As we usher in the dawn of a new year, it’s only fitting to pause and reflect on the journey that was 2023. The year unfolded with its own set of challenges and triumphs.
In the pages of your local newspaper each week, you find the stories that knit us together, the milestones that shaped our identity, and the resilient spirit that defines our tight-knit community.
As we leafed through the snapshots of 2023 moments, we are proud to have been a part of every moment.
Happy New Year from the staff of the McIntosh County Democrat.
January
Twin sisters retire after 40 years
After over 40 years of service at Peoples National Bank, twin sisters Neoma Mann and Leona Dearmore retired on December 30, 2022. Neoma had actually put in 43 years of service and Leona had put in 40 years.
So many coworkers and customers have been blessed by these ladies on a daily basis at the bank, that it made it hard to say goodbye to their always smiling identical faces.
McIntosh County bids farewell to Blizzard
A long procession of mourners on Tuesday, Dec. 27, followed the hearse containing Andy Blizzard, 59, to Greenlawn Cemetery at the conclusion of a funeral service held at Checotah High School’s Event Center. Hundreds of friends and admirers attended the funeral of the former Checotah Chief of Police, who spent 39 years in law enforcement. At the time of his passing, Blizzard was Chief investigator for the District 25 District Attorney’s office.
Kirby responds to lawsuit filed by survivors of Sheryl Bischel
Dan Kirby claims that the passenger who died following the wreck of a motorcycle he was driving on July 23 bore some of the responsibility for her own death and asked that a civil suit against him be dismissed.
If the charges are not dismissed, Kirby demands a jury trial.
Represented by Tulsa attorney Eric J. Begin, Kirby filed a response on Dec. 28 to a lawsuit filed on Nov. 21 by Ricky L. Gragg, son of the late Sheryl Bischel. Gragg is administrator of Bischel’s estate and represents all of her surviving next-of-kin in seeking in excess of $75,000 in real and punitive damages.
Bischel, 56, was on the back of a 2003 Harley Davidson driven by Kirby, 64, a Eufaula city councilman, when the vehicle crashed shortly before 10 p.m. at Fountainhead State Park, according to a report by the OHP.
Checotah Public Works Authority receives $1,442,000 from OWRB Funding for improvement of water system structure
The Checotah Public Works Authority (Authority) received approval for $1,442,000 in funding Tuesday from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to improve the Authority’s water infrastructure. Con-Ms.
struction of upgrades and improvements to the water system will be financed by the Oklahoma Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) where $1,000,000 of the loan will be in the form of loan forgiveness.
The Authority will utilize the proceeds to replace approximately 5,300 linear feet of deteriorated water line with new PVC water line in the southern portion of its distribution system.
These improvements will ensure water pressure is maintained for resident.
February
Cancer survivor starts gardening group
One woman’s passion for horticulture is helping her to still inspire others, even as she faces endless Stage 4 Breast Cancer treatments after a complete mastectomy last year. This courageous and knowledgeable lady, Jackie Monies, is starting the Lake Eufaula Area Veggie Gardening Group.
Now the club is 350 members strong and chiming in for basic gardening information, ideas and inspiration.
“I love teaching and inspiring people,” Monies said. “I also like to help local businesses and give back from all the knowledge I’ve learned and the help I have received over the years.”
Monies earned a business degree in agriculture and was the first woman admitted to an all-male universities college of agriculture after following her grandmother’s footsteps in gardening.
15th Annual Chili Cook-Off draws large crowd
Honors late chairman Richard Burton The 15th Annual Checotah Chili Cook-Off drew one of its biggest crowds this past Saturday as hundreds packed out the Checotah Community Center to support the Heartland Heritage Museum and Gallery’s only fundraiser for the year.
The evening began with prayer and Cub Scouts Pack 642 presenting the flags and leading everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
A panel of judges tasted 23 different chili recipes looking to find the best in McIntosh County and newcomer, Kennedy Eyecare, took home first place with their savory chili. They received $500, a plaque and bragging rights for this whole year.
March
Historic courthouse suffering from old age
The McIntosh County Courthouse, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 22, 1985, was built as a result of a bond election on May 11, 1926.
By a vote of 5 to 1, according to old newspaper accounts in the 1926 issues of the Eufaula Indian Journal, the county approved a $75,000 bond issue. That money, plus $25,000 the county commissioner had in reserve, paid for the construction of the threestory brick building that has largely withstood the test of time.
“We will erect a building that will be a credit to the county and fill a long felt need and make all court and legal records safe from fire and other hazards,” said one story in the IJ.
Construction began 20 years after statehood in 1907.
Courthouse to undergo multi-million dollar renovation
Plan is to restore it to its historic appeal; add more space The century old Mc-Intosh County Courthouse is about to receive a $6.2 million makeover, a project expected to begin in May and take about 18 months to complete, according to officials.
When completed, there will be a new 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 35 percent to the courthouse floor space. Currently, the building has about 17,000 square feet. When the project is completed, there will be about 22,500 square feet.
There also will be the addition of a security entrance on the east side of the building.
Extensive remodeling and renovation will take place throughout the old courthouse to bring it up-to-date in order to accommodate today’s needs.
“One of the most important things is to have a modern functioning office and administrative center for the county,” architect Duane Mass said.
April
Checotah mourns the loss of beloved Ms. Emmy Stidham
Bids farewell to town’s historian and greatest treasure April 5 was a very emotional and sad day for the McIntosh County Democrat paper ladies as well as the community of Checotah as they confirmed the loss of one of Checotah’s greatest treasures – Ms. Emmy Scott Stidham who was the local newspaper’s greatest cheerleader.
Though Sarah Emmaline Scott was born August 30, 1927 to Wiley Early Scott and Frances Bertha (Reed) Scott in Oklahoma City and raised in Edmond, her family would make Checotah their home in 1943. In 1945, Emmy would graduate from Checotah High School as the salutatorian. Then she would continue her education at the University of Oklahoma pledging Delta Delta Delta and studying journalism.
In 1947, she would marry and move back to Checotah to raise her family.
For Checotah, “Ms. Emmy” was the local historian and held a special spot in many Checotahn’s hearts. Because Stidham was such a leader for her state and particularly for her hometown of Checotah, she was the first recipient as the McIntosh County Democrat’s Citizen of the Year award in 1986 and was the only recipient to win it once again in 2022.
Checotah says goodbye to Billy Dean
A community of cowboys and friends said goodbye to one of their own. On Friday, April 21, Checotah said their final goodbyes to Billy Dean Martin at the First Baptist Church of Checotah under the pastorship of Steve Dennis.
“To say Bill was a colorful character would be an understatement,” Rev. Sanford Nero said of his longtime friend, as the community of Checotah said goodbye to longtime citizen and rancher, Billy Dean Combs.
“I honestly have to say I’ve done my fair share of funerals, but when I found out that Bill had set me up to do his, I have to admit I was a little nervous,” Nero said.
Nero laughed as he told stories about Bill to the congregation of their somewhat witty and often worn-out on patience friendship of many years.
Billy Dean worked the stockyards and used his auctioneering skills, volunteering for Boys Scouts, FFA, and the Checotah Chili Cook-Off each year. He was a long-standing member of the Heartland Heritage Board and donated many personal artifacts to the museum.
His dedication to the community earned him the McIntosh County Democrat Citizen of the Year in 2011.
However, it was his love for people, especially beautiful women that really made Billy Dean who he was. Even the cowboys who grew up in Checotah and around Billy Dean learned to respect and love the man who turned out to be a legend in his little town of Checotah.
May
Pickleball coming to Checotah
The Jim Lucas Checotah Public Library is always full of fun activities and by this summer they will add pickleball to their list of activities to do.
Pat Murr went on their social media site recently to show off the poles going up for the new pickleball court that is coming to the library.
The pickleball court is being made possible in part through a Health Literacy Grant for $9,000 from the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. Additional support is coming from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Friends of the Library, Peoples National Bank of Checotah, Armstrong Bank, First Family Federal Credit Union, the family of Eli Wallace, and the Dr. Maurice and Gretchen Payne Foundation. The City of Checotah is also providing funds for what will not been covered by the grant or donations. The City is also overseeing the construction of the court.
Kirby indicted for involuntary manslaughter
Eufaula City Councilman Dan Kirby has been indicted in federal court with involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country in connection with a motorcycle accident on July 23, 2022 that claimed the life of 56-year-old Sheryl Bischel.
A trial date has been set for May 8 at 8:45 a.m. at the United States District Court, Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee.
The accident took place in McIntosh County, but because Kirby is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation the trial must be held in federal court. A grand jury voted on Feb. 15 to charge the defendant, but the charge was sealed until March 8, the day of Kirby’s arraignment.
Marijuana initiative goes up in smoke
There was no question about how McIntosh County voters felt about State Question No 820. With 100 percent of the votes counted, the unofficial numbers were 2,205 against legalizing recreational marijuana and 1,129 in favor, a difference of approximately 66 percent (no) to 34 percent (yes).
Statistically, the unofficial numbers weren’t much different statewide. Approximately 61.68 percent voted no and about 38.32 percent voted yes – 349,121 (no) vs. 216,883 (yes).
Bakin’ and Chasin’ their rodeo dreams
Young cowboys sell cookies to ride bulls
The next generations of young cowboys are living large and chasing their rodeo dreams in Checotah. The Mahan brothers have high hopes and dreams of seeing their names in lights one day and aren’t afraid to work hard to do so. So these four brothers, Brayden, 14, Owen, 11, Noah, 9, and Ean, 7, are outside of their home on Broadway in Checotah, selling cookies and muffins to make money for their “Bull Ridin’ Fund.”
These young cowboys only moved to Checotah a few years ago but they moved to town that boasts of its professional bull riders like Austin Myers and L.J. Jenkins, plus PRCA Women’s World Champion Barrel Racer, Sherry Combs, and Betty Roper, sixtime World Champion Barrel Racer.
Corps reopens dam road
After four years of being closed for renovation, the road that crosses the Eufaula Dam reopened Friday evening.
The Oklahoma Highway 71 bridge over the dam closed on March 20, 2019 and was again open to traffic on Friday, March 17.
In 2015, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers determined the spillway bridge was at the end of its useful life requiring complete replacement, due to continuing failure of the bridge deck and the fracture critical nature of the bridge superstructure.
June
McIntosh County Democrat wins top honors at OPA Convention
Rhodes wins photo of the year; Indian Journal places third The Oklahoma Press Association (OPA) named the McIntosh County Democrat the top newspaper in the state in its division, awarding it the Sequoyah Award during the OPA’s annual convention Saturday at the Grand Hotel in Shawnee.
This is the second time in nine years that the Democrat has won this award and has run a close second coming within a few points of winning it again for several years.
The coveted Sequoyah Award, which is the highest honor in the Better Newspaper Contest, is determined by the number of points accumulated in eight of the contest’s categories: news content, layout & design, advertising, editorial writing, photography, sports coverage, sales promotion and community leadership.
Staff writer/Office Manager LaDonna Rhodes won photo of the year with her picture of the tractor races.
The picture was judged against all other submissions made by weekly papers across the state. “I am very proud of the great work the staff does producing the Democrat each week,” Jeff Mayo, publisher, said. “It is wonderful that this year the judges selected our paper as the best in its division.
“General Manager Shauna Belyeu is a wonderful leader of our staff in McIntosh County and LaDonna, Jerry, Rodney and Daphanie are an outstanding community journalism team! We will continue to work week in and week out to deliver the news about our community and the things important to it.”
Soggy but successful 57th Old Settlers Day
Old Settlers Day proved to be a little soggy but still successful this year as the community came out to enjoy the day. Some started their day off having all you-can-eat pancakes breakfast with the Lion’s Club. Then others came after the rain showers cleared out.
Children came from all over the county to play many of the games which included the turtle races, the balloon toss competition and the frog-jumping contests.
Tim Frame chosen as Significant Alumni
Tim Frame has been chosen as Checotah High School Significant Alumni for the 2023 CHS Reunion which will be held this Friday and Saturday, June 23-24. Frame will be honored with a special ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Katy Depot and classmates are encouraged to attend.
A lifelong resident of Checotah, Tim graduated from Checotah High School in 1973 and has been an active businessman in his hometown for over four decades. After graduating Tim went to work at his family’s lumber company, Frame Lumber. When his father died in 1994, Tim took over the daily operations of the local business as the manager.
In 1998, Tim was honored to receive the Sam Walton Business Leader Award. Frame Lumber would be recognized as the Business of the Year in 2000 by the Checotah Chamber of Commerce and Tim would go on to be recognized as the McIntosh County Democrat’s Citizen of the Year in 2001.
Tim served 10 years on the Checotah Main Street board of directors. In 2003, Frame Lumber was recognized as Checotah Main Street Business of the Year. Two years later in 2005, he would receive the Checotah Main Street Outstanding Volunteer Award for always going above and beyond to help his community in any way possible.
USS CARR crew reunites to honor fallen sailor
Checotah’s own Paul Henry Carr
Navy sailors who servedontheUSSCARR (FFG-52) gathered in Checotah for their first crew reunion to honor Paul Henry Carr, whom their ship was named for and whose picture hung in their mess hall as a reminder of the great price of freedom.
The USS CARR was named for Gunner’s Mate Third Class Paul Henry Carr, a Checotah farm boy who died courageously during the Battle Off Samar, on Oct. 25, 1944, while serving on the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413).
Carr would receive from the Silver Star (posthumously) as citied “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Gun Captain of a 5”/38 Mount on the U.S.S. SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (DE-413), in action against enemy Japanese forces off Samar Island during the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea, on 25 October 1944… Although mortally wounded by the premature detonation of a powder charge, fired by hand, Gunner’s Mate Third Class Carr tried unassisted to load and ram the only projectile available to that mount after order to abandon ship had been given. His aggressive determination of duty reflected the highest credit upon Gunner’s Mate Third Class Carr and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.” Reunion coordinator Gardner “Gardie” La-Marche was assigned to the USS CARR (FFG52) as a member of the pre-commissioning crew. This crew came aboard before the ship was fully completed and before it was commissioned on July 27, 1985. They were responsible for learning about the new ship and testing all the systems prior to the government accepting the ship from Todd Seattle Shipyard, where it was built.
Another alumni weekend in the books
It was a memory – filled weekend with Checotah alumni having events all over the community. Friday night alumni met at the Katy Depot as Imogene (Frazier) Duvall and CLPS volunteers hosted a night of reminiscing as alumni looked through old yearbooks, read old essays written by former Checotah students and told stories from their childhood to high school days.
On Saturday morning, alumni gathered again for coffee at the Katy and to congratulate Tim Frame for being chosen the 2023 Significant Alumni for all his contributions to the community and the Checotah Landmark Preservation Society. Frame’s family also joined him which included several CHS alumni generations. Mike Stidham presented Frame with a plaque and a floral table arrangement.
Doors opened at noon at the Checotah High School as more alumni arrived to visit and have a delicious lunch catered by Sam’s Famous BBQ.
Program helps paint the town
CHS art teacher Elisa Ortiz, along with her daughter Elisabeth and teacher Sheila Goad, are still painting the town through the Carolyn Watson Rural Oklahoma Community Foundation.
In 2021 the Checotah Art Class was awarded a grant through the Carolyn Watson Rural Oklahoma Community Foundation that has been helping them literally paint the town of Checotah.
Carolyn Watson was a woman of action from Ada who understood the value of blessing others with the gifts she was given. In 1995, she established the Carolyn Watson Rural Oklahoma Community Foundation and in 2010, the Carolyn Watson Opportunities Scholarship. Through these permanent endowment funds at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation she has provided teaching enhancements for classrooms, community literacy programs at public libraries and scholarships for students in designated rural Oklahoma communities.
“We were so excited to receive this grant two years ago,” Elisa Ortiz said. “With this grant our talented art students get to design and spread their creativity throughout the community. The artist who designed this latest design of the wildcat jumping through the paw was Georgia Brinsfield who graduated in 2022.”
Federal jury finds Kirby guilty of involuntary manslaughter
MUSKOGEE — After nearly five hours of deliberation on Wednesday, June 28, a federal jury found twice-resigned politician Dan Kirby guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the July 2022 motorcycle wreck that killed his girlfriend, Sheryl Bichsel.
Leslie Phillips named County Emergency Director
The Board of County Commissioners hired Leslie Phillips on Friday to fill the position of McIntosh County Emergency Management director, replacing Jeffrey Moore who resigned last week to take the same position in Okmulgee County.
“We were lucky to get him,” said District 2 Commissioner Monty Grider. “He has a lot of experience.”
Phillips was the Checotah Emergency Management director from 2007 to 2016.
July
Pickleball, a big dill for Checotah
The Jim Lucas Checotah Public Library has always stood out from other libraries due to its outstanding staff who goes above and beyond for their community. However, now they may be the first library in Oklahoma with a pickleball court and that’s a big dill. That’s right, what started as a labor of love with former Library Branch Manager Kathe Smith and a grant she wrote to bring pickleball to the community has finally come to fruition.
Mayor Daniel Tarkington stood before the community last Thursday morning to recognize Smith’s hard work, along with the city’s commitment, that finally completed the pickleball court this June.
Tarkington then brought forth a proclamation that proclaimed June as pickleball month in the City of Checotah.”
The pickleball court was made possible through a Health Literacy Grant for $9,000 from the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. Additional support came from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Eastern Oklahoma Library System, Peoples National Bank of Checotah, Armstrong Bank, First Family Federal Credit Union, Friends of the Library, family of Eli Wallace, and Dr. Maurice & Gretchen Payne. The City of Checotah graciously provided funds for what has not been covered by the grant and donations. They also oversaw the construction of the pickleball court.
Another successful Honey Springs Memorial
The late Emmy Stidham honored It was a sultry morning at Honey Springs Battlefield on Saturday as staff held the annual memorial service honoring the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Honey Springs near Checotah. The memorial service was held outside on the lawn of the visitor center.
Site Manager Adam Lynn welcomed everyone who came out to the ceremony and the Presentation of Colors was given by the Color Guard and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Honor Guard.
Grover Wind, Secretary of Veterans Affairs with Muscogee (Creek) Nation gave the invocation and Mvskoke citizen Anne Townsend-Edwards sang two beautiful hymns in her native language.
Executive Director of the Oklahoma Historical Society Trait Thompson, honored the late Emmy Stidham for her many years of service through the Friends of Honey Springs and the Oklahoma Historical Society. “Ms. Emmy was such a warm presence here and she just absolutely loved telling the history of Honey Springs to us all,” Thompson said. “We cannot let this Battle of Honey Springs Memorial pass without a few words about Sarah Emmaline (Scott) Stidham known to all of us as Ms. Emmy. “This is the first memorial service Emmy has missed since they began in the 1960’s and though she is not here in body, I am positive she is here in spirit. “Emmy was a tireless supporter of Checotah and was among the original group who started to preserve Honey Springs Battlefield. Without the work of Emmy and others, we would not be here today in a new Visitor’s Center on a Battlefield with over 1,000 acres.
Gorging grasshoppers sweep over the plains
Most Oklahoma farmers know that grasshopper infestations can sweep over their farmlands like a Biblical plague if certain conditions are right, and these conditions are becoming increasingly favorable for these destructive pests in July and August with the threat of drought.
Grasshoppers have been in an upward cycle for causing problems in Oklahoma for several years now experts say. Though they are always a difficult problem to deal with, they are nearly impossible to control, which is the alarming part.
Like something out of an Alfred Hitchcock, these gorging grasshoppers with their sprouting wings can take flight to anywhere which makes it difficult to control their endeavors to consume everything in their path.
Special mom raises special kids
It takes a special mom to raise special kids and Roxy Moore has been that kind of mom for over 33 years. Though Roxy lost her first born son at birth, she went on to have two more sons, Robert and Rusty, adopt five girls, Angie, Deztiny, Jessie, Emily and Lisa, and has fostered over 400 hundred children for over 14 years.
“I haven’t fostered in about seven years because of all the surgeries I’ve had to endure,” Roxy said. “After I had two total-knee replacements and several back surgeries, it just got to the point that I felt like I couldn’t chase them or play with them the same.
“However, back when I was fostering I was the closest foster home to our main office so I was often the transfer home. Some children I fostered for years, others for a few days or hours. I was keeping up with how many I fostered over the years but I stopped counting around 400. I also had kids sent to my home for specialized testing so they could get tested.
My son Rusty was 12 years old when I started and he’s 33 now. I was at Old Settlers Day and a person working for the Wesleyan foster care recruited me. Then I thought therapeutic foster care was kids in wheelchairs but I found out that a lot of them were just kids with special mental needs. My dad was a triplegic so this was much easier in my eyes. We just had lots of counseling appointments to make. “My grandma always said ‘idle hands make a weak mind’ but I say nothing to do will cause depression so I keep my kids busy. I think all kids can help no matter their age. A baby brings joy, while a two-yearold child wants something to do. I let them do anything I’m doing. The 6- year-old likes to bake and the 14-yearold loves to paint walls so why not let them.”
August
Former McIntosh county graduate releases touching memoir
Former Eufaula High School graduate and Mvskoke citizen, Vanessa (McIntosh) Vancleave, recently released a touching memoir that was 20 years in the making. The book, “Hearing AIDS: How a Deaf Child with AIDS Taught Me to Hear God’s Voice” is the tragic yet triumphant story of Maegan, Vanessa’s step daughter, who valiantly battled AIDS and became deaf at a very tender age. The memoir honors this brave little girl who through her silent world taught others to listen more closely to God’s still, small voice.
“I’ve been working on the memoir for over 20 years,” Vanessa said. “I kept thinking if I finished the book, it would be closing the chapter on Maegan’s life. Now I realize it really meant opening a whole new chapter.”
Vanessa’s roots run deep in McIntosh County. In fact the county was named after her ancestors whose members led the migration of the Lower Towns to Indian Territory and served as leaders for generations. Her father was Vann McIntosh who was the director at Eufaula Boarding school for four years then served as Cooper McClain principal for over 10 years. Her mom was a fourth grade teacher and librarian at Eufaula, and her grandmother was Hazel McIntosh, the postmaster at Stidham for many years. Her sisters, Misty McIntosh and Valaina Frost still live near McIntosh County and her cousins, Roley and Stanley McIntosh run a dental practice in Eufaula.
Courthouse groundbreaking Aug. 23
The McIntosh County Commissioners will hold a groundbreaking for the new addition to the west side of the courthouse at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 23.
The Commissioners awarded the construction contract for the $6.2 million project to Williams Contracting, Inc. out of Muskogee.
Duane Mass, of Mass Architects, designed the project, which will take an estimated 18 months to complete.
The project includes extensive renovation inside the old courthouse and the addition of a three-story west wing, which will add more than 5,000 square feet of floor space to the building.
The bottom floor will serve as a tornado shelter for the public.
Construction of the original courthouse was completed in June, 1927.
Among the changes coming: – Remodeled courtroom, judge’s chambers, jury room and more. The elevator operating system will be changed from hydraulic to electric, for a smoother, more dependable ride.
– About 10 parking spaces will be lost due to the new addition, but those parking spaces will be moved about 60 feet west.
– More office space for all departments.
– New HVAC system that will allow removal of the dropped ceilings. – Renovated restrooms.
– Roof alterations to stop leaks.
– New windows. – Preservation of its historic look.
– Skylight over the central stairway.
September
Miss Louise, 102, Outstanding Citizen
Mary Louise (Cobb) McGee turned 102 on March 10.
Jerry Whitfield, who often gives plaques to folks in the community he believes are deserving of recognition, believes Mary is as deserving as most.
Whitfield noted that she has been described as “a housekeeper, caregiver, loyal friend, wise counselor and spiritual advisor.”
“She is a wonderful person, a loyal friend, a wise counselor and spiritual advisor,” He presented the plaque Saturday during a fund-raising fish fry for the NAACP held at the Mt. Olive Star Baptist Church in the Pierce community 10 miles west of Checotah.
The honoree was unable to attend the event.
Accepting the plaque was Miss Louise’s daughter, DeLois McGee.
October
Survivors speak at Domestic Violence Awareness Chalk Walk
The McIntosh County Democrat hosted another successful Domestic Violence Awareness Chalk Walk on Monday, Oct. 16 at the Checotah Sports Complex. Survivors, along with several help groups, showed up to talk about domestic abuse within our county and state and the importance of bringing awareness to the community.
Organizer and office manager of the McIntosh County Democrat LaDonna Rhodes spoke briefly about the heartbreak of being a survivor then watching her classmates and even daughter suffer from abusive relationships. This is why the Chalk Walk is so important to give victims a voice.
Battle of Honey Springs Civil War Documentary to make television debut
The Oklahoma Historical Society is excited to announce that “The Battle of Honey Spring,” a documentary depicting the largest Civil War battle to take place in present-day Oklahoma, will air on television for the first time. The film is scheduled to air on PBS in Oklahoma on November 2 at 7:30 p.m.
“This new film is a first-class production that will allow us to tell the story of the battle in an engaging way for years to come,” said OHS Executive Director Trait Thompson.
November
Veterans Day celebrated in Checotah
Veterans Day was celebrated a day early on Nov. 10 in Checotah so Checotah Public Schools could show their appreciation to local veterans in the area.
First the FCCLA class made a quilt that was won by one of the veterans, Gary Cotner, and a hot breakfast was served to veterans and their family by the school.
This year the Checotah FFA, along with Ag teachers, Zach Ilbery and Erica Goodson, was in charge of the Veterans Assembly Program which made everyone proud of the men and women who sacrificed to give back to their country.
Killer sentenced to 26 years in prison 7 years after Tiger Mountain murders Admits to killing his father and father’s friend
On Aug. 4, 2016, Henryetta resident Christopher Hathcoat, now 45, was alleged to have gunned down his father, Floyd Hathcoat, 73, and Terry Alan Wetselline, 42, at the elder Hathcoat’s rural residence on Tiger Mountain, in northwest McIntosh County.
He was arrested in Cherokee County the following day and charged on Aug. 10, 2016 in McIntosh County with the double homicide, which took place on the younger Hathcoat’s 38th birthday.
Students and educators at Checotah Public Schools have many reasons to be grateful this year
You might have noticed the changing landscape of Checotah Public Schools this school year as major projects are well underway and new structures are being erected. These projects are a combination of FEMA and school bond funds.
The $8,540,000 bond, which passed by 67 percent in 2021, made allocations for new safe rooms for Marshall and Intermediate Elementary, two new classrooms in Marshall, 105 new windows in Intermediate School, a new Performing Arts Center with Band Room, new Ag. show facilities, new turf and LED lighting on the football and baseball fields.
One of the first projects Checotah residents might have noticed is the dirt work around the old Multi Purpose Building on Broadway. This is home to one of the safe rooms that has been constructed. The Multi Purpose Building now serves as a safe room which doubles as a cafeteria and is equipped with restrooms and with battery backup in case of power outages during inclement weather. The shelter is designed to withstand wind speeds up to 250 miles per hour. The project is complete and the last step is to sod the front and side of the building to prevent erosion.
This project is a part of a $2,139,000 combined FEMA project. 90 percent of the funds come from FEMA funds with 10 percent matching funds from Checotah Public Schools.
December
Tabor Family Exhibit shines light on history
The Jim Lucas Checotah Public Library recently hosted the Tabor Family Exhibit which consisted of the Tabor family portraits, photos and collected artwork from their world travels. Pieces of Britton Duncan Tabor’s art collection were on display as were family portraits the public had never seen. The Tabor family has been an influential and prominent family from Checotah since the town’s very beginning, shining a light on a lot of its history.
The Tabor’s gave the land that the library sits on and the family has been shipping pieces from Hawaii to the library to be put on display.
Checotah stepped up Christmas
Lighted Parade, Grand Marshals and Christmas in the Park The City of Checotah had their first Lighted Christmas Parade with A Christmas Movie theme hosted by the Checotah Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 4. Many locals boasted that it was the best parade Checotah has ever had. The 45-minute parade had a record number of floats, both commercial and noncommercial, plus several organizations from the Shriners to the DAV to the Boy Scouts to Jeepers and more.
The Checotah PD, Grand Marshals and the Class of Checotah led the parade as so many spectators enjoyed the lighted floats, vehicles, horses, carriages, clowns, cheerleaders, the Grinch and Santa. Of course the children loved all the candy thrown the most.
Grand Marshals
The Grand Marshals for the parade this year were Mitch and Karen Myers.
We thank you for taking a look back through 2023 and remind our readers that newspapers are the first record keepers of history. We look forward to this journey together.
Have a happy and safe 2024.
