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Bible verse of the day
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16 NIV
Top stories
Early Voting Begins
Early voting for the April 2 Election begins today for voters in sixty-eight (68) counties! Early voting locations will be open Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. No excuse is need to vote early, but you must vote at an early voting location in the county where you are registered to vote. A list of early voting locations is available on the State Election Board website.
Elections scheduled for April 2 include the Board of Education General Election, city council elections, school propositions, municipal propositions, and other local elections. The election list is available on the State Election Board website. You can view a sample ballot by logging in to the OK Voter Portal. (If you have a sample ballot available in the portal - you have an election.)
Voters should be prepared to show a valid form of identity when checking in with election officials at their early voting location. More information about proof of identity can be found on the State Election Board website.
Those with questions should contact their County Election Board or the State Election Board at (405) 521-2391 or info@elections.ok.gov.
ODOC arrests correctional officer
LEXINGTON, Okla. – Inappropriate sexual contact between a female correctional officer and an inmate at Lexington Assessment and Reception Center has resulted in her arrest.
The Oklahoma Department of Corrections Office of Inspector General received a Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) complaint on March 28 and immediately launched an investigation. The correctional officer was removed from her post at 9:25 a.m. to be interviewed and positively identified. She was formally terminated and arrested at 3:55 p.m. and then transported to the Cleveland County Detention Center.
“We do not tolerate this type of behavior from any staff member,” said Executive Director Steven Harpe. “It is our mission to provide the safest environment possible for those incarcerated in Oklahoma. We will continue to remove bad actors and spotlight our dedicated staff who fulfill our mission.”
ODOC takes seriously the safety and well-being of all those in our care and will work with local law enforcement officials to prosecute the officer to the fullest extent of the law.
MLB opening day scores
NCAA Tournament scores
LeFlore County scoreboard
LeFlore County sports scores from Thursday for baseball, slow pitch softball and soccer.
Baseball
Warner JV 8, Arkoma 7
Red Oak 6, Cameron 4
Battiest 8, Heavener 6
Howe 5, LeFlore 0
Howe 12, LeFlore 2
Pocola 14, Haworth 1
Tulsa Washington 6, Poteau 3
Eufaula 8, Spiro 6
Talihina 12, Braggs 6
Wister 6, Roff 3
Softball
Heavener 17, Roland 1
Heavener 14, Vian 11
Checotah 17, Heavener 5
Fairland 8, Howe 4
Howe 9, Stilwell 1
Howe 13, Fort Gibson 4
Oktaha 13, Howe 3
Hammon 14, LeFlore 2
Sentinel 13, LeFlore 4
Panama 9, Talihina 8
Jenks 8, Panama 2
Red Oak 12, Talihina 1
Pocola 13, Muldrow 1
Pocola 14, Checotah 2
Pocola 12, Roland 0
Pocola 9, Checotah 1
Pocola 12, Vian 0
Whitesboro 19, Boswell 0
Whitesboro 5, Idabel 3
Soccer
--Boys
Poteau 2, Heavener 1
--Girls
Poteau 2, Heavener 1
Battiest edges Wolves, 8-6
SMITHVILLE—Battiest took the lead with two runs in the top of the seventh and made the lead stand up in an 8-6 win over Heavener in the opening round of the Smithville Tournament Thursday.
The Wolves, now 3-10, will play at noon Friday against the losers of Friday’s game between Fort Gibson and Haworth. Battiest improves to 4-11.
Bryce Earley pitched the first three innings, giving up four hits and three runs with seven strikeouts and two walks. He was relieved by Talon Lemay, who threw two innings, allowing no runs or hits with three strikeouts. Spencer Clubb came in for the final two innings, giving up two hits and five runs, two earned, with three strikeouts and four walks.
Bryce Morrison homered for the Wolves and was 1-4 with three RBI and a run.
Battiest 8, Heavener 6
BHS 2 1 0 0 0 3 2—8 6 5
HHS 2 0 0 1 0 3 0—6 5 2
Heavener girls go 2-1
SALLISAW—Heavener’s girls went 2-1 in the slow pitch softball Sallisaw Tournament Thursday.
Heavener opened with a dominating 17-1 win over Roland, then the Lady Wolves edged Vian, 14-11, before closing the day with a 17-5 loss to Checotah.
The Lady Wolves are 7-4 and scheduled to play at Howe Tuesday.
In the opener against Roland, Heavener built an 8-1 lead before putting the game away by scoring nine runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Ava Cartwright was a perfect 5-5 with three doubles, four RBI and two runs, Paisley Stacy was 3-4 with three runs and a RBI, Cayleigh McGee tripled in a 2-5 outing with four RBI and Kristy Shadwick doubles while going 2-3 with a RBI and a run.
Heavener 17, Roland 1
HHS 0 4 0 4 0 9—17 18 0
RHS 0 0 0 1 0 0—1 8 2
In the game against Vian, Heavener took the lead by scoring seven runs in the fourth inning and held off the Lady Wolverines for the win.
McGee doubled and was 4-5 with two RBI, Shadwick also doubled while going 4-5 with two RBI and two runs, Cartwright had a 3-5 game with three runs and a RBI, Gracie Morrison went 3-4 with three RBI and a run, Stacy had a 3-4 outing with three RBI and a run, Mariana Garcia finished 2-3 with two RBI and two runs, Britlee Reed went 2-4 with two runs and Anleigh Hackney finished 2-4 with a run as Heavener pounded out 24 hits.
Heavener 14, Vian 11
HHS 3 2 0 7 0 2 0—14 24 3
VHS 3 0 3 3 0 0 2—11 17 2
Checotah 17, Heavener 1
Checotah jumped out to a 9-0 lead after batting in the second inning and Heavener could never get back into the game, despite two homers from McGee, who finished 2-3 with three RBI and two runs.
Shadwick was the only other player with multiple hits, going 2-3 with a run.
Checotah 17, Heavener 5
CHS 5 4 0 0 8—17 15 1
HHS 0 1 1 0 3—5 10 6
Wister wins Top 10 battle
RATTAN—In a matchup of Top 10 teams, Wister knocked off Roff, 6-3, Thursday at the Rattan Spring Classic in high school baseball play.
Wister, is now 8-2 and ranked third in Class 2A. Roff is 8-5 and ranked fifth in Class B. This was Wister’s second win over Roff this spring after the Wildcats previously defeated Roff, 9-1, earlier in the season.
The Wildcats built a 6-0 lead, before having to stop a Roff rally.
Riley Crane got the win for Wister. He went six innings, allowing only two hits and one run while striking out six and walking seven. Will Bryan pitched the final inning, giving up one hit and two runs with one strikeout and two walks.
Tucker Wooten doubled twice and was 2-4 at the plate with a run and RBI to pace the Wildcats’ offensive attack. T. Slone doubled and went 2-3 with a run, J. Byars also doubled and finished 2-4 with two runs and a RBI and Crane helped himself, going 2-3.
Wister 6, Roff 3
WHS 0 2 3 1 0 0 0—6 11 0
RHS 0 0 0 1 0 0 2-3 3 0 0
Sooners drop slugfest to Lamar
NORMAN – No. 25 Oklahoma lost a slugfest in the first of three games vs. Lamar, 12-10, Thursday night at L. Dale Mitchell Park.
The Sooners (15-10, 7-2 Big 12) rallied from a five-run deficit to take the lead in the fourth inning but a five-run seventh from Lamar (20-5, 3-0 Southland) gave the Cardinals the series-opening victory.
OU hit three home runs on the night, propelled by junior Jackson Nicklaus who tied a career best with four hits, including a two-run homer, finishing 4-for-5 with 2 RBIs.
Oklahoma got on the board first in the contest via error in the second inning as senior Anthony Mackenzie raced home on a play at first.
In the third, Lamar scored six runs on four hits and an error to go up 6-1 after the top of the third. In the bottom half, OU pulled within two on a pair of home runs from seniors Bryce Madron and Mackenzie. It was Madron’s third of the season and Mackenzie’s second of his senior campaign as OU cut the deficit to two through three.
After the Cardinals plated one via solo home run at the top of the fourth, OU poured in five runs on three hits, including two home runs, in the bottom half. After sophomore Easton Carmichael reached on a fielder’s choice that allowed freshman Jaxon Willits to cross home, an RBI single from Mackenzie and two-run home run from Nicklaus gave OU a two-run lead at 9-7 entering the fifth.
Following a quiet fifth inning, the Sooners extended their lead to three in the sixth as Madron drew a walk and stole a pair of bags en route to home plate.
The Cardinals responded with a five-run top half of the seventh to take the lead for good. The visitors scored five runs on four hits and an error in the frame to bring the final to 12-10.
OU had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh but a double play ended the threat of a rally.
Oklahoma threw seven pitchers on the night with senior Carson Atwood (L, 0-1) taking the loss, surrendering three runs on four hits with four strikeouts. Starting RHP Brendan Girton was hot early, going 2.2 innings with five strikeouts before surrendering one earned run (6 R) on four hits and three walks. Relievers Carter Campbell, James Hitt, Reid Hensley, Ryan Lambert and Dylan Crooks all saw action out of the pen.
At the plate, OU recorded 10 runs on eight hits with Nicklaus’ four leading the squad. Mackenzie recorded a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-4 with a season-high 4 RBIs.
The teams meet for Game 2 of the three-game set on Friday with first pitch slated for 6:30 p.m. CT. Saturday’s finale is scheduled for 2 p.m.
All games can be seen via SoonerVision on ESPN+ and heard locally in Oklahoma on SportsTalk 1400 AM/99.3 FM or nationwide on The Varsity app. Live stats can be found at OUStats.com.
Single game tickets and mini-plan options 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.
Razorbacks win opener over LSU
FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas. – Kendall Diggs’ three-run home run in the eighth inning backed up Hagen Smith’s 10-strikeout performance on the mound, as No. 1 Arkansas (21-3, 6-1 SEC) fended off No. 8 LSU (20-7, 2-5 SEC), 7-4, in a thrilling series-opening win Thursday night at Baum-Walker Stadium.
With their win Thursday night, the Razorbacks improved to 6-1 in SEC play, representing their fifth 6-1 start or better in SEC play under head coach Dave Van Horn, as well as their second 6-1 start in SEC play in the last three seasons.
Smith was once again superb on the mound for the Hogs, logging his team-leading fifth quality start of the season with six innings of two-run ball. The junior left-hander struck out 10, his fifth double-digit strikeout game of the year.
For the season, Smith, who earned the win, is now 5-0 with a 1.54 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 35.0 innings over seven starts. The Bullard, Texas, native has allowed just six runs on 16 hits, including four home runs, and 10 walks.
Arkansas provided its ace with early run support, thanks to Ben McLaughlin’s sac fly in the third. LSU took its only lead of the evening with a pair of runs in the fourth inning on back-to-back homers off Smith, the only runs he allowed all game.
The Razorbacks, however, responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame to retake the lead. Jack Wagner’s solo shot tied the game at two before Peyton Stovall’s two-out RBI single put Arkansas back in front, 3-2.
Smith departed the ballgame with the lead and passed the ball off to Will McEntire for the seventh, who turned in 2.2 relief innings. The veteran right-hander struck out eight and allowed two runs on four hits and a pair of walks.
LSU would cut its deficit to one in the top of the eighth inning, setting the table for Diggs’ homer heroics in the bottom half of the frame. The junior outfielder swatted a three-run home run, the 21st homer and seventh three-run shot of his collegiate career, to extend the Razorbacks’ advantage to 7-3.
The Tigers scored one in the top of the ninth to make it a three-run game, but the Hogs’ bullpen would prevail. McEntire recorded two outs in the top of the ninth before turning the ball over to left-hander Stone Hewlett for the final out.
Hewlett struck out the only batter he faced, recording his first save of the season and fifth of his career in the process.
The Razorbacks will go for their fourth weekend series win in their last five tries against Tigers in tomorrow’s night showdown. First pitch inside Baum-Walker Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, March 29, on SEC Network.
Maxwell’s gem guides Sooners to win
LAWRENCE, Kansas. – Graduate left-hander Kelly Maxwell struck out nine and took a no-hitter into the seventh inning as the top-ranked Oklahoma softball team took its series opener 6-1 over No. 24/RV Kansas in Lawrence on Thursday evening.
The Sooners (32-1, 10-0 Big 12) homered in each of the first three innings to build their lead over the Jayhawks (22-9-1, 7-3 Big 12). Oklahoma's win coupled with a Texas loss at Oklahoma State gained OU a game in the conference standings, improving to 2.0 games up on the Longhorns and maintaining the two-game lead on OSU.
Maxwell was simply brilliant while earning her 10th win of the season, striking out nine Jayhawks and allowing just five baserunners on a hit and four walks. She logged 6.2 hitless innings before KU hit a solo home run with two away in the seventh, spoiling the no-hit bid. The left-hander threw 68 of her 111 pitches for strikes (61.3%) and extended her winning streak to five straight victorious starts.
Tiare Jennings (1-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI) opened the scoring in the first with a towering two-run shot to center, her 13th home run of the season. Cydney Sanders (1-for-3, R, HR, 2 RBI) added a two-run shot in the second, then Riley Ludlam (0-for-2, R) reached on an error and scored courtesy of a Kasidi Pickering (2-for-2, RBI) single for a 5-0 Sooner lead through two.
Alynah Torres (1-for-4, R, HR, RBI) added the final OU tally in the third with her seventh home run in her last 20 games.
Jayda Coleman (2-for-3, BB, R) reached three times out of the leadoff spot to join Pickering in the multi-hit game department while also extending her on-base streak to 20 consecutive games.
Up Next
OU looks ahead to game two of the series on Friday evening in Lawrence. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT with the contest being broadcast on ESPN+ and 1560/103.3 FM The Franchise 2.
Cowgirls shut out No. 2 Texas, 5-0
STILLWATER – Lexi Kilfoyl threw her third complete-game shutout of the season to lift No. 8 Oklahoma State to a 5-0 win over No. 2 Texas Thursday night at Cowgirl Stadium.
The win improves the Cowgirls to 28-5 on the year (8-2 in the Big 12). The loss drops the Longhorns to 28-4 overall (8-2 in the Big 12)
Oklahoma State jumped out to a 4-0 lead over the first three innings of play behind a pair of solo home runs from Karli Godwin in the first and Tallen Edwards in the third. Micaela Wark was able to push two runs across for the Cowgirls on a double down the right field line.
Oklahoma State added an insurance run in the fifth behind Wark’s seventh home run of the year.
Offensive standouts included Wark (2-for-3 with three RBIs), Edwards (2-for-3 with an RBI) and Godwin (2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored).
Kilfoyl improved to 12-2 on the year, by holding the Longhorns scoreless on seven hits and striking out seven. Teagan Kavan took the loss for the Longhorns, pushing her to 11-3, going 2 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on four hits.
Game two of the series is set for 7 p.m. tomorrow at Cowgirl Stadium.
For season-long coverage of Oklahoma State Softball, visit okstat.com and follow @CowgirlSB on Twitter and @osusoftball on Instagram.
The forecast
Partly cloudy skies early with the cloud cover increasing later in the day for LeFlore County.
The high will be 76 degrees with a low of 58.
Sunrise is 7:08 a.m. Sunset is 7:37 p.m.
Average temperatures for March 29 are a high of 69 and low of 41. Records for the date were a high of 82 in 1976. The record low was 29 in 1987.
Thursday’s high was 72 with a low of 29.
Last year on March 29, the high was a high of 69 and a low of 52.
Sponsor our daily weather forecast with a banner advertisement for $100 per month. Call or text (918) 649-4712 for more information.
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
Friday
High school baseball: Heavener, Panama at Smithville Tournament
Memorial service for Donna McKinney
Funeral services for Alice Swaite
Heavener soccer at Stillwater Tournament
FBC good Friday service at the Heavener Runesone
Saturday
Heavener easter egg 11 a.m. at Blues Park
High school baseball: Heavener, Panama at Smithville Tournament
Soccer: Heavener at Stillwater Tournament
Monday
LeFlore County commissioners meet 9 a.m.
High school baseball: LCT
High school softball: Heavener at Checotah
Poteau city meetings
Tuesday
School board general election
Heavener track meet
Cascia Hall at Heavenener soccer
High school baseball: LCT
High school softball: Heavener, Buffalo Valley at Howe
Wednesday
High school baseball: LCT
Thursday
High school baseball: LCT
High school softball: Smithville, Central at Heavener
Heavener soccer at Tulsa Webster
Heavener City Council meeting
Friday
High school baseball: LCT
Sponsor our daily calendar of events with a banner advertisement for $100 per month. Call or text (918) 649-4712 for more information.
Today in history
1973
U.S troops withdraw from Vietnam
Two months after the signing of the Vietnam peace agreement, the last U.S. combat troops leave South Vietnam as Hanoi frees the remaining American prisoners of war held in North Vietnam. America's direct eight-year intervention in the Vietnam War was at an end. In Saigon, some 7,000 U.S. Department ... read more
Civil War
1865
Appomattox, the final campaign in the Civil War, begins
Cold War
1951
Rosenbergs convicted of espionage
Crime
1951
The "Mad Bomber" strikes in New York
Inventions & Science
1958
First reading of the Keeling Curve, which shows carbon dioxide levels in Earth's atmosphere
Space Exploration
1974
U.S. space probe, Mariner, visits Mercury
Sports
1982
Freshman Michael Jordan hits winning shot to give North Carolina NCAA title
Vietnam War
1971
Lt. William Calley found guilty of My Lai murders
World War II
1945
Gen. George Patton takes Frankfurt
Help! Help!
By RIX QUINN
My friend Lisa says that there are more books on self-help than anything else.
Lisa should know. She eats right, dresses well, and talks sweeter than a candy salesman at a dental convention.
Quinn Minute
She’s been to more seminars than most caterers. And she’s always looking for another body part to get fixed, tucked, expanded, or reduced.
Lisa separates her improvement library into five book categories:
1. “I’m in bad shape, and I need to get better fast...like by tomorrow.”
2. “I feel really bad about myself, but maybe it’s not my fault, which would make me feel really good about myself.”
3. “I need to find my ‘special calling,’ which has nothing to do with how my cell phone rings.”
4. “I honestly think I am a genius, and would like confirmation.”
5. “There is a success ‘secret,’ and if I find it I can make a lot of money, which means I can buy more self-help books, which can make me even cooler.”
My neighbor Stan belongs to a self-help support group. When he gets overconfident, he calls another member who convinces him he needs more workshops.
“What worries me,” says Stan, “is that just about the time my mind starts to succeed, my body will start to fail.”