Area News
Christmas Extravaganza a success
After the parade was finished and the hot chocolate was beginning to be distributed, the Pride of Okemah Marching Band entertained the crowd followed by the Bearden School children. Most people were anxious for the Chamber Bucks drawing. The Okemah Casino donated lots of door prizes that were distributed before the big drawing. This year’s…
Read MoreSuperintendent search still underway
ONL Staff Report The Okemah School Board met on November 12 with board members Randy Colbert, Jim Bill Copeland, J.C. Haddox and Patti Miller present. Board member Jason Bean was absent. Interim Superintendent Bob Gragg reported that Stephanie Hyder plans to meet with the board in the first or second week of January to review…
Read MoreGovernor Mary Fallin Declares State of Emergency Due to Approaching Storms
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today declared a state of emergency for all 77 Oklahoma counties due to severe winter weather predicted for the state. Winter storms, snow, ice, and freezing rain are expected to impact different parts of the state through the weekend. Because the weather event may include dangerous road conditions and…
Read MoreDanker promoted to Assistant Chief
Doug Danker was promoted from Sergeant to Assistant Chief on Tuesday, November 27. Okemah Police Chief Ed “Skeeter” Smith said that Danker is only the fourth officer to hold the rank of assistant chief during his tenure. He had this to say about Danker, “I’m very pleased with Doug and his commitment to the Okemah…
Read MoreNovember 30 to be Luna Burnett Day
By Kay Thompson ONL Publisher Former mayor and long-time resident Luna Burnett passed away on November 2, 2018 after a two year long battle with metastatic lung cancer. Burnett was not only the mayor for fifteen years but also a figure in the community that supported and promoted Okemah whenever she got the chance and…
Read MoreDanker to stay City Manager … for now
By Kay Thompson ONL Publisher During the City Council meeting held on Monday, November 26, the members of the city council had a discussion about the city manager situation. Currently, Dustin Danker is acting as interim city manager. He was hired shortly after Bert Robison was fired in September 2018. Councilman Anthony Landers had requested…
Read MoreWarrington faces charges of first-degree rape, incest
By Joshua Logan Allen ONL Staff Reporter After several false starts, a preliminary hearing finally held last week resulted in one man being bound over for trial where he will face at least two charges for allegedly raping his teenage niece earlier this year. This was the fourth time the hearing was attempted. The hearing…
Read MoreBeloved mothers die in single-vehicle accident west of Henryetta
In the early morning hours of Sunday, November 11, a single SUV lost control and wrecked about a mile west of Henryetta on Hornbeam Road in Okmulgee County. The cause of the wreck is under investigation, according to Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Michael Taylor, lead investigator on the scene. According to the investigator’s report, the…
Read MoreFood-borne illness not something to be thankful for
Feasting with family and friends is an enjoyable part of many holiday celebrations. With the number of things that can go wrong in the kitchen, steering clear of food safety blunders can be challenging. It is important not to cut corners and put family and friends at risk of foodborne illness by forgetting to wash…
Read MoreTribe puts media under executive branch
By Curtis Killman Tulsa World (Reprinted with permission from the Tulsa World) OKMULGEE – A new Muscogee (Creek) Nation law repealing press freedom protections for the tribe’s in-house media has prompted a resignation and drawn fire for its “chilling” effect. The legislation approved by the National Council and signed into law this week, places the…
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