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Checotah Stories from the past
News
May 1, 2025
Checotah Stories from the past
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR

114 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat Thursday, May 25, 1911

LOOKS LIKE BUSINESS

The city council held special sessions last Wednesday and Thursday nights, primarily to consider the matter of paving several of the downtown streets as soon as the sewer system is completed, and the earth properly settled.

ELECTRIC STORM

This section was visited by a soaking rain last Friday night and was followed Saturday with another equally as heavy. Both were accompanied by an electric demonstration, that of Saturday being particularly demonstrative. During a lull in the downpour just after noon a bolt came down at the home of Ned McIntosh but no one was injured farther than a bad scare.

At the home of H.C. Brazell nearby however, the shock was more intense. Mrs. Brazell and her mother were both almost completely paralyzed and when discovered neither could speak nor move.

••••• 100 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat

Thursday, March 26, 1925

Will Dedicate New Masonic Hall

The new Checotah Masonic Hall will be dedicated Thursday night of next week. Invitations have been issued to the lodges of Muskogee, Oktaha, Eufaula, Hitchita and Hanna for their members to attend and enjoy the ceremonies.

All Masons and their wives and all members of the Eastern Star are invited and urged to attend.

FORMER COUNTY CLERK MARK WITTY DEAD Answers Final Summons at Cactus, Ariz.

The citizens of Checotah were shocked beyond measure Monday morning when the sad news of the death of Mark R. Witty was circulated about the streets of the city.

Upon the advice of physicians, Mark, with his brother Will, left Checotah during the early part of January for Arizona in the hopes of receiving benefit in a change of climate.

For some time after his arrival in that state he seemed to be improving in health but about 10 days ago a change was noted and he gradually grew weaker until relieved by death as noted above.

••••• 96 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat

Thursday, December 19, 1929

Grass Fires Keep Fire Fighters Busy

Checotah’s fire department frantically fought grass fires Thursday as alarms were wounded from four sections of the city. Members of the squad eagerly swung into action and extinguished the flames with only small property losses.

Fires were reported at the homes of Roy Sanders, Floyd Frazier, and Earnest Wright and at Garland’s Café.

Man Severely Injured In Gasoline Explosion Clifford Romine, 35, employee of the Odd Fellows home, suffered burns on the face and body Friday afternoon when gasoline he was using as a cleansing solvent exploded.

••••• 90 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat

Thursday, March 22, 1934

Permanent Relief Seen in “New Neal”

A “new New Deal” is in store for upwards of 100,000 Oklahoma families which have been living for more than a year on government relief or civil works, according to Rep. Wesley E. Disney.

The relief itself was the first New Deal and now the government is getting ready to take the next step, rehabilitation, says Disney.

Army to Handle Air Mail Service

Following the announcement that the army, instead of private aviation companies, would handle airmail service Brig. Gen. Oscar Westover was named to direct the army’s airmail activities.

Gen. Westover was a winner in the national elimination free balloon race of 1922.

••••• 81 Years Ago McIntosh County Democrat Thursday, November 9, 1944 CITY CURFEW LAW INVOKED HERE MONDAY

Children under 18 Must Clear Streets By 10 p.m.

The Checotah city council, in special session last week, invoked a curfew law from old city ordinances which went into effect Monday night, in an effort to rid the city of juvenile delinquency.

DEMOCRATS WIN IN LANDSLIDE VOTE TUESDAY Roosevelt Wins Fourth Term in Heavy Balloting Franklin D. Roosevelt was reelected president of the United States for a fourth term in the general election Tuesday carrying at least 35 states with 413 electoral votes, it was shown in latest press dispatches.

Thomas E. Dewey, the Republican nominee, who waged a fighting campaign, carried only 13 states with 118 electoral votes. The popular vote, however, was much closer, the returns indicated Up to Thursday morning Roosevelt had received 23,267,746 votes against 20,060,033 for Dewey.

The president carried McIntosh county by a slightly larger majority than four years ago. He received 3,190 votes while Dewey was favored by 2,569 county residents.

••••• 75 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat

Thursday, March 30, 1950

GRAND JURY SET TO START PROBE OF PROSECUTOR New County Attorney’s Actions to Face Scrutiny State Attorney General Mac Q. Williamson has been directed by Gov. Roy J. Turner to aid the Eufaula grand jury investigation of County Attorney Jimmy Whiteley and his official conduct since taking over the office by appointment several months ago.

The grand jury was called after Whiteley filed charges against a Cathay school teacher accused in two complaints of “pawing the bodies” of young girl students.

It has been claimed by several grand jury petitions that Whiteley has been overzealous in his investigation of the Checotah grade school robbery and a number of other cases.

Whiteley stated this week that the grand jury probe was brought about by an attorney and banker at Eufaula who are seeking to railroad him.

••••• 50 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat

Thursday, April 10, 1975

Kiwanis Boxing Tourney Still Going

The Checotah Kiwanis Club Novice Boxing tournament got started this week with clubs from Okmulgee, Taft, Quinton, Eufaula, Muskogee, Haskell, Hartshorne, Porum and Checotah competing for individual trophies and jackets and a Team and outstanding Boxer Award.

••••• 19 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Mayor Hayes meets with Wal-Mart reps For the past few months around Checotah, it’s been the thing everybody’s known about, but nobody was sure about. Until now, that is.

Checotah Mayor Jay Hayes has confirmed that attorneys from Wal-Mart visited Checotah last week in an effort to put the finishing touches on the preliminary plans for a new Wal-Mart facility in Checotah.

••••• 10 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat

Thursday, April 23, 2015

New city leaders ready to roll

New city council members, new mayor, new police chief and the returning city clerk repeated the oath of office for City Attorney Carman Rainbolt at Checotah City Hall at noon Monday, April 20.

The biggest applause came when new Mayor Daniel Tarkington was sworn in. About 15 family members came to see the 28-year-old who beat two-term mayor Marvin Nichols, 66, during the April 7 election.

Shop with a Cop brightens Christmas
A: Main, News...
Shop with a Cop brightens Christmas
December 18, 2025
Dozens of McIntosh County kids were escorted on a Christmas shopping spree by law enforcement officers last week. In total, over 80 kids received a total of $30,000 worth of presents. Each purchased g...
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Fa La La La La and fraud go hand in hand this season
A: Main, News...
Fa La La La La and fraud go hand in hand this season
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER 
December 18, 2025
It may be time to “Deck the Halls” but it’s also time to beware of fraudulent deals because Fa La La La La and fraud go hand in hand this season. It may be the most wonderful time of the year as many ...
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Lake Eufaula family loses dream home in fire, grateful for heroic ODOC agent
A: Main, News...
Lake Eufaula family loses dream home in fire, grateful for heroic ODOC agent
December 18, 2025
Craig and Chelsea Lewis experienced their worst nightmare when their dream home on Lake Eufaula was reduced to charred rubble just weeks before Christmas. “Overnight, it ended up being a total loss,” ...
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Roger Thompson to keynote Friends’ event
A: Main, News...
Roger Thompson to keynote Friends’ event
December 18, 2025
“How Chri s tmas Started and Surged” will be the topic explored at the 1 p.m. Friday, December 19 meeting of Friends of Eufaula Memorial Library. How can Odin, the Norse God of wisdom, poetry, agricul...
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Peoples National Bank
A: Main, Community Calendar...
Peoples National Bank
December 18, 2025
Peoples National Bank will close Christmas Eve : Main Bank: Noon Drive In: 1:00 Walmart: 3:00 Open for business as usual Friday & Saturday.
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17th Annual Feeding All Souls continues
A: Main, News...
17th Annual Feeding All Souls continues
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER 
December 18, 2025
The 17th Annual Feeding All Souls Christmas Dinner will be on Thursday, Dec. 25 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. for any soul who needs to be fed. Church members from Mt. Olive Star Baptist Church will be cookin...
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Editor Picks
Is your name on the list?
A: Main, News...
Is your name on the list?
By SHAUNA BELYEU GENERAL MANAGER 
December 18, 2025
The Oklahoma State Treasurer’s Office has released its latest report of unclaimed property, and the full list of names appears inside this week’s edition on page 3. Every year, millions of dollars in ...
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Muscogee Nation celebration marks opening of Lake Eufaula Casino Hotel
A: Main, News...
Muscogee Nation celebration marks opening of Lake Eufaula Casino Hotel
December 18, 2025
Leaders from the Muscogee Nation and the Muscogee Nation Gaming Enterprises (MNGE) held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting on Monday, Dec. 15, to open the doors on a $69.8 million capital investment, the new...
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CAG spreads Christmas cheer
lifestyle, News...
CAG spreads Christmas cheer
December 18, 2025
Special angels from around the county selected angels from the tree to give Checotah Nursing & Rehabilitation a “Golden Christmas” this year. The project was sponsored by the Checotah Art Guild to ben...
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Past school records to be destroyed
News
Past school records to be destroyed
December 18, 2025
Checotah High School will be destroying past graduate records. If you graduated in the school year 2020, you can pick up your high school records. You may call ahead at (918) 473-9100 to arrange picku...
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Teen with leukemia has a Christmas wish
News
Teen with leukemia has a Christmas wish
By JOE DORMAN, CEO OKLAHOMA INSTITUTE FOR CHILD ADVOCACY 
December 18, 2025
Just about eight years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Miller Hines through his mother, Miranda, who was working for OICA as the director of our OK Foster Wishes program and who operated our specia...
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Checotah, OK
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