Partners Gather Gifts and Holiday Goodies for Families

The Sallisaw Community Partners completed their Angel Tree projects on Thursday to provide Christmas gifts and holiday dinners for families in the Roland, Moffett and Liberty communities. They reported that, with the help of many community members and partners, 169 children will receive gifts and their families will receive Christmas food baskets and turkeys. Helping with the project are, from the left, Heather Silva of People Inc., Melissa Lowe of KiBois Foundation, Connie Olcott from the Health and Wellness Center, and Lindsie Dyer of People Inc.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Truck Driver Killed in One-vehicle Crash

A California truck driver is dead after his tractor-trailer rig rolled and came to rest on its top Thursday morning on the westbound lanes of Interstate 40.

The name of the driver had not been released as of 3 p.m. Thursday by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Interstate 40 at the 303 Mile Marker, at the Dwight Mission Road exit, is still blocked by the semi-tractor-trailer, said Sallisaw Fire Chief Anthony Armstrong. Because the upended tractor-trailer is on its top on the I40 overpass, westbound traffic is being directed onto the Dwight Mission Road off-ramp and back onto the interstate via the Dwight Mission on-ramp, Armstrong said.

Armstrong said the Sallisaw Fire Department rescue truck was dispatched at 11:51 a.m. to the crash to assist McKey Fire Department. Armstrong said the semi-truck apparently hit both guard rails on the overpass before rolling. He said the deceased truck driver was trapped in the upside-down cab for about 45 minutes while firefighters worked to free his body.

The truck was carrying frozen chickens, Armstrong said.

Armstrong said firefighters were on the scene until 1:45 p.m. Thursday and he expected the westbound lanes on I40 to be blocked for some time while the cleanup continued. He said the Oklahoma Department of Transportation was on the scene cleaning up the area, but the semi-truck was still blocking both lanes.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Schmidt Faces Variety of Charges

A 26-year-old man from Gans was booked into the Sequoyah County Jail in Sallisaw on several charges after, in his attempt to flee from police, he drove through a police investigation.

Darin Schmidt was booked on assault and battery, having a dangerous weapon, petty larceny, public intoxication, and leaving the scene of an accident involving damage.

Muldrow Police Chief George Lawson said Schmidt began the evening on Tuesday by shoplifting two six packs of beer from the Quickway Convenience Store in Muldrow.

He then got into an argument in the store’s parking lot with his sister, and was “jerking her around by the hair.”

A woman in a nearby vehicle, Shawna Snow, 38, saw the assault and tried to intervene. Lawson said Schmidt retrieved a baseball bat from the back of Snow’s truck and “conked her in the head with it.”

He then stole a vehicle, left running in the parking lot by a store customer, and drove away. He drove away and into the scene of an investigation by Muldrow police into a shooting on Southwest 9th Street.

Lawson said Schmidt drove in between two buildings, before crashing into a third. He then “took off on foot.”

Later on Tuesday evening, Lawson said Schmidt showed up at his uncle’s house, and began “beating up on his uncle’s house and vehicle.” Police were called and Schmidt was arrested and taken to the Muldrow Police Department.

At the department, Lawson said Officer Jerry Brook recognized Schmidt, and he was booked into the county jail on numerous charges, and where he is being held without bond.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Blankets Donated to Keep Shelter Animals Warm

About 100 warm, fuzzy blankets were donated to the Sallisaw Animal Shelter on Wednesday. Carol Wood of Sallisaw collects and delivers the donations. Assisting Wood, on the right, are, from the left, Josie Lockhart, and Noah and Eli Riggs, Wood’s grandsons.

Carol Wood of Sallisaw, with her helper grandsons Noah, age 4, and Eli Riggs, age 7, and a friend, Josie Lockhart, delivered about 100 blankets to the Sallisaw Animal Shelter on Wednesday morning.

Wood said helping the homeless animals is a good lesson for her grandsons, who also enjoy playing with the dogs and puppies at the shelter.

Wood began donating to the shelter several years ago, and said every time she thanked donors on Facebook, she got more donations.

These donations came from Becky Randolph, Lou Ann Monroe, Sue Brooks, Don and Ryan Morgan, Jordan and Eric Riggs, Lacosta Oberste, Denise Kostka, Stephanie McClure, Ernie and Judy Martens, Sue Burton, Peggy Lawless, Rajena Gilliam, Armstrong Bank and Randy and Carol Wood.

Ro Poindexter, who leads the Guardian Angel volunteers at the shelter, said the blankets are just the right size to fit the shelter’s Kuranda beds, which allow the dogs to curl up off hard and cold floors. She said the Kuranda beds were also donated to the shelter when the new building was completed.

Noah and Eli were playing with two nine-week old Chow mix puppies at the shelter. Randy Freeman, Sallisaw’s animal control officer, said the puppies are just right to be adopted for Christmas.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Suspect Sought in Muldrow Shooting

Tracy Jones

On Wednesday Muldrow police were trying to get an arrest warrant for a 26-year-old former resident who allegedly shot a Muldrow man on Tuesday evening.

Muldrow Police Chief George Lawson said the shooting victim, David Owens, 38, told investigators that the shooting was the result of a “drug deal gone bad, and that a black male by the name of Tracy had shot him. Through a witness statement, the suspect has been identified as Tracy Jones, 26.”

Lawson said Jones should be considered armed and dangerous.

He reported Owens was transported to Sparks Regional Medical Center by ambulance Tuesday evening with a gunshot to the chest. He is expected to recover, Lawson said, but the bullet was still lodged in Owens’ back. Doctors were expected to evaluate the wound on Wednesday to determine if the slug should be removed or not. Since police don’t have the bullet, it is not known what type of gun the suspect used.

Muldrow police ask that anyone who knows the whereabouts of Jones to please call the police department at 918-427-4431.

The shooting occurred at about 5:11 p.m. Tuesday at 109 SW 9th St. in Muldrow.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Muldrow Police Continue Search for Shooting Suspect

Tracy Jones

Muldrow Police continue to search for a suspect in a shooting that occurred Tuesday evening.

According to Muldrow Police they are looking for Tracy Jones, 26,  pictured above, who allegedly shot David Owens, 38, in the chest. 

Officers were called to 109 SW 9th at 5:11 p.m. where they found Owens who had been shot in the chest. Owens told officers that he had been shot by Jones during a drug deal.

Owens was transported to Sparks Regional Medical Center for treatment.

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Skelton Named Acting Sallisaw City Manager

Keith Skelton, Sallisaw’s assistant city manager, will be the acting city manager, the city commissioners decided at a special meeting Monday.

He will fill the post left vacant by Clayton Lucas II who resigned Dec. 11 after the board voted three to two to fire him at a previous meeting.

Skelton said Tuesday the commissioners will seek applications for the city manager’s job after the first of the year.

The city commissioners also set a special meeting for 6 p.m. Jan. 4 at the city’s water treatment plant to hear a water study; voted to not let a contract for mowing and returned mowing chores to city employees; and heard a report from Skelton on city projects.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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