2023 was quite a year, with triumphs, tragedies and, sometimes, humor.
Here’s a look back at the events of the year.
MIKE McCORMICK
Staff Writer
- In early January, a Stroud man faced six felony charges accusing him of setting wildfires in Lincoln County over a period of nearly a year.
Two counts of second degree arson and four counts of third degree arson were formally filed Dec. 28 in Lincoln County District Court against Chad Michael Hutson, 48.
Associate District Judge Sheila Kirk set Hutson’s bond at $250,000.
- Firefighters from eight different fire departments along with Lincoln County Emergency Management responded to a wildfire last week between Davenport and Stroud.
Cody McDonell, Deputy Director of Lincoln County Emergency Management, said the first call came in around 1 p.m. “It started around South 3540 and East 930 Roads,” he said.
- When the final buzzer sounded in the finals of the Tournament of Champions Championship in Tulsa, the Dale Pirates had accomplished something that hadn’t been done in more than 43 years.
The Pirates became the first small school since 1978 to win the tournament, defeating Tulsa Memorial 59-52.
- In the second week of January, Chandler City Council members took the final action they needed to help land a new hotel in the city limits.
Council members voted unanimously to rezone property at 621 N. McKinley from R-1, single family residential, to C-2,
General Commercial with the proposed use a hotel.
- A Wellston attorney facing five drug related charges has been ordered to inpatient treatment when a bed is available.
Special Judge Emily Mueller issued the order on Friday, Jan. 6, following a hearing that morning on a motion filed Dec. 22 by the district attorney to revoke Campbell’s bond or in the alternative to strengthen it
- Area schools brought home plenty of hardware last week, as six teams won championships and many more made the finals or semifinals.
Prague’s girls and unbeaten boys brought home championship trophies from the Ripley tournament. The Red Devils, now 10-0 and ranked No. 4 in Class 3A, clipped No. 18 Kiefer, 41-39, in the finals and the girls beat Chandler, 33-22, in their finals.
Dale brought home titles from Kingston, where the boys beat Broken Bow, 58-41, for the championship and the girls beat Class 3A No. 9 Kingston, 60-40.
Meeker’s boys brought home the championship from the Davenport Hardwood Classic by beating county rival Wellston in the finals, 60- 54. The Bulldogs are 6-5 and have won five of their last seven. North Rock Creek’s boys defeated Destiny Christian, 40-32, in the championship at the Konawa tournament. The No. 14 Cougars have won five in a row and are 9-2 on the season.
-A sizable crowd of parents and school patrons attended Monday night’s Chandler Board of Education meeting with a couple of them voicing strong support for softball coach Bryan Herring.
School Board President Joseph Irby told those in attendance that Barry Herring and Brad Pittman asked to be placed
on Monday night’s agenda.
He explained there would be no action taken because there wasn’t an agenda item on the matter.
- In mid-January, a Meeker area man was charged with arson following his arrest recently by an agent with the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Youlha Rhodes, 39, was formally charged in Lincoln County District Court Jan. 13 with second degree arson.
Rhodes appeared before Associate District Judge Sheila Kirk Jan. 11 and she set his bond at $200,000. He made an initial appearance on Jan. 17. The charge accuses Rhodes of setting fire to an uninhabited building/ structure located at
338972 East Highway 62 in Meeker.
- Also in mid-January, a bench warrant was issued for one of two people who allegedly robbed and kidnapped a Lincoln County woman recently.
Formal felony charges of robbery with a dangerous weapon and kidnapping were filed in Lincoln County District Court Jan. 12 against Cheyenne Briana Lewis, 26, of Stroud and Khyron Daun Sharif, 32, of Chandler.
A $75,000 bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of Sharif. The warrant was issued the same day charges were
filed.
-Chandler High School students from the FCCLA, varsity cheer, FFA and BPA packaged meals
Wednesday at the First Christian Church for Stamp Out Starvation, an Oklahoma-based nonprofit that helps the hungry worldwide.
- A Sparks man, who during the first week of January waived his right to a preliminary hearing, pleaded guilty and was handed prison terms on each of three felony counts.
Brandon Allen Walker, 43, was formally charged in Lincoln County District Court on Oct. 7 with second degree burglary, unauthorized use of a vehicle and possession of firearms after a prior felony conviction.
- In its first meeting of the new year, the Meeker Town Board approved a communication system that allows the town to communicate with citizens regarding a number things.
- During the final full week of January, a wintry blast struck the Lincoln and Pottawatomie counties about mid-day Tuesday, only one area school had closed and one had decided to go virtual.
- The driver of a vehicle that struck and seriously injured a Stroud youth who was driving a motorcycle in July of 2022, was ordered to stand trial.
A felony charge was filed in Lincoln County District Court on July 19 against Hank Willam Hunziker, 51, of Drumright
for driving under the influence of alcohol with a BAC of .08 or more causing great bodily harm.
- The Dale girls won their third tournament of the season and picked up their 19th straight win by beating Silo, 60-57, in the finals of the Cashion tournament.
North Rock Creek brought home a second straight championship, beating Blanchard in the finals of the Washington tournament, and Chandler’s surging boys team came within an eyelash of winning the 66 Conference tournament.
- A pre-preliminary hearing was set for a Stroud man facing six felony charges accusing him of setting wildfires in Lincoln County over a period of nearly a year.
Two counts of second degree arson and four counts of third degree arson were formally filed Dec. 28 in Lincoln County
District Court against Chad Michael Hutson, 48.
- Two of three former officials with the City of Tryon facing embezzlement and conspiracy charges have waived their
right to preliminary hearings and their arraignments have been set.
- A Stroud woman, one of two people charged with kidnapping and robbery, has made her initial appearance and a judge has scheduled her preliminary hearing.
Formal felony charges of robbery with a dangerous weapon and kidnapping were filed in Lincoln County District Court Jan. 12 against Cheyenne Briana Lewis, 26, of Stroud and Khyron Daun Sharif, 32, of Chandler.
- In February a preliminary hearing was scheduled for a Wellston attorney facing five drug related charges who reportedly violated a judge’s order and is now held without bond.
- Chandler Ward II incumbent Virgil Wilson drew two opponent, Cameron McBride and David Burgess.
- A man from Carney and a woman from Chandler face two felonies each after their arrest by Lincoln County deputies
recently.
James Michael Boyd, 38, whose address was listed as in Carney and Alexandria Deanne Gordon, of Chandler, were each charged Jan. 27 in Lincoln County District Court with trafficking in illegal drugs and knowingly receiving
or concealing stolen property.
- Lincoln County voters in mid-February approved renewal of a one percent sales tax and Chandler school patrons overwhelmingly approved a $3.8 million bond issue in an election.
The sales tax renewal passed with 1,285 yes votes to 346 no.
- Several races developed during the three-day filing period for municipal offices in cities and towns in Lincoln County and some won positions when they were unopposed.
- Also in mid-February the behavior of some fans, players and a coach during Wellston High School’s boys basketball game against Coyle last Saturday night has led to the OSSAA issuing an official egregious violation against the team.
- A storm system that brought hurricane-force winds, tornadoes, heavy rains and some hail across the state on the final Sunday night in February significantly damaged areas of Pottawatomie County and some damage in Lincoln County occurred as well.
District 1 Pottawatomie County Commissioner Melissa Dennis said 46 homes were heavily damaged and at least five of
those destroyed in the northeastern part of her district.
- In late February, during a special meeting, Lincoln County commissioners voted to give the go ahead for final design plans for a jail expansion.
They also voted to ask BKL, an engineering and architectural firm, to let commissioners know what it would cost to engage them to prepare cost estimates and plans for an OSU Extension Building.
- In early March, a 15-year-old youth who reportedly shot and killed his dad during an altercation at their house southwest of Stroud was arrested and the victim was identified.
Lincoln and Pottawatomie County District Attorney Adam Panter confirmed the victim was the boy’s father Charles Robert Griffith.
- In their March meeting, Chandler’s Board of Education voted to appoint a new member to the board, modified the contract of School Supt. Scott Baade and approved the re-employment of three of its principals.
Board members also accepted the resignations of two teachers and a principal.
Baade said the board appointed Doug Bridge to fill the Office No. 1 seat for the remainder of this year.
- A Lincoln County man faced five felony charges after reportedly shooting at his parents and leading law enforcement officers on a high speed pursuit before being caught and arrested.
Formal felony charges were filed March 1 this year in Lincoln County District Court against Clyde Edgar Gladden III, 23. He appeared Feb. 27 before Associate District Judge Sheila Kirk who set his bond at $150,000.
- Dale High School’s basketball teams each captured a gold ball last weekend, the boys winning their second consecutive state championship and the girls winning their first state title under head coach Eric Smith.
Coach Jeff Edmonson’s Pirates completed an incredible undefeated season with a 32-0 record, as they crushed Oklahoma Christian Academy 78-52 in the finals at the state fairgrounds. Their combined record over the past two years is 61 wins against two losses.
“I couldn’t be more proud of these guys,” Edmonson said.
- A pre-preliminary hearing was continued for a Midwest City man, facing three felonies following a Lincoln County shooting near Wellston in February that injured a person.
Casey Mac Wilson, 42, was formally charged in Lincoln County District Court on Feb. 23 this year with assault with a dangerous weapon, or in the alternative felony discharging a firearm into a dwelling and possession of a firearm after former felony conviction.
- A young Prague man was charged with first degree manslaughter in March.
It was filed March 2 this year in Lincoln County District Court against Joseph Resin Linnhuber. The charge is the result of a fatal traffic collision.
- A fire that destroyed a house in Stroud on March 8 was determined to be fatal nearly a week later when remains of at least two persons were discovered inside.
Stroud Fire Chief Cliff Wilson said firefighters responded to the house fire that broke out around 4 a.m. at 910 W. 4th in Stroud. He reported that witnesses at the scene said a couple of people got out and they didn’t believe anyone was inside the house.
- Preliminary hearings have been scheduled for a man charged with first degree murder and two other felonies and for two others facing accessory to murder and desecration of a human corpse.
A first degree murder charge and two other felonies have been filed in connection with the disappearance of a man who went missing more than two years ago in Pottawatomie County.
Jason Dean Cornett, 44, was charged in Pottawatomie County District Court March 16 with first degree murder–malice aforethought, unlawful removal of a dead body and desecration of a human corpse.
Also charged are Cornett’s wife Elizabeth Dee Cornett and Jordan Treaster, reportedly Jason Cornett’s nephew.
- In late March, a Jennings man was facing a manslaughter charge or in the alternative negligent homicide after his semi-trailer truck collided with a vehicle driven by a Stroud man who died in the crash.
Brent Lee Nobles, 43, was charged in Lincoln County District Court March 23. A $15,000 bench warrant was issued at that time for his arrest.
- Lincoln County commissioners approved making application for a Community Development Block Grant for the Jacktown Fire Department for fire apparatus.
Commissioners also took no action on applying for a CDBG grant for a parking lot for the Lincoln County Fairgrounds.
- Seniors Kileigh Mixon from Stroud and Riley Randall from Meeker and freshman Lila McGough from Chandler won two events each at the Tiger Classic track meet in Stroud.
McGough won the 200 and 400 meter dashes and helped the Chandler girls to a second-place finish.
Mixon, a two-time defending high jump state champion, won that event and the 100-meter hurdles and took second in the long jump. Stroud’s girls finished third.
Randall, a two-time state champion in cross county, won the 1600 and 3200-meter runs. Teammate Braxton Bussell won the 800, giving Meeker a sweep in the distance events.
Drew Clovis, the defending state champion in pole vault, cleared 13 feet to win first.
- In early April, voters in Chandler elected a new mayor and also chose a new Ward II Council member during municipal elections.
Prague School District voters defeated a $22,410,000 bond issue.
Kent McVey defeated Tony Wilson to become Chandler’s new mayor. McVey received 265 or 70.11 percent of the votes to 113 for Wilson which was 29.89 percent of the votes cast.
In the race for the Ward II Chandler Council seat, David Burgess won a three-man race with incumbent Virgil Wilson and Cameron McBride.
Burgess garnered 153 votes, Wilson 115 and McBride 105.
- A wildfire outbreak in Lincoln County burned an estimated several hundred acres and destroyed a barn and an outbuilding, but no residential structures were apparently damaged.
There were no reported injuries either, he said.
Lincoln County Emergency Management Director Cody McDonell said, “We had 13 fire calls on Friday. Most of them were small, but there were two significant ones,” Mc-Donell noted.
“One was the Bell Cow Creek Fire near Bell Cow Lake that burned an estimated 285 acres.”
- A McLoud High School teacher faced three felonies after she was arrested on charges for allegedly soliciting sex with minors by use of technology.
Serena Cator, 43, was formally charged in Pottawatomie County District Court March 16 this year with three counts of soliciting sexual conduct or communication with a minor by use of technology.
A $15,000 bench warrant was issued for her arrest the same day charges were filed. Court records show the warrant was returned and filed on March 17 and her bond was set at $15,000 with stipulation she have no contact with the victims.
- In early April, a former Wellston substitute teacher facing four sexrelated felonies with minors has been bound over to stand trial.
Formal charges were filed in Lincoln County District Court on April 12 against Emma Delaney Hancock, 26.
The charges came following an investigation by Lincoln County officers and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
- While many people might have slept through the earthquake that struck near Carney last week, Meeker’s Mayor Donna Weber did not.
“I was in my office chair and it started moving with me in it. It was 3:57 a.m.,” she said.
- The Meeker Board of Education this week hired a new elementary principal, administered the Oath of Office to a new board member and employed two elementary school teachers.
Board members also realigned themselves, with longtime board member Lindel Standlee becoming president, Bret Wood vice president and Josh Elliott clerk.
Stacie Miller was seated as the new Office No. 3 board member. She was elected without opposition at the end of the filing period last December.
She replaces Ashley Sellers who is stepping down after serving 10 years on the board.
Following a brief executive session, board members returned to open meeting and hired Sarah Flowers as elementary principal for the 20232024 school year. They also employed Roseanna Sorrels and Jessica Akins as elementary teachers for the 2023-2024 school year.
- On the night of Easter Sunday, law enforcement authorities arrested an individual they believe was involved in a shooting Sunday night near Chandler that injured a 16-year-old girl.
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Sgt. Aaron Bennett said the girl was airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City with what is believed to be non-life threatening injuries and was still in the hospital late that night.
- Meeker Town Board members this week reelected their mayor and chose a new vice mayor and members were appointed over departments.
Mayor Donna Weber was re-elected by the board to serve as mayor and Trustee Mike Orman was elected vice mayor.
Weber then appointed former Vice Mayor Aaron Head over the Public Works Authority and Streets and Alley; Trustee Lanny Thompson over the police department; Orman over the fire department; and Trustee Mike Melton over the lake, library, parks and museum.
- Lincoln County commissioners in mid-April accepted a proposal letter for construction administration of the jail addition and renovation project.
They also officially appointed a committee to interview construction managers for the project as well.
The proposal letter was from BKL, an engineering and architectural firm that has been working with the committee on a proposed design for the jail addition and renovation. The project is estimated to cost around $4.1 million.
- A woman who entered a blind plea during the middle of her trial in February was handed three lengthy prison terms in April.
Felony charges were filed in Lincoln County District Court April 4, 2022 against Angela Renee Gordon, 42, Claremore.
Court records show that Gordon was standing trial on two counts of lewd acts to a child under 12 and one for enabling child abuse.
- Kileigh Mixon won three events to lead Stroud’s girls to a firstplace finish at the Okemah track meet.
The Lady Tigers finished with 98 points, with Chandler coming in second with 76. Mixon won the high jump and long jump and edged teammate Peyton Davis by two onehundredths of a second to take first in the 100-meter hurdles.
- In early May, a Prague man was sentenced to prison as he still awaits a jury trial on multiple other felonies.
Formal charges of Assault and Battery with a dangerous weapon, a felony, were filed in Lincoln County District Court March 22, 2022 against Mick Devin Vancuren who was 31 at time.
- Lincoln County commissioners adopted a County Roads and Bridge Project resolution for three projects in District 1.
District 1 Commissioner Will Fine said the estimated cost of the projects totals $78,187.50.
- Preliminary hearings were scheduled for a man charged with first degree murder and two other felonies and for two others facing accessory to murder and desecration of a human corpse.
A first degree murder charge and two other felonies have been filed in connection with the disappearance of a man who went missing more than two years ago in Pottawatomie County.
Jason Dean Cornett, 44, was charged in Pottawatomie County District Court March 16 with first degree murder–malice aforethought, unlawful removal of a dead body and desecration of a human corpse.
Also charged are Cornett’s wife Elizabeth Dee Cornett and Jordan Treaster, reportedly Jason Cornett’s nephew.
Elizabeth Cornett, 45, was charged in March 17 in Pottawatomie County District with accessory to first degree murder and desecration of a human corpse.
- Stroud’s Lady Tigers won five events and took the Class 2A state track championship in May at Western Heights.
Senior Kileigh Mixon won the 100-meter hurdles and the high jump and teamed with Kenlee Parrick, Peyton Davis and Mattie James to win the 4x100 relay.
Parrick won the pole vault and Davis won the 100-meter dash.
Mixon finished second in the long jump, 3.5 inches away from a fourth first-place medal.
The 4x200 relay team of Parrick, Audrey Donaldson, James and Davis took third and Davis added a fourth-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles.
Stroud finished with 91 points to beat de- fending state champion Hooker, which scored 86.
It was part of an outstanding weekend by area track athletes in seasonably hot weather.
Meeker’s Riley Randall won the 3200-meter run in Class 2A, Chandler’s James Duncan won the 110-meter hurdles in the Class 3A meet at Ardmore and North Rock Creek junior Maddox Motley won his second 110-meter hurdle state championship in the Class 4A meet.
In the 2A boys meet, Meeker finished with 25 points to take 10th and Stroud scored 12.5 to finish 25th.
Meeker girls got four from Autumn Ingram and finished 30th.
- Also in May, North Rock Creek beat rival Washington, 6-5, in the Class 5A state finals to bring home the school’s second straight slowpitch state championship.
The Lady Cougars have made the state tournament all three years they have competed in slow pitch and will return all but two starters for next year.
- Meeker’s Board of Education in its May meeting approved the 2023-2024 Temporary Appropriations, hired several new personnel and approved a retirement and a resignation.
- In mid-May, Stroud graduate Brice Wolff was the individual medalist and the Seminole State golf team won the South Central District Championship title at the Shawnee Country Club.
Wolff, a freshman, had a three-round total of 13over- par on the par-70 layout for the tournament. His 3-over 73 in the final round was enough to move him into first over 2nd-round leader Will Claywell of Mineral Area College.
- The two bodies discovered inside a house in Stroud nearly a week after it burned in early March had still not been identified in late May, Stroud Police Chief Clint Gaylord said.
“I talked to the State Medical Examiner’s Office last week and they still haven’t identified them,” Gaylord said on Monday.
“They are still trying to see if any of the bones match any medical records. They still haven’t told us anything yet on who they are,” he said.
- In late May, Lincoln County commissioners this week approved an agreement with BKL, an engineering and architectural firm, to finish the design process for the jail expansion.
The estimated cost of the expansion is around $4 million.
- In late May, a District Court judge accepted a not guilty plea by mental illness from a Tulsa woman whose first degree manslaughter case ended in a mistrial in February of 2022.
Candice Rene Conley, 29, of Tulsa, was formally charged in Lincoln County District Court on Jan, 2, 2020 with the manslaughter count and multiple other felony offenses following a collision that occurred on Jan. 1, 2020 that left an Edmond woman dead.
District Judge Traci Soderstrom on May 2 accepted the not guilty plea by mental illness from Conley and placed her in custody until a bed is available. The judge also ordered the Center to complete an evaluation within 35 days of hospitalization, provide the court with a report within 45 days and set the cause for review on June 20 this year.
- A man awaiting trial on a first degree murder charge, who was handed prison terms on five nonrelated felonies last November, now faces five more felonies he allegedly committed while in the Lincoln County jail.
Cole Beringer Guy, now 21, was charged Feb. 10 this year with soliciting sexual conduct or communication with a minor by use of technology.
- Two people died and two others were injured in a one-vehicle collision west of Chandler in Lincoln County, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol has reported.
Highway Patrol Troop er Hunn identified one of those who died as Jeremiah Sargent, 34, address unknown, driver of the vehicle involved in the fatal collision. He was pronounced dead at the scene due to injuries sustained in the crash, the trooper stated.
The other person who died was a 15-year-old, name withheld, from Cushing who also was pronounced dead at the scene due to injuries sustained in the collision, Hunn said.
One of the injured, identified as Zachary Collins 27, of Cushing, a passenger, was transported by MediFlight to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City where he was admitted in fair condition with head injuries, the trooper stated.
- A pre-preliminary hearing was scheduled for a Chandler man facing two felonies who reportedly shot into a home Easter Sunday night injuring a teenage girl.
Jodie Jones, 44, was formally charged April 11 in Lincoln County District Court with assault and battery with a deadly weapon and felony discharging firearm into a dwelling.
Law enforcement authorities arrested Jones later that same night of the shooting.
- Jury trials scheduled for a Wellston attorney and her reported accomplice on drug related charges and a firearms count have been continued until the fall.
Formal felony charges were filed in Lincoln County District Court Dec. 6, 2022 against Debra Dawn Campbell, 59. The charges include trafficking in illegal drugs, unlawful possession of Controlled Drug with intent to distribute, acquire proceeds from drug activity and possess firearm during commission of a felony.
- In early June, Lincoln County commissioners voted to make the jail expansion and remodel an ARPA funded project.
They also have approved an agreement with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority regarding the 930 Loop project.
- In June, a Prague man pleaded guilty and was sentenced to prison on three felonies in relation to a chop shop operation.
Formal felony charges were originally filed May 26, 2022 in Lincoln County District Court against Kenneth Gale Simon, 37 along with two others, Kaleb Burleson, 19, and Whitney Harrison, 34.
Simon was charged with operating/ dealing with a chop shop, conspiracy after former conviction of two ore more felonies and knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property after felony conviction.
- Meeker School Board members in their June meeting hired five new teachers and named a new principal along with accepting four resignations.
Matt Jones, currently a teacher and the girls’ high school basketball coach at Meeker, is the new Middle School Principal. He replaces Rodney Treat.
- A Lincoln County resident in June, facing a total of four felonies and two misdemeanors in two separate cases who has been ordered to stand trial, announced he was ready for trial.
Brandon Matthew Tarpenning, 40, who deputies say resides in the Harrah area, was first charged in Lincoln County District Court on Dec. 30, 2022 with child neglect. Later, another charge of child neglect and one for child abuse were filed.
- In the middle of June, Davenport Head Football Coach John Greenfield was inducted into the Oklahoma Eight Man Football Coaches Hall of Fame at a banquet in Miami, Okla.
Greenfield, whose teams have amassed 203 victories during his 19 years as Davenport’s Eight Man football coach, is about to begin his 20th season as the Bulldogs’ head mentor.
Greenfield garnered his 200th win this past season as the Bulldogs cruised past Alex 36-0 in their homecoming contest.
- A Lincoln County jury in June convicted an Oklahoma City biker of first degree manslaughter in the shooting death of a Midwest City man in September of 2021.
The jury found Steven Roberts, 56, guilty of shooting Daniel Aaron, 33, in the back as he drove his motorcycle on U.S. 62 in Lincoln County near Harrah on Sep. 12, 2021.
The jury recommended 13 years in state prison. A formal sentencing date is yet to be scheduled.
Associate District Judge Sheila Kirk presided over the case.
It’s an 85 percent crime, meaning Roberts will have to serve that amount of time before he is eligible for parole.
The conviction brought an end to the weeklong trial. Jurors spent about eight hours in deliberations before reaching a verdict at 1 a.m.
Assistant District Attorney Rachel Thompson, who along with Assistant DA Kelly Trimble prosecuted the case, said, “We consider it a win. It was a very tough case.”
Roberts was convicted on first degree manslaughter by resisting criminal attempt. He took the stand claiming self defense.
Roberts was accused of on Sept. 12, 2021 in Lincoln County of committing first degree murder with malice and aforethought causing Aaron’s death by shooting him in the back of his body.
Thompson said Roberts is a member of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club. Aaron, a Marine veteran, was a member of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club, Thompson said.
- A Lincoln County jury has found a murder defendant guilty of the lesser crime of second degree manslaughter and recommended time served as his punishment.
The jury returned its verdict against Khristian Tyler Martzall, 32, of Wellston after 1 a.m. following more than eight hours of deliberations.
Martzall was originally arrested May 15, 2018 about 9 p.m. in the city of Jones for murder, according to an affidavit filed in Lincoln County District Court on May 16 of that year.
Lincoln/Pottawatomie County District Attorney Adam Panter prosecuted the case along with Assistant DA Ryan Stephenson.
Martzall’s defense attorneys were Velia Lopez and Gregg Graves. District Judge Traci Soderstrom presided over the case.
- Lincoln County commissioners in mid-June approved submitting the Fiscal Year 2024 Estimate of Needs to the County Excise Board and tabled naming a construction manager for the jail renovation and expansion project.
County Clerk Alicia Wagnon advised the commissioners the Estimate of Needs totals more than $10.4 million. A special joint meeting of the elected officials and the department heads with the Lincoln County Excise Board took place on Wednesday.
- In late June, a group from the American Milking Shorthorn Society gathered at The Marak family’s farm in Meeker as a stop in their annual shorthorn breeders convention.
“It’s when we can get all our breeders together from all throughout the country,” Kate Gulley, Executive Secretary to the AMSS, said.
The Meeker-based farm hosted several AMSS members from all over the U.S. and even some from other countries. Travis Marak led the group in a tour of their pasteurization and packaging facility and further discussed how their farm is set apart from other Oklahoma dairy producers.
- Dale Board of Education members this week approved the hiring of several new personnel and accepted the resignation of another.
Following about a 30-minute executive session, board members returned to open meeting and voted to hire Angela Coker as middle school teacher and Darian Gates as a Licensed Professional Counselor.
They also approved hiring Dallas Reed and Savannah Smith as support staff in a capacity to be determined by the administration.
Board members accepted the resignation of middle school teacher Adrienne Wootten.
- McLoud City Council members have voted authorizing Mayor Daniel McClure to create a Task Force to investigate unauthorized or unlawful expenditures.
Their action came during the Council’s most recent meeting.
City Manager Cody Roe said the mayor has appointed Councilmen Phil Solinger and Larry Dillion as the committee to investigate possible unauthorized or unlawful expenditures of the past administration.