ALEX SLOAN
LAW STUDENT
Journalism
'People not Politicians' holds first town hall in Stillwater
November 6, 2019, for the Stillwater News Press
More than two dozen community members gathered at the Stillwater Public Library on Monday to participate in a town hall discussion on partisan gerrymandering.
Andy Moore, executive director of People not Politicians, spoke to the crowd as part of the organization's "Ten Cities Tour."
"There's a bunch of things that have to do with the fabric of our democracy that we don't talk about," Moore said. "Oklahomans are sick of politicians ignoring our state's real problems, and focusing on getting re-elected."
Several maps of Oklahoma electoral districts were displayed as examples of gerrymandered districts, including District 34 of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which covers most of Stillwater.
As Spc. Clyde "Rowdy" Yates sat down in the office of the Countywide & Sun for his interview, he pulled out a large white sticker to show off.
"Old Spooks and Spies," the sticker reads over the top. And on the bottom, "We aren't here. We were never there. We don't exist."
Spc. Yates is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, and served with the Army Security Agency as a code talker during the Vietnam War. Yates entered the military not too long after graduating high school in Wanette.
"Went to Murray State, had two years of college, went over to Southeastern for one year, and got my draft notice in the mail," Yates said, chuckling.
"Officially, I didn't receive it," he explained. "But my mom told me that it was in the mail."
So, Yates said he went to Seminole to talk to an Army recruiter, after being told that the Air Force didn't have any spots open for him.
"So I went over to Seminole and talked to this recruiter, and he looked at my records," Yates said. "'I think you need to talk to these boys in Oklahoma City.'"
Drafted And Sent To War
November 12, 2020 for The Countywide & Sun
Tecumseh Officer Faces Multiple Charges
June 11, 2020 for the The Countywide & Sun
On the evening of May 31, Tecumseh Police Sgt. Jeff Henderson and his wife Lindsey Henderson allegedly asked on-duty police officers to respond and assist them with entering a residence under false pretenses, according to police documents.
The couple was arrested at approximately 9:55 pm on June 4, and booked into the Pottawatomie County Safety Center. Tecumseh Police Chief J.R. Kidney said Sgt. Henderson faces charges of conspiracy and misuse of police authority. Lindsey Henderson could face charges of blackmail, conspiracy, and 2nd degree burglary, according to arrest records. Arrest records indicate that Sgt. Henderson was also booked for blackmail.
Trump Campaign Begins In Tulsa
June 25, 2020 for The Countywide & Sun
TULSA- A flood of supporters, reporters, protestors and law enforcement surged into the streets early Saturday morning for President Donald Trump's campaign rally.
This was the president's first rally since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he said it was the beginning of his re-election campaign. According to the CDC's website, large indoor events such as the rally are in the highest risk category for viral transmission. Free masks and hand sanitizer were offered by the Trump campaign, but many attendees declined to accept them.
The Tecumseh Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) faces eviction from its building due to non-payment of rent and property damage, according to court documents.
On June 22, an affidavit was filed with the Pottawatomie County District Court on behalf of Irma Williams. According to the affidavit, Williams owns the property at 20952 Harrison Road, which the FOP currently occupies.
Tecumseh FOP Faces Eviction
June 25, 2020 for The Countywide & Sun
When your dad says something, it's probably best to go ahead and write whatever it is down.
This year, my father was kind enough to support my fishing addiction by letting me use his boat. And although I had grown up fishing, it had been quite some time since I'd been in a boat, and a refresher course was required.
In the course of a day on the lake, my dad offered an unsurprising plethora of fishing and maritime knowledge. It was a lot to absorb. And in that downpour of information, there was a little golden nugget that would prove particularly useful.
Jot Down Dad's Advice, He May Be Right
October 29, 2020 for The Countywide & Sun