Area Breaking News

  The following is a look at what is on the ballot of the Nov. 3 election for Okfuskee County voters. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Check your voter ID card for your voting location or visit the online voter portal at www.ok.gov/elections/OVP. Early voting will take place at the…

Homecoming and Senior Night celebrated, game cancelled By Justin Scrimshire ONL Sports Reporter (Editor’s note: Coverage of Senior Night will appear in next week’s edition). For the second time this season, COVID-19 threw a wrench into the Panther’s season as Liberty High School was forced to withdraw from competition due to a student’s exposure to…

Budget Breakdown By Sen. Roger Thompson, Senate Appropriations Chair   When the legislature writes the budget, the funds we appropriate come from many different revenue streams, like income taxes, oil and gas taxes, cigarette taxes and others as well―about 20 in all.  I think people are aware that oil and gas collections are still low,…

City Council: Trick-or-treating still a go in Okemah By Ken Childers ONL Editor Trick-or-treating will be allowed this year in Okemah, despite updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that advise against it. On Sept. 14, the city council voted to designate Saturday, Oct. 31 as the official trick-or-treat night, but a week…

Twelve cases dismissed in wake of McGirt decision By Ken Childers ONL Editor Twelve criminal cases involving Native Americans have been dismissed in Okfuskee County District Court on grounds that the state does not have jurisdiction over them. On Sept. 22, District Judge Lawrence Parish heard motions of dismissal filed in the wake of the…

ONL to host candidate debate Oct. 19 at history center By Ken Childers ONL Editor In advance of the upcoming general election, the Okemah News Leader will host a candidate debate later this month at the Okfuskee County Historical Society. Candidates for Oklahoma Senate District 7, State Representative District 24 and Okfuskee County Sheriff have…

Governor Stitt appoints Okmulgee County District Judge Governor Kevin Stitt announced on September 17, 2020 the appointment of Pandee Ramirez as District Judge for Okmulgee County. Judge Ramirez has served as a Special District Judge for Okmulgee County since 2015. Prior to this, Ramirez appears in court almost daily for 15 years as both a…

Okemah Homecoming royalty will be revealed this Friday, September 25, at 6:15 pm at the Pecan Bowl.  Front Row, L-R Senior Candidates Raegan Daily, Hailey Farries and Hannah Howeth; Junior Attendant Harley Robison, Sophomore Attendant Zhoie Fraser and Freshman Attendant Veronica Ramsey. Back Row, L-R, Senior Escorts Tyler Campbell, Jaelin Magness, Colin Sands, Kirby Vansant,…