Okmulgee area receives over foot of rain Road closures, high water rescues made; residents urged to report flooding, damage To report flooding and storm damage, visit www.damage.ok.gov. PATRICK FORD NEWS EDITOR A State of Emergen- cy has been declared for Okmulgee County due to flooding after the area received as much as 13 inches of rain early Mon- day. The declaration was signed during Monday’s meeting of the Okmulgee County Board of Com- missioners. In Okmulgee, flooding PATRICK FORD | NEWS EDITOR resulted in street closures, Flooding on 6th Street near Oklahoma Ave. Flooding in Hawthorne Park including some citizens having to be rescued from their homes due to high water. At 13th and Kern, res- idents of the Kern Street Trailer Park were forced to take shelter. “We want to thank the family living at the inter- section of 13th & Kern that took in every sin- gle family from the Kern Street Trailer Park water rescue,” the Okmulgee Fire Department stated. “This mother literally COURTESY PHOTOS SEE FLOODING, PAGE A8 road near the lake was wiped out by the flood.AA bridge on Old Morris HighwayA car stuck in a ditch near Okmulgee Municipal Park County approves emergency declaration PATRICK FORD gency management’s NEWS EDITOR ability to request federal The Okmulgee County assistance for the county. Board of Commissioners The following agenda approved an emergency items were approved. declaration for Okmulgee • Blanket Purchase Or- County during their ses- ders: District 1 - S&H sion Monday morning. Auto Parts for supplies as Okmulgee County was needed, $1,000; District hit by over 13 inches of 2 - Unifirst Holdings rain early Monday caus- for uniforms as needed, ing flooding and damage $700; Autozone for parts MELISSA HEMINOVER | STAFF WRITER around the area. The dec- and supplies as need- Chef Grady and his students share some secrets to their recipe for the 2021 Okmulgee Chamber of Commerce Pecan Festival Pecan Brittle with Squiggy. laration will assist emer- SEE COUNTY, PAGE A8 The OSUIT Culinary Arts department has partnered with the Festival Committee to create the pecan brittle for this year’s festival. Chef Grady and his students will be preparing the brittle beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday morning near the Pecan Festival Stage. OSUIT brings pecan OPD investigates shooting death brittle to festival FBI handling another MELISSA HEMINOVER er for 2021’s Festival, Chamber to make sure we give back to our homicide STAFF WRITER of Commerce Executive Director community.” For years, those attending the Kay Rabbitt-Brower reached out Chef Grady said bags of pe- PATRICK FORD Okmulgee Chamber of Com- to OSUIT’s Culinary Arts depart- can brittle will be for sale at the NEWS EDITOR merce Pecan Festival have come ment and knew they would have Chamber of Commerce booth Okmulgee police are investigating a shooting inci- to expect a larger-than-life Pecan some great ideas. during the festival. “We will begin dent Saturday that left one man dead. Pie. Many recall having their very “We called in the profession- preparing the official Pecan Festi- According to the department, the shooting was re- own slice as a youngster. However, als,” Rabbitt-Brower said. “We val Brittle on Saturday at 11.” Chef ported in the 1300 block of East Smith Street just after as times change, so do the ways in knew they would come up with Grady said the brittle will take ap- 11 p.m. June 5. which one can partake of Okmul- something that would not only proximately 45 minutes to 1 hour A man is dead after a shooting near the 1300 block gee’s famous pecans. be unique, but also something we from start to finish. of East Smith Street, according to the Okmulgee Po- When the Okmulgee Cham- could present successfully that The brittle tent will be set-up lice Department. ber of Commerce Pecan Festival would be delicious.” along 7th Street between Morton Police were called to a home where officers found Committee began discussing a Chef Grady brought together and Grand east of the Pecan Fes- 28-year-old Jamison Weeden shot several times. The festival for 2020, they knew they several students that brainstormed tival Stage. victim was transported to the hospital where he later wanted to offer something differ- and came up with the idea to cre- “We are excited to give our died. ent to those that attended. When ate what may be the world’s largest festival goers a fun event,” Rab- According to Chief Prentice, a witness reported see- the pandemic hit, festival plan- pecan brittle. bitt-Brower said. “We are beyond ing a small blue vehicle leave the residence shortly be- ning was halted, as well as the pe- “This is a great opportunity for excited for this year’s festival and fore officers arrived, but officers do not have any other cans. us to be part of the community,” cannot wait to see everyone. suspect information. Weeden reportedly did not live As the Committee came togeth- Chef Grady said. “We always want SEE SHOOTING, PAGE A8 A2 • Okmulgee Times OBITUARIES Wednesday, June 9, 2021 Modene Louise Jackson Lois Kalakowski Walker well as the secretary for September 4, 1932 - June 3, 2021 September 6, 1941 - June 6, 2021 Crosstown PH Church and retired as secretary Modene Louise (Sharp) Lois Kolakowski Walker of Okmulgee entered of Martin Enterpris- Jackson departed this Beulah Land on Sunday morning June 6, 2021, after es. If you knew Lois, life on Thursday, June 3, suffering a major stroke. Lois was born in Welty, on you know she loved to 2021. She was born on September 6, 1941, to Wilburn and Leora Baldridge sing and sing she did, September 4, 1932, to and attended school in Nuyaka, where she graduated from funerals, church Walter Vineyard Sharp in 1959. She leaves to mourn her passing husband services and the prison and Arizona (Williams) Richard of Dewar; sons Terry Baker of Okmulgee ministry that she and Sharp in Morris. On June and Billy Kolakowski of Tulsa; granddaughter Som- Jack started He’s Alive 17, 1955, Modene mar- mer Frank and grandson Kalem Baker, both of Ok- Prison Ministry. She ried Jess Jackson and be- mulgee. Great grandsons Tyler and Wesley Frank, also enjoyed baking pies came a mother of three Jaxon Pollard; great granddaughters Rylee and for her friends and family; her homemade crusts sons, Wayne, Jim, and Dawnlee Frank of Okmulgee. Lois is also survived were delicious. Lois was a joy to be around, always Donnie Jackson. Modene by three brothers, Fred Baldridge (Betty) of Broken had a smile on her face ready to help those in need or completed all 12 years at Morris Public Schools, grad- Arrow, Arvil Baldridge (Retha) of Oklahoma City sing to anyone who would listen. Always looking for uating in 1951. She loved playing basketball and af- and Bobby Baldridge (Joyce) of Ozark, Mo.; sister- the next garage sale, auction or anywhere she could ter graduation even continued by playing indepen- in-law Reva Baldridge of Prague; as well as her ad- buy something “at a bargain.” dent basketball. As most of you know, she loved her opted sister Gail McIntosh of Jenks and 15 nieces Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday June 10, pictures. Each and everyone of them were her prize and nephews. 2021, at First Assembly of God Church in Okmul- possessions. Over the years, Modene cleaned many She was preceded in death by her parents, husband gee with Reverend Doke and Oklahoma State Rep- homes across Okmulgee County. She worked in the Jack Kolakowski; sister Jemetta Heard; brothers resentative Scott Fetgatter. Burial will follow at the office for Dr. Burnett, cleaned the Morris State Bank, Audy and Reverend James Haskell. Three children Okmulgee Cemetery. Arrangements have been en- Morris Methodist Church, and Morris Oilfield Supply. Cari Baker Long, Jackie Jimerson and Dennis Kola- trusted to the McClendon-Winters Funeral Home of Modene is proceeded in death by her parents; sister, kowski; and nephews Tommy Baldridge and Jimmy Okmulgee. Memories, condolences, photos and vid- and brother-in-law Magnola and Jack Bohard; broth- Heard. eos may be shared with the family on Lois’ Tribute er Charles Floyd Sharp; son Donnie Jackson; and After graduation, Lois attended college at ORU Page at www.mcclendon-winters.com. grandsons Wade Jackson and Albert Wayne Jackson; for a short time and later worked as a waitress as nephews Dennis “Hoot” Sharp and Billy Jack Bohard. Modene is survived by son Wayne and Judy Jack- son, Okmulgee, Jim and Lyette Jackson of Summers, Clayton Troy Elijah Fisher nal uncle, Bobby Fisher; N.M. Grandchildren and families: Wanda & Bob- October 7, 1998 - June 5, 2021 and an infant baby. by Hahne and daughter Kim and Peter Kimani and Survivors include his sons Thomas and Zac, son Ryan Nguyen, son Andy Clayton Troy Elijah Fisher entered this world Oc- wife Abby Fanning; a Nguyen and daughter Aria. Ricky and Pam Jackson tober 7, 199, to Mandi (Creason) and Brad Fisher at son, Granger; daughters, and daughter Rachel Robin and Greg Ergle and sons Okmulgee Memorial Hospital. He attended Beggs Brylee and Sadie; par- Dustin and Tristen Walker, son Josh and Ashley Walk- Public School from Pre-K until he graduated in ents, Mandi and Clint er and McKenzie Ergle. Heath Jackson and Heather 2017, where he excelled at sports. Though football Atwell and Brad Fisher; Jackson. Jimmy and Karen Jackson and daughter Bre- was his passion, he also played basketball and base- siblings, Elizabeth and anna. Saundra and Jason Owens and daughter Isabel- ball.