Each year, we take a look back at news and events that shaped life in Central Oklahoma the past 12 months.
We broke 2021 into three parts, the second of which was in last week’s edition.
Here is Part 3:
The Meeker Board of Education in July hired a new Middle School principal along with several teachers, some of who will coach. Several resignations were also accepted.
The board’s action came after returning to open meeting following a 25-minute executive session.
Rodney Treat was hired as the new Middle School Principal. He was most recently with the Chandler School District, he said.
Board members also hired Caven Herring as a Middle School teacher and new high school baseball coach. Also hired was Marcie Simpson, Middle School teacher and coach.
The Meeker Town Board of Trustees, for the third time since May, has set a public hearing for the proposed annexation of property around the Meeker Lake.
During their meeting in late July, the Trustees unanimously agreed to hold the hearing at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 23 at the Meeker Town Hall.
Roadwork on the SH 18 resurfacing project between Meeker and Chandler continued and crews were hoping to be completed by September on the project that cost nearly $3 million.
Chandler held its annual rodeo with the 81st version taking place on a Friday and Saturday night with the royalty being crowned. The 2021 Queen was Bailey Faires and the Princess was Bailey Taylor.
A Special Operations Team assisted by multiple agencies busted its third illegal marijuana grow operation in Lincoln County since the middle of June.
Officers seized, and with the assistance of other agencies, destroyed an estimated 1,500 marijuana plants from the operation located north of Route 66 about one-half mile east of Fruit Stand Road between Warwick and Chandler.
The Meeker Town Board once again officially canceled the annexation public hearing that was scheduled for Monday night, Aug. 23, and decided the next step.
The board voted not to reschedule the public hearing until the letters have been prepared and in the possession of the Town Clerk Mary Conner.
In the second week of August, area football teams began practicing for the fall season and the girls’ softball team swung into action.
Going on information from the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics that a marijuana growing operation in Lincoln County was illegal, a Special Operations team raided what actually was a legal operation.
Pottawatomie and Lincoln County District Attorney Allan Grubb explained, “OBN gave us inaccurate information. Their new system is having problems,” he said.
Grubb said his Special Operations team checked several times with OBN and OBN said the operation didn’t have the required license.
In late August, a Harrah man charged in the February murder of a 21-yearold Stroud resident was bound over to stand trial on a first degree murder charge.
Cole Berginer Guy, 19 at the time, was formally charged Feb. 22 in Lincoln County District Court, accused of shooting and killing Gabriel Chumley with deliberate intent on Feb. 10 of this year.
Struck suddenly by an onslaught of new COVID-19 cases at the elementary level, Carney Public Schools in Lincoln County began virtual classes in mid-August.
Carney Supt. Brian Keith, who is also high school principal, said that week, “Of 165 elementary students, 55 either have tested positive for the Covid, are sick or have been in close contact to someone who has it as of Monday.
“And that may have gone up by the end of the day since some kids were getting sick and went home later,” he commented.
He stressed, too, “We have six staff members in Pre-K through fourth grade who either have the Covid or are awaiting test results.” Keith said, “We’re start
Keith said, “We’re starting virtually today (Tuesday) all classes, and will remain virtual until Monday, Aug. 30. We hope to go back to in-person classes at that time,” he added.
He related that one student got sick Aug. 13, then had three more student cases over the weekend. “We have positive cases in almost every elementary class,” he emphasized.
Braxton Russell and Riley Randall from Chandler were No. 1 and 2 respectively in the season opening Cross Country meeting at Stroud.
A hearing was set for the owner of a major illegal marijuana grow operation who was arrested in June when agents raided her business.
Sai Ying Lin, 48, of Tryon, was formally charged in Lincoln County District Court June 23. She faces felony counts of cultivation of a controlled substance and maintaining a place for keeping, selling a controlled substance.
Special Judge Emily Mueller scheduled a pre-preliminary hearing for Lin at 1:30 p.m. on Sep. 30. Her initial appearance was completed on July 29. The judge has set a $30,000 bond for her.
In late August, Lincoln County commissioners named a new County Emergency Management Director.
Commissioners, following an executive session that lasted 2 ½ hours, named Brandon Morgan as the new County EM director. He had been serving as the assistant director to Wendi Marcy whose resignation was accepted at the meeting.
District 1 Commissioner Carl Munson made the motion to name Morgan to the position and the vote was unanimous.
Marcy had explained that she is leaving her position here to return to Colorado to be closer to her mother and be able to assist her.
In accepting her resignation on a 3-0 vote, Commission Chairman Lee Doolen told her, “We appreciate all you’ve done for Lincoln County and the state of Oklahoma.”
Area football teams held scrimmages in preparation for the fall season openers.
In the last week of August, the Meeker Board of Trustees terminated Dickie Walton as Town Administrator.
After spending more than two hours in executive session and returning to the opening meeting, Mayor Jeff Wilbourn made the motion to terminate Walton.
At first, none of the other Trustees seconded the motion. Then, Trustee and former Mayor Aaron Head seconded the motion. Joining Wilbourn and Head in voting to terminate Walton were Vice Mayor Donna Weber and Trustee Billy Walker.
Shortly after the meeting had adjourned, Wilbourn was asked on what grounds, what were the reasons for terminating the Town Administrator. He replied, “I refuse to tell you that.”
Walton said he was never given a reason for his termination.
Prague, Meeker, McLoud and North Rock Creek all opened the 2021 football season with wins.
Chandler whipped arch-rival Stroud 53-0 in the Lions’ season opener and the Davenport Bulldogs cruised in their 42- 18 win over Weleetka as they opened the season on the road.
In early September, a Review Board determined a Meeker Police officer did not use excessive force as he was attempting to take a driver into custody during an incident on Saturday night of Labor Day weekend.
Meeker Assistant Police Chief Scott Wilson, who chaired the Review Board meeting, said, “the board voted 4-1 in determining Officer Raymond Mackin was within the Police Department’s policy and procedures and CLEET standards on use of force.
Wilson identified the driver of the vehicle pursued that night as Charlie Green, Meeker.
Wilson said those voting to clear Mackin of excessive force were himself, Drumwright Police Chief and CLEET certified defensive tactics instructor Brian Gooch, Lincoln County Sheriff Charlie Dougherty and Prague Police Officer John Fluitt.
The dissenting vote came from Meeker citizen David Adams, Wilson stated.
Sitting in on the closed Review Board meeting were District Attorney Allan Grubb, Meeker Mayor Jeff Wilbourn and Meeker Town Clerk-Treasurer Mary Conner. Those three were nonvoting, Wilson stressed.
Wilson stated that “DA Grubb has said he will not bring any charges against Mackin.”
Homecoming queens were crowned at two area schools. Macy Buoy became North Rock Creek High School’s first ever Homecoming queen.
Demi Manning was crowned Prague High School’s Homecoming queen.