Police Search for Missing Teens

A brother and sister from the Poteau area are missing and being sought by Poteau police.

Celeste Bennett, 16, and Christopher Bennett, 15, were last seen Friday. They were reported to have been in their front yard, watching fireworks following a football game.

Celeste Bennett is described at 4 feet, 11 inches tall, and weighing 107 pounds. She has dirty blonde hair and green eyes.

Christopher Bennett is described as 5 feet, 2 inches tall and weighing 98 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes. He has a neon green leg cast that rose to mid-thigh.

Poteau Police Chief Stephen Fruen said, “We don’t have anything at the moment to be suspicious. The detective are leaning toward runaways, but they are following up with friends and family.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Adams at the Poteau Police Department at 918-647-8620.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Youth Suicide Numbers Increasing

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is hoping to raise awareness and support for Youth Suicide Prevention during National Suicide Prevention Month in September.

The OSDH reports youth suicide numbers continue to rise in Oklahoma. Between 2005 and 2014, youth suicide deaths from 10 to 24 years of age have increased by 31 percent, with an average of 85 youth dying each year by suicide. In 2014, suicide was the second leading cause of death among Oklahomans 10 to 34 years of age. According to a report released by the OSDH, more than 450 youth ages 10 to 24 died as a result of suicide from 2010 to 2014.

The suicide rate among Oklahoma youth was 41 percent higher than the U.S. rate; both the U.S. and Oklahoma youth suicide rates have been on the increase since 2007. Mental health problems along with depressed mood and intimate partner problems were found to be the leading circumstances associated with youth suicides.

Warning signs a person may be considering suicide: 

Talks about suicide 

Has trouble eating or sleeping 

Drastic changes in behavior 

Withdraws from friends and social activities 

Loses interest in hobbies, work, school, etc. 

Makes out a will and final arrangements 

Gives away prized possessions 

Has attempted suicide in the past 

Takes unnecessary risks 

Has had recent severe losses 

Is preoccupied with death and dying 

Loses interest in their personal appearance 

Increases the use of alcohol or drugs 

What to do: 

Be direct. Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide. 

Be willing to listen, allow expressions of feelings and accept the feelings. 

Be non-judgmental and don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong. 

Get involved, become available and show interest and support. 

Get support and don’t be sworn to secrecy. 

Offer hope that alternatives are available. 

Remove lethal means such as guns or stockpiled pills. 

Get help from persons or agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention. 

To access the report on youth suicides and other statistics, visit the Oklahoma Violent Death Reporting System web page http://okvdrs.health.ok.gov. 

For more information on suicide prevention, visit the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services prevention website or the National Suicide Prevention Resource Center http://www.sprc.org.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Vian Robbery Suspect ‘Remorseful’

A 60-year-old Vian man, who changed his mind during an alleged attempt at bank robbery, is free on a $25,000 bond and awaiting formal charges in Cherokee County.

Larry Scott Speer is accused of trying to rob the Bank of Commerce in Keys on Sept. 1. According to Cherokee County Undersheriff Jason Chennault, Speer entered the bank shortly after noon on Sept. 1 and asked for a loan application. He took the application and left the bank, but returned about 20 minutes later. Speer then delivered a note to a bank employee in her office, not a teller. The note read, “I need $15,000.” Speer also showed the employee a handgun hidden in his belt.

The employee and Speer talked for a moment, then Speer seemed to have a change of heart.

Cherokee County Undersheriff Jason Chennault said, “He was saying ‘I don’t want to do this. I’m sorry.’ He took the note back and said, ‘I’m sorry. This gun’s not even real. I can’t do this.’”

Speer was later identified by law enforcement officers, and through a video taken at a Keys diner. He was arrested in Vian and jailed in Cherokee County.

He was interviewed by the FBI, since bank robbery is considered a federal crime. Chennault said Speer appeared remorseful and was cooperative. He told FBI agents he needed the money for his wife in Ghana in Africa because she was in legal trouble.

A records check showed formal charges were not filed against Speer as of Wednesday morning.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Trooper Has to Dive for Cover

An OHP Trooper narrowly escaped injury when a driver struck the trooper’s unoccupied patrol car Tuesday evening, Sept. 13.

Trooper Adam Wood’s vehicle was in the left lane of the Muskogee Turnpike eastbound with emergency lights on. Wood had just worked on a motorist assist and was clearing debris from the shoulder of the road when he saw an SUV headed toward his car, not slowing. Wood dove over the center wall to escape being hit by the SUV.

The OHP patrol car was hit, sending it more than 200 feet down the road. The driver of the SUV sustained only minor injuries from airbag deployment and refused treatment at the scene. The driver was issued citations for inattentive driving and failing to yield to an emergency vehicle.

The crash occurred at 6:48 p.m. Tuesday. Wood is a resident of Roland.

“This incident illustrates how vitally important it is for drivers to be aware and attentive at all times,” said OHP Chief Ricky Adams. “We are fortunate that there were no serious injuries or loss of life to anyone in this crash.”

Oklahoma law requires drivers to either change lanes or slow down when passing emergency vehicles on the road with lights flashing.

“Our Troopers face many dangers each and every day,” Adams said. “In the last several years, we’ve had far too many near-misses and units struck. Please avoid all distractions when you’re driving, and when you see flashing lights, slow down and move over. Help us all avoid needless tragedies.”

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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

City Reports No Electric Rate Increase Expected

Sallisaw will most likely not see an increase in electric rates in 2017, City Manager Clayton Lucas told city commissioners at their regular meeting Monday evening.

Lucas informed the commissioners that the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA), from which the city buys power to resell to customers, recently announced there would be no increase in electric rates next year.

Lucas also announced the commissioners are due to complete a regular utility study, and a meeting will be set in October to review the preliminary study.

The commissioners approved a resolution approving a $1.8 million mortgage for Sequoyah Memorial Hospital to “provide funds for financing debt, cash flow and other emergencies of the Sequoyah County-City of Sallisaw Hospital Authority.”

Sallisaw attorney John Cripps, hospital board chairman, said the hospital is doing all it can to save money. “We’re cutting costs everywhere we can,” he said. He noted that rural hospitals are struggling to survive. Government cutbacks in reimbursements are hurting hospitals’ budgets.

He added that the hospital was reimbursed by insurance for a recent small fire. 

The commission also:

-approved a memorandum of agreement with the Sallisaw Now Coalition to act as the fiscal agent for the coalition’s grant.

-approved a change order not to exceed $34,941.20 for a street overlay. The change order allows the city to use excess grant funds to extend a street overlay to Elm and Denton Streets.

-approved a $12,500 contract with Neel, Harvell and Associates, P.C., for engineering services for the underpass pumps on Cherokee Avenue. The pumps, which help with flooding in the underpass during heavy rains, need replacing. The city has set aside $75,000 for the project which includes $31,394 in FEMA funds received this year.

-discussed an ordinance requiring a license and fee for itinerant vendors after city businesses complained about the competition. A $600 annual fee was discussed, but action was delayed to a future meeting. Non-profit organizations and the Farmers Market will be exempt from the new fee.

-tabled a discussion on a request from the Sequoyah County Fire Department Tax Board for the donation of the city’s property on Eppler, which was purchased for a proposed animal shelter. The animal shelter was built on its original site, and the Eppler Street property is not being used. Lucas said the city is awaiting an appraisal of the property.

During the Sallisaw Municipal Authority meeting the commissioners:

-approved the purchase of a 3,000 gallon super tanker fire truck at a price of $217,000, which includes $100,000 in grant monies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Cherokee Nation; and

-approved the purchase, for $26,500, of a power supply (battery) for the city telecommunications headend.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Fair Board Gets Cherokee Nation Donation

At the check presentation to the Sequoyah County Fair Board are, from the left, Cherokee Nation Deputy Chief S. Joe Crittenden, Tribal Councilor Bryan Warner, Sequoyah County Fair Board representatives Tony Yates, Avis Jackson and Brian Lee, Principal Chief Bill John Baker, Tribal Council Speaker Joe Byrd and Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr.

The Cherokee Nation donated $42,000 to 13 county fair boards, including the Sequoyah County Fair Board, and the Tulsa State Fair to help the organizations maintain fairgrounds and buy equipment, trophies and ribbons.

In addition to Sequoyah County, other county fair boards were in Adair, Cherokee, Craig, Delaware, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Nowata, Ottawa, Rogers, Wagoner and Washington counties.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker, Deputy Chief S. Joe Crittenden, Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Tribal Councilors presented each fair board a $3,000 check at the W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex.

“Supporting local fair boards within the Cherokee Nation is important because of the service and life lessons participating in a county fair provide to Cherokee students and non-Cherokee students alike,” said Hoskin. “Participating in county fairs requires dedication and hard work, and developing those life skills at an early age will only lead to success for our students in the future.”

Nowata County Fair Board President Derek Dick said the money allows the fair board to give out more award money, trophies and ribbons to participants.

“Anytime we get support, especially from the Cherokee Nation, that’s just that much more we can offer to the exhibitors. We want to see our youth get involved at an early age because it gives them a good base and support mechanism early on in life. With this funding, we are able to accentuate some of the programs that help us accomplish that,” said Dick.

The Cherokee Nation annually donates money to fair boards in all 14 counties of the tribe’s jurisdiction.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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‘Coffee & Calendars’ Meeting Is Sept. 29

“Coffee & Calendars” is a new meeting, hosted by the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce, to inform the entire community about upcoming events, programs and projects that would normally be on a community calendar.

Judy Martens, the chamber executive director, said, “We want to invite any and all organizations to attend and bring the dates for all their upcoming events, programs and projects. This meeting is not only for non-profits, but any organization hosting events.”

Martens said the intent is to develop a good community calendar for visitors and residents to view and to bring the community closer together in the hopes that some of the events might be shared by other organizations, creating an even larger event for attendees to enjoy.”

“Just a sample of who we would like to see attend the meeting are the Lion’s Club, Women in Business, the Boys & Girls Club, all churches, Catholic Charities, Main Street organization, Relay for Life, March of Dimes, Peters Agency, People Inc., and the list could go on and on,” Martens said.

“Let’s build a stronger, more closely knit community,” Martens urged.

The chamber asks that those planning to attend RSVP attendance plans for the meeting and which time slot they plan to attend.

The meetings will be held at 10 a.m. and at 2 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Chamber Conference Room.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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