Tulsa Woman Steals Man’s Car

An arrest warrant was issued Dec. 30 for a Tulsa woman accused of stealing a 2017 Hyundai Elantra from a man at the Sallisaw Days Inn.

Melanie A. Thompson, 23, was charged with larceny of an automobile, aircraft or other motor vehicle and larceny, both felonies.

According to a report, several Sallisaw Police Department officers were dispatched to the Days Inn on Nov. 6 after receiving a theft report.

A male individual told officers that he had met a woman named Melanie Dobbs at the Cherokee Casino. Dobbs asked him if he wanted to come back to her room at the Days Inn.

The male said that while he was in the shower, Dobbs took his pants that contained his wallet (and the $500 inside it), his iPhone, car keys and a handgun.

When he exited the shower, the man said, he immediately went to where he had parked his vehicle. It was gone.

Officers spoke to the Days Inn receptionist, who said the motel had no record of anyone named Dobbs renting a room and that the current room Dobbs was in belonged to another individual.

The Elantra was located Nov. 9 by the Tulsa Police Department. When he got his vehicle back, a woman helping the male owner clean out the car discovered an ID between the driver’s seat and the center console that had the name Melanie Thompson on it.

On Nov. 23, the owner was able to identify Thompson in a lineup.

The first charge is punishable by imprisonment in the Department of Corrections for up to five years, a fine that is equal to three times the value of the property that was stolen or both. The second count carries a punishment of imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for up to five years and a fine of no more than $5,000.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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Shadow Creek Golf Course Closes

Shadow Creek Golf Course located in Sallisaw has closed for business as of Jan. 1, it has been announced.

The country club issued a brief statement saying that annual memberships will be prorated and refunded.

The 18-hole, par-71 golf course was designed and opened in 1984 by Ken Vann and had many successful years under his management. 

Jay Peerson, who co-owns the course, refused to comment further and calls to the course’s clubhouse went unanswered Friday.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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Car Chase Ends With Arrest

An attempted traffic stop turned into a car chase Dec. 17 when a Sequoyah County deputy spotted a suspicious vehicle near the Sequoyah Little Farms area. 

The driver, Gary Shane Graham, 48, of Sallisaw was later charged with multiple counts, including endangering others while eluding/attempting to elude a police officer and running a roadblock, both felonies. He was also charged with resisting an officer, a misdemeanor.

The deputy was patrolling the Little Farms area when he spotted Graham’s vehicle traveling slowly, at a near stop, but when the deputy initiated a traffic stop, Graham kept going.

Traveling at speeds nearing 80 mph, the chase ended when Graham’s vehicle came to a stop on the low-water bridge on 4660 Road. The driver then exited the vehicle and ran west on 1059 Road.

A foot pursuit ensued. Graham jumped into the creek, followed closely by law enforcement. Once caught, Graham resisted the officers despite being given verbal commands to stop.

Once he was finally arrested, Graham was transported to the Sequoyah County Jail.

The charge of endangering others while eluding police and for running a roadblock are punishable by fines of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to five years or both. Resisting an officer is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to a year, a fine of up to $500 or both.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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Sallisaw Officials Take a Look Back at 2019

Sallisaw city officials agree that the biggest news story of 2019 was the decision to build the new veterans center here.

Mayor Ernie Martens and Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Marty Green said the decision is one that will impact the city for years to come. Groundbreaking is expected to take place in early summer and construction will begin shortly afterward, they said.

Martens also said the completion of the city’s Splash Pad and the renovation of the Chamber of Commerce office were key events for 2019. Renovation of the new civic center has begun, he said, and it is expected to be open in late January or early February.

The mayor said he is also ready for street repairs to begin throughout the city. “Getting the streets repaired will be a big deal” for residents and business owners, he said.

“There’s a feeling in the air, an excitement” about the possibilities the new center will bring to Sallisaw, Green said. “We are real excited about what the future will bring,” he said.

Green said he hopes the new jobs the center will create will bring even more people into the city and will provide more business opportunities for residents as well. “We think there will be a domino effect” of new businesses popping up, he said.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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DiamondNet, FOX Reach Programming Agreement

DiamondNet and the FOX Networks have reached an agreement for the continuation of programming, which will keep the channels available to viewers with no interruption of services, according to a statement released Thursday.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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Immigration Rights; By State Rep. Jim Olsen

 State Rep. Jim Olsen

Let’s talk about immigration rights.

Many people would assume that this means the rights of people to come here to the United States of America, and settle here, and live here if they desire to do so.

What I am referring to is our right to have a country, our right to have borders and control over our borders. We have the right to decide if we allow any additional people into our country. If we decide to allow additional people into our country, we also have the right to decide how many will come in, where they are from, and what kind of people they are.

Let me illustrate this another way: Would you allow someone you don’t know, and are not related to, to move into your home? That would be a big decision! Some people would never do that. Other people might, under certain conditions.

Whatever you may think about this, we all recognize that the owner of the home has the right to decide. We, as a country, have the right to decide if we allow additional people to enter. These are the immigrant rights that we, as a country, have.

Let’s look at this another way. How would you feel if you arrived home after a vacation, and found people in your house that you didn’t even know? You investigate, and find that these people have moved in your house without anybody’s permission.

If it were my house, I would be removing these people. You probably feel the same about your house. Well, we have millions of people in our country without our permission to be here. What part of illegal do we not understand? We are supposed to be a country established by the rule of law. We should return to be a nation ruled by law.

Some say that people have a right to move here. Actually, these rights to immigrate do not exist. Nobody who is not a citizen of our country has any automatic right to move here. The only true immigration rights are our right, as a nation, to have a nation, to have borders, and to have control over our borders.

What are the results of unchecked illegal immigration? Crime is increased. I know, the Koch brothers and George Soros, say that immigrants are more intelligent, more hard-working, and better behaved than you and I. Actually, more recent data reveals a notably higher crime rate.

Another result of unchecked illegal immigration is lower wages for Americans. This is basic supply and demand. If you have more workers chasing the same jobs, wages go down. How do you feel about getting lower wages, to help illegal immigrants coming in?

How did we get here? Really, both political parties are guilty. I don’t mean that all Democrats and all Republicans are guilty. Actually, most common Americans are against illegal immigration. However, many Democrats favor illegal immigration, because most immigrants vote Democrat. Many Republicans favor illegal immigration because they want workers for their industries.

I say, let’s honor the true will of the people and return to the Constitution and the rule of law. We, as a nation, have the right to control immigration to our country. Those are true immigration rights.

Rep. Jim Olsen represents District 2 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which includes portions of Seqouyah County.

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Tribes Unite to File Federal Lawsuit to End Compact Renewal Dispute

 

The Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations filed a Federal lawsuit to bring an end to the uncertainty Oklahoma Governor J. Kevin Stitt has attempted to cast over Tribal gaming operations. The suit names Governor Stitt in his official capacity and seeks a judicial declaration that the gaming compacts renew in accord with their express terms, effective January 1, 2020. The Nations provided a copy of the Federal complaint to Governor Stitt, along with a letter explaining their reasons for filing it. Counsel for the Nations, former United States Circuit Judge Robert Henry, provided a companion letter and copy of the complaint to Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter.

While revenue-share rates have generated significant public interest, the Nations’ lawsuit does not address those matters. It instead calls for the court to declare the legal effect of the compact’s Part 15.B., which states—

This Compact shall have a term which will expire on January 1, 2020, and at that time, if organization licensees or others are authorized to conduct electronic gaming in any form other than pari-mutuel wagering on live horse racing pursuant to any governmental action of the state or court order following the effective date of this Compact, the Compact shall automatically renew for successive additional fifteen-year terms.
(Emphasis added.) As the Nations emphasized in their letter to Governor Stitt, “the dispute—like the lawsuit—is about renewal, not rates.”

The Nations have publicly offered statements and analyses that support their position on renewal, including a legal opinion from former Solicitor General of the United States Seth Waxman that concluded:

The renewal provision in the Tribes’ gaming compacts with Oklahoma is not ambiguous. Under that provision’s plain language, the compacts will renew automatically when they expire on January 1, because the provision’s sole condition precedent for automatic renewal is unquestionably satisfied. Each of the contrary arguments I have seen to date simply cannot be squared with fundamental principles of contract interpretation.

Without offering support or analysis for his position, Governor Stitt has repeatedly and publicly rejected renewal, instead choosing to criticize Tribes for not working on a new compact with him and insisting the current compacts terminate and falsely declaring Tribal gaming unlawful in 2020.

Regarding the Nations’ lawsuit, Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby said, “We have a solemn duty to protect the sovereign rights of our Tribal Nations as well as the interests of our citizens. While we prefer negotiation to litigation, the Federal court is now the only reasonable alternative to bring legal certainty to this issue. We remain hopeful we will continue to have a productive and mutually beneficial relationship with the State of Oklahoma once we have resolved this issue.”

Choctaw Nation Chief Batton made the following statement.

“The Governor’s stance on the gaming compact has created uncertainty and has been seen as a threat to our employees and our business partners. We see this legal action as the most viable option to restore the clarity and stability the Tribes and Oklahoma both deserve by obtaining a resolution that our compact does automatically renew. As elected leaders, it is our responsibility to uphold the compact, honor the will of the Oklahomans who approved State Question 712 and the Federal law that defines our relationship with the State on these matters.”

Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. made the following statement.

"The Cherokee Nation is committed to being a good partner in our community and with the State of Oklahoma as we have done across two centuries and will continue to do as a peaceful, sovereign nation. Governor Stitt has made comments about “uncertainty that exists” regarding Class III gaming after January 1, threats to our casino vendors and their livelihoods and demands for redundant audits. We have little choice but to ask a Federal judge to confirm the compact’s automatic renewal on Jan. 1.”

While the Seminole Nation was not a party to the lawsuit on filing, Chief Greg Chilcoat said Governor Stitt’s public position had triggered concerns among vendors and others who work with Oklahoma Tribal governments, causing some to worry about instability in the State’s economy. “Rather than respectfully engage with the Tribes and seek an amicable resolution, Governor Stitt has continued to insist on our compact’s termination,” Chief Chilcoat said. “While his position is completely at odds with our compact’s language, he has succeeded in causing uncertainty that has an economic consequence. His inconsistent approach has been unfortunate and unnecessary.”

Muscogee (Creek) Nation Chief James Floyd made the following statement. “The Muscogee (Creek) Nation stands united with our fellow Nations and supports the legal action taken by these three Tribes today. These efforts are necessary to bring about a swift resolution to the question posed by Governor Stitt.”

Matthew L. Morgan, chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, made the following statement:

“The Tribes remain firmly united on the automatic renewal of the compacts. We have communicated our position to Governor Stitt on numerous occasions in hopes of finding a practical path forward benefitting both the State and Tribes. That said, as leaders of sovereign nations, the Tribal leaders must honor the compacts and will continue to do so on January 1, 2020, as they’ve done the past 15 years. Tribal leaders have the right as well as the responsibility to protect their citizens. Tribal leaders applaud the action taken today by the Cherokee, Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations to seek certainty on the matter of automatic renew through the Federal court.”

KXMX News Staff

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