pandemic – Ponca City Now

5 Years Since COVID-19 Declared a Global Pandemic: Progress and Challenges

Tuesday, March 18 by News 6

March 11, 2025 marks five years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. While significant progress has been made in fighting the virus, challenges remain, according to Dr. Jeffrey Johnson, an emergency room physician with the Hillcrest HealthCare System.Dr. Johnson says COVID-19 fatigue has shaped public perception of the virus,... Read More.

Pandemic Relief Program for Small Businesses Can Mean Big Refunds

Thursday, May 11 by Lyman James

For more information or to apply online, just click here.The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) or Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) program is the last major COVID-19 financial relief program for small businesses to receive stimulus money due to the pandemic. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is ready to give business owners up to... Read More.

Test results show effect on Oklahoma Students during the pandemic

Monday, October 4 by Lyman James

According to OklahomaWatch.org, Oklahoma students lost ground in nearly every grade and subject as they struggled to learn amid COVID-19 disruptions, newly released test score data shows.Results from state assessments taken by students in the spring show significant declines when compared to 2019, the last time students took state assessments. The 2020 exams were... Read More.

Pandemic Relief Benefit for Families

Thursday, September 23 by Lyman James

Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) is a program that helps children who would have received free or reduced-price meals at school if not for the COVID-19 pandemic. Students who qualify will receive a debit card preloaded with funds that can be used for groceries. All benefits should be disbursed by mid-October. For the 2020-21 school... Read More.

NOC lifts mask mandate effective immediately and revises Pandemic Protocols

Monday, May 17 by Lyman James

Northern Oklahoma College has updated the NOC Pandemic Plan effective immediately, according to school officials. The college is lifting its mask policy mandate making masks no longer required, effective immediately. Exception: masks will be required in certain areas of health services. Although mask mandates for campus will no longer be in effect, community members may continue... Read More.

Upcoming events cancelled in Stillwater due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Wednesday, September 16 by Lyman James

The City of Stillwater has announced on their Facebook page the cancellation of local events from now until November due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The 2020 events cancelled are as follows:Mummy and Son Dance Downtown Halloween Festival Breakfast with Santa“We are extremely disappointed that we must cancel these events. This was a difficult decision,... Read More.

Sparklight & CableOne assisting communities during the COVID 19 Pandemic

Thursday, April 16 by Lyman James

Sparklight and the CableOne family of brands are coming to the aid of Ponca City and other communities they serve with a donation of $150,000 to local food banks, and another $150,000 to the COVID 19 Response efforts of Meals on Wheels.Understanding that, for those of us working from home or under quarantine... Read More.

Kansas/Oklahoma border is open, Law Enforcement not stopping traffic during pandemic

Wednesday, April 8 by Lyman James

With the number of COVID-19 cases on the rise across Kansas and Oklahoma, the Cowley County Sheriff's office has received phone calls inquiring if the border between Oklahoma and Kansas is closed due to travel restrictions.There are also inquiries about travelers being stopped by Law Enforcement at the state line for the sole reason... Read More.