logo
Login Subscribe
Google Play App Store
  • News
    • Obituaries
    • Lifestyle
    • Opinions
  • Sports
  • E-edition
  • Calendar
  • Archives
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertisers
    • Form Submission
    • About Us
    • News
      • Obituaries
      • Lifestyle
      • Opinions
    • Sports
    • E-edition
    • Calendar
    • Archives
    • Contact
      • Contact Us
      • Advertisers
      • Form Submission
      • About Us
Commissioner Grider asks for a recount after narrow loss
A: Main, news
September 4, 2024
Commissioner Grider asks for a recount after narrow loss
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR

The race for District 2 McIntosh County Commissioner in last week’s primary runoff election was a photo finish, with challenger Clifford McElhaney defeating incumbent Monty Grider by a nose.

McElhaney, a Eufaula barber for 26 years, received 285 votes to Grider’s 273, a difference of 12 votes.

The vote was so close in the Aug. 27 run-off that Grider has decided to ask for a recount.

He paid his $600 fee for a recount order on Thursday, Aug. 29.

The recount will take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5, in the third-floor courtroom No. 1 at the McIntosh County Courthouse.

A team led by County Election Board Secretary Janelle McKnight will conduct the count.

Votes of all ballots from each of the district’s three precincts will be counted, including both absentee and election day ballots.

There are 2,429 Republican voters registered in District 2, according to the Election Board. Only 558 voted, fewer than 25 percent of those eligible.

“I was very disappointed in the turnout,” Grider said.

Meanwhile, McElhaney was very excited.

“I’m just excited to take on a new job and to be able to serve my community,” he said after giving a few haircuts on Friday.

He and the rest of the District 2 won’t know what to expect until after next week’s recount.

But the uncertainty hasn’t dulled his enthusiasm, it’s as sharp as his clippers.

“I’ve been interested in the county commissioner’s work since my early 20s,” he said.

He cut the hair of several commissioners, such as the late Harold Burdine, and many of their constituents.

“I visited with him when I was just a young barber,” he said. “I was always cutting the county commissioners’ hair. I had good relationships with most all of the county commissioners. I was always inquisitive, asking about what they did and how they did it.”

He said he is the second barber elected to office in the county.

“Bobby Gray was a barber before he became sheriff,” McElhaney said.

He finally became serious about running for office.

“Actually, four years ago I was going to run, but the timing wasn’t quite right,” he said.

McElhaney feels he was meant to be a commissioner.

“I felt like serving the public, interacting with the people.

He has a number of goals, including trying to find more financial resources.

“We live in a poor county. One of my main goals is to figure out some way to get more resources for the roads,” he said.

And he wants to keep in touch with the people.

“My number two goal is to stay in touch with my constituents, be a voice in the community.”

As a barber, he said, he has had a lot of conversations about a lot of things, such as what needs to be fixed.

“If something needs to be fixed, I’ve probably heard about it,” he said.

Assets he brings to the job includes being able to communicate and to deal with problems.

“I will do my best to do a great job and to be the best commissioner District 2 has ever had. I’m not going to sit on my tail. I’m going to work as hard as I can to build a better community.”

Whole Hawg Days on the horizon
A: Main, news
Whole Hawg Days on the horizon
July 16, 2025
Get ready for another fun-filled weekend as the 41st Annual Whole Hawg Arts & Crafts Festival prepares to get underway, Friday and Saturday, July 25-26. The festival will consist of Arts & Crafts, a r...
A: Main, news
Eufaula Chamber of Commerce Rodeo debuts
July 16, 2025
The rodeo is woven into the fabric of Eufaula history. Long before the annual rodeo was held at the fairgrounds, there were rodeos in an area of the city now a part of the cove where there are softbal...
A: Main, news
Check with the City before starting work
July 16, 2025
As more residents and property owners take on home improvement projects, the City of Eufaula is reminding the public of a key first step: check with the City before you begin. Whether you   are buildi...
Eufaula hires full-time fire chief
A: Main, news
Eufaula hires full-time fire chief
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
July 16, 2025
Eufaula didn’t have to look far for its first full-time fire chief. Checotah Fire Chief Greg Carmack has been offered the job, replacing volunteer Fire Chief Chad French. The decision to hire someone ...
Checotah says goodbye to cowboy legend Bill Duvall
A: Main, news
Checotah says goodbye to cowboy legend Bill Duvall
By LaDonna Rhodes Staff Writer 
July 16, 2025
When Bill Duvall was called to meet His Maker in the Great Round Up in the sky this past Sunday, Checotah lost one of its best storytellers and legendary cowboys ever. Thankfully his legacy will live ...
A: Main, news
Hats off to those credited with keeping the roundup club and rodeo alive
By Current Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors 
July 16, 2025
Serena Kleveter, director Jay Hunn, president Zach McQuay Roxanne Loyd Kathy Turner Jeanette Smith Torie Anderson Peter Lee 1940-50 Doc Thurman Doc Gawf Dub Hammett 1960-70 Glen Pittman Fred Wendel Ho...
ePaper
google_play
app_store
Editor Picks
A: Main, news
Commissioners pass moratorium
July 16, 2025
TransAlta of Canada announced six months ago that it no longer planned to develop a wind turbine farm in McIntosh County. However, county commissioners wanted to make sure TransAlta or any other wind ...
news
Auditions for The Dancing Princesses open to all
July 16, 2025
If you’ve ever thought acting on stage might be fun, here’s your chance to find out. The Eufaula Performing and Arts Club is opening auditions for their next play to any would-be actor ages 10 and up....
news
McIntosh County GOP News
By LYNELLE MEDLEY CHAIRMAN 
July 16, 2025
Our potluck at the last meeting was so much fun and we had a fabulous turnout -- thank you to all of McIntosh County for supporting the Republican Party. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. It w...
news
Man facing obscenity charges
July 16, 2025
Ryan Troy Dick, 52-year-old Sallisaw resident, is being held in the McIntosh County Jail pending his preliminary hearing on charges related to indecent photographs and videos sent to a former girlfrie...
news
Juvenile dies following accident near Longtown
July 16, 2025
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports that a juvenile, whose name and age are being withheld, was fatally injured in a single-vehicle accident that took place at about 10:30 p.m. on July 4. The deceased...
Facebook

THE EUFAULA INDIAN JOURNAL
100 N. 2nd Street
Eufaula, OK 74432

(918) 689-2191

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 THE EUFAULA INDIAN JOURNAL

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy