Bond Hearing is Friday for Accused Gore Man

A bond hearing is scheduled Friday for a Gore man accused of killing his wife. John Neuman, 52, is being held in the Sequoyah County Detention Center in Sallisaw on no bond. Associate District Judge Kyle Waters will hear Neuman's attorney, Frank Sullivan III, argue for a bond at 9 a.m. Friday in Sequoyah County District Court, Sallisaw.

Neuman was charged with second degree murder on May 21, after authorities found his wife, Tanya, 50, dead on May 9 in the bathroom of the couple's home in rural Gore. The second-degree murder charge alleges that Neuman caused the death of Tanya Neuman by "beating and causing physical injury...which led to her death and this conduct was not done with any intention to take (her) life..."

In the report of the investigation filed with the charge, investigators report Neuman told them his wife may have died from alcohol poisoning and she had been drinking during the evening of May 9. But medical examiners found bruising on Tanya's body, and an autopsy revealed Tanya had several broken ribs and a severed liver. A doctor told investigators the woman's liver looked like "hamburger," and that there was one and three-tenths liters of blood in Tanya's abdominal cavity. The medical examiner's office reported the injuries were caused by blunt force trauma, such as kicking or stomping.

When brought to the county sheriff's office for an interview by investigators, Neuman said he did not want to make a statement. Investigators found that three children were at the home at the time of Tanya's death, and all three were interviewed. Two children, ages 12 and 6, were the Neumans, and one, age 12, was a visitor. The children told investigators that they were sent to the bedroom on the evening of Tanya's death, and that they heard screaming and thumps. A neighbor, interviewed by investigators, said Tanya would visit sometimes and told her that her husband hit her. The neighbor said she had seen bruises on Tanya's arms and Tanya said her husband got mad because she didn't have dinner ready on time.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Sequoyah County FEMA Assessment Complete

A June 4 amendment  to the major disaster declaration for Oklahoma following the recent severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding now includes Public Assistance (PA) funding for 16 Oklahoma counties.

The amendment added Atoka, Bryan, Cleveland, Cotton, Grady, Haskell, Hughes, Johnston, Latimer, McClain, Okfuskee, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Seminole, Stephens and Tillman counties to the declaration, making them eligible for funding to help repair or rebuild public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water systems and utilities and public buildings such as schools, as well as emergency work such as debris removal and emergency protective measures.

Steve Rutherford, Sequoyah County Emergency Management Director, said Friday that Sequyah County will most likely be added to the list next week. He said FEMA completed an assessment of damages to the county on Thursday.

"The governor (Mary Fallin) has already designated the county as a disaster area. Now we are waiting on President Obama to sign the order," Rutherford said, adding Sequoyah County received at least $350,000 or more in damages to county roads and infrastructures. A Public Assistance designation will provide federal money for repairs to the following.

*  Local governments and special districts;

*  Private nonprofit organizations or institutions that own or operate facilities that are open to the           general public;

*  Federally recognized tribes; and

*  State government agencies. 

An Individual Assistance designation provides assistance to individuals who suffered from the disaster. The declaration also includes 13 counties--Atoka, Bryan, Comanche, Cleveland, Grady, Johnston, Kiowa, LeFlore, McClain, Oklahoma, Pittsburg and Pottowatomie--for individual assistance, or assistance to help survivors get back on their feet after the severe weather. 

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Farmer Named District Super of the Year

Scott Farmer, Sallisaw Schools superintendent, has been named the 2015 District #11 Superintendent of the Year by the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators (OASA).

Farmer is one of 20 school superintendents selected by his peers for this award from across the state.

Frank Sullivan III, member of the Sallisaw School Board, said, "Sallisaw is extremely fortunate to have the entire Farmer family as part of our school district. Scott is a gentleman and a professional, and an altogether fantastic leader. I could give you an entire page of positive comments about Scott, and they would all be true."

Farmer along with the District Assistant Superintendent/Central Office Administrator finalists will be honored by colleagues at the OASA awards banquet on Wednesday on the eve of the annual Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration (CCOSA) Summer Conference. The conference will be held June 11 and 12 at the Embassy Suites and Hotel and Convention Center in Norman.

Steven Crawford, OASA Executive Director, said, "We congratulate Superintendent Farmer for being selected by his colleagues for his leadership, service, and accomplishments in education. These administrators are chosen for their significant accomplishments in education, involvement in professional activities, and active role in their communities."

Farmer has served as Sallisaw's superintendent since 2011. He began working for the district in 2003 as a math teacher, and went on to become the assistant principal and athletics director at Sallisaw High School, and later the district's Federal Programs Director.

As superintendent, Farmer has facilitated the passage and completion of a $15.8 million capital project, and restructured the district transportation to create a cost savings. His district has also added 15 minutes of instruction time to the school day.

Upon learning of this award, Farmer said, "It is a very humbling honor to be selected by peers for this recognition. I am proud to be a small part of this noble profession and very fortunate to work with such a great group of professionals within our school district and across our great state."

In his spare time Farmer enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.

The Oklahoma Association of School Administrators is under the umbrella of the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration. CCOSA is an incorporated, non-profit organization serving over 2800 superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals, special education directors and central office administrators.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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West Nile Virus Confirmed in Oklahoma

The first cases of West Nile virus (WNV) in Oklahoma have been confirmed in Okfuskee and McIntosh counties. The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) encourages residents to take precautions to reduce the risk of contracting WNV, a mosquito-borne illness. WNV is spread through the bite of the Culex mosquito, which feeds on infected birds and transmits the virus when biting humans, horses, and some other mammals. This type of mosquito increases during mid to late summer when the temperatures climb and the weather pattern is drier.

Floodwater mosquito populations created by recent rain in Oklahoma do not increase the risk of WNV. The type of mosquitoes that hatch after severe flooding are primarily the species of mosquitoes classified as "nuisance mosquitoes." They bite aggressively and cause lots of itchy bites, but they are not typically involved with transmission of diseases.

Floodwater mosquito populations tend to die out three weeks after the rains stop and the sun dries out affected low lying areas.

Summertime typically marks the beginning of the WNV season in Oklahoma, with outdoor activities providing opportunities for encountering infected mosquitoes. Although the severity of this year's WNV season cannot be predicted, it is important to know the highest risk months in Oklahoma for WNV exposure occur from July through October. Since WNV was introduced into Oklahoma, there have been 3 outbreak years - 2003, 2007 and 2012. All three of these seasons were characterized by higher than normal summer temperatures and drought. 

Symptoms of WNV include sudden onset of fever, headache, dizziness, and muscle weakness. Long-lasting complications can include difficulty concentrating, migraine headaches, extreme muscle weakness and tremors, and paralysis of a limb. If one of more of these symptoms develop, especially after suffering mosquito bites within the previous two weeks, a health care provider should be contacted. Persons over the age of 50 are at greatest risk of developing severe neurologic disease from WNV. Some of the neurological effects of WNV may be permanent.

Among the precautions to take against mosquito bites are the following:

Use an insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin and clothing when you go outdoors, particularly if you are outside between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are more likely to bite. Insect repellent with permethrin should be used on clothing only.

Repair or install window and door screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home.

Prevent items such as buckets, cans, pool covers, flower pots, and tires from holding standing water so mosquitoes don't have a place to breed.

Empty your pet's outdoor water bowl and refill daily.

Clean leaves and debris from rain gutters regularly to ensure they are not clogged.

For more information, visit the Oklahoma State Department of Health home page at www.ok.gov/health.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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County Unemployment Remains Steady

Sequoyah County's unemployment remained steady from March to April, the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) reported this week. The county's unemployment rate remained at a low 5.8 percent, down almost a full percentage point - 6.6 percent - from April 2014.

The OESC reported unemployment increased in 59 of the state's 77 counties in April.

Sequoyah County has a total labor force of 17,000 with 16,011 working and 989 unemployed.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Gore Woman Enters Plea in U.S. Court

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Muskogee announced Thursday that Tammy Jean McDaniels, 56, of Gore pleaded guilty to wire fraud. The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muskogee Police Department.

The information alleged that from about Oct. 1, 2012, to Dec. 19, 2014, McDaniels, the former director of Human Resources at Bacone College in Muskogee, devised a scheme to defraud Bacone College, and to obtain money and property by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises. The scheme involved McDaniels fraudulently reactivating former employees and contractors on the payroll records and causing false payments to be made to her bank accounts. As a result, Bacone College sustained a loss of about $146,000.

U.S. Judge Kimberly E. West, of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the defendant's plea, and ordered the completion of a presentence report. Sentencing will be scheduled upon completion of that report. The defendant was released on bond pending sentencing. The range of punishment is up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000 or both. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Wilson represented the United States.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Scholars Visit Oklahoma City

A group of Carl Albert State College scholar students ended the semester with a trip to Oklahoma City. Students with high GPAs and abundant community service hours were invited to participate in the trip. 

While there, the group met with State Senator Mark Allen (R-Spiro). They also attended an Oklahoma City Dodgers game and went  to the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum.

Pictured with Senator Allen are Blakely Palafox of Muldrow, Kayla Armer of Muldrow, Kamber Vasquez of Heavener, Candice Yochum of Wister, Stephen Wemmerus of Wister, Hannah Franklin of Stigler, and Hannah Beamus of Howe. Also on the trip were CASC Scholars Program advisors Jay Falkner and Jennifer Humphreys.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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