Former chief is found innocent of wiretapping

-Sequoyah CountyTimes, Nov.1,1999

From the files of Your Sequoyah County Times

25 Years Ago

(From the Oct. 31,1999, issue of the Sequoyah County Times) —Former Cherokee Nation Chief Joe Byrd said he is “relieved” about a unanimous verdict Wednesday by a U.S. District Court Jury in Tulsa finding him innocent of wiretapping.

After seven days of trial, the federal jury took only three hours to find Byrd and two others innocent of charges that they illegally used the contents of wiretapped telephone conversations.

“The case should have never been tried in federal court. Any differences between tribal members could have been resolved by coming to the table inside the Cherokee Nation,” Byrd said.

—Concerns about the length of time needed for decommissioning Sequoyah Fuels, and the plan to close the Gore plant, were raised when the public met with members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Wednesday evening at Webbers Falls.

The plant quit manufacturing rods for nuclear power plants seven years ago, but must present an acceptable decommissioning plan to the NRC before it can close completely.

Sequoyah Fuels’ closing plan, which includes storing radioactive contaminated materials on grounds, in a disposal cell which could cover 10 acres and be four stories tall, concerns some residents. They want the contaminated materials moved off site, and stored in other areas of the United States.

After the study of the impact of onsite storage of contaminated materials is complete, the next step will be to determine if the state attorney general may become a factor in the closing proceedings. Attorney General Drew Edmondson opposes the on-site-contamination storage.

50 Years Ago

(From the Nov. 7,1974, issue of the Sequoyah County Times) —Democrats have run away with the elections this year, county, state and nationwide.

—Bills TV Center recently opened at the Eastgate Shopping Center in Sallisaw, between Wal-Mart and C.R. Anthonys. The Center will be able to repair all television models.

The store will also feature a full line of TV sets specializing in Curtis Mathis according to owner Bill Turner.

75 Years Ago

(From the Nov. 11,1949, issue of the Sequoyah County Times) —One new case of Polio has been reported recently in Sequoyah County. On checking, we found that three cases had been admitted to Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa from this county since Oct. 1.

—Plans for another new industry in Sallisaw were announced Thursday by Guy E. Stoy, secretary-manager of the chamber of commerce.

A new and modern steam laundry will be operated by Woodrow Lillard and Arvil Smith, in connection with the Super Cleaners, which Smith now operates. Lillard has disposed of his furniture business and will devote all his time to the new laundry, which will be the only steam laundry in the county.

Construction will start immediately on the building which will house the concern. It will be located next to the Super Cleaners.

The laundry will be equipped with new and modern machinery, said Stoy, and will furnish complete laundry service, including pick-up and delivery.

—Remodeling began this week on the building occupied by the Sallisaw Appliance company, announced Wilton Latimer, owner and manager of the company.

The face lifting, he said, would take about a week. The building is owned by Mrs. Nina Batrick of Tulsa.

—W.C. Ashbrook has announced that he recently purchased his old place of business, the Skelly Service Station on West Cherokee Ave.

He will offer a special service of calling on drivers anyplace in town who are in need of gas, or who have flats, at no extra cost.

100 years ago

(From the Nov. 7,1924, issue of the Sequoyah County Democrat) —Arch Peters suffered a loss by robbery last week during the D.O.K.K. ceremonial here, of approximately $100.00 in a most mysterious and peculiar manner.

He took part in the ceremonial and was engaged in initiatory work practically all of the day, and during a portion of the time that he was absent left his store in the charge of Mrs. Peters. During a rush period and while a number of customers were in the store someone stepped behind the counter and stole a large leather money purse in which Mr. Peters kept his deposit money and checks. About $35.00 in cash was in the bag and about $65.00 in checks. The bag was missed a short while later but no trace of the thief has yet been found and until the checks are presented for payment, it may be impossible to secure any trace whatever.