Ledger/LCJ newsletter 9-4-2020

The Heavener Ledger/LCJ daily newsletter

Craig Hall

Sep 3, 2020

Subscribe for a month for $5 or a year for $50 and also receive the Ledger’s newspaper and e-edition.

Get 7 day free trial

News

Heavener School update Thursday

Pocola residents die from coronavirus

Pocola had two residents die from coronavirus, according to Thursday’s report by the Okahoma Department of Health.

The two deceased were a male and female, both over 65 years old. No names are released. The two are the first to die from the virus in Pocola and increases the county total to nine.

LeFlore County had 28 new cases Thursday with Spiro having 14. Heavener had four, Bokoshe, Howe and Poteau two each, while Arkoma, Pocola, Talihina and Wister each had one new case.

There are now 166 active cases in the county. Overall, LeFlore County has had 742 cases with 567 recoveries, the active cases and the nine deaths.

Oklahoma had 909 new cases Thursday with the 14 deaths and 801 recoveries. Overall, the state has had 61,027 cases with 835 deaths and 51,447 recoveries. There are now 8,745 active cases, up 1.1 percent over Wednesday.

The United States had an additional 39,670 cases with 1,056 deaths and 29,094 recoveries. The total now is 6,113,510 with 185,720 deaths and 2,231,757 recoveries. Active cases are 3,696,033, up .3 percent from Wednesday.

HUA, Council hold meetings Thursday

By CRAIG HALL

HEAVENER – The Heavener Utilities Authority and City Council met in regular business meetings Thursday evening at Heavener City Hall.

In the HUA meeting, City Manager Cody Smith said he has not received a proposal from US Water to handle the water and sewer collection and distribution. It should be received by the next meeting Sept. 17.

He added the Department of Environmental Quality has advised him there should be testing procedures in place before the city hands over the water operations to the Poteau Valley Improvement Authority and that PVIA has to meet certain standards.

The City Council heard a report from Police Chief Ty Armstrong on grant applications. Armstrong said one grant has been approved for digiticket and PPE. The grant did not cover some of the items he hoped to acquire, such as a smart board for training. He said other grants have been applied for to receive the smart board and new communication devices and a 4-wheel utility vehicle.

The Council approved several code violations.

For Alfredo Zapata, for property located at the southeast corner of Nichols Lane and Norvell, for dilapidated building and rank weeds and grass; to Lowell Metcalf, for property located at 603 East Avenue H, for dilapidated building and rank grass and weeds; to Robert and Diana Morrison, for property located at 1000 West 2nd, for dilapidated building and rank weeds and grass; to Marcus and Tiffany Henry, for property located at 408 Blackwell, for dilapidated building and rank weeds and grass; to Robert Smith for property located at 703 West 4th, for dilapidated building and rank weeds and grass; to John Gregory, for property located at 805 East 6th Street, for rank weeds and grass; to Lee and Patricia Hackler, property located at parcel I 200 -00-000-000-0-013-00, except for 309 West Avenue I), for rank grass and weeds; to Brady and Tammy Thompson, property located at 304 West Avenue H, for rank weeds and grass; to Orlando Lira, for property located at 502 West Avenue G, for rank weeds and grass; to Stanley Cagle, for property located at 1004 West 6th, for rank weeds and grass; to Jason and Darlene Janway, property located at SW corner of West Avenue E and Sixth Street, for rank weeds and grass; to Jerry Ford Living Trust, property located at 506 West Avenue E, for trash on property; to Sharon Metcalf, for property located at 406 West Avenue C, for rank weeds and grass; to Pearl Kelm c/o Howard Kelm, property located at 206 Fowler, rank weeds and grass.

Smith informed the Council that it is against city code for residents to blow grass and sticks into the city streets as it clogs up drainage devices.

Sports

Area sports scoreboard 9-3-2020

Football

Panama 27, Central 6

Fast pitch softball

Porum 14, Arkoma 1

Panama 7, Hulbert 0

Kiefer 15, Spiro 0

Kiefer 8, Spiro 2

Wister 7, Clayton 1

Checotah 3, Poteau 2

Poteau 9, Checotah 8

Whitesboro 6, Red Oak 4

Fall baseball

Cameron 8, Buffalo Valley 5

Red Oak 10, Preston 1

Red Oak 16, Caney 4

To report scores or information on games involving area teams, send an email to craig@heavenerledger.com.

Friday’s schedule

Football

Poteau at Shiloh Christian

Spiro at Hartshorne

Hackett at Pocola

Antlers at Talihina

Midway at Arkoma.

Fast pitch softball

Keys at Heavener

Howe vs. Kingston, Calera at Tushka Tournament

Wilburton at Panama

Bokoshe at Central Sallisaw

Fall baseball

Cameron at Bokoshe

Whitesboro at Asher

Five county football teams in action

Five LeFlore County football teams will be in action Friday night.

Panama defeated Central Sallisaw, 27-6, Thursday night and Heavener has a bye after opening with a 22-6 victory over North Rock Creek last week.

The biggest game of the night has Poteau visiting Shiloh Christian, an Arkansas power. Also on the schedule Friday are Spiro at Hartshorne; Hackett, Arkansas at Pocola; Antlers visiting Talihina; and Midway going to Arkoma.

The Pirates are attempting to bounce back from last week’s 28-7 loss at Bishop Kelley, ranked second in Class 5A. Poteau is attempting to repeat history. Last year the Pirates lost their opener at El Reno, another 5A school, then won 14 straight games and the 4A state championship.

Panama opens 2020 season beating Central

PANAMA – Panama opened the 2020 football season Thursday with a 27-6 win over Central Sallisaw.

The Razorbacks are 1-0 and visit Hackett, Arkansas Sept. 11. Central is 0-1 and visits Pocola next week.

Central returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, but it was nullified by a penalty. Panama scored a touchdown in the first and second quarter to take a 13-0 lead.

Central answered with a score late in the second quarter to trim the deficit to 13-6.

Neither team scored in the third quarter before Panama added two touchdowns in the final period for the final margin.

Wister takes win over Clayton

WISTER – Wister scored six runs in the first inning and cruised to a 7-1 win over Clayton in fast pitch softball Thursday.

The Lady Wildcats improve to 8-6. Wister visits Gore Sept. 11.

Jaelyn Covey picked up the win for Wister, going all seven innings and allowing seven hits with one unearned run, four strikeouts and two walks.

Kate Hammons tripled and was 2-3 with a RBI and run; Kinley Branscum doubled while going 2-3 with two RBI and a run; Hope Gotes had a double while going 2-3 with two runs; Reagon Roath was 2-4; and Covey finished 2-3 with two RBI and a run.

Wister 7, Clayton 1

CHS 0 0 0 1 0 0 0—1 8 2

WHS 6 0 0 0 1 0 x—7 12 4

Poteau splits at Checotah

CHECOTAH – Poteau split a doubleheader at Checotah Thursday in District 4A-5 action.

The games were originally scheduled to be played at Poteau, but were moved due to the wet field.

Poteau dropped the opener, 3-2, to snap an 11-game winning streak before bouncing back to win the second game, 9-8.

The Lady Pirates are 12-2 overall, 4-1 in district play. Poteau visits Muldrow Tuesday. Checotah is 8-8 and 5-2.

In the opener, the Lady Wildcats broke a scoreless tie by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth and made it hold up. Poteau actually outhit Checotah, 5-4, but the Lady Pirates had four errors.

Kylie Turner went all six innings for Poteau. She gave up four hits, three runs (two earned) with three strikeouts.

Hailey Weaver doubled and was 2-3 with a run.

Checotah 3, Poteau 2

PHS 0 0 0 0 1 1 0—2 5 4

CHS 0 0 0 3 0 0 x—3 4 0

The Lady Pirates scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to get the win. Poteau trailed 7-6 entering the bottom of the seventh.

Turner doubled to bring in Gracyn Solheim with the winning run.

Turner went 2.1 innings, giving up five hits and four runs (two earned) with a walk, Annika Dill threw two innings, allowing three hits and two runs, both earned, with three walks and Rilee Dunigan went 2.2 innings, giving up three hits and two runs (one earned, while striking out three and walking two.

Dill had a big game at the plate. The freshman tripled and doubled twice while going 4-4 with three runs and two RBI; Jalynn Herring doubled while going 2-4 with a RBI; Tori Morgan finished 2-4 with a RBI; Weaver doubled and was 1-4 with two RBI and a run; and Aniyah Fitzpatrick doubled and went 1-1 with a RBI.

Poteau 9, Checotah 8

CHS 2 0 4 0 0 1 1—8 11 2

PHS 2 0 2 2 0 0 3—9 11 1

Panama, Autrey blank Hulbert

HULBERT – Panama evened its District 2A-5 record Thursday with a 7-0 win at Hulbert.

The Lady ‘Backs improve to 7-6 overall, 4-4 in district play. Panama hosts Wilburton Friday. Hulbert is now 7-8 and 2-3 in district play.

Kami Autrey picked up the win, throwing a 3-hitter. She went all seven innings, striking out 10 with no walks.

Kelcee Ward tripled and was 2-4 with three RBI and a run and ShayAnn Gould doubled while going 2-4 with two runs.

Panama 7, Hulbert 0

PHS 2 0 1 0 0 4 0—7 9 1

HHS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0—0 3 2

Whitesboro rallies past Red Oak

RED OAK – Whitesboro broke a tie in the sixth inning with a pair of runs to take a 6-4 win over Red Oak in fast pitch softball Thursday.

The Lady Bulldogs are ranked fourth in Class B and improve to 15-2. Red Oak is 9-5.

The two teams were tied at 4 going into the sixth inning before Whitesboro rallied for a pair of runs to take the lead for good.

Courtney Grey was the winning pitcher for Whitesboro. She went all seven innings and allowed three hits and four runs, two earned, while striking out nine and walking two.

Linley Collins was 3-3 with two runs for Whitesboro; Hannah Abeyta tripled while going 2-4 with two RBI; and Grey finished 2-3 with a run and a RBI.

Whitesboro 6, Red Oak 4

WHS 0 1 3 0 0 2 0—6 11 2

RHS 0 0 0 4 0 0 0—4 3 1

Obituaries

Services set for Rezella Johnson

HOOKS, Texas - Funeral services for Rezella (Black) Johnson, 70, are Saturday at 1 p.m. at Mallory-Martin Funeral Home Chapel in Spiro.

Burial will follow at Fort Coffee Cemetery, Oklahoma under the direction of Mallory-Martin Funeral Home of Spiro.

She was born April 18, 1950 to George and Elnora (Bledsoe) Black in Hooks, Texas, and passed away Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020 in Texarkana, Texas.

Surviving family memories are one daughter Elisha Sims and husband Tyrone; two sisters Linda Scott and husband Glen, and Delphia Daniels and husband Robert; three brothers Steve Black and wife Joyce, Bonzo Black and wife Denise, and Robert Black and wife Monica; six grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; and companion, Sylvester Swaite.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard “JD” Johnson; her parents; her daughter, Tammy (Black) Bruce; and a son, Charles Edward Black.

You may sign her online guest book at www.mallorymartinfuneralhome.com.

Service planned for Gayle Beck

SPIRO - Funeral service for Gayle McGoodwin Beck, 84 of Spiro, is Saturday at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Spiro.

Burial will follow at the Spiro City Cemetery, under the direction of Mallory-Martin Funeral Home of Spiro.

She was born Dec. 19, 1935 in Woodford to Mildred (Smith) McGoodwin and Vauriece McGoodwin and passed away Sept. 2, 2020 in Spiro.

She was a member of First Baptist Church in Spiro for over 60 years and retired from Spiro Schools as a business teacher.

Surviving family members include her sons Timothy Ray Beck, and Kendall Lee Beck and wife Norma; granddaughters Brittany McCorkle and husband Jonathan, and Brianna Wall and husband Corey; great grandsons Mason McCorkle and Bryson Wall; sisters Venita Wilson, and Judy Tidmore and husband Bill; and brother, Cappy McGoodwin and wife Phyllis.

She was preceded in death by her parents Vauriece and Mildred McGoodwin; husband, Paul Beck; and sister, Ermona McGoodwin.

Active pallbearers are Jonathan McCorkle, Corey Wall, Gary Sebo, Pat Briley, Doug Harper and Tracy Gibson. Honorary pallbearers are the deacons of Spiro First Baptist Church.

Viewing is Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

The Ledger daily newsletter