• The Okmulgee Fire Department responded to a fire located on the 800 block of S. Kern. The small fire did little damage to the home, and although there were residents residing in the home at the time of the fire, those residents were able to get out safely with no injuries being reported.

• Larnelle and Catherine Williams celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with a special Thanksgiving Dinner at Uganda Martyr Church, the same location where they tied the knot in 1950. A portrait of the couple accompanied the exciting announcement for Okmulgee residents. The dinner was served by Rev. Joshua Litwack. With six children and many grandchildren, the couple’s family enjoyed this meaningful time together, bringing memories close to home.

• Schulter Elementary celebrated Veterans Day with a special ceremony that featured Sergeant First Class John Delso. The event began with an official Flag Folding Ceremony. Following the ceremony, Sergeant Delso delivered a speech. The evening concluded with the announcement of Schulter students who had won various contests. The winners of the Essay Contest included 9th grader Kevin Vinyard,

25 Years Ago (2000)

• Running back Eric Johnson delivered the decisive play for the Okmulgee Bulldogs, scoring the night’s only touchdown against the Stilwell Indians. Johnson was pictured, making his way to the end zone and crossing the painted grass line, leaving the Stilwell defense behind. The Bulldogs’ defense was equally formidable, and as the players exited the field, the 7-0 scoreboard confirmed their playoff- opening victory.

• Okmulgee Schools Superintendent Dr. Sheryl Flowers initiated a new “focus” plan, grounded in the conviction all children are capable of learning. This program’s core components included knowledge bases, benchmarking, communities of practice and technical assistance. To establish future goals for the district, Dr. Flowers had intended to create focus groups comprising teachers, parents, clergy, business leaders and legislators. The overarching aim of this vision was to boost test scores and guarantee every student fully achieved their potential.

• Oklahoma State University-IT staff and students celebrated Kirschner Trusts Appreciation Day. Miriam Freedman, Chairman of the Trusts, visited campus along with Office Manager Jermaine McLaughlin. The Trusts, founded by philanthropist Edward Kirschner of Muskogee, had already helped nearly 1,000 OSU-Okmulgee students earn their degrees. The event included meeting scholarship recipients and touring the campus.

— 50 Years Ago (1975)

• A young Tulsa mother who worked as a Highway Patrol radio dispatcher was arrested after attempting to rob a bank in Jenks. She handed a note to a teller but was subdued before escaping. Authorities later connected her to two other recent bank robberies in Tulsa County. A Tulsa patrolman was suspended when investigators discovered she had used his car during the attempt.

• The residents of Okmulgee prepared for a lively community event where five live turkeys were released from the fire department’s snorkel truck. Folks gathered on Seventh Street to try their luck at catching their Thanksgiving dinner. Businesses who had supported Wild Hog Days helped fund the event, and the Okmulgee Times Promotion Department organized it to bring neighbors together for fun, fellowship and shopping downtown to support the shops housed there.

— 100 Years Ago (1925)

• Okmulgee residents mourned the loss of Mrs. Candas T. Horton, mother of Harry H. Horton, publisher of the Okmulgee Times, and John T. Horton, also connected with the paper. She passed away in Dallas after a long illness. Mrs. Horton was remembered as a pioneer Texan, the daughter of J.J. O’Quinn, who had served in the Texas legislature. Her funeral was expected to be held in Graham, Texas, where her husband was already buried.

• Twenty classrooms across Okmulgee’s public schools proudly reported 100 percent participation in savings deposits. Teachers and students celebrated their inclusion on the “Thrift Honor Roll,” showing the town’s commitment to teaching children the value of saving money and preparing for the future.