IndianThe Eufaula Journal OKLAHOMA’S OLDEST NEWSPAPER, EST. 1876 EUFAULAINDIANJOURNAL.COM VOL 142, ISSUE 16 (usPs 261-620) – TWo secTions, 16 Pages – APRIL 22, 2021 $1.00 Council sworn in; issue of City Manager tabled at special meeting JERRY FINK Council members elected special meeting held at ing, which will be two Teresa Pratt of Kirby, City Clerk Valarie Cox MANAGING EDITOR in the April 6 city elec- noon Monday were there weeks, at 5 p.m. on May 3. Councilman At-Large and Foos created the A standing-room-on- tions. because of an item on the The item was tabled to incumbent Todd Warren agenda. ly crowd witnessed the However, most of agenda dealing with City give the Council time to and Ward 3 Councilman “I would like to table swearing in of three City those who attended the Manager Jacob Foos. hire an attorney to advise Jamie Upton. the agenda because we The item stated the them on how to handle Following the brief have not had a chance to Council would meet in the controversial situa- ceremony the changing get enough information executive session to dis- tion. of the guard, so to speak, to make decisions,” Kirby cuss “the City Manager “We need to find took place. said. and, more specifically, someone who has knowl- Vice Mayor Frank Da- City Attorney Kay Wall the employment, hiring, edge of this sort of thing,” vis conducted the meet- advised the Council to go appointment, promotion, said newly elected Ward ing until it came time for ahead and hold the exec- demotion, discipling or 4 Councilman Dan Kir- the Council to appoint a utive session and then, if resignation of any indi- by, who replaces James new mayor. they so desired, table the vidual salaried public of- Duty. “We’re going to hire Warren was chosen item after the session. ficer or employee.” an attorney who knows to fill that position and “I feel the need to en- However, neither the something about the City Council Member Nancy lighten you a bit on a cou- opponents nor support- Manager form of govern- Mouser was chosen to be ple of things that might ers of the City Manager ment. We are brand new Vice Mayor. be helpful to you and I left the meeting particu- at this and we need that When the item dealing would like to visit with larly satisfied with the sort of expert advice.” with the executive session you all for a brief moment STAFF | INDIAN JOURNAL meeting. Preceding the special came up Kirby asked the in an executive session,” A mixture of pro-city manager supporters and anti-city manager The Council tabled the meeting was the swear- Council who put together Wall said. “Then you can supporters attended Monday’s special council meeting. item until the next meet- ing by Municipal Judge the day’s agenda. come back out and table the item if you like.” The Council followed her advice and held a 2010 murder short executive session. Following the session, brought back and before any decision was made, three con- to life by cerned residents of the area spoke on behalf of McGirt motion Foos and the City Man- ager form of government. JERRY FINK Brittany Moore, MANAGING EDITOR Branch Manager of the The 28-year-old Musk- Eufaula Memorial Li- ogee man who was a brary, Pam Rossi, former teenager when he was Executive Director of the convicted of killing a Eufaula Area Chamber Eufaula resident in 2010 of Commerce, and busi- in a church parking lot nesswoman Martha Mc- may have that conviction Cracken spoke highly of overturned as a result of Foos and their working the McGirt decision by relationship with him. the U.S. Supreme Court. See MEETING, page A3 A McGirt motion hearing for Larondon Maurice Hembry, Jr. was set to be heard by Asso- ciate District Judge Bren- OMAG don Bridges at 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 21. awards grant The result of the hear- ing will be too late to be to city published in the Thurs- day, April 22 issue of this The Oklahoma Mu- newspaper. nicipal Assurance Group But, based upon past has awarded the City of decisions involving Mc- STAFF | INDIAN JOURNAL Eufaula a $2,000 grant to Eufaula Municipal Judge Teresa Pratt swore in City Council Members, left to right, Dan Kirby, Jamie Upton and Todd Warren. City Manager See HEMBRY, page A2 help with the purchase of Jacob Foos is in the background. work zone safety equip- ment, including new bar- ricades, safety cones and more, for road construc- Former Eufaula cheerleader, tion. The City will match the grant with a $2,000 allo- fire twirler has come a long way cation for the project. OMAG, which serves JERRY FINK In 2016 Nelson was Neil Armstrong (2016); show’s producer appealed over 500 municipalities, MANAGING EDITOR president of the Ameri- Canadian Prime Minister for someone to help him was formed in 1977 by When Dr. Donna J. can Chemical Society Justin Trudeau (2017); make sure scripts were cities and towns needing Nelson, PhD, received (ACS), which has more President Bill Clinton ( scientifically accurate. life and health insurance her diploma from Eufau- than 168,000 members, 2013) and Archbishop Nelson, who always coverage for their em- la High School she had making it one of the Emeritus Desmond Tutu ployees. See NELSON, page A3 no idea what adventures world’s largest scientific (2016). Dr. Donna J. Nelson, PhD Members’ needs have awaited her. organizations and one of Perhaps not as presti- changed through the A Professor of Chem- the world’s leading sourc- gious, but no less excit- years and OMAG has istry at the University of es of authoritative scien- ing, was Nelson’s position added liability, workers’ Oklahoma since 1983, she tific organizations. as technical advisor for compensation and prop- has received many honors In July she will receive the ground-breaking tele- erty coverages to its fam- and accolades, including an Honorary Doctor of vision series on AMC TV, ily of plans. From our a Ford Fellowship (2003); Science Degree in Chem- “Breaking Bad,”a show humble beginnings with Guggenheim Fellowship istry from the University about an Albuquerque, only two municipalities, (2003); NOW Woman of of Edinburgh in Edin- New Mexico high school we have grown today to Courage Award (2004) burgh, Scotland. chemistry teacher who an organization that pro- and Fulbright Scholar Nelson will be among turned to making meth- vides services to over 500 (2207). an elite group of lumi- amphetamine to pay his cities. naries who have received medical bills. Mission honorary degrees from The series ran from The mission of OMAG one of the world’s oldest 2008 to 2013. is to be the primary pro- universities, which was She got the gig as tech- vider of insurance and founded in 1582. nical advisor after read- risk management solu- The group she will ing a story in The Ameri- tions to help Oklahoma’s share the honor with in- can Chemistry Society’s COURTESY cities and towns improve Dr. Nelson conducting a class cludes the late astronaut magazine in which the Dr. Nelson, center, with “Breaking Bad” stars Bryan Cranston, left, the quality of life of their at OU. and Aaron Paul. citizens. PAGE A2 • THE INDIAN JOURNAL • April 22, 2021 Eufaula Area Calendar (If you would like to list group started on Wednes- your routine meetings on day, April 7. The 13-week the Eufaula Area Calendar program will meet on please sent the information Wednesday evenings at to [email protected], or 6 p.m., in the East wing, call 918-689-2191 or mail Room 220-A at the to the Eufaula Indian Jour- Checotah First Baptist nal, 109 S. Main St., Eu- Church under facilita- faula, 74432. Include the tors, Wilmatine Griffin event, time, place and con- and Beth Blackwell. It is a tact information) free program and anyone going through the loss of Finding Hope a loved one is welcome. Finding Hope is a sup- GriefShare is a weekly port group for loved ones non-denominational sup- of addiction. It is a meet- port group for people ing where you will find grieving the death of a education, inspiration loved one. The group of- and a community of oth- fers a comfortable envi- er loved ones who have ronment where the emo- been impacted by addic- tions and process of grief tion. Don’t miss this op- are understood and wel- portunity to find the hope comed. Participants learn you have been searching practical strategies for grief for. We meet on the 2nd recovery through the high- COURTESY and 4th Mondays of the ly acclaimed video series month. Time: 6:30 p.m. and group discussion. Ev- Location: North Fork erything said in the group Baptist Church. Contact is confidential. No one is Carl Albert, Connors State and Eastern announce academic information: finding- pressured to talk, but most [email protected] people eventually feel the Meetings are open to all. need to share. Members partnership to provide additional opportunities to students come for help and end GriefShare up helping each other. It WILBURTON – Carl needs of all of our stu- dents and their families. end of three years. She doesn’t matter how long Albert State College, dents and communities,” This is a strategic effort said the institutions are program ago the death occurred, Connors State College Falkner said. “Focusing to utilize the expertise optimistic for a success- if you are still struggling, and Eastern Oklahoma our efforts on expand- of our talented faculty ful long-term partner- underway come join the group and State College announced ing access to additional within each institution ship that will have a posi- A new GriefShare find hope again.