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Fire destroys familiar lakeside A-frame home
news
November 22, 2023
Fire destroys familiar lakeside A-frame home
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR,

A fire of unknown origin Sunday morning destroyed a distinctive, decades old Aframe home that sat on the side of a heavily forested hill overlooking Lake Eufaula and the SH 9 bridge.

The copper-roofed house on the north side of the highway three miles east of Eufaula was a familiar sight to motorists driving west on the highway leaving Longtown and to visitors on the nearby lake.

The unusual home, with a detached game room adjacent to the main house, haa been vacant for some time, noted Eufaula Fire Chief Cliff Shatswell.

He said he believes the uninsured structure is owned by Joe Street.

“He didn’t live there. No one has been there for a long time. Vagrants have been stealing everything out of there. Lots of police reports have been filed,” Shatswell said.

The cause of the fire is unknown, he said.

“We don’t have a clue,” Shatswell said.

A call came in about the fire at 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 19.

“By the time we got there it was fully involved. The only thing we could do was go into a defensive mode. We cooled down the propane tank on the property, which was extremely hot,” he said.

Three trucks and six firefighters and several sheriff ’s deputies responded to the alarm.

Fighting the fire was problematic because of the isolated location and difficulty getting to it. Even though it sits near the lake, it was difficult getting water to the fire.

“There was no readily available water source,” he said.

A large metal gate slowed down the fire fighting crews.

“We had to go through the gate, then we had to walk through the woods,” he said. “There is only one way in and one way out. It was a tight, small area.”

The house and garage were destroyed. The game room was saved.

Firefighters contained grass fires that were cropping up hours after the fire.

The house once was owned by the late Mickey Medley, former wife of entertainer Conway Twitty. Mickey Medley died in 2021 in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

Chelsie McClelland, who says she grew up in the house, posted the following message on Facebook: “Before I get bombarded with messages I wanted to just state here … yes!! I watched my childhood home/ Conway Twitty’s exwife’s house/copper top/frame burn to the ground early this morning. No we don’t know what the cause was and nobody was there that we were aware of!!!! The game room still stands and they contained the fire the best they could to just the house and the garage. I want to personally thank the Eufaula fire department and Mc-Intosh county sheriffs who came and assisted. We are so grateful for all your hard work and dedication to your community.”

Braving the festival, honoring a friend
A: Main, news
Braving the festival, honoring a friend
By LENORE BECHTEL 
September 3, 2025
Every Labor Day weekend since moving to Oklahoma, I thought about going to the Dusk to Dawn Blues Festival. But the idea of a yard party running from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. was intimidating—and I could neve...
A: Main, news
Man injured diving into shallow water
September 3, 2025
A 22-year-old Yukon man was injured when he dove from a pontoon boat into shallow water at Lake Eufaula, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Patrick Tanner reportedly stopped his vessel to swim ...
A: Main, news
Man found dead in yard; possible suspect investigated
September 3, 2025
WARNER – Warner Police responded to a call early Saturday morning about a dead man laying outside of a residence in the area of Fifth and Third streets. The deceased has been identified as 51-year-old...
A: Main, news
Wellness Day for seniors Sept. 16
September 3, 2025
Heritage Home Care’s fifth annual Senior Wellness Day will be held Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 126 N. 1st St. (now Bridges Street), which is the former location of Family Dollar. The e...
A: Main, news
Looking ahead: Firm to help guide the way
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
September 3, 2025
What will Eufaula look like in 50 years? Without a plan, it’s anybody’s guess. But the City Council has taken steps to remove at least some of the guesswork. At a special meeting Friday, Aug. 29, the ...
Wine and Art Festival extravaganza Saturday
A: Main, news
Wine and Art Festival extravaganza Saturday
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
September 3, 2025
What: Vision Eufaula Wine & Art Festival When: Saturday Sept. 6, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Where: 150 N. Front St. Information: 405-248-2992 or visit visioneufaula.org The fourth annual Wine and Art Festival ...
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5 in race for state school superintendent
news
5 in race for state school superintendent
By Jennifer Palmer Oklahoma Watch 
September 3, 2025
So far, five candidates are running to lead Oklahoma’s public education system as state superintendent in 2026. Former Tulsa school board members Jennettie Marshall, a Democrat, and Jerry Griffin, an ...
DOC Director stepping down
news
DOC Director stepping down
By KEATON ROSS OKLAHOMA WATCH 
September 3, 2025
Oklahoma Department of Corrections Director Steven Harpe, one of the highest paid officials in state government, will step down on Sept. 30 to take a private sector job. “I’m extremely proud of my tim...
news
Class of ’65 reunion set for Sept. 12
September 3, 2025
Graduates of the Eufaula High School Class of 1965 will get together from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept 12, at the Legacy on Main Street, 224 N. Main St. Graduates of the classes of ’64 and ’66 are...
A site out of this world
news
A site out of this world
By MIKE BARNES 
September 3, 2025
In Eufaula, a town where gossip can outpace the mail, a story is slowly gaining momentum. It isn’t about the latest fishing tournament or Friday night football, but about a cosmic visitor called 3I/ A...
Rest, reflections, and farewells
commentary
Rest, reflections, and farewells
By JOE DORMAN OICA CEO 
September 3, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY – I hope your Labor Day weekend was full of relaxation. I schedule a vacation each year with friends to get away over this holiday which allows me to “charge up the batteries” for upcomi...
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