Hugo News

05/30/2026

In the mid-60s, Hugo News Publisher Jack Stamper was elected to serve as Hugo Little League Commissioner. Stamper had previously searched for a celebrity to throw out the first ball to kick off the summer baseball season. One of his celebrities was former Major League Pitcher Pepper Martin. This time Stamper found a major television star who had a grandmother who lived in Choctaw County. It was Jon Provost, star of the multi-year television hit... LASSIE. (TIMMY). Stamper made the connection and picked Provost up in Fort Smith. Shull-Bywaters baseball park was packed when Timmy threw out the first ball and lots of pictures were made and autographs as well. Stamper introduced Jon to the Hanson family that lived next to some property Stamper owned on Fallon Road. The attached photo is of the Lassie Star with the Hanson Boys on the family's front porch. Stamper later had "Bullet Bob Hayes" the star receiver of the Dallas Cowboys to speak at a Hugo All-Sports Banquet while L.D. Baines was head Coach.
Provost enjoyed his 2-week summer visit with the Stamper family and called a few months later to ask if he could return the next summer for more canoeing, hunting and fishing on Little River and Glover River. The Stampers were happy to oblige and remained friends with the TV star for many years.

05/29/2026

More from the Hugo Daily News Scrapbook...

05/29/2026

As Hugo's Rodeo/Homecoming week for 2026 continues... today's look-back into the community scrapbook focuses on just a few HHS Sports events... Who do you recognize? Some are no longer with us... but they left their mark on our community... our school... and our hearts.

05/28/2026

Good things usually happen when the people roll up their sleeves and pay attention to the details that keep important things going. The PRCA Rodeo has survived through constant attention to these details including arena repairs and following big dreams that attract top Cowboys and Cowgirls. There are similar microcosms throughout any community with individual supporters. The common thread for success... is hard work.

05/27/2026

Hugo's Biggest Events of the year (PRCA RODEO and Hugo Homecoming) are getting underway today (WED) and we're going to turn back the pages of time in Hugo to interesting events, places and people who have made contributions to the area's rich history. We invite you to share memories about some of these historical gems taken from the pages of the Hugo Daily News. (This week's Hugo News is available on news stands today and includes this year's Rodeo and Homecoming Editions, featuring welcomes and notices from area businesses.)

05/27/2026

The Hugo Rodeo & Homecoming begin this week. Welcome rodeo fans and Hugo alumni! Events kick off this evening with the rodeo slack at the Todd Whatley / Lige Hammock Arena. See today’s Hugo News for more details and events.

05/04/2026

If you have occasion to be in the downtown Hugo area, take a look at the sidewalk in front of the Hugo News. It's sparkling clean, thanks to Joe Williams pressure washing. The downtown sidewalks are actually City of Hugo Property, and haven't been pressure washed in many years (if ever). The clean look would be nice for all of downtown Hugo, where most of the local businesses collect taxes that keep the city going. Area citizens and businesses might considering asking the Hugo Council to offer a contract to an area business to keep the downtown area more clean. Right now is "BUDGET CONSIDERATION TIME" by the Mayor and council for the next year. Some funds for streets would also be in order. The budget has to be completed and approved by the Council in the next 4-6 weeks.

04/15/2026

OSBI follows up on officer-involved shooting...

OSBI INVESTIGATES OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING IN BOKCHITO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
APRIL 15, 2026

BOKCHITO, OK – On April 13, 2026, the Bokchito Police Department requested the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to investigate an officer-involved shooting.

At around 6:45 p.m., officers with the Bokchito Police Department located 46-year-old Teddy Kelsey walking along Impson Street in Bokchito. Officers determined that Kelsey had an arrest warrant through the Choctaw Tribal Courts.

When officers approached Kelsey, he brandished a firearm and discharged his weapon. Kelsey then fled on foot, leading to a pursuit.

Kelsey made his way to his residence near Ballpark Road and East Street. A baseball game was occurring in that same area; thus, the Bokchito Police Department, Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office assisted in securing the field.

Bokchito Police officers and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol responded to Kelsey’s residence. As officers approached the home, Kelsey again brandished a firearm, leading to an officer-involved shooting.

Medical personnel provided life-saving measures to Kelsey; however, he was pronounced deceased on scene. There were no other injuries during the altercation and this is still an ongoing investigation.

The OSBI appreciates the Bokchito Police Department, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the Bryan County Sheriff's Office for their continued assistance with this investigation.

04/14/2026

Oklahoma Well Owner Network to host second Get Well-Informed free water testing day
The Oklahoma Well Owner Network program offered through Oklahoma State University Extension and OSU’s Oklahoma Water Resources Center will host a “Get Well-Informed” free well water testing event for residents in 14 counties across southeast Oklahoma this spring.
The locations listed below will receive samples from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on May 1. Analysis results will be provided directly to well owners via email, or mail if email is not an option.
• Choctaw County Extension.
• McCurtain County Extension.
• Pushmataha County Extension.
Well owners interested in the free well water analysis are encouraged to contact the nearest county OSU Extension office for instructions on collecting a sample or visit the OWON website. The well water screening aims to help well owners better understand and safeguard their drinking water quality. Contact information for each county can be found on OSU Extension’s county map or Oklahoma Water Resources Center’s website.
“In 2018, we surveyed citizens across Oklahoma on what their biggest water resource concerns were,” said Kevin Wagner, Oklahoma Water Resources Center director. “Consistently across the state, Oklahomans’ key concern was drinking water quality.”
“This program helps citizens get their well water screened for key contaminants and then provides them with information on how to address any concerns identified,” said Jeff Sadler, OSU biosystems and agricultural engineering assistant professor and OSU Extension water resources specialist.
Water samples will be screened for nitrates, total dissolved solids, pH and E.coli presence. Sadler will also provide participants with an informational post-event Zoom to help understand results.
The program is facilitated by the Oklahoma Water Resources Center and OSU biosystems and agricultural engineering department, in conjunction with OSU Extension county offices, Southeast Oklahoma Library System, and other participating partners with funding support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
To learn more about the Get-Well Informed testing event, contact Sadler at 405.744.8429 or [email protected].

04/09/2026

There are many wonderful stories and technologies that arise out of the American Aerospace journey... This is one of them that shines a light on the incredible people who risk their lives to support this important mission... — Stan Stamper

"That was, I think, where the four of us were the most forged, the most bonded, and we came out of that really focused on that day ahead."