LeFlore County newsletter 4-20-2024

Saturday's newsletter

The LeFlore County newsletter covers LeFlore County and southeastern Oklahoma. To receive our daily newsletter and help support us, subscribe for $5 per month or $50 per year or sign up as a free subscriber and receive all editions, just at a later time than paying subscribers. If you have questions or comments, CONTACT us.

If you enjoy reading about LeFlore County news, sports, obits and more, please subscribe below and refer our newsletter to anybody you think might be interested.

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Bible verse of the day

pray continually,

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV

The scoreboard

LeFlore County sports scoreboard for Friday

Baseball

Heavener 12, Eufaula 2

Eufaula 13, Heavener 1

Panama 13, Hartshorne 7

Muskogee 6, Pocola 0

Muldrow 4, Poteau 2

Ketchum 5, Spiro 1

Wister 6, Wilburton 0

Slow pitch softball

Pocola 15, Spiro 5*

Pocola 10, Spiro 0*

Whitesboro 12, Tushka 7

Soccer

Boys

Regent Prep 3, Poteau 2

Girls

Porter 5, Heavener 1

*District playoff games

To make a correction of addition, please CONTACT us.

Heavener’s Steven Cruz, shown here at the Heavener meet earlier in the year, won three events at the Broken Bow meet Friday. Photo by ANGELA SHADWICK.

Heavener boys finish 2^nd at Broken Bow

BROKEN BOW—Heavener’s boys finished second to Idabel again at the Broken Bow Track Meet Friday in the last meet of the regular season before the regional meet 4-27-2024 at Madill.

The Wolves 4x800 team of Steven Cruz, Isaac Cook, Parker Brand and Seth Lynch were first. Cruz won three gold medals by finishing first in the 3,200, the 1,600 and setting a new school record in the 800.

Brand was second in the 1,600 and set a new personal record and Galaad Garcia-Perez was third and also set a personal record as Heavener finished first, second and third.

Jeremi Casteel was first in the disc and third in the shot and Carson Payne was third in the 110 hurdles and third in the 300 hurdles.

Cook was second in the 300 hurdles and third in the 400. Lynch set a new personal record and was second in the 800.

For the Lady Wolves, Allison Palmer was third in the 800 and set a personal record and Alexa Cruz finished fourth in the 800, also setting a new personal record.

Heavener splits doubleheader at Eufaula

EUFAULA—Heavener split a a pair of District 3A-7 baseball games Friday at Eufaula.

The Wolves are now 6-19 overall and 4-8 in district play. Eufaula improves to 14-11 and 7-5, but due to the loss finished tied with Spiro for third place in the district. Spiro and Eufaula split their two games this year, but the Ironheads finished ahead in the points to represent the district as the third-place team.

Heavener took the opener, 12-2 before Eufaula bounced back to take the nightcap, 12-1.

In the opener, Heavener snapped a five-game losing streak behind the pitching of Jackson Clubb and an offense that finished with 11 hits and seven walks.

Clubb pitched all four innings, giving up five hits and two runs, both earned, with three strikeouts and no walks.

Bryce Morrison doubled and was 2-4 with two RBI and a run, Brintly Hash went 2-4 with a RBI, Kason Krebbs had a 2-3 game with two RBI and a run, Spencer Clubb tripled and went 1-2 with three RBI and two runs and Bryce Early was 1-3 with a run.

Heavener 12, Eufaula 2

HHS  2  0  3  7—12 11  0

EHS  0  0  2  0—2  5  3

The second game was totally different.

While the Wolves played error-free ball in the first game, Heavener had five errors in the second game, game up seven hits and hit four batters.

Morrison lasted only 1.1 innings as the starter, giving up six hits and seven runs, four earned, with a strikeout and walk. Early pitched 2.2 innings in relief, allowing four hits and three runs, all earned, with four walks and two strikeouts. Canyon Ford threw the final inning, giving up one hit and two runs with two strikeouts and two walks.

Jackson Clubb tripled and was 1-2 with a RBI. Morrison, Hagen Ritter and Krebbs each singled for Heavener’s other hits.

Eufaula 12, Heavener 1

EHS  4  3  0  0  5—12 11  4

HHS  1  0  0  0  0—1  4  5

Vocque pitches Wister over Wilburton, 6-0

WILBURTON—Torben Vocque threw a complete game three-hitter in Wister’s 6-0 win at Wilburton Friday in high school baseball.

The win improves Wister to 16-6 heading into Monday’s home game with Silo. Wilburton is now 16-8.

Vocque struck out seven and walked four in the dominating pitching performance.

Jayden Byars doubled, tripled and was 3-4 to lead Wister’s offense attack. Will Bryan homered while going 2-4 with a RBI and run, Riley Crane doubled and went 2-3 with two runs and Tucker Wooten finished 2-4 with four RBI.

Wister 6, Wilburton 0

WIS  1  0  2  2  1  0  0—6 12  2

WIL  0  0  0  0  0  0  0—0  3  4

Offense powers Sooners to series victory

PROVO, Utah — Oklahoma took its second straight and fourth conference series of the season Friday in Provo with a 12-6 win over BYU. 

The Sooners (23-14, 13-4) sit alone at the top of the Big 12 standings and are a Saturday win away from four conference sweeps. 

OU’s offense brought the power yet again, hitting three home runs and five doubles in Friday’s game two victory. On the mound, starting RHP Kyson Witherspoon got the win, going five innings and striking out six while scattering seven hits and three runs with one walk. 

BYU (15-20, 6-14) went up early, scoring one on a solo home run in the bottom of the first. The Sooners quickly responded off the bat of redshirt senior Michael Snyder who hit a leadoff solo home run at the top of the second, his team-leading eighth of the season. 

At the bottom of the second, after BYU loaded the bases with no outs, Witherspoon worked out of the jam with a pop up, strikeout and ground out to leave them loaded. 

Following a quiet third inning, the Sooners exploded for seven runs on six hits in the fourth. Senior Anthony Mackenzie started the scoring with an RBI double to left center, followed by an RBI single from fellow senior Kendall Pettis and a bases loaded walk to junior Scott Mudler. Two batters later, freshman Jason Walk laced a two-run double to right before a two-run home run from sophomore Easton Carmichael finished the flurry. 

The Cougars got two runs back in the home half of the fourth on a triple to right field that just dropped just beyond the outstretched glove of Walk. 

In the sixth, BYU scratched one run across on a solo home run before Madron made an exceptional diving catch to end the inning. Madron then led off the seventh with his eight home run of the year, good for a tie of the team lead with Snyder. 

The Cougars pushed a pair across at the bottom of the seventh via wild pitch and an RBI groundout before the Sooners responded with three of their own at the top of the eighth. 

After a pair of singles from freshman Isaiah Lane and Walk, Madron doubled in Lane with his second two-bagger of the game. Carmichael followed suit, lifting a sac-fly to right to score Walk before Madron raced home on a wild pitch to make it 12-6, Sooners. 

Junior righty Ryan Lambert closed the game in the ninth by putting down the Cougars in order with one strikeout. 

Fellow relievers Carter Campbell (1.1 IP) and Dylan Crooks (1.2) did their part, each striking out one and surrendering just one hit while Campbell let across three runs and issued a pair of walks. 

At the plate, five Sooners recorded multi-hit games with Madron leading the pack, going 3-for-5 with a home run, two doubles and two RBIs. Carmichael plated three to pace OU in runs batted in. 

The Sooners offense continued a tear, scoring double-digit runs for the seventh time in the last 10 games and recording double-digit hits for the seventh time in the last nine. Going into the series, BYU had surrendered 10-plus runs just five times on the year. 

The teams meet for the series finale Saturday at 2 p.m. CT. The game can be seen via Big 12 NOW on ESPN+ and heard locally in Oklahoma on SportsTalk 1400 AM/99.3 FM or nationwide on The Varsity app.

Single game tickets and mini-plan options for home games at L. Dale Mitchell Park are available via SoonerSports.com/tickets. 

For updates and more information on Oklahoma baseball, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Baseball) and like Oklahoma Baseball on Facebook.

Hogs dominate in win over South Carolina

COLUMBIA, South Carolina – Hagen Smith and Gabe Gaeckle combined for 16 strikeouts on the mound to lead No. 2 Arkansas (33-5, 13-3 SEC) to a 2-1 series-opening win against No. 20 South Carolina (26-12, 8-8 SEC) Friday night at Founders Park.

Due to rain in the area on Sunday, the Hogs and Gamecocks will conclude the weekend series with a doubleheader tomorrow. First pitch in Saturday’s twin bill is set for noon CT, with a one-hour break between the two games. Both contests will be streamed on SEC Network+ with Dave Weinstein (play-by-play) and Kip Bouknight (analyst) on the call.

The Razorbacks will go for their fourth consecutive regular-season weekend series win against the Gamecocks in tomorrow’s doubleheader. Arkansas has not lost a series to South Carolina since 2016 and has won five of the last six regular-season weekend series against its SEC Eastern Division opponent, including road series wins in 2013 and 2021.

Making his 10th start of the year, Smith twirled six innings of one-run ball with 11 strikeouts to improve to 8-0, logging his team-leading eighth quality start and his team-best seventh double-digit strikeout performance. The junior left-hander allowed just two hits and issued five walks, including one intentional walk, in his gritty Friday night outing.

Arkansas improved to a perfect 10-0 in games started by Smith, who raised his strikeout total to 100 through 52.2 innings. For the season, Smith boasts 1.53 ERA over his 53.0 total innings of work, allowing only nine runs on 24 hits and 22 walks while limiting opposing hitters to a meager .136 batting average all year.

The Gamecocks began the game’s scoring with an RBI groundout in the bottom of the fifth to open a 1-0 advantage. The Razorbacks, however, punched right back in the top half of the sixth, scratching out a pair of runs to take the lead.

After loading the bases with no outs, Arkansas scored a run on a wild pitch before Jack Wagner’s sacrifice fly to center brought home Nolan Souza from third, which put the Hogs ahead, 2-1, and proved to be the game-winning run.

Gaeckle protected the Hogs’ one-run lead, recording eight of the game’s final nine outs after Smith departed. The true freshman right-hander, who tallied five strikeouts, did not allow a base runner until a two-out double in the ninth. 

Stone Hewlett logged the game’s final out on six pitches, taking over for Gaeckle and stranding a pair of runners in the ninth to secure his fourth save of the season and finish off the Razorbacks’ 2-1 series-opening win.

Today in history

1999

Teen gunmen kill 13 at Columbine High School

On April 20, 1999, two teenage gunmen kill 13 people in a shooting spree at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, south of Denver. At approximately 11:19 a.m., Dylan Klebold, 17, and Eric Harris, 18, dressed in trench coats, began shooting students outside the school before moving inside to ... read more

1970s

1978

Korean Air Lines jet forced down over Soviet Union

American Revolution

1777

New York adopts state constitution

Black History

1971

Supreme Court declares desegregation busing constitutional

Civil War

1861

Robert E. Lee resigns from U.S. Army after Virginia secedes from Union

Early U.S.

1914

Militia slaughters strikers at Ludlow, Colorado

Inventions & Science

2008

Danica Patrick becomes first woman to win Indy race

Latin American History

1980

Fidel Castro announces Mariel Boatlift, allowing Cubans to emigrate to U.S.

Natural Disasters & Environment

2010

Massive oil spill begins in Gulf of Mexico

Sports

1986

Michael Jordan scores 63 points in playoff game

U.S. Government and Politics

1871

Ku Klux Klan Act passed by Congress

Vietnam War

1971

Pentagon announces rise in "fragging" among U.S. military units

LeFlore County newsletter 4-19-2024

Friday's newsletter

The LeFlore County newsletter covers LeFlore County and southeastern Oklahoma. To receive our daily newsletter and help support us, subscribe for $5 per month or $50 per year or sign up as a free subscriber and receive all editions, just at a later time than paying subscribers. If you have questions or comments, CONTACT us.

If you enjoy reading about LeFlore County news, sports, obits and more, please subscribe below and refer our newsletter to anybody you think might be interested.

Subscribe below

Bible verse of the day

Rejoice always,

1 Thessalonians 5:16 NIV

Joke of the day

What do you call a grandfather clock?

An old timer.

Today’s podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2353920/14918101

Today’s crossword

LeFlore County scoreboard

LeFlore County sports scores from Thursday.

Baseball

Porum 11, Arkoma 1*

Cameron 13, Talihina 3*

Poteau 16, Howe 6

Wister 8, Panama 7

Spiro 9, Claremore Sequoyah 0

Slow pitch softball

Calera 5, Heavener 4 (8 innings)*

Valliant 4, Heavener 3*

Crowder 18, Arkoma 6*

Moss 24, Cameron 1*

Vian 9, Howe 8*

Howe 10, Panama 0*

Vian 11, Panama 0*

Vian 13, Howe 10*

Porum 15, Talihina 3*

To make additions or corrections, please CONTACT us.

Run in 7th gives Wister win over Panama, 8-7

WISTER—Dartyn Meeks scored the winning run on an infield single in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Wister an 8-7 win over Panama in a rematch of a game won by Panama in the LeFlore County Tournament.

Wister is 15-6 and visits Wilburton Friday. Panama is 19-4 and travels to Hartshorne Friday.

The Wildcats got a leadoff walk to Meeks in the seventh. Meeks advanced to third on an error and scored on the infield hit by Torben Voque.

Landon Donaho, the last of four Wister pitchers, got the victory on the mound. He pitched 1.2 innings as he allowed two hits and one unearned run with three strikeouts.

Jayden Byars started and lasted four innings. He allowed only one hit and one run with eight strikeouts and three walks. He was relieved by Meeks, who went one inning, giving up a hit and a run with two strikeouts and three walks before being replaced by Kord Fenton. Fenton went a third of an inning, giving up four runs, two earned, on no hits with a strikeout and two walks.

Brayden Wiles started and went five innings for Panama. He gave up three hit and five run, one earned with three walk and a strikeout before Caleb Brewer pitched the final inning, giving up five hits and three runs, two earned with no strikeouts and two walks.

Vocque was 3-4 with two RBI to lead Wister in batting. Fenton doubled and was 2-4 with two runs, Will Bryan finished 2-3 for two RBI and a run, Meeks had a 2-3 outing with two RBI and a run and Riley Crane doubled and was 1-4 with a RBI and a run.

Brex Caldwell led Panama at the plate. He went 2-3 with two runs, Brewer homered and finished 1-4 with two RBI and two runs.

Wister 8, Panama 7

PHS  0  0  1  0  1  5  0—7  4  5

WHS  2  1  1  0  1  2  1—8 11  2

Poteau defeats Howe, 16-6

POTEAU—Poteau used an 8-run inning in the bottom of the third inning to build a big lead and the Pirates downed Howe, 16-6, in a non-district baseball game Thursday afternoon.

Poteau is 14-15 and visits Muldrow Friday as Howe is 13-9 and plays at Haskell in a district tournament Thursday.

Poteau used four pitchers in the win. Tristin Hagen went a pair of innings and was the winning pitcher as he gave up three hits and one run with one strikeout and a walk, Will Jordan pitched 1.1 innings, allowing one hit and five runs, one earned, with two strikeouts, Dax. Hendrix went a third of an inning with one walk and Pierce Ballard also went a third of an inning.

For Howe, Garrett Smith pitched 2.1 innings, giving up five hits and 13 runs, 11 earned, with five walks and a strikeout and Aiden Scott went one inning, allowing three hits and three runs, one earned, with two strikeouts and two walks.

Aiden Sockey led Poteau, going 3-4 with three runs and two RBI, Hagen doubled and went 2-2 with four RBI and a run and Coby Bells was 2-3 with three RBI and three runs.

Cole Wann led Howe at the plate, doubling and going 1-1 with two RBI and a run.

Poteau 16, Howe 6

HHS  0  1  0  1—6  4  1

PHS  3  2  8  3—16 10  2

Valliant eliminates Heavener, 4-3

VALLIANT—Heavener’s girls were eliminated at the district tournament Thursday, losing twice by one run in the opponents’ final at-bat.

The Lady Wolves finished the season, 16-9, lost the opener to Calera, 5-4, in eight innings before Valliant eliminated Heavener by scoring a run in the bottom of the seventh to win, 4-3.

In the opener against Calera, Heavener led 4-1 until giving up three runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game. After holding the Lady Wolves scoreless in the top of the eighth, Calera scored the winning run in the bottom half of the inning.

Ava Cartwright led Heavener, going 2-3 with two runs.

Calera 5, Heavener 4

HHS  2  0  2  0  0  0  0  0—4 10  2

CHS  1  0  0  0  0  3  0  1—5  8  0

Valliant scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the score and then got the game-winner in the bottom of the seventh.

Heavener led, 3-0, before the Lady Bulldogs began their comeback with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Heavener had seven errors in the game, as only one of Valliant’s runs were earned.

Cartwright again led Heavener, going 2-3 with a run scored.

Valliant 4, Heavener 3

HHS 2  0  0  1  0  0  0—3  7  6

VHS  0  0  0  2  0  1  1—4  7  0

Heavener’s Britlee Reed runs during Heavener’s track meet earlier in the year.

New regional track meets created for county teams

Regional track meets were announced recently by the OSSAA.

See the assignments for all the schools HERE.

In Class 4A, Poteau goes to a regional meet at Vinita.

The county 3A schools will head in different directions. Heavener will participate in the regional at Madill while Spiro was sent to a regional at North Rock Creek.

The Class 2A schools have Howe, Panama, Pocola and Wister at Okemah.

Okemah is also the site of the Class A meet for Arkoma and Whitesboro.

Sooners take Game One in Provo

PROVO, Utah — Oklahoma won its fifth straight game and the first of its three-game series at BYU, beating the Cougars 10-8 Thursday night in Provo. 

The Sooners were powered by an 11-strikeout outing from starting left-handed pitcher Braden Davis. Davis’ 11 K’s in 6.1 innings was one strikeout shy of his career high. 

The OU offense did their part, scoring 10 runs on 12 hits. With the win, OU (22-14, 12-4) moves into sole possession of first place in the Big 12 with its 12th win in conference play. 

Oklahoma got on the board early thanks to senior Anthony Mackenzie. After a two-out error on BYU (15-19, 6-13) that allowed sophomore Easton Carmichael to reach, redshirt senior Michael Snyder followed with a single to center before Mackenzie laced an RBI single to left for the first run of the game. 

Davis retired the first seven batters he faced into the third inning, and the Sooners gave him more insurance with two runs on two hits at the top of the fourth. Following a leadoff single from Mackenzie and hit by pitch drawn by redshirt senior Kendall Pettis, freshman Jaxon Willits kept his hot streak going with a two-run single dropped into left. 

OU made it 6-0 through four-and-a-half courtesy of a Snyder two-run double and groundout from Pettis that allowed Snyder to score. BYU would get three runs back in the bottom half of the fifth via a solo home run and a pair of RBI base hits to make it 6-3 through five. 

Davis responded by retiring the side in the sixth with a pair of strikeouts before the OU bats would again add insurance in the seventh. 

After a walk drawn by senior Bryce Madron and Carmichael single, his third straight base hit in the game, a fielder’s choice forced by Mackenzie allowed Madron to cross home. The next at-bat, an errant throw on a pickoff attempt at first base allowed Snyder to race across to make it 8-3, Sooners. 

Davis (W, 4-3) would exit in the seventh with a final line of 6.1 innings pitched, five hits, three runs, three walks and 11 strikeouts. Relievers Reid Hensley (0.2 IP), Carson Atwood (1.1) and Malachi Witherspoon (0.2) would finish the job with Atwood fanning a pair and Hensely and Witherspoon each striking out one.

BYU put two more runs on the board at the bottom of the eighth via sacrifice fly and run-scoring single to make it 10-5 after eight. 

OU would plate two runs on two hits in the ninth on an RBI single from Pettis and BYU error. The Cougars attempted a rally at the bottom of the ninth, scoring three runs via home run but Witherspoon would induce a pop up to end the contest and give OU its 24th win of the season. 

At the plate, Carmichael and Snyder each registered three-hit games, going 3-for-5. It marked the fifth straight multi-hit game for Carmichael and the third in the last four games for Snyder. Snyder, Mackenzie and Willits would all plate a pair of runs in the contest. 

The teams meet for Game 2 of the three-game conference set on Friday at 7 p.m. CT. The series can be seen via Big 12 NOW on ESPN+ and heard locally in Oklahoma on SportsTalk 1400 AM/99.3 FM or nationwide on The Varsity app.

Single game tickets and mini-plan options for home games at L. Dale Mitchell Park are available via SoonerSports.com/tickets. 

For updates and more information on Oklahoma baseball, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Baseball) and like Oklahoma Baseball on Facebook.

The forecast

Cloudy skies during the day Friday with clouds again with rain developing after midnight in LeFlore County.

The high is forecast to be 67 degrees with a low of 50. 

Sunrise is 6:41 a.m. Sunset is 7:54 p.m.

Average temperatures for April 19 are a high of 75 and low of 48. Records for the date were a high of 92 in 1987. The record low was34 in 1983.

Last year on April 19, the high was

Last year, on this date, the high was 76 with a low of 68.

Thursday’s high was 81 with a low of 55.

The calendar

Calendar of events for Heavener, LeFlore County and southeastern Oklahoma.. If you are a non-profit, school or church, submit an event. This is a free service for non-profits and churches so let us know if something is going on. CONTACT us. 

Friday

Heavener at Broken Bow meet

Funeral services for Lonnie Hale 

High school softball: Pocola, Tahlequah at Muskogee; Poteau at Muldrow; Smithville at LeFlore district tournament 

High school baseball: Panama at Hartshorne; Spiro at Salina Tournament; Wister at Wilburton; LeFlore, Boswell at Buffalo Valley in district tournament

High school soccer: Heavener girls at Porter; Poteau at Regent Prep

Heavener drama presentation of Mean Girls 7 p.m.

Saturday

Heavener, Poteau clean-up drive

Funeral service for Jeff Sullivan

Memorial service for Joshua Matthew Janway,

High school baseball: Heaener at Eufaula; Muldrow at Poteau; Spiro at Salina Tournament

Heavener drama presentation of Mean Girls 7 p.m.

Sunday

Heavener drama presentation of Mean Girls 2 p.m.

Monday

LeFlore County commissioners meet 9 a.m.

High school baseball: Howe at Heavener;Vian at Panama; Pocola at Muldrow;  district tournaments; Poteau at Spiro

High School softball:Whitesboro, Spiro  at Howe

Tuesday

High school softball: Spiro at Eufaula

Poteau Evening Lions Club meet 6 p.m. CASC

Jazz night at the Museum

Wednesday

Heavener High School blood drive to benefit Austin Davis

Poteau Rotary Club meets noon EOMC

Jazz night at the LeFlore County Museum

Thursday

Poteau Kiwanis Club meets noon

Heavener VFW bingo 6:30 p.m. Highway 59 North

Today in history

1775

American Revolution begins at Battle of Lexington

April 19, 1775: At about 5 a.m., 700 British troops, on a mission to capture Patriot leaders and seize a Patriot arsenal, march into Lexington to find 77 armed minutemen under Captain John Parker waiting for them on the town’s common green. British Major John Pitcairn ordered the outnumbered Patriot... read more

1990s

1993

Waco Siege ends; Branch Davidian compound burns

Art, Literature and Film History

1824

Lord Byron dies in Greece

1956

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco marry in “wedding of the century”

Civil War

1861

First blood in the Civil War

Crime

1989

Central Park jogger attack shocks New York City

1995

Oklahoma City bombing

Sports

1897

First Boston Marathon held

U.S. Presidents

1809

Thomas Jefferson sells indentured servant to newly elected President James Madison

Vietnam War

1971

Vietnam Veterans Against the War demonstrate

World War I

1919

Discussion of Italian claims begins at Paris peace conference

World War II

1943

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising begins

Farmhouse pie

Farm life is the best life. From the laid-back living to the hard-working harvest days, it's truly an underrated lifestyle. Another perk that comes with living in these parts is all the cozy comfort food like Farmhouse Pie! This hearty pile of pork and potatoes is just what every farmer needs after a long day's work. Oh, and those apples tossed in bring the sweetest, most satisfying flavor combination creating a perfect ending to a perfect day. Gather your crew and enjoy some of the finest things in life... like living out in the sticks and enjoying this Farmhouse Pie.

Ingredients

• 1 pound sliced bacon, cut into 2-inch pieces

• 3 medium onions, chopped

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 3 pounds pork, boneless, cut into 1-inch-thick cubes

• canola oil, to taste, optional

• 3 medium tart apples, peeled and chopped

• 1 teaspoon rubbed sage

• 1 teaspoon salt, plus more, to taste

• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/4 teaspoon pepper, plus more, to taste

• 1 cup apple cider

• 1/2 cup water, plus more, to taste

• 4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed

• 5 tablespoons butter, divided

• 1/2 cup 2% milk

  Directions

  Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

  Step 2 -In a large cast-iron or oven-proof skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon pieces, stirring occasionally, until they are crisp.

  Step 3 -Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked bacon pieces to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain.

  Step 4 -Discard all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings from the skillet.

  Step 5 -Increase the heat to medium-high and add the onions to the remaining bacon drippings. Cook until they are tender, about 5-7 minutes.

  Step 6 -Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked onions to a new paper-towel-lined plate to drain.

  Step 7 -Reduce the stovetop heat to medium.

  Step 8 -Add the flour to a shallow bowl and then add the pork cubes, tossing to coat them.

  Step 9 -Add the coated pork cubes to the skillet, in batches, and cook until they are browned. Add the canola oil, a little at a time, if the skillet becomes too dry.

  Step 10 -Use a slotted spoon to transfer the browned pork cubes to a new paper-towel-lined plate to drain.

  Step 11 -Transfer the skillet from the heat and discard the drippings.

  Step 12 -Add the browned pork cubes, the cooked bacon pieces, the cooked onions, the apples, the sage, 1 teaspoon of the salt, the nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper to the skillet.

  Step 13 -Stir the cider and 1/2 cup of the water into the pork mixture.

  Step 14 -Cover the skillet with foil and bake the pork mixture until the pork is tender, about 2 hours.

  Step 15 -While the pork mixture is baking, in a large saucepan, add the potatoes and enough of the extra water to just cover them. Bring it to a boil.

  Step 16 -Reduce the heat and cook the potatoes, uncovered, until they are tender, about 10-15 minutes.

  Step 17 -Transfer the pork mixture from the oven and switch the oven setting to broil.

  Step 18 -Drain the potatoes.

  Step 19 -Mash the potatoes, while gradually adding 3 tablespoons of the butter, the milk, the extra salt, and the extra pepper, until they reach the desired consistency.

  Step 20 -Spread the mashed potatoes over the pork mixture.

  Step 21 -Melt the remaining butter in the microwave, then brush it over the mashed potatoes.

  Step 22 -Broil the pie 6 inches away from the heat until the topping is browned, about 5 minutes.

  Step 23 -Serve.

Obituary for Lonnie Hale

Funeral services for Lonnie Hale are 10 a.m. Friday at Springhill Baptist Church in Monroe with Pastor Larry Stacy and Liniel Hall officiating.

Burial will follow at the Monroe Cemetery, under the direction of Grace Funeral Service of Poteau.  

Lonnie was born Oct. 21, 1949 in Monroe to Zena Mae (Pruitt) and James Hale and passed away April 16, 2024 at his home in Monroe, surrounded by his three daughters. 

Lonnie enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, woodworking and photography. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 12 years where he was an aerial photographer. Lonnie devoted more than three decades to teaching, finding immense joy in guiding the academic journey of his students, who were the heart of his profession.    

Survivors include his daughters Naomi Gunter and husband J.R., Rachel Brown and husband Chris, and Sarah Green and husband James; nine grandchildren Greg Gunter and wife Alicia, Brad Gunter and wife Ashley, Britt Brown and wife Callie, Megan Carter and husband Jacob, Gaven Brown and wife Lexi, Hunter Wilson, Remington Wright and husband Alex, Rebecca Thompson and husband Jacob,  and Khloe Green; 10 great grandchildren Levi, Britlie, Cooper, Cassius, Haisley, Jackson, Micah, Kitt, Willow, and Lonnie May;  two brothers Jim Hale and wife Judy and Al Hale; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other family, friends and also a special niece, Amanda Menke.

He was preceded in death by his parents James and Zena; his wife, Judy Hale; and numerous brothers and one sister.

Lonnie's pallbearers are Britt Brown, Gaven Brown, James Green, Alex Wright, Jacob Carter, Chris Brown, J.R. Gunter and Jacob Thompson.  Honorary pallbearers are Cooper Brown, Kitt Wright, Jackson Carter, Cassius Brown, Greg Gunter, Brad Gunter and Levi Gunter.

Viewing is from 9 a.m.-to  p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

You may leave an online message at www.gracemanorfh.com.

LeFlore County newsletter 4-17-2024

Wednesday's newsletter

The LeFlore County newsletter covers LeFlore County and southeastern Oklahoma. To receive our daily newsletter and help support us, subscribe for $5 per month or $50 per year or sign up as a free subscriber and receive all editions, just at a later time than paying subscribers. If you have questions or comments, CONTACT us.

If you enjoy reading about LeFlore County news, sports, obits and more, please subscribe below and refer our newsletter to anybody you think might be interested.

Subscribe below (It’s free)

Bible verse of the day

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Luke 6:36 NIV

Today’s crossword

George Burns, left, and Rick West, right

List of candidates filing

List of candidates for national, state races

While the races for state senator and representative in the Heavener area ran unopposed, several incumbents drew opponents.

Here are a list of the candidates who filed:

United States representative (District 02)

Republican—Josh Brecheen of Coalgate; Democrat—Brandon Wade of Bartlesville; Independent—Ronnie Hopkins of Rose.

Oklahoma corporation commissioner

Libertarian—Chad Williams of Choctaw; Republicans—J. Brian Bingman of Sapulpa; Justin Hornback of Broken Arrow; and Russell Ray of Edmond; Democrat—Harold D. Spradling of Oklahoma City.

State Senator (District 5)

Republican--George H. Burns, Haworth.

State senator (District 7)

Republican—Warren D. Hamilton of McCurtain; Democrat—Jerry L. Donathon of McAlester

State Representative (District 1)

Libertarian—Victoria Lawhorn of Wister; Republican—Eddy Dempsey of Valliant;

State Representative (District 3)

Republican—Rick West, Heavener

State Representative (District 15)

Republican—Tim Turner, Kinta; Paul Palmer, Stigler; Spring Morrow, Checotah; Casey Johnson, Eufaula; Gail Jackson, Eufaula.

See all the candidates for national and state offices HERE.

Candidates filing for LeFlore County offices are:

County commissioner—District 2

Josh Blaylock; Bruce Curnutt; and Jesse Ingle.

County sheriff

Rodney Derryberry; Larry Wayne Crossland; Donnie Ray Edwards

County Clerk

Kelli Ford- Unopposed

Court Clerk

Mindy White- Unopposed

LeFlore County scoreboard

LeFlore County sports scores for Tuesday for baseball, slow pitch softball and soccer.

Baseball

Wilburton 8, Heavener 6

Howe 11, LeFlore 0

Panama 12, Central Sallisaw 7

Stigler 3, Poteau 2

Spiro 4, Cascia Hall 3

Talihina 10, Keota 2*

Cameron 9, Keota 8*

Cameron 5, Talihina 0*

Whitesboro 7, Eagletown 4*

Slow pitch softball

Howe 16, Talihina 1

Kiowa 12, LeFlore 0

Whitesboro 3, Panama 0

Pocola 14, Hartshorne 4

Soccer

--Boys

Heavener 3, Regent Prep 1

Poteau 1, Dove Science 0

--Girls

Regent Prep 9, Heavener 1

Poteau 1, Dove Science 0

* District tournaments

To make a correction or an addition, please CONTACT us.

Wilburton edges Wolves, 8-6

WILBURTON—Heavener’s six errors sunk the Wolves in their non-district baseball game at Wilburton Tuesday.

Heavener drops to 5-19 while Wilburton is 15-7. The Wolves visit Eufaula Friday for a district doubleheader.

With Heavener leading 6-5, Wilburton scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth and held the Wolves scoreless the remainder of the contest. Heavener did load the bases in the seventh, but could not score.

The Wolves’ pitching combo of Spencer Clubb and Canyon Ford allowed only three hits, the defense committed six errors behind them.

Clubb pitched the first four innings, allowing two hits and six runs, two earned, with three strikeouts and two walks. Ford went two innings, giving up one hit and two runs with two strikeouts and a walk.

Hagen Ritter was 2-4 with two runs and a RBI, Talon Lemay was 2-3 and Clubb finished 2-4 with two RBI.

Wilburton 8, Heavener 6

HHS  1  0  4  0  1  0  0—6 10  6

WHS  3  0  2  0  3  0  x—8  3  2

Howe downs LeFlore, 11-0

LeFlore—Howe scored 10 runs in its final two at bats in an 11-0 win over LeFlore in high school baseball play Tuesday.

The Lions improve to 12-10 and play at Poteau Thursday. LeFlore is 6-10 and is scheduled to play its district tournament with Boswell at Buffalo Valley Wednesday.

Wesley Toney got the win for Howe. He pitched four innings, allowing only one hit with four strikeouts and no walks.

Toney also went 2-4 at the plate with a RBI, Andruw Covey went 2-4 with two runs and a RBI and Myka Thornburg finished 2-3 with two RBI and one run.

Howe 11, LeFlore 0

HHS  1  0  0  7  3—11  9  1

LHS  0  0  0  0  0—0  1  5

Stigler completes sweep of Poteau, 3-2

STIGLER—Stigler rallied for three runs in its final two at bats to defeat Poteau, 3-2, in District 4A-6 play Tuesday.

Poteau is 13-15 overall and 4-6 in district play. Stigler improves to 20-3 and 9-2. Poteau is scheduled to host Howe in a non-district game Thursday. The Panthers also won Monday’s game at Poteau, 6-5 to complete the two-game sweep.

Aiden Sockey pitched six innings, giving up three hits and one unearned run. He struck out six and walked two. Caston. Fox pitched the final inning, allowing two hits and two earned runs with two walks.

Garrett Finchum doubled and was 2-4 at the plate to lead the Pirates.

Stigler 3, Poteau 2

PHS  1  1  0  0  0  0  0—2  6  3

SHS  0  0  0  0  0  1  2—3  5  2

OSU loses to Dallas Baptist

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State dropped a nationally ranked matchup Tuesday night at O’Brate Stadium with an 8-7 loss to No. 19 Dallas Baptist.

With the loss, the 15^th ranked Cowboys fell to 25-12, while DBU improved to 27-8.

Nolan Schubart led the Pokes with a 2-for-4 night that included a home run and three RBIs, while Ian Daugherty also had a pair of hits and went deep.

The Cowboys used seven pitchers in the contest, with that group combining for 16 strikeouts. Carson Benge took the loss to fall to 0-1, while in his first career start, Dominick Reid worked three innings, striking out six and allowing four runs.

The Patriots jumped out to a 1-0 advantage in the first with an RBI single from Michael Dattalo, but the Pokes had a quick answer in the bottom of the inning.

Leadoff hitter Kollin Ritchie reached on a hit by pitch, and Benge delivered a one-out single up the middle. Schubart then drove in his first run with a single and a fielding error on the play allowed a second run to score. Later in the frame, a Jaxson Crull sac fly pushed the OSU lead to 3-1.

Singular runs were added from both teams in the second as Nathan Humphreys hit a solo shot to center field for DBU, and Daugherty went deep for the Pokes, marking his second-straight game with a homer and his fourth round tripper of the season.

DBU answered with a two-run homer in the third to knot the game at 4-4.

The Cowboys loaded the bases to start the fourth inning but only brought one runner home on a fielder’s choice RBI by Benge.

With OSU leading 5-4, Ryan Bogusz, who came on in relief of Reid, shut down the Patriots for three innings, picking up four strikeouts and allowing only two hits.

DBU homered for the third and fourth times in the seventh and eighth innings to regain the lead at 6-5, but the Patriots weren’t on top for long.

In the bottom of the eighth, Zach Ehrhard reached base on an error, and two batters later, Schubart smashed a two-out, two-run bomb to create a one run advantage for the Cowboys. The go-ahead homer was his seventh of the season.

Schubart’s late game heroics weren’t enough as the Patriots delivered their fifth home run of the contest in the ninth, a two-run shot to right field off the bat of Chayton Krauss, to go up, 8-7.

OSU would bring the winning run to the plate three times in the ninth after a leadoff walk to Crull, but the Cowboys failed to score.

Up next, OSU hits the road for a Big 12 series at Kansas State. Friday’s series opener is scheduled for a 6 p.m. first pitch.

Hogs overcome deficit to defeat Red Raiders

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas – No. 2 Arkansas (31-5) rallied from a seven-run deficit to defeat Texas Tech (26-12), 9-8, in Tuesday night’s midweek series opener and extend its Baum-Walker Stadium winning streak to a program-record 24 games.

Tuesday’s win marks Arkansas’ largest comeback win since rallying from a nine-run deficit in a 13-10 victory at Louisiana Tech during the 2017 season. The Hogs trailed, 10-1, before scoring 12 unanswered runs to pull off the improbable win.

Trailing 7-0 entering the bottom of the fourth inning against Texas Tech, Arkansas scored once in the bottom half of the frame before putting together a six-run fifth to tie the game at seven. Peyton Holt’s RBI single and Wehiwa Aloy’s RBI double set the table for Ben McLaughlin’s two-out, two-run homer, cutting the Razorbacks’ deficit to one.

Hudson White, who transferred to Arkansas from Texas Tech this past offseason, tied the game at seven later in the fifth inning with his two-out double, scoring Jack Wagner from second. The Red Raiders would answer with a solo home run against Razorback right-hander Will McEntire to lead off the seventh and go up, 8-7, but Arkansas tied the game again at 8-8 when Peyton Stovall beat out a double play that allowed Ty Wilmsmeyer to score from third base in the eighth.

Gabe Gaeckle, who earned the win to improve to 2-2 on the season, tossed a scoreless top half of the ninth to give the Razorback offense an opportunity to win the ballgame in the bottom of the inning. Arkansas did exactly that, as Texas Tech committed two errors and hit a batter to lead off the ninth, eventually allowing Jared Sprague-Lott to score the game-winning run from third base on pinch hitter Nolan Souza's sacrifice fly to right.

McLaughlin (3-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Wagner (2-for-2, RBI) and Jayson Jones (2-for-4, 2 2B) each finished with multi-hit games in Tuesday night’s wild come-from-behind win. Seven Razorbacks recorded at least one run batted in, led by McLaughlin’s two-RBI performance thanks to his seventh home run of the season.

On the mound, sophomore right-hander Ben Bybee started and was tagged for six runs on six hits with two strikeouts over his 1.1 innings of work. In relief, Christian Foutch (1.1 IP, 2 SO), Gage Wood (2.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 SO), Parker Coil (1.0 IP, 2 SO), McEntire (1.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 SO) and Gaeckle (1.2 IP, 1 SO) combined for 7.1 innings of two-run ball with 12 punchouts.

The midweek series finale between Arkansas and Texas Tech gets underway at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, on SEC Network with Karl Ravech (play-by-play) and Kyle Peterson (analyst) on the call. True freshman left-hander Colin Fisher will toe the rubber for the Razorbacks and go up against Red Raider junior right-hander Hudson Parker.

The weather

Cloudy skies early with partly cloudy skies and warm temperatures Wednesday in LeFlore County.

The high is forecast to be 86 degrees with a low of 68. 

Sunrise is 6:43 a.m. Sunset is 7:52 p.m.

Average temperatures for April 17 are a high of 75 and low of 47. Records for the date were a high of 85 in 1985. The record low was 29 in 1984.

Tuesday’s high was 77 with a low of 64.  

The calendar

Calendar of events for Heavener, LeFlore County and southeastern Oklahoma.. If you are a non-profit, school or church, submit an event. This is a free service for non-profits and churches, so if you want your event published, send an email to craig@heavenerledger.com

Wednesday

Poteau Rotary Club meets noon EOMC

High school baseball: Arkoma, Gans at Porum in district tournament

Thursday

Poteau Kiwanis Club meets noon

Funeral service for Darrel Bills

Heavener VFW bingo 6:30 p.m. Highway 59 North 

High school softball: Keota at Cameron; Panama at Wister; Heavener, Calera at Valliant district tournament;Vian at Howe district tournament

High school baseball: Spiro at Salina Tournament

HUA, city council meetings 6 p.m. Heavener City Hall

Friday

Heavener at Broken Bow meet

High school softball: Cameron at Spiro; Pocola, Tahlequah at Muskogee; Poteau at Muldrow; Smithville at LeFlore district tournament 

High school baseball: Panama at Hartshorne; Spiro at Salina Tournament; Wister at Wilburton; LeFlore, Boswell at Buffalo Valley in district tournament

High school soccer: Heavener girls at Porter; Poteau at Regent Prep

Heavener drama presentation of Mean Girls 7 p.m.

Saturday

Heavener, Poteau clean-up drive

Funeral service for Jeff Sullivan

High school baseball: Heaener at Eufaula; Muldrow at Poteau; Spiro at Salina Tournament

Heavener drama presentation of Mean Girls 7 p.m.

Sunday

Heavener drama presentation of Mean Girls 2 p.m.

Monday

LeFlore County commissioners meet 9 a.m.

High school baseball: Howe at Heavener;Vian at Panama; Pocola at Muldrow;  district tournaments; Poteau at Spiro

High School softball:Whitesboro, Spiro  at Howe

Tuesday

High school softball: Spiro at Eufaula

Poteau Evening Lions Club meet 6 p.m. CASC

Oklahoma market report

Today in history

1970

Apollo 13 returns to Earth

With the world anxiously watching, Apollo 13, a U.S. lunar spacecraft that suffered a severe malfunction on its journey to the moon, safely returns to Earth on April 17, 1970. On April 11, the third manned lunar landing mission was launched from Florida, carrying astronauts James A. Lovell, John L. ... read more

Art, Literature and Film History

1960

Eddie Cochran dies, and Gene Vincent is injured, in a UK car accident

2002

"General Hospital" airs 10,000th episode

Cold War

1945

Americans seize 1,100 pounds of uranium in effort to prevent Soviets from developing A-bomb

1961

The Bay of Pigs invasion begins

1969

Architect of Czechoslovakia's Prague Spring forcibly resigns

Early U.S.

1790

Benjamin Franklin dies

Inventions & Science

1964

Ford Mustang debuts at World’s Fair

Vietnam War

1975

Cambodia falls to the Khmer Rouge

World War I

1917

Second Battle of Gaza begins

World War II

1941

Yugoslavia surrenders to the Nazis

1942

General Henri Giraud makes his great escape

Obituary for Darrel Bills

Darrel Ray Bills of Howe was born Oct. 30, 1956 in Oklahoma City to Felix D. Bills and Marita L (Mosley) Wilkins and passed away April 15, 2024 in Howe at the age of 67.

Funeral service is 11 a.m. Thursday at Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home Chapel in Heavener with Reverend Phil McGehee officiating and burial will follow in Heavener Memorial Park with military honors by the Poteau D.A.V. Chapter #63.

Arrangements are under the direction of Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home of Heavener.

Darrel was a veteran of both the United States Air Force and United States Army.  He was a Special Operations Green Beret and a very patriotic man.  After his military service, he owned and operated his own trucking business for 15 years. In 2005, Darrel started work as a military analyst operating in Iraq and Afghanistan until 2015. Darrel enjoyed music, tinkering with engines and spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years Sonya R. Bills of Howe;

Three sons Brandon Bills (Janae) of Idabel, Casey Bills (Ashley) of McAlester and Adam Crowe (Nichole) of New Orleans, Louisiana;

One daughter Amanda Alcazar (Benjamin) of Poteau;

One sister Cynthia Reedy (Doc) of Jackson, Tennessee;

Seven grandchildren and numerous other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Felix D Bills and mother, Marita (Mosley) Wilkins.

Pallbearers are his family

Viewing is from noon until 8:30 p.m. Wednesday with family visiting with friends from 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home. 

To sign Darrel’s online guestbook please visit www.dowdenrobertsfuneralhome.com.

LeFlore County newsletter 4-16-2024

Tuesday's newsletter

The LeFlore County newsletter covers LeFlore County and southeastern Oklahoma. To receive our daily newsletter and help support us, subscribe for $5 per month or $50 per year or sign up as a free subscriber and receive all editions, just at a later time than paying subscribers. If you have questions or comments, CONTACT us.

If you enjoy reading about LeFlore County news, sports, obits and more, please subscribe below and refer our newsletter to anybody you think might be interested.

Subscribe below (It’s free)

Bible verse of the day

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV

Tuesday’s podcast

Joke of the day

Why did the librarian get kicked off the plane?

It was overbooked.

Today’s crossword

Whitesboro’s girls captured their district championship by defeating Sasakwa Monday.

LeFlore County scoreboard

LeFlore County sports scores from Monday

Baseball

Victory Christian 3, Heavener 0

Victory Christian 9, Heavener 0

Howe 13, McCurtain 3

Panama 14, Arkoma 0

Stigler 6, Poteau 5

Cascia Hall 16, Spiro 6

Slow pitch softball

Heavener 8, Sallisaw 3

LeFlore 16, Talihina 9

Pocola 12, Panama 0

Muldrow 6, Spiro 1

Whitesboro 12, Sasakwa 0*

Whitesboro 21, Sasakwa 0*

* District tournaments

Tuesday’s schedule

High school track: Heavener at Idabel meet

High school baseball: Heavener at Wilburton; Howe at LeFlore; Central Sallisaw at Panama; Pocola at Haworth; Poteau at Stigler; Cascia Hall at Spiro; Savanna at Talihina; Tushka at Wister; Cameron at Talihina.

High school softball: Kiowa, LeFlore at Red Oak; Panama at Whitesboro; Stigler at Talihina; District softball

To make an addition or correction, please CONTACT us.

Heavener’s Bryce Morrison delivers a pitch in the first game Monday against Victory Christian.

Victory Christian sweeps 2 from Heavener

HEAVENER—Victory Christian’s pitching held Heavener scoreless in a District 3A-7 baseball doubleheader here Monday.

Victory Christian took the opener 3-0 before completing the sweep with an 8-0 victory in the second contest.

Victory Christian stays on top of the district standings with a 15-9 record overall, 10-2 in district play. Heavener drops to 5-17 and 3-7. The Wolves visit Wilburton Tuesday in a non-district game.

Game One

In the opener, Heavener actually outhit the visitors, 7-6, but could never get the big hit when needed.

Bryce Morrison was excellent on the mound, pitching six innings, giving up only five hits and three runs, two earned, with three strikeouts and five walks. Canyon Ford pitched the final inning, allowing one hitter with one walk.

Jackson Clubb doubled and was 2-4 to lead Heavener. Brintley Hash also doubled while going 1-4.

VCHS  1  0  1  0  1  0  0—3  6  0

HHS  0  0  0  0  0  0  0—0  7  2

Game Two

In the second game, Heavener only trailed 3-0 through four innings before Victory Christian scored three runs in the fifth and sixth innings to put the game away.

Clubb went four innings, allowing four hits and three runs, two earned, with six strikeouts and two walks. Bryce Early threw a third of an inning, not allowing a hit while giving up three runs, all earned, on three walks. Talon Lemay pitched the final inning, giving up three hits and three runs, all earned, with two strikeouts and five walks.

Heavener managed only five hits, all singles.

HHS  0  0  0  0  0  0—0  8  5

VCHS  2  0  1  0  3  3—9  7  1

After getting the force out at second, Heavener’s Kristy Shadwick throws to first base to try and complete the double header.

Heavener girls slam Sallisaw, 8-3

Heavener’s six seniors celebrated their senior night Monday with an 8-3 win over Sallisaw.

The Lady Wolves improve to 16-7 heading into their district tournament Thursday at Valliant against Calera. Sallisaw finishes its regular season at 1-12.

Senior Cayleigh McGee homered twice and was 2-2 with two RBI and two runs, Gracie Morrison went 2-2 with a RBI and Kristy Shadwick homered while going 1-2 with three RBI and a run.

Heavener 8, Sallisaw 3

SHS  2  0  0  0  1—3  9  2

HHS  4  4  0  0  x—8  9  0

The weather

Cloudy skies with a stray shower or thunderstorms possible for Tuesday in LeFlore County.

The high is forecast to be 82 degrees with a low of 65. 

Sunrise is 6:44 a.m. Sunset is 7:52 p.m.

Monday’s high was 77 with a low of 68.  A total of .01 inches of rain was recorded, bringing the monthly total to 3.68 inches. Average rainfall for April is 4.90 inches.

Average temperatures for April 16 are a high of 75 and low of 47. Records for the date were a high of 85 in 1982. The record low was 27 in 1983.

Last year on April 16, the high was 64 with a low of 54.

The calendar

Calendar of events for Heavener, LeFlore County and southeastern Oklahoma.. If you are a non-profit, school or church, submit an event. This is a free service for non-profits and churches, so if you want your event published, send an email to craig@heavenerledger.com

Tuesday

Funeral services for Ruth Plummer

High school track: Heavener at Idabel meet

High school baseball: Heavener at Wilburton; Howe at LeFlore; Central Sallisaw at Panama; Pocola at Haworth; Poteau at Stigler; Cascia Hall at Spiro; Savanna at Talihina; Tushka at Wister; Cameron at Talihinal.

High school softball: Kiowa, LeFlore at Red Oak; Panama at Whitesboro; Stigler at Talihina; District softball

High school soccer: Regent Prep at Heavener; Dove Science at Poteau

Poteau Chamber of Commerce banquet

Poteau Evening Lions Club meet 6 p.m. CASC

Wednesday

Poteau Rotary Club meets noon EOMC

Thursday

Poteau Kiwanis Club meets noon

Heavener VFW bingo 6:30 p.m. Highway 59 North 

High school softball: Keota at Cameron; Panama at Wister; Howe at Poteau

High school baseball: Spiro at Salina Tournament

HUA, city council meetings 6 p.m. Heavener City Hall

Friday

Heavener at Broken Bow meet

High school softball: Cameron at Spiro; Pocola, Tahlequah at Muskogee; Poteau at Muldrow 

High school baseball: Panama at Hartshorne; Spiro at Salina Tournament; Wister at Wilburton

High school soccer: Heavener girls at Porter; Poteau at Regent Prep

Heavener drama presentation of Mean Girls 7 p.m.

Saturday

Heavener, Poteau clean-up drive

Funeral service for Jeff Sullivan

High school baseball: Heaener at Eufaula; Muldrow at Poteau; Spiro at Salina Tournament

Heavener drama presentation of Mean Girls 7 p.m.

Sunday

Heavener drama presentation of Mean Girls 2 p.m.

Monday

LeFlore County commissioners meet 9 a.m.

High school baseball: Howe at Heavener;Vian at Panama; Pocola at Muldrow;  district tournaments; Poteau at Spiro

High School softball:Whitesboro, Spiro  at Howe

OSSAA bill squashed in Senate

By Rep. RICK WEST 

It's bill-killing time at the State Capitol. Once bills pass to the opposite chamber, they have a tendency to get squashed. That's what happened to my House Bill 2972, which would have required organizations such as the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association to accept cash at their games and would not allow them to charge extra for cash-only transactions.

The chairman of the Senate committee to which this bill was assigned refused to hear it. He argued that OSSAA does not take state dollars and should not be opened up to state regulation. Public schools are funded by taxpayer dollars. Those that become members of OSSAA, therefore, do pay with state dollars, and these funds should be subject to oversight.

I'll keep an eye on this during playoff time next year, and if I get the same complaints I got last year – that they're not accepting cash or charging more for cash transactions – then I'll go after them again with similar legislation.

My House Bill 2973 also got amended in Senate committee. This bill would have extended tax-free vehicle title transfers from grandparents to their grandchildren. The amendment to the bill stripped the word grandparent and inserted the words legal guardian. That is not the intent of the bill. I'm waiting to see how this emerges from the Senate before I determine my next step.

Sometimes good legislation does survive the chamber swap. An example of this is Senate Bill 1994, which passed in a House committee last week.  This measure would create a procedure for the removal of unlawful occupants of property. It would allow a property owner to request the sheriff of a county in which property is located to immediately remove a person or persons unlawfully occupying the real property if certain conditions are met. 

This is a big issue in our House district. I even heard of incidents during the recent solar eclipse in which people just decided to set up camp on private property without permission of the landowner. I'm glad to see legislation moving forward that would stop these types of infringements. Property ownership is a Constitutional right and impacts many other freedoms, such as a person's right to vote in local elections, to participate in certain trade transactions and in other areas.  

Also in the House last week, we held a joint legislative session with the state Senate to recognize the efforts of the 129-year-old Oklahoma Army and Air National Guard. We have more than 8,200 guardsmen and women serving currently. They help here at home during disasters like tornadoes, floods, wildfires or worse, and they help nationally and abroad to stem the tide of terrorism and to keep our liberties intact. It was good to be able to recognize the sacrifice of these soldiers and airmen and that of their families. I appreciate all they do for us.  

As always, if I can help you with anything, feel free to call my Capitol office at (405) 557-7413 or email me at rick.west@okhouse.gov.

Rick West serves District 3 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes part of LeFlore County.

On thankfullness

By LEON YOUNGBLOOD

(I got a request for this Thanksgiving 2023 column, and see no harm in repeating it in this week’s Briar Circle.  It’s always a good time to be thankful, and it’s always nice to get responses, too.  I can be emailed at llyoungblood@outlook.com, and with a subscription, you can check back issues online.)

BRIAR CIRCLE

Thanksgiving was established as a National holiday by Abraham Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation on October 3, 1863—the middle of the Civil War.  The holiday was to be observed every year on the last Thursday in November (later changed to the 4^th Thursday), and was intended to be a time to thank God for His blessings, but—what, pray tell, was there to be thankful for?

The North and South were engaged in the bloodiest conflict in American history.  The notion of war had been somewhat romanticized during the early interactions, the first being the shelling of Fort Sumter by the Confederates, April 12, 1861.  This formally started the war, though hostilities had been simmering for some time.  Both sides thought it would end quickly; it didn’t.  September 17, 1962 saw the bloodiest single day of the war at Antietam.  The bloodiest battle was at Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863.  Then September 19-20, just 2 weeks before the Thanksgiving Proclamation, the 2^nd bloodiest battle was fought at Chickamauga, Georgia.  The outcome of the war was uncertain, but it was clear the bloodshed was a long way from ending.  Some notable men had some “I told you so” moments, too, to express their thoughts:

Nathan Bedford Forrest stated simply, “War means fighting, and fighting means killing.”

Stonewall Jackson observed, “People who are anxious to bring on war don’t know what they are bargaining for; they don’t see all the horrors that must accompany such an event.”  On another occasion, Stonewall said, “I have seen enough of it [war] to make me look upon it as the sum of all evil.” 

William Tecumseh Sherman testified, “I am sick and tired of war.  Its glory is all moonshine.  It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation.  War is hell.”

All these sorts of quotes are well and good; but Ambrose Bierce hits the mark most closely with this excerpt from his short story, Chickamauga, when a child is reunited with his mother on the battlefield:

“There, conspicuous in the light of the conflagration, lay the dead body of a woman—the white face turned upward, the hands thrown out and clutched full of grass, the clothing deranged, the long dark hair in tangles and full of clotted blood.  The greater part of the forehead was torn away, and from the jagged hole the brain protruded, overflowing the temple, a frothy mass of gray, crowned with clusters of crimson bubbles—the work of a shell.”

It’s like Sherman said—“War is hell.”

So again, what was Abe wanting to thank God for?

Like love and faith, thankfulness is not only an emotional reaction, it is a conscious act of will.  Lincoln was a man of faith.  “God cannot be for and against the same thing at the same time.  In the present civil war, it is quite possible that God’s purpose is something different from the purpose of either party–and yet the human instrumentalities, working just as they do, are of the best adaptation to effect His purpose.”

In other words, whatever happened, Lincoln believed God was in control.  He was thankful for that; we should be, too.  We’ll look at this more next week. 

Support local, live music

By T.J. Wiles

‘The Black Diamonds,’ ‘Chaotic Resemblance’ and ‘Hillbilly Vegas’ set concert dates

Nothing but promos of local bands! No news of ripe maters (cherry) or fishing or dawgs — just live music. So, don’t let me get off track.

The weather, I can always get sidetracked with the weather. We’ve had two good rains but this weekend looks perfect for outside venues as it will be warm and sunny with a slight chance of rain. So, get your fishing and yard/garden work caught up so you can dance!

“The Black Diamonds” — when they pop up, there’s a lot of commotion. Here’s a chance to hear them at the band’s point of origin — The Coffee Cup in Poteau beginning at 6 p.m. Friday as the parking lot will be filled with fans. Singer/songwriter Ben Whiteaker/Guitar with sidekicks/friends Kaleb Oliver/Bass, Bryson Cook/guitar and Friscoe Boyd/drums will showcase four original songs at a release party. Recorded at Valcour Sound in Broken Arrow, with the legendary Hank Charles at the helm as producer, this online opportunity will present a chance to hear the band’s best efforts to date. In Ben’s words, it will be “four heartfelt songs” on this “Revenge Of The Black Diamonds Tour.” If you can’t make it, remember that you will be able to hear the tunes on your favorite music streaming platform that day — it’s almost as good as being there. If necessary, the show will be inside.

“The Black Diamonds” was formed at The Coffee Cup from the barista staff. Tammie Johnson has always supported live music and given young folks a chance to learn life lessons and earn some extra cash. The crew has always been courteous, friendly and efficient. That’s why I won’t buy my latte anywhere else. Hope to see you there!

“Chaotic Resemblance” is another band with Poteau roots and with loyal fans which is reaching another audience with heavy-metal Christian. They have produced chart-worthy compact discs (CDs) and singles, performed for huge crowds and small churches and carried the message of Christ to folks across the United States and across the pond. Travis McConnell, L.A. Ellis and John Jakway will start the “Quick and the Dead Part 1” tour on Friday at The House of Prayer and Saturday at Calvary Chapel in Bemidji, Minn. This is the start of a northern tour through Minnesota, Wyoming, Michigan, North Dakota and ending in Indiana. Prayers for a safe journey and for touching many lives through their music. More on the tour and schedule soon.

“Hillbilly Vegas” is living the dream and continuing making plans for more shows and new music in 2024. The band is going back across the Atlantic Ocean to Porthcawl, South Wales, to do a show at Planet Rockstock 2024 for four nights, Nov. 28-Dec. 1. It will feature a combination of awesome music from up and comers and a few well known headliners such as “Uriah Heep.” Here will be another great opportunity for the band to expand its fanbase with its southern hustle. More information later.

As for live music this week, “Al Grzech and Friends,” featuring Niki Waters, will entertain at the 906 Lounge on Garrison Avenue in Fort Smith, Ark. The show will be from 8 p.m. until midnight Saturday. This band has some of the top-tier entertainers in one of the finest venues. Make plans to be there.

Across the Ark. River at Muldrow City Limits, “Backroads” will play its country music for the 100-plus crowd in attendance, but it has a big dance floor with plenty of room for more. Shelia and David invite you to help start the dancing when the music kicks off at 7 p.m.

“Rhythm Coalition,” with an eclectic mix that covers R&B, blues, jazz, an original or two and probably a red-dirt tune thrown in for good measure, will be playing at Rooster’s on Garrison Avenue in Fort Smith beginning at 10 p.m. Saturday. Make it a late night and enjoy this very cool band.

“The Tribadours” will be pulling a double again. This Friday, the band will be at El Toro on Market Place in Fort Smith with coastal and western music from 5-8 p.m. Then the band will load up, move a few hundred feet in record time around the corner to Ava’s at Fianna with music from 8:30 p.m. Friday until 12:30 a.m. Saturday. This band’s music can be enjoyed all evening, just off of Exit 13 near Interstate 540. Don’t forget that “The Tribadours” will be at Warehouse Willy’s in Poteau on April 30.

“The Stagemasters” will start the weekend off right at Dawn’s Diner/Red Oak. On Friday , the band will play classic country for the dance. Then on Saturday, Paden Baggett will bring his music and entertain the folks at Dawn’s. The music will start both nights at 7 p.m.

Poteau has quite an event coming in May. During Memorial Day Weekend on May 25, there will be a show at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Center amphitheater. There will be an awesome line-up of blues and red dirt for “The Jeff Horton Band,” “Oreo Blue” and “J.J. Taylor and Bourbon Highway.”

For more information call Annie Kobus at (918) 766-8269.

That ain’t all I got to say, but it’s a good place to stop. There’s a lot of outside live spring events scheduled.

For additional information about any live-music events or to let me know of any such venues, call or text message me at (918) 649-5736 or e-mail me at tj.wiles61@outlook.com. 

Today in history

2007

Virginia Tech shooting leaves 32 dead

On April 16, 2007, 32 people died after being gunned down on the campus of Virginia Tech by Seung-Hui Cho, a student at the college who later died by suicide. The Virginia Tech shooting began around 7:15 a.m., when Cho, a 23-year-old senior and English major at Blacksburg-based Virginia Polytechnic ... read more

Art, Literature and Film History

1889

Hollywood legend Charlie Chaplin born

2018

Kendrick Lamar becomes the first rapper to win the Pulitzer Prize

BLACK HISTORY

1963

Martin Luther King Jr. writes “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”

Cold War

1947

Bernard Baruch popularizes the term “Cold War”

Crime

1881

Western gunslinger, Bat Masterson, fights in last shootout

Inventions & Science

1943

Hallucinogenic effects of LSD discovered

1946

Arthur Chevrolet dies by suicide

Natural Disasters & Environment

1947

Fertilizer explosion kills more than 500 in Texas

Space Exploration

1972

Apollo 16 departs for moon

Sports

1929

Cleveland becomes first MLB team to play with numbers on back of jerseys

World War I

1917

Lenin returns to Russia from exile

World War II

1945

Hitler calls for last stand on the Eastern front

Obituary for Jeff Sullivan

POTEAU--Funeral service for Jeffery Michael Sullivan, 57, of Poteau is 10 a.m. Saturday at Evans Chapel of Memories in Poteau with Reverend Phil McGehee officiating.

Services are under the direction of Evans & Miller Funeral Home of Poteau.

Jeffery was born Dec. 8, 1966 in Poteau to Karolyn Kay McCoy and Mike Sullivan and passed away April 11, 2024 in Poteau.  

Survivors include his father, Mike Sullivan; sister, Kim Sullivan; brother, Jon Sullivan; nephews Jon Michael Reese, Matthew Reese, Sam Reese, Braxton Sullivan, Blake Sullivan and Austin Sullivan; nieces Macklin Sullivan and Olivia Planchon; three great nephews; numerous other relatives and loved ones.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Kay Sullivan; and brother, Mark Sullivan.

Viewing is from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday with family visiting with friends Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. 

You may leave an online message at www.evansandmillerfuneralhome.com.

Obituary for Ruth Plummer

Funeral services for Ruth Plummer, 83, of Spiro is 2 Tuesday at Mallory-Martin Chapel in Spiro with Reverend Bobby Hogan and Brother Bobby Smith officiating.

Burial will follow at Spiro City Cemetery, under the direction of Mallory-Martin Funeral Home. Ruth was born April 24, 1940 in Spiro to Edith Marie (Boyster) and Virgil Manuel Kirkendoll and passed away April 12, 2024 in Fort Smith, Arkansas.  She enjoyed sewing and doing arts and crafts, she was also an avid wrestling fan.  Ruth was of the Pentecostal faith and attended Kingdom Living Church in Fort Smith, Arkansas.  

Survivors include her sons Denton Plummer and wife Loretta, and Danny Burrows; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other family and friends.  

She was preceded in death by her parents Virgil and Edith Kirkendoll; her husband, Orville Plummer; her sons James Burrows and Larry Burrows; three sisters Mildred Brooks, Billy Dean Cornell and Dorthy Self; and two brothers Virgil Kirkendoll and Richard Kirkendoll
Viewing hours are Monday from noon to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. 

Pallbearers are Ronnie Grimes, Manuel Hernandez, Lisa Wood, Rodney Lane, Jack Robinson and James Burrows, Jr. Honorary pallbearers are Destri Wood, Bobby Smith and Chris Gonzagowski.

You may leave an online message at www.MalloryMartinFuneralHomeSpiro.com