Fires raged in and around Holdenville last week as the Holdenville Fire Department responded to calls in temperatures over 100º over several days. The first of two structure fires was set on the 1100 block of South Oak on July 17. Firefighters fought high flames in some of the hottest temperatures of the year. The very next day, the house next door to the one which had just burned down the night before, was also set ablaze. Firefighters returned to the same block to fight yet another house fire at the abandoned house. Both structures are believed to have been set on fire by someone, but there are no suspects at this time. No sooner than the firefighters extinguished the second house fire, they were called to a grass fire, leaving one scene and heading directly to another. In only one week, Holdenville Fire Department responded to nine grass fires, two structure fires, and a car wreck. All of this in record high temperatures. We are thankful for these men and women who respond to these dangerous situations at a moment’s notice.

JULY 26 TH —30 TH JULY 26 TH 1775: Neither rain nor sleet . .

A huge crowd gathered to welcome Jessica Beck as the new local agent of Farm Bureau Insurance in Holdenville. Customers, co-workers, family and friends came out to help her celebrate. Jessica said she is looking forward to spending many years here and giving back to their insureds and the community.

Had another great old geezers Holdenville Alumni meeting on July 11. There were 19 in attendance. The Wall of fame that Bobbie Jo is working on is growing. If you have more pictures, bring them and we can copy them and give them back to you. Thank you, Delbert Taber, my great friend for taking me (George Kernek)! Some of those attending were: Mike Agan, Mike Winningham, Keith Kernek, Jerry Harwell, Gayle Frederick, Bruce Graham, Maxie Carter, Rosalia Mendoza, Bobbie Jo Loomis Wells, Joyce Loomis Kernek, John Bill Martin, Bill Langdon, Jimmy Dale Langdon, Vernon Robinson. Thank you, Bobbie Jo, for working on the Wall of Geezers Fame.

George Kernek is pictured with his good buddy Delbert Taber, who drove him down to Smokin Joe’s Rib Ranch for the Old Geezers’ meeting..

There are few things scarier to a city than losing its water supply. Last week Holdenville’s towers, along with every line from Holdenville to Lamar, ran completely dry. Two days prior to the city running out of water, the water superintendent noticed he was having trouble holding water in Jackson Hill Tower, which he knew meant there was a leak somewhere. So, the search began. Normally, they could see 100’s of 1000’s of gallons running out into a street or even field, but they could not locate it anywhere in town. The mayor and water superintendent pulled out the waterline maps and began to search every part of town with a buried line. Monday afternoon as the mayor was walking near Airport Road, he just happened to smell chlorine which meant there was treated water somewhere in the area. In the field across from Central Metal Finishing (the old Seamprufe building) the mayor discovered a small pond into which the leak was draining. They followed a small flowing creek of treated water north from the pond where they discovered an 8-inch line with a 4-foot gash emptying the last of Holdenville’s water supply onto the ground.

Grace M. Pickens Library and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church have announced sponsorship of a new book club for Hughes county, to be called “Pageturners,” which will feature works of fiction and non-fiction alike, as club members so choose. The first meeting will be held Thursday, July 21 at 6:30pm in the Library conference room.

FELONY Bradley Wayne Anderson—waiver of extradition DIVORCE Myrtie Classteen Shipman vs. Larry Shane Shipman CIVIL Bank of America, N.A.

The Doghouse is under new ownership as of February 2022. Bruce Wilbourn and Susan Anson would like to welcome you to come by and see the new improvements we have made. We have 100% and E-10 fuel. We have a hot box with new items and still have the roller grill and the great hotlinks. Nachos are back. Candy, chips, and pop are still available as well as the coldest beer in town. We also offer a free bag of ice with a 30 pack of beer. We also offer a selection of wine.

A felony warrant was issued on June 23, 2022 for Kevin Ryan Davis, 33, of Holdenville for three counts of RAPE, FIRST DEGREE (VICTIM UNDER AGE 14), A FELONY, and two counts of FORCIBLE SODOMY. At approximately 8:30am on Friday, February 25, 2022, Holdenville Chief of Police Kristofer Green was dispatched to Holdenville General Hospital to take a report of a sexual assault.