New administrators are named for hospital

From the files of Your Sequoyah County Times

25 Years Ago

(From the Feb. 6, 2000, issue of the Sequoyah County Times) —The Sallisaw Police Department is the proud owner of a new computer system and program which will provide the department with a database for easier access to information.

The Winbadge (police) program, which went into operation on Jan. 1, was purchased with an $11,000 equipment grant provided by the Department of Justice and the District Attorney’s Council matched with $6,000 from the City of Sallisaw, Julie Ferguson, city grants administrator, said. The overall system includes about eight terminals and six laptops which are kept in patrol cars. Long term plans are to seek additional funding so officers will be able to obtain automobile registration and other information directly from their laptop computers, Ferguson said.

50 Years Ago

(From the Feb. 6, 1975, issue of the Sequoyah County Times) —County Commissioner Jerry Bachus asserted in a special meeting Wednesday morning that he had been warned on Jan. 30 that the jail in Sallisaw was going to be closed.

The meeting was called by the commissioners after they received a registered letter from charities and corrections commissioner Jim Cook stating the jail was about to be closed.

According to the letter, which was sent to all interested persons, including the sheriff’s office, district attorneys office, the county has about five days to plan for a new jail or the present facilities will be closed.

“They constitute a fire hazard, they do not meet minimum health standards, there are no arrangements for segregation of juvenile prisoners and the feeding facilities are unsanitary.”

Cook said that he has warned the county commissioners several times and that “on numerous occasions I have been informed that the present jail facilities will be replaced.”

75 Years Ago

(From the Feb. 10, 1950, issue of the Sequoyah County Times) —The Sequoyah Memorial Hospital which has been closed for two weeks will reopen Monday under the administration of Mr. and Mrs. Murray L. Lloyd who have signed a three year lease contract with the Board of Control for its operation.

The lease held by Zelda Atterberry was terminated February 1 and the new lease for the hospital’s operation was made with the Lloyds.

The Board of Control through their secretary, Guy L. Thompson, said Thursday. “We feel fortunate in securing Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd as the new lessees and operators of the Sequoyah Memorial Hospital. We had many applications but felt that with their outstanding record as administrators of hospitals that the Lloyds would soon make the local hospital famous throughout this area as a great hospital.”

—A car load of Frigidaire refrigerators arrived in Sallisaw yesterday for sale to the people in Sequoyah County, according to Malloy Orendorff.

The refrigerators which will be on sale at Orendorff’s Modern Home Appliance Store are the first shipment of the new Frigidaire refrigerators to arrive in Sallisaw.

“This is the largest shipment of refrigerators to be received in Sallisaw in one shipment,” Orendorff said, adding, “Just proof that this county has grown since last year.”

100 years ago

(From the Feb. 6, 1925, issue of the Sequoyah County Democrat) —Three persons were seriously wounded in an alleged family fight near Vrona, on Thursday, Jan. 29, at the home of George Keen, one of the participants. Those injured were Sam Benge, age 23: Mrs. May Keen, daughter-in-law of George Keen and sister to Benge; and George Keen.

According to the sheriff’s office the fight resulted from a misunderstanding between the women of the household of George Keen. Just a few days prior to the fight, George Keen’s son married May Benge and had been making their home with George Keen. A quarrel between Keen’s daughter and his daughter-in-law on Thursday was the beginning of the trouble, it is said.

Keen attempted to act as peacemaker between the two women, it is claimed and tried to separate them. It is said the daughter-in-law was using a stick on George Keen’s daughter at the time of his interference, but at this point Sam Benge, thinking that George Keen was fighting his sister steps in and lands a vicious blow on the man’s jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground. After regaining his feet, it is alleged Keen drew is pistol and shot Benge just below the heart.

After Benge was shot his sister, May Keen, is alleged to have picked up a rock, weighing four or five pounds, threw it at Keen, knocking him unconscious. The woman was standing about twenty feet from Keen, when she threw the rock it is claimed. The rock cut a deep, ugly gash just above Keen’s right eye. As Keen regained consciousness he shot his daughter-in-law.

Keen gave himself to Deputy Sheriff George Horn of Vrona and the county officials were notified. Sheriff C.M. Gay and County Attorney Har. D. Pitchford went to Vrona and conducted a personal investigation.

Keen’s condition is still considered serious, while Benge and his sister, Mrs. May Keen are rapidly recovering from their wounds. An operation was necessary on the Keen woman in order to extract the bullet, it is claimed.

The preliminary hearing of Keen has not been set by County Attorney Pitchford at this time.