“Reservation Dogs” returns to area MELISSA HEMINOVER STAFF WRITER Many in the Okmulgee community recall when cam- era crews arrived last year. Some store fronts changed their look for a short time, expansive tents went up in empty lots and new faces were seen that seemed a bit out of place. The stars showed up - it was Okmulgee’s time to shine. In its infancy ,“Reservation Dogs” was but a glimmer in the eye of creator Sterlin Harjo who knows this area of Oklahoma all too well having grown up in Hold- enville. Now, his dream is blossoming with the show being listed as one of the top “must see” shows of 2021. “Reservation Dogs” has been picked up as an eight-ep- SEE RESERVATION DOGS, PAGE A5 COURTESY PHOTO | JESSIE BRYDGES Easter Eggs Galore Members of the Okmulgee Rotary, Okmulgee Service League and several Bulldog basketball players were in the blue room at the McCulloch building Wednesday evening getting things ready for the Rotary Hippity Hop Egg drop. The Easter Egg delivery will take place Saturday, April 3 and deadline to Early voting begins sign your child up for the event is Monday, March 29. The egg delivery is for those in Okmulgee city limits and is a fun way for the joy of Easter to come to children’s homes. Pictured from left are Jennifer Foster and Jill Rhodes, Okmulgee Rotarians, and Candice Moore, Okmulgee Service League, Easter Egg committee chair. Assisting from Okmulgee High School were Ollie Hammon, Desmond Rice and Brandon Simon. April 1 for municipal, school posts Vaccination plan to Grayson, Schulter to hold nonpartisan general elections PATRICK FORD a.m. - 6 p.m. at the Ok- include all citizens NEWS EDITOR mulgee County Court- Early voting begins house. On election day, next week for the April April 6, precincts will be County COVID-19 death toll at 53 6 School Board and Mu- open for voters to cast nicipal Election for sever- their ballots. PATRICK FORD one will be eligible to approved for individuals vider. After registration, al county cities. Here is what is on the NEWS EDITOR receive the COVID-19 16 and older. available phase 4 ap- Voting will be Thursday ballots: Area residents in Phase vaccine Monday, March You must register on- pointments can be seen and Friday, April 1-2, 8 SEE VOTING, PAGE A5 4 of Oklahoma’s vaccina- 29. line to schedule an ap- on the portal. Appoint- tion plan can begin reg- The OSDH states the pointment at vaccinate. ments for phases 1-3 will istering to obtain a vac- Moderna and Johnson oklahoma.gov, or locate also remain available. cine next week. & Johnson vaccines are vaccine opportunities at The vaccine is available The Oklahoma State approved for use with vaccinefinder.org. Youat no cost. Department of Health individuals 18 and older, may also contact your This weekend, the announced that every- and the Pfizer vaccine is personal healthcare pro- SEE VACCINATION, PAGE A2 MCN to hold ribbon cutting ceremony for new PPE Warehouse The Muscogee Nation will cel- mulgee at 10 a.m. any similar circumstances. ebrate the completion of its PPE The project is the second larg- “We’re very proud of all the ef- Warehouse and Storage Facility est construction facility the tribe forts that have been made to re- for the General Services Admin- has completed in the last month spond to the pandemic, but it’s istration with a ribbon-cutting as part of an effort to respond to equally crucial that this Nation ceremony today, March 26. The the COVID-19 pandemic and to not waste the opportunity to pre- dedication will take place in Ok- build capacity moving forward for SEE MCN, PAGE A2 Chamber Legislative Forum is April 2 The fourth installment of the Okmulgee Chamber from January through May. COURTESY PHOTO | BOB JANDEBEUR of Commerce’s monthly Legislative Forum will be “Anyone with questions for the legislators, but are next Friday, April 2, at 8 a.m., according to Chamber unable to attend, are invited to post those questions Jandebeur’s Offers Executive Director Kay Rabbitt-Brower. The forum to the Facebook page,” she said. “We will pose as will be held on the 6th floor of the McCulloch Build- many of those questions as we can.” eBike Rentals ing at 114 N. Grand Avenue until further notice. The location for the forum allows for social dis- Area legislators Sen. Roger Thompson and Reps. tancing, and attendees are encouraged to wear masks Jandebeurs Motor Sports Park is now offering a fun new way to enjoy the Scott Fetgatter and Logan Phillips are expected to be or take what precautions they feel comfortable with. great outdoors. On Sunday, park owner, Bob Jandebeur announced that the park now has eBike rentals available. The park had its first adventurers in attendance to give updates on the first week of the Anyone with questions is encouraged to contact over the weekend. The couple cruised into Downtown Okmulgee for brunch new session. the Chamber at 918-756-6172. at Tavern 56 and back to the motor sports park. Jandebeur has plans of The forums are held the first Friday of each month expanding the rental fleet as demand grows. A2 • Okmulgee Times COMMUNITY Friday, March 26, 2021 Ms. Jackson’s Theatre! celebrates milestone Virtual classes available this summer MELISSA HEMINOVER STAFF WRITER Teachers have been faced with countless chal- lenges over the past year as many adjusted to the pandemic and learning new ways to reach their students. For Kirsten Jackson creator Ms. Jack- son’s Theatre!, chang- es came in abundance during 2020. This year marks sev- en years of Ms. Jackson’s Theatre! and the first year the program was unable to present the produc- tions so many had be- come accustom to from COURTESY PHOTOS Ms. Jackson’s students. The first show of 2014 for Ms. Jackson’s Theatre! is: Front row (left to right) Kirsten Jackson, Jackson, Taya Longan, Anya Jackson, Tyler Okerson. Not pictured was Gage Thomason who “The past seven years Maddison Parsons, Zach Collins, Noah Matthews, Lydia Jackson, Chaz Lujan, Mark Hess, Brook- was also in the camp but was not available for the performance. have been a journey,” lyn Pritchard, and Kinlee Williams. Back row (left to right) Scott Okerson, Kylie Hushbeck, Quinn Jackson said. “I loved pretty much every min- a stay-at-home moth- fairy tales.” students through simple ute of it.” er. That transition led to Jackson said after suf- shows like I had done for Jackson says in order homeschooling her chil- fering the loss of her ‘Queen of Theatre!’,” Jack- to fully encompass what dren, she eventually be- husband in 2011 she be- son said, “but I underesti- Ms. Jackson’s Theatre! has came a mother of three. gan teaching part-time mated them.” meant to her “you have to While homeschooling at Stonebridge Academy Jackson found out that go back 25 years to the her children, Jackson also and traveling in the sum- children can do amaz- beginning of it”. taught drama and speech mers for “Queen of The- ing and creative things Upon graduating col- classes to other homes- a t r e ! ”. if just given the space. lege, Jackson began chooled children in the “It was just so hard. Parents were also excited teaching at a middle Okmulgee area. Driving became tire- to see what Jackson had school in Sherman, TX Through additionalsome, and I hated to leave accomplished with their where she taught theatre teaching experiences, my children in the sum- children and asked if she to 150 seventh graders, Jackson found she could m e r s .” could offer more classes as well as a class of jour- teach in small group set- It was her 13-year-old during the school year as nalism to eighth graders. tings and excel at it. son that suggested stu- well. It was here that Jackson “I put together a show dents could come to her. “It became a way to live found her calling. and became ‘Kirsten, Thus “Ms. Jackson’s The- my calling, a place for “Over the years, I have Queen of Theatre!’,” Jack- atre!” began. my children to perform always found creative son said. “For ten years, I Seven years ago, Jack- and meet friends, and a Ms. Jackson taking some time for a photo opportunity with two of her acting students Clara Bowcut and Lily Bowcut. Ms Jackson’s Theatre! is ways to live within my spent my summers going son started offering sum- source of income,” Jack- celebrating it’s seventh year this year though changes have taken place due calling,” Jackson said. Af- to Oklahoma and Arkan- mer theater camps in Ok- son said. to the pandemic ter a few years teaching, sas libraries as a perform- mulgee, though she didn’t It wasn’t long before Jackson gave birth to her er. I brought children up expect it to work. word began getting out down mid-rehearsals,” are allowed the freedom first child and made the on the stage with me, “That first year I thought about what Jackson was Jackson said. “I had to to create and schedule decision to transition to and we performed simple I would need to walk the doing. News made it to figure out a new way to classes that are then mar- John McConel, owner of live my calling.” keted and connected to The Orpheum Theater, Like so many, Jackson learners. Enrollment for who offered Jackson the made adjustments and Outschool takes place via use of the theatre for her persevered.