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Blue Mentality to compete in National FFA talent competition
A: Main, news
September 18, 2024
Blue Mentality to compete in National FFA talent competition
By STACIE BOSTON SENIOR MULTIMEDIA REPORTER CHEROKEE PHOENIX,

(Courtesy of Cherokee Phoenix)

The lives of three Cherokee boys from Eufaula changed after they were named the Oklahoma State FFA Talent Show winners this past May.

In a competition voted on by their peers, the group won first place in front of an estimated crowd of 14,000 people during the 98th Oklahoma State FFA Convention and Expo in Tulsa.

“Winning the state competition overall, there’s not really words to describe that,” Cherokee Nation citizen Tucker Leathers said. “It was just a roller coaster of emotions that, to be honest, I would love to do again every day for the rest of my life.”

The trio of Cherokee Nation citizens came together as the country music band Blue Mentality to compete in the competition. The lineup consists of Tyse Buck on lead vocals, piano and rhythm guitar; Tucker Leathers on lead guitar and backup vocals; and Turner Pitts on drums.

After we won it (the competition), we’re really trying to take it (the band) places,” Pitts said. “Playing different venues and putting on a show for people is awesome. It’s re- ally fun.”

The group won as the Eufaula FFA Chapter, but due to Leathers graduating and Buck changing schools, they will represent as the Oklahoma FFA Chapter during the National FFA Talent Competition at the 97th National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana in late-October.

Since winning state, the group has performed at various locations in Eufaula to help raise funds to attend nationals, which Buck said he and his band mates are excited for.

“This fall nationals will be … in front of, I believe, 35,000 people. It will be a huge event, lots of FFA members from across the country,” Buck said. “We’re just going to go up there and give it our all.”

Various local establishments in Eufaula have donated their venues to help the band fundraise. One of the venues is Xtreme Resort, which has hosted country acts such as Gretchen Wilson at the resort’s amphitheater.

“I’d just like to thank Ron and Mary (Henry) for letting us come out here and giving us a venue to help fundraise to go to nationals,” Pitts said.

Leathers echoed that sentiment and added that performing locally is a way for the band to give back to those locally who continue to show support.

“The support of our town, the support of the people who come out and watch us – they tip us great and every bit of that goes straight to our fund to go to nationals,” Leathers said. “So being here tonight in Eufaula and providing a show for the town of Eufaula, it really just means to me that we’re really staying within our community, the people who first actually started to support us in the beginning.”

For upcoming shows or to donate towards Blue Mentality’s trip to nationals, find the band on Facebook or Instagram.

“A good way to help us get to the nationals is to come and support,” Pitts said.

Seminole survives Checotah 34-27
B:, sports
Seminole survives Checotah 34-27
By Rodney Haltom sports EDITOR 
September 10, 2025
The Seminole Chieftains were lucky to go home with a 34-27 win over the Checotah Wildcats Friday night. Checotah’s penalties that accumulated to over 100 yards. The Wildcats moved the football up and ...
Council votes to dismiss former Mayor Warren
A: Main, news
Council votes to dismiss former Mayor Warren
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
September 10, 2025
The Eufaula City Council removed former Mayor Todd Warren from the Council Monday night citing excessive absences. City minutes of past meetings presented to the Council showed that Warren missed the ...
Church celebrates 160th anniversary
A: Main, news
Church celebrates 160th anniversary
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
September 10, 2025
Decades before Oklahoma became a state in 1907; years before the first railroad track was laid in Indian Territory in 1870 and the year the Civil War ended, folks in a remote area of what is now McInt...
Mild weather, just what the festival ordered
A: Main, news
Mild weather, just what the festival ordered
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
September 10, 2025
Mayor James Hickman perhaps summarized best when he sent a letter of appreciation to Karen Weldin and the Vision Eufaula Board of Directors for one of the best Wine & Art Festivals held in the city. “...
9/11 – Never Forget
A: Main, news
9/11 – Never Forget
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
September 10, 2025
At about 7 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, I strolled into the Las Vegas Sun newsroom where I worked as an entertainment reporter. The room was quiet, a palpable feeling of dread filled the air as the f...
Margaret Floyd Homecoming Parade Marshal
A: Main, news
Margaret Floyd Homecoming Parade Marshal
September 10, 2025
Margaret Marie Vickery Floyd has been named the 2025 Eufaula High School Homecoming Parade Marshall. Born in 1927 in Ramona, she is the fourth greatgranddaughter of Chief McIntosh, and the mother of f...
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Editor Picks
A: Main, news
Ironhead Homecoming Friday
September 10, 2025
The Homecoming Weekend kicks off Friday, Sept.12, with a Pep Assembly at the Eufaula High School Auditorium at 9:30 a.m. followed by a parade at 1 p.m. The coronation of Homecoming Royalty takes place...
New library coordinator challenges Checotah
A: Main, news
New library coordinator challenges Checotah
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
September 10, 2025
September is Library Card Sign-up Month, and so the new coordinator of Eufaula Memorial Library is taking that opportunity to challenge the Jim Lucas Checotah Public Library to a competition to see wh...
Braddock Dobbs joins School Board
A: Main, news
Braddock Dobbs joins School Board
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
September 10, 2025
Braddock Dobbs, 31, son of the late Margaret Dobbs, who was on the Eufaula School Board for 15 years, is following in his mother’s footsteps. Monday night, Aug. 8, at its monthly meeting, the Board ap...
Drillers honor Eufaula veteran
news
Drillers honor Eufaula veteran
September 10, 2025
Former Army Sp4 Timothy Pickering of Eufaula was honored recently at the Driller Stadium in Tulsa as a “Hometown Hero,” a program that honors people who have had a lasting impact on the community. Pic...
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Flea Pop-Up Market
September 10, 2025
Friday – Sunday, Sept.12-14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 210 N. Main St. Booth rental available. Call Mr. Printer at 918-689-5998, Jani at 918-839-8494 or Ricky at 918-424-9961. Prices for all three days: ...
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