Tribal Council Approves Historic Registry Act

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. addresses the 

Council of the Cherokee Nation during a Dec. 16 meeting in Tahlequah. 

The Council of the Cherokee Nation on Monday approved legislation proposed by Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. to protect and preserve historical tribal sites.

Under the act, the tribe’s Natural Resource office will create and maintain a database of historical sites. The act also makes it a crime to deface tribal historic sites listed on the registry, and incorporates a permit system for excavation and manipulation of cultural resources on historic sites.

“Several months ago, I called Chief Hoskin with an idea. My idea was to create a Cherokee registry of historic places. I wanted to ensure the important historic places of those who came before us were never forgotten,” said District 14 Tribal Councilor Keith Austin, of Claremore. “This act does that and so much more. I am honored to have been part of the team that made this happen. Thanks go to Chief Hoskin and Secretary of Natural Resources Chad Harsha and the unanimous support of the Council for their quick action, giving us the tools to save our history.”

The act was first announced in November by Chief Hoskin at the historic Saline Courthouse in Delaware County, which is one of around 80 locations that have been identified within the Cherokee Nation’s 14-county tribal jurisdiction for potential inclusion on the tribe’s registry.

“With the approval of the Historic Registry Act by the Council of the Cherokee Nation, we can continue our efforts to preserve and protect our historic sites,” said Chief Hoskin. “These locations are rich in Cherokee history and must not be forgotten, and this legislation ensures we keep these sacred grounds safe while passing them along to future generations of Cherokees. I applaud the Council’s passage of this act.”

During Monday’s meeting, the Council of the Cherokee Nation also approved:

A resolution for Cherokee Nation Health Services to donate a metal building to Maryetta Public Schools in Adair County.

The reappointment of Wayne Coldwell as a board member of the Cherokee Nation Comprehensive Care Agency.

The next Council meeting will be held Jan. 13 at the W.W. Keeler Complex in Tahlequah.

KXMX News Staff

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Sallisaw Man Arrested

Jerry Dewayne Rogers

On Dec. 18, Jerry Dewayne Rogers, 57, of Sallisaw was booked into the Sequoyah County Jail on charges of Rape by Instrumentation and Lewd Molestation. 

An arrest warrant was issued for Rogers after an investigation by Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Investigator, Cindy Smith. 

The investigation report lays out numerous detailed incidents that occurred between Rogers and an underage female minor. The incidents began in 2011, when the juvenile was 8 years old, and continued through 2016 when the juvenile was 12 years of age. 

Rogers denied the allegations during his interview and refused to take a polygraph administered by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. 

The arrest warrant was issued with a bond amount of $50,000. 

KXMX News Staff

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Tahlequah Woman Killed in One-car Crash

A Tahlequah woman died Tuesday after a one-vehicle accident in Cherokee County.

Alicia N. Lucas, 22, was pronounced dead at the scene by Northeast Health Systems emergency medical services.

The accident occurred at 4:37 p.m. Tuesday on State Highway 82, which is 4.6 miles north of Tahlequah.

According to the accident report, Lucas was driving a 2018 Dodge Challenger at a high rate of speed when the vehicle left the roadway for an unknown reason and struck several trees. Lucas was thrown about 20 feet away from the Challenger, which burst into flames.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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Commissioners Lower Speed Limit on East Delaware Ave.

County commissioners on Monday approved lowering the speed limit on East Delaware Avenue to 30 mph in an effort to cut down on the number of semi-trailers speeding through the area. The panel also approved setting the gross weight limit on that road at over eight tons.

District 3 Commissioner Jim Rogers said an increase in traffic in that area (also known as Old Golf Course Road) has led to fears that children may be injured or killed when the speeding vehicles travel on that street.

The panel also approved a planned survey of the Sheriff’s impound lot, 106 E. Creek Ave. Officials want to ensure that the impound lot is fenced properly. “We just want to make sure we know our boundaries,” said Ray Watts, the commissioner for District 1.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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It’s Time to Request Absentee Ballots

Voters who want to vote by absentee ballot for the 2020 election year should submit their absentee ballot applications to their county election board as soon as possible, the Sequoyah County Election Board secretary said Tuesday. 

Voters can request ballots for individual elections or for all elections they are eligible to vote in during the 2020 election year. Voters are urged to apply early.

“We have many federal, state and local elections coming up this year. Signing up for absentee ballots is a great way to make sure you stay informed and never miss an election,” said Cindy Osborn, county election board secretary.

Applications are available at the Sequoyah County Election Board, 110 E. Creek St., or they can be downloaded at elections.ok.gov. Voters can also apply electronically using the state election board’s OK Voter Portal at elections.ok.gov/ovp.

Osborn reminds voters that requests must be submitted no later than the Wednesday before the first election in which the voter would like to participate. The first election for Sequoyah County is Feb. 11, 2020. The list of elections can be found at elections.ok.gov.

For more information on requesting absentee ballots or registering to vote, contact the Sequoyah County Election Board at (918) 775-2614. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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Freeman Retiring From Animal Welfare Post

Randy Freeman,  pictured with Rascal, one of countless 

special "friends" that received a happy ending.

After 15 years of service, Sallisaw’s Animal Welfare Supervisor Randy Freeman is leaving his post, effective Dec. 31.

Freeman, who previously worked for the city as a police services supervisor, says he is most proud of changing the face of animal shelters during his time at his post. “This is a 95 percent live-release shelter,” and the department does a lot more than just pick up stray animals, he said.

Freeman’s retirement from the Sallisaw Animal Care Facility and as the animal welfare supervisor means that the city will soon be advertising that the position is open. This is a hired position, not an appointed or elected one, he said.

When asked if he had any advice for his successor, Freeman stressed the importance of being kind, being generous to people and being there for the stray animal population around the city. “Everyone deserves an animal,” Freeman said, and every animal deserves a loving home.

Freeman said the favorite part of his job is that he gets to work closely with his wife, Ro Freeman, who runs the not-for-profit Guardian Angels animal rescue project. Ro Freeman has been the volunteer coordinator for the program for 10 years. Freeman also said one of his favorite tasks at work is giving “my” dogs cookies and seeing them go to their forever homes. “It’s just like a birthday party for us,” he said.

The outgoing shelter supervisor also discussed the future for the city’s animal care facility. “I hope to see a marriage between the city and the county to provide rescue services throughout the entire county,” Freeman said.

Freeman also stressed the importance of micro-chipping animals so that if they become lost, “we can ensure that they are going home.” He said he hopes to be remembered by Sallisaw residents as “just a good guy who really loves animals.”

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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Project C.A.R.E. Delivers Goods to Sequoyah Manor Nursing Home

Front l to r: Montana Farmer, Micky Solomon, and Kaylinn Mills.

Back  l to r: Gabriel Timmerman, Daryl Legg and daughter Ava, 

Myron Osburn, and Dylan Bychanan.

Through a campus-wide collaboration, Carl Albert State College delegates recently distributed hand-made corn husk dolls to residents of The Sequoyah Manor in Sallisaw.

In November, CASC departments collaborated to create Project C.A.R.E. (Collaborating Areas, Respecting the Elderly) as one of the initiatives developed through celebrating Native American Heritage Month.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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