Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority (CNHSA) and Indian Health Services (IHS) have entered into a joint-venture partnership to build a new health clinic in Hugo. The clinic will be more than 100,000 square feet and is targeted for completion in about three years.

MUSKOGEE — Court documents filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma have stated that the Choctaw County Board of County Commissioners has agreed to a $4 million dollar settlement in the case of Donna Jo Pate, Administrator for the estate of Cannon Pate, deceased, in their federal lawsuit against Choctaw County Sheriff Terry Park in his official capacity as Sheriff of Choctaw County.

FORT TOWSON –– A Fort Towson man was killed and two others were injured in a two-vehicle collision Friday night at the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 70 and Main Street in Fort Towson, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The collision occurred at approximately 8:22 p.m. on June 5.

HUGO — Members of the Hugo City Council overcame previous stalemates on selecting a new city manager at last Tuesday’s meeting, and voted to approve Justin Suddeth as the new city manager, “subject to the terms of his contract being approved.”

Born: Paris, Texas. Age: 41. Graduated High School in Valliant, class of 2004. Father worked for Brown & Root and also in home construction. Studied for one year at SOSU (Computer science) before family relocated to Thornton, Colo. Graduated from Metropolital State University: BA/Business Management in 2018. Moved back to southeast Oklahoma in 2019 with his father. Completed his MBA (Business Administration/Data Anaytics) degree at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 2025. Has worked with the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector’s office out of Ada, examining the bookkeeping systems of several counties in southeast Oklahoma. (Was not allowed to examine home county/Choctaw.) Was Assistant Manager of Chilis in the Choctaw Nation’s Grant Casino from 2021-2023. Worked for several months for Hugo PD from February, 2026 until resigning June 4. (Not CLEET Certified). Is presently married. Suddeth states that his first priorities as Hugo’s City Manager will be to carefully assess each department. “Cleaning up the town” was high on his list of priorities and says he wants to find out what needs to be done “to empower Teshumbe (Bills),” who is the city’s Code Enforcement Officer. Suddeth said he hopes to find ways to increase the city’s budget for beautification measures and then maintain a better appearance to enhance tourism and visitor appeal. He also stated he was passionate about finding employees who are “goal driven” and willing to implement change. “I will need to do a lot of listening… to key employees and staff members to find out what ideas they have to improve department functions,” he added.

Contributing Writer BOSWELL — Boswell’s Tracer Rutledge earned a spot on the Prep Nation All-State team this past season. The sophomore put up dominant numbers across the 10 games he pitched this spring, striking out 81 batters while surrendering a mere 23 hits and 12 earned runs. Active in both the fall and spring seasons, Rutledge maintains a perfect regular-season record in a Scorpion uniform.

1 Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.

1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Funeral services for Gary Don Matlock, of Garvin, Okla., will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 11, 2026 at Rufe Baptist Church.