Before Oklahoma City became the permanent capital in 1910, which city briefly served as the capital of Oklahoma Territory?

Good morning Woodward,

Here is a quick rundown of the three biggest local stories making headlines this week. Whether you’re planning the week ahead, looking for something fun to do, or just enjoying a quiet moment with your coffee, we’ve got you covered.

📹 Classic Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe

🐾 Pet of the Week: Meet Brandy

Meet Brandy, a beautiful 2-year-old lab mix with a big heart and lots of love to give 💕

She’s a sturdy 70 pounds of loyalty, energy, and sweetness.

Brandy can be a little shy at first, but with patience and kindness, she truly blossoms. Once she trusts you, she’s incredibly loyal and will happily keep watch over her home — she’ll even alert you when visitors arrive.

She’s an outdoor-loving girl who would do best with an active owner or a family who enjoys being outside. Brandy is house-trained with regular breaks and settles well at night in her crate. With continued love and training, her potential is endless.

If you’re looking for a faithful companion who will grow deeply attached to her person, Brandy might just be the one waiting for you.

📍 Available through: WOOF Pet Rescue Society

📩 Reach out to the rescue to learn more about adopting Brandy and giving her the forever home she deserves.

📅 Events Happening Next Week in Woodward

Looking for something fun to do around town? Here are a couple of local events happening next week that are worth putting on your calendar:

✨ Dax and Snax – Brighter Smiles Event

📍 Location: 2211 Downs Ave, Woodward, OK
🗓 Date & Time: Friday, January 30 at 12:00 PM

Swing by for this cheerful midday event focused on brighter smiles and community connection. It’s a great excuse to get out of the house, support a local business, and enjoy a friendly atmosphere right here in Woodward.

🎸 Panhandle Dirt Live at Patriot Pub

📍 Location: Patriot Pub, 610 Main Street, Woodward, OK
🗓 Date & Time: Saturday, January 31 at 8:45 PM

If you’re craving live music and a fun night out, Panhandle Dirt will be playing live at Patriot Pub. Perfect for date night or a relaxed evening with friends, this local show brings good tunes and hometown vibes.

T.W. Shannon, Lawton native and former Oklahoma House Speaker, brought his campaign for lieutenant governor to Woodward, outlining a bold vision for the state’s future at the Woodward Conference Center.

Highlighting his extensive public service—including his historic tenure as the first African American and youngest Speaker—Shannon emphasized Oklahoma’s potential for growth and resilience.

Drawing from his experience as a USDA senior advisor, he addressed economic challenges such as generational poverty, vowing to champion free markets, constitutional government, and Judeo-Christian values.

He spotlighted welfare reform efforts, recalling his father’s belief that good-paying jobs are the best social program, and advocated for workforce growth without new taxes.

Shannon praised Woodward’s revitalization efforts, including downtown improvements, investment in education, and the new airport terminal, aligning his campaign with local economic momentum.

He plans continued outreach as he seeks the Republican nomination.

A robbery at the Cricket Wireless store in Woodward occurred shortly after 10:30 a.m. on January 13, 2026, sparking a swift response from local police.

Detectives identified 21-year-old Andrew Wade Townsend as the suspect after reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses and receiving crucial tips from the public via the police Facebook page.

Townsend, a local resident, wore a mask and implied he was armed while demanding money from store staff, ultimately fleeing with $190.

He was apprehended later that day at the Wayfair Inn after authorities matched clothing seen in the robbery to security footage from a recent local restaurant “dine and dash” incident.

Townsend faces charges including first-degree robbery and unlawfully wearing a mask during a crime.

Recent similar robberies at Cricket Wireless stores across the country underscore the need for vigilance and rapid reporting to help keep local neighborhoods safe.

8 Ways for Seniors to Sleep Better Tonight

Mooreland residents recently packed a public meeting to voice strong opposition to a proposed sand mining site south of town.

Neighbors like Dalton Reazin raised alarms about silica dust, truck traffic, and impacts to local families and businesses.

Others cited health risks—especially for vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and nearby nursing home residents.

Concerns over water safety grew, with speakers highlighting the North Canadian River’s importance to local drinking supplies.

Bill Croell of Croell Inc. stressed that the project would be small and temporary, but many locals questioned these claims, pointing to the permit’s allowance for extensive water and sand extraction.

Road safety, environmental restoration, and wildlife habitat destruction also fueled worries.

Community members have now launched a petition to halt the mine, seeking to protect Mooreland’s natural landscape, public health, and agricultural legacy as the state reviews the permit.

📰 From the Archives: Woodward Then & Now

This week, we’re taking a step back in time to Woodward in 1964, with a page from the Woodward County Journal. Back then, the newspaper was packed with everyday life — local names, church notices, small business ads, and community updates — all sharing space on a single page.

At the bottom of the paper was a simple but powerful message:
“With faith — you’re never alone.”

Sixty years later, so much has changed, yet that message still rings true. Woodward has always been built on community, resilience, and looking out for one another — values that continue to define our town today.

Do you remember reading the paper like this, or recognizing familiar names week after week?

The Tricks To Fix A Squeaky Wood Floor!

That is your quick local update. If you appreciate these summaries, forward this email to a friend who lives in or around Woodward.

More local stories coming soon. Have a wonderful week ahead!

Love,

Matt

Guthrie was the original capital of Oklahoma Territory and remained so until the capital was moved to Oklahoma City in 1910.