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_{Daily Bible verse}

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

John 16:13

Conservatives block Trump’s big tax breaks bill

By  LISA MASCARO and KEVIN FREKING

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a setback, House Republicans failed Friday to push their big package of tax breaks and spending cuts through the Budget Committee, as a handful of conservatives joined all Democrats in a stunning vote against it.

The hard-right lawmakers are insisting on steeper spending cuts to Medicaid and the Biden-era green energy tax breaks, among other changes, before they will give their support to President Donald Trump’s “beautiful” bill. They warn the tax cuts alone would pile onto the nation’s $36 trillion debt.

See the whole story HERE.

Supreme Court rejects Trump bid

By  MARK SHERMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday barred the Trump administration from quickly resuming deportations of Venezuelans under an 18th-century wartime law enacted when the nation was just a few years old.

Over two dissenting votes, the justices acted on an emergency appeal from lawyers for Venezuelan men who have been accused of being gang members, a designation that the administration says makes them eligible for rapid removal from the United States under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

See the whole story HERE.

Severe weather leaves 9 dead in Kentucky

By  COREY WILLIAMS, MICHAEL PHILLIS and JOHN HANNA

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Storm systems sweeping across the Midwest have left at least 16 dead, including nine people killed after a tornado sparked what authorities called a mass casualty event in southeastern Kentucky.

Kentucky authorities said there were also severe injuries when a twister tore across Laurel County late Friday.

“The search is continuing in the damaged area for survivors,” the office of Sheriff John Root said in a statement posted on social media.

See the whole story HERE.

Israel launches a new military operation in Gaza

By  IBRAHIM HAZBOUN and SAMY MAGDY

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has launched a major operation in the Gaza Strip to pressure Hamas to release remaining hostages, the defense minister said Saturday, following days of intensive strikes across the territory that killed hundreds of people.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Operation Gideon Chariots was being led with “great force” by Israel’s army.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed earlier in the week to escalate pressure on Hamas with the aim of destroying the militant group that has ruled Gaza for nearly two decades.

See the whole story HERE.

Talihina loses in semifinals to Ketchum, 7-4

Talihina loses in Class 2A-2 baseball state tournament semifinals to Ketchum at Shawnee Friday, 7-4.

Ketchum advances to play Tushka in the championship game Saturday. Talihina, which defeated Mangum in the quarterfinals Thursday, 12-8, finishes with an 18-13 record while Ketchum is 32-6.

Talihina fell behind 1-0 in the first inning before taking the lead in the bottom of the fourth with two runs. The lead remained 2-1 until Ketchum scored six runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead for good. The Golden Tigers scored their final two runs in the bottom of the seventh before Ketchum shut off Talihina’s rally.

Kaden Cossey pitched 5.2 innings for Talihina, allowing six hits and seven runs, three earned, with two strikeouts and four walks before being relieved by Landen Griffith, who pitched the final 1.1 innings with no hits or runs allowed, no walks and two strikeouts.

Gavin Brown led Talihina at the plate, going 3-3 with a RBI and a run, Griffith finished 2-4 and Samuel Austin doubled while going 1-3 with a run scored.

Ketchum 7, Talihina 3

KHS 1 0 0 0 0 6 0—7  6 2

THS 0 0 0 2 0 0 2—4  8 5

Oklahoma forces rubber game with Texas  

NORMAN – Oklahoma tied the series vs. No. 3 Texas at one game apiece with a dramatic 8-6 win Friday night at L. Dale Mitchell Park.  

In front of a single-game record crowd of 5,177, junior Dawson Willis hit a two-run, go-ahead home run in the bottom of the eighth to give OU its second top-five victory of the season. Senior reliever Dylan Crooks earned his 13th save of the season in the ninth, leaving the bases loaded with a fly out to left field.  

OU struck first in the bottom of the second on a solo shot from junior Brayden Horton. It was the first-year Sooner’s first of the season to give OU a 1-0 lead through two.  

Texas responded at the top of the third with a sacrifice fly RBI from Kimble Schuessler to tie the game. Oklahoma quickly retook the lead in the bottom of the inning as Dawson Willis raced home on a wild pitch after reaching on a bunt single and stealing second.   

OU starting left-handed pitcher Cade Crossland worked a quick top of the fourth before OU utilized small ball to score three runs on three hits and a pair of Texas errors in the home half. An infield single from Kyle Branch started the flurry, followed by an error on a bunt laid down by Horton that allowed Branch to score. After a bunt single from sophomore Dasan Harris, a fielder’s choice bunt from Willis plated Horton. The final run of the frame came by way of an RBI single to left from junior Trey Gambill to put OU on top 5-1. 

The Longhorns once again responded, putting up five runs at the top of the fifth. An RBI single from Ethan Mendoza started the rally, followed by a two-run double from Rylan Galvan and RBI triple from Jalin Flores. An RBI single to center from Adrian Rodriguez closed the inning’s scoring and gave the Horns a 6-5 lead headed into the final half of the game.   

OU senior reliever Reid Hensley entered at the end of the fifth and worked a trio of scoreless frames, stranding the bases loaded with a strikeout in the eighth. He finished the night with a career-high six strikeouts in 3.1 innings pitched.  

In the bottom of the eighth after a leadoff double from senior Scott Mudler, Horton tied the game with an RBI single to right field. Two batters later, Willis hit a towering two-run, go-ahead home run to left field, sending the largest crowd in Mitchell Park history into a frenzy.   

Texas did not go down without a fight, loading the bases in the ninth on a pair of singles and a hit by pitch. Crooks induced a fly out to heralded Texas freshman Jonah Williams to end the game. Crooks’ 13th save on the season ranks fourth in a single-season program history and are the most since Ryan Duke had 16 in 2009.   

Willis’ go-ahead blast in the eighth was his first hit since April 26 at Georgia and first home run since April 12 vs. Vanderbilt.   

Horton and Willis, the seven and nine hole hitters, paced OU on the night with 2-for-3 showings with two and three RBIs, respectively.   

On the mound, Crossland went 4.2 innings and surrendered six runs on six hits with three walks and a career-high 10 strikeouts. Relievers James Hitt (0.0), Hensley (3.1) and Crooks (1.0) closed the contest with Hensley fanning a career-best six and Crooks striking out one in the ninth.   

The teams meet for the rubber match at 2 p.m. CT Saturday. Limited tickets are still available via SoonerSports.com/tickets.   

The game can be seen via SECN+ and heard on 99.3 FM/1400 AM The REF in Oklahoma or nationwide on The Varsity Network app. 

Oklahoma State captures another series

Oklahoma State captured its third straight baseball series as the Cowboys knocked off Arizona State, 9-6, Friday night at O'Brate Stadium in Stillwater to clinch its third-straight conference series win.

With the victory, the Cowboys improved to 26-22 overall and 14-12 in Big 12 play, while ASU fell to 35-20 and 18-11 in the league. OSU will go for the series sweep Saturday, with first pitch for the finale scheduled for noon.

The Cowboys had a pivotal four-run fifth inning to take the lead and had big offensive contributions from Brayden Smith, who went 4-4 with a home run, Kollin Ritchie, who had three hits and three RBIs and Nolan Schubar,t who had a three-run homer.

Mario Pesca made his seventh start of the season and worked five innings, picking up the win to improve to 6-2. The right-hander allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out three.

Pesca gave up a run in the top of the first on a fielder's choice but struck out Brandon Compton to strand a pair of Sun Devils in scoring position to end the inning.

In the bottom of the third inning, Smith deposited a ball into the Cowboy bullpen in left field to even the scoring at one.

ASU answered back, scoring three runs between the fourth and fifth innings, highlighted by an Isaiah Jackson homer, to take a 4-1 lead.

The Cowboy bats responded with a big inning in the fifth. Drew Culbertson led off with a walk, followed by a single by Smith, and one batter later, Schubart walked to load the bases. Ritchie then hit a two-out, two-run double to left field to put the Pokes within one. Up next, Ian Daugherty followed suit with a two-run double of his own to give OSU a 5-4 lead.

Drew Blake took over for Pesca in the sixth inning and worked a clean inning that included a pair of strikeouts.

In the bottom of the sixth, Schubart crushed a three-run home run to right field to push the Pokes' lead to 8-4. The long ball was Schubart's 16^th of the season and 56^th of his career, putting him into sole possession of fourth place in Oklahoma State history. The three RBIs also put Schubart over 50 on the season with 52.

After Blake's second scoreless frame in the seventh inning, Ritchie blasted a ball out of the stadium for his ninth home run of the season to push the lead to five.

Following a leadoff double in the eighth, Matt Brown came out of the OSU bullpen and issued a walk before picking up a pair of strikeouts and a flyout to end the inning unscathed.

The Sun Devils made things interesting in the ninth. After three-straight singles to open the inning, back-to-back sacrifice flies made the score 9-6 before Brennan Phillips got Josiah Cromwick to strike out with a runner on second to end the game.

Razorbacks even series with Vols

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas. – No. 8 Arkansas (42-12, 19-10) rocked No. 17 Tennessee (41-14, 16-13 SEC) and ace Liam Doyle, the likely SEC Pitcher of the Year, for eight runs to even the series with an 8-6 win Friday night at Baum-Walker Stadium. 

With the win, the Razorbacks secured a top four seed in the upcoming SEC Tournament. As a result, Arkansas earned a bye and will not play until the quarterfinal round on either Thursday or Friday at The Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama. 

Arkansas can clinch its sixth 20-win SEC season in program history with a victory in tomorrow’s regular season finale. First pitch in game three between the Hogs and Volunteers is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday on SEC Network. 

The Razorbacks homered three times and scored eight runs on 11 hits and a pair of walks against Doyle in Friday night’s win to even the series at a game apiece. The Volunteer left-hander, who entered the game with a 2.17 ERA and .145 batting average against over 74.2 innings of work on the season, allowed a season high in both hits and runs. 

Arkansas did all its damage early in the ballgame, scoring three runs in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth and two more in the fifth against Doyle. Brent Iredale’s 13th home run of the season put the Razorbacks ahead in the second before Ryder Helfrick and Logan Maxwell each socked solo home runs in the third and fourth, respectively. 

The home run barrage helped Arkansas build a comfortable lead and take pressure off the pitching staff. Right-hander Aiden Jimenez, making his first start of the season on the mound, allowed four runs on seven hits in his 2.1 innings of work before turning the ball over to the bullpen, which fired 6.2 innings of two-run ball with six strikeouts. 

Cole Gibler, who earned his second win, did most of the heavy lifting in relief, twirling 3.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts to settle the game down and give Arkansas an opportunity to extend its lead. The Razorback offense did exactly that in the fifth inning, tacking on two runs with two hits and an error to grow its advantage from 6-4 to 8-4. 

Tennessee cut its deficit to two in the top of the seventh with a two-out, two-run home run, but Parker Coil (1.1 IP, 2 R, 2 SO) would escape further damage and hand the ball over to Christian Foutch for the game’s final two innings. The hard-throwing right-hander locked down Arkansas’ 8-6 series-evening win with his team-leading fourth save of the year. 

Led by Charles Davalan’s three-hit night, five Razorbacks carded multi-hit performances. Maxwell and Iredale each had two base knocks, while Cam Kozeal and Justin Thomas Jr. also chipped in with multi-hit games in Friday night’s win. 

Gage Wood will toe the rubber in Saturday’s series finale at Baum-Walker Stadium. Arkansas has not lost a series against Tennessee since the 2005 season and has not lost a series against Tennessee in Fayetteville since 2001.

Sooners blank Boston in regionals

By John Rohde

NORMAN— No. 2 Oklahoma Softball (46-7) opened up NCAA Regional play with an 8-0 run-rule win of Boston University (39-18) in the opening round of the NCAA Norman Regional Friday, May 16. 

Five different Sooners tallied at least one RBI, while Sam Landry and Kierston Deal combined to spin five scoreless frames.

A crowd of 4,040 at Love's Field watched the Sooners put together the convincing victory. The game-clinching hit came on a solo home run from catcher Corri Hicks in the fifth inning, her third homer of the season.

Prior to Hicks' blast in the fifth inning, OU had gone station-to-station the first four innings, scoring seven runs via six singles and four walks.

The No. 2-seeded Sooners (46-7) will now face Cal (36-19) at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Bears advanced with a 1-0 victory over Omaha in Friday's opener. "They play a hard style of softball, that's for sure," OU Hall of Fame coach Patty Gasso said of the Bears. "They're fearless."

The OU-Cal winner will play in Sunday's championship round needing one victory to advance to next week's Super Regional.

"Pretty good all-around game for us," Gasso said. "Tried to get a lot of opportunities for some athletes who have been waiting their turn, giving opportunities for those guys who work really hard in practice. I want them to feel what it feels like on the field. It's different. I asked them in the locker room just now, 'How many of you have played in a college regional up until now?' I think six or seven hands went up, so not a lot."

The Sooners entered the game having hit 102 home runs this season while becoming the first program to hit at least 100 home runs in six straight seasons.

"Corri just lit that ball up really well," Gasso said of her team's only non-single. "I thought we wasted the first inning (going scoreless). There were just too many feel (at-bats) going on. Once we knocked that out, then we could start to see balls getting hit hard."

Boston opened the game leaving four runners on base in the first two innings as OU starter Sam Landry surrendered two hits and one walk. Those would be the only hits Landry allowed in her three innings of work.

First baseman Sydney Barker, second baseman Ailana Agbayani and left fielder Abigale Dayton hit back-to-back-to-back singles in the bottom of the second to load the bases. Catcher Isabela Emerling was hit by a pitch to give OU a 1-0 lead. Center fielder Hannah Coor then lined up the middle for two RBIs to chase BU starter Kasey Ricard and push the Sooners' lead to 3-0. Nelly McEnroe-Marinas drove in two more runs with a single to center to give OU a 5-0 advantage.

Barker opened the third inning with line-drive single to right then scored on Agbayani's sacrifice bunt that was fielded by the third baseman and thrown into right field. A second error on the same play came when the right fielder threw the ball between third base and home plate and into the OU dugout. The Sooners made it 7-0 when Tia Milloy drew a bases-loaded walk.

Hick's game-clincher came two innings later.

OU Postgame Notes

· OU is 39-0 when scoring at least six runs

· It was OU's 18^th run-rule win of the year

· It was OU's 13th shutout win on the season

· Sam Landry reached 20 wins on the year (83 for her career)

· The Sooners have hit 103 homers on the season

o 13 Sooners have hit at least one home run

· OU has a +244 run differential on the season

· OU is 87-20 all-time in NCAA Regional play

· OU defeated Cal, 16-3, in the last regional hosted at Marita Hynes Field

· OU freshmen have combined to hit 47 home runs this year 

Big inning pushes OSU past Indiana

Fayetteville, Arkansas — Seven runs in the sixth inning lifted the No. 24 Oklahoma State softball team to an 11-6 victory over Indiana at Bogle Park Friday. 

This is OSU's 16th consecutive win in NCAA Regional play going back to 2019.

The Cowgirls never led until the sixth and trailed by as many as four runs in the fourth inning.

Karli Godwin homered twice for OSU on nearly identical two-run blasts to center field. She finished 3-for-3 with a career-high five runs batted in.

Perhaps the most critical at-bat of the game came in the sixth, when pinch hitter Audrey Schneidmiller singled through the right side to score Macy Graf from second and tie the game at six. A hard grounder from Rachael Hathoot two batters later drove in Schneidmiller and Tia Warsop to give the Cowgirls an 8-6 advantage before the game was blown open thanks to a run-scoring sacrifice bunt by Megan Delgadillo followed by an RBI single from Amanda Hasler. The Cowgirl scoring was capped when Schneidmiller walked with the bases loaded.

The seven-run sixth inning marked OSU's most runs in an inning this season.

This marks the most runs scored by OSU in an NCAA Tournament game since 2022. With the win, the Cowgirls improved to 34-18, while the Hoosiers dropped to 33-19.

Rylee Crandall picked up the win and improved to 6-4. She entered the game in the fourth inning and kept the high-powered Indiana offense scoreless in the fifth, sixth and seventh. IU's Brianna Copeland fell to 17-9 with the loss.

Offensive standouts for Oklahoma State included Godwin (3-for-3 with 2 home runs and 5 RBIs), Davis (2-for-3 with three runs scored) and Schneidmiller (1-for-1 with 2 RBIs). 

The Cowgirls will face Arkansas at noon Saturday in the second round of the Fayetteville regional. 

No-hitter helps Arkansas win opener

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas. – Behind a no-hitter from freshman Payton Burnham and a career-high five RBI from junior Kailey Wyckoff, the No. 3/4 Arkansas Razorbacks defeated Saint Louis, 10-0 (5 inn.) in the Hogs’ NCAA Regional opener on Friday night at Bogle Park.

Burnham was magnificent during her first collegiate no-hitter, using only 66 pitches to retire 15 of her 17 batters faced while striking out six and walking one during five innings of work. With the victory, Burnham improved to 14-2 on the season.

The 10-0 five-inning blanking marked the Razorbacks’ fifth-straight NCAA Regional opener victory and was the 22nd win by run-rule this season, which is a program record.

Arkansas jumped on Saint Louis early by pounding out five runs on four hits and four walks to take a 5-0 lead in the first. The Hogs would then add a run in the second inning and four runs in the bottom of the fourth, three of which came off a bases-clearing double from Wyckoff.

Wyckoff led the Razorbacks (41-12) at the plate with a 3-3 day that featured a double, two singles, two runs scored and a career-high five RBI. She tied an Arkansas NCAA Tournament record in both hits and RBI. She holds the single-game tournament hits record with 10 others while joining Danielle Gibson as the only Razorbacks to drive in five runs in an NCAA tournament game. Gibson accomplished the feat on May 20, 2022, in an 11-0 win over Princeton. Kennedy Miller also highlighted the Hogs’ offensive outburst with two RBI courtesy of a two-run single in the bottom of the first inning.

Taylor Hochman (16-8) took the loss in the Billikens’ (34-23) first NCAA Tournament contest in program history by allowing 10 runs on seven hits and seven walks in 3.1 innings of work.

HOW IT HAPPENED

In the circle, Arkansas started freshman Payton Burnham for the 18th time while Saint Louis went with senior Taylor Hochman, who made her 31st start of the season.

Burnham fanned the Billikens’ Natalie Sullivan to open the game. She then completed the 1-2-3 inning by issuing a groundout and a strikeout.

Reagan Johnson singled down the third-base line to lead off the home half for the Razorbacks. Johnson then stole second with one out before Bri Ellis drew her 59th walk of the season. A batter later, Courtney Day walked to load the bases. After Day’s walk, Kailey Wyckoff gave the Hogs a 1-0 lead with a single through the right side. Ella McDowell followed with a bases-loaded walk, bringing in another run. A two-RBI single from Kennedy Miller made it 4-0 Arkansas with just one out in the inning. Karlie Davison brought home another with a line-drive single to left field. Following Davison’s single, Saint Louis ended the inning with a 6-5 double play.

Burnham made it six straight Billikens retired in the second inning courtesy of a strikeout, groundout and flyout.

Raigan Kramer singled through the right side to start the bottom of the second before coming around to score on a single by Wyckoff, making it 6-0.

Neither team got on the scoreboard in the third inning. The Billikens’ Allie Marietta was the lone baserunner in the frame after drawing a walk.

Burnham used three groundouts to retire Saint Louis in order during the top of the fourth.

Walks by Kramer and Ellis, in addition to an error, loaded the bases for Arkansas with no outs in the bottom of the fourth. Wyckoff stepped to the plate and crushed a bases-clearing double into left-center field before Atalyia Rijo made it 10-0 with a single up the middle that brought home Wyckoff with two outs.

In the top of the fifth, Burnham issued a groundout for the first out of the inning. Chloe Rhine was then hit by a pitch, becoming the second baserunner of the game for Saint Louis. Burnham wrapped up the victory by getting Anna Christ to strike out swinging for the second out before catching Marietta looking to complete her first collegiate no-hitter.

QUOTABLES

Arkansas Head Coach Courtney Deifel

Opening statement…
“I am really proud of the team and the way they came out in their first game here. Payton (Burnham) and our defense set a really good tone in the first inning. Our offense carried that momentum and did an incredible job of taking what they gave us and being ready. It was a complete effort. I am really proud of Payton for a no-hitter. It is really exciting as a freshman to come into your first postseason game at Bogle and just really trust your stuff and defense. Kailey (Wyckoff) was incredible. I am really proud of our team.” 

NOTABLES

• Payton Burnham threw her first collegiate no-hitter which was the 17^th in program history and third this season. The Hogs’ three no-hitters this season are the most in program history. It was the first no-hitter in program history during the NCAA Tournament.

• Arkansas registered its 22^nd run-rule win of the season, improving its program record.

• Kailey Wyckoff tied a career-high with three hits in the win while setting a single-game career-high with five RBI. Her three hits and five RBI tied an Arkansas NCAA Tournament program record. 10 others have registered three or more hits while Danielle Gibson is the only other player in program history to drive in five runs in a game, accomplishing the feat on May 20, 2022, in an 11-0 run-rule win over Princeton.

• Arkansas has now won five-straight NCAA Regional openers dating back to 2021. The Razorbacks are 21-26 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including a 14-14 mark under Courtney Deifel.

• Bri Ellis scored her 62^nd run of the season which is tied for second-most in program history joining, Jessica Bachkora who accomplished the feat in 2010.

• Courtney Day extended her career-best reach-based streak to 16 games courtesy of a walk.

• Bri Ellis became just the second player in program history to record 60+ walks in a season, joining Devon Wallace who walked 79 times in 2013.

• Reagan Johnson increased her reached-base streak to 12 games with a first-inning single.

UP NEXT
Arkansas (41-12) will continue NCAA Regional play by facing Oklahoma State (34-18) on Saturday at Noon.

Vegas stays ahead in PGA Championship

By  DOUG FERGUSON

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler wasn’t paying attention to all the drama next to him in a star-power group or ahead of him on the leaderboard Friday at the PGA Championship.

Scheffler kept doing his best with the swing he had, responding to his lone bogey with a pair of birdies until he was within striking distance of 36-hole leader Jhonattan Vegas and became a large presence on leaderboard filled with so much inexperience in the majors.

“I like the position I’m in going into the weekend,” Scheffler said after a 3-under 68 left him only three shots behind at Quail Hollow.

See the whole story HERE.

Knicks beat Celtics 119-81 in Game 6

By  BRIAN MAHONEY

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks viewed reaching the Eastern Conference finals as just another step in a season that’s not over. It’s not time to celebrate.

Try telling that to the thousands of fans dancing and chanting inside and on the streets all around Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks reached the conference finals for the first time in 25 years and ended the one-year NBA title reign of the Boston Celtics with astonishing ease, rolling to a 119-81 victory in Game 6 on Friday night.

See the whole story HERE.

Cloudy skies, record heat possible again Saturday

Clear skies early with cloudy skies and hot temperatures expected Saturday for  for Heavener, LeFlore County and southeastern Oklahoma.

The high is forecast to be 90 degrees, tying the previous high record for the date set in 1972, along with a low of 66.

Sunrise was 6:13 a.m. Sunset is 8:16 p.m.

Friday’s high was 88 with a low of 57. No rain was recording, leaving the monthly total for May at 2.679 inches. Average rainfall for the month is 6.20 inches.

Average temperatures for May 17 are a high of 82 and low of 55. The record high, again, was 90 in 1972 while the record low was 37 in 1973.

Last year on May 17, the high was 82 with a low of 59.

 LeFlore County calendar

LeFlore County calendar of events for the next week. The calendar is a free service for our readers. If you are with a non-profit and want an event publicized, email [email protected].

Saturday

Cardboard boat races

MT VIEW CEMETERY ASSOCIATION MEETINGS and the annual clean-up day 

Imogene Sizemore funeral service

Heavener eighth grade graduation 2 p.m.

Memorial service for Garlena Vickers

Heavener High School graduation 8 p.m.

Monday

LeFlore County commissioners meet 9 a.m.

Carthal “Cotton” Hale funeral services 

Memorial service for Betty Faye Pennington

Tuesday

Poteau Evening Lions Club meet 6 p.m. CASC

Wednesday

Poteau Rotary Club meets noon EOMC

LeFlore County Republicans meet 6 p.m. Patrick Lynch Library

Thursday

Poteau Kiwanis Club meets noon

Heavener VFW bingo 6:30 p.m. Highway 59 North

A greenhouse is not a storage shed

^{By Trisha Gedon}

STILLWATER – Gardeners know how handy it is to have all important gardening tools close at hand. For gardeners with greenhouses, it makes sense to keep all essential supplies like tools, extra pots, potting soil and seeds under potting benches and tables.

But a greenhouse should not be used as a storage shed, said David Hillock, Oklahoma State University Extension consumer horticulturist.

“Obviously, it’s handy to have everything you need within reach, but a greenhouse isn’t ideal for storage,” he said. “Greenhouses are humid, which isn’t the best atmosphere for storing some gardening-related items.”

Don’t store metal or wood-handled tools in the greenhouse. The metal will rust, and the high humidity can split the wooden handles. Stainless steel or plastic-handled tools are fine to keep close by for potting up plants, but other tools should be stored elsewhere. 

Casey Hentges, OSU Extension associate specialist and host of the “Oklahoma Gardening” television show, said gardening enthusiasts should immediately remove diseased plants from the greenhouse. 

“It might seem like a greenhouse is a good place for plants to recuperate, but the moist atmosphere is the perfect environment to spread diseases and pests to your other plants,” she said. “Also, inspect all plants coming into the greenhouse for signs of disease or pest stress.” 

While gardeners sometimes need to apply pesticides, the greenhouse isn’t the location to store them. Pesticides should be stored in an environment between 40 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Anyone who has experienced an Oklahoma summer or winter knows the temperature often exceeds those limits. Pesticides can catch fire or break down, making them ineffective if they get too hot. A cool, dark, dry, well-ventilated location is the best for pesticide storage. 

Seedlings are often sold in cardboard plant trays or boxes, and packaged seeds are sold in paper containers. Humidity is not a friend to cardboard or paper, as moisture can ruin seeds. Or, a watering can could accidentally tip over and spill onto seeds. Instead of the greenhouse, store seeds at a cool temperature away from moisture. 

Hentges said rodents can be another issue in the greenhouse. 

“Mice and other rodents may be able to enter the greenhouse, and they’ll eat your seeds. Not only that, but they’ll also chew on cardboard and other paper and make a mess,” she said. “Also, the high humidity will cause the paper and cardboard to mold, which is a mess gardeners don’t want to deal with. Instead, use any flat pieces of cardboard in the garden to help smother out weeds. Cardboard can also be composted.” 

The convenience of keeping these things in the greenhouse may be appealing, but in the long run, it’s not worth it. 

It won’t be long until the summer heat turns up the temperature in the greenhouse. As gardeners move their remaining plants outside, also remove anything with an electrical component that shouldn’t be exposed to extreme heat. 

“Maintain your greenhouse for its intended purpose of growing and nurturing healthy plants,” Hillock said. 

OSU Extension uses research-based information to help all Oklahomans solve local issues and concerns, promote leadership and manage resources wisely throughout the state's 77 counties. Most information is available at little to no cost.