Articles written by Marione Martin
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University and community combine for impressive musical production
Wow, northwest Oklahoma has a lot of talented people! Friday night, I attended the musical “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva. I’ve been to musical...
Lahoma man charged with child sexual abuse
A Lahoma man is facing charges of child sexual abuse in Alfalfa County. According to court documents, the incidents occurred in Goltry between May 1, 2022, and September 1, 2023. Court records show a...
Two men stopped on JCCC property face charges
Two men have been charged in Alfalfa County after being stopped on prison property on April 13. According to court papers, about 7 a.m. at James Crabtree Correctional Center (JCCC) in Helena a man,...
Inmates face drug charges after search at JCCC
After a search in the minimum security pod at James Crabtree Correctional Center in Helena, two inmates are facing felony charges in Alfalfa County. Court records show on Feb. 13 correctional...
Four words for the future
The numbers tell the story. Eighteen men participated in a high school graduation equivalency ceremony Thursday morning after completing their GED testing. A total of 69 inmates have completed their h... Full story
Bier elected president of Alva City Council
Sadie Bier was elected president of the Alva City Council Monday night. She will serve through next year. The office was vacant after Daniel Winters resigned last month. Bier’s principal duty will be to lead meetings when the mayor is absent. She see... Full story
Confronting a trashy situation
"I want to be clear. We are hearing information ... but City Council is not going to be making a decision today," said Mayor Kelly Parker when introducing a presentation by Waste Connections of... Full story
Three injured in Alfalfa County collision
Three people, including a three-year-old child, were injured when two vehicles collided at an intersection in Alfalfa County Monday. The child was transported by Alfalfa County EMS to the Cherokee... Full story
Three injured in Alfalfa County collision
Three people, including a three-year-old child, were injured when two vehicles collided at an intersection in Alfalfa County Monday. The child was transported by Alfalfa County EMS to the Cherokee Airport where she was flown by Survival Flight to... Full story
Solving the mystery of missing emails
Email is both efficient and frustrating. More and more, we rely on email at the newspaper office to send and receive information in advertising and news. Last week, our email host stopped working for...
Equalization board approves three of four Freeport Exemption requests
The Woods County Equalization Board met Tuesday morning to consider four requests for Freeport Exemptions. Oklahoma Freeport Exemptions are available for inventories held for less than nine months. They are calculated using purchases for Oklahoma inv...
Three Enid residents have been charged in double homicide at Freedom
Felony charges have been filed in Woods County against three individuals in the April 11 double homicide at Freedom. Christopher Isaiah Cesar Padilla, age 23; Elijah Isaiah Mann, age 20; and Catelynne Olivia Gorre, age 17, all of Enid, each have been... Full story
Adventure begins at your library
This is National Library Week. The Alva Public Library is busy planning summer activities, so they’re keeping the celebration low key. Patrons are invited to register for a free book drawing. The Summer Reading Program theme this year is Adventure B... Full story
Guffy reports on low rate of recidivism among those leaving BJCC
Charles “Bill” Johnson Correctional Center (BJCC) located in Alva currently houses 448 trainees with 335 of them on the program side. The facility has 47 officers and 83 support staff members, said Warden Becky Guffy Tuesday. She was speaking to mem... Full story
High winds Saturday spread wildfires
I generally don’t pay much attention when forecasts call for high wind gusts. My life doesn’t include many outdoor activities. Despite being indoors at the newspaper office Saturday, I did notice tho...
Woods County commissioners approve bids for water meters, magnetic door lock system
Two sealed bid openings were held during the Woods County Commissioners meeting on Monday. Chairman Randy McMurphy opened the meeting with commissioners David Hamil and John Smiley present. County Clerk Shelley Reed also attended. Only one bid was...
Races in Alfalfa, Woods County filings
Several races have developed in county and state filings that closed Friday, April 5. Woods County has two candidates for sheriff and three for County Commissioners District 2. Alfalfa County incumbents for court clerk and County Commissioner... Full story
Two from Cherokee charged with possession of stolen pickup
Two people from Cherokee have been arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle. A few days later, the two were arrested on burglary charges. On March 26, Cherokee Police Officer Reith Claflin received information on a possible stolen vehicle out of... Full story
Cherokee man facing drug charges after search warrant served
A search warrant resulted in drug charges being filed against a Cherokee resident. Shawn Dale Sauls, 45, of Cherokee, has been charged with possession of controlled dangerous substance (methamphetamine) with intent to distribute, a felony. This... Full story
Cherokee man charged as felon in possession of firearm
A Cherokee man’s night went from bad to worse after a wreck in July of 2023. Evidence from that event then led to a felony charge filed April 2, 2024, in Alfalfa County. Court records show on July 31, 2023, at about 8:30 p.m. Oklahoma Highway P... Full story
High winds Saturday spread wildfires
I generally don’t pay much attention when forecasts call for high wind gusts. My life doesn’t include many outdoor activities. Despite being indoors at the newspaper office Saturday, I did notice tho...
Two races develop in Woods County election
Filing began Wednesday for county offices, and at least two Woods County positions will require voting. So far there are two candidates for county sheriff. Keith Dale, current undersheriff, filed as...
Alva Arena Authority meets for design, construction planning
The Alva Arena Authority met Tuesday noon as they plan for the construction of the main arena building including an exhibit hall and administration offices. Chairman Gregg Glass opened the meeting with trustees Dr. Janet Cunningham, Todd Holder,... Full story
'I'm excited to be here, excited to be in Alva'
Members of the Alva Board of Education held a special meeting Wednesday afternoon to approve a new superintendent. After a short executive session, board members returned to open meeting, inviting the waiting school administrators, office staff and... Full story
Woods County Commissioners accept donation, declare wrecked pickup as surplus
The Woods County Commissioners made short work of their agenda Monday, accepting a donation, signing off on a grant project and junking a wrecked vehicle. Chairman Randy McMurphy opened the meeting with Commissioners John Smiley and David Hamil...
