City Council refuses request to help in remodeling of county jail
— Sequoyah County Times, Aug. 16, 1973
From the files of Your Sequoyah County Times
25 Years Ago
(From the Aug. 16, 1998, issue of the Sequoyah County Times) —The Vian Board of Trustees was urged to help establish a Vian library at their regular monthly meeting Monday.
Ken McCreary, a Vian resident, asked for the council’s help in establishing a library.
“I understand there are books and funds, which were donated to earlier library efforts, still available for use,” he said.
McCreary told the board the library must be set up by the town in order to later qualify for grants.
He suggested a portion of the old post office building recently acquired by the town could be used as space to start a library.
“I am here tonight seeking the help of the council to push this forward. A library would be beneficial to both children and adults in the community,” he said.
50 Years Ago
(From the Aug. 16, 1973, issue of the Sequoyah County Times) —The Sallisaw City Council met Tuesday night and refused a request from the county commissioners that the city come up with $16,000 to help in the remodeling of the county jail located in the courthouse.
In discussion on the issue, it was pointed out that all communities in the county use the one jail in Sallisaw and it did not seem appropriate that the City of Sallisaw be asked to help in the total remodeling project if others were not.
City attorney Roy Frye Jr. commented that the spending of that much money might cause some problems because the city would be spending city money to update a county facility.
Mayor Perry Wheeler told the council that “if we are going to put up that much money we might consider building our own jail.” City manager Lloyd Haskins is to research the situation further and report back at the September council meeting.
—The much-awaited resurfacing project for Sallisaw streets began early Monday morning, when crews from the Charles Cohen Co. of Tulsa moved in to Sallisaw and started up their hot lay asphalt machine.
The contractor for the project said Monday that his workers will remain in Sallisaw for approximately two weeks to lay asphalt, then will move on to two other projects before returning to Sallisaw to complete the project here in about three weeks.
75 Years Ago
(From the Aug. 20, 1948, issue of the Sequoyah County Times) —County officers claimed Thursday to have broken a 90day siege of thefts from freight trucks passing through Sequoyah County. Four persons were in the county jail on charges of investigation and officers still were working on the case.
Being held are Pete Tollison, 41, Gore, Vinnis Griffin, 22, Don Clark, 23, and W.J. Moss, 17, all of the Gore vicinity.
A trap was successfully sprung by Undersheriff Hutchens working with Highway Patrolman K. O. Rayburn and an interstate truck driver identified as J.D. Dean.
Hutchens was riding with Dean in the truck cab and Rayburn following four hundred yards behind in his patrol car.
Hutchens said he was watching the rear of the truck as the sharp turn was made at Gore where the machine was slowed to cross the railroad tracks.
“I saw shadowy forms rush out from the darkness and climb aboard the truck and then start ransacking. A signal to Rayburn brought him up behind and three were taken into custody.
The officer said that trucklines had reported tarpaulins and fruit and all sorts of items had been lost recently passing through the county. Many items were found this morning by investigators, they related.
—Mrs. Hattie Guinn, widow of Irvin Guinn, killed in February, 1946, when struck by a government agency automobile, was awarded $7,500 damages against the United States in the first suit of this nature in Oklahoma, it was learned here this week.
The case was brought in the Eastern District Federal court in Muskogee through Mrs. Guinn’s attorney, W.S. Agent Jr., Sallisaw, under an act of congress passed in August, 1946, permitting suit to be brought by an individual against the government and government employees.
Guinn was killed when struck down as he stepped out of a truck near his home at McKey Hill. A.V. Denny, Tulsa, employee of the Interstate Commerce commission, was driver of the passing automobile that struck Guinn. Settlement by the government was completed this week, it was learned.
100 years ago
(From the Aug. 17, 1923, issue of the Sequoyah County Democrat) —Arthur “Tite” Farris, formerly city mail carrier, was taken in custody by Deputy U.S. Marshall George Ritter early this week charged with embezzlement of postal funds, and is now in the county jail in default of a $2,000 bond.
Several weeks ago Farris mysteriously disappeared from this city leaving his mail carrier’s sack behind and went to California. He returned home this week unexpected. During his tenure as mail carrier Farris appropriated C.O.D. collections to his own use, according to the statement of U.S. Commissioner Breedlove of this city.
Several months ago a registered package of new currency addressed to a local national bank disappeared from the post office and the postal authorities have been working on this case, but to date, have made no arrest. Farris is not implicated in the currency deal, the only charge preferred against him at this time is embezzlement of postal funds.
—The remodeling of James L. McDonald’s home on Chickasha Avenue in Quesenbury edition will begin at once, according to A.F. King, the contractor, the McDonald home will be remodeled throughout and will have an attractive appearance when completed.
—Joe Moorehead of Idabel, has accepted a position with the Palace Drug Store as a soda dispenser. Mr. Moorehead is a young man and comes to our city highly recommended. He is an experienced man in the drug store business and will make the Palace a valued employee.
