Good morning, Stillwater.

Block 34 is a new park in downtown Stillwater funded by Steve and Becky Irby with support from Simmons Bank and will open soon under approved park rules—such as park hours, pet restrictions, and no littering.

The park will host the Dancing Turtle Arts Festival Friday and an opening ceremony Saturday at 7 p.m.—Mayor Will Joyce honored the donors by renaming part of Duncan Street as Irby Lane.

Anthony Hernandez, a 42-year-old Cushing man with a prior felony, pleaded guilty to trafficking meth in Stillwater in 2023 and accepted a plea bargain that gives him a 10-year prison term — followed by five years of probation — after police found 172 grams of meth and $1,530 during a traffic stop, avoiding a July 28 trial.

Trey Devon Christopher, a 32-year-old ex-con from Stillwater, was arrested for setting fire twice to an unoccupied apartment leasing office on June 28 when surveillance video showed him pouring liquid that sparked flames and buying gasoline from stores early that morning; his girlfriend was told to vacate her apartment by the end of July — court records show he may face up to a 50-year prison term if convicted.

A 27-year-old ex-convict from Stillwater, Tyler Chand Casey, was arrested on July 1 after allegedly burglarizing four cars and stealing a truck in the Teal Ridge neighborhood on June 30 — he now faces five felony counts and remains jailed on $32,500 bail with a court appearance set for Aug. 4.

OSU Extension said Tuesday, July 22nd that gardeners must wear long sleeves, pants and a wide-brimmed hat to stay safe from the heat and UV rays as temperatures neared triple digits.

Experts urged gardeners to work in the morning or later in the evening and to drink plenty of water to avoid heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

A new Oklahoma State University research project developed a privacy-aware collaborative framework to share design insights for patient-specific tissue scaffolds without exposing sensitive data—funded by the National Science Foundation, it seeks to reduce trial-and-error in the bioprinting process. Researchers used OSU testbeds in Stillwater and worked with the Army DEVCOM CBC to assess the framework’s scalability while involving graduate and undergraduate students.

Dancing Turtle Arts Festival

All day — Downtown Stillwater Association — Free entry — Celebrate creativity with live music, art, and family-friendly activities at Stillwater's vibrant arts festival.

Cowgirl Softball Youth Camp

Daily — Cowgirl Stadium — Registration required — Experience a week of softball skills and fun with the Oklahoma State softball program.

Pearls on the Prairie Fundraiser

2:30-4 p.m. — Round House Bakery — Support a great cause — Enjoy delightful refreshments and learn about the impact of Girl Scouts in the community.

All About Horses with Turning Point Ranch

3-5:30 p.m. — Turning Point Ranch — Free entry — Discover horse care practices through hands-on activities with expert ranchers and enjoy interactions with horses.