Make-A-Wish Fundraiser Kicks Off Saturday at Noon

Head out to the Garrison Creek Arena in Muldrow today for the Make-a-Wish fundraising event.

Gates will be opened for the event at 10 a.m. and all the action will begin at noon, said organizer Linda Hicks.

Events on the agenda include barrel races, a chili cook-off, pony rides and games for the kids and a “Vendor Alley” for shopping.

Tickets are $10 for adults and that price includes the chili and fixings, as well as games and other entertainment. Children’s tickets are $5 after 2 p.m. and kids under age 10 can get a $5 armband for entry.

T-shirts for the event’s barrel racers and shirts featuring a Make-A-Wish Christmas design will be available for purchase. The shirts will sell for $15 for barrel racing and $20 for the holiday-themed shirt.

All proceeds from the event will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Oklahoma chapter.

It will cost $20 to enter your favorite chili recipe in the cook-off. The first-prize winner will receive a grill, and there are cash prizes for second- and third-place winners.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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Collision Leaves One Dead

A two-vehicle accident that occurred east of Tahlequah at approximately 5:08 p.m. Wednesday left a Tahlequah woman dead and four others injured.

The accident occurred on U.S. Highway 62 at Oakdale Road, 4.8 miles east of Tahlequah. 

According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) report, the cause and details of the accident are still under investigation.

Javier Garay-Trejo, 24, of Stilwell, was driving a 2003 Chevrolet pickup and had a 6-year-old male passenger. Both were transported by Pafford EMS to NE Health Systems in Tahlequah for head injuries where they were treated and released.

Billy Crittenden, 36, of Tahlequah was driving the second vehicle, a 2010 Dodge Charger. Crittenden was transported by Cherokee Nation EMS to NE Health Systems in Tahlequah for arm, head and trunk injuries. He was admitted in stable condition.

An 11-year-old female passenger in Crittenden's vehicle was also transported by Cherokee Nation EMS to NE Health Systems where she was admitted in stable condition with a head injury.

Stephanie Lynell Williams, 34, of Tahlequah, also a passenger in Crittenden's vehicle, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The report states that the cause, driver conditions and usage of seatbelts are all still under investigation.

Assisting the OHP were the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department, Welling Fire Department, Tahlequah Fire Department, Cherokee Nation EMS, Pafford EMS, and NE Health Systems EMS.

KXMX News Staff

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Halloween on Elm Planned for Oct. 31

The City of Sallisaw is having its annual “Halloween on Elm Street” Halloween celebration from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31.

“This is a great opportunity for people to bring their children down. It’s a safe environment for kids to get candy and a way for folks to get a feel for what Sallisaw is all about," Sallisaw Police Chief Terry Franklin said in an interview Monday.

This is the 13th year the Sallisaw Police Department has held the event on Elm Street in downtown Sallisaw, which will be blocked off for everyone’s safety.

“We couldn’t do it without organizations (around the city) that help out,” Franklin said.

Free hot dogs will be provided by Immanuel Baptist Church and there will be candy and inflatables as well. The event runs until about 8 p.m., or whenever the candy runs out, Franklin said.

The chief said nearly 4,000 children attended the event last year, and hopes are high for an even bigger turnout this year. Chuck Owens, the SPD’s support services supervisor, said 31 organizations and businesses have signed up to take part.

Music will be provided at the event by KXMX, The Mix 105.1.

For more information, call Owens at (918) 775-4177.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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Cherokee Official Reveals Park Plans; Times Member of the Month

Chamber President Marley Abell presents a plaque to members of the Mayo family and employees of The Sequoyah County Times as they were recognized as the chamber member of the month.

During Wednesday's monthly Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce meeting and visitors from around the community learned about plans for the National Cherokee Nation Park currently being constructed on Dwight Mission Road.

With a rendering of the park’s master plan in the background, James Thornton, director of national parks for Cherokee Nation Business, told audience members the project was originally started by his father, David Thornton, and former Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker.

“We are looking forward to the (park’s) economic impact in Sequoyah County,” Thornton said, adding that “there will be nothing like it in Oklahoma.”

Thornton estimated the park project will take about three years to complete. He said there will be 27 cabins built along the bluff line at Sallisaw Landing, which the Cherokee Nation took over in 1998 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Other planned amenities at the park include 55 recreational-vehicle spots, a community building, 80 boat slips available for rent, outdoor pavilions and a four-slip tournament-style boat ramp and 50 pull-through parking spaces that will be perfect for future bass tournaments. Thornton also said another facility the park will offer is an amphitheater for up to 750 people. A zipline station is also in the works. Additional amenities include a hotel-style swimming pool, a miniature golf course, splash pad and a 35-acre stocked lake.

Thornton said the Oklahoma Highway Patrol is considering moving its Cadet Lawmen program to the park in the future. There are currently no plans for a designated swimming area, Thornton said, but noted that plans are subject to change as the project gets deeper into the construction phase.

The facility will create 25-35 full-time job openings, Thornton said, and in the summer that number is expected to increase to about 60 positions.

At the beginning of the monthly meeting, Chamber President Marley Abell named the Sequoyah County Times as its October Member of the Month. 

In other action, Hailey Robinson with the Wagoner County District Attorney’s office, tried to make sense of new gun-carrying laws taking effect Nov. 1. She discussed how Oklahoma House Bill 2597 will impact business owners and pointed out the differences between open-carry rules and constitutional-carry rules.

The following events were also announced at the meeting:

*The Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce has scheduled its EVIVVA fundraiser for Saturday, Nov. 2, with a happy hour and social time beginning at 6:30 p.m. and dinner served at 7 p.m. The event will be at the Cherokee Casino & Hotel in Roland.

*On Nov. 11, the city will hold its annual Veterans Day Program at 11 a.m. at Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library.

*On Nov. 17, the chamber’s Christmas Open House will be from 1-5 p.m. at various businesses around town.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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Muzzleloader Deer Among Several Hunt Seasons to Start Saturday

Scouting for deer sign, these muzzleloader hunters have discovered a rub in the area they intend to hunt. Muzzleloader deer season will begin this Saturday in Oklahoma. (wildlifedepartment.com)

Several hunting seasons will be opening this Saturday, Oct. 26, including muzzleloader deer season. Also opening will be private lands elk muzzleloader, muzzleloader bear, sandhill crane and Zone 1 duck seasons.

Hunting seasons already open this Saturday include deer archery, private lands archery elk, archery bear, squirrel, rabbit, dove and crow.

Hunting with a muzzleloader — sometimes referred to as "primitive firearms" — pays homage to a traditional form of gun hunting from the early pioneering days of Oklahoma's history.

Last year, more than 77,000 hunters participated in muzzleloader deer season, according to the annual Big Game Report published in the September/October issue of Outdoor Oklahoma. Muzzleloader hunters reported 14,306 deer harvested during the nine-day season in 2018, about 13 percent of all deer taken during all 2018-19 seasons.

This year's muzzleloader deer season will close Nov. 3. Muzzleloader elk season remains open until Nov. 3 only in elk hunting zones where the seasonal harvest quotas have not yet been reached. Elk hunters must go online to the Elk Quota Page at wildlifedepartment.com to check the quota status of the zone they intend to hunt before they go afield.

Muzzleloader bear season will run through Nov. 3, or until the 20-bear season quota is reached. All bear hunters must buy a license before the season starts, and they must call (888) 901-3256 before going afield to check the status of the bear harvest quota.

Hunter orange clothing regulations are in effect when any big game firearms season is open, except for those hunting waterfowl, crow or sandhill crane.

For complete information and license requirements, consult the current Oklahoma Hunting and Fishing Regulations Guide found online at wildlifedepartment.com, on the Go Outdoors Oklahoma free mobile app for Apple or Android devices, or in print across the state wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold.

NEW ONLINE LICENSE SYSTEM

Everyone planning to go hunting this year is reminded to make sure that proper licenses or permits for each season have been obtained. This year, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is using a new online license system and mobile app with improved customer service features. This system is called Go Outdoors Oklahoma.

All hunters and anglers who have bought licenses in the past should already have a profile in Go Outdoors Oklahoma. Regardless, everyone ­— especially lifetime license holders — should take a few minutes and go online to GoOutdoorsOklahoma.com or click “Licensing” at wildlifedepartment.com and make sure their account is properly set up. Any new users should log on and create a new account.

Checking your profile now is important for future interactions with the Wildlife Department, including obtaining licenses and permits, using E-check, applying for controlled hunts and more. And with the new mobile app, sportsmen can now carry all of their licenses and permits digitally on their mobile device.

Of course, license and permits are still for sale at Wildlife Department headquarters in Oklahoma City and from license vendors across Oklahoma.

HUNTERS AGAINST HUNGER

As deer hunting opportunities expand throughout fall, the Wildlife Department and cooperating partners are gearing up for another season of the Hunters Against Hunter campaign.

Many Oklahomans have limited or inconsistent access to adequate food. Hunters can help. This program allows hunters who legally harvest a deer during any of the state's deer seasons to donate the meat to feed hungry Oklahomans. It's a cooperative program between hunters, local processors, food pantries and the Wildlife Department.

Participation by deer processors and hunters is the key to success. After E-checking their harvest, the hunter simply drops off the deer at any HAH processor. The hunter is asked to contribute a tax-deductible $10 to assist with processing expenses. The ground venison will then be distributed to hungry Oklahomans through a network of qualified, charitable organizations.

Any processor or organization wanting more information may call the Wildlife Department at (405) 521-4660.

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Shenandoah Brings Grammy-winning Hits to Cherokee Casino

In the last three decades, Shenandoah has charted an astounding 26 hit singles and earned many awards, including a Grammy. The country stars will perform their legendary hits at Lee Creek Tavern inside Cherokee Casino & Hotel Roland on Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. 

The show is free to the public. 

Originally created by five youngsters in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, in 1984, Shenandoah has evolved to become one of the most recognized names in country music. The band has released 10 studio albums, including the back-to-back gold albums “The Road Not Taken” in 1989 and “Extra Mile” in 1990, eight compilation albums and one extended play. 

Popular No. 1 hits include “Sunday in the South,” “The Church on Cumberland Road,” “Two Dozen Roses,” “Next to You, Next to Me” and “If Bubba Can Dance (I Can Too).” 

In a career full of awards, Shenandoah won the Academy of Country Music 1991 Vocal Group of the Year, Country Music Association Vocal Event of the Year in 1992 and a 1995 Grammy for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for their hit Alison Krauss collaboration, “Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Heart.” 

The band’s most recent album, “Good News Travels Fast,” was released on Daywood Roots Records. 

For more information on Shenandoah, visit www.shenandoahband.com. 

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

KXMX News Staff

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Sheriff's Office Aids in Investigation That Leads to Sentencing

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ronnie Anthony Martinez, age 42, of Fresno, California was sentenced to 152 months’ imprisonment, and 5 years of supervised release; and Charles Dewey Sellers III, age 44, of Atlanta, Georgia was sentenced to 241 months’ imprisonment, and 5 years of supervised release for Drug Conspiracy.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Sequoyah County Sherriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) McAlester Resident Office, the DEA Fresno Enforcement Group 1, the DEA Atlanta HIDTA Group 1, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, and the Oklahoma District 18 Drug Task Force. 

The Superseding Indictment alleged that beginning in or about November 2017, and continuing until on or about June 26, 2018, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the defendants, Charles Dewey Sellers, III, and Ronnie Anthony Martinez willfully and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated and agreed with others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to commit offenses against the United States in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846 as follows: to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual), a Schedule II controlled substance. 

U.S. Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “This investigation was led by agents in the DEA McAlester Resident Office and began as a result of information obtained by the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office. That information led investigators to numerous states and required assistance from other DEA offices and state and local agencies. Because of this team effort by agents and prosecutors in this office, a drug trafficking organization that had been distributing methamphetamine across several states has had its operations disrupted and its members are being held accountable.” 

The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearings. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon Henson represented the United States. 

KXMX News Staff

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