Communities prepare for July 4
By Heather Bekoff
Staff Writer
The fireworks stands are being set up, the stores are stocking red, white and blue decorations, picnics and parades are under way and the weather is heating up. This time of year marks the anniversary of the day America declared independence from Great Britain. The Fourth of July is the national day of the United States, and small towns around America celebrate it best with family reunions, fireworks and barbecues in abundance.
Two win prestigious scholarships
By Doug Russell
News Editor
One valedictorian, one salutatorian, two prestigious scholarships.
Matthew I. Fuller of McCurtain and Craig K. Fowler of Stigler were recently awarded locally funded scholarships by the Stigler Community Development Foundation.
Fowler was awarded the SCDF's Beverly Carter Jackson Scholarship — the second award of the scholarship in the development foundation's history.
"This is a substantial scholarship," said Jim Smith, Stigler city manager. "It pays $1,000 per semester for eight semesters, a total of $8,000 towards a college education."
The son of Grey and Jami Fowler of Stigler, the salutatorian of the Stigler High School class of 2011 plans to attend Oklahoma State University and become a Doctor of Osteopathy, specializing in radiology. (more on this story in this week's Stigler News Sentinel)
A different kind of baby
By Heather Bekoff
Staff Writer
Staff photo by Heather Bekoff
Tiffany Murray holds the coyote puppy she helped rescue. The veterinary office at which Murray works often helps rehabilitate wild animals.
Tiffany Murray of Sallisaw decided to take her baby to the Stigler ballpark for an annual baseball tournament. She had him wrapped in a tiny blanket and, like any doting mother, thoughtfully asked the concession workers to warm up the bottle for her while I stood in line behind her waiting for a hotdog. Since the little wad inside of the tiny blanket was so small I asked her if it was a newborn puppy. She replied, "Oh no, it's a coyote."
I was astonished and wondered quietly if she was pulling my leg, so I asked if I could take a peak. She obliged and, lo-and-behold, before me was the most tiny, grey, soft, sweet 6-week-old little animal, and yes, quite so — a coyote.
Murray explained that the baby coyote was found in the rain, after a storm, in a washed out orchard in Keota. Someone found the struggling animal and brought it to the only place nearby that rehabilitates animals, the Sallisaw Veterinary Clinic, at which Murray is a veterinary technician under Dr. Gary Cox.
Dr. Cox's veterinary clinic rehabs all forms of wildlife. Just recently they released a bald eagle into the wild. Although much effort has been made to preserve the national bird, the bald eagle still remains on the U.S. federal government's list of threatened species. (more on this story in this week's Stigler News Sentinel)
Case dismissed
By Doug Russell
News Editor
By Doug Russell
News Editor
To prove intent to distribute an illegal drug, there must first be enough of the drug that it can be distributed. That's the decision of an appeals court that upheld a decision dismissing a case against 29-year-old rural Stigler resident Jack Lowe III.
Associate District Judge Rocky L. Powers, assigned to hear the state's appeal of the dismissal, ruled on June 8 that "… although the statute does not require a specific amount of the substance (to be on hand before a charge of possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute can be filed), the amount must be capable of being distributed (emphasis in original). The amount found in this case does not rise to that minimum standard."
Lowe had been charged on Feb. 11 with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.
The charge arose from a search warrant that had been served on Lowe's Perry Loop home on Jan. 25. During the search, officers alleged they found two baggies containing a green, leafy substance, digital scales and other baggies in the home, according to an affidavit filed in the case.
(more on this story in this week's Stigler News Sentinel)
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