September 8, 2025

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Old Man Winter coldcocks county
A: Main, news
February 26, 2025
Old Man Winter coldcocks county
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR

Old Man Winter assaulted McIntosh County last week.

During the coldest part of the freeze, temperatures fell to one degree in some areas, with windchills of -14.

Snow, ice and freezing temperatures knocked out the power for some, forced the closing of schools, businesses, and governments and made streets and highways all but impassable.

Hundreds of vehicles ended up in ditches throughout the county, especially on Interstate 40 and U.S. Highway 69.

Dozens of the vehicles that ended up in ditches and wrecks were semis.

Morgan Towing and Recovery said normally there is a 45-minute wait for a tow. In the depth of the deep freeze in McIntosh County the wait was six to eight hours, according to a dispatcher.

Morgan had between 125 and 150 calls for help during the worst of the weather.

Temperatures remained dangerously cold much of last week:

• Wednesday’s high was 18 (wind chill -8), low 5 (wind chill -7)

• Thursday’s high 20, low 13

• Friday’s high 32, low 23

• Saturday’s high 43, low 13 Ballard’s Cardinal Towing received 157 calls, many from truckers. The wait was up to three hours.

A one-vehicle fatality accident that took place at 2 a.m. Saturday four miles south of Eufaula at SH 9E and Bower Road is under investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

The OHP did not give any details about how the accident occurred, whether it was weather related.

Killed was 44-yearold Holly Jordan of McAlester who was the driver of a 2023 Honda Accord. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Passenger James Scarpello, 43, of Hartshorne, was flown to Saint Francis in Tulsa suffering from head and trunk injuries.

The fatal accident was not the only tragedy during the harsh weather.

The Eufaula Fire Department assisted the Vivian Fire Department fighting a mobile home fire at about 4:20 a.m. Friday on S.H. 9 at Deere’s Chapel.

“A lady with three children and a dog lost everything,” French said. “The Red Cross was called to help them.”

Firefighters stayed busy assisting law enforcement work accidents for several days.

“It started on the 18th (Tuesday) at around noon with first a call of a limb on fire that was laying on a power line due to the ice accumulation in Eagle bluff,” Fire Chief Chad French said. “Then at about 3:45 p.m. the same day our first semi was stuck in the middle of 69 highway just north of Eagle Bluff on a hill. It caused a traffic jam, forcing us to divert traffic from 69 through Eufaula. While on that call, a semi crashed into the wall on 69 southbound by Love’s. We finished up that day at around 8 p.m.”

Thenextday,Wednesday, at about 9:45 a.m. a semi ran off 69 just north of Love’s, going into a ditch through the fence onto Union Pacific Railway property and into the trees, knocking one onto the tracks.

“We had to clear the tracks with chain saws, cutting the tree up so the trains could pass,” French said. “While on that call, at about 12:20 p.m. we received a call to assist in traffic control to get a semi out on the ditch just south of Love’s on Business 69.

“The same day, at about 2:30 p.m. a car hit the center wall on 69 northbound by Loves blocking the left lane.”

What’s cold weather without a power outage?

On Wednesday, Feb. 19, Some 1,200 OG&E customers and 500 members of Canadian Valley Electric Cooperative were briefly without power.

City Manager Jeb Jones said the warming station at the community center was open for two days, but no one took advantage of the facility.

This could be an indication that people, at least locals, were staying home.

“Everyone did a good job of staying in because of the ice. They respected the weather,” Jones said.

There was little snow but lots of ice, about ¼ inch thick.

“With snow you can get a little traction, but not on ice,” he said.

Most of the problems on 69 were on hills. Semis and autos couldn’t get up inclines, causing a number of back-ups.

“The police department had to deal with a lot of issues on 69, a lot of them on hills.” ODOT (Oklahoma Department of Transportation) was almost overwhelmed. Road crews were so busy sanding the highways, they couldn’t get to every location as quickly as motorists would have liked.

Jones said inside the city, streets were treated with 70 tons of sand.

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
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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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