logo
Login Subscribe
Google Play App Store
  • News
  • Sports
  • lifestyle
  • commentary
  • Obituaries
  • Calendar
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Form Submission / Advertise
    • advertisers pay now
    • News
    • Sports
    • lifestyle
    • commentary
    • Obituaries
    • Calendar
    • Contact
      • Contact Us
      • Form Submission / Advertise
      • advertisers pay now
Ground broken for courthouse expansion
News
August 31, 2023
Ground broken for courthouse expansion
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR,

fudge Bridges praises the decision

Ground was officially broken last week on the $6.2 million renovation and expansion of the McIntosh County Courthouse.

Work on the project is expected to take from 10 months to a year.

It will be paid for using funds approved by voters in 2006, according to County Clerk Deena Farrow and District 2 County Commissioner Monty Grider.

The voters approved a halfcent county sales tax to build a jail and for courthouse improvements. The tax was to be in effect for 20 years, expiring in 2026.

The jail was paid for in May, 2022, according to Grider, but no money has been spent on courthouse improvements until now.

City officials, county commissioners, courthouse workers, building contractors and a host of others attended the groundbreaking, held Wednesday, Aug. 23.

Extensive remodeling and renovation will take place throughout the old courthouse, built in 1926-1927 at a cost of $100,000, to bring it upto- date. When completed, there will be a 10,000 square foot, three-story addition to the west side of the building, the bottom floor of which will serve as protection for the public from tornadoes with a capacity of more than 400.

The west wing will add about 30 percent to the courthouse floor space.

Architect Duane Mass designed the project, with the history of the building in mind.

The construction manager will be Travis Williams, with Williams Contracting in Muskogee.

Associate District Judge Brendon Bridges was the keynote speaker for the groundbreaking.

“It is an honor to be here today celebrating the beginning of such a monumental investment in our future,” Bridges said.

He recognized many of those in attendance who made the project possible, including current and past commissioners and many other city, county and state officials.

“These are all good men and women from all over our county,” Bridges said. “What brings them together, us together, is this courthouse.

“As degraded as it might sometimes get, it brings us together as a community.

“As I look and see those that participate in the day to day operation, I want to say that we are proud of you. Today we send a message, it is a message of belief that on this day we believed in our country, our state and most importantly we believed in McIntosh County.

“Make no mistake, the truest sign of support is investment. Actions over words. Your commissioners deserve a lot of credit in this. Your public facility authority, your county clerk, all of your public officials are showing their faith in our future by proceeding forward on these improvements.

“They are showing that despite these trying times of wars, pandemics, and recessions; they are showing by their actions the belief that their children and their grandchildren will still have someplace to call home years from now.

“They will have a place to vote and have votes counted; it will still be a noble ambition to be in an elected position and serve our country and most importantly there will be a place on the third floor (the courtroom) to protect our constitutional rights and norms for generations to come.

“The decision to make these improvements, to go forward, to take the scrutiny, that is not the easy road, but as John F. Kennedy might have said, ‘We’re not making these improvements because it’s easy but because it is hard … because it is right.’

“Now is the time and it is the right thing to do.”

Bridges recounted some of the history that has surrounded the courthouse.

“Women’s right to vote happened in 1918, and only eight years later this courthouse was built.

“We’ve had the Dust Bowl, a depression, two world wars, segregation, a housing crisis, the pandemic – it all adds up, but we are still standing. “Yes, our courthouse shows signs of wear and tear. So does our democracy and the question we’ve got to answer is ‘What are we going to do about it?’ It’s easy to see how we’ve let this building decay … it’s not just about improving an old building, it is about improving and sending a symbol that this is one of the most obvious symbols of our democratic values.

“It is a statement to our children, our future, that we refuse to let wear and tear turn into decay. We are not just one community. Mc-Intosh County is many communities … these communities help shape who we are as a society. Yes, we have differences. Yes, we have friendly rivalries. Nevertheless, we have a lot in common; we believe in our county and hard work in helping our neighbors; we believe in principles that we are only as strong as our weakest link.

“I hope that this day is remembered and let this courthouse and these improvements be a remembrance, a symbol of what unity is to us; let this be a symbol of unity; one nation, one county under God.

“Let these improvements be a message to our children and our grandchildren of the importance of democracy and how much we view the importance of democracy by improving one of its biggest symbols in our county.”

Checotah tops Mu Id row 7-6 in Homecoming game
Sports
Checotah tops Mu Id row 7-6 in Homecoming game
By Rodney Haltom sports EDITOR 
September 28, 2023
It was a defensive battle all night as the Checotah Wildcats (4-1, 1-0 District 3A-3) survived to get a 7-6 win over the Muldrow Bulldogs. The team had a big week as they kicked off Homecoming with th...
this is a test
Eufaula Lady Ironheads win Regional Championship
B:
Eufaula Lady Ironheads win Regional Championship
By Rodney Haltom sports EDITOR 
September 28, 2023
The Eufaula Lady Ironheads (21-9) outlasted Chandler in a dramatic finish 2-1 Thursday at Chris Gawf Field in Eufaula. Eufaula and Chandler battled throughout the championship game with great pitching...
this is a test
Hayden and Dan Jeffries win Crappie Masters National Championship
Sports
Hayden and Dan Jeffries win Crappie Masters National Championship
September 28, 2023
The National Championship on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Oklahoma has come to an end! After three days of competition, $125,000.00 was awarded in cash and prizes! Taking home the third-place trophy and $...
this is a test
Winzley Joe Vanna Ray White
Obituaries
Winzley Joe Vanna Ray White
September 28, 2023
Sept. 11, 2023 – Sept. 15, 2023Winzley Joe Vanna Ray White was born Sept. 11, 2023 in McAlester, Oklahoma to Jamon Ray White and Wittany Nicole Kess.She peacefully passed away in her sleep on Sept. 15...
this is a test
Nancy Marie Mouser
Obituaries
Nancy Marie Mouser
September 28, 2023
Nancy Marie Mouser, 66, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, passed away Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, at St. Francis Hospital of Tulsa. Nancy was born on Nov. 3, 1956, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, the daughter of Richard...
this is a test
News
Court Report
September 28, 2023
McIntosh County District Court ReportMisdemeanor CasesChase Alexander Brooks-McGuffin: possession of CDS; unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia Dallan Ray Davis: threaten to perform an act of viol...
this is a test
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
Sports
Fun-Facts of Sooners verses Longhorns
September 28, 2023
Just for the sake of facts, as the Texas game is around the corner, and talk is already happening, and the narrative that OU’s last year’s loss was the largest margin of victory in the series, is stil...
this is a test
Sports
OU-Texas kickoff time announced
By Rodney Haltom sports EDITOR 
September 28, 2023
The 2023 Red River Rivalry will commence at 11 a.m. on Oct. 7 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. ABC is broadcasting the game.The last time OUTexas wasn’t an 11 a.m. start was 2017, when it began at 2:30. ...
this is a test
Sports
Sooners firepower too much for Bearcats
By Rodney Haltom sports EDITOR 
September 28, 2023
No. 16 Oklahoma defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats 20-6 Saturday in the first Big 12 Conference game for Cincinnati. OU quarterback Dillon Gabriel completed 26 of 38 passes for 322-yards and two touchdo...
this is a test
Eufaula Softball Senior Night
Sports
Eufaula Softball Senior Night
September 28, 2023
Adyson Beaver is escorted by her parents Megan and John Beaver and Coach Green and Coach Efurd.
this is a test
Ironheads rally late to get win over Spiro
Sports
Ironheads rally late to get win over Spiro
By Rodney Haltom sports EDITOR 
September 28, 2023
The Eufaula Ironheads (2-2, 1-0 District 2A-6)) had to rally late in the fourth quarter to defeat a tough Spiro Bulldogs team 30-20. The Ironheads had to rely on senior running back Gavin Watkins who ...
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