• Submission deadline is Sept. 7 DURANT –– Choctaw Landing, the new resort under construction in Hochatown, has announced they are actively seeking Choctaw artists’ work for the new facility.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Alexandria Nicole Nix, age 26, of Idabel, Okla., entered a guilty plea on July 27, 2023, to one count of involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country.

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Dr. Randy L. Springfield, Executive Director of the Choctaw County Ambulance Authority was asked by USDA Oklahoma State Director Kenneth Corn to be the guest speaker at the Oklahoma State Capitol representing Rural EMS agencies in the State of Oklahoma who received USDA grants to improve their agencies and communities. Dr. Springfield spoke to Oklahoma lawmakers, guests and press on the importance of USDA grants and how the funds help rural EMS agencies throughout the state, including Choctaw County, to better serve the communities and all Oklahomans.

We have entered a dance class. Dancers, some seated, some standing, try out newly-learned moves with their partners. Lively rhythmic music invites the class to experiment with the new movements –– and we had laughter –– this is serious fun.

DURANT –– Southeastern Oklahoma State University has announced the launch of six new degree programs, which will be available in the Fall II term. Of the six new degree programs, three are undergraduate degrees and three are graduate degrees.

Derek Porter has been named Band Director for the Hugo School District. Porter has a Bachelor’s of Music Ed from East Central University.

HUGO — An alert Hugo PD officer patrolling in the vacinity of 13th Place Apartments on Friday, July 28, observed a woman making contact with a car containing several subjects at 11:31 p.m. As officer Chuey Potter followed up and questioned the woman who identified herself as Andrea Michelle Minton, 35 of Hugo, he discovered that she was in possession of illegal methamphetamine. After she was taken into custody and transported to the Choctaw County Jail, law enforcement personnel there discovered that she was also in possession of multiple blue pills that were identified as the highly illegal and potentially deadly substance, fentanyl.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Oklahoma State Director, Kenneth Corn, announced grants totaling more than $4.6 million to assist 12 communities expand access to healthcare as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.

MUSKOGEE –– The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Chad Jon’Dale Voyles, age 21, and Ashlie Nicole Rose Martin, age 20, both of Fort Towson, Okla., entered guilty pleas relating to a Choctaw County double homicide which occurred on Dec. 22 and 23, 2020.