LCJ newsletter 12-17-2024
Tuesday's newsletter
Daily Bible verse
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Micah 5:2
LeFlore County commissioners’ minutes
LeFlore County commissioners’ meeting for Monday in Poteau with Chairman Jamie Oliver presiding. Also present were Vice-Chair Vallard Campbell, Member Josh Blaylock and County Clerk First Deputy Jedd Kirby. Absent: County Clerk Kelli Ford.
The following action was taken by the board:
(1.) Chairman Jamie Oliver called meeting to order.
(2.) Motion was made by Jamie Oliver and seconded by Vallard Campbell to approve the minutes of special meeting held December 12, 2024. Motion was approved, all voting yes.
(3.) Motion was made by Jamie Oliver and seconded by Josh Blaylock to approve purchase orders and payroll claims as presented and are on file in the office of the County Clerk. Motion was approved, all voting yes.
(4.) Monthly Fee Reports: None presented.
(5.) Motion was made by Jamie Oliver and seconded by Vallard Campbell to approve transfer of appropriations in the amount of $10,857.25 from ARPA-WW (Wells & Wann Company) to ARPA-2 County General Maintenance & Operations. Motion was approved, all voting yes.
(6.) Blanket Purchase Orders: None presented.
(7.) New Business: No discussion.
(8.) Contract Labor/Service Agreements, Annual Contracts: None presented.
(9.) Burn Ban. Not needed at this time. No discussion.
(10.) Motion was made by Vallard Campbell and seconded by Jamie Oliver to approve Notice to Sell County Property described as SPIRO BLK 120 N15 LOT 2 B1514 P386 to bidder number 9385 for the sum of $121.73 as submitted by the LeFlore County Treasurer. Motion was approved, all voting yes.
(11.) Motion was made by Josh Blaylock and seconded by Vallard Campbell approve 324 A Claim as submitted by Pinnacle Consulting Management Group for the sum of $8,775.00 regarding Project STP-240C(112)CI, Job Piece 32899(04), Parcels 3, 3.1, and 3.2, located in LeFlore County. Motion was approved, all voting yes.
(12.) Motion was made by Jamie Oliver and seconded by Vallard Campbell to approve Easement for Public Highway document as submitted by Connie Marie Ray and James Terry Ray regarding 33 foot of roadway lying in part of Section 33, Township 5 North, Range 27 East. Motion was approved, all voting yes.
(13.) Motion was made by Jamie Oliver and seconded by Josh Blaylock to approve Request for Flood Plain Services & Application for Permit of Public Service Pipeline Crossing regarding maintaining a temporary 2” poly pipe along, upon or across road known as River Road located at the junction of Highway 63 and N4645, South ¾ miles to River Road Bridge, Muse, Oklahoma, effective December 9, 2024. Motion was approved, all voting yes.
(14.) Motion was made by Jamie Oliver and seconded by Vallard Campbell to approve Resolution regarding appointment of Cash Carter as member to the LeFlore County Fair Board in place of Bucky Pugh with term start date of December 16, 2024 and appointment termination date of January 31, 2026. Motion was approved, all voting yes.
(15.) Motion was made by Vallard Campbell and Josh Blaylock to approve title sheet regarding State of Oklahoma Department of Transportation Plan of Proposed County Bridge, State Job No. 29974(04), Rhino Road, for bridge # 192 and bridge # 193, as submitted by the Circuit Engineering District # 3. Motion was approved, all voting yes.
(16.) Motion was made by Josh Blaylock and seconded by Vallard Campbell to approve change in requisitioning officer from Howard Bandy to Rodney Derryberry and addition of Dennis Yochum as requisitioning officer to all LeFlore County 911 accounts. Motion was approved, all voting yes.
(17.) Motion was made by Jamie Oliver and seconded by Josh Blaylock to award bid regarding the 2025 LeFlore County Ballot Printing Contract to Mid-West Printing Company (see attached ballot pricing form for pricing details). Motion was approved, all voting yes.
(18.) Motion was made by Jamie Oliver and seconded by Vallard Campbell to table bid award regarding the purchase of LeFlore County 6-month County Highway Materials from January 1, 2025 through June 30, 2025 pending further review and tabulation of bid submissions. Motion was approved, all voting yes.
Poteau female sentenced for fentanyl
MUSKOGEE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jada Marie Ray, 33, of Poteau was sentenced to six months in prison for one count of Distribution of Fentanyl.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the District 16 Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
On July 23, 2024, Ray pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on Jan. 5, 2023, Ray distributed 20 pills containing fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance.
Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Ray will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
LeFlore County scoreboard
LeFlore County scoreboard for sports games played Monday.
Boys
Okay 76, Arkoma 10
Bokoshe 57, Watts 46
Vian 56, Talihina 43
Girls
Okay 62, Arkoma 21
Watts 61, Bokoshe 5
Clayton 43, LeFlore 40
Talihina 59, Vian 44
To make a correction or addition, text (918) 649-4712.
Rain, storms expected Tuesday
LeFlore County weather for Tuesday will have the possibility of showers this morning with thunderstorms expected, along with the chance of hail for tonight. There is currently a 100 percent chance of rain for Tuesday night.
The high is forecast to be 66 degrees with a low of 45.
Sunrise was 7:20 a.m. Sunset is 5:09 p.m.
Monday’s high was 71 with a low of 44. A total of .01 inches of rain was recorded, bringing the monthly total to 0.91 inches, well short of December’s average rainfall of 3.10 inches.
Average temperatures for Dec. 17 are a high of 53 and low of 26.
Records for the date were a high of 74 in 1976. The record low was 5 in 1979.
LeFlore County calendar for Tuesday
LeFlore County calendar of events for todayk. The calendar is a free service for our readers. If you are a church or non-profit event, please email me at craig@heavenerledger.com.
Tuesday
High school basketball: Spiro at Heavener; Smithville at Cameron; Vian at Howe; Poteau at Sallisaw; McCurtain at Whitesboro; Wister at Panama; Arkoma at Gore;
Poteau Evening Lions Club meet 6 p.m. CASC
See the calendar for the next week HERE.
Today in history
1903
First airplane flies
Near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright make the first successful flight in history of a self-propelled, heavier-than-air aircraft on December 17, 1903. Orville piloted the gasoline-powered, propeller-driven biplane, which stayed aloft for 12 seconds and covered 120 feet on its... read more
19th Century
1872
Buffalo Bill Cody makes his first stage appearance
1960s
1961
Circus catches fire in Brazil, killing hundreds
21st Century
2011
Kim Jong Il, leader of North Korea, dies
American Revolution
1777
France formally recognizes the United States
Art, Literature and Film History
1892
First issue of “Vogue” is published
2003
Third and final “Lord of the Rings” movie opens
Civil War
1862
Union General Ulysses S. Grant expels Jews from his military district
Cold War
1991
Boris Yeltsin announces the Soviet Union will cease to exist by New Year’s Eve
Crime
1975
Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme sentenced to life for assassination attempt
1986
“Operation Iceman” nabs notorious mafia hitman Richard Kuklinski
Inventions & Science
1979
Stuntman Stan Barrett breaks the sound barrier, unofficially
Middle Eastern History
2010
Street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi self-immolates in Tunisia, igniting the Arab Spring
U.S. Government and Politics
1944
U.S. approves end to internment of Japanese Americans
1963
World War II
1941
Commander at Pearl Harbor relieved of his duties
Mark Allan Pollard services set
Mark Allan Pollard, 67, of Poteau went to be with the Lord Dec. 14, 2024, surrounded by his loved ones.
He was born April 9, 1957, in Idabel to Juanita R. Pollard (Murphy) and James R. Pollard.
A celebration of his life is 2 p.m. Friday at the Hamilton Auditorium at Carl Albert State College in Poteau with Kerry Shuck, Matt Pollard, Brooks Pollard and Taylor Pollard officiating. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery in Poteau, under the direction of Evans & Miller Funeral Home.
He was a devoted husband, dad, "Poppie", and coach. He possessed a larger-than-life personality with a huge heart, undeniable charm, and a sense of humor that could light up any room. The love for his family, his community, and the sport of baseball was unmatched. He cherished his daily walks on the Frisco Trail with his loyal dog, Bri, by his side. His kindness, wisdom, and humor will be greatly missed, but his memory will live on through his family, friends and the players whose lives he impacted.
He spent much of his life coaching baseball, building a remarkable legacy. He retired with 1,019 career wins, five national tournament appearances, seven regional championships, and had the honor of seeing 11 of his former players drafted into Major League Baseball. His dedication to the sport and to his players was evident in the countless lives he touched both on and off the field.
Surviving family members are his wife of 45 years, Cindy Pollard; sons Matt Pollard and wife Jeana, Brooks Pollard and wife Jesse, and Taylor Pollard and wife Staci; grandchildren Paley, Paven, Pacie, Praise, Eliza, Milly, Paran, Abel and Pearly; sisters Jan Coffman and Jeri Mitchell and husband Tracy; as well as friends, former players, and loved ones.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Juanita Pollard, and his brother, Joe Pat Suggs.
Visitation will take place Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Evans & Miller Funeral Home.
The starting lineup for his service will include Jerry Holton, Pierre Guillet, Mike Metheny, Mike McBrayer, Bill Sanmiller and Jeff Jensen.
The bullpen will be made up of former Trojan and Viking players.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Carl Albert State College baseball program.
Online condolences may be shared at www.evansandmillerfuneralhome.com.