Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

For more news stories stay tuned to The MIX 105.1 or visit www.kxmx.com

Sallisaw Parade to Be Broadcast Live

The Sallisaw Christmas Parade, “Christmas Through the Decades,” will be broadcast live on MixTV Channel 19 and, for those who don't have DiamondNet, the Listen Now button on kxmx.com and also on our mobile app.

The parade will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 10, and the entry deadline is Dec. 7.

Because broadcasters must preview the entries before the parade, chamber officials are asking that entries be submitted sooner.

“Please don’t procrastinate,” said Judy Martens, the chamber executive director. “Get those entry forms in as soon as possible.”

For more information contact the chamber at 918-775-2558 or visit the chamber office at 301 E. Cherokee St.

Martens reminded everyone that all entries, from those on foot to those on floats, must fill out an entry from. 

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three parade entries in each of several categories. Parade line up is at 5:30 p.m. on Choctaw Street.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Storefront Decorating Contest Open to All Merchants

Sallisaw merchants are encouraged to enter the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce Christmas Storefront Decorating contest and compete for trophies.

Judy Martens, executive director of the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce, said, “You do not have to be a member of the chamber to enter the contest.”

Entry forms are available at the chamber office at 301 E. Cherokee. The deadline to enter, by returning the entry forms to the chamber, is Dec. 5. Judging will be Dec. 6 through 9.

Trophies will be awarded to the winners in three districts in the city.

For more information contact the chamber at 918-755-2558.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Candidates to File for City, School Board Elections

A Feb. 14 election will determine school board positions and two Sallisaw city offices. The filing period for both elections is Dec. 5 through 7.

In Sallisaw, two posts are up for election on Feb. 14 – the mayor and police chief, both of which are for three-year terms.

Candidates for the city posts and school boards in Sequoyah County school districts will file their Declarations of Candidacy beginning at 8 a.m. Dec. 5 and ending at 5 p.m. Dec. 7, Sequoyah County Election Board Secretary Cindy Osborn said.

Filing will be at the Sequoyah County Election Board office, 110 E. Creek Ave., Sallisaw.

If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the total votes cast in the election, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes will meet in a runoff election on April 4.

School board candidates may file for the following offices:

- C-50 Belfonte School District—Office No. 3 (3 years)

- I-46 Braggs School District—Office No. 2 (5 years)

- C-36 Brushy School District—Office No. 3 (3 years)

- I-7 Central School District—Office No. 2 (5 years)

- I-4 Gans School District—Office No. 2 (5 years)

- I-6 Gore School District—Office No. 2 (5 years)

- C-1 Liberty School District—Office No. 3 (3 years)

- C-35 Marble City School District—Office No. 2 (3 years)

- C-68 Moffett School District—Office No. 3 (3 years)

- I-3 Muldrow School District—Office No. 2 (5 years)

- I-5 Roland School District—Office No. 2 (5 years)

- I-1 Sallisaw School District—Office No. 2 (5 years)

- I-2 Vian School District—Office No. 2 (5 years)

- 4 Indian Capital Vo-Tech—Office No. 2 (5 years) 

For more information contact the Sequoyah County Election Board at (918) 775-2614.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Santa Stops Will Deliver Gifts, Not Tickets

Members of the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and Sallisaw Police Department bought 

359 toys, purchased with donations, to be given to children during Santa Stops

Santa may show up at your vehicle window wearing a different uniform during the week of Dec. 12.

He may be wearing a police uniform, and he will be at your window, with gifts in hand.

Sheriff Ron Lockhart said Santa Stops was the idea of an anonymous donor.

“A donor asked me to do it,” Lockhart said. “With the way things are with law enforcement right now, we thought this would be a good way to get the kids behind law enforcement officers.”

Sheriff’s deputies, Sallisaw police and Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers will be participating, and stopping vehicles that have children in them. The Santa Stops will be held throughout the county.

The donor and other money gifts have provided 359 toys to be given away, Lockhart said.

He explained Santa Stops will also honor the late Muldrow resident George Ed “Tooter” Sanders, 67, a volunteer for the sheriff’s department, who died Sept. 13. His family requested that, in lieu of flowers for the funeral, donations be made to the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office Children’s Toy Fund.

“I knew him for 50 years,” Lockhart said. “He ran for sheriff back in 1988. He was very interested in law enforcement, and helped us on stake outs and everything. I traveled many miles with him.”

Lockhart said this is the first year for Santa Stops. In the past two years deputies delivered toys to schools to be given to children who might need a little something extra. The Sallisaw Police Department also does Shop with a Cop. In that program, police officers take children Christmas shopping not only for themselves, but for family members too.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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OHP Forced to Implement Cutbacks

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced Tuesday that additional cost-saving measures will have to be implemented to make up for a budget shortfall for FY17.

Effective Dec. 1 troopers will have a daily 100-mile restriction on OHP patrol cars. OHP aircraft flying hours will be reduced and some dispatch operations will be altered between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. 

This round of cost-saving reductions are in addition to previously announced measures for FY17 that include not hiring any state troopers in 2017, no expansion of the 800 MHZ radio system, not filling vital positions such as driver licenses examiners, and the loss of 32 critical employees to the VOBO offer earlier in 2016. 

DPS Commissioner Michael C. Thompson stated, “I am asking for the patience and understanding of the public. These cuts are difficult but necessary in order for DPS to make it through FY2017. I am very optimistic that the upcoming legislative session will address the budget needs of public safety, a core function of government, to allow DPS and the OHP to meet the needs of the people of Oklahoma. It is imperative that we fix this.”

The OHP currently has 805 troopers assigned statewide, responsible for patrolling nearly 112,000 miles of roadway, serving a population of nearly 4 million people and a myriad of other responsibilities that includes but not limited to Bomb Squad operations, CMV enforcement, Marine Enforcement and protecting the Oklahoma State Capitol. The 4 million population does not include people who travel through the state of Oklahoma or visit, legally or otherwise.

OHP Chief Ricky G. Adams added, “The public is going to have to understand it will take a trooper longer to get to them when they call if it isn’t an emergency. I hope this budget situation can be resolved quickly because troopers play such a critical role in protecting the public. It shouldn’t take a national event like the Michael Vance manhunt to remind everyone how important troopers are to the safety of Oklahoma. I hate to think what may have happened if troopers were not there when Vance decided to violently confront the police with an assault rifle.” 

Thompson concluded, “Troopers risk their lives every single day for the people of Oklahoma. There is no doubt that DPS and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are a core function of state government. I will do a better job of conveying that message in the upcoming legislative session.”

Earlier this year the DPS announced an additional $12 million was needed to fund the agency and its services through the end of the fiscal year.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Burn Ban Lifted

The burn ban, called for by Sequoyah County Commissioners on Nov. 21 due to the lack of rain, was lifted by the commissioners on Monday.

The commissioners allowed the ban to expire due to heavy rain which hit most of the county Sunday evening and Monday morning. 

Steve Rutherford, Sequoyah County Emergency Management director, said the commissioners will review the situation at their meeting next Monday to determine if dry conditions are continuing and the burn ban should be reinstated.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Christmas Events Scheduled

The Christmas holidays have arrived, along with many activities to celebrate. Following is a list of activities open to the public.

-Dec. 1: Vian Christmas Parade of Lights, with the theme “Star Spangled Christmas,” will kick off at 6 p.m. Santa Claus will visit with children at the city park and give away goodie bags after the parade. The event is sponsored by the Vian Lions Club, which will award cash prizes to floats. First place gets $100, honorable mention gets $50, and category winners get $50. Entry forms are available at Armstrong Bank in Vian, the Vian Tenkiller News office and T.S. Phillips Investments Inc., next to Subway. Return the completed form to the same businesses or mail to Joe Haraway, P.O. Box 260, Vian, Okla. 74962.

-Dec. 1: Christmas tree lighting at Roland Park at 7 p.m., with a tree decorating contest for Roland businesses, and live music. Contest is limited to 15 entries. Voters cast ballots by donating food items for the Roland Christmas baskets. Winner will receive a traveling trophy and $100 in free newspaper advertising. To enter contact Roland Chamber of Commerce members Dave Richards at Firstar Bank or Stacy LaShay Day at National Bank.

-Dec. 2: Marble City's Little Miss and Little Mister Marble City contests will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the town hall. Sign up is at 6 p.m. The contest is for two age groups--pre-kindergarten and kindergarten and first through eighth grade. Winners will receive Christmas stockings and gift certificates, and will ride in the town Christmas Parade on Dec. 10 as parade marshals. In the contest, children will be asked questions about Christmas. For information call the town hall at 918-775-3002 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday.

-Dec. 3: “Candy Canes and Christmas Carols” is the theme of the Roland Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Roland Chamber of Commerce. The parade begins at noon.

-Dec. 3: The Muldrow Christmas parade starts at 5:30 p.m. at the east end of town and will proceed to the Muldrow City Park entrance.

-Dec. 10: “Christmas on the River” is the theme of the Webbers Falls Christmas Parade. Lineup is at 9 a.m. at 23 Commercial St., in front of SRS Inc.

-Dec. 10: The Gore Christmas Parade has the theme “An Oklahoma Christmas” this year. The parade begins at 11 a.m. and trophies will be awarded in various categories. Santa Claus will visit with children following the parade.

-Dec. 10: The Marble City Christmas Parade begins at 2 p.m. Lineup is in front of the Marble City Community Organization Building.

-Dec. 10 – Shop Sallisaw Giveaway cash prizes, from $500 to $1,000, will be awarded at noon at Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library in downtown Sallisaw. Winners must be present and have their tickets in hand. For more information contact the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce office at 918-775-2558.

-Dec. 10: Sallisaw Christmas Parade lineup is at 5:30 p.m. on Choctaw Street and the parade begins at 6 p.m. “Christmas Through the Decades” is the theme of this year’s parade, sponsored by the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three parade entries in each category. Call the chamber at 918-775-2558 for more information. Entry forms may be picked up at the chamber beginning Nov. 21.

-Dec. 17: Festival of the Christmas Trees by the Muldrow to Mayberry organization. The festival will be held at the Muldrow Park beginning at 6 p.m. and features a Christmas tree decorating contest, a free showing of the movie “A Christmas Story,” caroling, carriage rides, family activities, etc. For more information contact Cathy Followell at 479-461-0896.

-Jan. 1: Free guided hike at Greenleaf State Park. Those planning to participate will meet at 1:30 p.m. for a 1.25 mile hike along a paved Family Fun Trail. Bring binoculars, cameras, and water and dress appropriate for cool weather. One leashed pet per family is allowed. Hot chocolate will be served at the conclusion of the hike. The event is in conjunction with the America's State Parks First Day Hikes initiative that will take place in all 50 states. First Day Hikes offer individuals and families an opportunity to begin the New Year rejuvenating and connecting with the outdoors by taking a healthy hike on the first day of the new year.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Sallisaw Schools Launches New, Easy-to-Use Website

Sallisaw Public Schools has a remodeled website.

School Superintendent Scott Farmer said Eric Sizemore, and his brother Christian, have been working on the remodeled site for a long time. The website has been up and running for about a week and a half.

“It’s a nice, clean, easy to navigate website,” Farmer said. “And we have no third-party vendor fee, so it saves a little bit of money.”

Farmer said, “The major thing on the website is the calendar. You can go to the site and merge your calendar with ours. You stay in touch with our activities in real time.”

The site will also be an access portal to students’ grades and attendance, the superintendent added. Parents with passwords can keep up with their students.

“We’ve been working on the site in the background for a long time,” Farmer sad. “And we are always up for feedback. Anyone with a constructive critique can reach out to us with their ideas and we’ll try to do it.”

The website lists almost all there is to know about Sallisaw Schools, including the names of administrators, schools, and their phone numbers, teachers and their email addresses, school lunches, bus routes, bell schedules, school board members with their meetings and agendas, information about adult education, accreditations, and photos of students as they go about their school day, along with the calendar of events and portals.

The website address is www.sallisawps.org.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Public Invited to Thanksgiving Dinners

Two Thanksgiving dinners will be served, free of charge, on Thursday.

The Brushy Cherokee Community Association will serve the meal from noon until 2 p.m. at the Brushy Community Building.

Bubba’s Dairy Bar in Vian will serve a free Thanksgiving dinner from noon until the food is gone on Thursday. The meal will include turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, rolls and tea. Anyone who wishes to contribute to the meal may donate a dessert. For more information contact the owner, Linda Casteel, at 918-773-3020.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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I40 Challenge Seeks Safety for Travelers

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Chief Ricky Adams has announced that OHP will take part in the fourth annual "Interstate 40 Challenge Drive to Zero Fatalities" traffic safety initiative scheduled for the Thanksgiving holiday period.

The Interstate 40 Challenge will consist of increased patrols along the I-40 corridor that stretches through all of Sequoyah County and Oklahoma, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, and North Carolina. The challenge will take place on the busiest travel days of the Thanksgiving period: Wednesday, Nov. 23 and Sunday, Nov. 27.

"We ask Oklahomans to play their part in protecting our roadways,” Adams said. “Drivers should be alert, focused, belted and sober. Let’s focus on what’s most important – keeping our roadways safe during this holiday season.

Troopers will focus on drivers who are in violation of state laws, including those related to speeding, impaired driving, occupant protection and texting.

Troopers will be assigned every 20 miles of I-40 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 23, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 27. There will also be an increased presence on other highways throughout Oklahoma during the holiday.

I-40 runs 2,555 miles through eight states, with 331 miles in Oklahoma.

During the 102-hour 2015 Thanksgiving holiday period in Oklahoma, 10 people died and 272 were injured in crashes on Oklahoma roadways. Four of the deaths occurred in alcohol- or drug-related crashes.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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ODOT Awards Contract for Indian Road

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has awarded a $78,033.36 contract to grade, drain and resurface a portion of Indian Road.

Glover & Associates Inc. of Muskogee was awarded the contract for the work, which is expected to take about 45 days.

That portion of the road to be rehabilitated is 0.2270 miles long, and runs from 1.1 miles northeast of the State Highway 10A junction east to near Tenkiller State Park. 

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Concert Will Feature Sallisaw Talent

The “It’s Christmas” program will be performed by the Carl Albert State College New Horizon Show Choir at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 and again at 4 p.m. on Dec. 4. Both presentations will be at the Hamilton Auditorium on the Poteau campus, and will feature talent from the First Baptist Church and others from Sallisaw. 

CASC Choir Director Dana Dinsmore Davis, originally of Sallisaw, said, “We are so excited about this opportunity. In my 20-year tenure at CASC, this is the first opportunity we have to do an extended Christmas concert.

“This is going to be so unique because we will have a wide variety of entertainment within one show,” Davis said. “The first part of the show will be secular selections, with the second half more of a sacred theme. In addition to singing, there will be a hand bell choir from First Baptist Church in Sallisaw directed by Bill Aydelott (Davis’ father from Sallisaw), a former adjunct instructor at the Sallisaw campus. A Readers Theatre will be a presentation of the Sallisaw campus and directed by Bill Day, an adjunct instructor at Sallisaw. Guests performers will include community members, previous Show Choir members, and some CASC faculty and staff.”

Prior to the show starting, Santa will be available for photos in the hallway of the auditorium. Admission will be a donation of canned goods with the donations going to Kibois. The food donation covers both the program and Santa photos. 

In conclusion, Dinsmore Davis stated, “Our hope is this will be our Christmas gift to our students, CASC employees, our alumni, and the community. Let’s gather for a few moments of peace and appreciation for the blessings of Christmas.”

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Wardens Seek Eagle Shooter

Oklahoma game wardens are searching for the person who shot and killed a mature bald eagle in the Paw Paw Bottoms, about a mile and a half south of U.S. Highway 64.

Jeremy Bersche, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) game warden, said the dead eagle was found early Monday, and was shot in the head. From the condition of the carcass, it was determined the eagle was probably shot on Sunday.

“It was probably sitting in the field eating a mouse, and someone with a high-powered deer rifle drove by, saw it and shot it,” Bersche said.

Bersche said the shooter, if found and convicted, faces thousands of dollars in fines since bald eagles are protected by both state and federal statutes.

Bersche said the case has been posted on the Game Wardens’ Facebook page, and Operation Game Thief is offering a $500 reward for information leading to a conviction. Anonymous tips with the potential for the cash reward can be left at 1-800-522-8039.

Anyone with information may also contact him at 918-431-2550 or Game Warden Jerry Henry at 918-431-2544.

Bersche said about the shooting, “This is our national symbol and it hits a little closer to home.”

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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CASA Seeking Volunteers

The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program is seeking volunteers.

CASA will host two information sessions for persons interested in obtaining information about CASA or learning what steps are necessary to become a CASA volunteer and act as an advocate for an abused or neglected child.

A session will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Nov. 29 at the CASA for Children office a 12 E. Chickasaw in Sallisaw.

Another session will be held at noon, with lunch provided, on Dec. 1 at El Celaya at 100 W. Ray Fine Blvd. in Roland.

The public is invited to join the CASA staff and volunteers and others who are interested in making a difference in the life of a child. Meals will be provided.

CASA volunteers are urgently needed to advocate for abused and neglected children in Sequoyah County. CASA volunteers come from all walks of life and speak up for a child’s best interest in court. These ordinary community members are doing extraordinary things for our most vulnerable children.

Volunteers get to know the children on their case and through their court appointment gather information from everyone involved in the child’s daily life, including family members, foster parents, teachers, daycare providers, doctors, lawyers, social workers, and other relevant persons. The information gathered is used by volunteers to report to the judge, advocating for the child’s needs while in the foster care system. The single purpose of volunteers is to protect and guide the child through the court system in order to help them find a safe, nurturing and permanent home.

CASA for Children is a non-profit organization.  The only prerequisite to volunteer is that individuals be 21 years of age.  Volunteers are from all cultures, professions, ethnic and educational backgrounds.   For more information about CASA or to request an application, call 918 686-8199 or email jenny@casaok.org. A child is waiting for your help!

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Natalie Cepeda Crowned Miss CASC 2017

Pictured left to right are Branscum, Oberste, Cepeda, and Jackson.

Natalie Cepeda of Wister was crowned Miss CASC 2017 on Thursday evening at the annual Carl Albert State College (CASC) pageant. 

Contestants finishing in other top categories include First Runner Up Makayla Jackson from Muldrow, Second Runner Up Bailey Oberste from Sallisaw, and Third Runner Up Jillian Branscum from Poteau.

The Crowd Pleaser award went to Sunnie McConnell from Poteau. The Miss Congeniality award and the talent award were won by Bailey Oberste, and the newly crowned Miss CASC Natalie Cepeda won the swimsuit competition.

As the new Miss CASC, Cepeda will represent Carl Albert at the Miss Oklahoma Pageant in June, 2017. She will receive a $1,000 cash award for the state competition wardrobe and travel, plus a 16-hour tuition waiver at CASC.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Contract Awarded for Bridge Painting

A contract was awarded for bridge painting in Sequoyah County, State Sen. Mark Allen (R-Spiro) and Rep. John Bennett (R-Sallisaw) recently announced.

According to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the project will involve bridge painting on U.S. Highway 64 over Negro Creek about five miles east of the State Highway 82 junction. The painting will also take place over General O’Flow about three and a half miles and six miles east of the I-40 junction.

Allen said the State Transportation Commission awarded the nearly $326,000 contract to Poseidon Construction Inc. The Clearwater company was the lowest of 13 bidders for the job, said Bennett.

Once construction begins, the project is estimated to be completed within three months.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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