizations like Dogs Deserve Better and the Kentucky Humane Society, both working to rescue and rehabilitate neglected animals.

Recent rescues, including over 70 Huskies in Garrard County, reveal the continued importance of advocacy and local support for animal welfare.

Biscuit’s journey serves as an inspiring call to help vulnerable animals experience the happiness and freedom they deserve.

Crystal Beach Lake stands as a silent companion in Woodward, shaping childhoods and weaving itself into the rhythms of community life.

Once intended to be an oil well, it found a grander purpose as a steady gathering place for generations seeking solace, fun, and perspective.

The lake’s calm presence has absorbed laughter, watched over ballgames, and witnessed Woodward’s growth—new buildings rising, families growing, and memories quietly accumulating on its banks.

Residents return in both joy and hardship, drawn by the unfussy comfort the lake offers.

Crystal Beach Lake reminds us that being meaningful isn’t about fanfare; it’s about steadfastness—about providing roots, not spectacle.

Here, generations learn that what holds steady through every season and storm is what matters most.

In Woodward, the lake’s quiet presence writes its own enduring love letter to the town and its people.

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow made lasting headlines across the Central U.S. during the 1930s, with Oklahoma as a frequent and fateful stop on their journey.

Though native to Texas, the duo’s trail often wove through rural northwest Oklahoma, forever binding their legend to the state’s history.

Notably, the 1932 Stringtown shooting claimed the life of Deputy Sheriff Eugene C. Moore, triggering a wave of fear across Oklahoma.

The infamous gang’s appearances in Enid and near Drummond Flats only amplified their legend, as harrowing pursuits and narrow escapes fueled public fascination.

Local folklore abounds with tales—some rooted in truth, others shaped by time—of the pair’s encounters on Oklahoma’s backroads.

Today, museums and forensic experts strive to untangle myth from fact, ensuring Bonnie and Clyde’s imprint remains vivid in Oklahoma’s collective memory.

Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology (OSUIT) has announced its Fall 2025 honor rolls, highlighting outstanding student achievement.

Kaelton Barnes of Woodward secured a spot on the President’s Honor Roll by earning a perfect 4.0 GPA this semester.

Fellow Woodward student Abimael Castruita also received recognition, joining the Dean’s Honor Roll for maintaining a GPA between 3.5 and 3.999.

These honors underscore the dedication of Woodward’s students and the community’s commitment to academic excellence.

In addition, Woodward is making strides in local development, recently securing an $11.34 million loan to enhance water and wastewater services.

The city also received a grant from Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, funding new self-watering planters to enliven downtown.

Woodward’s ongoing improvements and student successes reflect a strong spirit of progress and community pride.

Cooking, often seen as comforting and nourishing, has become a major source of stress for many local families.

Daily decision fatigue makes even simple meals feel exhausting.

Modern expectations—shaped by social media and food culture—pressure home cooks to create picture-perfect, complex dishes, turning basic nourishment into a performance.

The emotional labor of balancing dietary needs, preferences, and schedules adds to this burden, especially when efforts go unrecognized.

As the kitchen becomes yet another space for productivity, guilt and frustration grow when meals aren’t healthy, fast, affordable, and exciting all at once.

Many feel pressure to enjoy cooking, but not everyone finds it relaxing or creative.

The real source of stress is a cultural overload of expectations, not any lack of personal skill.

Letting go of perfection and embracing “good enough” can help make cooking feel lighter—and far more manageable for everyone in our community.

Sunday's Crossword Puzzle

Play this week's crossword puzzle. Answers in next weeks newsletter.

💛 Closing Message

Thank you for spending a few minutes of your Sunday with me.

If something in today’s newsletter made you smile, taught you something new, or helped you plan your week — then it did exactly what it was meant to do.

If you ever have an event to share, a story worth telling, a business to spotlight, or just something good happening around town, I’d love to hear about it. This newsletter only works because of this community.

Here’s to another great week in Woodward.

Love,
Matt

The original name of 8th Street in Woodward, Oklahoma was called "East Boulevard"