Stroud extends superintendent’s contract

The Stroud School Board voted to extend the contract of Superintendent Joe Van Tuyl to June 30, 2028, and included a 5 percent salary increase each year, in their regular meeting on Jan. 13. The motion passed 3-to-2.

Bringing history to life

Chandler freshman Will Conley first became fascinated with history in the fifth grade.Sitting in the workroom at Chandler Junior High on Jan. 17, he quietly spoke about his fifth-grade history teacher, who he called fantastic.

Hearing in gun-in-jail case

A pre-preliminary hearing has been scheduled for a suspect who reportedly made it inside the Lincoln County jail with a gun and attempted to shoot a Lincoln County Sheriff’s jailer who was patting him down.

City manager: Not running out of water

Chandler City Manager Jason Orr said that the city is not running out of water and that the decision to increase water production capacity by 100 percent was a financial decision.

Roy D. Toles

Roy D Toles, 81, went to be with the Lord on December 31, 2024. A visitation was held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at Strode Funeral Home. Funeral services began at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at the Strode Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Russell Rhoads officiating.

Lois June (Nicely) Austin

Lois June (Nicely) Austin passed away on December 24, 2024, under the care of Mercy Hospice at the age of 91.She was born on June 29, 1933, in Payson, Oklahoma. Her parents were William and Beulah (Moffit) Nicely.Lois was the fourth of six children.

LaDonna Ruth (Shaw) Welborn

LaDonnaRuth(Shaw) Welborn, a long-time resident of Meeker, Oklahoma, was born on January 21, 1935, in Meeker. She departed this life on January 10, 2025, at her home in Meeker, at the age of 89 years. LaDonna was the daughter of Robert and Loata Shaw.

Mary Louise Phillips

Mary Louise Phillips passed away on Sunday, December 15, 2024. Mary was born on Wednesday, February 10, 1943, in Stroud, OK, to Lee and Mabel (Rainwater) McFarland.Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers and one sister.

Thomas “Tom” Joseph Kroutil

Thomas “Tom” Joseph Kroutil passed away on January 10, 2025. He was born on March 16, 1942, to Lewis and Anita KroutilinYukon,Oklahoma. He was the third of six children.On October 2, 1965, Tommarriedtheloveof his life at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Gertrude Rother.