147 YEARS AGO

President Grant Issued the following proclamation on the 26th: By the President of the United States of America From year to year, we have been accustomed to pause in daily pursuits and set apart a time to thank Almighty God for special blessings. He has vouchsafed to us, with our prayers for the continuance thereof. We have at this time equal reason to be thankful for His continued protection, and for material blessings which His bounty has bestowed.

HOG CHOLERA

The fearful hog disease, known under the above name, is today the great scourge of the eight principal pork producing states. The attempts made by individuals, neighborhoods and State Boards of Agriculture, while they have made many useful suggestions, have failed to fathom the disease and at this writing thousands of hogs are dying and losses are being entailed that will be felt for years to come.

THE SIOUX

Ninety-six Sioux Indians, from the Red Cloud and Spotted Tail agencies, passed through Topeka yesterday, on their way to the Indian Territory. They were under the charge of Col. A.G. Boone and J.W. Daniels, commissioners on the part of the government.

120 YEARS AGO Friday, May 29,1903

AN EXCITING SCENE

We are pleased to learn of the military honors won by our young townsman, Mr. Claude Grayson, who is attending military college at San Antonio. The state of Texas ranks high in the volunteer guards of the United States. San Antonio is the home of the famous Belknap Rifles, and in the suburbs of the city is located the beautiful Fort Sam Houston, the finest military post in the United States.

Damaged by Storm

J.S. Holtwick, the photographer, came down from Checotah Wednesday to visit the wreck of his tent which went to pieces before the gale of the night before. The contents were drenched with water. The loss is considerable and the inconvenience great. Mr. Holtwick is moving his entire outfit to more substantial quarters in the Tully block.

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100 YEARS AGO

Thursday, February 28, 1924

JOINT RESOLUTION TO INVESTIGATE INDIAN AFFAIRS WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 – The joint resolution calling for a sweeping investigation of Indian affairs in Oklahoma has received the formal endorsement of the Indian affairs committee and has been reported favorably to the lower branch of Congress.

WATER WAGON FAILS TO HOLD RICH INDIAN

Efforts of officials of the Indian agency to make a useful citizen of Walter Starr, wealthy full-blood Creek Indian, came to naught Wednesday when Walter was arrested on complaint of his wife for disturbing the peace.

Walter recently returned from taking a treatment in an effort to cure his love for intoxicating beverages. On his return to Muskogee the officials purchased a home for him and expressed confidence he had turned over a new leaf.

The police were called by the youths wife after he had taken a few drinks of alleged fire water and started to raise Cain in the old way.

TRAGEDY HOVERS AT DEATH CORNER MUSKOGEE, Feb. 25 – Mark Moore, sheriff of McIntosh county, and S.J. Spillman, a merchant from Hanna, narrowly escaped death Friday night in an unavoidable motor car accident at Muskogee’s worst “death corner” – the intersection of C and Callahan streets.

Sheriff Moore, who had driven to Muskogee from Eufaula in his own motor car to attend the Bedouin Temple ceremonial, was taking Spillman to the Katy station to catch a train after picking up his passenger at the home of a friend on the east side.

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80 YEARS AGO

Thursday, February 17, 1944

Lt. Lucas Scheduled As Principal Speaker At Checotah Scout Meet Lt. Jim G. Lucas of the United States Marines, former Checotah and Muskogee youth whose story of the invasion of Tarawa in which he participated lifted him to the “top of the heap” among all marine combat correspondents, will be the principal speaker at the annual Boy Scout dinner in Checotah at 8 o’clock Thursday night.

NICHOLS QUALIFIES AS BOMBER MECHANIC

Pvt. George H. Nichols, living near Eufaula, qualified this week as an expert B-24 bomber mechanic. Pvt. Nichols is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Perry Nichols, farm folk living near Eufaula.

LENNA BOY PROMOTED TO FIRST LIEUTENANT

The war department Sunday promoted Leeroye McDaniel, Lenna boy, from second lieutenant to first lieutenant.

Other Oklahomans receiving the same promotion were Arthur Carrick Galloway, Elk City, and Elzia Earl Mercer, Lawton.

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75 YEARS AGO Thursday, January 20,1949 City Dads Abolish Office of Street Commissioner; Duties go to Mayor

Eufaula will have no street commissioner after May 1, 1949.

The city council abolished the office at a special meeting last Friday afternoon and transferred the duties of commissioner to the mayor.

Adoption of the ordinance abolishing the office now held by J.H. Howell, came as a surprise, although individual councilmen have previously expressed the opinion that all duties of the street department should be consolidated with operating like the water department.

Mayor Warns Owners to Pen Chickens, Cows

Mayor K.C. Burnham asks Eufaula owners to keep their chickens and livestock penned up at all times.

Permitting stock or chickens to run loose is in violation of city ordinances and owners are subject to prosecution and fine, the mayor reminded.

City officials have been receiving an increasing number of complaints in recent weeks and owners are requested to comply with the city ordinance.

City Dog Tags for 1949 Are On Sale

Dog tags for 1949 have been received and are on sale at the city hall, Mrs. Eloise Smock, city clerk, announced this week.

All dogs in the city of Eufaula are required by ordinance to have the tags showing that their owners have paid the tax.

Tags are $1 each for either male or female dogs, Mrs. Smock said.

50 YEARS AGO

Thursday, April 18, 1974

Brinlee Found Guilty of Escape

Convicted bomb killer Rex Brinlee has been found guilty of escaping from the Oklahoma State Prison in McAlester.

Brinlee, who was convicted in 1971 of the bomb killing of a Bristow school teacher, was accused of leaving the State prison during or shortly after the prison riot. District attorney Don Roberts based his opening statements Monday on the fact Brinlee was serving a life sentence and that he left the State prison without permission from anyone.

Brinlee’s trial was moved to Eufaula last February after a mistrial in McAlester.

County Wide Youth Council Being Organized A group of interested citizens from Eufaula and Checotah met Monday April 15 at the Checotah Junior High School for its second meeting regarding the organization of a County Wide Youth Council.

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18 YEARS AGO

Thursday, October 13, 2005

It’s Lotto time in McIntosh County

Oklahomans all over the stare are showing their excitement as the first Oklahoma Lottery in history began yesterday.

“I believe Oklahomans are excited about the new state lottery and the additional money it will mean for our classrooms,” said Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry.

Extension Office burglarized

Sometime Sunday night, Oct. 2, unknown individuals pried the sheet metal from the back of the OSU Extension office in Eufaula, busted through the sheet rock and got entry into the building.

Several items were stolen, including three computers (along with monitors, printers and a scanner), most of the telephone system (along with the telephone lines being cut), a postage meter, various small items and office supplies, and three 4-H jackets that the office was planning to give away.

“Monday morning, I came in and the police were already here,” said OSU Extension Agent Randy Burris. He said that Dr. Bradley, whom they share a building with, had come to work early, noticed the damage and called the Eufaula Police.