Deckard earns spot in the PRCA National Finals

Sports

January 2, 2025

Area roper Blake Deckard earned a spot in the Professional Rodeo Circuit Association National Finals Rodeo. The National Finals will be held at the Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Kansas November 1-2.

“It’s a relief and an honor at the same time to finally make it. I have been roping my whole life and was 10th in the World Standings before I hurt my knee,” Blake Deckard said.

The Top 15 steer ropers in the PRCA based on PRCA/RAM World Standings at the end of the regular season head to their own national Championship in November. Deckard is the son of Keith and Tina Deckard of Wagoner and the husband of Audra Helms Deckard of Eufaula.

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Marijuana plant goes up in smoke

By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR

January 16, 2025

Fire destroyed the Escalated Greens warehouse and offices at 1200 Birkes Road Thursday, Jan. 9, a plant where medical marijuana is produced and processed. The spectacular blaze and resulting smoke plu...

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8 file for open Senate District 8 seat

By MATT PATTERSON NONDOC

January 16, 2025

A whopping eight candidates have filed for the vacant Senate District 8 seat representing Okmulgee, Okfuskee and McIntosh counties in eastern Oklahoma. The special primary election for SD 8 has been s...

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Frigid Weather warmed briefly, but temperatures to drop again

By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR

January 16, 2025

A traffic fatality has been attributed to the icy roads that covered the county much of the weekend, beginning Thursday and creating hazardous conditions through Saturday. The single vehicle accident ...

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Weather Service forecast

January 16, 2025

Thursday night - low of 41 Friday - high near 59, low 35 Saturday - high near 41, low 22

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Gone with the wind

By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR

January 16, 2025

News that TransAlta had stopped plans to build a wind turbine farm in McIntosh County spread like the wind last week. “They called me Thursday and told me they pulled up stakes,” District 1 County Com...

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Board asks public to approve bonds

By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR

January 16, 2025

The Eufaula School Board is asking voters to approve the issuance of almost $24 million in general obligation bonds for several projects, including an event center that would be used by the school as ...

News

Ava Rose nominated again for NAMA

By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER

January 16, 2025

Ava Rose Johnson, an 18-year-old Osage and Cherokee native from Oklahoma, has been nominated for Best Country Recording and Best Music Video for her song, “Sweet Home Oklahoma” and she couldn’t be mor...

News

Community Breakfast

January 16, 2025

Checotah Masonic Lodge #86 Saturday, February 1 7 a.m. – 10 a.m. 625 W. Gentry Start your day off right with a homemade breakfast consisting of fresh eggs, Blue & Gold sausage & pancakes, biscuits & g...

News

OU’s Institute for Quality Communities partners with the City of Checotah for downtown revitalization

By SHAUNA BELYEU GENERAL MANAGER

January 16, 2025

The University of Oklahoma’s Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) has embarked on an exciting partnership with the City of Checotah to revitalize its downtown area. Through this collaboration, OU’s...

commentary, Opinion...

Opinions Snow days

By JlaSDännaJ\k&dfA\

January 16, 2025

Snow days can be fun days to remember, at least when you are a kid. I am considered a winter baby being born on Dec. 30, 1968. However, the older I get, the colder I get and I’m not as fond of winter ...

commentary, Opinion...

As 2024 passes into history, so do three giants

By JOE DORMAN OICACEO

January 16, 2025

OKLAHOMA CITY - Some say that deaths occur in “threes,” and for Oklahomans that was truly the case last week with a trio of remarkable individuals who each had an impact on those in their circle of li...