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Local athletes shine in Florida
Sports
August 7, 2025
Local athletes shine in Florida
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR

Best friends Jakala Yarbrough and Amari Harton play for Lady Sunset, a team in the NXTpro Puma League – an organization that helps young athletes develop their skills.

In the championship tournament Lady Sunset didn’t lose a game, going 5 and 0.

Amari is a post guard, JaKala a shooting guard.

The League is made up of several divisions competing for a national title.

The NXTpro Circuit is a comprehensive series of events that culminates in the crowning of a national championship in the 17U, 16U, 15U and 12U age divisions.

The circuit is broken into two leagues, the PRO16 League and the NXT League. The PRO16 League are sponsored teams and the NXT league are teams working toward earning a sponsorship.

NXTpro is a youth basketball program focused on player development.

Lady Sunset is in the 12U division, and the team is now NXTpro 12U Champions.

Lady Sunset represents the Cheyenne, Choctaw, Creek, Cherokee, Seminole, Osage, and Navajo Nations.

“The goal is to prepare our youth players for the next level of play. The 11U-14U age group is the time when building fundamentals is critical to future success,” according to a statement by the league.

JaKala and Amari, in addition to playing basketball, are on the Eufaula track team.

Amy Peterson, Amari’s mother, said both girls are strong in sports and academics.

“Both are in the National Honor Society,” she said.

Ami said Amari is a fourth generation Ironhead.

“My mother, Leona Peterson, taught for about 30 years in Eufaula schools,” she said. “My father John Peterson was also an Ironhead. I graduated from Eufaula in 2005.”

Goodbye to Gary Lee Nichols
A: Main, News...
Goodbye to Gary Lee Nichols
By SHAUNA BELYEU GENERAL MANAGER 
March 12, 2026
There are men who build businesses. And there are men who build communities. Gary Lee Nichols did both. For more than five decades, Gary wasn’t just the owner of grocery stores; he was a steady presen...
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Banning comments after tornado hits Beggs
March 12, 2026
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Chris Banning, RBixby, released the following statement after tornadoes hit northeast Oklahoma Friday night: “The severe weather that moved through Oklahoma this weekend resulted ...
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Communities built through faith and determination
A: Main, News...
Communities built through faith and determination
By STAFF WRITER 
March 12, 2026
On a cool Saturday morning, Feb. 28, in the closing days of Black History Month, the steeple of Mt. Olive Star Baptist Church in Checotah rose above a quiet gathering devoted to remembrance, faith and...
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5th Annual Green Run is March 14
March 12, 2026
The 5th Annual Green Run returns this Saturday at the Lake Eufaula Pavilion. This lively St. Patrick’s–themed event features a USATF-sanctioned 5K and a Fun Run, welcoming runners, walkers, families, ...
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Former OSBI investigator sentenced for multiple counts of sexual abuse of a minor
March 12, 2026
MUSKOGEE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jordan Francis Toyne, age 37, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 109 months in prison for ea...
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An All American 18th Annual Chili Cook-Off success
A: Main, News...
An All American 18th Annual Chili Cook-Off success
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER 
March 12, 2026
The 18th Annual Checotah Chili Cook-Off hosted by the Heartland Heritage Museum & Gallery was a culinary showdown of steaming hot chili along with American patriotism for fun-filled evening of food an...
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Deadline to change party affiliation approaches
March 12, 2026
Oklahomans who want to change their party affiliation must submit their change no later than March 31, McIntosh County Election Board Secretary Kim Limbaugh said today. Voters may change their party a...
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News
Checotah Livestock aids tornado victims
March 12, 2026
Checotah Livestock Market announced they will be helping aid recent tornado victims in Beggs. “Our community has always stepped up when neighbors are hurting,” a Checotah Livestock spokeman said. “In ...
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Oversight work and deadlines
commentary
Oversight work and deadlines
By REPRESENTATIVE NEIL HAYS (405) 557-7302 
March 12, 2026
This week has been especially active at the Capitol as oversight c ommit tees work through one of the most imp ortant stages of the legislative session. At this point in the process, all remaining Hou...
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The ‘prose’ and cons of paragraphs
commentary, Opinion...
The ‘prose’ and cons of paragraphs
March 12, 2026
I miss the days of true creative writing – you know, when you could write a real paragraph and your readers could keep up with the story. You didn’t have to throw in a bunch of pictures or short and s...
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News
C.A.R.D. Senior Nutrition menu
March 12, 2026
March 16 - March 20 611 N. Broadway, Checotah Please call 918-237-1118 for meal reservations by 12 p.m. the day before services. Monday, March 16: Cheeseburger w/ toppings; potato; veggie salad; cake;...
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