Thursday, July 16 Friday, July 17 Saturday, July 18 Sunday, July 19 Monday, July 20 Tuesday, July 21 Wednesday, July 22 Lake LIFE The Madill Record Summer 2020 FREE Take One High Temp: 98 High Temp: 97 High Temp: 95 High Temp: 95 High Temp: 96 High Temp: 95 High Temp: 95 Partly Cloudy Partly Cloudy Partly Cloudy Sunny Partly Cloudy Partly Cloudy Partly Cloudy The Madill Record ‘In the Arms of Lake TTexoma’exoma’ Vol. 125 — Number 55 Madill, Marshall CountyCounty,, OK 73446 — ThursdayThursday,, July 16, 2020 12 Pages in 2 Sections — $1 Gone but not forgotten Hofmeister changes gears as numbers rise By Shalene White Oklahoma State Superin- and must coexist. To ensure tendent Joy Hofmeister is one schools are able to reopen, Shalene@madillrecord. of the officials who was forced now it is of extreme impor- net to change to Plan B, and pos- tance that Oklahomans wear sibly even Plan C. masks, follow social distancing The calendar on the wall In an interview with KOCO guidelines and practice good says the middle of July. It is News 5 on July 7, Hofmeister hygiene.” also the middle of the year. was in favor of reopening As usual, the pandemic Even though it is only the schools in the fall, citing a threw a curve and Hofmeister seventh month, the world learning loss that is harming had to regroup with her col- has seen a great deal of loss the children. She also stated leagues and come up with a in the celebrity world. that school is essential for new, safer plan. The number of One might wonder why the Oklahoma’s children, while COVID cases for Oklahoma is universe cares so much when also committing to safety from now over 20,000, and the death a celebrity dies. The answer the pandemic. toll is over 400. On July 12, it is simple; we watch them The Oklahoma State De- was reported that Oklahoma play our favorite roles. They partment of Education even had their first child death. A might be acting, but they are submitted a press release 13-year-old from Comanche actually being vulnerable and championing for reopening who was immunocompromised allowing us into their worlds. schools in August. succumbed to the virus. Also, watching them takes us “For a multitude of reasons, This sad news showed offi- away from our own problems it is crucial that schools reopen cials that the virus even threat- for the hour and a half that for students this fall, not the ens children. Learning this the movie is playing. least of which being the educa- new information, Hofmeister Seeing all the loss that has tion of our children after the held a press release pleading occurred in just a few short In this February 2019 appearance, State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister spoke about the new learning loss of last school with citizens to do what they months impelled me to com- school report cards. Credit: Whitney Bryen / Oklahoma Watch year,” the press release stated. can to flatten the curve. pose a list to pay tribute to all “At the same time, it is critical “This heartbreaking trag- the celebrities we have lost. By Shalene White zens. The schools closed down original statements and chang- that we take every precaution edy underscores how impor- January: Don Larsen; the [email protected] for the rest of the 2019-2020 ing their train of thought. It to protect the health and well- tant it is for us all to wear former Yankees baseball school year, with thoughts may seem like the officials do being of teachers, support staff masks when in public, follow player, who famously pitched Ever since the pandemic of reopening on time come not know what they are do- and students. School is vital for social distancing guidelines a perfect World Series game began in late March, officials August. ing, however, that is not the our kids, and this pandemic and practice good hygiene,” in 1956, died on January 1 have been scrambling to come Due to the unprecedented case. It is because they are in demands our commitment to Hofmeister said while address- at the age of 90. nature of the virus, many a situation they have never up with safe options for citi- safety. Both commitments can (See GEARS, page 4A) The rapper, Lexii Alijai officials are forced to retract experienced before. died at age 21 on New Year’s Day. The Prozac Nation author Elizabeth Wurtzel died at age 52 on January 7. ‘We hold the government to its word’ Harry Hains, the Austra- lian-born American Horror Story actor died on Jan. 7 at the age of 27. SCOTUS affirms Creek Nation reservation Buck Henry – The screen- By Annemarie Cuccia and Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Shortly after the SCOTUS statement read. “The nations statehood; and whether ruling writer and actor, who penned Blake Douglas tribal reservation established ruling was announced, the and the state are committed in favor of McGirt would ef- the 1967 film The Graduate, NONDOC by Congress in the 19th cen- state of Oklahoma joined the to implementing a framework fectively invalidate thousands was 89 when he died on tury remains in effect for the Muscogee (Creek), Cherokee, of shared jurisdiction that will of convictions for crimes on January 8. purposes of federal criminal Chickasaw, Choctaw and preserve sovereign interests tribal land. Silvio Horta, the Ugly The U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision law. The opinion would appear Seminole nations in releasing and rights to self-government In Gorsuch’s 42-page major- Betty creator died on January to apply to 19.7 million acres a statement that they “have while affirming jurisdictional ity opinion, the court held that 8 at the age of 45. in favor of tribal sovereignty Thursday morning, which in eastern Oklahoma across made substantial progress to- understandings, procedures, the land was and continues Neal Peart, the drummer the Cherokee, Chickasaw, ward an agreement to present laws, and regulations that to be a reservation, and that for Rush died at 67-years-old could see far-reaching ramifi- cations beyond criminal law. Choctaw and Seminole nations to Congress and the U.S. De- support public safety, our while some cases will need to on January 10. as well. Though the state of partment of Justice “resolving economy, and private property be re-tried, it will not place an La Parka was a famous The federal government, not the state of Oklahoma, has Oklahoma has prosecuted any significant jurisdictional rights. We will continue our undue burden on the courts. wrestler. His real name was cases that take place on tribal issues” raised by the McGirt work, confident that we can Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Jesus Alfonso Huerta Esco- jurisdiction over major crimes that occur on tribal lands in the land, Gorsuch wrote, it is the decision. accomplish more together than Elena Kagan, Stephen Breyer, boza. He died January 11 of federal government who has “The nations and the state any of us could alone.” and Sonia Sotomayor joined injuries related to an in-ring state, the court ruled. The stat- ute interpreted by the court de- jurisdiction to do so under the are committed to ensuring Gorsuch’s opinion. Chief Jus- accident. Reports indicate he Major Crimes Act. that Jimcy McGirt, Patrick Court says Creek Nation tice John Roberts dissented was 54 or 55. fines Indian Country and has been used for civil purposes in “Today we are asked wheth- Murphy, and all other of- remains a reservation and was joined by justices Stan Kirsch was best er the land these treaties fenders face justice for the The case, which was heard Samuel Alito, Brett Kavana- known for his role in High- many other contexts, including taxation, environmental laws promised remains an Indian crimes for which they are by the Supreme Court on May ugh and Clarence Thomas, in lander, died in January 15. reservation for purposes of accused. We have a shared 11, raised three questions: part. Thomas filed a separate He was 51. and other regulations. The majority opinion on federal criminal law. Because commitment to maintaining Whether the Muscogee (Creek) dissent. Rocky Johnson, for- Congress has not said other- public safety and long-term Nation ever had a reservation; This is not the first case the mer wrestler and father of McGirt v Oklahoma, which was written by Justice Neil wise, we hold the government economic prosperity for the whether that reservation (if it Supreme Court has heard on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, to its word,” the opinion states. Nations and Oklahoma,” the existed) was disestablished by the issue of tribal sovereignty died January 15 at 75-years- Gorsuch, asserts that the old. (See SCOTUS, page 6A) Chris Darrow of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band died on “The Tsunami is here” officials warn of increase in COVID numbers January 16 at the age of 75. By Shalene White warnings. however Fauci hinted that they months since the pandemic thing people tend to strive On Jan. 18, the folk singer [email protected] “Clearly we are not in total might be close. found its way onto American for; this is not one of those David Olney died at 71 while control right now,” Fauci told “Hopefully there will be soil, and it is showing no signs instances. performing on stage at the The COVID-19 pandemic a U.S. Senate committee. “I doses available by the begin- of stopping. Worse yet, it seems Oklahoma’s next-door 30A Songwriters Festival in am very concerned because it ning of next year,” he said.