Local/Area News
Those elections will be held for the Morris, Checotah, Haskell, and Weleetka Board of Education Primary Election and City of Okmulgee Primary Municipal Election, Okmulgee County Election Board Secretary Ashley Carnes said today.
Carnes said that persons who are United States citizens, residents of Oklahoma, and at least 18 years old may apply to become registered voters.
Those who aren’t registered or need to change their registration may apply by filling out and mailing an Oklahoma Voter Registration Application form in time for it to be postmarked no later than midnight Friday, January 18.
All applications postmarked after that time will be accepted and processed, but not until after the February 12 election.
“The County Election Board responds in writing to every person who submits an application for voter registration,” she said. “The response is either a voter identification card listing the new voter's precinct number and polling place location or a letter that explains the reason or reasons the application for voter registration was not approved. Any person who has submitted a voter registration application and who has not received a response within 30 days should contact the County Election Board office.”
Oklahoma Voter Registration Application forms are available at the County Election Board office located at 314 W 7th Street, Room 102, Okmulgee and at most post offices, tag agencies and public libraries in the county. Applications also are available at www.elections.ok.gov.
Polls open for the Feb. 12 election include:
JUBILEE CHRISTIAN CENTER 12430 N. 230 RD OKMULGEE OK 74447
EAST CENTRAL ELECTRIC 001 S WOOD DRIVE OKMULGEE OK 74447
OKMULGEE COMMUNITY CENTER 1201 W. 7TH ST OKMULGEE OK 74447
OSU TECH STUDENT UNION 1801 E 4 ST OKMULGEE OK 74447
BAPTIST VILLAGE CENTER 1500 W 6 ST OKMULGEE OK 74447
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH 1327 E 13 ST OKMULGEE OK 74447
HENRYETTA HOUSING AUTHORITY 1708 W RAGAN ST HENRYETTA OK 74437
FIRST METHODIST CHURCH HENRYETTA 1212 S LAKE RD HENRYETTA OK 74437
GRAYSON COMMUNITY CENTER 24160 MARTIN LUTHER KING HENRYETTA OK 74437
MORRIS COMMUNITY CENTER 400 S HUGHES AVE MORRIS OK 74445
TWIN HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH 20200 HWY 16 OKMULGEE OK 74447
OKMULGEE COUNTY FAIR GROUNDS 1901 N OKLAHOMA AVE OKMULGEE OK 74447
LIBERTY BAPTIST CHURCH 23570 LIBERTY RD MORRIS OK 74445
SOUTH SIDE BAPTIST CHURCH 16950 OK-56 LOOP OKMULGEE OK 74447
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol’s Traffic Homicide unit is investigating the cause of a semi driver’s death Thursday afternoon.
Shortly after 11 a.m. Thursday, 32-year-old Harpreet Singh from Fresno, Calif., died in the crash east of Henryetta on Interstate 40.
He was the driver of a 2019 Freightliner semi that was westbound on the interstate when the crash happened.
In the preliminary report by the OHP, a 2018 Mack semi driven by Juan Posadas, 56, from Mayflower, Ark., was westbound on the interstate when it collided with the Singh semi that was parked on the westbound shoulder of the highway.
Singh was said to have been out of his vehicle and was struck by the semi. He was flown to St. John’s Hospital in Tulsa was pronounced dead there from massive injuries. A passenger in his truck, Baljinder Singh, 28, Daly City, Calif., was not injured.
The crash backed up traffic on the interstate past Tiger Mountain. It took OHP investigators and wreckers some four hours to clear the roadway.
“Jill Donavon, founder of Rustic Cuff, is going to be the guest speaker and she fills up every venue she attends,” said chamber director Roy Madden. “We are very fortunate to have an entertaining and informative speaker as Ms. Donavon.”Tickets are $25 each for the banquet to be held at the civic center starting at 6 p.m.
This year the dinner buffet will be catered by Shoney’s Restaurant. During the evening, the chamber will be recognizing several area businesses as well as introducing the new officers for the coming year. The annual Henryettan of the Year will be named prior to Donovan’s talk.
As always, a silent auction will be held with a number of exciting gifts available, Madden said.
Anyone wishing to purchase tickets should contact the Chamber at 918-652-3331 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Some voters wishing to cast ballots in the Weleetka, Morris and Haskell school elections are finding their polling places are closed.
Okmulgee County Election Board Secretary Ashley Carnes announced polling closures include:
Haskell Public School: Precinct 27 Twin Hills Baptist Church, 38 voters affected;
Morris Public School: Precinct 7 East Central Electric, 1 voter affected;
Morris Public School: Precinct 27 Twin Hills Baptist Church, 5 voters affected;
Weleetka Public School: Precinct 16 Henryetta Housing Authority, 73 voters affected.
“State law allows a school district to close a precinct polling place if the entire precinct is not contained within the school district's boundaries and if there are fewer than 100 registered voters in that part of the precinct that is inside the school district,” she said.
Voters who are registered in these precincts and the voter’s address in located in the school district boundaries will receive an application for absentee ballots from the Okmulgee County Election Board. They can fill out, sign and return the application form to the County Election Board to have a ballot mailed to them. Applications for absentee ballots must be received by the County Election Board no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 6 for this election. Absentee ballots must be in the County Election Board's hand by 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
Voters may also vote early by Absentee in Person at the Okmulgee County Election Board office, located at the Okmulgee County Courthouse, 314 W. 7th Street, Room 102, Okmulgee, O.K. 74447, from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 7 and Friday, February 8.
Any registered voter in the above precincts who believes that he or she may reside in the Haskell, Morris, or Weleetka Public School District and who has not yet received an absentee ballot application from the County Election Board should contact the County Election Board office immediately at 918-756-2365.
Weleetka voters will be casting ballots for either Sheena Dover or Season Pinkston for school board.
Morris voters have Kyle Brooks, Dana Mims and Jessica Key-Caldwell running for school board office number 4.
Haskell voters will be deciding between Sheryl Marie McHenry or Jay Thomas Dixon for that school board office 1.
Monday, Dec. 31 is going to be a special day at American Exchange Bank.
Kenny Tyler is hanging up his pen and calculator after 37 years with a day-long reception planned.
Tyler started working at American Exchange in 1981 spending 20 years specializing in collections and repossessions. He followed that by taking a loan officer’s position then named vice-president in 2013.
“I’ve met a lot of nice people over the years,” he said, “and I will miss all my customers.”
Bank president Terri Thompson said he is going to be missed by everyone. “He has served our bank for many years in various capacities, most recently as Loan Officer and Security Officer,” she said.
A reception is going to be held at the bank throughout the day Monday and Thompson is inviting all Tyler’s friends, customers and family to celebrate the event.