HOL newsletter 1-11-2024

The HOL newsletter for Thursday

The HOL/LCJ daily newsletter covers LeFlore County, southeastern Oklahoma and west central Arkansas. To receive new posts and support us, pay $5 per month or $50 per year to receive our newsletter every day. You can also sign up as a free subscriber and receive all editions, just at a later time than paying subscribers.

Hall about it

By CRAIG HALL

Publisher, editor, good all-around fellow

I want to thank all of you who have subscribed to our newsletter. As I frequently point out, probably too often, this is the only daily publication in the area and it would not be possible without your support.

I have done my best to keep the public informed and I would like to think we do a pretty good job at that. Not great, mind you, but fairly good. It could always be better. No, really, but that would require some people stepping up to contribute stories on activities going on in your community such as school board and city meetings.

I hope to eventually have somebody throughout the county to do this. All I can offer currently is a free subscription, but if we can grow, we can reward the writers financially. Hopefully. I have always wanted 2,000 paying subscribers to our newsletter. We are not even sniffing that figure, currently, but I hope to eventually reach that total. After all, this newsletter has been voted as the top newsletter coming from the west side of Heavener. Try and top that, if you dare.

Maybe, just maybe, I should have known before. But I didn’t hear about it until the school board Monday, but the eclipse coming in April is a much bigger deal than I could have ever expected. While Heavener is just on the edge of the eclipse’s journey from Mexico to Canada, the eclipse is expected to be visible for over two minutes while it will be four minutes plus in Idabel and Arkansas.

This is a big enough event that officials are estimating a total of 250,000 people staying or passing through the area. Seriously. There is enough concern that Heavener’s school might be virtual on April 8 and 9. The eclipse comes through on April 8 in the afternoon. I could tell you the exact time when I looked it up the other day, but I am too lazy to do it at the moment.

There is the worry that if there is that much traffic and people, the internet could be overwhelmed, which is partly why the virtual days might become a reality, along with shortages of food and gas. Everybody is encouraged to get enough food for 72 hours and have enough gas to get through that stretch.

People from throughout the United States and around the world are expected to come and try and see the last big eclipse for over 20 years. I might step outside just to check it out, but will not drive from New Hampshire or Minnesota to see the eclipse, which some people are doing.

I have mentioned the concerns to others and they say it will be like Y2K when everybody was concerned, and nothing happened.

If nothing else, it will be interesting. As you might have read in my report on the school board meeting in Tuesday’s newsletter, the old gym is going to be torn down with a new fitness center to take its place. I know a lot of people don’t want to see that, but the building cannot be used and is a health hazard. Plus, we have one fitness facility for the whole school. The high school boys and girls have to share one facility and that should not happen in a Class 3A school. I was part of the last group to play a game in the old gym. It was a dump then and despite the school sinking a lot of money into it over the years, it is an even worse dump.

I do think it is cool that some of the rock from the exterior of the building will be saved and placed elsewhere on the school grounds.

I think all of you for coming along for the ride. I realize this is not the Ledger, or an actual newspaper, but it is probably the closest thing possible and is the future as more and more newspapers fade away thanks to Google and Facebook.

United the next time, farewell and stay warm.

Blast from the past

A group of Heavener majorettes from the late 1960s or early 1970s.

Alma Mangum

Alma Dean (Webster) Mangum was born Nov. 1, 1935, in Page to Dooley and Alma Webster and went to be with the Lord Jan. 9, 2024, at the age of 88.

Graveside service is 11 a.m. Saturday at the Moore City Cemetery at 800 Southwest Fourth Street in Moore, 73160

She is survived by three children Paula Vandiver and husband Donald of El Reno, Lora Mangum of Oklahoma City and Billy Mangum, also of Oklahoma City; five grandchildren Heather Detweiler, Dallas Detweiler and wife Courtney, Tori Mangum and Nick Campbell, Colton Mangum and wife Dylanci, and Bristol Mangum; 11 great-grandchildren Braiden Carrington, Kerbie Carrington, Reese Carrington, Rylan Carrington, Payton Detweiler, Keegan Detweiler, Boston Campbell, Elliott Campbell, Kipton Campbell, Bryer Mangum, and Nash Mangum; one sister Loretta Gooch and husband Edd of Moore as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Dooley and Alma Webster, her husband, Bill Mangum, and four sisters: Eula Mae Davis, Gladys Brand, Juanita Pledger and Frances Summers.

Alma Dean graduated from Heavener High School. She married Bill Mangum on May 28, 1955. They lived in Moore, where they raised their three children.

Alma worked for Moore Public Schools and was a member of First Baptist Church of Moore. She truly loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Alma was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandma, “Gigi”, aunt, and friend. She will be dearly missed.

Erma Box

Funeral service for Erma Dean (Ollar) Box of Poteau is 3 p.m. Saturday at the Mt. View Baptist Church in the Glendale community with Reverend M.C. Ollar and Reverend Tim Trent officiating.

Burial will follow in Mt. View Cemetery under the direction of Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home of Heavener.

She was born Feb. 26, 1937 in Glendale to Marvin Edward and Lizzie Gaye (Milligan) Ollar and passed away Jan. 8, 2024 in Poteau at the age of 86.

Erma Dean was a lifelong resident of the area, a member of Mt. View Baptist Church, and a retired healthcare provider. Above all, she loved the Lord, her children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews, and seemingly a world full of friends and other loved ones. If she met a stranger, she would get to the roots of their family tree immediately to determine exactly how and if she was kin to them.

She loved visiting with family and friends or anyone who had a quick hour or 2 to visit. She loved caring for others as well as caring for all of her plants and flowers. She loved riding through the rough mountain roads, fishing, and watching those feisty hummingbirds on her feeders. She will be deeply missed by so many.

Survivors are two sons Dale Pitman and wife Lisa of Bishop, California, and Darrin Pitman and wife Cathy of Poteau; one brother Ed Ollar and spouse Tess of Heavener; eight grandchildren Rochelle Wilkins and husband Sean of Joplin, Missouri, Heidi Taylor and husband Dustin of Bishop, California, Liz Pitman and spouse Minnie of West Covina, California, Dale Pitman, Jr. and spouse Daniel of Los Angeles, California, Melissa Loggains of Poteau, Shane Pitman and wife Jennifer of Poteau, Nathan Pitman of Poteau and Jerramie Pitman of Huntington Beach, California; 10 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; special friend, Dee Smith, of Heavener; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other loved ones and a host of friends. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Roy Kellogg; one daughter, Donna Blaylock; and two sons, David Pitman and Randell Box.

Pallbearers are Dale Pitman, Jr., Sean Wilkins, Shane Pitman, Nathan Pitman, Ronnie Ward, Michael Luman and Darrell Adams. Honorary pallbearers will be: Tommy Newcomer and Billy Watkins

Viewing is from noon until 6 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Friday. The family will visit with friends from 6 until 8:00 p.m., Friday at the funeral home.

To sign Erma Dean’s online guestbook

visit www.dowdenrobertsfuneralhome.com.

Pedro Gonzalez

Rosary and wake service is 7 p.m. Friday for Pedro Gonzalez of Heavener at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Heavener.

Funeral mass is noon Saturday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Heavener.  Burial will follow in Heavener Memorial Park, under the direction of Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home of Heavener.

Pedro was a longtime resident of the area and a line worker for OK Foods.  He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Pedro loved spending time with his family and friends. He was loved by all who knew him and will be deeply missed.

He was born April 27, 1954 in San Luis, Potusi, Mexico to Jacinto Gonzalez and Elifonsa Villanueva and passed away Jan. 7, 2024 in Fort Smith, Arkansas at the age of 69.

Survivors are is survived by his wife, Maria Moreno; one son Jose Angel Gonzalez and wife Monica Capalty; his step-mom, Ramona Gonzalez; five sisters Catarina Gonzalez, Irene Gonzalez,

Irene Gonzalez Ramirez, Guadalupe Gonzalez and Ma De Los Angeles Gonzalez; five brothers Julio Gonzalez, Agapo Gonzalez, Francisco Gonzalez, Daniel Gonzalez and Ismael Gonzalez; one granddaughter, Maria Guadalupe Gonzalez Capalty; multiple nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, other loved ones, and a host of many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacinto Gonzalez and Elifonsa Villanueva; one sister, Victoria Mendez; and one brother, Cipriano Gonzalez.

Viewing is from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

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

Carolyn Downs

Carolyn LaDale (Hendrix) Downs was born May 18, 1948 in Page to Terry and Lola (Cole) Hendrix and passed away Jan. 4, 2024 in Shawnee at the age of 75.

Carolyn grew up around the Choctaw area.  She enjoyed fishing and going to the lake as well as bingo, casinos and Diet Dr Pepper. Carolyn loved all her animals and her flowers.

Survivors include her husband, Kenneth Hendrix, of the home; son James (Rob) Downs and his wife Annie of Harrah; brother Dale Hendrix and his wife Linda of Wellston; nephew, Kevin Hendrix of Midwest City along with other family and friends.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Terry and Lola Hendrix. 

A memorial service is 2 p.m. Thursday in the Lehman Funeral Home Chapel in Wellston followed by interment in the Rossville Cemetery. 

Arrangements are under the direction of Lehman Funeral Home of Wellston.

Regina Castleberry

ARKOMA--Memorial service for Regina Deneice Castleberry, 67, of Arkoma is 1 p.m. Thursday at Evans Memorial Chapel in Pocola with Reverend Jim Cook officiating.

She was born Sept. 6, 1956 in Checotah to Joyce Yvonne (Roberts) Brady and John Paul Brady and passed away Jan. 4, 2024 in Little Rock, Arkansas.  

Survivors include her partner, Jim Wood, his daughter Jessica Wood and son Jeremiah Wood of the home; her son, John Eric Castleberry; grandkids; stepsons Josh Carreker and his wife Tamara of Spiro, and John Carreker of Ennis, Texas; and brothers Mike Brady and wife Shelby of Keota, Alan Brady and wife Leslie of Rock Island, Oklahoma.

She was preceded in death by her son, Chris Castleberry; spouse, Keith Carreker; mother, Yvonne; father, John Paul Brady; sister, Joyce Renee Brady; and step father, Stanley Womack.

Cremation is under the direction of Evans & Miller Funeral Home of Pocola, Oklahoma.

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

Marylin Jack

SPIRO--Funeral services for Marylin Jack, 67 of Spiro was Monday at Mallory-Martin Chapel in Spiro with Reverend Keith Williams officiating.

Burial followed at Short Mountain Cemetery in Cowlington, under the direction of Mallory-Martin Funeral Home. 
Marylin Jo Jack was born July 3, 1956 in Maywood, California to Lois Willie (Strain) and Harley Raymond Robbins and passed away Jan. 3, 2024 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. 

Marylin is survived by her children Amanda Bishop, Brian Jack, Dallas Jack and fiance Philip Begnaud and Tamara Carreker and husband Joshua; grandchildren Kennady and Brooklyn and one on the way; sisters Linda Singleton and husband Jerry, and Donna Carpenter; and brother Gene Robbins and wife Sondra.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and her brothers Jimmy Robbins and Richard Robbins. 

Pallbearers were Brian Jack, Joshua Carreker, Philip Begnaud, Terry Robbins, Lucas Robbins, and Joshua Tomlin.