Area News
A City Treasure: Longtime Resident, Raymond Overall, Shares Memories of his Time in Okemah
By Alanna Bradley ONL Reporter If a community is fortunate, they may have a resident like Raymond Overall. Described by Mayor Mike Fuller as a city treasure, Overall has seen the hands of time pass for nearly a century over the community of Okemah. While things have changed…
Read MoreIt’s in the Air: The Spirit of Woody Guthrie Lives on in the Magic of Woody Fest
By Alanna Bradley ONL Reporter Fifty-four years after his death, the spirit of Woody Guthrie, in the place he called home, Okemah, still floats through the air. It is in the wind that blows through the rolling hills of eastern Oklahoma, it is above the streets of Okemah and in the nighttime air at the…
Read MoreInvestors sought to turn pollution into profits
Okemah city officials are looking for investors who can turn old gas stations into profitable new businesses. Thanks to a new grant program, regulators at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission have funding to help make the transition easier for entrepreneurs. The Commission’s Brownfield Program received $300,000 to cover the costs of environmental assessments, so business owners…
Read MoreSales and use tax revenue up for city, down for county in August
Sales and use tax revenue up for city, down for county in August By Ken Childers ONL Editor Sales and use tax revenue was up in August for the City of Okemah, according to the latest report from the Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC). The report, dated Oct. 13, shows that the city received a sales…
Read MoreSummoned for jury duty? Report to the fair barn, not the courthouse
Summoned for jury duty? Report to the fair barn, not the courthouse By Ken Childers ONL Editor Okfuskee County residents summoned for jury duty between now and the end of the year will not be reporting to the courthouse, but rather to the county fair barn. The change in venue was made last week via…
Read MoreBudget Breakdown
Budget Breakdown By Sen. Roger Thompson, Senate Appropriations Chair It’s often said the most important responsibility of the Legislature is to write and pass a balanced budget. As Senate Appropriations chair, I can tell you that the budget impacts every single man, woman and child in our state. Each week, I plan to share an…
Read MoreHigher ed chancellor honored with lifetime achievement award
Higher ed chancellor honored with lifetime achievement award Oklahoma State System of Higher Education Chancellor Glen D. Johnson was recently honored by Leadership Oklahoma with their 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award. He is one of four state leaders recognized by the organization during a virtual Excellence in Leadership Gala celebration. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals…
Read MoreCommissioners approve estimate of needs, request for appropriations
Commissioners approve estimate of needs, request for appropriations By Ken Childers ONL Editor The Okfuskee County Board of County Commissioners convened for its weekly meeting Monday morning and took a number of actions, including the approval of the latest cash fund estimate of needs and request for appropriations. The estimate of needs includes appropriation requests…
Read MoreSeptember Students of the Month
September Students of the Month Congratulations to Marlee Maxwell and Kellen Delgado for being chosen as the Oakes Elementary students of the month for September. Marlee is the daughter of Kendra Harjochee and Seth Maxwell and the granddaughter of Debra Phillips, Cling Harjochee Jr. Donna Brown and Ronny Maxwell. Marlee enjoys eating burgers, watching OU…
Read MoreNew faculty members announced by Okemah Public Schools
New faculty members announced by Okemah Public Schools By Ken Childers ONL Editor Several new teachers have recently joined the faculty of Okemah Public Schools, including Sharlet Banks, William Bencoma, Fallon Gaxiola, Loren Green, Amy Richmond and Angela Ryals. Banks, a graduate of Elk City High School, has been hired as an instructor at the…
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