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Clyde the Camel delighting Pumpkin Patch visitors
News
October 19, 2023
Clyde the Camel delighting Pumpkin Patch visitors
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR

Josh and Tori Anderson of Hanna weren’t for sure what they were going to do with a camel they bought more than three months ago, but it’s just one of those things they thought they had to have.

Today, Clyde is a star at the Anderson’s Pumpkin Patch at Lake Eufaula State Park.

He joins a menagerie of other people-friendly animals at Halloween-themed Patch, which is open daily through Oct. 31st at the site of the Lake Eufaula Stables on SH 150.

Besides Clyde, there are goats and ducks and pigs and donkeys and horses and ponies and kittens and more.

When not petting the animals, youngsters can play games, take train rides and, on Friday and Saturday nights, go on a Haunted Hay Ride.

Picnic areas are also available during the family festival.

The family fun event includes a pumpkin patch, pumpkin decorating and hay ride and more. Children can pan for gems, play on the playground.

The event also includes an archery range and darts competition.

This might not have come to pass had the couple not been working on a job in the area a few months ago and noticed the vacant riding stables, which are on property owned by the State of Oklahoma.

Tori said she saw a possible business opportunity.

Sort of like seeing a camel they were inspired to buy.

“It looked like a great opportunity,” Tori said.

The Andersons own The Patch on Main Street in Eufaula. They also own a ranch and farm in Hanna, where they grow pumpkins and watermelons.

The family isn’t averse to hard work.

Josh is a former steer wrestler. Their son, Traden, 20, is currently one of the top steer wrestlers in the world.

When time permits, the father “hazes” for his son – rides along side him during an event to keep the steer running in a straight line.

So in addition to their full plate of farming, ranching, rodeoing and The Patch in Eufaula, they added The Pumpkin Patch.

“Before, people had to drive for hours to find something like this,” Tori said.

It took some time and lots of paperwork and background checks, but they were able to lease the property for a year.

“We had to do a lot of brush hog work, trees had fallen over. There was lots of preparation before we could even start working on (The Pumpkin Patch),” she said.

The hard work has paid off. More than 2,500 students were booked to visit during October.

“It’s been a lot of work, and a lot of money. But hopefully, it will be beneficial for us. We’re not trying to get rich off it but we would like to get the money back that we invested,” she said.

The Pumpkin Patch is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily and Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Price of admission is $10.

The Haunted Hay Rides are only open Friday and Saturday nights.

If this venture is a success, Tori said next year they will add a haunted house.

They also might bring back trail rides.

“People have contacted us about it. With my husband and son a cowboy, we’re thinking about it,” Tori said.

There are many possibilities for the property.

They’re looking ahead to the Christmas holidays.

“We were thinking abut buying a reindeer, but they are too expensive,” she said. Business has been brisk since The Pumpkin Patch opened.

Word of mouth and advertising has helped.

Business has been so brisk, they could use some volunteers.

“We need about eight people to help, especially for The Haunted Trail Ride.”

Checotah lit up the sky this 4th of July
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Checotah lit up the sky this 4th of July
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER 
July 10, 2025
The City of Checotah showed off its bold stripes, bright stars and brave hearts this Fourth of July after working countless hours so residents could celebrate their freedom with lots of family fun and...
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Sexual Assault Awareness Honor Walk
July 10, 2025
Friday, July 11 at 12 p.m. Posey Park, Eufaula Show your support for survivors Take a stand against violence! Muscogee (Creek) Nation Center for Victim Services
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Annual Memorial Service planned at Honey Springs Battlefield
July 10, 2025
CHECOTAH — Honey Springs Battlefield will hold its annual memorial service on Saturday, July 19, at 10:30 a.m. to honor the 162nd anniversary of the Battle of Honey Springs near Checotah. The service ...
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Farewell to Checotah’s friend, Jerri Reaves
A: Main, News...
Farewell to Checotah’s friend, Jerri Reaves
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER 
July 10, 2025
Last Thursday family and friends said goodbye to former city councilwoman Jerri Reaves who had passed away on June 26 at the age of 82. Jerri graduated from Checotah High School in 1962. In 1980, she ...
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News
Trump administration freezes over $70 million state’s education funds
By NURIA MARTINEZ-KEEL OKLAHOMA VOICE 
July 10, 2025
States won’t receive funds from six federal programs, including after-school care and English learner support, until further notice. OKLAHOMA CITY — The Trump administration is indefinitely withholdin...
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Jeff Starling launches campaign for attorney general
July 10, 2025
TULSA ––Jeff Starling, Oklahoma’s Secretary of Energy and Environment, has officially announced his candidacy for Attorney General of Oklahoma. Starling is a conservative, attorney, businessman, and d...
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Never too early to start singing and the HALLELUJAH HONEYS are representative of that. Kate Andrews will be singing and playing with two other Honeys, Aubree,13, and Charlee, 10. They are some cuties ...
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Checotah residents celebrated their freedom with lots of family fun and fireworks on July 4th weekend at Freedom Fest.
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Recently local law enforcement trained for two days on different scenarios that might arise during traffic stops, hostage situations, domestic disturbances, and more.
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Two from area on UCO Honor Rolls
July 10, 2025
EDMOND - Two from this area have made he University of Central Oklahoma recently announced the students named to the university’s honor rolls; a distinction given to those who achieve the highest acad...
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Warriors of God, ready yourselves
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Of my 56 years of being in this world, 50 of those years I have been filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. I was only six years old when I attended my first Tiger Mount...
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