New DUI school opens in Stigler

By Doug Russell, News Editor

STIGLER, Aug. 27 — It's a bad thing, and the punishment is tough. But for a long time situations made the punishment for those convicted of driving under the influence even tougher, as they had to travel outside of the area to attend state-mandated DUI school.

No longer.

A new DUI school is now open in Stigler, making it a little easier for a convicted offender to regain his place in the community — and his driver's license.

"It's something we've needed for a long time," said Ed Balunas, a former police officer who now works for the district attorney's office. "Before, you had to go to Poteau, Sallisaw, Eufaula, McAlester — you just couldn't do it in Haskell County."

The new school, which holds classes at 905 N.W. Fourth St., Stigler, is a satellite office of Human Skills & Resources Inc., a Tulsa-based company that has been offering DUI school for years.

For more information on the school, or to schedule an appointment for an assessment or class, call 967-8223.

For more on this story, pick up this week's Stigler News Sentinel. To subscribe to the newspaper, call 918-967-4655.

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