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Summer storm causes damage in Poteau
POTEAU – A strong storm knocked out electricity and caused damage at Poteau Thursday afternoon.
Part of the town still had not gotten electricity restored Thursday evening. The storm consisted of heavy rains in places and high winds that knocked over trees and power lines, caused the scoreboard at Costner Stadium to be knocked over and damaged the fence at the high school baseball stadium at Town Creek Park.
The main emphasis of the storm seemed to be in Poteau and north as Heavener only received a slight rain.
Poteau hires Turner as interim superintendent
By KEN MILAM
POTEAU - A longtime figure in LeFlore County education was hired Thursday as interim superintendent of Poteau Public Schools.
In a special meeting, the school board voted to hire Dr. John Turner, who retired after nine years as superintendent at Arkoma. Before that, Turner served seven years in the same post at Whitesboro.
Turner said he retired after 50 years in education, almost half of that in superintendent positions here and New Mexico.
School Board President Ranada Adams said the search would continue for a permanent replacement for Don Sjoberg, who is retiring at the end of this month.
Adams said Turner had “a great resume,” and in addition to leading school districts, had experience with the state Department of Education.
Turner said he had been contacted by a former Poteau Schools employee, who praised the district and encouraged him to look into the job.
“I’ve been retired, and I’m ready to go back to work,” he said.
He said his first order of business would be to meet the staff and familiarize himself with the district and its needs.
Also Thursday, the board voted to hire Taylor Weterfield as early childhood teacher pending certification and Montoya Seymour as paraprofessional.
HUA discusses water increase
By CRAIG HALL
Members of the Heavener Utility Authority discussed increasing the city’s water rates to match the rate hike the Poteau Valley Improvement Authority implemented earlier in the month at Thursday’s meeting.
Present were Mayor Max Roberts, Council members Melinda Ballantine, Joey Clubb, Marvin Meredith and Jim Roll, along with HUA members Billy Adrean, Jim Carr, Jason Tiffee and David Tamplin.
No action was taken on the hike as City Manager Cody Smith was asked to present where the Authority’s water rates are currently based on a prior plan to increase the rates in stages. The matter will be presented at the next meeting.
Donna Roper, former owner of Heavener Flower, discussed her displeasure with trash pickup after she said trash was left outside her building for several weeks.
“I don’t think I should pay for a service I am not using,” she said.
Russell Vanhook of Vanhook Sanitation, which services the city’s trash service, said he was happy to take care of the problem. Her trash had been placed in a heavy container outside of the building and included loose refuge. In the past, there had been trash bagged and they were able to take the bags and place them in the trash truck while they could not do that with the loose trash.
Roper had closed the flower shop in January and had been asked to get a new trash can to replace the metal container. She also said the city’s sanitation contract was over and what was going to be done about it.
Mayor Roberts said he would get with the city’s attorneys to discuss how to handle the situation.
The HUA then went into a brief executive session to discuss an update on litigation between Estruct and the HUA, along with an update on the OK Foods contract.
The Council approved spending up to $7,000 for carpet in the upstairs section of the new police station on Highway 59, although Chief Ty Armstrong said the cost might be less.
LeFlore County weather 7-22-2022
The LeFlore County weather forecast calls for partly cloudy skies Friday after a violent storm hit Poteau Thursday afternoon.
Another heat advisory is in effect from noon through 8 p.m. due to the heat and high humidity which is expected to produce a heat index of 107 degrees. Everybody is urged to take precautions if they spend time outside.
The high will be 98 degrees with a low of 73 degrees.
Sunrise is 6:20 a.m. Sunset is 8:29 p.m.
Thursday’s high was 96 with a low of 72. A total of .12 inches of rain was recorded at Poteau, bringing the monthly total to .82 inches of rain. Average rainfall for July is 2.97 inches.
Average temperatures for July 22 are a high of 95 and low of 70. Records for the date were a high of 103 in 1998 and a record low of 59 in 1988.
Last year on this date, the high was 90 with a low of 72.
County calendar of events 7-22-2022
The LeFlore County calendar of events. It lists the upcoming events in the area. This is a free service, so if you or your group have an event coming up and would like it added to the calendar, please email craig@heavenerledger.com.
Friday
Funeral service for Ariel Cardenas
Saturday
Memorial service for James Craig Hogan
Monday
LeFlore County commissioners meet 9 a.m.
Funeral service for Glenn Edwin "Poncho" Newburn
Tuesday
Back to school bash 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. LCYS
Poteau Evening Lions Club meet 6 p.m. CASC
Wednesday
Poteau Rotary Club meets noon at EOMC
Thursday
Poteau Kiwanis Club meets noon
Heavener VFW bingo 6 p.m. Highway 59 North.
Remember when 7-22-2022
Remember when is a feature we try to run daily posting a picture of the people, places and events in LeFlore County.
Today’s photograph is of Heavener’s cheerleaders and pep squad from 1977.
If you have a picture you would like to submit, email it to craig@heavenerledger.com.
Service planned for Glenn Newburn
RED OAK - Funeral service for Glenn Edwin "Poncho" Newburn, 73, of Red Oak is 10 a.m. Monday at Bethel Baptist Church in Wister, with Tracy Martin officiating. Burial will follow at Maxey Cemetery in Wister, under the direction of Evans & Miller Funeral Home.
He was born July 31, 1948 in Poteau to Glen and Mary (Boyer) Newburn and passed from this life on July 15, 2022.
Surviving family members are his wife Janice; son Joe Newburn and wife Stacy of Wilburton; grandchildren Aaron and Brenna Newburn of Red Oak and granddaughter Kodi Newburn of Wilburton; two great grandchildren, Denham Newburn, and Berklee Ogden; and sister Carolyn Fulsom and husband Walter.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
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