Workers put the roof on the new fire station for the Stigler Volunteer Fire Department. City employees and others have been working on the new fire station for several weeks. They expect to be finished with the new station soon. (Staff Photo by Karen West)

Boren: no in 2012

By Zachary Green
Staff Writer

The only Democrat Congressman from Oklahoma will not be seeking re-election for his 2nd Congressional District seat. U.S. Rep. Dan Boren made the following statement at a press conference in his hometown of Muskogee on Tuesday:
"I have made the decision not to seek re-election next year for another term in Congress. This is not an easy decision for me. It was based on the demands of constant campaigning, and most importantly spending too much time away from my family, which includes two very young children."
This unexpected announcement is sure to cause some political changes among the district and the state. Former U.S. Rep. Brad Carson gave up the 2nd district seat when he ran for the U.S. Senate and 2004, losing to Tom Coburn. Carson intends to run for the open District seat and said to expect a formal announcement later. "It is our intention to go back and fight for the 2nd District in Washington," said Carson. Brad Carson currently resides in Claremore, and is a business law professor at the University of Tulsa.
The National Republican Congressional Committee said they would target Boren's seat in the last election, but never ended up making a large effort to defeat him. With Boren not seeking re-election, the Republicans will likely make a strong push to win back the seat in the upcoming election." (more on this story in this week's Stigler News Sentinel)

No Tornado, but significant damage

By Doug Russel
News Editor

Staff photo by Doug Russell
A carport sits upside down in a chicken pen, deposited there during a May 24 storm.

There may not have been any tornadoes officially reported in Haskell County when storms tore through the area on May 24, but that doesn't mean there wasn't damage.
"We had trees fall on houses, outbuildings damaged — Keota got hit hard," said Angela Hensley, county emergency management director.
The National Weather Service said that no tornados were reported in Haskell County, but spotters saw rotation and several funnels. "They just never touched down," Hensley said.
There might not have been any tornadoes, but something was definitely a little strange with the weather that night.
Bruce and Avis Pearson were at their home near state Highway 82, between Stigler and Lequire, when the word went out to take cover — now!
"It was so dark you couldn't see 10 feet in front of your face," Bruce said.
Winds running from the southwest to northeast flattened and twisted plants along the home's south side, driving rain into the windows as the couple ran for safety.
When they came out later, they had something of a shock.
The carport that had been on the home's north side was gone. Well, not gone, literally, but definitely not where it should have been. It had been tossed over the house, from northwest to southeast, and deposited in the chicken pen across the fence. The winds that picked up the carport also ripped portions of siding loose and apparently lifted the roof of the covered back porch straight up before setting it back down.
The day after the storm, nails that had been used to secure a portion of the roof hung from their points in the boards, almost their full length exposed from being pulled out — and with no sign that they had been bent at all.
"The winds would have had to pull straight up for that to happen," Bruce said. "I've never seen anything like it. Every one of the nails is pulled, like something was forcing the boards apart, then put them back together."
Three vehicles that had been under the carport escaped the storm with almost no damage, as did the roof of the home.(more on this story in this week's Stigler News Sentinel)

Reunion Days events finalized

By Doug Russell
News Editor

Bubblegum blowing, toe coin picking, singing, crafts, a carnival — they're all part of the annual Reunion Days events in Stigler and they're ready to go.
"The schedule is all set," said Janice Williams, executive director of the Stigler-Haskell County Chamber of Commerce.
Although the big day for the annual event will be on June 18, there'll be activities going on other days as well.
To kick off this year's Reunion Days on a high note, local gospel favorites The Alversons will be giving a performance at the gazebo on the Haskell County Courthouse lawn at 7 p.m. June 16.
"They were a hit last year and we're glad they agreed to perform again," Williams said.
"The Gospel Cousins will be joining us that night," said Royce Alverson. "We're planning to have a good night praising the Lord in song."
Also beginning on June 16, Southern State Carnival will be in town, set up near the courthouse to provide fun rides and games for the young and not-so-young alike.
"The carnival didn't open until late on Saturday last year, but this year they're going to open early on Saturday," Williams said. "They'll be open during the evenings Thursday and Friday, open early Saturday and stay open into the evening Saturday."
June 17, a Friday, will see the local debut of The Jeremy Collins Band, whose music is variously described as "Red Dirt," "new country" and "hard country." The band will be giving a free concert at the gazebo beginning at 7 p.m. that day. .(more on this story in this week's Stigler News Sentinel)