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news
May 3, 2023
April sees tornado outbreak and drought relief
By Gary McManus State Climatologist,

Drought relief and severe weather topped April’s weather headlines with a parched northwest Oklahoma seeing its first significant moisture in months and central Oklahoma enduring a tornado outbreak.

Eighteen tornadoes touched down on April 19, a day when severe weather was thought to be limited by a warm atmospheric lid above the surface.

High temperatures over 90 degrees combined with a potent dryline to break that lid and initiate the storms that would eventually spawn the twisters.

Of the 18 tornadoes, six were considered “strong”—EF2 or greater— with four rated at EF2 and two more considered EF3.

All the tornadoes struck within 3 hours and 37 minutes, between 6:03 p.m. and 9:40 p.m. One EF3 struck the small community of Cole and damaged homes while destroying mobile homes.

Another EF3 that touched down near Pink was only on the ground for 5 minutes and 6 tenths of a mile, but still damaged multiple homes and outbuildings.

Possibly the most damaging tornado was an EF2 that traveled from southeast of Bethel Acres through the western and northern portions of Shawnee, including Oklahoma Baptist University and the Shawnee Mall.

This multiple vortex tornado was on the ground for 15.5 miles with a maximum width of 1.3 miles and produced an 84 mph wind gust at the Shawnee Mesonet site as it passed close by. April’s tornadoes brought the preliminary 2023 total to 37, more than double the 1950-2022 January-April average of 16.5. In addition to the 18 tornadoes, large hail to the size of baseballs was reported with the storms throughout central Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Emergency Management officials estimate that there were more than 34,000 power outages at the height of the storm. The Oklahoma State Dept. of Health report 188 weather-related injuries from the event, including three fatalities.

The month’s other significant weather event had a much happier ending when a 77-county soaking rainfall broke a months-long dry spell across northern and western Oklahoma.

The rain began in earnest on April 25, at which point some areas of the Panhandle had gone without significant moisture for nearly 240 days, dating back to August 2022.

The statewide average precipitation total still came up short at 2.26 inches, 1.33 inches below normal and ranked as the 29th driest April since records began in 1895.

Reed launches ‘Season of the Warrior’ Tour to honor Native American vets
A: Main, news
Reed launches ‘Season of the Warrior’ Tour to honor Native American vets
By Shauna Belyeu General Manager 
October 15, 2025
Former Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs Director Pete Reed made a stop in Eufaula Oct. 2 on behalf of the Season of the Warrior campaign tour. The goal of the campaign is to reach 100 cities in...
School Board sees drawings of new building project
A: Main, news
School Board sees drawings of new building project
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
October 15, 2025
Architectural renderings of the upcoming projects at Eufaula Public Schools were showed to the School Board Monday night. Everyone was impressed. A centerpiece of the project will be an event center, ...
Stitt defies Trump
A: Main, news
Stitt defies Trump
October 15, 2025
AMELIA BENAVIDES-COLÓN NOTUS Gov. Kevin Stitt condemned President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops across state lines, the first Republican governor to speak out against the practice...
A: Main, news
Honey Springs Reenactment Nov. 8-9
October 15, 2025
In three weeks Honey Springs Battlefield will come alive with its biennial multiday event, which begins with an Education Day for school groups on Friday, November 7. Activities continue on Saturday, ...
A: Main, news
Harvest Gathering
October 15, 2025
The Calvary Baptist Church will hold a Harvest Gathering from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., on Sunday, Oct. 26 on SH 150, ¾ mile west of U.S. 69. Everyone is invited. There will be food, outdoor games, pie auctio...
A: Main, news
Operators of daycare center accused of abuse
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Jacob and Stephanie Smith, operators of a daycare center in Checotah, have been formally charged with multiple counts of child abuse. They were arrested on Oct. 1 and at their arraignment on Oct. 7 Ja...
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Cemetery tour Oct. 17
A: Main, news
Cemetery tour Oct. 17
October 15, 2025
A tour of Greenwood Cemetery in Eufaula will start at Asbury Memorial at 1 p.m. Friday, October 17. The public is invited to join the Friends of the Eufaula Memorial Library to see graves of important...
BARKtoberfest, a howling-ghoul time for pups and people
news
BARKtoberfest, a howling-ghoul time for pups and people
By LaDonna Rhodes Staff Writer 
October 15, 2025
Porches & Pastures hosted their 7th Annual BARKtoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 11and lots of locals and visitors had a howling-ghoul time as they listened to live music from Last Call Band and browsed thr...
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Porter woman dies in accident
October 15, 2025
A 48-year-old Porter woman was killed when she lost control of her vehicle on SH 266 and SH 72 in McIntosh County Wednesday, Oct. 8, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The OHP report stated tha...
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County GOP News
By LYNELLE MEDLEY CHAIRMAN 
October 15, 2025
We had a great turnout at our picnic a couple of weeks ago, thank you to all who attended! There were several door prize winners and a pretty nice handful of new visitors, so it was a great time of ju...
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Driver injured after falling asleep
October 15, 2025
William Escamilla, 25, of Chickasha fell asleep while driving on I-40 at mile marker 272 in McIntosh County and crashed and rolled one time, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Three passengers ...
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