We took a peek back through the fi rst 50 issues of newspaper for 2020 and pulled out a few highlights from the each week’s news.
As you can imagine, there was a lot of COVID-related news, but there was a lot of life-goes-on news, both good and bad.
We’re running part of the 2020 review this week and finish it in next week’s paper.
Jan. 2 - Nancy and Larry Hicks retire after working a combined 88 years at the county assessors office and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.
Katlyn Hughey and Drew Elerick receive the 2019 Heisman High School Scholarship Winner.
Jan. 9 - The parents of five-week-old twins in Prague, Joseph Carl Corum, 20, and Mina Starr Arnold, 19, were arrested for reportedly abusing their babies.
19-year-old Desma Valdez has been arrested for arson for allegedly setting a mobile home on fire on Kickapoo Tribal land in southwest Lincoln County where two burned bodies were found.
Chandler High School’s pom team were the 2A/3A/4A State Jazz Champions, 2A/3A/4A State Hip Hop Runner up, and for the second year in a row, State Academic Champions with a team accumulative GPA of 3.99.
Agra woman Becky Dawn Hutchinson, 43, was charged in Lincoln County District Court with one count of felony cruelty to animals.
Jan. 23 - At the annual Chandler Chamber of Commerce Banquet Jaedyn Wayland was this year’s Scholarship Recipient, Heather Ledford received the Volunteer of the Year Award, Ben Walkingstick received the Ambassador of the Year award and Austin Cory received the Citizen of the Year award.
State Sen. Jason Smalley, R-Stroud, who represented Lincoln County and parts of Seminole and Pottawatomie counties, announced his resignation of his Senate seat effective Jan. 31 to be the Senior Account Manager for Motorola Solutions Corp.
Justin James McHone, 38, and Tara Kay Gentry, 42, from the Harrah area were arrested after law enforcement officers executing a search warrant in Lincoln County discovered an illegal cockfighting operation.
Jan. 30 - The former Assistant Chandler Police Chief, Steven Bradley Simon, 47, who already had several state charges filed against him in September of 2019, was indicted by a federal grand jury for alleged firearms violations.
42 students from Chandler’s Family Careers and Community Leaders of America and Business Professionals of America organizations measured, mixed and packed 32,004 meals for Stamp Out Starvation.
Chandler Seniors Tate Radcliffe and Kaylin Wright and junior Sam Duncan got to sing at the Oklahoma Music Educators Associations All-State Concert Saturday, Jan. 18.
Feb. 6 - JoAnn Prince, member of the Wellston 4-H, and others from FFA and 4-H members throughout Lincoln County were among those showing animals at the Central District livestock show in Shawnee.
Lincoln County voters headed to the polls in an election Tuesday, Feb. 11, to decide bond propositions in the Wellston and McLoud School Districts.
Stroud Public Library received a new roof and new books.
Feb. 13 - Gov. Kevin Stitt has ordered a Special Primary Election for June 30 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of State Sen. Jason Smalley.
Chandler City Council approved to increase the water and sewer rates by three percent.
A big brown bat named Harvey hung outside the north entrance of the Lincoln County Courthouse.
Feb. 20 - Two wild hog hunters nabbed three alleged thieves at a residence on private property in the rural Sparks area shortly after midnight Monday, holding them at bay until law enforcement officers arrived.
The former Assistant Chandler Police Chief, Steven Bradley Simon, 47, pleaded guilty to federal firearms charges and could face up to 20 years in prison on the two counts.
Genealogist Cheryl Johnson created the Cemetery Preservation Society of Lincoln County, with the goal of preserving abandoned and endangered cemeteries throughout Lincoln County.
Feb. 27 - Wrestlers Kyle Hobill of Davenport and Chase Massie of Chandler qualified for the Class 3A state wrestling tournament by finishing third in their regionals.
Mar. 5 - A former Wellston teacher, Robert Doyle Blankenship, 42, faces two felony counts stemming from a sexual relationship he reportedly had with a female student while he was employed by the Wellston Public Schools.
Darrel Armer with Oklahoma Green to Gold partnered with Shawn Cowen, with Greenleaf Recycle of Oklahoma in Muldrow, to start a cannabis disposal business with the use of worms. FFA and 4H students compete in the annual Lincoln County Junior Livestock Show.
Mar. 12 - Justin James McHone, 38, and Tara Kay Gentry, 42, from the Harrah area who were arrested in January after law enforcement officers discovered an illegal cockfighting operation in Lincoln County each faced 88 felony charges. City council members approved the purchase of 12 new gas golf cart from E-Z-Go for $3,900 each during the monthly meeting, Tuesday, Mar. 10.
Mar. 19 - The first wave of repercussions due to COVID hit Lincoln County as additional security measures were added at the Lincoln County Courthouse while schools closed their doors and begin cancelling all activities.
The Meeker Town Hall of Trustees approved the resignation of its Vice Mayor Carl Cornett.
During a special meeting, Lincoln County Commissioners approved several resolutions related to a grant application for the Jacktown Fire Protection District totaling $150,000.
Mar. 26 - The impact of COVID-19 spreads as businesses shut down, the Lincoln County Commissioners declare a county-wide emergency and non-urgent procedures are postponed at Stroud Regional Medical Center.
Sac and Fox Nation and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation executed a Memorandum of Agreement to reconstruct the bridge over Salt Creek on State Highway 99 north of Stroud. Tryon had their water
Tryon had their water tested for lead after Communications Director for the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality Erin Hatfield said their lead level exceeded the normal level.
Apr. 2 - The impact of COVID spreads as 10 cases are confirmed, five in Lincoln County and five in Pottawatomie County. Seniors throughout Lin coln County reflect on their lost final season.
The sound of keyboard buttons being tapped and the click of a computer mouse became the new normal as students began the transition into distance learning.
Apr. 9 - The first COVID death is reported in Pottawatomie County.
Two Chandler teachers, Pam Anderson and Ann Taylor, and Stroud teacher Tina Livingstone received grants for self-designed professional development opportunities in locations around the world.
A 17-year-old was arrested in connection with the shooting death of the man who adopted him.