YUKON PROGRESS • Home of Neta Brauchi • USPS 406-100 Yukon’s Best Choice for Community News & Sports $1 DOLLAR Volume: 120 | Issue: 001 Wednesday, December 23, 2020 4 Sections | 32 Pages Tammy Kretchmar named new city manager of Yukon She has worked for city sistant city manager process that started in late October. since 2010, has been Mayor Shelli Selby cited Kretchmar’s since 1996 promoted to the top loyalty and experience after previous administrative post. city manager Grayson Bottom resigned By Conrad Dudderar The council, at a in late 2015 and she stepped in tempo- Senior Staff Writer special meeting Dec. rarily until Crosby returned to the posi- Tammy The Yukon City Council didn’t have 22, voted 5-0 to ap- Kretchmar tion. to go far to select a new city manager. prove Kretchmar’s hir- “Tammy showed a lot of initiative Tammy Kretchmar, a 25-year City ing as Yukon city manager succeeding of Yukon employee who has been as- Jim Crosby. The decision ended a search See Kretchmar, Page 4A Letters to Santa Claus are found in- side today’s edition of The Yukon Progress. Letters to Santa inside Local youth tell what they want the most this year From Staff Reports In today’s issue of The Yukon Prog- ress, children’s letters to Santa Claus are found. Dressed in her festive Christmas outfit, volunteer Sandy Ingram helps “keep the holiday spirit alive” as she There are hundreds of letters from hauls a shopping cart full of potatoes at Yukon Sharing, 4 N 6th. (Photo by Cara Pattison) local youth. For Christmas Day, 2020, read what made the wanted lists from those who have been nice. Read The Yukon Progress and fol- low yukonprogress.com for updates to Caring is Sharing all local news. And Merry Christmas to all. Yukon nonprofi t helps feed families for Christmas Field narrowed By Conrad Dudderar gift. with some heavy lifting. Senior Staff Writer “All in all, it was a great day,” Because of COVID-19, re- Yukon nonprofi t is Yukon Sharing Director Missy cipients didn’t even have to come in State Senate proving that sharing King said. “It was very successful. inside the Yukon Sharing offi ce to is caring by satisfy- “We’re very grateful for all the receive the groceries. District 22 race ing some yuletide donations. We have a great com- “It went much smoother than A State Election Board rules hunger. munity. They are very generous I anticipated,” King said of the Distribution of Yukon Sharing’s and very caring.” recent distribution day. “They just Johnson, Matthews not traditional Christmas food baskets Yukon Sharing board mem- got out of their cars to check in, eligible for special election started Dec. 12 when recipients bers volunteered to distribute the then got back in their cars and we came to Yukon Sharing, 4 N 6th, stuff ed Christmas baskets, and By Conrad Dudderar to receive their nourishing holiday several members’ husbands helped See Sharing, Page 3A Senior Staff Writer The fi eld of contenders looking to succeed Stephanie Bice in the State Truck driver pleads guilty Senate has been narrowed after the names of two candidates were stricken By Conrad Dudderar Wynnewood’s Donald Gar- from a special election ballot. Senior Staff Writer rett Biffl e, 27, has waived Thehis Oklahoma State Election Board A judge is expected to sentence right to a jury trial in Canadian at a special meeting Dec. 16 determined a tractor-trailer driver to at least County District Court. The de- that Rob Johnson, 46, and Darrick Mat- 10 years in prison after the defen- fendant faces felony charges of thews, 39, are not eligible to run for the dant pleading guilty in court for second-degree murder, unlawful District 22 seat being vacated by Bice. causing a crash that killed a Yu- kon businessman. See Murder, Page 5A See Senate, Page 7A 2A www.YUKONPROGRESS.com Wednesday, December 23, 2020 Obituary she would have working she met Muskogee Creek Heri- one of their many adven- TN, Jakoby Kopepasah Abbot three beautiful David Abbott, tage, where she won sev- tures. They would pack of Yukon, Madison Bog- Mary Beth Abbott daughters. In little did she eral prestigious awards, up their RV and travel the strand and family of Oslo, passed away Friday, De- 1970, she would know he would In 1984, she took on a United States fishing and Norway, Ian McRee and cember 18, 2020 in Yu- bring her daugh- become the Love new role of being a Gran- taking in all the beautiful family of Moore, Mason kon. She was born is ters back home of Her Life. In ny, which she embraced sites, David loved taking Eubanks and family of Mary Beth Holdenville to Otria and to Wetumka to Abbot March of 1980, with open arms. David Mary Beth on many amaz- Kingfisher, and Allie Bet- Freda Roberts on Sep- raise. Mary Beth the two were and Mary would welcome ing adventures, where she terton and family of Yu- tember 16, 1942. She and her daugh- Wed, David took 8 beautiful grandchildren was able to see and expe- kon. was raised in Wetumka ters Tammy, Beth and Mary and her girls – now whom they loved greatly rience things she had only Viewing will be held where she had numer- Amy had a mother/daugh- their girls and made a life and are enormously proud dreamed of as a child. 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., ous family and friends. ter bond like no other. in Yukon. David was her of. Mary Beth was preced- Sunday, December 27, While growing up in We- She loved her daughters Knight in Shining Armor In 2009, they welcomed ed in death by her parents, 2020 at Yanda & Son Fu- tumka Mary Beth found with the mightiest force – he made her every wish their first great-grandchild Otria and Freda Roberts, neral Home, Yukon, OK. her love of gardening, of a Mother’s Love and and dream a reality. and now have 11 with the and sister, Lena Judith A Celebration of Life ser- animals, fishing also, shemoved mountains for Mary Beth was a de- last being born in April of Walker. vice will be held at 11:00 was quite the marksman. them. voted wife and momma, 2020. She is survived by her a.m., Monday, December She loved fishing so much After moving back she became a Master Gar- Not only were David husband, David T. Ab- 28, at the Yanda & Son she continued her passion home Mary Beth went dener, an exceptionally and Mary Beth husband bott of Yukon; daughters: Funeral Home Chapel, throughout her life. back to school to pursue talented artist. She could and wife, but they were Tammeria Sue Fade, Beth with interment following In 1961, Mary Beth Nursing, she soon found whittle spoons, build fur- also the best of friends Ann Fade and Amy De- at the Yukon Cemetery. graduated from Wetumka employment at the clinic niture, there was nothing and were a wonderful ex- nise Duke and husband Online condolences High School, in Wetumka. and Wetumka General she could not draw of ample for their family and Jeffrey, all of Yukon;may be signed at www. Over the next few years, Hospital. It is there while paint. She loved making friends. grandchildren: Nicholas yandafuneral.com. quilts for her grandchil- When David retired, he Hubbell and family of Arrangements are un- dren and great-grand- and Mary Beth took an Suffolk, VA, Sarah Elmsder the direction of Yanda children. Mary Beth adventure of a lifetime, to- and family of Yukon, Sgt. & Son Funeral Home and also taught herself how gether both loved fishing, 1st Class Tucker Hubbell Cremation Services, Yu- to throw pots from her even going to Alaska for and family of Clarksville, kon, OK. Rickey was preceded the Yanda & Son Funeral yandafuneral.com. Ar- Baxter in death by his father, Home Chapel, Yukon. In- rangements are under the Rickey Max Baxter, 71, William Baxter; mother, terment will follow at the direction of Yanda & Son passed away Sunday, De- Stella (Ownby) Baxter; Yukon Cemetery. Funeral Home and Cre- cember 20, 2020 in Okla- brother, Russel Baxter; Online condolences mation Services, Yukon, homa City. He was born wife, Ranita Baxter, and may be signed at www. OK. February 23, daughter, Camie 1949 to William Baxter. and Stella Baxter He is survived in Shawnee. by his sons, Jer- Yukon water line He served his emy and wife country in the Shawna, and Je- break reported United States Air rome and wife Force. Rickey Rickey Baxter Christine; daugh- From Staff Reports then became em- ter Cherokee, Yukon city crews worked to repair a water main ployed as an officer with and grandchildren: Tyler line break Friday. the Yukon Police Depart- Ryan, Tyler Ray, Curtis The work took about eight hours to repair, a city ment, retiring as a Deputy Max, Dakota, Lycia, Kara. spokeswoman reports. after 21 years of service. Viewing will be 9 a.m. The break was at the southeast corner of Garth He then spent the next 21 to 12:45 p.m., Saturday, Brooks Boulevard and W. Vandament Avenue. Wa- years serving with the Ca- December 26, 2020, with ter was shut off during repairs. Water service was nadian County Sheriff’s Celebration of Life ser- restored later that afternoon, a city spokeswoman Department. vices to begin at 1 p.m. at reported. Wednesday, December 23, 2020 www.YUKONPROGRESS.com 3A Rinehart hired as new city attorney Veteran Canadian president.