TRiO Achievers Honored at Carl Albert State College

The TRiO Achievers and TRiO personnel are, in front from left to right, Upward Bound North’s TRiO Achiever, Jennifer Sandoval; Student Support Services’ TRiO Achievers, Karen Ann Crosby, and Amanda Lloyd; Talent Search Poteau’s TRiO Achiever, Ashley Scroggins; Educational Opportunity Center’s TRiO Achiever, Kendra Bullard; Upward Bound South’s TRiO Achiever, Penny Gooch. In back from the left are Paul Marshall, Talent Search Sallisaw; Tara Foos, Upward Bound Math/Science; Jaime Henson, Upward Bound North; Kim Hughes, Student Support Services; Melana Ridenour, Talent Search Poteau; Kelly Kellogg, Educational Opportunity Center; Melinda Pierce, Upward Bound South; and Michelle White, TRiO director. Not pictured are Educational Opportunity Center’s TRiO Achiever, Daryl Legg; Talent Search Sallisaw’s TRiO Achiever, Kaitlyn Paige Hill; and Upward Bound Math/Science’s TRiO Achiever, Christopher Oliver.

Students named as TRiO Achievers at Carl Albert State College (CASC) were honored at an evening reception at the Poteau campus on Feb. 28.

The CASC TRiO Achievers Award is designed to recognize and honor CASC TRiO and former TRiO participants who have demonstrated exemplary accomplishments in their education and/or professional pursuits, and for whom CASC TRiO programs played a fundamental role in their educational achievements.

CASC houses federally-funded TRiO programs at both the Poteau and Sallisaw campuses that are funded 100 percent by the U.S. Department of Education. TRIO is a set of federally-funded college opportunity programs that motivate and support students in their pursuit of a college degree. Among the many TriO services provided are academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, financial guidance, and other supports necessary for educational access and retention. At least two-thirds of participants are low-income, first-generation students and/or students with disabilities from sixth grade through college graduation.

The programs are under the direction of TRiO Director Michelle White and include:

·Student Support Services (Poteau) – serving 285 students with an annual budget of $435,980. Coordinator Kim Hughes.

·Educational Opportunity Center – serving 1,675 students with an annual budget of $510,799. Coordinator Kelly Kellogg.

·Educational Talent Search (Poteau) - serving 687 students with an annual budget of $306,752. Coordinator Melana Ridenour.

·Upward Bound South (Poteau) – serving 105 students with an annual budget of $454,230. Coordinator Melinda Pierce.

·Upward Bound Math/Science (Poteau) serving 74 students with an annual budget of $308,858. Coordinator Tara Foos.

·Educational Talent Search North (Sallisaw) – serving 508 Students with an annual budget of $240,480. Coordinator Paul Marshall.

·Upward Bound North (Sallisaw) – serving 65 students with an annual budget of $270,375. Coordinator Jaime Henson.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Voter Registration Deadline Is Friday

Friday is the last day to apply for voter registration in order to be eligible to vote in the April 4 Roland and Vian Municipal Election, Sequoyah County Election Board Secretary Cindy Osborn said.

Osborn said persons who are U.S. citizens, residents of Oklahoma, and at least 18 years old may apply to become registered voters.

Those who aren’t registered or need to change their registration may apply by filling out and mailing an Oklahoma Voter Registration Application form in time for it to be postmarked no later than midnight Friday.

Osborn said applications postmarked after that time will be accepted and processed, but not until after April 4.

The county election board responds in writing to every person who submits an application for voter registration. The response is either a voter identification card listing the new voter's precinct number and polling place location or a letter that explains the reason or reasons the application for voter registration was not approved. Osborn said any person who has submitted a voter registration application and who has not received a response within 30 days should contact the county election board office.

Oklahoma Voter Registration Application forms are available at the county election board at 110 E. Creek Ave., Sallisaw 74955, and at most post offices, tag agencies and public libraries in the county. Applications also are available at www.elections.ok.gov.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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

CASC On-line Classes Start March 8

Carl Albert State College’s (CASC) online 8-week classes begin March 8.

The cost of a three-hour online course at CASC is under $450, with books additional.

Classes being offered include:

Music Appreciation

Principles of Management

American History to 1865

Medical Terminology

Intro to Psychology

General Biology w/Lab

Microcomputer Applications

Freshman Composition II

General Physical Science w/Lab

Information Literacy I

Ethics

American Federal Government

Introduction to Sociology

Call Sarah Brown to enroll at 918-647-1471 or email sbrown@carlalbert.edu. For complete 8-week course information, look on the CASC website at https://carlalbert.edu/academics/online-education/8-week-courses/ 

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Cookson Woman Hurt in Crash

A Cookson woman was injured in a one-vehicle crash Saturday.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) reported Cynthia Sutton, 46, was admitted to Eastar Hospital in Muskogee where she was listed in stable condition with head, external and internal trunk and leg injuries.

The crash occurred at about 4:10 a.m. Saturday on U.S. Highway 62 and a county road about three miles east of Fort Gibson.

Sutton was a passenger in a 2007 Chevrolet car driven by Donald Broderick, 52, of Park Hill. He was treated and released at the hospital.

The OHP reported Broderick was driving east on U.S. Highway 62 when he fell asleep and ran off the road to the left. The car then went through a creek and hit the eastern creek bank before coming to a stop.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Firefighters Battle More Wildfires

Sequoyah County firefighters were busy Thursday battling wildfires throughout the county, including two in the east end of the county, one near the Sequoyah Wildlife Refuge south of Vian and one on Sallisaw’s northeast side

Sallisaw Fire Chief Anthony Armstrong said the fire at Sallisaw burned about 35 acres and endangered two homes. No structures were reported damaged.

The Sallisaw fire department was dispatched at 2:40 p.m. Thursday and fought the blaze until 5 p.m. Armstrong said the wildfire began in the area of Shiloh Road and Taylor Drive, and was possibly an escaped trash fire. The fire burned its way east and southeast “pretty hard,” Armstrong said due to the stiff wind. The fire then jumped the railroad tracks into an adjoining field.

“That’s where we got it stopped,” Armstrong said.

While firefighters battled the blaze, railroad traffic was stopped, as the fire burned over the tracks. Armstrong said when the fire was under control, railroad personnel were called out to check track safety and found it to be all right. The wildfire held up a coal train for about an hour, Armstrong said.

However, the railroad had recently replaced railroad ties in the area. The old railroad ties are stacked along the railroad and did catch fire. Arrmstrong said because the ties continue to burn, the fire department was dispatched again at 7:45 a.m. Friday.

“We just checked to make sure it was okay,” Armstrong said. “Railroad ties are hard to put out. They will just have to burn.”

Armstrong said Sequoyah County Commissioners may have to review a new burn ban for the county at their regular meeting Monday. The county is currently not under a burn ban.

But, Armstrong said, fire departments will most likely be fighting wildfires throughout the spring because of all the dead grass and foliage, because of the wind, and the warm weather.

“It’s something you deal with every spring,” Armstrong said, “until the grass turns green.”

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Former Teacher on April 5 Docket

A former Muldrow High School teacher’s next court appearance, on a charge of inappropriate behavior involving a male student, will be on District Judge Kyle Water’s disposition docket April 5.

Devin Paige Davis, 26, is charged in Sequoyah County District Court in Sallisaw with soliciting sexual conduct or communication with a minor.

Davis resigned from her position as a chemistry teacher after allegations were made of her inappropriate behavior with a student. The allegations were first investigated by the school, then by the Muldrow Police Department.

According to the investigator’s report filed with the charges, Davis admitted that she shared intimate photos of herself with a 16-year-old male student via cell phone along with inappropriate chats and text messages.

The crime is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

Davis is free on a $10,000 bond.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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8-year-old Wrestlers Headed for World Championships

Jack Cranford, left, and Alex Reed are both state champions in the Oklahoma Kids Wrestling Association and are headed to the world championships that begin April 6 in Reno, Nev.

Two wrestlers from the Brushy Wrestling Club are headed for the world championships sponsored by the Kids Wrestling Association.

Alex Reed, 8, is the son of Kevin and Tera Reed of Brushy. Alex qualified for the world championships by winning the Oklahoma championship in the 52-pound division.

Jack Cranford, who celebrates his eighth birthday on Saturday, is the son of Rachael and Rocky Cranford. He qualified for the world championship by winning the Oklahoma championship in the 55-pound division.

The two won their state championships at the state tournament held Feb. 10 at Tulsa Expo Square.

Both young men wrestle for the Brushy Wrestling Club, and compete in the Oklahoma Kids Wrestling Association. Alex is in the third grade and Jack is in the second grade.

The association’s world championships begins April 6 in Reno, Nev.

The club is giving away a Smith & Wesson M&P 15 Sport II gun to raise funds to get the wrestlers to the world championship. Tickets for the drawing for the gun are $5 each or five for $20. The drawing will be held at 9 a.m. April 1 at TNT Gun & Pawn in Sallisaw. The winner does not need to be present to win, but must be able to pass a federal gun background check at the time of pickup.

Rachael Cranford said the youngsters have worked hard to get to the world championships.

“They train almost daily,” she said. “They are training partners and spend a lot of hours on the mat.”

She said the two boys also train on Sundays with the Sallisaw Wrestling Club.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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