STORIES OF THE YEAR

Dec. 30—The past year has been affected by change, challenge, and growth in the McAlester area.

We encourage you to look back over the past 12 months with us as we make sense of the year with a recap of 2023's top stories as picked by News-Capital staff.

Thank you for keeping up with all things McAlester alongside us this year.

JANUARY

The state's first execution of 2023 happened on Jan. 12, 2023. Scott Eizember was executed for the 2003 murders of Patsy Cantrell, 70, and her husband, A.J. Cantrell, 76, in their Creek County residence. Eizember's spiritual advisor, Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood, was allowed to be at Eizember's side after state prison officials initially barred Hood from being present inside the death chamber with Eizember. Days later, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond requested more time in between executions stating the schedule of one a month was "unsustainable in the long run." The request was later granted by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals.

A federal jury on Jan. 12, 2023, found Paula Chisholm, 38, of McAlester, guilty of abusing a 5-year-old boy investigators said looked like "a 75-year-old man" when examined at the hospital in 2019. Chisholm currently awaits sentencing on a charge of child abuse in Indian Country.

McAlester Public Schools was awarded $2,765,000 through the EPA's Clean School Bus program that brought in seven all-electric Lion Electric Company school buses to the district.

Three officers responding to a reported mental health crisis on Jan. 14, 2023, and fatally shot James Klembara, of McAlester, after state investigators said Klembara disregarded law enforcement commands to put down a rifle before officers fatally shot him. Video later released from the incident shows officers telling the man numerous times to put down the firearm before he began to raise the weapon at officers. The three officers, McAlester Police Officers Eli Copeland and Joseph Barlow along with Krebs Police Officer Corey Cantrell were ruled justified for the shooting.

FEBRUARY

A federal judge dismissed a McAlester couple's lawsuit arguing the state of Oklahoma does not have jurisdiction to tax tribal members. Attorneys for the Oklahoma Tax Commission in July 2022 argued the case, filed by Nellie and Harold Meashintubby, should be dismissed, arguing the federal Tax Injunction Act prohibits the lawsuit. The judge agreed with the tax commission and dismissed the lawsuit.

A large water main break caused a mandatory boil order to be issued from Feb. 3-6, 2023, for McAlester and Pittsburg County Rural Water Districts 5, 6, 7, 9 and 16 as the districts purchase their water from McAlester.

McAlester Mayor John Browne declared Feb. 15. 2023 as Primus Moore Day in the city Moore, who died in Dec. 2022, had an influence over the McAlester-are community and beyond left a legacy to remember.

Officials from the city of McAlester and Pittsburg County agreed to allow attorneys to discuss a dispute over stormwater fees at the Southeast Expo Center following a Feb. 14 meeting. County officials claim the stormwater fee should not be charged due to it running into a nearby creek and not into the city's system.

Brooke Mason was named the 2023 McAlester Public Schools Teacher of the Year during a Feb. 21. 2023, event held at the S. Arch Thomspon Auditorium.

A federal jury took less than an hour on Feb. 23, 2023, to find a McAlester couple guilty of abusing and neglecting a 10-year-old girl for more than a year. Ashley Schardein, 27, and her husband, Billy Menees, 29, were each found guilty on counts of child abuse in Indian country and child neglect in Indian Country. Both await sentencing in the matter.

MARCH

Hunter, the Belgian Malinois who served as the McAlester Police Department's drug-detecting K-9, retired after working seven years and four months with the McAlester Police Department alongside his handler, Sgt. Chuck Sutterfield. Hunter was put to rest Nov. 30, 2023, after complications from a stroke.

A Pittsburg County Sheriff Deputy was placed on an unpaid suspension after a judge ruled the deputy "lacks credibility' due to body camera footage contradicting a sworn affidavit. Pittsburg County Sheriff Chris Morris said deputy David Woody was placed on the unpaid suspension following the ruling while an internal investigation was conducted.

McAlester city councilors voted March 14 to approve the creation of a new Downtown Tax Increment Financing Committee.

McAlester Police Officer Richard Parker was found deceased in his home on March 16, 2023. Parker, 52, served with the McAlester Police Department for 26 years. Prior to joining MPD, Parker served as a Pittsburg County Sheriff's deputy.

The McAlester Police Department also suffered the loss of Patrolman Joseph Barlow on March 20, 2023, from injuries received in a March 17 head-on collision near Glenpool during an escort for Parker. Martin Rivas Rodriguez, 40, listed on court records with a Tulsa address, is currently being held in the Tulsa County Jail on felony charges of first-degree manslaughter and causing a fatality accident without a valid driver's license in relation to the collision. A trial date has not been set.

APRIL

Hartshorne Mayor Ashley Faulkner won reelection to another four years in office, with voters in the city also electing three city councilors. Also, during the April 4, 2023, election, Jessica Hackler, Jerry Earp and David Spears won terms on the Hartshorne City Council.

A federal jury acquitted Devin Sizemore on April 7, 2023, of two counts of murder in the 2016 death of his daughter — but found him guilty on lesser charges of manslaughter and child abuse. Sizemore, 29, of Krebs, was accused of drowning his 21-month-old daughter, Emily, in a pond near Krebs on July 15, 2016. Sizemore currently awaits sentencing.

The Loren Cook Company announced it is opening a new manufacturing plant in McAlester, with plans to hire from 30- to-40 local employees by the end of the year. The plant will operate in the former National Oilwell Varco building.

Two previously unknown homicide victims found in a wooded area in Pittsburg County nearly three decades ago were identified through DNA testing and the work of several law enforcement agencies nationwide. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation announced April 11, 2023, the bodies were identified as Brian and Rachel Burr, of Texas. The bodies were found by a guardrail under a tree near Crowder Point on April 9, 1995, by a man who was riding his four-wheeler.

The McCurtain Gazette-News reported that County Sheriff Kevin Clardy, County Commissioner Mark Jennings, sheriff's office investigator Alicia Manning and jail administrator Larry Hendrix, had been recorded discussing lynching Black people in Mud Creek — a rural part of the county historically known for its Ku Klux Klan rallies — and also appeared to discuss The McCurtain Gazette-News' Bruce and Chris Willingham, who are white. Jennings is reported to have told Clardy and Manning "I know where two deep holes are dug if you ever need them," with the sheriff responding, "I've got an excavator. March 6 commissioners' meeting. Bruce Willingham, the publisher of the family-owned Gazette-News, secretly recorded the officials to determine if there was an open meeting violation.

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted Wednesday, April 26, to deny clemency for death row inmate Richard Glossip, who now faced his ninth execution date. The parole board rejected clemency with 2-2 vote, one week after the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals denied requests from Attorney General Gentner Drummond and Glossip's defense team for new hearings. The requests were prompted by two separate independent reviews alleging findings that cast doubt on the case. Glossip's May execution was stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court and remains in abeyance.

Staff from the Southeastern Oklahoma Library System of Oklahoma continued moving into their new building April 27 following an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

MAY

A federal jury awarded Dustin Lance, of Wilburton, $200,000 in damages in a lawsuit that claimed Pittsburg County jail staff refused medical treatment for a condition he suffered while he was jailed in 2016. Lance asked for more than $15 million in compensatory damages after he said he suffered "irreparable and permanent damage" due to a medication-induced erection lasting more than 91 hours while in custody of the jail.

McAlester city councilors unanimously voted May 4, 2023, to declare an emergency to address catastrophic issues at the water plant with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality issuing a "Do Not Use" order for those who got their drinking water from the city of McAlester's Public Works Authority. The order was lifted May 8.

Tony and Katherine Carano were named Re and Regina for the 51st annual McAlester Italian Festival held May 13.

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 18, 2023, for a major $70 million expansion project at the Choctaw Nation Health Clinic. Plans call for the facility to be remodeled and doubled in size, with the new building to cover more than 51,000 square feet.

Calvin's Nariah Bump was named the 2023 Patriot Auto Group and McAlester News-Capital 2023 Student of the Year and the winner of a new vehicle during a May 19 ceremony.

Judges for the Choctaw Nation's highest court ruled May 23 that portions of tribal code that prohibited recognition of same-sex marriages unconstitutional and paved the way for a same-sex couple to adopt a child through the tribe's court system. The ruling came after a Choctaw Nation district judge previously denied Chelcie and Kennedy Barker's adoption of a child, saying the tribe's Act did not recognize the couple's marriage.

JUNE

The city of McAlester and Pittsburg County sent their first payment to the Shops at McAlester developer Burk Collins & Co. — with the payment amounting to more than $1 million. Based on 90% of city and sales tax collections from the Shops at McAlester highway shopping center during its first year of operation, the combined city and county payment totaled $1,085.706.23. The payment came from a Tax Increment Financing agreement made with the developer to pay 90% of the city's and county's sales tax collections from Shops at McAlester for five years or until the payments total $5.5 million — whichever comes first.

Members of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission voted unanimously June 22, 2023, to close the Talihina Veterans Home. Commission members voted to close the Talihina Veterans Home even though construction on the new veterans home in Sallisaw is not expected to be completed until October 2024.

The Fugitt Foundation committed $1.5 million to a multi-million renovation project at the McAlester Public Library.

A federal appeals court on June 28. 2023, rejected the city of Tulsa's argument that the city still had the ability to prosecute Native Americans for municipal violations despite the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in McGirt. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the city's request to stay the decision. The case was officially dismissed in December. Other cases on the matter remain in litigation.

July

Isaac McClung released ""Live at Spaceship Earth," an album he recorded at the downtown McAlester coffee shop in 2022 on July 1. McClung returned to Spaceship Earth Coffee in McAlester to perform songs from the album along with new material written since the album was recorded.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced a state probe "found no evidence of criminal acts" against McCurtain County officials that the governor and concerned citizens called on to resign in April following the release of a secretly recorded meeting by the McCurtain Gazette-News.

The McAlester Public Library announced the "Pave the Way" project to help fund the library's expansion and renovation project. Personalized engraved bricks can be ordered in person at the McAlester Public Library or at the Southeast Oklahoma Library System's website at www.seolibraries.com.

Choctaw Nation District 11 Tribal Councilman Robert Karr was reelected for another four-year term following a July 8 election. Karr received a total of 987 votes, or 77.41% of the vote while Nellie Meashintubby garnered 288 votes, for 22.59% of the ballots cast.

Hensley Kidd was named the 2024 Miss McAlester on July 15 with Sophie Eaton named Miss McAlester's Teen.

Water from heavy rains flooded the Pittsburg County Election Board. Water running into Election Board offices saturated carpets, with Election Board workers forced to remove some equipment and supplies to other areas or rooms.

Jemaine Cannon, 51, was executed July 20, 2023, after he was sentenced to death in 1996 by a Tulsa County jury. Cannon was convicted for the 1995 death of Sharonda White Clark. Cannon gave a thumbs up and smiled to family members moments before his execution.

The Dancing Rabbit Music Festival held its largest event yet on July 22. Billed as the Red Dirt Reunion, it featured a handful of legendary Red Dirt music artists all performing on the same outdoor stage for the free concert event. Headlined by Jason Boland & The Stragglers, the show also featured Cody Canada and the Departed, relative newcomer Kody West, and the Red Dirt Rangers.

July 27 marked the 50th anniversary of what some consider the most destructive riot in U.S. history. July 27, 1973, started as a regular day at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, but as it unwound, rampaging inmates took 22 hostages and injured 35. Three inmates were confirmed killed during the riot by other prisoners, while another died of natural causes.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives voted July 31 to override Gov. Kevin Stitt's veto of tobacco compacts with tribal nations and extended the agreements by one year. Stitt filed a lawsuit against the compacts that remains in litigation.

Several officials from McAlester Public Schools, the city of McAlester, teachers, students, and guests gathered July 31 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Randy Hughes Middle School and McAlester Activity Center. The multi-level facility includes several classrooms and a new event center that doubles as a storm shelter for nearly 800 students in grades 7-12.

AUGUST

State officials picked up all voting machines assigned to Pittsburg County due to the flooding at the County Election Board offices. The Board was rehoused at the Southeast Expo Center while repairs continue.

Members of the McAlester's Downtown Tax Increment Financing Committee voted Aug. 15 to dissolve the committee due to the projected revenue. The committee was tasked to explore possibilities for a TIF project to help enhance an area that included downtown McAlester, looking at utilizing a portion of either ad valorem tax revenue or sales tax revenues to do so.

An official ceremony renaming the Choctaw Nation's Tribal Police to Lighthorse was held Aug. 25 in Durant with several Lighthorsemen, tribal officials, and representatives from partner law enforcement agencies in attendance. Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton said the executive order renaming the southeastern Oklahoma tribal nation's law enforcement back to Lighthorse was an exercise of sovereignty.

The Southeast Expo Center completed the installation of new arena air conditioning. Pittsburg County Commissioners purchased the eight new HVAC units using American Rescue Plan Act funding for the Expo Center upgrades.

SEPTEMBER

Emergency responders from the Choctaw Lighthorse and the Indianola Fire Department both mourned losses on Sept. 4, 2023. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said 32-year-old Rance Warren, of McAlester, was pronounced dead at the McAlester Regional Health Center from injuries received in an accident in Latimer County. Longtime Indianola Fire Chief Jim Herrin was found unresponsive in his home.

The King's House held a special celebration on Sept. 24 to announce a name change to Dream City Church — McAlester.

Anthony Sanchez on Sept. 21. 2023, became the state's third executed death row inmate of 2023. Sanchez was sentenced to death for the 1996 rape and murder of University of Oklahoma dance student Juli Busken.

State, local and tribal officials gathered at McAlester Regional Airport Sept. 26 to break ground on a new $2.7 million airport terminal building project.

OCTOBER

The National 4-H Council announced Redd Marcum, 18, of McAlester, as one of four winners of the 2024 4-H Youth in Action Awards sponsored by Bayer. Marcum has raised more than $3.5 million and helped numerous people through his toy and school supply drives.

McAlester Public Schools held a dedication ceremony Oct. 6 for the Karla Brock Early Childhood Academy and honored the beloved retired McAlester educator.

An investigative audit team from State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd's office arrived in McAlester in connection with the long-planned look into the city of McAlester in response to a citizen petition filed in 2021. Asked about a timeline for the investigative audit, McAlester Mayor John Browne said it is slated to be complete by the first of the year but might be completed earlier.

Several state, tribal, and federal officials gathered Oct. 24 for a groundbreaking ceremony for an operation center for the Choctaw Nation's Emerging Aviation Technology Center's test range between Stringtown and Daisy on State Highway 43.

Downtown McAlester's first-ever downtown Oktoberfest kicked off Oct. 27. The event was later cancelled due to inclement weather with plans to bring the festival back to downtown McAlester in 2024 underway.

NOVEMBER

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Nov. 11 for the newest attraction at Michael J. Hunter Park. It's called StoryWalk, a trademarked name designed to be a captivating literary experience that brings the joy of reading to the heart of the community. A joint project of Leadership McAlester, the McAlester Public Library and the city of McAlester, StoryWalk consists of a series of metallic posts and aluminum frames at Hunter Park, each of which displays two pages of a children's book.

A field of flags was raised along Carl Albert Parkway in McAlester for the month of November. McAlester's Veterans Field of Honor is a 4-H service project headed by Pittsburg County 4-H Ambassador Calleigh Tarron. The project began as a way for Calleigh Tarron to honor her father and all veterans.

Oklahoma conducted its last execution of 2023 on Nov. 30 after Gov. Kevin Stitt denied a recommendation for clemency. An Oklahoma County jury found Phillip Hancock guilty of the April 27, 2001, murders of Robert Jett Jr., 37, and James Lynch, 58 in Oklahoma City.

DECEMBER

Jimcy McGirt, a Native American man whose case prompted the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision regarding criminal prosecution of Native Americans in eastern Oklahoma, pleaded guilty Dec. 5 to a felony count of aggravated sexual abuse in Indian Country. The plea agreement recommends McGirt to be sentenced to 30 years imprisonment with credit for time served since 1996 followed by five years of supervised release.

A majority of McAlester city councilors voted Dec. 12 to authorize McAlester City Attorney John T. Hammons to pursue a declaratory judgment against Pittsburg County in district court over unpaid stormwater fees at the Southeast Expo Center.

Friends and family mourned the loss of two individuals who had an impact on the McAlester community. Louis Smitherman served as the longtime Ward 6 city councilor and also served on a number of other community bodies. George "Butch" Mellor Jr. operated car dealerships in Hartshorne and McAlester then later served as manager of McAlester Regional Airport.

Megan Middleton was drawn Dec. 21 as the winner of the annual 10,000 Giveaway in downtown McAlester.

Judges for an Oklahoma appeals court granted a request Dec. 22 to stay a February execution of a Pittsburg County man to allow an inquiry into the death row inmate's mental competency. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals issued a 100-day stay "to permit inquiry" into the mental competency of James Chandler Ryder "with all proceedings to be completed within that time."