Mcgirt Ruling Continues to Bewilder Legal System
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Rebekah Burnett named CMS Teacher of the Year LADONNA RHODES NSU, and Colten who is a Ju- be a teacher until I had chil- “I also love getting to watch STAFF WRITER nior at CHS. My parents, Roy dren of my own. Working re- all my students compete as Rebekah Burnett has been and Donna Matthews, are both tail was very demanding and I well. I believe we should always named the Checotah Middle CHS graduates too, along with wanted a schedule more suit- support our students so I stay School Teacher of the Year. my brother, Mark Matthews, able for my family. Funny how active in many booster activ- Burnett is the 7th grade Math and sister, Jennifer Campbell, things worked out, because ities for baseball, softball and teacher at CMS and has been who is the CHS principal. We now I can’t imagine doing any- football. teaching for ten years. are a Wildcat family and I am a thing else. “Teaching students is not just “I bleed blue!” Burnett said. Wildcat for life!” “I love watching my kids par- about ‘making the grade.’ Don’t “Not only did I attend Checo- Burnett attended Connors ticipate in everything. When get me wrong. I definitely want tah K -12 but I married a Wild- State College to receive her Sara was in school, I chased her my students to be successful cat, Michael Burnett, who went Associates Degree then North- around the state, cheering her on their educational journeys to CHS K-12 as well. Togeth- eastern State University to re- on in softball and track. Now, but sometimes these kids need er we have two amazing chil- ceive her Bachelor of Science in I am chasing Colten around, more support. I feel like a lot dren, Sara, a 2019 CHS grad- Education in 2011. cheering him on in baseball of times these students need uate who currently attends “I honestly never wanted to and go-kart racing. SEE TEACHER, PAGE A2 Rebekah Burnett City council Area calendar declares returns About one year ago the emergency McIntosh County Dem- ocrat stopped printing its weekly Area Calen- Wastewater plant suffers dar, which listed routine meetings held by differ- irrefutable damage ent organizations. LADONNA RHODES When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, some busi- STAFF WRITER nesses closed or made ad- At this month’s City of Checotah council meet- justments to their hours. ing, council members had to declare an emergen- COURTESY PHOTO Meetings generally cy on the wastewater treatment plant that suffered Competition at the tournament held last year in Checotah. were canceled. irrefutable damage in the recent below zero snow- Now that the virus has storms that hit the area. become a little less per- Public Works Director Rick Cox told council vasive, but no less dan- members that the winter storm temperatures froze Pro/Am Disc Golf Tourney gerous when contracted, part of the city’s wastewater treatment plant and he some groups are begin- believed they were in a state of emergency, as did ning to once again meet Dakota Bryant, the Wastewater Plant Superinten- set for April 3 weekly or monthly. dent who has been there eight years. If your organization “An 8-inch stainless steel air transmission line JERRY FINK would like to include its literally became blocked by an ice dam,” Cox said. Am) competition on Saturday, April 3. schedule on the calendar, “When the blower motor tried to start, the ice dam MANAGING EDITOR Professional disc golfers will be- please do so. restricted the air flow and back pressure imploded Two of McIntosh County’s disc golf gin the day of competition at Eufau- Email the information, the fins on the blower. The treatment plant comput- courses, one at the Wetlands Park in la’s Wetlands Park for their first of SEE CALENDAR, PAGE A6 er system detected the blower failure and automati- Eufaula and the other at the Checotah two 18-hole rounds, and then play in cally started the backup blower, which met the same Sports Complex in Checotah, will host Checotah that afternoon for the sec- SEE EMERGENCY, PAGE A6 its first Professional/Amateur (Pro/ SEE DISC GOLF, PAGE A4 Catch the McGirt ruling continues to leprechaun It is March Mayhem at the McIntosh County bewilder legal system Democrat. Somewhere in the pa- JERRY FINK charged with rape and molesta- That reservation encompasses per there is a hidden lep- MANAGING EDITOR tion in Wagoner County. much of Northeastern Oklaho- rechaun. Look closely at Enforcing the law has never The decision by SCOTUS was ma. each ad. been easy. based upon the Court’s deter- And recently the Oklahoma Spot the elusive lepre- COURTESY PHOTO Today, it is a nightmare. mination that the crime in- State Court of Criminal Appeals chaun and be the fifth William Clayton Brown, Eufaula, who pled The bad dream began on July volved a Native American and expanded Indian Country to in- caller to call the McIn- guilty in 2018 to the 2017 stabbing death of 9, 2020 when the Supreme it took place on reservation clude Chickasaw and Cherokee tosh County Democrat Damion Martin filed a McGirt motion to have Court of the United States is- land belonging to the Muscogee land. his manslaughter charge dismissed because at 918-473-2313 on Mon- Martin was a member of registered Nativesued a decision overturning the (Creek) Nation – and Congress The Supreme Court had lim- day, March 29 at 11 a.m. American. He now awaits trial in federal court. conviction of Jimcy McGirt, a had never bothered to dissolve ited its McGirt decision to only and win a gift certificate While in prison he allegedly killed his cellmate. Native American, who had been the reservation. SEE MCGIRT, PAGE A3 from Wildcat Nutrition. CHECOTAH NEWS Democratic Party elections set person who is a registered Democratic 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Checotah Sports for the adults going on at the same time The McIntosh County Democrat- Party member who resides within the Complex. Gates open at 11 a.m. for at the walking trail. Find the painted ic Party will hold its bi-annual county county is eligible to participate. games, inflatables and food. At 12:15 rocks and turn them into the Chamber party elections on Saturday, April 3. The p.m. the Egg Hunt begins for the chil- of Commerce Monday-Thursday for a convention will be held at the Checotah Checotah Community Easter Egg dren and at 12:45 p.m. they will have chance to win $50 on April 1. No fool- Senior Citizens Center at 2 p.m. County Hunt this Saturday prize drawings and a grand prize draw- ing! party officers as well as precinct officers The Checotah Community Easter Egg ing. This event is free to everyone. will be elected at the convention. Any Hunt will be this Saturday, March 27 at There will also be a painted rock hunt SEE CHECOTAH NEWS, PAGE A2 A2 • McIntosh County Democrat Thursday, March 25, 2021 Friends of Rentiesville Blues awarded grant The Oklahoma Historical Society has nization, which hosts both the Oklaho- the isolation of COVID-19 makes dig- ical Society with a goal of encouraging announced that the Friends of Rent- ma Blues Hall of Fame and the annu- itizing very important.” the collection, preservation and sharing iesville Blues Inc. has been awarded a al Rentiesville Dusk ’Til Dawn Blues A total of just over $460,000 in grant of Oklahoma history at the grassroots $7,500 grant through the Oklahoma Festival, hopes to educate current and funds will be distributed, with projects level in all parts of the state. Heritage Preservation Grant Program. future generations about the history of ranging from collections care and ex- Open to tribal and municipal gov- “I am thrilled that the Friends of blues music. hibit development to strategic planning ernments and not-for-profit historical Rentiesville Blues Inc. will be receiving “The D. C. Minner Rentiesville Muse- and educational programming. organizations located in Oklahoma and funding through the Oklahoma Heri- um/Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame are “This is only the second year for this registered with the Oklahoma secre- tage Preservation Grant Program,” said thrilled to be recipients of an Oklaho- grant program. As organizations wrap tary of state, this grants program offers Sen. Roger Thompson, Okemah. “With ma Heritage Preservation Grant,” said up their grant projects from last year funding ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 this grant, they will be able to move for- Selby Miner, head of staff. “Thank you and as we see the quality of the appli- for projects focused on collections, ex- ward in preserving the rich history of to the Oklahoma Historical Society and cations that came in for this grant cycle, hibits and programming. Oklahoma.” the legislature. As a museum and hall of it is clear that there is a strong need for Applications for this annual program The grant will be used to identify, fame, and having presented 30 years of this type of grant program,” said Nicole open in the fall and award announce- copyright, digitize, create lyric and festivals in the historic Black township Harvey, OHS grants administrator. ments are made in January. chord sheets and make publicly acces- of Rentiesville, we have an extensive The Oklahoma Heritage Preservation For more information visit www.okh- sible the music archive of Oklahoma music and photo archive. Accessibility Grant Program is a grants-in-aid pro- istory.org/grants. Blues legend D. C. Minner. The orga- to people in these difficult times with gram offered by the Oklahoma Histor- Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame manager remembered LADONNA RHODES stomping ground.