Okemah News Leader

11/05/2020

The annual Veterans Day breakfast at the Boley Community Center has been cancelled this year. The Ward Hawkins Post #234 wishes a Happy Veterans Day to all who have served in the armed forces.

11/04/2020

ELECTION RESULTS
Okfuskee County Sheriff Jim Rasmussen was re-elected Tuesday in a close race against John Woods.
Logan Phillips retained his seat as State Representative in a landslide victory over Democratic challenger Steve Kouplen.
In Senate District 7, Republican Warren Hamilton defeated Jerry Donathan by a large margin.
Both state questions (805 and 814) were defeated.

Rasmussen: 2,092
Woods: 1,877

Phillips: 8,503
Kouplen: 4,359

Hamilton: 21,735
Donathan: 8,383

SQ805
No: 922,156
Yes: 587,502

SQ814
No: 876,407
Yes: 614,290

11/03/2020

For live election results, visit https://results.okelections.us/OKER/?elecDate=20201103.

10/28/2020

Paden Public School ISD 54-I014

Paden Public School ISD 54-I014

If you are a Paden student and do not have electricity or internet today, please do not worry about doing lessons today. You will be given extra time later if you need to complete them. We also have a few teachers who do not have power so they are not able to assign lessons today, either.
Also, if you need to leave a message at school for a staff member, please call 405-932-5053 extension 100. I am able to check this extension from my cell phone and will do so periodically throughout the day (or until my phone dies - no electricity, either). Mrs. Vass is in the hospital with pneumonia so she is not able to check her messages this week. Please call back to extension 100 if you need us and be sure to leave a message.
Stay safe and stay warm today.

10/28/2020

Early Voting Starts Thursday, Oct.29

In-Person Early Voting at the County Election Board will begin on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 8:00 AM. Voters will be asked to enter the Okfuskee County Courthouse through the east door.

Voters are asked to have their ID ready upon entrance to the courthouse. Wearing a mask is recommended but not required, however, voters are required to practice the 6 ft. social distancing rule.

Voters who are physically incapacitated can request additional assistance, please call the County Election Board office at 918-623-0105 upon arrival at the courthouse.

Early voting days and hours are as follows:
Thurs., Oct. 29 from 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday, Oct. 30 from 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday, Oct. 31 from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Residents who wish to conduct business with other offices in the courthouse must enter through the north door as previously required.

10/22/2020

City of Okemah

10/21/2020

Voter’s guide to the Nov. 3 General Election

Voter’s guide to the Nov. 3 General Election

Voter’s guide to the Nov. 3 General Election By Editor | October 21, 2020 | 0   The following is a look at what is on the ballot of the Nov. 3 election for Okfuskee County voters. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Check your voter ID card for your voting location or visit the online voter...

10/13/2020

Oklahoma Department of Transportation - I-40 Corridor Projects

This project is weather permitting:

I-40 narrows near US-377/SH-99 in Seminole County Wednesday

Westbound I-40 will be narrowed to one lane about five miles west of US-377/SH-99 (mm 195) near Seminole in Seminole County from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday for guardrail repair. Drivers can expect delays and should plan extra travel time.

For more information on current I-40 construction, visit https://www.ok.gov/odot/I-40_Corridor_Projects.html

Current construction projects impacting I-40 traffic in Oklahoma

10/07/2020

Oklahoma State Election Board - Home

Voter registration deadline is Friday

This Friday, Oct. 9, the Okfuskee County Election Board will remain open until 7:00 p.m. This will be the last day to apply for voter registration in order to be eligible to vote in the upcoming General Election, which will be held on Nov. 3, 2020.
Persons who have never been registered to vote before, or persons who are not currently registered in the county of their residence and persons who are registered but need to change their registration information may apply in person at the County Election Board office, or by using the Voter Portal on the Oklahoma State Election Board website www.elections.ok.gov .

Established under the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma in 1907, the Oklahoma State Election Board is the administrative agency for the conduct of state elections and the oversight of the state's 77 county election boards. ?

09/30/2020

𝐒𝐇-𝟗 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐤𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤

East and westbound SH-9 will be closed about one mile west of US-75 in Wetumka in Hughes County from 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 5 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7 for rail crossing work by BNSF Railway. Drivers must use an alternate route during the closure.

For more information, contact BNSF Railway at 1-800-795-2673.

09/24/2020

BREAKING NEWS:

The football game between Okemah and Liberty scheduled for tomorrow night (9/25) has been cancelled.
According to Superintendent Ronald Vick, homecoming coronation and senior night activities will go on as planned. Liberty canceled the game over COVID-19 concerns.

09/23/2020

ONL will host a candidate debate on Monday, October 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Okfuskee County Historical Society in Okemah.
Republican and Democratic candidates for Senate District 7, State Representative District 24 and Okfuskee County Sheriff have been invited to take part in the debate.
The event is free to the public, but seating is limited to 100 people. ONL will also stream the debate on Facebook.

09/18/2020

State election board cautions voters about mailing from OKVOTE

State election board cautions voters about mailing from OKVOTE

State election board cautions voters about mailing from OKVOTE By Editor | September 18, 2020 | 0 Officials with the Oklahoma State Election Board cautioned voters about a mailing from a Tulsa-based organization, “OKVOTE,” after state and county election offices received several complaints from ...

09/16/2020

‼️Breaking News‼️

Meth traffickers targeted in Okfuskee County

Multiple people were taken into custody Wednesday morning as state and local law enforcement agencies swept through Okfuskee County and served warrants for people suspected of bringing large quantities of meth into the area.

Agencies involved in the investigation included the Oklahoma Narcotics Bureau, the Okemah Police Department, the Okfuskee County Sheriff's Department, the Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the District 24 Drug Task Force.

Look for the full story in next week’s edition of ONL.

09/16/2020

Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics

MULTI-AGENCY INVESTIGATION TARGETS METH TRAFFICKERS IN OKFUSKEE COUNTY

State and local law enforcement agencies today began apprehending targets of a meth trafficking investigation in Okfuskee County. Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) Spokesman Mark Woodward says Agents and Officers from several departments served nearly two-dozen Arrest Warrants early this morning for individuals bringing large quantities of meth into Okemah, Oklahoma.

“During this investigation, we’ve been working with local authorities to identify those responsible for continually supplying large amounts of meth in Okemah. It would not be uncommon for some of these defendants to move as much as a pound of meth at a time into this area. A total of 22 defendants were identified. Four of the 22 were already in custody as we began serving Warrants this morning. ”
---Mark Woodward, OBN Spokesman

Woodward says one of the targets of this investigation was also a known heroin supplier in Okemah. Agencies involved in the investigation included OBN, the Creek Nation Light Horse Police Department, the Okemah Police Department, the Okfuskee County Sheriff’s Department, and the District 24 Drug Task Force. OBN Director Donnie Anderson credits the cooperative efforts of these agencies for the success of this investigation.

“There is a direct correlation between drug trafficking and spikes in crime and addiction which hit rural Oklahoma particularly hard. And my agency is dedicated to working side-by-side with our local law enforcement partners to aggressively target and remove these traffickers who threaten the safety of our citizens in rural parts of our state.” ---OBN Director Donnie Anderson

As of 11:00 a.m., 15 of the 22 targets were in custody. All of the defendants arrested this morning were transported to the Okfuskee County Sheriff’s Department for booking. They face a variety of state and federal charges, including Drug Trafficking and Drug Distribution.

09/16/2020

I-40 narrows near SH-48 in Okfuskee County Monday, Tuesday

Drivers can expect various lane closures on east and westbound I-40 about one mile west of SH-48 (near mm 216) near Okemah in Okfuskee County from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday and again from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday for routine bridge inspection.

Motorists can expect delays and should plan extra travel time in this area.

This project is weather permitting.

09/12/2020

Please be on the lookout for this horse

09/01/2020

Cherokee Nation Film Office

THIS JUST IN!🗞️ Native American extras ARE NEEDED for the major television pilot "Reservation Dogs" when it films in Tulsa and Okmulgee, Oklahoma on Sept. 6-10. "Reservation Dogs" is a comedy about four Native teenagers living in an Indian housing project in rural Oklahoma, who spend their days committing crime... and fighting it. The pilot is written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Sterlin Harjo (Seminole/Muskogee).

⚠️This is your chance to get your start on camera! Visit the link to submit!: https://loom.ly/iNWo96w

#MoreNatives #CherokeeFilm #CherokeeNation #ReservationDogs #NativeFilm #CastingCall

08/28/2020

Bearden Public School

Bearden Public School

Bearden Parents and Guardians;

Oklahoma State Health Department released the updated COVID 19 Alert Map today. Okfuskee County remained at the Orange Level. Upon visiting with local and state officials as well as reviewing the county data, Bearden School District will continue with a rotation schedule for next week (Aug. 31- Sept. 4th). A&B groups will be on campus Monday and Tuesday. C&D groups will be on campus Thursday and Friday. Visitors will continue to be limited and masks will be required. If your child will need meals on their virtual days please contact the school office.

08/23/2020

Mason Public Schools

IMPORTANT NOTICE!

08/19/2020

JOB OPPORTUNITY

The Okemah News Leader is seeking an enterprising person to help maintain/develop our commercial newsstand route and advertising base. Duties include restocking newsstands located in area businesses, developing new advertising accounts and scouting for potential newsstand locations. Hourly pay + commission. Delivery vehicle provided. Must have valid drivers license and be able to lift up to 40 lbs. Apply in person at 115 W. Broadway, M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Please do not respond to this post or by direct message).

08/19/2020

Okfuskee County Rural Water District #2

Okfuskee County Rural Water District #2

We may have some customers without water or with low pressure this evening due to a water line break. Ed is working to get service restored as quickly as possible. Thank you.

08/10/2020

Oklahoma Highway Patrol

On Saturday, August 08, 2020, GLENN WILLIAM HERROD was riding a bicycle eastbound on SH 9, approximately 1.7 miles west of Wetumka in Hughes County.

Sometime between 4:30 PM and 5:00 PM, HERROD was struck by an eastbound vehicle and killed. The vehicle that struck HERROD failed to remain at the scene and has not been identified.

Anyone with information about this traffic homicide investigation may contact OHP Troop D at 918-423-3636

The OHP Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating, assisted by OHP Troop D, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Muskogee-Creek Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Hughes County Sheriff’s Office.

08/07/2020

‼️BREAKING NEWS‼️

The Okemah City Council will consider a face covering mandate and other COVID-19 restrictions during its regular meeting on Monday, Aug.10.

Monday, August 10, 2020 Agenda
Regular City Council 6:00p.m.
Regular Utilities Authority 6:15p.m.

08/07/2020

County DA, City of Okemah named in class action suit

Governor Kevin Stitt, Okfuskee/Creek County District Attorney Max Cook and the City of Okemah are among the 47 defendants named in a class action lawsuit filed by four members of the Cherokee Nation who claim they were unlawfully prosecuted by the state.

The lawsuit was filed in Okmulgee County District Court on July 13 by attorneys William B. Federman, John M. Dunn and Kevin Adams on behalf of Jason Nicholson, Justin Hooper, Cael Burgess and Kevin Hair. All four plaintiffs live in Tulsa County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

The suit stems from the recent Supreme Court ruling that Congress never disestablished the Creek Nation Reservation it created in 1866; thus much of eastern Oklahoma is an Indian Reservation. Under the ruling, state prosecutors lack the authority to pursue criminal charges against Native Americans for crimes committed within the boundaries of the reservation.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim that the state and other entities have been “unjustly enriched through their unlawful actions” and the suit was filed to “disgorge” the defendants of “ill-gotten gains.”

See the full story in the Aug. 6 edition of ONL.

07/29/2020

Mason Public Schools

Mason School Reopening Plans

07/28/2020

Bearden Public School

Bearden Parents and Guardians:

Back to School COVID-19 Update

07/22/2020

UPDATE:

The suspect taken into custody for the armed robbery of BancFirst in Paden has been identified as 42-year-old Bobby Ray Scott III of Shawnee.
This information was not received until after we went to press with the 7/23 edition, so look for the full story in the 7/30 edition of ONL.

07/20/2020

‼️BREAKING NEWS‼️

UPDATE: The suspect has been identified as 42-year-old Bobby Ray Scott III of Shawnee. This information was not received until after we went to press with the 7/23 edition, so look for the full story in the 7/30 edition of ONL.

A suspect in the June 12 armed robbery of BancFirst in Paden has been apprehended.
A spokesperson for the FBI told the News Leader this morning that a suspect has been taken into custody, but the suspect’s name could not be released at this time.
Andrea Anderson, FBI Public Affairs Specialist, said additional information regarding charges and identification would be coming from the prosecuting U.S. Attorney’s office.
ONL will provide additional details as they become available.

07/17/2020

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Missing youth from Del City. Family members say he could be in the Okemah area.

07/14/2020

‼️Back Open‼️
Okemah City Hall, which has been closed to the public since June 29 due to an employee testing positive for COVID-19, is set to reopen tomorrow (Wednesday) morning.

07/13/2020

Meet Google Drive – One place for all your files

If you attended Paden Public School’s recent graduation ceremonies, please read the following. An attendee has tested positive for COVID-19.

Google Drive is a free way to keep your files backed up and easy to reach from any phone, tablet, or computer. Start with 15GB of Google storage – free.

07/10/2020

JOB OPPORTUNITY
The Okemah News Leader/Pamela’s Flowers is looking for someone to handle our commercial news routes as well as janitorial duties around the office. Duties include delivering bundles of newspapers to newsstands located at area businesses. Candidates must have a valid driver’s license and be able to lift about 40 pounds. Apply in person at 115 W. Broadway, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., M-F. No phone calls or replies to this post, please.

07/09/2020

‼️BREAKING NEWS‼️
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that much of eastern Oklahoma, including Okfuskee County, remains an Indian reservation. This essentially means that Oklahoma prosecutors no longer have the authority to pursue cases involving major crimes committed by Native Americans within the boundaries of the Creek Nation reservation (see map). Such cases must now be handled federally. Look for the full story in the July 16 edition of ONL.