LOCALS MAKE SSC HONOR ROLL

Body
Students named to the President’s Honor Roll include (listed by hometown): Holdenville: Trinity Anderson, Victoria Carlson, Sierra Merriman Okemah: Ronald Campbell, Jaiden Hardy, Luke Spitale Wetumka: Kaiya Herrod, Mazie Wagner Wewoka: Nicole Barnhart, Hermione Jones, Zechariah Stone Moore Students named to the Vice-President’s Honor Roll include (listed by hometown): Holdenville: Quetzali Becerra, Brittany Grizzle, Kilie Harber, Scotty Routon, Braden Young Okemah: Tiffany Byrd Wetumka: Leah Jaggars Wewoka: Libby Driggers, Devon Harjo, Avery Johnson, Jacqua Marshall, Alina Rangel Students named to the Part-Time Honor Roll include (listed by hometown): Holdenville: Shauna Cochran, Ariel Gomez, Natalie Jennings, Megan Love, Grady Mills, Harlee Nolen, Annebel Parker, Tyrell Phillips, Lathan Rogers, Chloe Stacy, Gracelyn Wulf Lamar: Kara Mayfield Okemah: Jayla Bryan, Tina Canard, Blaine Crowe, Garon Davis, Nikki Deere, David Esparza, Jera Forgette, Keagan Jordan, Billy Moore, Katelyn Neace, Savannah Neace, Robert Reilly, Jaxon Rusk, Makenzie Shaw Sasakwa: Hannah Boyd, James Hulvey Weleetka: Aubrey Gray Wetumka: Jacob Burton, Joseph Burton, Jorden Taylor Wewoka: Trissy Bruner, Juli Givens, Dallas Houghton, Cednei Hulbutta, Tanner Johnston, Ian Ketcher, Stacy Mireles, Sierra Sanders.
LOCALS MAKE SSC HONOR ROLL

LETTER TO THE EDITOR...BY PAULA BENNETT

Body
June 3, 2025 Holdenville News, an article about the wind turbine company was published. They claim to want to be part of the community, to be good stewards and responsible neighbors.

Lion’s Club Corner

Body
Holdenville Lions Club met at Boom a Rang Diner on 5-625. The Minutes of the 4-22-25 meeting were read by Lion Jerrie Lindsey, and approved unanimously. Treasurer, Lion Steve Enos gave the Treasurer’s report that both accounts were up-to-date. There was enough in the Service account to cover the $2000 scholarships and the donation to Point of Grace Sober Living home had been given. The Treasurer’s report was approved unanimously.
INSTALLATION OF NEW MEMBERS: Lion Lori Woods sponsor, Lion Mike Lindley and Lion Theresa Barkhimer, Mike Dockery sponsor.

Service to be held for Beloved Banker and Pastor, David Pope

Body
David Edward Pope, 75, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully on May 31, 2025, with his daughter, brother, and sister-in-law by his side. David courageously fought chronic diseases and illnesses in the last 5 years of his life and pressed on with fervor until his body no longer cooperated. David was born December 17, 1949, in Shreveport, Louisiana to Julian Pope and Evelyn (Edwards) Pope.
Service to be held for Beloved Banker and Pastor, David Pope

Greta Sue Kunkel

Body
Greta Sue (née Counts) Kunkel (1932-2025), aged 93, died peacefully in Rockport, Maine. She was born in Meno, Oklahoma, the daughter of her late parents Lena and Lionel Counts. ‘Sue’ as she preferred to be known, was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, James (Jim) Kunkel, as well as her brother Bill Counts. Born the daughter of sharecroppers, Sue grew up in a world with neither electricity nor running water, working the farm with her brothers & parents, raising livestock, picking cotton, and growing various crops. She was known for her love of pets, among them a chubby squirrel who enjoyed marshmallows, and a pig, Sissy, who would race inside the farmhouse and straight to the bathtub at any given opportunity! Sue was the first member of her family to go to college, becoming a registered nurse. She met her future husband (a medical student) while working as a surgical nurse at Wesley Hospital in Oklahoma City, OK. Married in 1957 at First Presbyterian OKC, Sue and Jim lived first in Cleveland, OH for Jim’s residency, then moved to Marshfield, WI where they lived for 27 years. On school breaks, they often drove to Oklahoma to visit family. When the kids complained that their vacation was too short, Sue said she never liked school break as a child, because it meant she would be picking cotton! In retirement, Sue and Jim traveled extensively, settling in Sarasota, FL, and later returning to her roots in Oklahoma. Sue was a joyful, wonderful mother, working tirelessly to care for others. She had a way of making everyone feel at ease. Ever a lady, she also loved a good prank and playing (very aggressive!) tennis. Sue is survived by her eldest brother Glen, her beloved cousin Lavonna, her four children: Julie Wilkinson (husband Bill), Daniel Kunkel (wife Maki), Benjamin Kunkel (wife Jie), Tim Kunkel (wife Adda), 10 grandchildren (Lorena, Bonnie, Olivia, Kai, Liya, Kate, Ellen, Thomas, Kengo, and Aina-Sue), and six great-grandchildren (Juliet, AJ, Rosie, Iris, Adam, and Jasper).
Greta Sue Kunkel

Margaret Lee (Bane) Itson

Body
Margaret Lee (Bane) Itson passed away Tuesday, June 10th, 2025, at Heritage Village Nursing Center in Holdenville, Oklahoma at the age of 92. Margaret was born September 12th, 1932, in Sasakwa, Oklahoma to William Fred Freeman and Avie (Akin) Freeman.

Growing to Maturity by Alfred Stevenson

Body
On October 20, 1911, The Postmaster reported to the City council that Holdenville could become eligible for free house delivery of mail, but certain things w2ould have to be changed. First new sidewalks would have to be built, because too much of the town was almost inaccessible due to lack of sidewalks. Also, there were no numbers on the houses. A system for numbering houses would have to be implemented.
PICTURE FROM THE PAST... Hughes County Treasurer Bobby Smith is pictured with his staff, Dawn Lindsey (who is our current Treasurer), Brenda Welch and Judy Dunkleberger.

SPRING ART SHOW DRAWS LARGE CROWD

Body
For Amateur Artists: Amateur Best in Show: Carly Driskill , “ Eufaula Magnolia “ Amateur Oil/Acrylic: 1st Place: June Chesser , “ Sunrise at Hollister Creek “ 2nd Place: Earl Stephenson , “ Calm Before the Storm “ 3rd Place: Carly Driskill , “ For a Moment “ Honorable Mention: Carly Driskill , “ Oranges on Harvey Parkway “ Honorable Mention: June Chesser , “ Farris Windmill (1633) “ Amateur Miscellaneous: 1st Place: Donna Mayes , “ Daffodils - Harbingers of Spring “ 2nd Place: Jean Case , “ He is Risen “ 3rd Place: Paula Ores , “ Autumn Day “ Honorable Mention: Jo Southern , “ Granny’s Iris “ Honorable Mention: Jean Case , “ Luna “ For Advanced Artists: Advanced Best in Show: Kimberly Ramsey-Mehrens , “ A Cow and Her Calf “ Advanced Oil/Acrylic: 1st Place: Kimberly Ramsey-Mehrens , “ Where’d Everybody Go “ 2nd Place: Mary Wilson , “ Lambs/6 “ 3rd Place: Judy Shoemake , “ Golden Hour “ Honorable Mention: D. Faye Crossno , “ Memories Long Past “ Honorable Mention: Cynthia Hall , “ Sunset Over Lake “ For Master Artists: Master Artist Best in Show: Sarah Sneed , “ Portrait #1 “ 1st Place: Maxine Welch , “ Blue Heron “ 2nd Place: Kerry Wilson , “ Tranquil Path “ 3rd Place: Sandy Ingram , “ Coyote Stalk “ Honorable Mention: Charlotte Harris , “ Sundown “ Honorable Mention: Skip Thompson , “ Colors in the Desert “ 1st Place: Sarah Sneed , “ Hidden “ 2nd Place: Joan Wegener , “ Family of Pots “ 3rd Place: Linda Bayard , “ Old Warrior “ Honorable Mention: Darla Murray , “ Wintersmith Park Duck Quack Memories “ Master Miscellaneous: 1st Place: Tommye Wilhite , “ Market Day “ 2nd Place: Peggy Davis , “ Sycamore Fall Fiesta “ 3rd Place: Victoria Murray , “ Abby & Buck “ Honorable Mention: Tommye Wilhite, “Sweet One “ Honorable Mention: June Melton, “Multi-Flower Bowl “ For Student Artists: Best of Show for Grades Pre-K to 6th Grade: Keely Cope from Byng schools, “ The Splash “ Best of Show for Grades 7-12: Cailey Eller from Holdenville schools, “ Lake and Blooms “ For Pre-K to Kindergarten: 1st Place: Haiden Leister from Shawnee schools, “ Ocean “ 2nd Place: Haiden Leister from Shawnee schools, “ Watermelon “ For Grades 1 through 3: 1st Place: Kamdyn Babb from Holdenville schools, “ Easter Bunny “ For Grades 4 through 6: 1st Place: Avery Weygand from Byng schools, “ Taking Home Treasure “ 2nd Place: Karli Cordray from Byng schools, “ Jiminy “ 3rd Place: Mya Hamilton from Byng schools, “ Bird of Prey “ Honorable Mention: Dominick Baggerly from Byng schools, “ Chokma Goka “ Honorable Mention: Kory Barrett from Byng schools, “The Great Pumpkin” Honorable Mention: Dellanie Martin from Byng schools, “Autumn” For Grades 7 through 9: 1st Place: Hannah Wolfe from Byng schools, “ Field of Sunflowers “ 2nd Place: Addison Carter from Holdenville schools, “ Sunset Lighthouse” 3rd Place: Chloe Yandreth from Holdenville schools, “ Hawaiian Vacation “ Honorable Mention: Hannah Wolfe from Byng schools, “ Leopard “ For Grades 10 through 12: 1st Place: Taylon Tucker from Holdenville schools, “Neon Frogs” 2nd Place: Jerricka Newton from Vanoss schools, “Flying Fish” 3rd Place: Kalena Harper from Holdenville schools, “Pollinator Work Zone” Honorable Mention: Cailey Eller from Holdenville schools, “The Odyssey” Honorable Mention: Gia Wood from Holdenville schools, “Highland Heifer”.
Lance Yaggi and Kimberly Ramsey-Mehrens