Local Pastor Recovering from COVID-19

Sequoyah County’s first official COVID-19 patient says he is glad to be on the other side of the virus.

Raymond Esteban, a local pastor, said in an interview that he feels much better. “I’m about 85 to 90 percent (recovered) now,” he said, adding that “it’s an experience I don’t ever want to go through again.” Esteban said he was officially released from quarantine Monday by the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

Esteban said his faith and his family got him through the illness, which feels similar to the flu or the common cold. With symptoms such as fever, chills, a cough and a headache, Esteban said the first few days were pretty awful and he has gradually improved a little more every day.

The test for COVID-19 is no fun, Esteban said. It consists of a long cotton swab (like a Q-tip) that goes up into your nasal passages. He said the test feels like “they’ve hit your brain” and was “very painful” but said it “doesn’t last long.”

Esteban was tested at a local clinic and was told to begin self-quarantining before the test results came back. He said a doctor called with the positive results about a day and a half later. 

Esteban, who works in Fort Smith, said he “wasn’t all that concerned” about having the coronavirus, but he “had faith he would get through it.” He said he followed all recommendations from the health department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Anyone who came into contact with Esteban was alerted about his positive test and was immediately placed in quarantine. Everyone who had contact with Esteban is healthy and virus-free, Esteban said.

Esteban stated he isn't sure where he contracted the virus. Both his workplace and his church have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. 

There are currently 565 positive cases of COVID-19 in Oklahoma. 

Though he doesn’t know how he got the virus, Esteban said it is vital to stay positive. “If you are quarantined, look at the positive,” he said. “Don’t focus on the negative.”

"God brought us through this," Esteban's wife, Renee added.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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USDA Approves Free Meals for Oklahoma Students

Oklahoma students statewide will soon be able to access two free meals a day after a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) waiver, Joy Hofmeister, the state superintendent of public instruction, announced Tuesday.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) applied for the waiver March 11 and March 25 to remove the requirement that school feeding sites be located in high-need areas under the Emergency School Closure provisions of the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Approved over the weekend, the waiver grants site-area eligibility to 31 states, including Oklahoma.

Before the waiver, districts could provide free meals only if 50 percent of students at a school met eligibility for the free and reduced-price lunch program.

Hofmeister said the waiver is welcome news as districts clamor for ways to get meals to students in the midst of distance-learning necessary in the wake of the global pandemic.

“Amid such uncertainty and instability, we should not be asking our families or schools to worry over needless red tape,” she said. “This waiver means that, following a simple application, any district in the state can establish feeding sites for up to two free meals a day for every student who needs one.”

Oklahoma received a swift response to its multiple waiver requests after U.S. Sen. James Lankford intervened.

The waiver is in effect until June 30, or until the federally declared public health emergency expires.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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Sallisaw Farmers Market Closed Until April 18

The coronavirus pandemic has led to the temporary closure of the Sallisaw Farmers Market.

The weekly event will be closed until April 18 at the earliest, chairman Max Smith said Tuesday. “The federal government sees farmers markets as essential services,” he said, but “we hold (the farmers market) on city property and it’s up to them.”

Smith said he is toying with the idea of having a drive-through market event with only a few food vendors. “We do it like a drive-through already,” Smith said, but it will ease a lot of minds to be able to space out the vendors to comply with social distancing and still get their fresh fruit, vegetables and more.

“We hope that everyone remains well, and we look forward to seeing everyone when the community leaders begin to allow us to return,” is the market's message to customers and vendors on their Facebook page.

“Don’t give up on us,” Smith said. “We will be back.”

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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CN Tag Offices Offer Mail-in, Online Renewals

Until further notice, all Cherokee Nation tag office locations are now mail-in and online only in an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

For tag renewals on regular vehicles, motorcycles, travel trailers and personalized tags, tribal citizens can renew at tagoffice.cherokee.org/online-tag-renewal.

Tribal citizens can also renew commercial and farm truck tags, as well as register a new vehicle by mail. For questions about documents needed to renew a tag or register a new vehicle by mail, call (918) 453-5100 or email tag@cherokee.org. 

For any additional information on the Cherokee Nation Tag Office, visit tagoffice.cherokee.org. 

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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Sallisaw Man Charged with Assaulting Officers

A Sallisaw man who allegedly attacked the police officers trying to arrest him was charged March 25 with two counts of assault and battery, records reveal.

Gregory Dean Hammock, 32, was also charged with escape from arrest or detention, a misdemeanor.

On March 17, Sallisaw police officers were informed about a man, Hammock, walking in traffic, flipping people off and knocking over construction cones. When officers tried to make contact with Hammock, the man refused to stop, becoming irate and cursing at law enforcement. 

Once officers got an inebriated Hammock to calm down they handcuffed him and tried to place him in a patrol car. Hammock reportedly started resisting, kicking one officer in the stomach and scratching another. It took four police officers to finally get Hammock in the patrol car.

Hammock’s next court appearance is set for 9 a.m. April 29.

The pair of assault and battery charges are each punishable by a fine of up to $500 or imprisonment for up to five years or both. The misdemeanor count carries a penalty of up to one year in prison and/or a fine of up to $500.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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CASC Updates COVID-19 Campus Rules

Carl Albert State College has closed each building on both campuses to students and the general public.

In a statement released Tuesday, Holly Bormann, CASC’s director of marketing and community relations, said, “As we continue to evaluate the developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, we work to respond accordingly -- making logical, well-informed decisions with the overall goal of protecting our campus community.”

CASC had previously decided to keep a select few student service areas open, but with Gov. Kevin Stitt’s recent statements, and with data showing positive COVID-19 cases on the rise, the college determined that it would be in the best interests of students and staff to close all buildings.

Even though campus buildings are now closed, business is operating as usual in a distance-learning/operations format. Computer labs are closed to all visitors. The only change from last week is that appointments will no longer be made on campus. All correspondence must be done via phone, email or regular mail. All residence halls will remain closed. 

Following are a few key details to provide more information as it relates to accessibility and campus operations:

On both campuses, WI-FI services will be available in the parking lots. "We invite you to visit the campus and remain in your vehicle and use the WI-FI to complete assignments and conduct correspondence. We would also like to extend this offer to any elementary, middle or high school student of one of our area schools who does not have regular access to the Internet; please come and take advantage of our WI-FI to complete your work as well. On the Poteau campus, go to the large parking lot between the Stivers Center and the Ollie Center. In Sallisaw, go to the parking lot between the Mayo and Mitchell buildings," officials stated.

Commencement services are still postponed; the rescheduled date will be announced at a later time.

Campus police will regularly patrol both campuses.

Should any student feel they need to be evaluated by a physician, please contact the Office of Student Affairs. Carl Albert works closely with the Health and Wellness Center, and the center has agreed to evaluate students virtually should the need arise.

Services required for student educational operations will still be conducted via phone, email, teleconference/Zoom or regular mail. These include Financial Aid, the Business Office, Admissions, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Telecommunications, Physical Plant and Human Resources. All building on campus will be locked at all times. Please call (918) 647-1200 (Poteau) or (918) 775-6977 (Sallisaw) to be routed to these offices for assistance.

Faculty will continue to conduct their duties through regular office hours either on campus or remotely. Please reach out to your instructor via email for assistance and support.

“The situation changes daily, sometimes hourly. (CASC uses) the best resources at its disposal to stay informed of current trends and precautions. We feel this decision is in the best interest of our Carl Albert family," concluded officials.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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Boys and Girls Clubs Delay Summer Enrollment

With the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic going on in the country right now, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sequoyah County have postponed summer enrollment.

“We feel that it is in the best interest of our children and staff to postpone summer enrollment. We will monitor the situation daily and will keep you informed as to when we will begin taking applications for summer on Facebook and at www.bgcseq.org,” officials stated

The clubs will also be posting different activities for children to do, as well as webpages where kids can go to continue their academic studies. The organization encourages parents to have children like the webpage and give these activities a “like.” This will ensure that the Boys and Girls Clubs will continue receiving funding for their programs. Lindsie Dyer, the clubs’ leader, said that each “like” counts as one student served, so the more likes the better!

Every year, more than 4.7 million young people are served by Boys and Girls Clubs. To show their continued support, Murphy USA is partnering with Boys and Girls Clubs of America through their “Great Futures Fueled Here” campaign. Beginning April 1, customers in Sallisaw can make a monetary contribution at checkout at your nearest Murphy location. All money raised will go to the Sequoyah County clubs.

“Murphy USA is excited to launch its first ever in-store giving campaign for Boys and Girls Clubs of America,” Renee Bacon said. “This campaign will directly help kids and teens at local clubs across the country. With nearly 1,500 stores across 26 states, we are committed to giving back in the communities in which we serve. We look forward to helping more young people reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.” 

Murphy USA is a leading retailer of gasoline and convenience merchandise with nearly 1,500 stores in the Southwest, Southeast and Midwest United States. The company and its team of nearly 10,000 employees serve an estimated 1.7 million customers each day through its network of retail gasoline stations in 26 states. The majority of Murphy USA's sites are in close proximity to Walmart stores. For more information, visit www.murphyusa.com

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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