CN Foundation hosting Free Virtual ACT Boot Camp

Cherokee Nation Foundation is offering a free virtual ACT Boot Camp on Saturday, March 27, for Native American students preparing for the national exam.

“We were beyond pleased with the results of our virtual program this fall and continue to refine and improve the way we bring these vital programs to students,” said Janice Randall, executive director of Cherokee Nation Foundation. “The dedication and commitment of these students continue to amaze us, and we stand ready to help them achieve their goals in any way possible.”

ACT Boot Camp is led by MasteryPrep, an organization dedicated to building students’ confidence on test day by providing essential test-taking strategies and skills. Instructors guide students through content strategies for all four subjects and administer practice tests to help students identify their strengths and weaknesses.

The deadline to register is Feb. 26. Students interested in the course can call the foundation at 918-207-0950 or apply online at www.cherokeenationfoundation.org.

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Sallisaw Woman Arrested After Attacking Her Ex

A Sallisaw woman was arrested Jan. 21 and charged with first-degree burglary, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Chasidy Clark, 36, was also charged with two misdemeanor counts: domestic abuse and assault and battery.

On Jan. 31, two Sallisaw police officers were dispatched in reference to a domestic disturbance.

When the officers arrived, they made contact with the victim, Jeremy Clark, who said his former wife, Chasidy Clark, walked in his back door while he was sitting on the couch with another woman and attacked her. He said Chasidy did not knock on the door, but just opened it and yelled that she was going to end their lives. Jeremy said he tried to push her out the door, and that’s when she allegedly attacked him.

Jeremy said he and Chasidy had been divorced since September 2020. He was bleeding from scratches on his right cheek and the left side of his neck and the collar of his T-shirt was stretched as if he had been in a fight.

The female victim said Chasidy Clark came in the house and started punching her and pulling her hair.

After speaking with the victims, the officers went to Chasidy Clark’s residence. She said she went over to her ex-husband’s residence and saw the car of the female, her best friend, parked there. She said she became angry and went inside to confront them. When she went inside and saw them sitting on the couch together she admitted punching the woman.

Chasidy Clark was then arrested.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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What You Need to Know About Tuesday’s Election

Voters will go to the polls Tuesday, Feb. 9, for the City of Sallisaw election, County Election Board Secretary Cindy Osborn said today.

Please keep the following information and tips in mind as the election approaches:

*Early voting will be available at the County Election Board office from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, and Friday, Feb. 5.

*Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Lines are possible at peak voting times. Wait times will likely be shortest at mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Anyone in line to vote at 7 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot.

*Anyone who needs to look up their polling place, verify their registration information or view a sample ballot can do so online. The Online Voter Tool can be accessed on the Oklahoma State Election Board’s website, www.elections.ok.gov. Those who vote by mail can also check the status of their ballot using the Online Voter Tool. Sample ballots are also available at the County Election Board office.

*Oklahoma law requires every voter who votes in person at the precinct polling place or during early voting at the County Election Board to show proof of identity before receiving a ballot. There are three ways for voters to prove their identity under the law (only one proof of identity is required): Show a valid photo ID issued by federal, state or tribal government; show the free voter identification card issued to every voter by the County Election Board; or sign an affidavit and vote a provisional ballot. (If the information on the affidavit matches official voter registration records, the ballot will be counted after Election Day.)

*Physically disabled voters who cannot enter the polling place, need help marking their ballots, blind or visually disabled or illiterate voters may be assisted by a person the voter chooses. In all cases, a person providing such assistance may not be the voter’s employer or an agent of the employer or an officer or an agent of the voter’s union. A person providing assistance must also swear or affirm that the voter’s ballot will be marked in accordance with the voter’s wishes. Alternatively, all blind, visually impaired and physically disabled voters in Sequoyah County may use the audio-tactile interface (ATI), a feature offered on all Oklahoma voting devices, to vote privately and independently, either at the Sequoyah County Election Board during early voting or at their assigned polling place on Election Day.

*Voters who have moved since the last election, but who have not transferred their voter registration to their new address, may do so on Election Day by going to vote at the polling place where their registration has been in the past. While voting, they may fill out a form instructing the County Election Board to transfer their registration to the new address before the next election.

*Those who became physically incapacitated after 5 p.m. Feb. 2 can still request an emergency absentee ballot. Those who might qualify for an emergency absentee ballot should contact the County Election Board office at (918) 775-2614 as soon as possible for more information.

*Any violation of election law will be reported to the proper law enforcement authorities. Electioneering is not allowed within 400 feet of a ballot box. It is also unlawful to remove a ballot from the polling location, possess intoxicating liquors within half a mile of a polling place or to disclose how you voted while within the election enclosure.

For additional election-related information, visit www.elections.ok.gov.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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Young Charged in Burglary

Roger Dale Young

A Gans man is accused of second-degree burglary and grand larceny, court records show.

Roger Dale Young, 55, faces seven years in prison on the burglary charge and eight years in the Department of Corrections and a fine of up to $1,000 on the grand larceny count. His bond was set at $15,000 and his court date is set for 1:30 p.m. Feb. 10.

On Jan. 17, a Sallisaw police lieutenant was dispatched to a residence in reference to someone breaking into a home and also stealing a truck, trailer and tractor.

Cassie Dawn Kioski Webster, 36, was arrested Jan. 24 and Jeffrey Todd Gentry, 53, was taken into custody on Jan. 27 related to the incident.

At 1:14 a.m. on Jan. 19, Sallisaw police spotted the stolen maroon 1998 Chevrolet GC1 pickup leaving the EZ-Mart store without working tail lights. The vehicle eluded officers, who had activated their emergency equipment. They eventually located the vehicle, abandoned, at Badger Lee Road, just west of J.T. Stites Boulevard.

Security footage of the truck at the Cherokee Casino taken at 12:20 a.m. revealed that Gentry was driving the truck and Webster was a passenger.

Later on Jan. 19, a Sequoyah County Sheriff’s deputy spoke with Gentry’s aunt, who wrote in a statement that “Jeff came up here in a maroon truck by himself.” Law enforcement then spoke with Nelson Hobbs because they had been told he had slit the tires on the stolen truck because of an argument between him and Gentry. Hobbs is also Webster’s former partner. Hobbs stated that Gentry said the truck was his and that he got it over by the casino and Webster was just a passenger.

On Jan. 20, a detective made contact with Cody Worst at the Motel 6 in Sallisaw. He advised the detective that Webster told him she had a flat-screen television, still in the box, for sale. Worst said he posted it online and as he was leaving the motel, a maroon Chevrolet pickup with a flatbed trailer pulled up.

Worst further stated that the next Monday, Webster called him and said they needed help with a flat on the truck. Worst said Webster also had a porcelain doll worth $5,000, which is believed to have been stolen in an August 2020 burglary.

In an interview at the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office, Webster said a man named Harold had come to her apartment while Roger Young and Gentry were there discussing the trailer and tractor. Harold said he wanted them and would trade the two men 4 ounces of methamphetamine for the items. The next night, she said, Gentry was driving a maroon GMC truck they had allegedly stolen. Gentry ran from police and they got away by running into a field after dumping the truck. Webster said Young rode in the truck and had a part in stealing it.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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Marquez Charged After Family Squabble

A Muldrow man was arrested Jan. 17 and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, court records reveal.

Raymond Marquez, 24, faces up to 10 years in the State Penitentiary on the felony count.

On Jan. 16, a Sequoyah County Sheriff’s deputy was on patrol when he was dispatched in reference to a knife assault. Upon his arrival he came into contact with Marquez, who said he and his family had been drinking. He said he had touched his younger sister on the shoulder and his brother, Gauge Marquez, asked him to stop pushing her. Raymond told his brother he was not pushing her and touched her on the shoulder again. That’s when, he said, Gauge pushed him, prompting Raymond to hit Gauge in the face with a spatula.

The deputy then made contact with Gauge, who had a small laceration on his right cheek. Gauge said Raymond had pushed his sister several times. After the fifth push, Gauge said Raymond hit him in the face with a knife, causing the laceration, and then placed him in a chokehold. Another brother, Anthony, was able to pull Raymond off Gauge, who described the weapon as a blue steak knife.

Raymond Marquez was then placed under arrest and transported to the Sequoyah County Jail.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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Gore Police Seeking Truck Involved in Break-Ins

The Gore Police Department is seeking the public’s help in finding a truck that was spotted at several Sequoyah County nursing homes where vehicle break-ins occurred.

Gore police officer Tracy Christenberry said Tuesday that the truck, which was occupied by a black male and a white male, was seen at nursing homes in Gore, Roland and Vian and several cars were found to be broken into after they left.

Christenberry said the truck appears to be a 2020 or 2021 model and it has lights across the cab.

If you have any information, have seen this vehicle or know the owner, please contact the Gore Police Department at (918) 489-5963.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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CN Administers 10,000th Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine

Former Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Ross Swimmer is one of nearly 

6,000 Cherokee elders recently receiving a COVID-19 vaccine through the tribe. 

Last week the Cherokee Nation administered its 10,000th dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to Cherokee citizens falling within the tribe’s Phase 1 and Phase 2A priority distribution plan, including frontline health care workers, first-language Cherokee speakers, and Cherokee elders.

“From Day 1 of the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine arriving in the Cherokee Nation, we have prioritized Cherokee speakers, Cherokee elders and our health care workers who have been on the frontlines protecting all of us during the worst health crisis we’ve seen in generations,” said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “I appreciate our Health Services team for working so tirelessly to provide this vaccine to the most vulnerable in our communities. They have been effective and efficient in this process, and their work is saving lives every day.”

Nearly 60 percent of the tribe’s allotted COVID-19 vaccines have been provided to first-language Cherokee speakers, Cherokee National Treasures, and Cherokees elders since the first doses arrived on Dec. 14, 2020.

“This milestone for our health system is one we are excited to celebrate,” said Cherokee Nation Health Services Executive Director Dr. R. Stephen Jones. “It’s an encouragement to our health teams to have vaccinated this many of our staff, Cherokee speakers, National Treasures, elders and now even more groups as we have entered phase 2A of our vaccine distribution plan.”

Cherokee Nation’s Phase 2A is ongoing and includes teachers working for the Cherokee Nation, Cherokee Nation child care workers, food distribution program employees and other critical staff, as well as Cherokee citizens 55 and older.

“It’s important that our people take the vaccine as soon as possible, especially those at-risk citizens,” said former Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Ross Swimmer, one of the nearly 6,000 Cherokee elders recently receiving a COVID-19 vaccine through the tribe. “From the time I started learning about this vaccine several months ago, it clearly is the best opportunity people have to avoid getting the COVID virus. It would be a shame if Cherokees didn’t take advantage of this. I want to encourage all of our Cherokee elders to come in and get this vaccine. This is a landmark project and I want to express my thanks to Chief Hoskin for his work, and to the medical providers for their efforts.”

Vaccinations are being administered by appointment only for established Cherokee Nation Health Services patients with a medical chart who fall within Phase 1 and 2A of the tribe’s phased distribution plan, which is available online at health.cherokee.org.

Individuals who meet phased distribution criteria can schedule an appointment by calling 1-539-234-4099. Qualifying appointments are being scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, excluding holidays. Walk-ins are not being taken at this time.

“Vaccine uptake among our health care staff has also been an inspiration for others who meet phase criteria to get vaccinated,” Jones said. “We share our vaccine stories and educate one other to encourage even higher vaccine uptake among our health staff.”

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, including answers to frequently asked questions, or to find Cherokee Nation Health Service registration forms and the latest updates to the Cherokee Nation COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan, visit health.cherokee.org.

There were more than 13,800 positive cases of COVID-19 within the Cherokee Nation as of Jan. 28. Cherokee Nation Health Services has reported 90 deaths caused by COVID-19.

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