Area News

By Kay Thompson, ONL Publisher The Okemah City Council met in a special meeting on Monday, July 23 to approve a couple ordinances because of laws that are soon to take effect. All members of the council were present. First on the agenda was to amend the ordinances by adding a chapter entitled Medical Marijuana…

A man believed to have been involved in a murder at a Holdenville grocery store in June was apprehended and arrested late Saturday night, according to a press release from the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation. Tyler Deerinwater was arrested in the parking lot of the Seminole Walmart at about 10:30. Agencies involved in the arrest…

Okemah will be in the statewide spotlight next month thanks to former resident and legendary college football coach, Larry Coker.  Coker will take the stage August 6 as part of the induction ceremony at the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame where his name will forever be jotted down in the history books as one of…

Who ever said hunting is a guy’s thing? Carlee Magness doesn’t think so. The Okemah resident is taking hunting as a woman to another level.  Magness was recently named host of the upcoming news channel, “Camo News,” for Gen7 Outdoors after a successful African safari and long career as a hunter. She won the safari…

Mason Public Schools has been chosen as one of the recipients of grant funding through the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s new $4 million “Champions of Excellence” program.  State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister made the announcement earlier this month, naming the 18 districts out of the 41 that applied who would receive funding…

The Okemah Public Schools Board of Education made the decision at a recent meeting to hire longtime teacher, Alicia Rogers, as the Oakes Elementary School principal. Rogers graduated from Okemah High School in 1998 before going to college at East Central University where she studied administration, eventually earning a Master of Education in Administration in…

As a first for their tribe, members of the Thlopthlocco Tribal Town showcased their artwork with a walkthrough display that attracted hundreds of viewers throughout Saturday, July 14 during WoodyFest. The show was held at the Citizens State Bank on Broadway in downtown Okemah, running throughout the day as concerts and other events happened around…

Okemah’s Citizens State Bank held a successful blood drive Tuesday, partnering with the Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) to help patients in local hospitals that need blood. Donors received a limited edition “Let the Adventure Begin” t-shirt and a voucher to the Science Museum Oklahoma for free entry for one adult and one child. The museum…

Towards the end of their show-stopping, headlining performance Thursday at the Pastures of Plenty during WoodyFest, Turnpike Troubadours lead singer Evan Felker made a special call out to two county commissioners and his father.  Okemah being the hometown of the popular singer/songwriter, it was no surprise, but it was heartfelt.  Felker said their hit song,…

A longtime soldier and Okemah resident, Ronn Gott, was recently picked by members of the American Legion to serve as the organization’s Vice Commander for the state of Oklahoma.  Gott said he’s proud of earning the position, which is decided on by members — about 17,000 currently in the American Legion — at conventions by…