Vian Student Suspended, Suspected of Threat

A Vian male student is suspended from school and parents and others are flooding Facebook after a parent posted that the student made a threat against the school.

Such threats are cropping up across the country since a shooting left 17 dead at a Florida school on Feb. 14.

Vian School Superintendent Victor Salcido and Vian Law Enforcement could not, by law, release any details about the threat at Vian School. 

Salcido did report the student was suspended. He said school officials learned of the threat on Thursday and called law enforcement.

“Law enforcement was immediately informed. They have been there from early this morning, all day,” Salcido said Tuesday. “We have been prepared since Thursday when we first heard of the threat, and law enforcement was contacted at that time.

“We take everything like this very seriously,” Salcido said. “We appreciate our students who did the right thing.”

Salcido said the students reported the threat, which was allegedly posted on social media, and parents also spread the word on social media.

Salcido said the school has a policy to handle terroristic threats.

“We investigate then we contact the authorities,” Salcido said.

Vian Assistant Police Chief Gary Summers confirmed that Vian police were at the school, but could say little else because of law constraints.

“We are still investigating (the threat),” Summers said Tuesday morning. “We were at the school early this morning.”

District Attorney Jack Thorp was in meetings all morning on Tuesday in Tahlequah, and had not heard about the threat.

He explained that punishment for such a threat runs from being a misdemeanor to being a felony, depending on the extent of the threat. Basically, if the threat is only a threat, with no action taken toward harm, the threat can be ruled a misdemeanor, which would mean a stay in a juvenile detention center for a juvenile or zero to six months in the county jail for an adult. If there is an intention of a violent act and steps taken toward that goal, imprisonment could range from zero to 10 years.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Little Texas to Play in Roland

Country music group Little Texas will perform a free show at 

Lee Creek Tavern inside Cherokee Casino & Hotel Roland on Feb. 24.

The country-rock group Little Texas is sharing hit singles from throughout the band’s career on the Lee Creek Tavern stage at the Cherokee Casino in Roland.

The free, standing room-only show begins at 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Founded in Nashville, the multiplatinum-selling band was responsible for shaking up the country charts with a new sound that fused modern rock music with traditional country themes and styles. The band was rewarded by sales of more than 7 million albums, three Grammy nominations, Vocal Group of the Year by the Academy of Country Music and Album of the Year by the Country Music Association.

Little Texas’ first single, “Some Guys Have All the Love,” peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard US Country charts. The single was followed by others from the debut album, “First Time for Everything,” including “You and Forever and Me,” “What Were You Thinkin’,” “I’d Rather Miss You” and the title track. Each single landed in the Top 20 on Billboard, while the album reached RIAA US gold.

Other popular hits from the band include “What Might Have Been,” “God Blessed Texas,” “Amy’s Back in Austin,” “Kick a Little” and the Billboard No. 1 single “My Love.”

In 1996 the band also charted “Kiss the Girl,” a song from the Disney film “The Little Mermaid.” The single reached No. 52 on the US Country Charts and was recorded on The Best of Country Sing the Best of Disney Album.

Little Texas has released one live album and 10 studio albums, including the 1993 double platinum album, “Big Time,” and the 1994 gold album, “Kick a Little.”

For more information on Little Texas, visit www.littletexas.com.

Cherokee Casino & Hotel Roland is located off Highway 64 on Cherokee Boulevard in Roland.

For more information, visit www.cherokeecasino.com or call (800) 256-2338. All guests must be a least 21 years of age to attend.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Members Honored at Chamber Banquet

Judy Martens, left, Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce executive director, presented outgoing chamber President Cheryl Mills with a wrapped gift, which she opened later, at the annual Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce Banquet held Saturday at the Sallisaw Middle School. Jeff Mayo is the 2018 chamber president.

Jesse Martin, Oklahoma State University Senior Associate Athletic Director of External Affairs, was the keynote speaker at the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce 70th Anniversary and Annual Recognition Banquet. Martin spoke on The Power of Orange.

Nan Stites, left, presented members of the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class with their certificates and presented the graduates to the chamber members at their annual banquet. For more information on Leadership Class training contact the chamber at 918-775-2558.

Rick and Rhonda Nicholson of A-OK Printing and Perfectly Posh Boutique, left, were presented with the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce Member of the Year award at the annual Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet. Chamber President Cheryl Mills, right, presented the award.

Bryan Warner, left, was awarded the Chuck Sainer Community Spirit Award at the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet Saturday. Marley Abell, right, the chamber board of directors president elect, presented the award to Warner, who also serves on the board

Treye Girdner, right, was praised for his volunteer efforts with the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce at the chamber’s award banquet Saturday, including his efforts with the parking committee at Diamond Daze, the chamber-sponsored festival. For his efforts, Girdner was presented with the Outstanding Festival Volunteer award by Gary Schaefer, left. 

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Sanders Sentenced to 65 Months

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Muskogee announced Friday that Kevin Wayne Sanders Jr., 29, of Sallisaw was sentenced to 65 months imprisonment, and six years supervised release for the distribution of oxycodone.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Sallisaw Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

U.S. Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “The misuse of Oxycodone and other prescription pain medications is wreaking havoc on our communities. Those people that unlawfully distribute those drugs do so for their own profit without regard for the lives that will be devastated, and they must be stopped. The investigation and prosecution of the defendant has stopped him from further distribution and hopefully will deter others from getting involved in the drug trade business. The law enforcement agencies that contributed to this investigation should be commended for their efforts.”

U.S. District Judge Ronald A. White presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Hammer represented the United States. 

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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53rd Junior Livestock Show Is Feb. 21-23

The 53rd Sequoyah County Junior Livestock Show will be held Feb. 21 through 23 at the Sequoyah County Fairgrounds in Sallisaw.

The livestock show is sponsored by the many members of the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce, and features a Bidders Barbecue at 6 p.m. on Friday (Feb. 23), followed by the premium auction at 7 pm. Friday.

The show begins on Wednesday (Feb. 21). Wednesday’s schedule includes goats, lambs, heifers and steers, along with goat, sheep and beef showmanship. Animals will be checked in between 9 a.m. and noon, and showing begins at 5 p.m.

Swine will be shown on Thursday (Feb.22), and check-in is again between 9 a.m. and noon. Showing begins at 5 p.m. and includes swine showmanship.

Sinclair Armstrong of Vian is again in charge of the Bidders Barbecue, which is open to everyone.

Auctioneer Tommy Wright will be the auctioneer for the premium auction.

For more information contact the OSU Extension Office in the Sequoyah County Courthouse in Sallisaw or call 918-775-2368.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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New Ag Agent Arrives Tuesday

Jennifer Patterson of Stilwell, Sequoyah County’s new Oklahoma State University (OSU) Extension Educator, will be introduced to Sequoyah County Commissioners at their meeting on Tuesday.

She replaces Tony Yates who retired in December. Yates served as the county ag agent for 33 years.

Randy Pirtle, OSU Northeast Regional Director for 24 counties, said Patterson will serve both Adair and Sequoyah Counties, but will spend most of this week in Sequoyah County because of the Livestock Show Wednesday through Friday.

Pirtle said OSU agents are having to double up on counties due to budget constraints.

“Unfortunately it’s just the way we have to do things now,” Pirtle said.

He added that 12 counties in the northeast region have doubled up now, and more are planned.

Earlier, OSU officials said last year that, statewide, about 20 Oklahoma counties are sharing their agents on a rotating basis, due to funding cutbacks. In 2014 the service received $55 million a year in funding, but in 2018 that funding has been cut to $42 million.

Pirtle said Patterson began in Adair County on Thursday. She has an animal science degree from OSU, and a veterinarian technician certificate. She also teaches vet tech at Tulsa.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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Veterans Fundraiser Will Feature Local Bands

Steeldust

A Sallisaw woman, who is the mother of two veterans, is hoping to raise funds to erect a suicide-prevention sign next to Interstate 40.

Linda Tibbitts has enlisted the help of the VFW Waylon Staffan Post 4518 in Sallisaw to help her with the project.

Tibbitts’ son Rich served in the U.S. Navy and son Steven served for 18 years with the U.S. Marines. Both are now disabled.

Linda said she felt the need to help veterans, and she has planned a concert with a silent auction and prize drawings on March 3. The event will be held at the Sequoyah County Fairgrounds in Sallisaw.

Tibbitts said the concert will feature the Steeldust band from 2 to 4 p.m., The Lawman band from 4 to 6 p.m., and the California Country band from 6 to 9 p.m.

Local merchants are donating items and merchandise for the auction and drawings, and will be providing food for a concession stand.

Admission will be $10 per person or $25 for a family of three or four. Tickets for the drawings will be $1 each or six tickets for $5. The winners do not need to be present to win.

For more information contact Linda Tibbitts at 918-208-9854.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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