Daily Bible verse

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

1 John 4:16

Election Board mails postcards to voters requesting address information

Oklahoma City – This week, the State Election Board mailed postcards to more than 71,000 voters requesting that they update their voter registration address, State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax announced. The postcards were mailed to voters who were identified by the U.S. Postal Service as having completed a National Change of Address Card within the past 12 months. Election officials say the effort helps ensure clean voter registration rolls and is part of the State Election Board’s regular voter list maintenance process.

Voters who receive the postcard should log into the OK Voter Portal to update their voter registration address or complete a paper Voter Registration Application and submit it to their County Election Board. A directory of county election boards is available on the State Election Board website.

Ziriax said it’s important that voters update their registration as soon as possible. “Next year is a big election year - with both state and federal offices on the ballot. We recommend that voters act now. Remember, if you have moved to a new address, you will need to update your voter registration,” said Ziriax. State law requires voters to register to vote at their place of residence.

Instructions for updating your registration and voter registration deadlines can be found on the State Election Board website. Voter list maintenance is required by both state and federal law.

This project was paid for by funds appropriated by the State Legislature pursuant to 26 O.S. § 4-118.1. Postcards were also mailed last year to voters who completed a National Change of Address Card.

URL Guide:OK Voter Portal:

https://okvoterportal.okelections.gov/

Directory of County Election Boards: https://oklahoma.gov/elections/about-us/county-election-boards.html Instructions for updating your registration: https://oklahoma.gov/elections/voter-registration/voter-registration-changes.htmlVoter registration deadlines: https://oklahoma.gov/elections/elections-results/dates-and-deadlines.html26 O.S. § 4-118.1: https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=475994

Casteel signs with SEMO

Heavener senior Jerami Casteel Jr. signed to play football with Southeast Missouri State to play football in a signing ceremony Friday.

Casteel started for four years for Heavener on the offensive and defensive line, helping Heavener to the playoffs his sophomore year for the first time since 2011.

This past season, Casteel was named offensive tackle of the year for District 2A-3.

SEMO is located in Cape Giradeau, Missouri. The Redhawks compete in the NCAA Division 1 Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

They compete as members of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), which partners with the Big South Conference for football in the OVC-Big South Football Association.

Heavener football all-district selections

Heavener football had several players receive recognition on the Class 2A-3 all-district team, which was announced earlier in the week.

Jerami Casteel Jr. was named the offensive tackle of the year, Brandon Sanchez was the wide receiver of the year, Spencer Clubb as inside linebacker of the year.

First team selections were quarterback Brayden Semore, linebacker Willie Dehart, safety Kason Free and wide receiver Saul Silva.

Second-team selections were Julian Sanchez, center Buddy Zaleta and cornerback Jorge Lira.

Cassity named OSU defensive coordinator

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State football coach Eric Morris named the first member of his coaching staff Friday, adding Skyler Cassity as defensive coordinator.

Cassity worked in the same role under Morris at North Texas and will join the Cowboys following UNT’s appearance in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl.

He brings four years of experience as an NCAA Division I defensive coordinator, serving in that role for Abilene Christian from 2022-23, Sam Houston in 2024 and North Texas in 2025.

In his first year at UNT, Cassity helped improve the Mean Green by nearly 10 points per game in scoring defense, by 90 yards per game in total defense and by more than 100 yards per game in passing defense.

Entering bowl season, his UNT defense ranks among the top 25 in the FBS in fumbles recovered (No. 3), turnovers gained (No. 6), passing yards allowed (No. 10), passes intercepted (No. 20) and passing efficiency defense (No. 21).

A 2016 Auburn graduate, Cassity has deep ties to Oklahoma State. His brother, Braden Cassity, played football at OSU from 2018-23; his father, Mike Cassity, served as co-defensive coordinator at OSU during a long college coaching career; and his mother, Colleen Hartman Rambusch, worked for OSU athletics in radio and TV during the Bob Simmons and Eddie Sutton eras.

All university hires are pending completion of a background check.

Skyler Cassity Coaching History

2014-16: Auburn, student assistant

2016: Texas State, graduate assistant

2017-19: Texas Tech, graduate assistant

2020-21: Missouri State, linebackers/nickels/safeties

2022-23: Abilene Christian, defensive coordinator

2024: Sam Houston, defensive coordinator

2025: North Texas, defensive coordinator

2026: Oklahoma State, defensive coordinato

Temperatures dropping Saturday night

Weather forecast for Saturday is for cloudy skies early with the skies clearing and the temperatures dropping later for Heavener, LeFlore County and the area.

The high is forecast to be 58 degrees with a low of 24 degrees.

Sunrise was 7:17 a.m. Sunset is 5:08 p.m.

See our live weather radar

Friday’s high was 70 with a low of 34. No rain was recorded, leaving the monthly total at 0.17 inches. December’s average rainfall is 3.10 inches.

Average temperature for Dec. 13 are a high of 54 and low of 27. Records for the date were a high of 70 in 1975 and a low of 12 in 1982.

Last year on Dec. 13, the high was 55 with a low of 51.

Calendar of events

Calendar of events for today for Heavener, LeFlore County, southeastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. The calendar is a free service for our readers. If you are with a non-profit or a church and want to get the word out, please CONTACT me.

Saturday

Donald Edward Entmeier funeral service

Wister Christmas parade 6 p.m.

High school basketball: Heavener at Haskell Tournament; Howe, Pocola and Poteau at the CNIT in Talihina.

Today in history

2000

Al Gore concedes presidential election

Vice President Al Gore concedes defeat to George W. Bush in his bid for the presidency, following weeks of legal battles over the recounting of votes in Florida, on December 13, 2000. In a televised speech from his ceremonial office next to the White House, Gore said that while he was deeply... read more

American Revolution

1776

General Charles Lee captured at Widow White’s Tavern

Arts & Entertainment

1925

Dick Van Dyke born

Asian History

1937

The Rape of Nanking begins

Civil War

1862

Battle of Fredericksburg