Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

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Candidate filings begins April 1

Statewide election activity officially begins at 8 a.m.  April 1^t , when the candidate filing period opens.

Candidates for state offices file with the Secretary of the State Election Board. Candidates for county offices file with the Secretary of the County Election Board.

LeFlore County Election Board Secretary Kayla Rees said the following offices are expected to be filled this year.

County Assessor

County Treasurer

County Commissioner District 1 & 3.

Filing forms and information for county offices may be obtained by contacting the LeFlore County

Call the Election Board at (918) 647-3701 or email Leflorecountyelections.ok.gov. The LeFlore County Election Board is located at 103 N Church Street in Poteau and is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Filing packets for all offices are also available for download on the State Election Board's website at oktahoma.gov/elections.

The filing period closes at 5 p.m. Friday, April 3rd.

By: Nuria Martinez-Keel

OKLAHOMA CITY — House lawmakers proposed extending Oklahoma’s minimum school year by seven days and pledged $175 million to make it happen.

House Bill 3151 passed off the House floor 62-28 Wednesday evening and heads to the Senate, where leadership has endorsed the measure.

The bill is the first firm proposal from the House this session for increasing public school funding, though leaders have discussed adding funds for other education initiatives, as well. Senate leaders unveiled their $254 million education funding plan weeks ago.

“We put a flag in the ground yesterday that said we believe that despite this year being the highest funding level in the history of the state of Oklahoma for public education, we want the (next) budget and the year after next to be even higher than it is this year,” House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, told news reporters Thursday.

Oklahoma law requires a minimum of 181 school days or 1,086 instructional hours in public schools. Districts that  build their calendars on the 1,086-hour requirement must stay in session for at least 166 school days. 

HB 3151 would increase the 166-day minimum to 173 days starting in the 2027-28 school year. 

Parent-teacher conferences and teacher professional development days could still count for up to 42 instructional hours per school year. A former version of the bill sought to strike that from state law.

The bill’s author, Rep. Rob Hall, R-Tulsa, said raising the minimum number of school days is a “much-needed step toward improving educational outcomes in our state.”

“Spreading instructional time over more days will help keep students engaged throughout the school day and make the time our educators spend with them more effective,” Hall said in a statement.

House leadership said multiple education-focused organizations backed the measure, including groups representing teachers, school administrators, rural and urban schools, and school boards.

The bill adds school days at a rate of $25 million per day. 

For districts already operating longer than 173 days, the funding would be a bonus that they could invest in teachers, students and other school needs, said Shawn Hime, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association.

“I think every district leader I’ve talked to has been excited about the idea of having more time with students, especially with the guarantee that we’ll be funded for that time,” he said.

Oklahoma law requires a minimum of 181 school days or 1,086 instructional hours in public schools. Districts that  build their calendars on the 1,086-hour requirement must stay in session for at least 166 school days. 

HB 3151 would increase the 166-day minimum to 173 days starting in the 2027-28 school year. 

Parent-teacher conferences and teacher professional development days could still count for up to 42 instructional hours per school year. A former version of the bill sought to strike that from state law.

The bill’s author, Rep. Rob Hall, R-Tulsa, said raising the minimum number of school days is a “much-needed step toward improving educational outcomes in our state.”

“Spreading instructional time over more days will help keep students engaged throughout the school day and make the time our educators spend with them more effective,” Hall said in a statement.

House leadership said multiple education-focused organizations backed the measure, including groups representing teachers, school administrators, rural and urban schools, and school boards.

The bill adds school days at a rate of $25 million per day. 

For districts already operating longer than 173 days, the funding would be a bonus that they could invest in teachers, students and other school needs, said Shawn Hime, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association.

“I think every district leader I’ve talked to has been excited about the idea of having more time with students, especially with the guarantee that we’ll be funded for that time,” he said.

LeFlore County scoreboard for games played Monday.

Baseball

Buffalo Valley 11, Whitesboro 5

Lindsey 7, Wister 2

Softball

Silo 12, Howe 2

Panama 4, Stonewall 3

Panama 17, Vanoss 4

Pocola 21, Plainview 8

Pocola 11, Cushing 2

Calera 13, Talihina 5

Tupelo 15, Whitesboro 6

Roff 12, Whitesboro 4

Tecumseh 14, Wister 2

Kiowa 21, Wister 8

To make a correction or addition, email [email protected].

OSU Athletics Hall of Honor induction class of 2026 set 

STILLWATER – Tony Allen (men’s basketball), Chase Jackson (women’s track and field), Dick Hutton (wrestling), Hunter Mahan (men’s golf), Vanessa Shippy-Fletcher (softball) and James Washington (football) comprise the Oklahoma State Athletics Hall of Honor class of 2026. 

They join 93 existing members of the OSU Athletics Hall of Honor when they are officially inducted as part of a ceremony on Friday, October 9.

The selection process began with a screening committee of OSU Athletics coaches and staff members that narrowed the list of eligible candidates to approximately 50. That list was taken to a selection committee of people affiliated with but not employed by OSU Athletics. The selection committee voted for the final honorees.

Tickets for the induction ceremony go on sale during the summer.

More on each member of the 2026 OSU Athletics Hall of Honor class: 

Tony Allen, Men’s Basketball, 2002-04

Top honors: All-American, 2004 NBA Draft first round pick (No. 25 overall), 2008 NBA Champion, six-time NBA All-Defensive team (three-time first team), 

Additional Information: In just two seasons at Oklahoma State after transferring from junior college, Tony Allen finished with 1,021 career points to rank 26th on the OSU career scoring list … In his senior season, Allen was the leader and leading scorer for a team that won the Big 12 regular-season championship, the Big 12 Tournament title, and advanced to the Final Four … Allen was named the Big 12 Conference’s co-Player of the Year, along with teammate John Lucas. He was named first-team All-District  12 and was an Associated Press honorable mention All-American.  Other honors included being named the Most Valuable Player at the Big 12 Tournament and mention on the East Rutherford Regional all-tournament team … Allen was drafted with the 27th overall pick in the first round of the NBA draft by the Boston Celtics … His professional career was highlighted by a 2008 NBA title with the Celtics and six appearances on the NBA All-Defensive Team, three of which were first team accolades … His No. 9 jersey was retired by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2025 … 2025 inductee into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and the Memphis Sports Hall of Fame.

Mary Lou (Steelman) Odom of Summerfield was born on June 15, 1944 in Fanshawe to Walker and Mary Elizabeth (Guinn) Herrington and passed away on March 14, 2026 at her home in Summerfield at the age of 81. 

Graveside service is 10 a.m., Saturday at Summerfield Cemetery with Brother Sam Dyer officiating. Burial will follow in Summerfield Cemetery, under the direction of Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home of Heavener.

Mary was a life-long resident of the area and was a homemaker. She attended Freedom House of Fellowship Church. Mary loved hunting, fishing, being outdoors, tending to her flowers, and going to yard sales. She will be truly missed by many whom loved and knew her. Mary was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Survivors are one daughter Melinda Pierce and husband Eddie of Wister; two sons Clayton Steelman of Summerfield, and Jeff Steelman and wife Nicole of Summerfield; one sister Darlene Bewley and husband Bill of Poteau; one brother James Herrington and wife Sharon of Heavener; seven grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; many beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, other loved ones, and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, McCoy Steelman; her second husband, Dennis Odom; three sisters Betty Herrington, Sharon Herrington, and Beaulah Robinson; two brothers Jimmy Ray Herrington and Junior Herrington; and one great-grandchild, Axel McCage.   

Mary will lie in state from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Friday at the funeral home. 

Pallbearers are Eddie Pierce, Stuart Ingle, Chevy Steelman, Nacona Steelman, Sam Clark and Andrew Spears. 

Honorary pallbearer is Larry Steelman. 

To sign Mary’s online guestbook please visit www.dowdenrobertsfuneralhome.com.

Peggy June Cormany, 49, of Poteau passed away March 7, 2026, in Poteau. She was born on July 5, 1976, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, to Priscilla Jane (Williams) Cornell and Loyd Dale Cornell.

A celebration of life service is 1 p.m. Tuesday, at Evans Chapel of Memories in Poteau with Pastor Rick Goodin officiating.  

Those left to cherish her memory include her spouse, Manuel Battles; her daughters Lenora Thompson of Mountain Home, Idaho, and Elizibeth Battles of Poteau; her son, David Andrew Cormany, Jr. of Grafenwoehr, Germany; and her brother, Daniel Cornell of Wister, Oklahoma; along with many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Priscilla Jane (Williams) Cornell, along with numerous relatives and friends.