I do not know just how this is all going to work out. I saw the “Mighty Mustangs” on the cover of the Advocate last week. They looked capable but I must admit I didn’t recognize many of them. Well a few perhaps. Last season was our 100 ^th year to play football and by now we ought to be getting it down pat. Also, last year we sprang off to this real happy 100 th start only to see some key players injured and taken out of the picture. We ended the season outside the playoffs something — we have a chance to fix this 101 st year.

But as they say, a lot of little things enter whether you are a championship team or not. I wish them the absolute best of luck. One thing hoovering over the heads of our teams, whether it be football, baseball, softball, or basketball is Covid. Yes, Covid-19. More and more teams around the state are going for mandatory masks for their players, coaches, and the whole student body. Some are shrugging it off. Many schools in the eastern 1/3 of Oklahoma have opted out on this and I hope they do not have to pay for these decisions with a wave of Corona infections which can and does cause needless deaths. I have heard that many healthy young people who survive this dangerous “flu” are often left disabled with heart, lung and vascular diseases which not only can spoil a survivor’s quality of life but also prove life-shortening.

Whether a school goes for the masks or decides to let it slide mostly reflects the wants of the school patrons and how they instruct their own school officials and school boards. I have now “outgrown” having any kids or grandkids in Allen Schools and refrain from trying to put my opinion on the board or our School Administration. But if you do want to express your opinion on this important directive, you should contact your own school board member or the Superintendent. Many state leaders and teachers are urging a State-Wide mandate for the masks but so far Governor Stitt has not stepped up on this.

And then there is this: “Covid Fatigue.” Younger people are just sick and tired of the whole Covid thing and now the government reports that hospitalizations are up. Drastically. One reason is “Mask Fatigue.” Many are just sick and tired of wearing masks and being in varying degrees of quarantine, they just want to ignore it and get back to normal. “Normal” is going to church, concerts, sports, and political events.

Another topic around town is trash. Yeah, litter. Allen used to be a clean little town but the change in attitude by a small percent of our population is rapidly changing that. The last time (about 35 years ago) this was attacked it involved the whole town. “Do not liter” signs sprang up everywhere. Our park was cleaned up (and boy did it need it) and tennis courts, swimming pool and playground equipment was added. The city workers swept up our main streets in town (something they still do) and the school made sure that our teachers taught the kids about littering. It worked very well. What can you do? We can address it again. We can instruct our children or grandkids to pick up after themselves. If they are playing basketball down at the City Park to use the trash cans for their trash. Believe it or not, I do not think they know better. Let us get to work on this.

We do not want Allen to become known as just another one of the “rural slums” that tend to make up a big part of rural America. Allen used to be known as an “exceptional” small town. Let us keep up that image and work to make this a healthy and pleasant place to live and raise a family.

Meanwhile, I will still urge those of you who can strap on that mask and go to church Sunday.

Wayne Bullard, DPh

cwaynebullard@gmail.com