Council Votes Not to Raise Water, Sewer Rates Chamber Director Gives Update to Board
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Okmulgee Schools suffer flood damage Copeland gives update on repair work PATRICK FORD NEWS EDITOR Okmulgee Schools Maintenance Director Kevin Co- peland gave an update on the recent flooding that af- fected several district sites. Copeland showed photos and shared what he en- countered that day. After 4 a.m. June 7, and noticing lots of rain, Cope- land went to the Okmulgee Primary School. “It was like floating over there, it was really, really bad,” he said. PATRICK FORD | NEWS EDITOR After entering the school, he noticed some flooding and then tried to remove the water. However, a pow- Bulldog Rummage Sale Starts Today er outage around 4:30 a.m. caused the sump pumps to quit working, which then caused major flooding. Sandra Northcross sorts items in preparation for the Bulldog Rummage Booster Club, are holding the sale with a goal of raising at least $6,000. He stated that measures are being taken to ensure that Sale this weekend. The event will be held Friday and Saturday beginning at Foster promises this will be a “true rummage sale.” Lots of items have DAMAGE, 8 a.m. at the Armory, west of Okmulgee High School on Alabama Street. been donated from crystal glassware, kitchen utensils, books, clothing, SEE PAGE A4 Her daughter, Jennifer Foster, along with the Okmulgee Bulldog Football furniture, framed pictures and lots of movies. Council votes not to raise water, sewer rates Chamber director gives update to board PATRICK FORD es for all rural water districts, wa- council. PATRICK FORD | NEWS EDITOR NEWS EDITOR ter corporations and public trusts. During Tuesday’s session, the Okmulgee Schools Maintenance Director Kevin Copeland gives the school The Okmulgee City Council All the members voted to deny council heard a presentation from board an update on the recent flooding and recovery efforts. voted not to raise water and sewer the increases at this time. Okmulgee Chamber of Com- rates during their regular sched- The council also approved the merce Executive Director Kay uled session Tuesday. 2021-2022 fiscal year budget for Rabbitt-Brower. She updated the The proposed changes were ta- the City of Okmulgee, Okmulgee members on the previous year’s bled during the May meeting and Municipal Authority, Okmulgee events and challenges. placed on this month’s agenda for Economic Development Author- Last year, COVID-19 forced Frontier Days consideration. ity and the City of Okmulgee many Chamber activities to be Members were considering ad- Community Trust. cancelled, including the Pecan justments for water service, san- A public hearing on the pro- Festival. itary sewer service and garbage posed budget was held June 11 “We have decided this year we in Beggs this collection, along with rate increas- during a special meeting of the SEE COUNCIL, PAGE A5 Saturday Volunteers come MELISSA HEMINOVER REPORTER Vendors, Kids Zone, Car Show, Rodeo...something for everyone is slated for this year’s Beggs Area Chamber of together for Commerce Frontier Days happening tomorrow, June 19. According to Beggs Area Chamber of Commerce Publicity Chair, Ali Gobel, “There is so much happen- ing at this year’s event. We are ready for everyone to flood victims come out and enjoy Frontier Days with us.” There will be a “Kid Zone” promising a 75 foot ob- MELISSA HEMINOVER would need and how stacle course and bounce house. REPORTER they could join together “The entire town has been working so hard to make Victims of the recent to help. sure everything is ready for this event.” flooding are continuing Donation items began In addition to the downtown events, the Beggs to gather items needed being accepted as well as Alumni Association also has festivities planned in- as they navigate through a load of overstock items cluding a dinner Saturday evening. each day since the event. from places like Ama- The Beggs Round-Up Club is hosting their Annual Helping them in their zon. Rice Brother’s Memorial Open Rodeo as well. The ro- efforts have been numer- Mayor Richard Lara- deo is scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights with ous citizens as well as a bee, who is a member of sheep riding kicking off at 7 p.m. and the rodeo at 8 number of local pastors Okmulgee Prayer 365, p.m. nightly. that are part of Okmul- joined the pastors to be- All downtown events will be taking place along Main gee Prayer 365. gin assisting as a volun- COURTESY PHOTO Street near Legacy Park including a BBQ competi- These pastors gath- teer as well. Members of Neal’s Furniture joined John Neal Jr. as they delivered buckets ered with city officials “As we continue get- of cleaning supplies to the donation site set up at the old Warehouse Mar- tion with awards for people’s choice as well as a first ket location on 8th Street. Flood victims had the opportunity to stop by place price from the panel of judges. A cookie bake immediately following ting items that those in Wednesday and Thursday as volunteers assisted them in gathering items off competition will also see prizes going to the fan fa- the flooding to begin our community need, we needed from the donations that poured in from the community and other SEE FRONTIER DAYS, PAGE A4 discussing what victims SEE VOLUNTEERS, PAGE A5 organizations. A2 • Okmulgee Times NEWS Friday, June 18, 2021 PATRICK FORD | NEWS EDITOR CP Kelco is the corporate sponsor for the upcoming 2021 Field House Fixer Upper & Football Fundraiser Steak Cook- out, an idea and event put together by Morris 9th grader Jackson Casey. Pictured from left are Morris High School Football Coach Robert Daniels, Debbie Watkins, Marilyn Townsley, Jackson Casey, Shanna Tyler, Spike Casey and Udonna Edmonds. Morris teen assisting football program with steak cookoff Event set for Sept. 18 at Claude Cox Omniplex PATRICK FORD High School and member of the foot- NEWS EDITOR ball team, came up with the idea of hav- A young member of the Morris foot- ing an event to benefit the school. ball team is inviting the community to “My football coach, Robert Daniels, join in a fundraiser event to assist the spoke with me about some ideas that school’s program. he wants to do in and around the field- On Sept. 18, a Steak Cookoff Associa- house at Morris High School,” Jackson tion-sanctioned event will be held at the said. “The field house is a multi-pur- Claude Cox Omniplex, in Okmulgee. pose facility that houses locker rooms There will be be two events held. for high school and middle school ath- This cookoff is being used as a fund- letes at my school.” raiser for improvements to the Morris One of the proposed plans is to re-do Schools Field House. the outside of the fieldhouse, which is Jackson Casey, a 9th grader at Morris SEE STEAK COOKOFF, PAGE A9 Friday, June 18, 2021 OBITUARIES Okmulgee Times • A3 Francis Harjo Sr. Calvin ‘Mike’ Littlejohn Jamison Jaron Weeden June 21, 1945 - June 13, 2021 July 1, 1954 - June 10, 2021 April 22, 1993 - June 5, 2021 On June 13, 2021, Fran- The sun rose and Jamison Jaron Weed- cis Harjo Sr. took the shined brightly on en was the sixth of eight hand of Our Lord and July 1, 1954, bring- children born to Joyce returned to his family in ing a joy of happi- Todd Weeden. Jamison Eternity. ness for Joseph T. grew up in Okmulgee and Francis Harjo Sr. was Andrewes and Lula attended Okmulgee Pub- born into the Bear Clan Mae Littlejohn, as lic Schools. He attend- and Alabama Tribal Town they welcomed the ed Church at Eastside in Okemah, June 21, birth of a hand- Church of God in Christ, 1945, to Jim Busey Harjo some, baby boy. where the former pastor Sr. and Lena (Wind) Har- They named him was his grandfather, the jo. Calvin Littlejohn late Elder Oathar Henry He was preceded in and over time, he Todd, Sr. death by his parents Jim B Harjo and Lena (Wind) was given the nickname “Mike” or “Tack Head.” Jamison was a quiet young man that mostly kept to Harjo of Okemah; infant sister Connie Lynn Harjo; Born and raised in Okmulgee, he attended Ok- himself. He loved his family and enjoyed spending his brothers John James Harjo of Morris, Norman Lee mulgee Public Schools, where he attended Dun- time with them, especially his brothers and male cous- Harjo of Sapulpa, and Duke Monroe Harjo of Sapul- bar High School and graduated from Okmul- ins. When they got together, they liked to “Free Style pa; and great-granddaughter Maliya Kay Foster. gee High School with the Class of 1973. Calvin Rap” and Jamison was really good at it, even though He attended school at Murrow Home in Muskogee; married Sharon Marie Littlejohn and from this he was usually a quiet young man. “Rapping” was one Jones Academy and Sequoyah High School. union, two daughters were born, Shlonda Lynn of the things he most enjoyed. Jamison liked to walk He proudly served his country in Vietnam as part and Andrea LeShawn. Calvin and Sharon were around his hometown of Okmulgee and you could of the Airborne MACV Team 95 / 4th Psychological married for 27 years and eventually separated, always see him walking throughout the community. Operations Group Special Forces in Bien Hoa from but remained close to share a wonderful, fun He also loved to play basketball with his family and 1967-1968. loving friendship. friends at one of the local outdoor courts, usually at He received the Presidential Citation with his unit, Mr.