logo
Login Subscribe
  • News
    • Obituaries
    • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • E-edition
  • Calendar
  • Archives
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertisers
    • Form Submission
    • About Us
    • News
      • Obituaries
      • Lifestyle
    • Sports
    • E-edition
    • Calendar
    • Archives
    • Contact
      • Contact Us
      • Advertisers
      • Form Submission
      • About Us
Google Play App Store
Little house on the…
commentary
January 22, 2025
Little house on the…
By Editor Amie Cato-Remer

When I was a youngster, I always enjoyed going to visit my Granny Cato.

She and my stepgrandpa, Bill Cato, did not have running water or a bathroom in their house until I was nearly in middle school, but I never t h o u g ht anything of it. In my opinion, if you were raised around it, it wasn’t unusual, it was just part of life. Their house was never dirty or unclean, it was just the opposite.

Granny would cook fresh eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy for breakfast and after putting everything into plates or bowls, she would keep the skillet hot until it was time to wash the dishes. We would draw the water from the well and bring it inside in buckets to distribute as needed. Some of the water was used in a wash pan, where we all washed our hands and faces before eating. Some of it would go into the kitchen sink, where Granny would then put the hot skillet into the dish water to heat it up.

Their outhouse was cleaner than most people’s bathrooms, and later on when they had a bathtub and bathroom sink installed inside their home, she would still heat water for a bath. If not, you used the wash pan, especially if it was cold outside.

I guess you could say in those days they did a lot of improvising. It might have taken longer but they did it for a reason and maybe because they had no choice. Hence, all of these memories came to mind after my water froze last week.

Last Friday, I heard the sound of water spewing in my laundry room and knew immediately what it was. I called the landlord as I turned off the water to my washing machine, and he turned my water off at the meter until it could be fixed. I knew it would be Monday but was thankful I had extra water on standby just in case.

I had enough water to make coffee and cook with, but no shower. By Sunday, I couldn’t stand it anymore and wanted my hair washed. It was then that I thought of my Granny and what she would’ve done.

I took half of a jug of water and boiled it on the stove. I then returned it to the original jug and put the plug in the bathroom sink so I could wash my hair. It wasn’t enough water for a complete wash but it was enough to use shampoo and rinse. I then used the water in the sink to take a “sink bath” with. It wasn’t great but it was better than having oily hair and stinky body odor, so I felt lighter and like a new person.

I then thought about all the improvising my ancestors might have had to do before me. I felt like if they could do it, so could I. Maybe I should start hanging my laundry out when it warms up. Maybe I could live without my cell phone for four days and live in a cabin in the woods with no water or electric. Maybe I could start walking more instead of driving.

But when my water was fixed and I began enjoying it again, I thought, maybe not… It’s 2025 people; here’s to progress! But if things don’t get better soon, we may all have to go back to improvising.

Vian All School Reunion 2025: Another heartwarming success
Main, news...
Vian All School Reunion 2025: Another heartwarming success
June 11, 2025
The Vian All School Reunion, held on May 24, was a resounding success, bringing together generations of alumni to celebrate shared memories, community pride and lasting friendships. With 102 guests of...
this is a test
Water levels, current make Tenkiller a potential wild-card tournament site
sports
Water levels, current make Tenkiller a potential wild-card tournament site
By CHAD DAY B.A.S.S. 
June 11, 2025
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Multiple patterns could be at play during the Lowrance Bassmaster Elite at Lake Tenkiller, but which ones perform best will be determined by potentially high water levels and cu...
this is a test
Main, news...
Gore School Board approves hires, maintenance overhaul
By AMIE CATO-REMER Editor 
June 11, 2025
The Gore Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting on May 12, making several significant decisions on district staffing, maintenance procedures, and school finances. The board approved the b...
this is a test
Vian Trustees hire two new officers, auction date set
Main, news...
Vian Trustees hire two new officers, auction date set
By AMIE CATO-REMER Editor 
June 11, 2025
The Vian Board of Trustees met on May 19 for its regular monthly meeting where they voted to hire two new police officers and set a date and time for an upcoming surplus auction. The board began the m...
this is a test
Main, news...
Tribe’s General Election sees six incumbents re-elected
June 11, 2025
Six incumbents were re-elected to the Council of the Cherokee Nation during the tribe’s General Election on June 7, according to unofficial results from the Cherokee Nation Election Commission. The in...
this is a test
We Asked Kids…
Main, news...
We Asked Kids…
June 11, 2025
Lainey Andrade Age 9, Vian What subject do you like the best: Art, gym or music? Gym, because I like to stay fit. If you were in a singing contest, what would you choose to sing? I would sing “Heart L...
this is a test
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
news
Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library June calendar of events
June 11, 2025
The Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library in Sallisaw will host the following events during the month of June: June 12 - Kid Science: Father’s Day card, 4 p.m. June 13 - Funky Monkey Magic, 10 a.m. June 17 -...
this is a test
news
Eyeglass donations being accepted by Vian Lions Club
June 11, 2025
Anyone wishing to donate old or no longer used eyeglasses can do so by dropping them off at the Vian Lions Club donation box, located in front of the old Vian Town Hall on Thornton Street. The Vian Li...
this is a test
news
Free Math Camp for students this summer at CASC
June 11, 2025
Come to Mr. Camacho’s free Math Camp at Sallisaw’s Carl Albert! He will be providing help over the summer, July 28-31, with the math section of the ACT and Accuplacer tests with grades 7th-12th being ...
this is a test
news
Sallisaw’s first Pride event set for June 14
By JADE PHILLIPS SPECIAL TO THE NEWS 
June 11, 2025
It is June, which is also known as Pride Month. Pride is celebrated for all people who identify as LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer), those who are out of the closet, those who aren’...
this is a test
Life in ‘Slugville’
news
Life in ‘Slugville’
By AROUND TOWN 
June 11, 2025
If I had to put a welcome sign or mat on my farmh ouse, it would say “Welcome to Slugville.” And no, I didn’t mean “Sluggerville” because there are no baseballs getting batted around at my house; that...
this is a test
Facebook
Twitter
Tweets
Twitter
Tweets

VIAN TENKILLER NEWS
Address: 603 W. Schley Vian, Oklahoma
Phone:+1 918-773-8000

news@bigbasinllc.com

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 Vian Tenkiller News

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy