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You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

1 John 4:4

By Rep. RICK WEST 

I presented citations to the Hodgen boys basketball team in the House of Representatives last week. This team was named the Oklahoma Rural Elementary Schools Division 3 State Champions for 2026, after finishing the season with a record of 20-5.  

Despite losing one of their main players at the beginning of the year, this team persevered and overcame adversity by playing together and focusing on being excellent in the fundamentals. They delighted their fans who know the Bulldogs as a talented homegrown team that plays with intensity and pours their heart into their sport.  

I recognized each team member and Coach Dustin Hall as well as school faculty and staff who each helped play a part in the success of this team in both academics and athletics. It was also great to see how many parents and grandparents came with the team to the Capitol to help celebrate their accomplishment.  

If the world ran the way this team does, we might be in a better spot.  

In the House, we heard dozens of bills each day of session. I passed my House Bill 2964, which would remove the requirement that exists in current state statute that fees be assessed to people accessing their medical records. The bill would allow fees to be assessed, but the amount charged could only be up to the amount already listed in state statute - $20 – not more. I got a unanimous vote to pass this bill. It now moves to the Senate for consideration.  

A few other bills I supported include: 

House Bill 2950, which would prohibit state colleges and CareerTechs from requiring differentiated admission standards from students based on their educational background. The measure also would remove the requirement for homeschooled students and students from unaccredited schools to have achieved a minimum of 22 on the ACT to be eligible for the Oklahoma's Promise Scholarship. We shouldn't discriminate against homeschool students.  

House Bill 3700 would require college students to be graded only on academic content and not their opinions or beliefs. This bill came from a recommendation by the Oklahoma Free Speech Committee. Only one of the state's 25 colleges and universities have a policy that clearly states this. This would ensure students are not graded negatively when they disagree with a professor or get a better grade if they happen to agree with the opinions or beliefs of those grading their assignments.  

Remember to listen to my Capitol update on the radio at 7:35 a.m. every Thursday on KPRV.  

As always, if I can help you with anything, please call my Capitol office at (405) 557-7413 or email me at [email protected].

Rick West serves District 3 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes part of LeFlore County.

Steve Glinski candidates statement for Oklahoma House          

              of Representatives, District 3, 2026 

I am a lifelong Oklahoman, retired railroad engineer, former school board member, and working-class advocate running for State House to bring common sense leadership and small town values to the State Capitol.

I grew up in a working-class family with deep roots in Leflore County. My paternal grandparents were Lawrence and Sada Glinski. He was a Polish immigrant coal miner, who worked in the mines until his body no longer allowed him. She was a former school teacher known for her wit and sage advice.

 On my mom’s side, my grandparents were Fred and Burbie Burns, tenant farmers from the Forrester community who, through hard work and perseverance, became owners of their own farm.

These were people who believed in humor, hard work and treating others the way you want to be treated. These values helped shape me.

I was born on Tachikawa Air Force Base in Japan and am the son of a career Air Force veteran, John Glinski. My mom was Bettye Glinski, a skilled seamstress, tailor and quilter. We moved frequently during childhood and I attended schools in Okinawa and various places in the United States before eventually moving home to Heavener for my high school years. Both of my parents and my sisters are Heavener alums as well.

Upon graduating from Heavener High School I attended Carl Albert and briefly the University of Oklahoma, before beginning a 40-year railroad career. For 35 of those years, I worked as a locomotive engineer for the Kansas City Southern and became a proud member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. Railroading requires teamwork and responsibility. Those same disciplines apply to public service. Our representatives are, in a very real sense, employees of the people in the district they serve.

Karen and I will celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary in November. She is a Wister High School graduate and the most genuine and caring person I know. She also has a beautiful laugh! Both of our children, Jake and Kaynan, are Heavener High School graduates and have careers in the transportation industry. We also have 2 grandchildren attending public schools in Leflore County.

I served 12 years on the Heavener Board of Education where I learned the importance of strengthening public schools and supporting teachers and students.

This campaign will be grounded on the simple but powerful values of respect, fairness, humility, and compassion. Building bridges works far better than building barriers. I’m not guided by rigid ideology. I am guided by the values that I have seen and learned. If we treat each other with respect and work together, we can get Oklahoma on the right track.

                     *Support Workers and Small Business

                     *Work for Affordable Property Insurance

                     *Protect Rural Healthcare

                     *Advocate For Strong Public Schools

                     *Be Guided By Values Over Ideology

For more information or to get involved go to GlinskiForHouse.com. Please  email me at [email protected] with any questions or comments. You may also contact us at: Steve Glinski For State House 2026, PO Box 74, Poteau, Oklahoma 74953.

I Look Forward to Meeting You,

Steve Glinski

Poteau

The Heavener.news publishes one political announcement for free as a public service to our readers. The announcement is not an endorsement of any candidate. Heavener.news reserves the right to edit the announcements. All political announcements should be submitted to [email protected].

On Tuesday, State Representative Rick West (R-Heavener) passed House Bill 2967 through the Oklahoma House of Representatives. West has publicly nicknamed the legislation his "Grandpa Bill."

Under current Oklahoma law, vehicle excise tax exemptions for title transfers are limited primarily to transactions between spouses or from parents to children.

HB 2967 expands this exemption to include:

In Oklahoma, the motor vehicle excise tax is generally 3.25% for new vehicles and a set fee schedule for used vehicles. By including grandparents in the exemption list, the bill aims to eliminate this additional cost for family-to-family transfers.

by Adora Brown and Amelia Benavides-Colón

The Oklahoma congressional delegation’s wealth lies not so much in stocks and bonds as it does in real estate and personal business interests that range from consulting firms to agriculture to McDonald’s franchises.

A NOTUS analysis of the Oklahoma delegation’s most recent annual financial disclosures reveals key details about how the state’s seven lawmakers manage their personal finances while serving the public.

Many of these lawmakers entered office with millions and remain significantly wealthier than most of their constituents.

Kevin Hern – $110 million

Rep. Kevin Hern entered office with a median net worth of more than $61 million, according to his 2018 financial disclosure. Since then, his median net worth has grown to $110 million, with only two liabilities: credit cards with recurring balances of $15,001 to $50,000.

Of the tens of millions of dollars Hern brought to Congress, much of it stemmed from McDonald’s restaurants; Hern, a Republican, served for 13 years on the McDonald’s National Leadership Council and owned two dozen franchise locations.

On his 2018 financial disclosure, Hern reported the trust that “Operates 10 McDonald’s” was worth $25 million to $50 million and provided an annual income of $1 million to $5 million. “Administrative management of 10 McDonald’s restaurants” was valued at an additional $500,001 to $1 million.

The lawmaker also reported seven separate loans on McDonald’s restaurants acquired from 2016 to 2018. Three of the restaurant loans were valued $100,001 to $250,000, one was valued $250,001 to $500,000, another $50,001 to $100,000 and the final two were valued $500,001 to $1 million.

As of 2024, Hern no longer reported any outstanding McDonald’s-related liabilities, and his only reported assets tied to the fast-food chain are $101,002 to $265,000 in McDonald’s Corporation stock. (Hern did disclose up to $100,000 worth of credit card debt.)

Hern has also in the past failed to properly disclose personal stock and corporate security trades, per the requirements of the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act. Hern is now running for the Senate, with President Donald Trump’s endorsement.

Tom Cole – $9.4 million

Within the state, several Oklahoma representatives entered office with significant wealth tied to business ownership.

Oklahoma’s senior Republican House member, Rep. Tom Cole, reported a median net worth of nearly $3.2 million in 2008. A significant portion of his wealth was made up of his partnership in the political campaign consulting company “Cole, Hargrave, Snodgrass and Associates,” which he co-founded before first running for elected office in 1989.

By 2024, Cole’s median net worth had grown to $9.4 million. Cole’s properties, a personal residence and 10 acres of land co-owned with his brother, both increased in value since he entered office. Additionally, the lawmaker owns a host of various oil and energy stocks.

Means and Methodology

Delaney Marsco, director of ethics at the Campaign Legal Center, a nonprofit focused on money in politics, told NOTUS it’s not uncommon for a candidate for office to bring some wealth to the table.

“More often than not, these very wealthy lawmakers are wealthy when they get into Congress, and that’s because it’s very expensive to run for office,” Marsco said.

Every year, members of Congress are required in annual financial reports to disclose the values of each of their assets and liabilities in broad ranges, like from $15,001 to 50,000. The ranges get bigger the larger the assets or liabilities get. The biggest value range they can report is open-ended — $50 million or more. There are also assets a lawmaker doesn’t have to report, such as their primary residence.

Still, disclosures offer a window into how Oklahoma’s lawmakers are making their money. As Congress debates whether lawmakers should be allowed to own individual stocks, the financial disclosures of the Oklahoma lawmakers with the highest median net worths indicate that the stock market does play a significant, if not all-encompassing, role in their personal wealth.

NOTUS calculated the median net worth of each lawmaker by first finding each member’s minimum net worth — the sum of the minimum value of all assets minus the sum of the maximum value of all their liabilities — and their maximum net worth — maximum asset value minus minimum liabilities. NOTUS then calculated the median between the minimum and maximum net worths.

Lawmakers filed their most recent financial disclosures in 2025, and they detail the lawmakers’ finances in 2024.

Unlike annual financial reports, lawmakers must report most individual stock, bond and cryptocurrency trades within 30 to 45 days of the trade, per the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act.

Frank Lucas – $2.6 million

Several of Oklahoma’s lawmakers have significant investments in the state’s agricultural industry, which boasts more than 70,000 farms, according to the 2022 U.S. Census of Agriculture.

In 2008, Rep. Frank Lucas reported a median net worth of just over $1 million, including a mortgage on more than 500 acres of farmland valued from $100,001 to $250,000, two tractor notes worth $25,002 to $65,000 and a farm operating loan note and four revolving lines of credit each worth $15,001 to $50,000.

Sixteen years later, in 2024, Lucas’ median net worth had grown to $2.6 million. Following the death of his mother in 2020, the congressman acquired hundreds of acres of farmland that are being drilled for oil and gas royalties, according to his disclosure.

Markwayne Mullin – $45 million

Oklahoma’s junior U.S. senator, Republican Markwayne Mullin, had a median net worth of $5.9 million when he joined the House in 2012, according to NOTUS’ analysis of congressional financial records. Much of his wealth is tied to various personal businesses, including Mullin Farms, Mullin Plumbing, Mullin Services, Mullin Properties and Mullin Environmental.

By 2024, Mullin’s median net worth had grown to $45 million.

During his time in Congress, Mullin’s family cattle ranch has grown in value from less than $50,000 to somewhere from $1 million to $5 million. Meanwhile, “Mullin Properties LLC,” which was valued from $1 million to $5 million in 2012, now includes at least 14 different investment properties worth $3 million to $12 million combined.

Mullin joined Congress with no reported liabilities. But that’s changed of late: In 2022, he took out a 15-year joint mortgage for $1 million to $5 million, and in 2024, he opened a revolving line of credit valued from $5 million to $25 million.

Mullin was cited for violating the STOCK Act twice so far this year for failing to properly disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars in stock and bond trades, NOTUS reported.

In July, Mullin was more than two years late in disclosing seven stock purchases by his wife, each worth about $1,000, and was over a year late in disclosing three personal purchases of municipal security stock worth at least $315,000. And just a few weeks later, he violated the STOCK Act again when he was months late disclosing three stock and bond transactions worth at least $1.4 million.

A spokesperson for Mullin, who Trump this month nominated to become secretary of Homeland Security, told NOTUS the senator “uses independent, third-party operator firms” for his investments, adding, “He does not conduct nor inform individual trades. His financial reports are filed bi-weekly with Senate Ethics to ensure compliance with all federal laws.”

Since Trump nominated Mullin, his wealth has come under even greater scrutiny, including in an investigation by the New York Times.

James Lankford – $758,500

The relatively modest wealth of Oklahoma’s senior senator, Republican James Lankford, lies primarily in stock ownership. Lankford entered the House in 2010 with a median net worth of about $217,500. Since then, his median net worth has grown to about $758,500, mainly through the trading of various stocks, according to his 2024 Senate financial disclosure.

Josh Brecheen – $207,500

The delegation’s newest member, Republican Rep. Josh Brecheen, had a median net worth of about $240,000 when he joined Congress in 2022, according to NOTUS’ analysis. Brecheen’s small portfolio of assets included livestock, land, a commercial trucking business and a state pension plan worth an undetermined amount.

Brecheen owned and operated a trucking company for four years before running for Congress.

The business only appears on his first congressional financial disclosure, with a value of $15,000 to $50,000, in addition to a reported annual income of $100,001 to $1 million.

Lawmakers are not required to report the sale of personal businesses the way they are for stocks, and the trucking business does not appear on any of Brecheen’s consequent disclosures.

When asked about this disclosure, Breechen told NOTUS he shut down and sold all of his shares of the trucking company shortly before assuming his role in D.C. He had no additional comment on the matter.

By 2024, his median net worth fell to about $207,500. Brecheen still claims farmland and cattle as his assets, with no evidence of stock trading.

Stephanie Bice – $986,000

Rep. Stephanie Bice, who is among Oklahoma’s newest delegation members, has grown her median net worth from $582,000 before entering Congress in 2020 to about $986,000 in 2024. Bice’s financial interests lie in stock investments and includes the debts of two personal mortgage loans.

For lawmakers, stock trading has become a way to gain personal wealth outside of their congressional salary or representational allowance. Many government reform organizations, including the Campaign Legal Center, argue for more reform on congressional stock trading.

“We see that a lot of members of Congress do seem to actively trade individual stocks while they’re in Congress,” Marsco said. Their investment in the market, she says, “suggests that they are really cognizant of how the climate of the country and their work affects their own personal financial interest.”

This story was produced as part of a partnership between NOTUS and Oklahoma Watch. “Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.”

MUSKOGEE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kenny Ray Smith, 62, of Whitesboro was sentenced to 240 months in prison each for two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine.  The Court ordered the sentences to be served concurrently.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the District 16 District Attorney’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On Sept. 4, 2025, Smith was found guilty of the charges by a federal jury at trial.  According to investigators, on June 27, 2024, Smith conducted a sale for 27.85 grams of methamphetamine in a controlled buy during an undercover investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN).  On July 9, 2024, Smith conducted a sale for 52.9 grams of methamphetamine in a controlled buy during an undercover investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the OBN. 

“Mr. Smith’s crimes and his long history of drug trafficking in Eastern Oklahoma have proven him to be deserving of this sentence,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.  “I commend the DEA and OBN for their work to combat drugs in our communities.  Together, we have formed an effective partnership reflecting the high priority this office places on protecting public health and safety.”   

“This was an outstanding joint investigation that aimed to remove a significant meth supplier in eastern Oklahoma,” said OBN Director Donnie Anderson.  “Meth continues to be one of our state’s leading contributors in drug-related deaths.  Our agency will continue to aggressively target those who endanger the health and safety of Oklahoma citizens by funneling meth onto our streets.”  

“This sentence sends a clear and unwavering message: repeat offenders who profit from the distribution of this poison will be held fully accountable.  Mr. Smith’s criminal history underscores a pattern of harm that we cannot and will not tolerate,” said Joseph B. Tucker, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Field Division. “The DEA is fully committed to working closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to disrupt drug trafficking networks and protect the safety and well-being of our communities.”  

John F. Heil, III, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Smith will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan Howanitz and Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.

LeFlore County scoreboard for 3-17-2026

LeFlore County scoreboard for Tuesday.

Baseball

Victory Christian 8, Cameron 0

Howe 12, Savanna 0

Porter 10, Howe 0

Stratford 10, Whitesboro 4

Soper 8, Whitesboro 0

Panama 9, Coleman 3

Poteau 12, Eufaula 2

Duncan 8, Wister 0

Softball

Howe 5, Cushing 2

Howe 14, Kiowa 13 (Extra innings)

Kiowa 7, Panama 4

Asher 2, Panama 1

Pocola 15, McLoud 6

Choctaw 22, Pocola 12

Valliant 15, Talihina 0

Talihina 17, Vanoss 1

Wister 13, Vanoss 2

Wister 11, Asher 1

To make an addition or correction, please leave a comment below or email [email protected].

Were you surprised with any of the scores? Discuss in the comments.

STILLWATER — Kanye Clary had 20 points in Oklahoma State's 84-80 victory over Davidson on Tuesday in the NIT.

Clary shot 6 of 14 from the field, including 3 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 5 for 7 from the line for the Cowboys (20-14). Benjamin Ahmed scored 16 points and added six rebounds. Christian Coleman had 15 points and shot 5 of 7 from the field and 4 for 5 from the line.

Roberts Blums led the Wildcats (20-14) in scoring, finishing with 22 points. Davidson also got 16 points and three steals from Parker Friedrichsen. Josh Scovens also had 10 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Ahmed scored nine points in the first half and Oklahoma State went into the break trailing 50-40. Clary scored 17 points in the second half to help lead Oklahoma State.

Razorbacks Rout Bears in Run-Rule Win
Online version

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas – No. 4 Arkansas (15-6) scored early and often, including a pair of four-spots in the seventh and eighth innings, to rout Northern Colorado (3-19), 13-2, in a run-rule win Tuesday night at Baum-Walker Stadium. 

With the win, the Razorbacks improved to 4-1 in midweek games this season. Arkansas will conclude its season-long 18-game homestand tomorrow in the double midweek series finale against Northern Colorado, which is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, on SEC Network+ with Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Troy Eklund (analyst) on the call. 

The Bears opened the scoring against Razorback right-hander Mark Brissey, making his first collegiate start on the mound, with a pair of runs in the top half of the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. It was all Arkansas from there, however, as the Hogs broke out for 13 runs on 12 hits and a season-high 14 walks in their 13-2 run-rule win. 

Damian Ruiz’s leadoff home run to left field, his first of the season, in the bottom of the first gave Arkansas a jolt after falling behind by two runs. Maika Niu’s RBI groundout to third base later in the inning evened the game at two apiece. 

After his shaky first inning, Brissey settled down to work a scoreless second frame. The true freshman tossed two innings of two-run ball with two strikeouts in his first start on the mound as a Hog before turning the ball over to the bullpen. 

The Razorback bullpen combined for six shutout innings with 10 strikeouts in relief of Brissey. Steele Eaves (1.0 IP, 1 SO), Jackson Kircher (career-long 3.0 IP, career-high 6 SO), Parker Coil (1.0 IP, 2 SO) and Jordan Martin (1.0 IP, 2 SO) worked together to silence the Northern Colorado offense for the remainder of Tuesday night’s double midweek series opener. 

Arkansas took the lead for good in the bottom of the second inning on a run-scoring wild pitch with Ryder Helfrick at the plate. Helfrick, who finished 2-for-3 with the walk-off two-RBI double in the eighth, three walks and a stolen base, was one of four Hogs with a multi-hit game as well as one of five Arkansas players to draw multiple walks in the run-rule win. 

Ruiz (2-for-4, 4 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB), Camden Kozeal (2-for-4, 3 R, 2B, 4 RBI, 2 BB) and TJ Pompey (3-for-5, 3 R, HR, RBI, 2 SB) carded multi-hit games. Nolan Souza (1-for-3, 2 R, 2B, 2 BB, 2 SB) and Landon Schaefer (2 BB) had multiple walks.  

True freshman Peyton Lee (0-1, 9.95 ERA) will make his third career start on the mound for Arkansas in tomorrow’s double midweek series finale. The right-hander will go up against UNC right-hander Logan Moser (0-1, 12.15 ERA).

OU Drops midweek matchup at Southeastern Louisiana 

No. 8 Oklahoma fell at Southeastern Louisiana Tuesday night by a final of 3-0.  

It was the first time the Sooners (17-4, 2-1 SEC) have been shut out this season and it was the team’s second-lowest hit total on the year with four.  

A scoreless game through three innings, Oklahoma led off the fourth inning with consecutive hits from Jaxon Willits and Deiten Lachance but a double play ended the threat. 

The Lions (12-9, 4-2 SLC) took the lead in the home half of the fourth on a single to first base before a solo home run in the fifth extended the lead to 2-0.  

The Sooners threatened again in the seventh with a pair of base hits before another double play kept OU scoreless. SLU would add an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth on an error to bring the final to 3-0.  

Oklahoma used six pitchers on the night with starting RHP Michael Catalano taking his second loss of the season, going 3.2 innings and striking out three while allowing one run on three hits. OU pitching escaped numerous jams on the night, leaving eight SLU baserunners on base.  

Four Sooners combined for OU’s four hits on the night. 

OSU defeats South Dakota State 

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State opened its midweek series against South Dakota State with a 7-6 win Tuesday night at O’Brate Stadium. 

With the victory, the Cowboys improved to 13-7, which includes a 9-1 mark at home, while SDSU fell to 5-15. The two teams will conclude the series Wednesday at 4 p.m. 

OSU used five pitchers in the contest, with Drew Winslow picking up the first win of his career in relief. Kai Fyke earned his first-career save, working the final three innings and striking out a career-best five while allowing only one hit. 

Alex Conover led the Pokes offensively, going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and reaching base three times to extend his streak to 18 games. 

Brennan Phillips made his eighth appearance and first start of the season for the Cowboys. The lefty pitched two scoreless innings, working around five baserunners and striking out one. 

Zane Burns replaced Phillips in the third and surrendered a leadoff home run to Luke Luskey, which gave the Jackrabbits a 1-0 lead. 

After Burns struck out a pair of batters in the fourth, the Cowboys’ offense broke through in the bottom of the inning. SDSU starter Kaden Rylance was perfect through three innings before Conover hit a long double off the top of the wall in center field. Brock Thompson then walked before Rylance recorded back-to-back outs. Up next, Colin Brueggemann lined an RBI single to right field to score Conover, and Sebastian Norman followed with an RBI double to give the Pokes a 2-1 lead. 

Bryce LeBlanc took Burns’ place in the fifth and allowed three runs while striking out three, and SDSU pushed its lead to 5-2 in the sixth with an unearned run against Winslow. 

The Pokes’ offense scored five runs in the sixth inning on only one hit. With two outs, Campbell Smithwick reached on an error before Brueggemann and Norman walked to load the bases. TP Wentworth was hit by a pitch to collect an RBI, and both Evan Saunders and Remo Indomenico had RBI walks to tie the game. 

With the bases still loaded, Conover blooped an RBI double just inside the left-field line to give the Cowboys a 7-5 lead. 

Fyke took the mound for the seventh and pitched the first clean inning of the game for the Cowboy pitching staff. The righty returned for the eighth and struck out two in another scoreless inning.  

In the ninth, Fyke faced early trouble, allowing two baserunners before recording an out. He then induced a shallow fly out and an RBI fielder’s choice before striking out the final batter to seal the victory.

Hasler powers Cowgirls past Grand Canyon 

PHOENIX, Ariz. – A pair of three-run home runs from Amanda Hasler powered the No. 23/21 Oklahoma State softball team past No. 17/22 Grand Canyon, 10-5, on Tuesday night in front of a record-breaking crowd at GCU Softball Stadium. 

The Cowgirls improved to 19-9 on the season, while the loss ended the Antelopes’ undefeated start and dropped them to 30-1. GCU was the last undefeated team in Division I softball. 

After GCU jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings, Hasler hit her first home run of the game in the top of the fourth inning to tie the contest at three apiece. Rosie Davis gave the Cowgirls the lead later in the frame with an RBI single. 

Aubrey Jones provided the Cowgirls with insurance in the top of the sixth following an RBI single to extend the lead to two. Davis broke the game open with her fifth home run of the year to put the Cowgirls ahead, 7-3.  

Hasler pushed the lead to seven with her second three-run blast of the evening in the top of the seventh, which notched her 50^th-career home run. The senior catcher tied her career high with six RBIs and recorded the sixth multi-home run game of her career. 

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, GCU’s Addison Shifflett hit a two-run home run to cut the deficit to five runs, before the Cowgirls secured the final out and the victory with the next batter. 

Ruby Meylan (9-6) pitched her third straight complete game and struck out eight to earn her ninth win of the year. Meylan’s dominance on the mound continues with her third straight game with at least five strikeouts. 

Abi Jones (3-1) took her first loss of the year after relieving Taryn Batterton in the top of the fourth and allowing four runs in 2 2/3 innings pitched for GCU. 

Four different Cowgirls recorded multi-hit contests, as Davis, Hasler, Jones and Tia Warsop all finished with at least two hits. 

The Cowgirls return to action at 6 p.m. CT on March 19 to begin their home Big 12 series against BYU.

Even though Easter is 2 weeks away, Faith Bridge Church in Heavener is expecting an Easter crowd at worship Sunday.

“Wwe are asking all our members to bring at least one friend with them to church on Sunday,”  said Pastor Ricky Huggins, pastor of the church at 109 East Avenue B, behind the public library in Heavener. “if each of our members are successful at that we'll have a larger attendance than at either Christmas or Easter.”

 The Blended worship experience starts at 10:50 a.m.

“We want to share what our church has to offer with the people in the community,” Huggins said. “Those not connected with a faith home. iI addition to worship, we offer classes in faith development, small groups on various topics, opportunities for community service and special programs for several adult groups, young adults and senior citizens.”

Huggins noted that recent data show spiritual interests are increasing. yet only around 30 percent report attending a local church in an average week.

“We want to increase that percentage next Sunday and every Sunday in Heavener. We believe being part of a local church each week meets needs that cannot be met otherwise, adding a great deal to our present and future quality of life.”

Calendar of events for the next week for Heavener, LeFlore County, southeastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. The calendar is a free service for our readers. If you know of an event coming up, please CONTACT me.

Wednesday

Poteau Rotary Club meets noon EOMC

High school baseball: Cameron southeast shootout in Broken Bow

Thursday

Poteau Kiwanis Club meets noon EOMC

High school baseball: Heavener at Navajo Festival; High school baseball: Cameron southeast shootout in Broken Bow; Howe at Haskell

HUA-City Council meet 6 p.m.

Heavener VFW bingo 6

\LeFlore County Republicans meet 6 p.m. at Patrick Lynch Library

Friday

High school baseball: Heavener at Navajo Festival

Saturday

A V Skinner., Jr. service 

High school baseball: Poteau at Jay;

Funeral service for Mary Lou (Steelman) Odom 

3-22-2026 Sunday

3-23-2026 Monday

LeFlore County commissioners meet 9 a.m.

High school baseball: Heavener at Holland Hall; Warner at Cameron; Haworth at Howe; Poteau at Muldrow; Whiesboro at Smithville

High school softball: Heavener at conference festival (Stigler); Cameron at Whitesboro

Tuesday

High school baseball: Holland Hall at Heavener; Cameron at Talihina; Porum, Clayton at Howe; Muldrow at Poteau; Whitesboro at Okay

High school softball: Heavener at conference festival (Stigler); Howe, Wister at Poteau; LeFlore at Cameron; Whitesboro at Panama; Muldrow at Spiro; Talihina at Stigler in Black Diamond Conference festival; 

High school soccer: Heavener at Hilldale

High school golf: Heavener at Keys Tournament

Poteau Evening Lions Club meet 6 p.m. CASC

March 18 has been a day of high-stakes "firsts" and dramatic endings throughout history. From the birth of the world's most famous hockey trophy to the first human footsteps in the vacuum of space, this date marks moments of incredible bravery and lasting legacy.

In one of the most daring feats of the Space Race, Soviet cosmonaut Aleksei Leonov became the first person to walk in space. Exiting the Voskhod 2 spacecraft, Leonov spent 12 minutes tethered to the ship, floating 1,300 miles above Earth. The mission nearly ended in disaster when his spacesuit ballooned in the vacuum, making it almost impossible for him to re-enter the airlock.

Founded in Buffalo, New York, American Express began as an express mail business. It eventually evolved into the global financial services giant we know today, pioneering the traveler's cheque and the modern credit card system.

Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada, pledged to donate a silver challenge cup to be awarded annually to the top amateur ice hockey team in Canada. That "challenge cup" is now the Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America.

In one of the deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history, the Tri-State Tornado ripped through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana on this day. It remains the deadliest single tornado on record, claiming nearly 700 lives and destroying over 15,000 homes in a three-hour span.

A V Skinner, Jr., 75, of Poteau passed away on March 16, 2026, in Poteau.

He was born on August 2, 1950, in Poteau to A V Skinner, Sr. and Nerrissia (Thompson) Skinner. 

Funeral service is 11 a.m. on Saturday at Evans Chapel of Memories in Poteau with Phil McGehee officiating. Burial will follow at Monroe Cemetery, under the direction of Evans & Miller Funeral Home of Poteau.

Survivors are daughters Kristina Skinner of Poteau, Candace Randall and husband Broc of Tulsa, Tammy Ingle and husband Mike of Derby, Kansas, and bonus daughter Susie Lloyd of Poteau; brother, Brad Skinner of Fort Smith, Arkansas; granddaughters Cate Randall, Allison Ludwig and husband Matt, Amanda Banister and husband Logan, and bonus granddaughter Kassadee Francis; grandsons Matthew Skinner and wife Christine, Ben Randall, and bonus grandsons Dalton and Mason Francis; nine great-grandchildren; and brothers-in-law, Charlie McCroskey and Freddie McCroskey.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Emma Skinner.

Pallbearers are Mark Henry, Scott Henry, Farrell Butler, Robert Thompson, Allan Hensley and John Meeh. Honorary pallbearers will be Charlie McCroskey, Dalton Francis, and John Montgomery.

Viewing and visitation is Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

You may leave an online message at www.evansandmillerfuneralhome.com.