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Articles by Dawn Carter
Beyond the Game
L&P invests in Okmulgee athletes’ futures Okmulgee High School freshman Elijah Dawson receives the inaugural $1,000 Beyond the Game Leadership Grant from Wayman Lewis of L&P Facility Services on Tuesday at Harmon Stadium. For Herbert and Wayman Lewis, supporting Okmulgee’s young football players means noticing what is growing — their effort, their confidence and the goals they carry beyond the field.
Council commits matching funds for downtown archway
Unanimous vote makes city the financial backstop for grant plan Okmulgee’s planned downtown archway has a path toward completion after the City Council unanimously committed up to $150,000 in local matching funds for a state grant application, backing a plan to finish the structure and make additional improvements in the downtown district. Tuesday’s special-session vote followed questions about rising project costs, competing city needs and where the local money would come from.
Six new Deep Fork homes available for rent in Okmulgee
Six newly built, two-bedroom homes on Eighth Street in Okmulgee are available for rent through Deep Fork Community Action Foundation, offering income-eligible residents another housing option. The homes rent for $550 a month, plus utilities, according to Christie Baldridge, the foundation’s director. During a recent interview, Baldridge said the homes are move-in ready, although the foundation is planning additional exterior work. The Subly token options allows you to view content by the article.
Munson discusses education, health care and data centers during return to Okmulgee Original
Go to main contentsGo to main menu Democratic gubernatorial candidate Cyndi Munson stopped by Okmulgee on Monday to discuss a variety of topics ahead of the upcoming general election. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Cyndi Munson returned to Okmulgee Monday, discussing public education, rural health care and her proposed pause on new data center projects as residents raised questions about transparency and local control.
Booster club rallies support for Bulldogs, Senior Night
The 2026 Okmulgee Bulldogs football team. The Okmulgee Quarterback Booster Club is back in action and calling on alumni, businesses and community members to support Bulldog football players in seventh through 12th grades. After a late start this season, the club is seeking donations for Senior Night on Friday, Nov. 6, when five seniors will be recognized for their dedication to the program. The Subly token options allows you to view content by the article.
Citywide prayer walk set for Thursday in Okmulgee
Okmulgee residents are invited to gather Thursday for a citywide prayer walk focused on unity and the needs of the community. The walk will begin at 6 p.m. at the intersection of Muskogee Avenue and Sixth Street and end in the parking lot of the Assembly of God Church at 301 N. Seminole Ave. The Subly token options allows you to view content by the article. If you are an existing subscriber you can log in to view this article. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today!
Okmulgee City Council approves park lighting
Downtown archway faces funding gap as Main Street seeks matching dollars Main Street President Chris Azbell, left, updates the Okmulgee City Council on the downtown archway project and its funding gap, and Main Street Director Sarah Rhodes, right, asks the council to consider matching funds for downtown improvements during Tuesday’s meeting.
Nelson, Banning discuss education, property rights at GOP meeting Original
Education, property rights and the role of government were central topics at the October meeting of the Okmulgee County Republican Party, where House candidate David Nelson and state Rep. Chris Banning discussed their campaigns and legislative priorities. Nelson, the Republican candidate for House District 16, described his outreach to school administrators, farmers, ranchers and veterans.
Building Community, Honoring Generations
Women- and Native-owned Morris business welcomes customers Team work: posing together outside of Chahta Ohoyo Building Supply. Pictured, in no particular order, are Morgan, Kolin, Derrick, Anthony and co-owner Mandi Tomasi. Source: Courtesy Photo At Chahta Ohoyo Building Supply, the conversation might begin with lumber, flooring or a weekend project. It might also come with a bag of popcorn and a laugh.
Just the Facts Original
What a Yes or No Vote Means on Oklahoma’s Two State Questions Oklahoma voters will see two statewide questions on the Nov. 3 general election ballot: State Question 845 and State Question 847. Both are proposed amendments to the Oklahoma Constitution and were referred to voters by the Oklahoma Legislature. SQ 845 concerns the Judicial Nominating Commission, while SQ 847 concerns limits on increases in the fair cash value of real property used in property taxation.
Beggs moves forward with wastewater financing
Collections agreements, city ordinate updates The Beggs City Council and Beggs Public Works Authority addressed wastewater improvements, delinquent accounts, financial procedures and several city ordinances during their Sept. 14 regular meetings. One of the evening’s most significant discussions centered on the city’s wastewater system and financing for additional work at the sewer plant. The Subly token options allows you to view content by the article.
City Council addresses zoning
Election, infrastructure projects handled The Okmulgee City Council addressed municipal elections, zoning changes, transportation funding and city equipment during its regular meeting Tuesday. The Okmulgee Municipal Authority also considered more than $1.2 million in water infrastructure payments and additional equipment purchases. The council approved minutes from its Aug. 18 meeting and payment of claims before moving into regular business.
TAOO Heritage Club connects history, identity and leadership
For students joining The Academy of Okmulgee’s new Heritage Club, learning African American history will not stop with knowing what happened. The larger question is: What will they do with what they know? The Subly token options allows you to view content by the article. If you are an existing subscriber you can log in to view this article. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today!
We Want Growth
Data center opposition group’s co-leaders describe what they’re working for Karly Felts talks about raising food for her children and continuing the practices of her grandmother and great-grandmother. Mackenzie Roberts talks about tending a community garden and helping residents have a say in the place they call home.
"We Want Growth"
Data center opposition group’s co-leaders describe what they’re working for Karly Felts talks about raising food for her children and continuing the practices of her grandmother and great-grandmother. Mackenzie Roberts talks about tending a community garden and helping residents have a say in the place they call home.
More Than a Ride
A Look Inside Okmulgee’s KATS Transportation System The Okmulgee KATS office team, including Transit Director Charla Sloan (far left). For an Okmulgee resident needing a ride to work, a doctor’s appointment or the grocery store, using public transportation can begin with a simple phone call. Behind that call is a transportation system coordinating local riders, scheduled trips, medical transportation and contracted services that can send drivers across the state.
Baptist Village celebrates August birthdays
Baptist Village residents and staff gathered in the dining hall on Thursday, Aug. 20, to celebrate August birthdays. Honorees included Nyleca M., Princella C., Bobbie S., Walter C., Trent Y., Amy M., Jarrett M. and Clorene G. Pictured center, Clorene Gaston holds her birthday cake alongside fellow resident Bobbie Swearengen and Baptist Village maintenance director, Jarrett Mitchell. Gaston will mark an especially significant milestone on Saturday, Aug. 29, when she celebrates her 100th birthday.
Okmulgee Council addresses transit funding
Mayor Mickey Baldwin stands with City Clerk Tina Payne while reading a letter honoring the legacy of Sharon Taylor during the Aug. 18 Okmulgee City Council meeting. The Okmulgee City Council handled a broad slate of business during its Aug. 18 regular meeting, approving funding for public transportation and youth programs, purchasing two new police vehicles, revising building and utility ordinances and continuing the sale of city-held properties.
Pregnancy Resource Navigator helps families find support
A growing family can bring questions about prenatal care, health coverage, food, housing, childcare, infant supplies and where to turn for help. The Okmulgee County Health Department’s Pregnancy Resource Navigator program is designed to help families find and access services before, during and after a baby’s birth.
Local businesswomen bring hat-making fun to Baptist Village
Residents of Baptist Village spent their Monday decorating hats with Cindy Taylor of Sweet Magnolia Boutique and Julie Collett of Truly Yours Salon. Feathers, ribbons, sparkling jewels and plenty of imagination filled the room Monday as the ladies of Baptist Village gathered for a morning of hat-making with two local businesswomen who share a lifelong love for creating.
Brewer outlines Senate campaign priorities
Democratic candidate speaks at Okmulgee County Democrats meeting Nathan Brewer, the Democratic candidate for Oklahoma State Senate District 8, speaks during the Okmulgee County Democrats meeting July 16 at Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. Nathan Brewer, the Democratic candidate for Oklahoma State Senate District 8, was the featured speaker during the organization’s July 16 meeting at Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology.
Data center concerns dominate intense Okmulgee City Council meeting
Residents press city leaders for records and answers while council handles business Residents fill the Okmulgee City Hall Council Chambers during the July 21 city council meeting. What began Tuesday evening with a prayer that those gathered could âdisagree without being dividedâ became one of the most intense and wide-ranging Okmulgee City Council meetings in recent months.
Brewer outlines Senate campaign priorities
Democratic candidate speaks at Okmulgee County Democrats meeting Nathan Brewer, the Democratic candidate for Oklahoma State Senate District 8, speaks during the Okmulgee County Democrats meeting July 16 at Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. Nathan Brewer, the Democratic candidate for Oklahoma State Senate District 8, was the featured speaker during the organization’s July 16 meeting at Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology.
GOP meeting spotlights state questions, candidates ahead of Aug. 25 runoff
Rep. Scott Fetgatter and Labor Commissioner candidate John Pfeiffer speak at the County GOP meeting. Oklahoma’s upcoming Aug. 25 runoff election took center stage during the Okmulgee County Republican Party meeting, where residents heard explanations of two proposed constitutional amendments and questioned lawmakers about how the measures could affect local communities.
Residents press for clarity on data center Original
Citizens gathered for a town hall Tuesday evening at the Okmulgee Community Center to discuss the proposed data center. Another meeting is planned July 13 from 6-8 p.m. at the Okmulgee Public Library. Concerned residents gathered inside the Okmulgee Community Center this past Tuesday for a town hall meeting focused on a proposed data center project near Okmulgee, raising questions about water use, electric demand, noise, public health, land use and long-term impacts to the community.
Meet Baptist Village volunteer Mike Kennedy
Mike Kennedy, a volunteer chaplain at Baptist Village Communities in Okmulgee, has returned to the campus he once led as executive director to serve residents through weekly chapel services and the community garden. If you’ve attended a Wednesday chapel service at Baptist Village Communities in Okmulgee, chances are you’ve met Mike Kennedy.
A Heart for Youth, Faith and Community
Three area churches unite for Vacation Bible School Members of all three collaborating churches pose together inside First Baptist Central, the host of this year’s VBS. Vacation Bible School has long held a special place in the life of the church. For many, it brings back memories of summer evenings filled with snacks, games, songs, lessons and children gathered together in a place that felt both joyful and safe. But beneath the crafts and refreshments, something deeper often happened.
Rethinking Coding and Documentation in a Value-Based Care Environment
The Medicare Advantage (MA) Star Ratings program has long served as both a quality benchmark and a financial engine for health plans. That foundation was shaken in May 2026 when a federal court ruled in favor of Clover Health, finding that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) improperly calculated its 2026 Star Rating.
From Flowers to Healing
Volunteer brings sensory gardening to Baptist Village Residents at Baptist Village create floral arrangements during a sensory gardening session led by Tara Smith of Green Tara Farm. Residents at Baptist Village recently gathered around buckets of freshly cut flowers, herbs and greenery, carefully creating bouquets that brought smiles, sparked conversation and stirred memories. For Tara Smith of Green Tara Farm, however, the activity is about much more than flowers.
Morris Schools approves $2M in improvements
The Morris Board of Education tackled everything from major construction projects and school finances to staffing and legislative changes during its June meeting, approving several measures aimed at improving district facilities and preparing for the upcoming school year. --- PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today!
Juneteenth: The History We Carry
Part 4 of a 4-Part Series When I began this journey, I thought I was writing about a holiday. A celebration. A date on the calendar. A moment in History. You know, the event. But what I discovered was something much larger. I discovered a story. A story carried across oceans and through generations. PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today!
Juneteenth: What Happens When Freedom Arrives?
Part 3 of a 4-Part Series “What happens when freedom arrives?” That question has followed me since standing on the shoreline at Galveston in my last article. PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today!
Juneteenth: The Shoreline
Part 2 of a 4-Part Series The more I studied Juneteenth, the more I found myself staring at the water. Not the celebrations. Not the speeches. PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today!
From 50 Children to 400
When Wonderfully Made Therapy Group first opened its doors, founders Tina Nail and Andy Goodnight hoped to serve 25 to 50 children each week. Six years later, nearly 400 children come through the downtown Okmulgee facility every week. PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today!
Mapping Their Own Way
First investigators graduate from Okmulgee Bridges program Okmulgee Bridges held a graduation ceremony on May 28 for its inaugural class of investigators. Five local residents made history May 28, as the first graduates of the Okmulgee Bridges program crossed the stage during a graduation ceremony held at the True Life Center of Okmulgee. The graduates, known within the program as âinvestigators,â included Rachel Husman, Brenda Harjo, Penny Harjo, Hailey Dale and Thomas Harjo.
Juneteenth: The Day Freedom Arrived
Part 1 of a 4-Part Series I thought I knew what Juneteenth was. I knew it was a celebration. I knew it marked the end of slavery. I knew communities across Oklahoma and the nation gather each June to honor it. PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today!
Honoring the Fallen
Veterans hold Memorial Day Ceremony at Okmulgee Cemetery Members of the community gathered at Okmulgee Cemetery for a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday. During the Memorial Day ceremony held Monday at Veterans Park, guest speaker David Nelson delivered a gripping tribute honoring the sacrifices made by American service members, focusing heavily on the harrowing events of Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan and the soldiers who never made it home.
Okmulgee City Council advances projects
Housing development, infrastructure in spotlight The Okmulgee City Council met in regular session Tuesday, May 19, at 5 p.m. inside the council chambers at City Hall, moving through a wide-ranging agenda that included housing development initiatives, infrastructure funding adjustments, Juneteenth support, utility discussions and a major neighborhood revitalization opportunity tied to the Muscogee Nation.
Community celebrates Loyalty Day
Members of the Okmulgee community gathered at VFW Post 1189 last Saturday, May 9, for a Loyalty Day celebration. Community members, veterans, elected officials, local leaders and vendors gathered Saturday, May 9, at VFW Post 1189 in Okmulgee to observe Loyalty Day and honor the nation’s approaching 250th anniversary.
Where Joy Took the Runway
Inside Baptist Village’s First Mother’s Day Fashion Show Baptist Village held its first-ever Mother’s Day Fashion Show. There is something deeply refreshing about seeing joy created intentionally for seniors, not as an afterthought, but as an experience centered around them. That was the atmosphere recently inside Baptist Village Communities during the first-ever Mother’s Day Fashion Show organized by Resident Coordinator Amy Maddox.
Dunbar TSA students headed to Nationals
Community help sought to help fuel journey Okmulgee TSA President Robert and Secretary Braylon holding their award-winning “Solar Car.” Two Okmulgee students are preparing to take their talents from the classroom to the national stage after earning first place at the Oklahoma TSA State Conference with a solar-powered racing car they designed and built themselves.
Turning Life into Laughs
Okmulgee comedian Georgina Adjaye finding her voice There are some people you sit down with and immediately realize, you’re not about to have a typical interview. That was the case with Georgina Adjaye. PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today!
OC Sharks, Lady Demons team up ahead of Special Olympics
Scrimmage doubleheader planned May 12 The Beggs Lady Demons softball team and the Okmulgee County Sharks are preparing to take the field together for a special scrimmage event ahead of the 2025 Oklahoma Special Olympics Summer Games. According to OC Sharks Softball Coach Brodie Graffman, the teams will face off in a softball scrimmage on Monday, May 12, at the Creek Nation Omniplex Fields and the MCN Softball Complex in Okmulgee.
Beggs Frontier Day Festival set for June 13
Community invited to show up and show out Beggs is getting ready to bring the energy back to Main Street, as plans are underway for the 2026 Beggs Frontier Day Festival, and organizers say this year’s event is shaping up to be one for the books. With a growing lineup of activities and strong community involvement already building, residents and visitors alike are encouraged to mark their calendars and get involved early. PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT.
Business brings heart, healing to dogs
Samantha Nance outside her business, Sam’s Signature Dog Grooming. There’s a new spot in Okmulgee where tails wag a little easier and nervous pups leave feeling like a million bucks. Sam’s Signature Dog Grooming, owned by Samantha “Sam” Nance, is quickly becoming a go-to grooming service and not just for what it does, but how it’s done. Located at 801 E.
“It’s Just What You Do”
There were no fancy trucks in the beginning. No turnout gear. No formal training. Just five-gallon buckets, burlap sacks and neighbors who showed up. Chief Claude Stanke remembers it well. “Take the five gallon bucket, put water in it so far,” he said. “We’d drive it to the nearest road and wet our toe sacks.” That was firefighting in Schulter. And for decades, that mindset never changed: use what you have and do what needs to be done.
The Power of CDI Strategies in Addressing SDOH
A patient’s well-being depends on much more than simply treating an illness. Social determinants of health (SDOH) — the economic and social conditions that influence individual and group differences in health status — are now understood to be critical factors in patient outcomes and overall health equity. In fact, economic stability, access to and quality of education and healthcare, environment, social factors, and community are said to be responsible for 80-90 percent of health outcomes.
Navigating the Financial Fallout of the One Big Beautiful Bill
The passage of H.R.1, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” marks a significant shift in the U.S. healthcare landscape, particularly for Medicaid. With sweeping changes to eligibility, enrollment, and cost-sharing, the legislation is expected to increase the number of uninsured individuals — posing a serious financial challenge for healthcare providers.
Homeless man treats over 50 strangers to lemonade
Random acts of kindness can bring about great joy for both the giver and the receiver. We have seen celebrities and T.V. hosts give away millions of dollars in cash and gifts to individuals. And perhaps we ourselves have given food, money or clothing to someone less fortunate than ourselves. But, almost never have we seen a homeless man give to strangers… until last weekend.
NACE Advocacy Efforts Give Our Members a Voice for Change
By Dawn Carter “Member Voices” is typically the place where individual NACE members share their insights, ideas, and suggestions around a range of topics. Here, I’d like to share with you how our collective voice can exact positive change and exert influence for the benefit of our institutions, organizations, and the students we develop and recruit.
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