Happy birthday to my great-niece Hazel Budd of Midwest City.

Hazel celebrates her sixth birthday Thursday, June 5.

***

Happy birthday to our own Purcell Register employee Doris Caldwell.

Doris celebrates her birthday Monday, June 9.

***

Happy birthday to James Snow, James Kyzer, Father John Peter Swaminathan, Cadlyn Wollenberg, Pat Stejskal, Howard Dawson, Rick Stevenson, David Hope, Kristi Lawson, Gina Johnson, Jon Clary, Patty Johnson, Ashlie Daniels, Debbie Wollenberg, Adrianne Foshee, Jordan Sheehy-Simmons, Sawyer Midkiff, Marshall Honeyman, Pam Hobbs, Madisyn Tolle, Betty Brady, Becky Brown, Miriam Chavez, Erica Estrada, Carol Frazier, Glenda Roberts, Susan Roberts, Maria Gracia Velasco, Matt Berrey, Sergio Diaz, Jovany A. Veleta Romero, Betsy Simmons and Ethan Troyano.

***

The City of Purcell Parks & Recreation Department, in partnership with the Heart of Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce and the Purcell Outreach Committee, announces the debut of a brand-new event: Purcell Lake Day—a celebration of trails, trucks and community spirit!

Taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, this exciting new event combines the best elements of two long-standing community favorites, Walk the Trail Day and Touch-A-Truck, into one unforgettable experience at beautiful Purcell Lake.

***

The 2025 Heart of Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Banquet is set for Thursday, June 5, at the Mid-America Technology Center in Wayne.

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

***

Make plans now to attend and participate in the Fourth Annual Jimmy Criswell Memorial Car Show.

The fund-raiser event will be held at the pavilion at the Purcell City Lake on Saturday, June 14, from 3-6 p.m.

In addition to the vintage vehicles to view, there will be food, door prizes and a raffle among other activities.

Entry fee is $25 payable on the day of the show from 3-4 p.m.

All proceeds will go to Geneva Oswalt.

***

The Purcell Public Library will present the “Culinary Herb Gardening with a Master Gardener” Thursday, June 12, from 6-7 p.m. in the meeting room of the library.

Discover the secrets to cultivating a thriving herb garden with the expertise of a Master Gardener. This course covers everything from selecting the best herbs for your climate to proper planting, care, and harvesting techniques.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, you’ll gain practical skills to enhance your cooking with fresh, homegrown herbs.

This program is a part of the Summer Learning Challenge. Earn prizes, collect badges, and help our community reach 18 million minutes of learning by joining the Summer Learning Challenge today!

The program is designed for teens 12-17 and adults and registration is required.

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

***

The Purcell Public Library will present “Tornado Alley Disc Dogs” Saturday, June 21, from 3-4 p.m. at the Purcell Multi-Purpose Center, 1400 Chandler Road.

Enjoy Tornado Alley Disc Dogs, a not-for-profit group located right here in Central Oklahoma. Their show is filled with high-flying dogs and spectacular tricks!

The program is designed for children through age 11 and registration is required.

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

***

Purcell City Hall will be closed from 1-2 p.m. the first Wednesday of every month for training.

The offices will be closed Wednesday, July 2.

***

This recipe combines two of my favorites - pasta and Mexican.

Taco Pasta

8 oz. spaghetti

1-1/4 pounds lean ground beef or ground turkey

1 oz. package taco seasoning

2/3 cup water

10.75 oz. can cream of chicken soup

10 oz. can Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies undrained

8 oz. package Velveeta cheese, cubed

1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350º.

Lightly spray a 9×9-inch pan with cooking spray. Set aside.

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. Set aside.

In a large skillet cook ground beef over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain fat. Return meat to skillet. Add taco seasoning and water. Stir to combine. Cook for 5 minutes.

Stir in soup, Velveeta and Rotel tomatoes. Reduce heat to low, and cook until the cheese melts, stirring constantly.

Stir in cooked spaghetti and pour into prepared dish. Top with cheddar cheese.

Bake for 30 minutes or until heated through.