75¢ VIAN TENKILLER NEWS Vol. No. 33 Issue No. 47 viannews.com Wednesday, June 30, 2021 Gore man charged with sexual battery, denied bond AMIE CATO-REMER Sheriff’s Investigator felt uncomfortable when EDITOR A Gore man was de- Cindy Smith said she re- McKinley was around nied bond after report- ceived a report from dep- and wanted him to leave. edly being charged in Se- uty Robert Johnson re- She said while at her quoyah County District garding a possible sexual home in Gore, she went Court with a felony count assault that had occurred inside to use the restroom of sexual battery. in April. and when she came out, William E. McKinley, According to an affi- McKinley was reportedly 56, was formally charged davit, the victim alleged standing in the doorway. on June 15 and is await- McKinley had sexually The victim said she ing a July 7 arraignment assaulted her after show- tried to get past him but before Associate District ing up at her residence to he wouldn’t let her by, Judge Kyle Waters. discuss his frustrations and then McKinley re- Sequoyah County and problems. portedly grabbed her and William E. McKinley The victim said she See BOND, page 3 Ed Lander is shown with his wife, Virginia (at left), and other family members. Fireworks for the Fourth The Greater Tenkiller Area Association (GTAA) will host their annual Lake Tenkiller Fire- GoFundMe set up works Show on Sunday, July 4, beginning at dusk. Fireworks can be seen from Tenkiller State Park or from the water, and admission to the park is free. Activities leading up to the event will be held at The Driftwood Nature Center inside Tenkiller State Park, July 2-4. for former Vian The No Wake Zone, located across from Tenkiller State Park will be hosting a Little Miss Firecracker Pageant on July 3, with all proceeds going to the GTAA. All you need is a Fourth of July outfit; you will be judged on personality only. For more info visit https://www.face- business owner book.com/678743532/posts/10158604403668533/?d=n. AMIE CATO-REMER cancer. The Vian Community Foundation presents their annual Fireworks Extravaganza on EDITOR His daughter, Stepha- Thursday, July 1, at St. John Stadium beginning at dark. Vian’s Favorite Sons and Daughters A GoFundMe account nie Lander, is organizing awards will be presented prior to the show. was set up on June 15 the fundraiser for her fa- The Town of Webbers Falls’ annual fireworks show will be held at the bbersWe Falls Park for former Vian business ther, who is the former on Sunday, July 4, beginning at dusk. owner, Ed Landers, who owner of Papa’s Cafe in has been diagnosed with See OWNER, page 3 Cherokee Nation formalizes acquisition of historic Dwight Mission Cherokee Nation has announced the acquisi- tion of Dwight Mission in Sequoyah County. The historic property has been utilized by Dwight Presbyterian Mission Inc. for camp and conference activities since the 1950s and includes more than 200 acres. A private signing cer- emony was held on site to formalize the transfer of ownership. “Today is a great day for Cherokee Nation, as we further invest our time and resources in the pres- ervation of the historic sites that have shaped our story as Cherokee,” said Cherokee Nation officials re- support from Cherokee Na- dan, Bill Wiles, board treasurer Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. “We appreci- SUBMITTED cently joined representatives tion. Front row, from the left is for Dwight Presbyterian Mis- Jansen Idlett, left, Commandant of the 47th Cadet Lawmen Acad- from Dwight Presbyterian Mis- Preston Bobo, board vice presi- sion Inc., Charlie Smith, ad- ate all that the Presby- emy is shown with Cason Wright. sion to formalize the acquisi- dent for Dwight Presbyterian ministrative officer for Indian terian Church has done tion of the historic Sequoyah Mission Inc., Cherokee Nation Nations Presbytery, District 5 throughout the years as County property. Officials are Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Tribal Councilor E.O. Smith, Jr., stewards of this property, photographed in front of the Jr. and Deputy Principal Chief Chief of Staff Todd Enlow, and Wright attends Cadet 1917 schoolhouse, which was Bryan Warner. Back row, Sec- Cherokee Nation Delegate to and we look forward to renovated in 2014 with vital retary of State Tina Glory Jor- Congress Kimberly Teehee. See MISSION, page 3 Lawman Academy Cason Wright, son of to-be a firsthand taste of We Asked Kids... Tommy and Ronda Wright, what it takes to be a Trooper attended and graduated with the Oklahoma High- AMIE CATO-REMER from the 47th Cadet Law- way Patrol. The young men man Academy held at Con- and women experience nors State College Campus training in precision driv- Matthew Reaves Elijah Reaves in Warner. Graduation cer- ing, traffic and boating law Age 10, Vian Age 9, Vian emonies were held at the enforcement, firearm in- Warner Event Center. The struction, self-defense, and Of all the things you’re week-long event was held law enforcement history. learning, what will be the Of all the things you’re learning, what will be the from June 6-12. The week-long program most useful as an adult? The students found the is held annually the first full Smart stuff, like math and most useful as an adult? Cooking and laundry. week very challenging but week of June. The week is English. rewarding in every way, and spent with troopers, police What is the hardest What is the hardest thing about being a kid? have gained much more re- officers, dispatchers, and thing about being a kid? spect for law enforcement other law enforcement and Being good! School work! If you could grow up to and all that they do to keep medical personnel. If you could grow up the citizens of Oklahoma Many who attend the to be famous, what would be famous, what would it be for? Dancing! safe. Academy in their teens are it be for? I want to be a fa- The Academy gives se- found in today’s ranks of mous hero, but I’m not re- lected high school seniors- troopers. ally a hero. We dnesday, June 30, 2021VIAN Tenkiller NEWSPage 2 Tenkiller NEWSPage Wednesday, June 30, 2021VIAN Obituaries Stella Mae (Bush) Polecat Floyd Lee Risley Ross Alan Bottorff Dec. 27, 1949 - June 22, 2021 Nov. 14, 1954 – June 18, 2021 April 9, 1946 – June 21, 2021 Nicut – Graveside ser- Vian – Funeral services Sallisaw – Funeral ser- vice for Stella Mae (Bush) for Floyd Lee Risley, 66 of vices for Ross Alan Bot- Polecat, 71, of Nicut were Vian were held at 2 p.m. torff, 75, of Sallisaw, were held at 10 a.m. on Fri., on Thurs., June 24, 2021, held at 2 p.m. on Sat., June June 25, 2021, at Bush at Agent Mallory Mar- 26, 2021, at First United Cemetery in Marble City tin Chapel in Sallisaw. Methodist Church in Sal- under the direction of Cremation and services lisaw. Burial followed at Agent Mallory Martin were under the direction Sallisaw City Cemetery Funeral Service, Inc. of Agent Mallory Martin under the direction of Mrs. Polecat was born Funeral Service, Inc. Agent Mallory Martin on Dec. 27, 1949, in Sal- Mr. Risley was born on Nov. 14, 1954, in Tulsa to Funeral Service, Inc. lisaw to Robert Bush and Ruby Marie (Hougland) Risley and Guy Birttion Ris- Mr. Bottorff was born Evelyn (Eagle) Bush and ley and passed away on Fri., June 18, 2021 in Vian. on April 9, 1946, in Ot- passed away on Tues., He married Linda Lorene (Trammell) Risley on tumwa, Iowa to Harry N. June 22, 2021, in Muld- July 30, 1977. He was a golf course maintenance work- Bottorff and Elsie Marie row. er and carpenter. He could play any instrument with (Ingle) Bottorff and passed away on Mon., June 21, She married Mike Polecat on Oct. 10, 1972, in strings but especially loved guitar and fiddle playing at 2021, in Sallisaw. Muldrow. She was a homemaker and a member of family gatherings. He also had a talent of fiddle mak- He married Anne Eileen (Riley) Bottorff on Aug.14, Nighthawk Society. ing. He finished making 20 fiddles for various family 1966, in Hedrick, Iowa. He served in the U.S. Army Survivors include her husband, Mike Polecat of the members and friends. before purchasing a small hardware store in Salli- home; one son, Chris Polecat and Mandi of Muld- Survivors include his wife, Linda Risley of the home; saw in 1979. Over the years he grew the store into a row; four grandchildren; her siblings, Stanley Bush of four daughters, Lisa Spencer and JD of Sallisaw, Betty successful Ace Hardware, and pursued several other Freemont, Mich., Jack and Brenda Bush, Juanita and Nance and Rocky of Muldrow, Beverly Smith and Ron entrepreneurial ventures before officially retiring in Clifton Barnes, and Carnell Bush, all of Nicut, David of Trinidad, Colo., and Lynda Elkins and Gary of Vian; 2002. and Nemo Bush of Tahlequah, Nancy Fields, and Cin- 13 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; three sis- Survivors include his wife, Anne Bottorff of the dy and Ron Chunestudy, all of Marble City, and Ricky ters, Viola Shelley, Wynonia Cordray and Dennis, and home; daughter, Jennifer Basford and partner Nancy and Barbara Bush of Sallisaw; and numerous nieces, Leona Armer and Darrell, all of Vian; three brothers, Nardi of Edmond; three grandchildren; two brothers, nephews other relatives and friends. Glenn Risley and Sally of Collinsville, Clifford Risley Rex Bottorff and Janis of Sioux Falls, S.D.