July 27, 2025

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Youth wins first at Vision Eufaula Wine & Art Festival
A: Main, news
September 11, 2024
Youth wins first at Vision Eufaula Wine & Art Festival
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR

A 10-year-old boy from Wilburton who has a passion for photography was this year’s winner of the Vision Eufaula’s art competition.

Paxson Ganz began using a hand-me-down Canon Rebel camera two years ago and has been snapping pictures of livestock and scenery ever since, winning multiple competitions around the state – starting with a Latimer County 4-H project.

Saturday, he won $500 as the first-place winner at the Second Annual Vision Eufaula Wine and Art Festival.

Paxson said he plans to buy a new lens for his camera with his winnings.

He and his mother, Brandee, began studying photography together.

“We’ve been doing it together,” she said.

The collaboration has paid off handsomely for the young man, who routinely sells his pictures to an admiring public.

Paxson was the unanimous choice of the seven judges who chose his art above dozens of other artists who set up booths at the festival, which was held at 150 Front St.

Second place and $300 went to Tahlequah silversmith/ jeweler Mary Lou Christie.

Watercolor artist Susan Nelson of Norman came in third, winning $200.

In addition to dozens of artists displaying a wide variety of disciplines for art fans, this year wine and beer played a bigger role in the festival.

Last year two wineries offered samplings of their wares.

This year five wineries, two breweries and one distillery showcased what they had to offer, much to the delight of a thirsty crowd.

This year’s event attracted more than 500 fans, who were greeted by pleasant weather, a variety of food trucks and talented artists from around the state.

“The artists put their heart and soul into their work,” said festival spokesperson Lynnsey deMontigny.

This year there was no new mural to admire.

The festival is looking for an appropriate place to put a mural in the days ahead.

There was a work of art on canvas, a paintby- the number project by Oklahoma City artist Jack Fowler.

Three years ago, Fowler created the humorous turkey mural on the old jail on Front Street.

Last year he created six paint-by-the number canvases of historic figures from Eufaula, giving folks the chance to participate in creating works of art for the festival.

Three of those canvases, of Lucious, Dewey and Lee Roy Selmon are at Eufaula High School.

This year Fowler’s paint-by-the-numbers project was of JC Watts, done on a 5-ft by 5 ft canvas and painted by a local group during the festival.

The painting will be hung at City Hall sometime in the weeks ahead.

DeMontigny said the festival was flawless this year, aided by pleasant weather.

“We were very happy with how it went,” she said. “But we hope to have more kids participate next year.”

This year a tent was set up by the library where kids participated in balloon art and face painting.

Entertainment for the festival was provided by local sensation, vocalist Ava Rose Johnson (a Eufaula High School student); Brandt Spivey and Chet; members of The Pride of Eufaula Band; and by the Last Call Band There were lots of dogs at this year’s event, with many of the furbabies lapping up Gelato’s, an ice-cream like dessert for dogs from Lake Dog.

Marijuana operation raided in county
A: Main, news
Marijuana operation raided in county
July 23, 2025
Thousands of marijuana plants and 1,183 pounds of processed marijuana were confiscated Monday during a raid conducted by an Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics’ Marijuana Enforcement Team three miles south o...
Cat Daddy brings rhythm, soul, and compassion to York Manor
A: Main, news
Cat Daddy brings rhythm, soul, and compassion to York Manor
By MICHAEL BARNES 
July 23, 2025
Recently, Craig Morgan — better known as Cat Daddy — walked into York Manor Nursing Home in Muskogee not like a guest, but like someone coming home. Guitar slung over his shoulder, smile wide, and hea...
Ava Rose’s star continues to rise and shine
A: Main, news
Ava Rose’s star continues to rise and shine
By JOHN BLOCK 
July 23, 2025
Cherokee and Osage native Ava Rose Johnson, a former student at Eufaula Public Schools, has been invited to join the Recording Academy/ GRAMMYs 2025 New Member Class. Only an approximate 3,600 creator...
A: Main, news
Rescue boat launch date
July 23, 2025
On July 24 at 6:30 p.m., the City of Eufaula will officially launch into service their new fire suppression and rescue boat, Police Chief David Bryning announced. “It has been a long journey and many ...
A: Main, news
Eager to solve beaver problem
July 23, 2025
District 3 Commissioner Bobby Ziegler assured Shauna Belyeu at Monday’s meeting that complaints she aired were being addressed. “It’s the beavers,” he said. Belyeu, representing some 300 homeowners in...
Thomas is Queen
A: Main, news
Thomas is Queen
July 23, 2025
Kyznie Thomas, 18, of Checotah, has been chosen Queen of the 2025 Eufaula Chamber of Commerce Rodeo. “I have ridden horses all my life,” she said. “Training and riding barrel and rope horses – I was b...
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Whitefield girl named Princess
A: Main, news
Whitefield girl named Princess
July 23, 2025
Six-year-old Lakyn Spur Stancell, daughter of Cole and Paige Stancell of Whitefield, has been named Princess of the 41st annual Whole Hawg Days Rodeo. Lakyn graduated from Whitefield Public Schools an...
A: Main, news
Yard Sale July 26
July 23, 2025
Under One Roof, 107 McKinley, will hold a yard sale on Saturday, July 26 starting at 7 a.m.
A: Main, news
Whole Hawg Days has something for everyone
July 23, 2025
The 41st Annual Whole Hawg Arts & Crafts Festival kicks off Thursday, July 24, with the first Whole Hawg Rodeo hosted by the Eufaula Chamber of Commerce. Friday and Saturday will be filled with activi...
news
Eufaula man pleads guilty to murder
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
July 23, 2025
MUSKOGEE –William Clayton Brown, 42, of Eufaula, entered a guilty plea last week to a one-count Felony Information of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree, punishable by up to life in prison and a $...
Anthem singers named
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Anthem singers named
July 23, 2025
The Eufaula Area Chamber of Commerce held an audition last week for singers to perform the National Anthem at the Chamber Rodeo, to be held July 24, 25 and 26. The rodeo starts at 8 p.m. “A huge thank...
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