Drake trial set in Gans double murder

Excited utterance may be prosecution’s lynchpin

By BY LYNN ADAMS STAFF WRITER

By the time the 21st witness for state prosecutors concluded two days of often-damning and sometimes emotional testimony in the Stacy Lee Drake capital murder preliminary hearing at Sequoyah County District Court, Special Judge Matt Orendorff was convinced there was enough evidence to proceed to trial.

The trial for the first-degree murders of Tara Underwood and Taylor Sharp on June 18, 2024, at LaFerry’s Propane on U.S. 64 near Gans, is set for 1:30 p.m. July 7 in District Judge Timothy King�...

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Old Glory Ultra Relay runs through Sallisaw

By Lynn Adams Staff Writer

May 13, 2025

If you were in downtown Sallisaw Sunday afternoon, you may have seen someone running along Cherokee Avenue before heading north on U.S. 59 (Wheeler Avenue) toward Stilwell. While running is not uncomm...

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County approves tourism marketing contract

By Lynn Adams Staff Writer

May 13, 2025

Marketing Sequoyah County tourism, which was made possible in February when voters approved a 4% countywide lodging tax, will be “off and running” after county commissioners approved at their weekly M...

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CASA for Children names 2025 Volunteer of the Year

May 13, 2025

CASA for Children recently announced Helen Stemmer of Sallisaw as the 2025 CASA Volunteer of the Year. Stemmer was recognized on April 29 at the nonprofit’s annual Volunteer Appreciation and Awards Ba...

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Sallisaw School Board approves new hires, accepts multiple resignations

By Amie Cato-Remer Editor

May 13, 2025

The Sallisaw Board of Education convened for its regular monthly meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday in the Administration Building boardroom. President Bobby Qualls called the meeting to order, with all boar...

News, School News

Sallisaw FCCLA wins at state

By SUBMITTED BY STEPHANIE BENNETT

May 13, 2025

The Sallisaw Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) was named a Gold Chapter of Excellence, along with other notable accomplishments. State STAR Events Qualifier, Jocelyn Coffman, to...

News, School News

CASC graduate earns top awards at NSU Student Juried Art Show

May 13, 2025

TAHLEQUAH — Whitley Moore, who received her Associate of Arts in Pre-Elementary Education from Carl Albert State College, recently took top honors in three categories at the 23rd annual Northeastern S...