Local/Area News
Voters in Okmulgee County who want absentee ballots mailed to them for elections in 2024 should apply now, County Election Board Secretary Ashley Carnes said today.
“Any registered voter may request absentee ballots for a specific election or for a full calendar year,” she said. “No excuse is needed to vote by absentee ballot.”
Carnes said there are many ways to apply. “For many voters, the easiest way to apply is online through the State Election Board’s OK Voter Portal. Voters can also fill out an application at the County Election Board or simply write us a letter.”
If you choose to write a letter, it must contain the following information:
- Your name, resident address, and signature
- ID number that matches ID number on file (i.e. driver’s license number, last four digits of Social Security number)
- Name of the school district in which you reside
- Name of your city (if you reside inside city limits)
- Address where you want your ballots mailed
- Type of election
List of elections for which you are requesting absentee ballots (you may only request ballots for elections in which you are eligible to vote)
Carnes said some voters may need to confirm their address before submitting an absentee ballot application.
Voters who are confined to a nursing home or veteran’s center, voters who are physically incapacitated, or voters who care for physically incapacitated persons who cannot be left alone should mention these restrictions in their request. This information activates special procedures that make voting and returning absentee ballots easier.
Voters can request absentee ballots electronically using the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp. To download a paper application, visit the State Election Board website at oklahoma.gov/elections. Applications are also available at the County Election Board.
For more information on absentee voting, contact the Okmulgee County Election Board at 918-756-2365 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Jason Price was chosen to replace retiring superintendent Dwayne Noble at a special board meeting Dec. 27.Price, the current superintendent at Haworth, has been in education since 1996 when he received his BS degree from East Central University. He is a graduate of Okemah high school.
He received his masters of education administration degree from ECU in 2006 and has served as principal, athletic director and even a coach.
Prior to taking the position at Haworth, he has taught at Butner, Dustin and Fort Towson. He has been at Haworth for the past eight years.
He married his wife, Kathryn in 1995. They are the parents of three children, two daughters and a son. His wife is the career tech computer director and math teacher.
Price is also a licensed minister and author.
“I look forward to coming to Henryetta and working with the school and the community,” he said Wednesday. He said he will be spending some time in the school district prior to his official start date working with Noble.
That decision ended a series of interviews with some 25 applicants over the past couple of months. “We feel we have chosen an individual to lead our school that will have the best interest of our students and community at heart,” said board member Pam Bealko.
Three Henryetta bridges, originally built nearly 100 years ago are going to be replaced at no charge.
The three, each spanning a creek that runs from Main Street to just north of Interstate 40, are being replaced through. Federal program. Approval for the work was given Tuesday night by the city council at the last regular meeting of 2023.
They are located on West Broadway, West Moore and West Corporation.
The three bridges received form work in an earlier program about 10 years ago. That put up ratings and some rip rap around the sides. Now they will be removed and new ones put in their place. No date was given when the work would start.
Council members abated three houses and gave a 90-day extension before abating a fourth.
Receiving a reprieve pending improvements is a house at 1207 North Collins. The owner, Julie Martinellii, said she has the materials to repair the house and will have electrical service restored.
Houses placed on the abatement list include 318 E. Spruce, 510 East Fun and 610 North Third.
During the evening, the council approved a one-time pay adjustment or the holidays for city workers amounting to no more than $250.
The council approved a contract to Quicksilver Utility amounting to $535,000 for construction of a pump station to be built just north of Merrick on Fourth Street. That is part of a project to replace an old water tower.
Also gaining approval was the purchase of $24,000 for fire rescue equipment. It is part of a grant that would result in a reimbursement to the city for the cost.
City manager David Bullard told the council work is underway on the spillway at Nichols Park to prevent erosion from damaging the roadway. He said the city is partnering with the county to help in the project.
A lot of homes around Henryetta are deorated in time for the Christmas season.
Henryetta continues to look more festive as store fronts twinkled, glistened and shined in their Christmas finery.
The holiday decorations have been much admired by local residents and have even drawn favorable comments from visitors in town for the holidays.
Winning the decoration contest this year were The Shack 2.0 in first place; Nail Boutique in second and Burnett Furniture in third.
“We cannot express enough our thanks for the businesses who took time to dress up their buildings for the Christmas season,” said chamber president Jeremy Roberts. “It is a testament to the desire and love for their home town to make our community look better.”