Moffett Officials, Residents Prepare for Flood

Moffett officials are preparing for the worst--a flooded Arkansas River--and are getting ready to fill some sandbags to protect homes.

Moffett Police Chief Riley Brooks said Tuesday afternoon that District 1 County Commissioner Ray Watts was sending sand to the residents to fill sandbags to protect their homes. Brooks said not all Moffett residents agreed to a voluntary evacuation on Sunday, and many remain. So they are preparing.

"We have the fire department on standby," Brooks said from the Moffett Police Station. "They are here right not." Brooks said the Oklahoma Highway Patrol was also standing by. He said the town has  built up an evacuation route, which is near the viaduct. As of about 3 p.m. Tuesday, the town was surrounded by flood water, but flood waters had not entered homes yet. 

"We are keeping an eye on the river. It's all around from the east to the west. Roberts Pull Apart (auto salvage) is gone. It is under water. We are so flooded the river is up to the on ramp. The road is completely impassable. The old highway is under water. We are keeping in touch with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers," Brooks reported. He added that the flood waters have not yet entered Moffett streets, any homes, or the school. Flood waters are surrounding the school's football field and have begun to enter the football field parking lot, he said. Several teachers and school personnel have worked to raise items as high as possible in the school building in case of flood including Moffett teacher, Paula Teehee (seen above).

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the Arkansas River at Van Buren is at 33 feet, which is above flood stage of 22 feet, and rising. Brooks said that at water level 36 feet, the flood will begin to enter peoples' homes. A declaration to force evacuation must be issued by Moffett Mayor Kathy Looper, Brooks explained. She had not done that yet. 

Moffett also suffered from severe flooding in 1943, 1957, 1986, and 1990.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Assessor's Office Closed by Flooding, Commissioners Work on Roads

Sequoyah County Assessor Donna Graham had to close her office indefinitely Tuesday, due to flooding which even sandbags (above) could not hold back, and county commissioners were busy repairing washed-out roads again after another downpour drenched the county Monday evening.

The county commissioners reported roads that could be repaired were being worked on Tuesday, while several other county roads remain closed.

District 1 Commissioner Ray Watts said he closed the old highway into Moffett, which was voluntarily evacuated over the weekend, due to the rising level of the Arkansas River. Also closed are Wilson Rock Road and the road to Mayo Lock and Dam 13, both south of Muldrow and also due to the Arkansas River flooding. The river was expected to crest at just over 33 feet on Tuesday at Van Buren. County Road E 1100 is still shut down after it washed out earlier this month.

District 2 Commissioner Steve Carter said he has one major road closed, Indian Road between Gum Springs and Tahlequah. That road also washed out earlier this month. Carter said a portion of the road about 50 feet wide and 110 feet long is gone. "It goes straight down," Carter said, adding, "and I don't know where we are going to get the money to fix it."

District 3 Commissioner Jim Rogers said several of his county roads washed out again Monday evening, but were being repaired on Tuesday. He said Keck Ford Road, also known as the Old Radio Station Road, remains closed after washing out earlier this month. "This is the third time S 4660 Road (off State Highway 141) has washed out," Rogers said.

Graham said her office has flooded four times in the past week, and it is believed the flooding may be caused by not only the heavy rain but also the recently paved parking lot at the county courthouse. Graham said those working to repair the problem have said a French drain may have to be added to the parking lot to direct runoff waters away from her office.

Graham said no records have been damaged, to her knowledge, and all records have digital backup. But Graham said she fears letting her employees work in the office under the conditions. She fears mold and other aspects of the flood could have an unhealthy effect. Workers were removing the drenched carpet and soaked walls on Tuesday, and water was still standing on the bare floors.

Graham said she hopes to be closed only a couple of days, but isn't sure when the office can reopen. More rain is predicted during the coming week, and she fears more flooding. Additional concrete may be laid at the back of her office where the flood water enters, but concrete can't be laid in the rain, she noted. 

Graham added that people are being nice about her having to close the office. She stated that this is the quiet time of the work year for the assessor. She explained that the courthouse is under the jurisdiction of the county commissioners, and the county will have to pay for repairs. The county will also have to look at repairing leaks at the county jail, Rogers added.

Steve Rutherford, Sequoyah County Emergency Management director, was out with state officials Tuesday reviewing the damage to county roads and structures so the county may apply for state and possibly federal aid. An early estimate suggested damages to county properties only were well over $350,000.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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ODOT Reports on Closed Roads

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) reports the following area road closures due to heavy and on-going rain storms.

ODOT advises do not drive into high water, turn around if possible. Drivers are cautioned to heed warning signs and to not drive around barricades. 

Sequoyah County

SH-141 a quarter mile west of Gans

Cherokee County

SH-80 is closed four miles west of Hulbert between SH-51 and US-62

Leflore County

US-270 is closed between Wister and Heavener and US-271 at Wister. Signs are in place and traffic will be detoured to Poteau and Heavener.

SH-1 is closed two miles north of US-271 east to US-259

Choctaw County

SH-70 is closed at the Muddy Boggy River between Soper and Boswell

SH-109 is closed at the Muddy Boggy River west of the US-271/SH-109 junction

Cotton County

SH-5B at West Cache Creek

Grant County

SH-11 is closed between US-81 in Medford to SH-132

Jefferson County

SH-32 is closed near Ryan, detour using US-81 or SH-89 to US-70

Johnston County

US-377/SH-99 is closed to through traffic just south of Tishomingo. Traffic is detoured on SH-1/SH-22 through Ravia and US-177/SH-199

SH-48A is narrowed to one lane east of Filmore

SH-22 east and south of Tishomingo about 1.5 miles is narrowed to one lane

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Gore Man Charged with Second-degree Murder

John Neuman, 53, of Gore was formally charged Thursday in Sequoyah County District Court, Sallisaw, with second-degree murder for the death of his 50-year-old wife, Tonya Neuman. As of Friday, Neuman had not entered a plea to the charge. At about midnight May 9, Sequoyah County deputies were called to a residence north of Gore for an unresponsive female. Initial reports indicated the victim died of blunt force trauma. The medical examiner’s office and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation were called in to assist the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Department and Gore Police Department. On May 10 a search warrant was served at the residence, in order to collect additional evidence, Sheriff Ron Lockhart said, and John Neuman was arrested in connection with his wife’s death.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Muldrow Man Sentenced in U.S. District Court

The  U.S. Attorney's Office in Muskogee announced Thursday that Terry Wayne Hyatt, 34, of Muldrow was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charge resulted from an investigation by the Muldrow Police Department. The defendant was indicted in November and pled guilty in December.

The Indictment alleged that on or about February 13, 2014, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, did knowingly possess a firearm. which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce.

U.S. District Judge Ronald A. White presided over the hearing. The defendant will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending transportation to the designated federal prison at which he will serve his nonparolable sentence.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Boil Advisory in Affect for Central, Hanson and Gans

Due to recent storm damage to their water system and the potential for contamination as a result of this situation, the drinking water supplied by Sequoyah County Rural Water District #3 may be unsafe for human consumption. As a precaution, it is advised that the consumers of Sequoyah County Rural Water District #3 water system bring their water to a full rolling boil for one minute before consumption or use for food preparation. In addition to this notice, they are asking that consumers voluntarily conserve water. Affected customers reside in the Central, Hanson and Gans communities within Sequoyah County.

This advisory will remain in effect until further notice. Questions concerning this situation should be addressed to Michael Shupert at (918) 775-1903.

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Kindergarten Teacher Retires after 41 Years

On Friday, Sallisaw students spent their last day in class before the summer break. One teacher will have only one more day at school, after 41 years of teaching kindergarten at Liberty Elementary School.

Perrie Beth Weedon, Sallisaw kindergarten teacher since 1974, is retiring. Her very last day will be Tuesday when she must clear out her classroom. She was honored by her peers at a retirement reception May 4. Knowing Weedon’s preference for Oklahoma State University (OSU), the OSU mascot Pistol Pete was invited, and attended (above), the party. “It was GREAT fun,” Weedon exclaimed.

Weedon, the daughter of Roberta Farmer and the late James “Cherry” Farmer, graduated from Sallisaw High School in 1970. She went on to OSU then transferred to Northeastern State University in Tahlequah when she got her bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Later she obtained her master’s degree in early childhood education and was in the first master’s class to obtain that degree.

In 1974 she began with Sallisaw Schools as a kindergarten teacher, and has stayed that course for 41 years.

“Education was important to all my family,” Weedon said. Her mother, Roberta, is the retired media specialist for Eastside School. Both Weedon’s sisters obtained teaching degrees; one taught music and the other used her degree working for the Department of Human Services.

Weedon said, “I’ve been around,” since the kindergarten class has moved several times over the past 41 years, and is now on the Liberty-Eastside Campus, and her classes have changed over the years too. Weedon recalled for her first 29 years as a kindergarten teacher, the tiny students only went to school for half a day. Weedon recalled her largest morning class included 33 students, and at one time, she had a total of 52 students in her morning and afternoon classes. When asked how to deal with that many youngsters, Weedon said, “You just do the best with what you’ve got.” She also admitted, “You’ve got challenges.”

Now days, the kindergarten students attend school for a whole day, and, ironically, this year Weedon’s class has only 19 students. “This is the first time in years that I’ve had less than 20 students,” Weedon said.

Teaching methods and student preparation have changed over the years, Weedon said. She has noticed that the most. “What the students are exposed to now is different,” she said “The children have to know more now. But not all children come to school prepared. More is expected of them now. Every child is different in their way of learning. And teaching methods swing back and forth.” But teaching methods pretty much remain the same. And successful teaching leads to awards. Weedon was named Sallisaw Schools Teacher of the Year in 2005. “That was neat,” Weedon recalled.

No particular students stand out in memory, Weedon said. They all do. It is estimated that Weedon’s total number of kindergarten students may be over 1,000, but no one’s kept count. You don’t stop caring about them after they have moved on, Weedon said.

“It’s exciting to hear about former students,” she said. “It’s fun to see them after they’ve grown up. They may not be professionals, but they may be great parents, and good citizens. Some of our teachers now are students I taught.”

Weedon reminisced, “The first all-day students I taught will graduate in 2016.” Weedon will probably attend their graduation.

She will be busy in the meantime. Weedon said she is excited about her retirement. “I am excited, but I’m not real sad yet,” she said.

She plans to spend time with her mother and her four grandchildren, ages 12, 9, 8 and 5. “They are all fun!,” she said. And she plans to spend some time on her hobbies. Her favorite is sewing. She doesn’t have a bucket list, but does have a retirement goal in mind. “I want to travel all of Route 66 in Oklahoma,” she said. “I want to start in the northeast and go all the way across the state on Route 66.”

The most important segment of retirement, Weedon said, is family. “I am gonna relax, and spend time with my family. Family is real important to me.”

More than likely, about 1,000 former Sallisaw kindergarten students believe Weedon is an important part of their education family.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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