January Roland sweeps Muldrow in title game
The Roland High School basketball teams swept Muldrow in the title games of the 2024 Sequoyah County Tournament at Sallisaw High School’s Paul Post Field House. It was the first time since 2015 that Roland’s teams swept the county finals. The Lady Rangers defeated the Lady Bulldogs 39-25, while the Runnin’ Rangers took care of the ’Dogs 54-40.
Fire claims Roland residence
Early Tuesday morning, firefighters with the Roland Fire Department were dispatched to a two-story residential fire on the east side of town. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered the structure under heavy fire conditions. Fire Chief Daniel Richards said the brutally cold and snowy conditions made fire operations difficult, and the Red Cross was notified to assist the property owner. Richards said the department also wishes to thanks firefighters with the Muldrow and Liberty Fire Departments for their assistance.
February Central bond passes easily
A bond proposition for Central Public Schools passed easily, earning 68.7% of yes votes. District voters approved the $705,000 bond by a 213-97 margin. It is the first bond proposition passed by residents of the district since the early 1990s.
Bid process begins to replace county bridge Sequoyah County Commissioners approved a resolution and agreement to begin the bid process for replacement of a bridge over Little Skin Bayou located a mile west of Muldrow on Old Highway 64 (Sequoyah Street). The project is part of the County Improvement for Roads and Bridges (CIRB) program. “We’re at the point now we’ve got all the easements, now we’re fixing to go out for bids,” District 1 Commissioner Ray Watts told his colleagues at their weekly Monday meeting.
March Lady Rangers suffer loss The Roland Lady Rangers lose 45-37 to Norman Community Christian School in the Class 3A State Tournament quarterfinals at Jim Norick State Fair Arena.
Kangaroo killed on rural highway
While it’s not uncommon for Oklahoma motorists to encounter wildlife on rural Sooner highways, an Australian kangaroo is a rare sight. A Sequoyah County Sheriff’s deputy patrolling rural roads north of Roland witnessed a kangaroo jump out of the woods and onto the highway, where a passing vehicle hit and killed the exotic animal.
The kangaroo is believed to be a pet that had escaped its enclosure and wasn’t aware of the dangers the highway held.
April Roland among state schools cited
A year ago, the Oklahoma Department of Education’s Office of Accountability released school report cards for public schools in Oklahoma for the 2021-22 school year. Of the 25 Sequoyah County schools, 19 received overall grades of Cs and Ds — and the overall grades were better than many of the grades for the five individual categories that factored into the overall grade.
While grades were often dismal for categories such as academic achievement, graduation, academic growth and English language proficiency progress, grading associated with chronic absenteeism was often littered with Ds and Fs. Such was the case for Roland Public Schools. Roland High School received an overall grade of D, while Roland Middle School and Roland Elementary received overall grades of C.
This year, Roland is one of 117 schools in the state that showed enough improvement to no longer be designated Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) sites, a federal designation which closely corresponds to the State Report Card “F List.”
Pistol on Gans School campus is BB gun Gans Public School administration released a statement after a report of a possible gun on campus Thursday afternoon. Gans School Superintendent Regina Brannon reported on April 11 that the school received news of a possible gun in a high school student’s vehicle. Brannon said after a further investigation, it was found that the pistol was deemed to be a BB gun.
May Whitfield charged with murder
A Houston, Texas man is facing a felony first-degree murder charge with deliberate intent in Sequoyah County District Court after authorities responded to a disturbance call on Monday and found a Muldrow woman deceased from an apparent stab wound.
District 27 District Attorney Jack Thorp said the charge was filed against Matthew W. Whitfield aka Summers, 34, on May 14, in the death of Nekaita R. Nance, 55.
Collins is runner-up; Central suffers loss Muldrow high jumper Teaguen Collins was the state runner-up with mark of 6-4, while the Sallisaw Lady Diamonds 800-meter relay team of Jazmyne Wright, Abby Kate Qualls, Hannah Palmer and Kayli Macon came in fifth with a personal- best time of 1:45.91 after being seeded eighth at the Class 4A State Track Meet.
The Central Tigers baseball team suffered a 10-0 Class 2A State Baseball Tournament quarterfinal loss to No. 1 Oktaha at Shawnee High School’s Ed Skelton Field.
The Tigers upset Calera in the Class 2A Super Regional Tournament the weekend before to make state.
June Fugitive arrested in Gans double homicide The fugitive in the double homicide that occurred near Gans has been arrested. The OSBI, Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas State Police and Morrilton, Ark., police confirmed that Stacy Lee Drake, 50, of Alabama, was captured after some 40 hours on the run following the Gans murders.
Drake was wanted in connection with the murders of Taylor Sharp and Tara Underwood at La-Perry’s Propane on U.S. 64. He is also believed to have stolen a vehicle from the crime scene, and then abandoning it 125 miles away at a Morrilton motel on I-40.
He was later extradited to the Sequoyah County Jail where he made a court appearance, entering a not-guilty plea. If found guilty at trial, Drake could face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Olsen, Haywood re-elected, Edgmon wins as challenger
Incumbents Jim Olsen for District 2 State Representative and Julie Haywood for Sequoyah County Clerk won handily in Tuesday’s Republican primary election. Meanwhile, challenger Melanie Edgmon claimed the Sequoyah County Court Clerk election by an equally large margin. Haywood recorded the widest victory margin among local elections, defeating Rosa Scott Looper, 2,121 (65%) to 1,152 (35%). Edgmon defeated incumbent Gina Cox, 1,901 (60%) to 1,261 (40%). Olsen bested E.O. “Junior” Smith, 1,936 (58%) to 1,388 (42%).
July Muldrow woman named to board
The United States Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, Ark. has announced an additions to its board leadership effective July 1, 2024. Jamie Moore of Muldrow has reportedly joined the board roster. M oore is a long-time resident of the Fort Smith and Eastern Oklahoma area, having served on a number of community boards. She is a graduate of Southside High School and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She has spent most of her professional career serving the community of Roland as a pharmacist.
Muldrow woman perishes in collision Janet Needham, 66, of Muldrow, died following a two-vehicle collision about three miles of Sallisaw. Needham was ejected from the 2012 Ram 3500 she was driving when it collided with a 2016 Ram 2500, driven by a Warner man.
August Deputy’s heroic actions save man’s life Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane said thanks to the heroic actions of one of his offduty deputies, a driver’s life was saved on July 31. Dispatchers received a report of a single-vehicle accident on U.S. 64, outside of Muldrow town limits. When the call went out, Deputy Daniel Whitus was nearby. And although he was off duty that day, he was in his patrol unit. He was the first to locate the wrecked vehicle, and saw it catch fire. But not before he was able to rescue the unconscious driver. “Deputy Whitus’ heroic actions and disregard for his own safety most definitely saved this man’s life,” Land said.
Schools take steps to ensure distraction-free learning environment For the 2024-25 school year, Sequoyah County schools have implemented policies that restrict cellphone use during the school day. Almost without exception, cellphones are not to be used during classroom instruction time. Not for calls, texts, social media, reading, taking pictures, streaming videos, as a calculator, checking the time, listening to music, checking grades or any other purpose.
When it comes to punishment for violating the cellphone policies, consequences vary from a verbal warning to long-term in-school suspension of up to 45 days, depending on the school.
September Schools respond to nationwide threat
In response to a recent nationwide social media threat earlier this week, several schools in Sequoyah County took precautionary measures to ensure the safety of their students and staff.
Muldrow Public Schools addressed the situation on their social media page, reassuring the community that, while they are aware of the nationwide threat, there was no specific mention of their district in the posts. Muldrow Public Schools heightened security measures by deploying extra officers on-site.
Gans Public School also communicated with parents and community members about the threat. Superintendent Regina Brannon noted that although there was no evidence linking the threat to their school, they treated it with caution.
Roland Animal Control supervisor facing charge The town of Roland’s Animal Control Supervisor, Kayla Barnes, 32, of Alma, Ark., was charged with felony animal cruelty after a husky was reportedly discovered dead in a town facility. A warrant for Barnes’ arrest was issued on Sept. 16, according to court records, and she received a $5,000 bond. The case came to light when the Roland Police Department enlisted the District Attorney’s Office Violent Crimes and Drug Task Force for assistance on Aug. 20. The assistant public works director reportedly alerted authorities to the tragic situation, revealing that the husky had been found deceased in a locked pen at the facility.
October Long Cemetery board tends unmarked graves It’s been 120 years since Emma Youngblood Montgomery (nee Benge) donated five acres from her Indian allotment for the establishment in 1904 of a cemetery in what was then the thriving community of Long.
But for more than 200 of the more than 500 gravesites, there is no rest, all but forgotten to the rural countryside and time immemorial. For 89 Oklahomans, often known are their names, some dates recording their time on Earth and, occasionally, their family ties, but only crude, deteriorating markers denote their gravesite.
For an additional 115, any marker memorializing their lives has either been lost to eternity or simply never placed as a commemoration. That’s why volunteers for the Long Cemetery board have dedicated themselves to resolving anonymity that, for some, dates back to the time the cemetery began.
Second ‘threat’ shuts down Roland schools Roland Public Schools received a second “potential threat” and immediately undertook measures “to determine the level of threat in order to keep all students and faculty safe.” Police swarmed the campus in an effort to clear all buildings and assess campus safety. Students who were picked up by school buses were transported to the Roland Police Department until they could be picked up and signed out by their parents or guardians. Students already at the school were sent to the Ranger Dome. It was the second threat to the campus in five days, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation was brought in to lead the investigation.
November Police arrest two for bomb threats The rash of recent bomb threats that disrupted campus life at Roland Public Schools, local law enforcement authorities announced the arrest of two individuals in connection with the scares. The arrests come as a direct response to a series of alarming threats that have raised concerns among parents and community members.
The Roland Police Department reiterated its collaboration with various law enforcement agencies and school administration to ensure a swift and thorough investigation. An initial reward of $5,000 was issued by the department for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved. Soon after, the community rallied together, raising that reward to $15,000.
Rowell sentenced to 25 years
Denver W. Rowell, 23, from Arkansas, who reportedly fired multiple shots at a Roland police officer in 2023 and then fled on foot, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Rowell was charged on July 31, 2023, with four felony counts of shooting with intent to kill, and additional charges of possession of a firearm after former felony conviction, possessing a firearm during commission of a felony, and possession of a stolen vehicle.
December Tribe leases building to MCCO Cherokee Nation leaders gathered on Dec. 11 to officially celebrate a lease agreement with the Muldrow Cherokee Community Organization (MCCO) for a community center space that will provide the group a place to gather and fellowship for decades to come. “Cherokee Nation’s Community and Cultural Outreach-participating organizations are part of the foundation of Cherokee society. Our community organizations are great places for Cherokee citizens and families to gather and share our culture and language,” said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.
‘Great possibilities’ for county if voters approve lodging tax If Sequoyah County voters view the county’s proposed 4% lodging tax — which is paid only by those who rent overnight accommodations within the county — the same way District 3 Commissioner Jim Rogers does, then when ballots are tabulated on Feb. 11, 2025, the county, in general, and the county fairgrounds, in particular, will reap the benefits of a progressive and forwardthinking electorate.
The resolution calling for and providing notice of a special election to give voters the opportunity to approve a 4% lodging tax that would not only infuse desperately needed funds into the fairgrounds facilities, but would also help prevent future tax burdens on county residents if the measure is defeated, was announced Dec. 2 at the commissioners’ weekly meeting. “I know it would benefit us across the county — all the kids that participate in 4-H, FFA, livestock shows. But it’s not just 4-H and FFA, it’s a community building.
