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Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:30

OKLAHOMA CITY — Over a month after Oklahoma’s governor called for the abolition of an organization that governs high school athletics, lawmakers remain divided over whether the century-old body needs an overhaul.

Supporters of the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association contend that the body has become a scapegoat for providing unpopular, but needed, regulatory oversight. But a group of vocal critics, including Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, argue that times have changed, and the organization is failing to keep up with new state laws and the needs of student athletes.

“The OSSAA’s always been easy to attack because at some point in somebody’s life there was a bad call at a game, or (a team) got seeded badly or they had to go 200 miles to play instead of 100,” said Kevin Hime, superintendent of Lawton Public Schools and president of the OSSAA’s 15-member board of directors, which is chosen by member schools and districts. 

Formed in 1911 to create rules designed to bring fairness to scholastic athletics, the private, nonprofit organization enforces regulations, facilitates scheduling, trains over 11,000 referees and judges, and crowns high school champions in both sports and non-sports activities such as band, speech and debate. Its membership has grown to 482 private and public schools, and it operates on an annual budget of about $8 million, which is primarily funded by playoff ticket sales.

The group’s goal is to maintain competitive balance. 

Legislative efforts to intervene or dismantle its oversight abilities could lead to paying high school athletes, which is already happening, or giving coaches latitude to recruit youth to transfer to specific schools in a bid to create powerhouse teams, Hime said.

In the past month, Hime and other supporters have been visiting lawmakers at the Capitol to make sure they understand the role the OSSAA plays.

“A lot of people don’t fully understand the scope of our work,” said David Jackson, OSSAA executive director. “I think the majority of the people think it’s dealing with eligibility only.”

Eligibility controversy

The controversy surrounding eligibility is what caught the Republican governor’s attention and is one of the reasons why he called for the OSSAA’s abolition during his State of the State address last month. 

Stitt referenced an OSSAA decision that ruled four boys ineligible to play at Glencoe Public Schools after they participated in summer team camp activities under a first-year coach. The OSSAA found that it violated one of their rules designed to prevent recruiting and benched the boys for a year.

The students and the district sued the OSSAA over the legality of its rule that prohibits students from transferring districts to follow a coach. Both sides later settled, and the OSSAA agreed it would not prevent the boys from playing.

“Your ability to play sports shouldn’t be contingent on your parents’ ability to afford an attorney,” Stitt said to a standing ovation from Republican legislators. “It’s time to eliminate the OSSAA and secure our progress with open transfer.”

In a Feb. 27 statement to Oklahoma Voice, Tevis Hillis, a Governor’s Office spokesperson, did not call for disbanding the OSSAA, but said Stitt “appreciated the strong, unified reaction during his State of the State address as the entire room applauded his call to rethink how the OSSAA operates.”

She said Stitt’s goal is to “align school athletics with the state’s open transfer reforms so students can compete for the schools they attend.” Lawmakers in 2021 passed a law, known as the Education Open Transfer Act, that allows students to transfer to other districts at any point in the year as long as there is capacity.

‘Thumbed their nose’

Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, said lawmakers have found that the OSSAA is not responsive when approached with concerns.

“The organization, multiple times, has pretty much thumbed their nose at the Legislature, saying, ‘We don’t work for you, you’re not a part of us,’” he said.

Still, he said wants “no part in running that organization.”

“I think that organization needs to stay intact. I think, overall, they do a pretty good job,” he said.

Paxton said he would like to see the OSSAA’s board expanded by three members, one each appointed by the governor, Senate president pro tem and House speaker.

But, a Senate measure that would have done that narrowly failed to clear a committee last week in a 6-4 vote. 

The bill’s author, Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, said though her legislation stalled, “the issue is not going away.”

It’s time that the OSSAA’s leaders “take a good, hard look” and figure out how to be supportive of Oklahoma athletes and their member schools, said Seifried, a former college athlete.

Seifried said nearly every summer she receives requests for assistance from constituents regarding sports eligibility. Most recently, a student left a school due to bullying but was moving back to play golf. She said she had to write a letter to the OSSAA stating that it was ridiculous the organization refused to allow him to compete.

Although the OSSAA purports to be an optional organization that serves its members, every week it’s “in the news for doing something that is not reflective of what Oklahomans believe,” she said.

“I represent parents and students and families who just want their kids to play sports for four years and have to go through so many hoops and get attorneys so that their kids can participate in four years of sports,” Seifried said.

Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, proposed a bill that would have replaced the OSSAA with a state-run Oklahoma Athletic and Activities Commission. The bill failed to advance without receiving a committee hearing.

Murdock said he didn’t necessarily want it to become law, but said the “heat’s been turned up” on the OSSAA.

“I just want a better experience for our kids, whether it’s basketball, whether it’s one-act play, whether it’s any extracurricular activity that the OSSAA oversees,” he said.

Nuria Martinez-Keel contributed to this report.

A Finley man died in an automobile accident Monday at 4:50 p.m. on Highway 3 in Pushmataha County.

Stephen Edward Barnes, 51, of Finley died when the vehicle he was driving was struck by a vehicle driven by Nicholas Deshaun Hopkins, 44, of Antlers whose vehicle crossed over the centerline and struck the vehicle driven by Barnes.

A third vehicle, driven by Andrea Marie Gaston, 55, of Water Valley, Mississippi, was also involved in the accident, but was not injured.

Barnes was not wearing a seatbelt. Hopkins and Gaston both were wearing seatbelts.

The accident was investigated by Trooper Seth Leyba.

LeFlore County scoreboard for games olayed Monday,

Baseball

Cameron 8, Hackett 5

Checotah 10, Heavener 0

Checotah 11, Heavener 2

Panama 8, McCurtain 0

Talihina 9,  Crowder 0

Softball

Porum 16, Cameron 4

LeFlore 12, Webbers Falls 2

Pocola 8, Wister 7

Soccer

Boys

Poteau 9, Heavener 1

Girls

Poteau 2, Heavener 0

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

Carl Albert State College’s men’s and women’s wrestling teams competed at the NJCAA National Championships this past weekend.

The wrestling teams traveled to Council Bluffs, Iowa, with ten national qualifiers. The Vikings finished 20th out of 55 teams.

Representing Carl Albert at nationals were: Dakota Fenwick (125), Sean Michael Gonzalez (133), Camden Webb (141), Kaiden Cue (149), Monty Hall (157), Grayson Carpenter (165), Jory Garrett (174), Braxton Robertson (184), Corey Chilcoat (197), and Brandon Schoenecke (285).

Gonzalez earned All-American honors for the second time in his career.  Two additional Viking wrestlers Carpenter and Schoenecke both advancing to the blood round, the final match that determines All-American status. They both finished just one match away from earning the honors.

The  women’s wrestling team finished 11th, just two points shy of a top-10 finish.

The Vikings were led by Laila Mirza, who finished as National Runner-Up, and Madison Roe, who placed 6th. Both athletes earned All-American honors for their performances.

Six Viking wrestlers advancing to the blood round, the final match that determines All-American status.

More rain possible Tuesday

Weather forecast for Tuesday is for cloudy skies with more rain possible  for Heavener and LeFlore County.

The high is forecast to be 78 with a low of 64 degrees.

Sunrise was 7:35 a.m. Sunset is 7:21 p.m.

See our live weather radar

Monday’s high was 77 with a low of 66. A total of 0.59 inches of rain was received, bringing the monthly total to 3.59 inches. Average rainfall for March is 5.40 inches.

Average temperatures for March 10 are a high of 63 and low of 34. Records for the date were a high of 82 in 1974 and a low of 19 in 1983.

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.

Tuesday

High school baseball:Poteau at Idabel; Talihina at Hartshorne; Whiesboro at McCurtain; 

High school softball: Poteau at Cameron; Whitesboro, Crowder at Haileyville

Poteau Evening Lions Club meet 6 p.m. CASC

See the calendar for the next week HERE.

Historical Events, Births, and Deaths

Ernest David Ables service planned

Ernest D. (Ernie) Ables passed away on March 7, 2026 at the age of 92. He was born Jan. 13, 1934 in Hugo to Annie (Cooper) and Ernest Ables. 

Services are Thursday at 11 a.m. at Talihina First Baptist Church with Bro. Sonny Tyson and Bro. Justin Turney officiating. 

He was a veteran of the U,S. Army. 

Survivors include his wife, Lucille, of the home; son, Christopher Ables; daughter-in-law, Latasha Ables; four grandchildren Krishana and Darius Ables, Jordan and Jaci Frost; two great grandchildren, Kingston and Kamar; step son, Tracy Frost; and daughter-in-law, Heather Frost.

He was preceded in death by his parent, brother and sister, first wife, Juanita and a son, Brian Ables.

Pallbearers are Jerry Pearce, Don Wolverton, John Slater, Charles Covington, Sonny Tyson and Jack Cosper.

Visitation is Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. at McCarn Funeral Service in Talihina.

Funeral services for Louise M. Akins, 92, of Cowlington are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Mallory-Martin Funeral Home Chapel in Spiro with Reverend Brandon Mooneyham, Reverend Larry Harris, Reverend Jerry Underwood, and Reverend Joey Underwood officiating.

Burial will follow at Spiro City Cemetery, under the direction of Mallory-Martin Funeral Home of Spiro.

Louise was born on Dec. 3, 1933, in Flower Hill to Clarence Meadows and Flora (Morton) Meadows. She passed away on March 8, 2026 in Cowlington. She was married to Raymond Akins, who preceded her in death on April 22, 2012. She was also preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Clarence Meadows, Jr.

Louise was affectionately known as the “Queen of Cowlington.” She was always quick to help anyone in need and was well known for bringing food to families with loved ones in the hospital or to welcome new families moving to town. She loved sharing her faith and witnessing to others about the Lord. Louise faithfully served as the secretary of Cowlington Baptist Church for many years and was a devoted member of the church for 60 years. She was a wonderful Christian woman who was loved by everyone who knew her. Louise was also a proud supporter of President Donald Trump and cherished the photos he would send her, proudly displaying them.

Survivors include her daughter, Pam McCain; grandchildren Brandon Mooneyham and wife Angie, Brittney McCain, and Jamie Jackson and husband Kyle; great-grandchildren, Westin, Rylan, Kannon, Landry, Hudsyn, and Karter; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and loved ones.

Pallbearers are Westin Bartlett, Rylan Mooneyham, Kannon Mooneyham, Landry Berry, Kevin Jackson, and Kyle Jackson. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Lewis, Jim Gist, Michael Catlett, Mike Harrison, and John Dees.

Viewing is Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

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

Lawrence Williamson service planned

Lawrence Williamson passed away March 5, 2026 at his home in Panama, and was born April 2, 1951 to George and Bessie (Crook) Williamson in Tahoma. 

The celebration of life service is 2 p.m. Friday at The Cedars on Dewey at 520 Dewey Avenue in Poteau. 

Survivors are his wife, Sharon Williamson; his son Garrick Williamson and wife Melissa; and his daughter, Jennifer Milligan and husband Joe; grandchildren Austin, Cody, and Abriena Williamson; Emma Williamson; Bobby Milligan and fiancée Tara Robertson, Tatum Lynch and husband Dakota, Caden Milligan and fiancée Hope Gotes, and Harlei Milligan; great grandchildren Coby and Bosie Lynch, River Lawrence and Mary Kaye Milligan; his brothers Elmer “Tex” Williamson and wife Bettey, Wiley Williamson and wife Gayla, and Elvis Williamson and wife Janie; and his sister-in-law, Gayle Williamson. 

He was preceded in death by his parents George “Teddy Bear” Williamson and Bessie Williamson; brothers Edward Williamson, Johnny Leon Williamson and Ricky Neal Williamson; his sisters, Willie Williamson and Myrtle Williamson; and his grandson, Trevor Ridenour. 

Family visitation is from 6 – 8 p.m. Thursday at The Cedars on Dewey. 

Online condolences can be made at www.holtfuneralandcremation.com