JBU, CASC Sign Degree Agreement

Representatives from John Brown University (JBU) and Carl Albert State College (CASC) signed a memorandum of understanding on Aug. 19 to facilitate a seamless transfer of courses from CASC to JBU.

The partnership creates a pathway for students to earn an associate’s degree from CASC and then complete their bachelor’s degree at JBU.

Formed out of a mutual desire to serve students, the agreement allows students to enter into JBU’s traditional undergraduate programs on the main campus in Siloam Springs, or JBU’s Degree Completion Programs in Fort Smith and online.

Students must complete 45 credit hours in their designated program courses at CASC and apply to JBU with a GPA of 2.5 or higher to be eligible for admission at JBU.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Firefighters Rescue Truck Driver

Blackgum, Chicken Creek and Sallisaw Fire Departments worked together to rescue the driver of a Sue’s Recycling garbage truck Monday morning. The driver (name unavailable) was pinned in the cab of the truck for about four hours.

Rescuers were told that Monday was the driver’s first day on the job.

“The truck was loaded and heavy,” Sallisaw Fire Chief Anthony Armstrong said. “He missed a curve on State Highway 82, north of McQuick’s store, left the road, and went down an embankment into a ravine. The cab was crushed and his legs were pinned.”

While firemen worked to free the driver, paramedics with Pafford EMS were on the scene and were treating the driver with fluids and pain medications, Armstrong said.

The Sallisaw Rescue Truck was called to the scene at 10:42 a.m. 

“We had to pry, cut and bend” the truck, Armstrong said. He added the truck was also unstable as rescuers worked. The trapped man was conscious the entire time, he added.

When freed at about 12:45 p.m., he was transported to an area hospital by helicopter.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Free@. . .Your Library: Bee Basics

Presley Wilson will be teaching interested persons of all ages about bees and the basics of beekeeping Thursday at Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library in Sallisaw.

The free program offers two sessions. Adults may learn about beekeeping from 2 to 4 p.m. at the library. Teens may learn about beekeeping in a special session to be held from 4 to 6 p.m.

For more information contact the library at 918-775-4481.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Workshop Planned on New Autism Insurance

The Pervasive Parenting Center (PPC) and Oklahomans for Autism Insurance Reform will host a workshop next month to provide insurance training to families in eastern Oklahoma. 

The organizations will present a workshop on the new autism insurance laws recently passed with House Bill 2962, and answer questions. The workshop will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 15 at Carl Albert State College in Sallisaw.

“The new laws go into effect in November,” said Kodey Toney, PPC director. “There are still a lot of questions that many people, myself included, have about what this covers and what it can mean for our children and family members. That’s why I’m so glad they contacted us to set this up.”

The event is free and is open to all parents, professionals, educators, and care-providers.

“(I want to say) a huge thank you to Judith Ursitti with Autism Speaks for speaking at these events and leading us as we begin the important implementation phase,” said Tara Hood, head of the Oklahomans for Autism Insurance Reform.

To register for the event visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/autism-insurance-workshop-sallisaw-tickets-27220688813. For questions contact Kodey Toney @ 918-658-5076 or ktoney@pervasiveparentingcenter.org. 

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Boy Saved from Choking by Subway Employee

A grateful mother, Samantha Compton of Vian, took the photo above of her son, Bryson Pack, and Mickayla Daniels at Subway in Vian on Aug. 9, just after Mickayla saved Bryson from choking with the Heimlich maneuver.

Mickayla, who has only worked at the Subway shop for three weeks, was honored by the company Wednesday when she was given a lifesaving certificate at a regional meeting.

Mickayla said she was working in the back behind the counter when she heard a commotion on Aug. 9.

“A boy was choking and his mother was panicking,” Mickayla recalled. Mickayla said she made her way to the table and told Compton she could perform the Heimlich maneuver if she wished. Compton told her to go ahead.

“I wrapped my arms around him and did a hard pressure up against the ribs,” Mickayla said. The action saved Bryson so he could make it to his 13th birthday just two days later on Aug. 11, Mickayla said.

Mickayla is only age 20 herself.

She said performing the lifesaving maneuver wasn’t easy, since Bryson is taller and heavier than she is, and because she is pregnant.

MIckayla said she learned the Heimlich maneuver when she was taking a babysitting class at the age of 13, and she refreshed her training when she was pregnant with her first child.

Mickayla is modest about being honored because she saved Bryson from choking, and perhaps a bit embarrassed. She related what happened last week when she was awarded the lifesaving certificate by Subway at that meeting.

“Everybody clapped,” she said shyly, and she seemed to be surprised at the honor.

But there’s one Vian family who is happy that Mickayla isn’t shy when it comes to saving a life with her Heimlich training.

Samantha Compton posted on Facebook, “She is a hero. She literally saved his life. He could not breathe!!!! I’m so grateful to her and ‘Thank you’ just doesn’t seem to be enough.”

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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School Bond Votes Are Tuesday

Residents of the Gore School District and the Gans School District may vote on bonds issues for their school districts on Tuesday.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the following:

For Gore School District

-201—Landmark Missionary Baptist Church;

-203—Vian Nutrition Center;

-208—Blackgum Community Center;

-209—Gore Senior Center; and

-210—West Tenkiller Fire Department.

For Gans School District 

-102—Rural Water Department, U.S. Highway 64;

-103—Muldrow Public Library;

-303—Agent Mallory Martin Reception Hall;

-304—Brent Community Center;

-305—Central Fire Department; and

-310—Gans City Hall.

Gore School District

The Gore School bond proposal, for $4.9 million, if approved, will provide the school and community with a 26,170-square-foot events center for use by the school and the community, including an auditorium with a stage for school and community events, safe rooms on both the high school and elementary campuses, a multi-use concession stand, high school and junior high football and basketball dressing rooms, a training room for teams that doubles as a hospitality room for events and a classroom, plus parking on three sides for patrons.

The two safe rooms will also double as classrooms. At the high school the safe room will be used as a band room during the day. The elementary safe room will double as a learning lab during the school day. The safe rooms will be available to the public in times of emergency after school hours.

The stage and auditorium would have seating sufficient for tournaments, community events, graduations, plays, contests, funerals or any other need of the school or community.

The cost will be a monthly increase of $2.61 per month per $100 of yearly tax, or $6.53 per month per $250 tax, or $13.06 per month for a yearly tax bill of $500.

According to school officials the bond mills would average 26.88 mills over the life of the 10-year bond.

Gans School District

Gans School is also planning a vote on two bonds, for a total of $455,000. One bond proposal is for $315,000 and one is for $140,000.

The $315,000 is for the purchase of new school buses and two school vehicles. The $140,000 is for the construction equipping, repairing and remodeling of school buildings – gymnasium – and for the purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment.

If approved, the bond would cost about 73 cents a month for each $100 of ad valorem tax paid.

The Aug. 23 election date was set aside by the state for a run-off election. However, there are no runoff elections in Sequoyah County, and the bond issues will be the only choices on the ballots, and the elections will only be in the respective school districts.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Pocola Woman Charged for Donation Jar Thefts

A Pocola woman, accused of stealing donation jars from six Sallisaw businesses, was charged in Sequoyah County District Court in Sallisaw with six counts of petit larceny, all misdemeanors. She faces two more petit larceny charges in LeFlore County District Court where an arrest warrant has also been issued for her.

Andrea Ray Lyons, 42, (above) is accused of stealing donation jars in Sallisaw on Aug. 5. The misdemeanor petit larceny charges estimate the jars contained $500 or less, since there is no way of knowing how much money the jars actually contained.

The donation jars were designated for Forever Friends Humane Society and a child who has cerebral palsy, according to the investigator’s report filed with the charges.

Sallisaw police were informed of all the thefts on Aug. 5. Lyons was arrested at the Choctaw Nation Casino in Pocola on Aug. 6 and returned to Sallisaw where she spoke with Sallisaw police.

According to the police report, Lyons told the officer that she “had been down on her luck and needed money and a female that she only knows as Joyce offered her $50 a day if she would collect the donation jars and bring them to her.”

The officer reports Lyons could not tell him who “Joyce” was, her phone number or address. The officer reports, “I do not believe there is a female named Joyce.”

Lyons’ next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 23 on Special District Judge Matt Orendorff’s misdemeanor docket. She is free on a $6,000 bond. Lyons is suspected of stealing such donation jars from other businesses in other area cities.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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