A special happy birthday wish to my younger son, Matt Montgomery.

Matt celebrates his birthday Wednesday, May 1.

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Happy birthday to Jason Midkiff, Mike Tolle, Susie Peters, Adam Duffy, Jennifer Kozik, Bridget Roper, Louis Zuech, Bailey Chaples, Denise Clark, Tyler Simmons, Paul Steiner, Aracely Garcia, Gabriela Escobedo, Blake Ellis, Amber Espinoza, Vanessa Garcia and Trevor Nimmo.

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The Purcell Public Library will present “Reading with OU Athletes” on Saturday, April 27, from 11 a.m.- 12 p.m.

Come out to the Purcell Public Library for special guest speakers from OU Athletics.

For more information call 405-527-5546 or online at pioneerlibrarysystem.org.

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The City of Purcell is hosting a shredding and Rx Take Back event Saturday, April 27, from 9 a.m.-12 noon at the Purcell Police Department.

Cars should enter the police department parking lot from Grant Street and follow the signs.

All documents must be free of binder clips, must be in cardboard boxes and be limited to five boxes per car.

Items not accepted include needles, syringes, liquids, chemicals and inhalers.

For more information call 405-527-4627.

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The City of Purcell’s annual Citywide Garage Sale will be held Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4.

Email, text or call the chamber office to get your garage sale on the list.

Contact the chamber at 405-527-3093 or chamberoffice@theheartofok.com and provide your name, address, dates of sale and a contact phone number.

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The City of Purcell is sponsoring a Support Your Furry Friends event Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m.-12 noon.

You can support the local animal shelter by donating pet food, blankets, towels, pet beds, toys, cat litter (clumping), Clorox wipes, bleach, laundry detergent or gift cards.

The event will be held at the Purcell Police Department. Citizens should enter the police department from Grant Street and follow the signs to the donation tent at the southeast corner of  the parking lot.

Staff will collect all items for donations.

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The Purcell Parent Teacher Organization will be hosting the annual Freedom Fun Run Tuesday, May 7.

The annual Fun Run is a fund-raiser for students in grades Pre-K through fifth who compete with their classmates to run the most laps.

Money raised will go towards supplementing classroom curriculum, purchase of new equipment for teachers, purchase of iPad cases for elementary students along with other projects.

The Freedom Fun Run will be held at the Bob Haley Track and Field Complex.

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The 2024 Heart of Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Banquet is set for Thursday, May 9, at the Sam Noble Museum in Norman.

For more information call the chamber office at 405-527-3093 or email elisabeth@theheartofok.com.

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This is one of my favorite recipes and so easy to make.

Spring Risotto

3 Tbsp. butter

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups uncooked instant white rice

14-1/2 oz. can chicken or vegetable broth, warmed

1/2 cup milk

1 bunch (1 lb.) asparagus, trimmed, chopped into 2-inch pieces

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

1/8 tsp. each salt and pepper

Melt butter with olive oil in a deep skillet on medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook 2 to 3 minutes. Do not brown.

Toss in rice and stir to coat the rice. Add warm broth, milk and asparagus.

Bring to a boil over medium heat; simmer for 5 minutes over low heat. Mix in 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese just before serving.