OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST AWARD WINNER 2017 The Eufaula The Indian JournalOKLAH O M A’S OLDEST NEWSPAPER, EST. 1876 ¢ EUFAULAINDIANJOURNAL.COM VOL 140, ISSUE 18 (USPS 261-620) – Two SECTIONS, 20 Pages – MAY 2, 2019 75 Construction projects halted as state DEQ issues second order against Carlton Landing’s water district Reprinted with the approval of The Frontier, an online digital media investigative publication whose stated mission is to hold public officials accountable, give a voice to the powerless and tell the stories that others are afraid to tell. The Frontier, www.readfrontier.com, is a non-profit organization supported by donations. By Clifton Adcock millions of gallons of water from its lagoons onto U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land The Oklahoma Department of Envi- and into Lake Eufaula, the Corps of Engi- ronmental Quality has issued its second neers has halted progress on building order in less than a month against the projects on public land the town has town of Carlton Landing’s water district requested, records show. after it pumped tens of thousands of gal- The latest DEQ order, an administra- lons of water from its sewage lagoons using tive compliance order issued on April 11, K-9 Bruno, shown here an unpermitted system to discharge the fined Carlton Landing’s water district up to three years ago with water, with the runoff flowing into Lake $33,750 for allegedly installing and using Grant Humphreys testifies before the U.S. Sen- his owner, McIntosh Eufaula, DEQ records state. an unpermitted land application system ate’s Environment and Public Works Committee And, following revelations last month County Deputy Casey Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastruc- that the town’s water district had pumped See WATER, Page A7 Torix, passed away sud- ture on May 9, 2017. (Submitted photo) denly last week. (Staff file photo) Eufaulans Deputy’s K-9 win Okeene partner dies Rattlesnake McIntosh County Dep- Roundup uty Casey Torix lost a his work partner last week, K-9 Eufaulans Donna, Eliza- Bruno. beth and Bucky Phelan won “It feels like a hole, I’m first and second place in missing my partner,” Torix the 80th Annual Okeene said. Rattlesnake Roundup, held April 26-28. See BRUNO, Page A2 The Phelans had the big- gest snake, at 77 inches, winning $150 and a plaque for the first prize, and they had the second biggest snake at 74 ½ inches, win- ning $100 and a plaque. Donna Phelan said two people were bitten during this year’s roundup, one of them a professional han- dler. Dave Thomas set a new record for the number of rattlesnakes in a tub with a man, surrounding him- self with 211 of the deadly critters. Last year he set a A pole owned by East record with 200 snakes in Central Electric in the a tub. Coon Creek Addition It was a fun-filled northwest of Eufaula weekend with a carnival, was allegedly struck food vendors, live music, by a motorist Satur- a butcher shop, helicop- day morning who fled ter rides, a parade and, of Dave Thomas set a new record for the number of rattlesnakes in a tub with a man. Last year, he course a rattlesnake hunt. the scene, according immersed himself in a tub filled with 200 rattlers. This year, during the 80th annual Okeene Rattle- The Okeene hunt dates to investigators. (Staff snake Roundup April 26-28, he was joined by 211 snakes. (Submitted photo) back to 1939. photo by Rodney Hal- tom) Suspect charged with Police department adds two officers fleeing scene after By Jerry Fink nician but changed her career goals hitting utility pole Managing Editor after dispatching for the Bixby Police Department for a year. By Jerry Fink Two police officers were sworn in “I have a passion for helping people,” Managing Editor Monday, April 22, bringing the number she said. on the force to nine, one shy of the full She intends to become a forensic A suspected drunk driv- complement of 10. interviewer. er allegedly fled the scene “We have one more attending the White, a 2015 graduate of Oktaha of an accident after striking Police Academy, so by the end of May High School, spent several years dis- a utility pole in the Coon we should be at full force,” said newly patching for the McAlester and Eufaula Creek Addition northwest appointed Police Chief Mark Goodwin, police departments before entering law of Eufaula Saturday morn- who was sworn in on April 1. enforcement full time. ing. The most recent to join the depart- He studied criminal justice at Con- Arrested four hours after ment are Leslie Aryn Damer, 22, and nors State College for a year and a half. the 8 a.m. accident was Austin White, 21. White said he wants to stay with the Rhonda Jo Farnsworth, 58, The officers were sworn in by Munic- Patrol unit. of Eufaula. ipal Court Judge Teresa Pratt. “Eventually, I would like to work She has been charged Damer, who has a set of three-year- K-9,” he said. Municipal Court Judge Teresa Pratt swears in new old twin girls and a boy 1 ½, studied at police officers Austin White, center, and Leslie Aryn See POLE, Page A6 Tulsa Tech to become a pharmacy tech- Damer. (Staff photo) less of race, color, national origin, sex, age or Submit your completed form or letter to NEWSWORTHY: disability, and there will be no discrimination in USDA: the course of the meal service. A LOOK INSIDE By mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture School to offer summer meals Meals will be provided on a first-come, first Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Opinions ...................... A4 Eufaula Public School will participate in the served basis. Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., SW Washing- Area Calendar ............ A10 Summer Food Service Program, which takes To file a program complaint of discrimina- ton, D.C., 20250-9410 Sports ....................... B1-3 place Mondays through Fridays, June 3-28. tion use USDA Program Discrimination Form Fax: 202-690-7442 Meals will be served at Eufaula Elementary (AD-3027), found online at www.ascr.usda. Outdoors ..................... B3 Email: [email protected] School cafeteria. gov/complaint filing and at any USDA office, or Church ........................ B4 Times served: write a letter addressed to USDA and provide Obits ........................... B5 Breakfast, 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. in the letter all the information requested in Legals Lunch, 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 pm. the form. Meals will be provided to children without To request a copy of the complaint form, call Classifieds ................ B6-8 See NEWSWORTHY, Page A3 charge and are the same for all children regard- 866-632-9992. PAGE A2 • THE INDIAN JOURNAL • Thursday, May 2, 2019 Eufaula Museum, a moving experience By Jerry Fink Managing Editor The Eufaula Area Muse- um has a new home. “People have donated a lot of things and we just ran out of room,” said Mike Wendel, president of the non-profit organization that was incorporated in the spring of 2015. For the past two years, the museum was located at 106 Selmon Road. Last week it moved a few doors east, into the Kel- soe Building at 118 Selmon Road. The move gives the museum an additional 4,500 square feet of space – most of it for storing the historic items donated over the years, but 500 square feet more of display space. The old site was about 1,700 square feet. “This is really exciting,” Wendel said. “It’s a modern build with better climate control.” Mike Wendel, president of the Eufaula Area Museum, waits for movers Wendel thanked volun- to begin loading a truck to take the museum to its new location at teers DeWayne Pendley, 118 Selmon Road. (Staff photo) a retired architect from Eufaula, and Joan Ingles countryside will change Tribes, Indian Territory, tax-deductible donations. for their help in designing over time to illustrate the Eastern Oklahoma Early Earmarked donations Trigger Laughlin, 4, was the winner of the 2019 the layout of the new space. appearance of the area in Explorers, Outlaws and for the Museum Endow- The new digs are owned 1872, the 1890s, 1907, Lawmen and general Okla- ment Fund will go toward a Indian Journal Easter Coloring Contest. He by Betty Kelsoe and her 1920 and the 1950s. homa history, geography, future permanent location. received a basket of treats donated by Wal-Mart sister, Patty Webster, both The 1872 exhibit is now and archaeology. The mailing address is of Checotah. (Staff photo) of Checotah. The former in place, illustrating the The Museum is open Eufaula Area Museum, P.O. location is owned by Gary first days of Eufaula when Saturdays from 10 a.m. to Box 6, Eufaula, Oklahoma, According to research, Moores, of Eufaula. it was just a tent village 2 p.m. or by appointment. 74432. Bruno the word “bloated” is the “They have been really near the banks of the South Appointments can The Museum Board of good to us,” Wendel said. Canadian. be arranged through the Directors include: Continued from Page A1 term often used. The condition is common “All of them gave the muse- The museum rotates a museum’s Facebook page Jeanette Smith Bruno died unexpectedly in certain breeds of dog, um the support we need variety of exhibits. This year (Eufaula Area Museum) or Ken Bass on Monday, April 22. especially breeds that are to be able to afford their the exhibits have included by email (eufaulamuseum@ Jason Burns They were together for deep chested.