• Ed Hawkins of Beggs was arrested after abandoning a stolen demonstrator car that ran out of gas in front of Officer Ben May’s home. Police tracked him into the woods, where he confessed to stealing two cars – one recovered in Okmulgee and another in Muskogee. Officers from the Beggs Auto Supply Company also suspected him of taking $112 in cash and missing auto accessories.

• Former Okmulgee resident Ernest McDaniel wrote from Austin on Christmas Eve 1925, urging the city to save the old Creek Council House from demolition or relocation. He warned that moving it would destroy its historical value, comparing it to landmarks like the Alamo and noting how cities that preserve their heritage attract far more meaningful tourism than those that replace it with federal buildings. McDaniel argued that Okmulgee held the only Creek Capitol grounds in the world and that tearing it down for a post office would permanently diminish both the site and the surrounding business district. He encouraged the community to restore, beautify and illuminate the Council House so future generations would never have to apologize for losing such an irreplaceable landmark.

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• The Creek Nation Garden Club held its annual Christmas party at the home of Mrs. Bill Morgan, where members exchanged gifts and enjoyed handmade holiday decorations. Reports included progress on the Kiddy Lake landscaping project and a presentation on the history of Greasy Creek, originally known as Okmulgee Creek. Mrs. Ernest Ross gave a Bicentennial‑themed program describing Christmas in 1776, closing with a message of gratitude and hope. Refreshments were served to a dozen members, with Mrs. Estil Riley assisting as hostess.

• The Creek Nation Appaloosa Club held its annual Christmas dinner at the home of Jim and Gloria Sherrow, where members enjoyed games, a gift exchange and holiday refreshments. A large group attended from Okmulgee, Morris, Henryetta and Muskogee, including several families and students home for the holidays.

— 25 Years Ago (2000)

• Paul and Inez Lemon of Broken Arrow celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Dec. 28, 2000, with a reception hosted by Paul and Julie Lemon. The couple, both natives of Okmulgee, once owned The Blossom Shop for two decades and were longtime members of the Church of Christ. They are parents to three children: Paul Lemon, Jr. of Okmulgee, Carolyn Keele of Broken Arrow and the late Shirley Ingold.

• Henryetta’s liquor laws prohibited alcohol sales on Sundays, meaning residents couldn’t buy liquor on New Year’s Eve in 2000. Local stores like Kern’s and Rainbow closed at 9 p.m. Saturday and would remain closed for two days under the ordinance. Clubs such as Marvin’s Place and Wilson City Limits, however, were allowed to operate under state-issued licenses and planned to stay open through New Year’s Eve, offering music and drinks to ring in 2001.

— 10 Years Ago (2015)

• Okmulgee County received nearly ten inches of rain over Christmas weekend, forcing multiple road and highway closures across the area. High water briefly shut down Highway 75 at 36th Street and caused additional problems near 10th Street by Mc-Donald’s, sending drivers onto detours. Several major routes – including US‑62 east of Morris, SH‑266, US‑75A north of Beggs, Bixby Road, Dentonville Road and 210 Road – were closed due to flooding. W. Eufaula Street was declared closed indefinitely because the Deep Fork River had overflowed its banks.

• The Okmulgee Bulldogs entered January 2016 with a strong 5-1 record, their only loss coming against Class 5A No. 2 Tulsa Memorial. Led by top scorers Jimell Tate (17.8 PPG) and Michael Simmons (14.6 PPG), the team posted dominant wins over Morris, Kellyville, Checotah, Beggs and Haskell. Solid defense and balanced rebounding – highlighted by Thessaly Griffin’s team‑leading 27 boards – helped fuel the early- season success.