logo
Login Subscribe
Google Play App Store
  • News
    • Obituaries
    • Lifestyle
    • Opinion
  • Sports
  • E-edition
  • Calendar
  • Archives
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertisers
    • Form Submission
    • About Us
    • News
      • Obituaries
      • Lifestyle
      • Opinion
    • Sports
    • E-edition
    • Calendar
    • Archives
    • Contact
      • Contact Us
      • Advertisers
      • Form Submission
      • About Us
High winds cause havoc in the county
A: Main, News
June 22, 2023
High winds cause havoc in the county
By LADONNA RHODES AND JERRY FINK

Hurricane force winds tore through the county Saturday night and Sunday morning, ripping apart trees; knocking down power poles; upending signs and causing widespread damage.

sound of the night’s powerful winds, said to be as high as 90 miles per hour in this area, gave way Sunday morning to the pervasive sound of chain saws as property owners attacked the downed trees and branches that littered the ground.

usands of customers were le in the dark for as long as 24 hours as OG&E and Eastern Oklahoma Electric Co-Operative frantical- ly worked to restore power as their resources were stretched to the limit.

It was a Father’s Day weekend to be remembered. Many people were still without power on Monday, though crews from the power companies had been out since Saturday and Sunday.

Most power had been restored by Monday a_ernoon.

Damage and power outages weren’t limited to McIntosh County.

e storm system reportedly produced winds of up to 100 miles per hour in and around Tulsa. PSO said some 166,000 customers in the Tulsa area were without power at one point.

One person was killed in the Creek County town of Oilton, 40 miles west of Tulsa. According to Creek County Emergency Management the victim was asleep in his bed when a tree fell on his home and killed him.

ousands of customers throughout Green Country were le_ without power.

Checotah Mayor Daniel Tarkington stated that as of midnight Sunday night residents south of town were getting power restored. However, there were others in the southwestern area that were slow to get their power back.

He said he was told that one transformer in town was blown, causing several customers to still be without power.

Tarkington said the Checotah Community Center was available as a cooling station if needed.

Eastern Oklahoma Electric Co-Operative, based in Okmulgee, has a few hundred customers in McIntosh County, but few reported any major problems.

However more than 9,000 customers in other areas were without power.

e company routinely updated the situation, apologizing for not being able to get to customers sooner.

“Unfortunately the scale and destructiveness of this storm means our team will likely be cleaning up and making repairs throughout Father’s Day. Please send up a quick prayer for the safety of our linemen,” said one post by the company.

McIntosh County Emergency Management Director Je ey Moore said in a post Sunday morning that the wind speed at his operations center in Eufaula was clocked at 68 miles per hour.

“As a result, numerous reports of power lines down, snapped power poles, and widespread power outages have been pouring in from all corners of the county,” he posted.

“Public utilities have been promptly noti_ed about the situation, but at present, there is no speci _c time frame available for power restoration. e communities of Checotah and Eufaula have been particularly a cted, with large sections of both cities currently without electricity. is interruption in power supply has undoubtedly caused inconvenience and concern among residents.”

Moore said that in the face of the challenges “we extend our deepest gratitude to the McIntosh County Volunteer Fire Departments for their swi_ response to downed power lines and fallen trees. eir dedication and courage in ensuring public safety during this crisis are commendable.”

e Department was out until 5 a.m. Sunday clearing trees and checking on downed power lines.

e Texanna Fire Department posted online that those in its area who needed to dispose of their tree limbs were welcome to bring them to the department.

“Please feel free to bring them down to the _re department and place them in our brush pile. We have opened our gate to the _eld so you can pull up to the pile easier,” the post said.

Treasurer honored at retirement party
A: Main, News...
Treasurer honored at retirement party
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
July 3, 2025
Retiring McIntosh County Treasurer Betty Whisenhunt received high praise from the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd at Whisenhunt’s retirement party Friday. “She could give courses acros...
this is a test
A: Main, News...
Council approves water rate increase for city and rural users
By SHAUNA BELYEU GENERAL MANAGER 
July 3, 2025
A newly adopted ordinance, passed June 9 by the City Council, increases rates for all users, including those living outside city limits. This new ordinance officially raises monthly water rates for re...
this is a test
Lightning strike kills Eufaula woman in cemetery
A: Main, News...
Lightning strike kills Eufaula woman in cemetery
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
July 3, 2025
A 57-year-old Eufaula woman was killed by lightning during a routine stroll through a cemetery Friday evening. Joy Ann Rogers was walking through Greenwood cemetery shortly before 7 p.m. when a thunde...
this is a test
Family, friends and fans bid farewell to Blues legend
A: Main, News...
Family, friends and fans bid farewell to Blues legend
By LENORE BECHTEL 
July 3, 2025
Her casket rested below center stage at the Checotah Performing Arts Center, open for friends, fans, and family to view her precious body before her life’s celebration began. No one lingered long. Tha...
this is a test
Classmates reunite after years apart during Checotah Alumni weekend
A: Main, News...
Classmates reunite after years apart during Checotah Alumni weekend
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER 
July 3, 2025
Class of 1975 honor Jim Caro as 'Significant Alumni' Classmates from all over the U.S. reunited after years apart during Checotah Alumni weekend. The Class of 1975 celebrated their 50th reunion by hon...
this is a test
Killing them with kindness
commentary
Killing them with kindness
July 3, 2025
What a month it’s been for me personally and in our close-knit communities. Trying to cope with the loss of loved ones has been extremely difficult and downright demanding. Yet having to come to terms...
this is a test
United for Oklahoma
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
For the Children ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ overhauled in Senate, would cause even more government borrowing
commentary
For the Children ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ overhauled in Senate, would cause even more government borrowing
By JOE DORMAN, OICA CEO 
July 3, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY – Over the past month, I have highlighted portions of the federal “Big Beautiful Bill” as passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Currently, the bill is under consideration by the U...
this is a test
Another busy week in the district
commentary
Another busy week in the district
By REP. TIM TURNER 
July 3, 2025
I started last Saturday June 21, bright and early at Stigler Reunion Days. I kicked things off at the Haskell County GOP Tent, answering questions and catching up with friends and supporters. Then I h...
this is a test
Hays Supports MOHA Executive Order
commentary
Hays Supports MOHA Executive Order
July 3, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Neil Hays, R-Muskogee, today expressed strong support for Gov. Kevin Stitt’s new “Make Oklahoma Healthy Again” (MOHA) executive order, which targets artificial food additives and ...
this is a test
News
Woman captured following foot chase
July 3, 2025
A 39-year-old Eufaula woman who had an outstanding warrant on an arson charge was arrested Wednesday, June 25, following a foot chase in a wooded area around south 7th Street in Eufaula. Tamara Dean K...
this is a test
Katy Depot Meet and Greet
News
Katy Depot Meet and Greet
July 3, 2025
Mike Key talked to his Class of 1975 and other alumni about their Significant Alumni Jim Caro at the Katy Depot Meet & Greet on Saturday.
this is a test
Facebook
Twitter
Tweets
Twitter
Tweets

MCINTOSH COUNTY DEMOCRAT
300-A S. Broadway
Checotah, OK
74426

(918) 473-2313

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 Mcintosh Democrat

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy