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Grateful to be cancer free
News
October 19, 2023
Grateful to be cancer free
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER

For over four decades, the month of October has been National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and has been devoted to educating everyone on the importance of early detection and timely high-quality care. It is called “Pink October” as people around the country pink out their football games and 5K runs to raise awareness about the importance of prevention and routine screening for the early diagnosis of breast cancer.

Iris Park knows well the importance of regular checkups. At 62, Park was preparing to go on a trip to Spain for a month when she realized she didn’t have enough of her hormone medication for the trip. So she called her doctor in hopes he would just fill it for the two weeks she lacked and then she would come in later for her doctor’s visit.

“I just wanted enough to get through my trip,” Park said. “Then I could come back and worry about getting my next exam. After all, I had been doing them every year like I was supposed to do so I didn’t think anything about it. Thank goodness my doctor did though.

When I called my doctor and asked if he could just fill the hormone replacement prescription he said no and insisted that I come in that afternoon and he would fit me in for a quick exam. He just wanted to make sure I was good to go.

“However, when he did the exam he found a lump and so he immediately sent me over for a mammogram and ultrasound. That’s when the technician took pictures and she couldn’t tell me if it was cancer or not. So I told her I was leaving for Spain in five days and I needed to know if I needed to cancel my flight or not. That’s when she said ‘I’d heard that if you have a letter from your doctor then the airline has to refund your money.’ So then I knew it was positively breast cancer and I canceled my trip.

“I had surgery fairly quickly and they did a lumpectomy and thankfully it had not gone into the lymph nodes. It was still small, only the size of my fingernail. So I had six weeks of radiation and then was on another pill medication for five years. After that I was cancer free and grateful that my doctor had insisted I come in that day.

“The secret is catching it early and thank God my doctor did. Now I’m 84 and I just went in this month and had my yearly mammogram. It’s still all clear and I’m grateful for every year it is.”

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
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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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United for Oklahoma
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Plumb Theatre News
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Plumb Theatre News
By MATTIE AND PAUL MALOY PLUMB THEATRE 
July 10, 2025
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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Freedom Fest
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Freedom Fest
July 10, 2025
Checotah residents celebrated their freedom with lots of family fun and fireworks on July 4th weekend at Freedom Fest.
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Police training
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Police training
July 10, 2025
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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News
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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Warriors of God, ready yourselves
July 10, 2025
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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