City votes ‘no’ on BRD’s bankruptcy plan

— Sequoyah County Times, Oct. 23, 1997

From the files of Your Sequoyah County Times

25 Years Ago

(From the Oct. 23, 1997, issue of the Sequoyah County Times)

–“No,” was the vote by the Sallisaw Municipal Authority Friday night, on the proposed bankruptcy reorganization plan submitted by Blue Ribbon Downs.

But, city and track officials are meeting this week to work out solutions to those items which forced the authority into a no vote on the plan.

Mayor Glenn called the special meeting because the city, as the racetrack‚s first lien holder, and its largest creditor, also has the largest say in whether or not the reorganization plan is accepted.

At Friday‚s meeting, which was attended by about 50 horsemen and track employees, Glenn told the crowd, “We want the track to continue to operate because of the importance of the track to the city and the citizens of Sallisaw.

“But, we have to look out for the citizens of the city also. I recommend we vote no, but want to see if we can get dome of these concerns worked out through negotiations.”

50 Years Ago

(From the Oct. 26, 1972, issue of the Sequoyah County Times)

—Total bank assets in Sequoyah County have climbed to near the $29 million mark, the Oct. 10 bank call reveals, reflecting the continued strong growth of the county‚s economy.

The continued rise of bank assets, coupled with recent news stories of gains in county and city sales taxes have indicated the county‚s economic picture is more sound now than at any time in its history.

—Construction of a cafeteria and classroom is underway at Gans. Work has been going on for some time but now the building is beginning to take shape. Charles Smith is superintendent of the Gans school system.

75 Years Ago

(From the Oct. 24, 1947, issue of the Sequoyah County Times)

—The 1947 cotton production in Sequoyah County has tripled that of last year, Mrs. Grace M Reager, special agent for the Department of Commerce, revealed Thursday.

Census reports show that 329 bales of cotton were ginned in Sequoyah County from the 1947 crop prior to October 1, as compared to 101 bales for the 1946 crop.

—The Sallisaw Canning plant is running full blast, Bruce Frith, manager, said Thursday. Full crews are busy processing the Sequoyah County bean crop and will continue work until the first killing frost this season.

It is estimated the plant processes and cans around 15 to 20 tons of beans daily. In a recent survey, Sequoyah County ranks first in Oklahoma in total vegetable production.

100 years ago

(From the Oct. 20, 1922, issue of the Sequoyah County Democrat)

—Labor cost is still high. Print paper has hit a high notch this week, printer‚s ink is still as black as our printer‚s devil‚s hands, but high as the city‚s skyscraper, the typewriter needs repairing and the oil we use still costs more than 3 in 1, our coal box is yet to be paid for and it contains no coal. We can cope with all of these evils if you PAY YOUR SUBSCRIPTION.

—Robert Worman, age 44, died in a Fort Smith hospital early Wednesday morning from injuries sustained in a fight with Jess Harrison which occurred Wednesday, Oct. 11 at the home of Page Stalcup, southwest of this city on Drake Prairie. Harrison is now in the county jail and at the time we go to press no information has been filed against him.

According to Sheriff C.M. Gay who went to the scene of the fight and investigated the cause leading to the fatal encounter, Harrison was passing the home of Stalcup on horseback enroute to Sadie and Worman, who it is alleged was intoxicated invited him in the house, which invitation was accepted. Worman, it is alleged began to abuse Harrison in the Stalcup home and later in the front yard by using vile language and attacked him with a pocket knife; this Harrison kicked away and used a rock in self-defense; hitting Worman over the head.

Following the combat Harrison left for his designation. Worman who lived less than two miles from the scene of the fatal fight stayed all night at the Stalcup home and the next day he picked cotton out of his own field, but while picking cotton he was taken ill and was rushed to Fort Smith for treatment where he died early Wednesday morning. It is claimed that Worman‚s death was due to bad moonshine instead of the blow that was struck by Harrison, inasmuch as his skull was not fractured.

Harrison and the dead man had always been the best of friends and no hard words had been passed between them until last week. It was just another case of where “moonshine” claimed another victim.

—Hog cholera is making its annual visit to Sequoyah County according to reports to reach the Democrat this week. The dreaded cholera is reported in Price‚s Chapel and Sloan Chapel districts by County Agent Fred Ingram who has been working in the neighborhood during the past week trying to prevent spreading of the cholera.