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Checotah lit up the sky this 4th of July
A: Main, News
July 10, 2025
Checotah lit up the sky this 4th of July
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER,

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 fireworks. Freedom House Adult & Teen Challenge received front row seating at the event and the ladies were the honorary guests at this year’s festival. They were even given the pleasure of pulling the switches to set off some of the fireworks.

It was a red, white and brew morning as organizers started their day with coffee and set up tables and trophies for the Freedom Fest 5K Fun Run that kicked off at 7 a.m. top begin a day full of activities at the Checotah Sports Complex. Approximately 100 runners began showing up just before kickoff time to run with family and friends.

In the 5K Overall Results, Alan Cox, 41, from Porter, came in first with a time of 18:29. Fred James, 64, from Wilburton, came in second and Derrick Cohee, 25, from Dover, was third. Melanie Mattison, 15, of Muskogee, was the first female across the finish line with a time of 23:23 but Ruta Reed, 46, from Fort Gibson was hot on her heels coming in with a time of 23:38. Krystle VanDerKarr, 41, from Pearland, TX, came in third overall female with a time of 24:24.

After the 5K Run tournaments began for cornhole, basketball, pickleball and more. The kids fishing derby was a happening spot with lots of kids 12 and under competing for fishing gear and cash prizes. Kactus Roper sparkled with cuteness when she won with the biggest Crappie caught at 1 pound 13 ounces. Even the judges were impressed with that catch of the day!

There was also a fierce competition for the cardboard boat races where some sank immediately and others sailed on to victory. Then there was cash prizes for those who got closest to the Hole in One, cash prizes for top competitors in the kids tractor pull and even the new event this year, the Obstacle Mud Run, which proved to be quite the challenge for many who literally battled their way through muck and mire finding golf balls in the mud for more cash prizes sponsored by People’s National Bank.

The events for the day ended with the Kids Power Wheel Races and the crowd laughing at the antics of wheel barrel races and wheel chair races which were quite entertaining.

As the evening started setting the crowd grew bigger and bigger as they visited vendors, ate from the food trucks and listened to Shiloh & Goin’ For Broke. But the highlight of the whole day was getting to watch the City of Checotah workers put on the biggest firework show in the county for well over 30 minutes making everyone proud to be an American and born in the U.S. –Yay!

A: Main, News...
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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A: Main, News...
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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News
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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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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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
commentary
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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Calls needed to protect National Weather Service operations
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Calls needed to protect National Weather Service operations
By JOE DORMAN, OICA CEO 
July 10, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY – We at the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) extend our deepest condolences to families tragically impacted by the recent flooding in Texas. Flooding along the Guadalupe Rive...
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