Vian threatened by fire early Thursday-drugstore stock is loss

— Sequoyah County Times, July 11, 1947

From the files of Your Sequoyah County Times

25 Years Ago

(From the July 6, 1997, issue of the Sequoyah County Times)

–About 50 persons packed Gore City Hall Tuesday night to show their support for a planned sports complex, but it wasn't clear the next day if they got what they wanted.

City Clerk Paul Eichling will have to determine now if a three to two vote by town trustees to purchase 25 acres, and install utilities for the complex can stand. The fact that the agenda item concerning the matter only stated that a proposal would be presented and discussed, but not voted on, wasn't recognized until after the meeting was adjourned. An observant resident called Your TIMES Wednesday and pointed out taking a vote was not on the agenda,

—Employees at the Sallisaw Public Schools' bus garage have almost finished cleaning up the mess caused by vandals June 20.

“We pretty much have everything cleaned up,” said Dennis Garrett, the transportation coordinator for the Sallisaw Schools.

“They broke bus windows, spray painted busses and our office and dumped bus records on the floor and poured water on them,” Garrett said. “They also cut on the pop box and my tool box, spilled antifreeze and stole a school van. The insurance man told me they were going to total it (van).”

The van was recovered from a creek east of Seven Oaks, a police report said.

Also stolen were a television, a cellular phone, camera equipment and other items, Garrett added.

50 Years Ago

(From the July, 1972, issue of the Sequoyah County Times)

—Files for this time period cannot be read.

75 Years Ago

(From the July 11, 1947, issue of the Sequoyah County Times)

—Fire of undetermined origin destroyed the entire stock of “Chubbie” Bynum's Drug Store in Vian Thursday morning, the fire was discovered at 10 a.m. and it was through the efficient work of Vian's Volunteer fire department that the loss other than severe smoke damage was confined to the drug store.

Brockman's Store and Bynum's Grocery suffered heavy damage to their stock of merchandise as did several residents living in apartments above the building. The Masonic Lodge rooms also suffered considerable damage from smoke and water.

Chief Doyne Harrison and his boys had the fire completely under control shortly after they received the alarm. They had made a “stand-by” call to the Sallisaw Fire Department but due to their effective work they were able to give the “all clear” signal soon after placing the call.

Dr. Cecil Bryan owned the building occupied by the drug store.

Had the fire gotten out of control it would have created a threat of destruction to all of the central business block of Vian as it is located in the center of the block on front street and the buildings are all built wall to wall in this area.

—Bill Price and others in Moffett and Clifford Sloan and others in Gore and Vian area have started a dusting program this week.

Cotton boll weevil count in the field is very high. A field check of boll weevil count was made last week in the county in each cotton producing area in the county including Gore, Vian and Moffett. On these farms the count ran from 16 percent to 47 percent. Dusting should begin at 10 percent or 12 percent. Cotton farmers should check their fields about twice a week to determine if they have enough boll weevil count to begin dusting, according to the County Agent.

—Mrs. Lillie May Marvell was fined $63.00 Monday for possession of gambling equipment which consisted of several punchboards in her beer tavern on top of McKey hill on U.S. Highway 64, 5 miles west of Sallisaw. Deputy sheriff Elmer Flannigan and highway patrolmen Harry Davis made the arrest.

On Monday morning at 10 a.m. county attorney R.O. Ingle issued a petition to revoke Mrs. Marvell's beer permit on the grounds that she permitted drunks to loiter in and around her tavern; the building is a public nuisance and Mrs. Marvell permitted loud obscene language in and about her place of business; and that she allows fighting, drinking and carousing in and around her tavern; and that the tavern is detrimental to the peace and quietude of the neighbors and causes disturbances on the public highway near there. Hearing will be July 14 at 10 a.m.

100 years ago

(From the July 7, 1922, issue of the Sequoyah County Democrat)

—To mark the close of a day of great festivity and merry making interspersed with political oratory and other entertainment the Ku Klux Klan made their first public appearance in Sallisaw by parading the principal streets of Sallisaw and the entrance to the picnic grounds between the hour of 9 and 10 o'clock of evening of the Fourth.

The parade came as a climax to the most exciting celebration Sallisaw and vicinity has witnessed in many years. The approaching parade was made known on the picnic grounds and hundreds of people gathered and waited patiently for a glimpse of the white robes, but the klansmen appeared at the entrance of the gate and continued their mission by parading the business center and principal streets of the city. They were greeted with cheers.

—At a hearing before the Court of Criminal Appeals in Oklahoma City Wednesday, application for a writ of Habeas Corpus for the release of Frank Allen, who is confined in the county jail for the killing Quesenbury Beasley on the streets of this city, early in June, was filed by T.M. McCombs, attorney for Allen and heard by the court. The court declined to issue writ of Habeas Corpus but ordered that a rule to show cause be entered why the writ should not be awarded as prayed for.