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He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8

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LeFlore County is in for a rapid warm-up this week, with dangerous heat expected by midweek before storms return later in the week.

See our live weather radar

Today, partly cloudy skies give way to sunshine with a high near 90 degrees. South winds 3 to 8 mph. Tonight stays mostly clear with a low around 63.

Wednesday brings the week's most dangerous weather — sunny and hot with a high near 99 degrees. Heat index values could reach 102. Windy conditions are expected as south winds increase to 16 to 25 mph with gusts up to 34 mph. Wednesday night stays mostly clear but warm, with a low around 74 and continued gusty south winds.

Thursday brings a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon, with a high near 90. Thursday night, showers are likely with a possible thunderstorm and a 60 percent chance of rain, lows near 66.

Friday brings a 30 percent chance of showers before 1 p.m., then partly sunny skies with a high near 85. The weekend turns mostly sunny again with highs near 91 Saturday and near 97 Sunday.

Residents should take the Wednesday heat seriously — limit outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours, stay hydrated, and check on elderly neighbors and pets.

Check back at Heavener.news for updates and monitor the National Weather Service for any heat advisories or warnings.

In 1905, J.T. Baker, one of the original owners of the Heavener Clipper newspaper, retired, leaving Arthur Johnson as sole owner.

By Rep. Rick West

One of the bills that is now state law will double the amount of recess time for students in full-day kindergarten through fifth grade.

Senate Bill 1481 requires schools to provide 40 minutes of recess per day for students in these early grades. The schools can divide this into two 20-minute periods if they prefer, but they are prohibited from withholding recess as a form of discipline.

It's hoped that giving kids more time to play and be active will improve their learning in the classroom. Like the author of this bill, I believe kids weren't meant to sit still all day. Giving them a break from computer screens and lectures should help improve their attention when they do return to their seats.

On that same line of thinking, House Bill 1276 requires public school districts to permanently adopt a policy prohibiting students from using cell phones on campus during the school day. This was in place this past school year, and we've heard positive responses from teachers, administrators, parents and even students. Removing the distraction of cell phones has led to better focus and academic work and better interaction between students. It's a good move to make this ban permanent.

It was important to me that school districts will be able to develop their own policies to implement this ban as they see fit.

Another bill will put some guardrails on the use of artificial intelligence in Oklahoma schools and ensure parents have a say in how the technology is used in their child's classroom. Senate Bill 1734 requires that student-facing tools be age-appropriate and used under the guidance of a classroom educator. School districts must also notify parents when AI is used in the classroom and give parents the option to opt their child out.

Another bill I was thankful to see signed into law is Senate Bill 1679, the "Preserving Oklahoma Values Act of 2026." This specifies that it shall be the policy of this state to protect its citizens from the application of laws that are contrary to the provisions of the Oklahoma Constitution, the United States Constitution or the shared values of Judeo-Christian Western civilization. The law spells out what these rights and values are, such as the right to due process, the right to equal protection under the law, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to keep and bear arms, the right to privacy and the right to marry as marriage is defined by the Oklahoma Constitution, to the extent this does not conflict with federal law or a holding by the U.S. Supreme Court.

This means Oklahoma will not be subject to any foreign law or legal code that conflicts with state law and Oklahoma values and that threatens our freedoms.

I'll continue taking a look at new laws in my next column.

In the meantime, 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.

The LeFlore County Board of County Commissioners met in a regular business meeting Monday, June 15, 2026, at 9 a.m. with Chairman Jamie Oliver presiding. Also present were Vice Chairman Mike Parker, Member Josh Blaylock and County Clerk Kelli Ford.

The board approved minutes from the June 8 regular meeting, along with purchase orders, payroll and monthly fee reports submitted by the LeFlore County Election Board and the LeFlore County Court Clerk.

Commissioners approved the FY 2027 Oklahoma Conservation Commission Environmental Development Board solid waste request form for LeFlore County, with District 1 requesting $1,500 for a chainsaw and District 3 requesting $15,000 for a trailer and $3,000 for a chainsaw.

The board approved the 2026 Return of Resale and minutes as submitted by LeFlore County Treasurer April Caughern for the resale held June 8.

Commissioners approved two resolutions related to the Election Board — one covering reimbursement for precinct poll books and postage for special elections for fiscal year 2026-2027, and another covering reimbursement for overtime compensation and social security overtime hours worked for the same period.

The board approved a resolution to forgo advertising for fuel bids due to the volatility of fuel prices, instead continuing to take quotes per department as needed from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Commissioners also approved renewal of all LeFlore County lease contracts for fiscal year 2026-2027 and adopted a resolution designating requisitioning and receiving officers for all county departments, including rural fire departments.

Tommy Robertson was appointed to the LeFlore County Public Health Management Authority solid waste board for a three-year term beginning June 15, 2026 and ending June 15, 2029. A clerk's note indicated the agenda had incorrectly listed the name as "Tommy Robinson," and the board acknowledged and corrected the name prior to the vote. Luke Fitzgerald was re-appointed to the same board for a two-year term ending June 15, 2028.

Commissioners approved the LeFlore County ACCO-SIF Workers' Compensation renewal at $224,620 for fiscal year 2026-2027 under payment option 1.

The board approved an IT support, service, maintenance, domain and email agreement between the LeFlore County Assessor's Office and AF3 Technical Solutions, LLC for $2,940, covering July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Commissioners also approved agreements with DataScout, LLC for the same period, including ActDataScout.com at $6,464 annually, the "Front Page" service at $1,890 annually and DataScout OneMap software at $8,945 annually.

Two juvenile detention contracts were approved. The board approved CommunityWorks, LLC contracts with the Cleveland County Regional Juvenile Detention Center and the Pottawatomie County Juvenile Detention Center at $51.40 per day per child. A separate contract with Eastern Oklahoma Youth Services for placement at Pittsburg County Regional Juvenile Detention Center was approved at $38.97 per child per day. Both contracts run from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

Commissioners approved a $75,000 grant from the Oklahoma Conservation Commission for an unpaved road project on County Road E 1320 in Commissioner District 2 and approved a corresponding transfer of $75,000 from the CBRI-105 Bridge/Road Project D2 account to the URG-D2 Unpaved Road Grant account.

The board declared surplus and approved disposal of several Election Board items, including four 2021 Asus computers purchased Oct. 30, 2021 at $1,067 each and an RCA television purchased May 29, 1998 at $542.95. A clerk's note indicated the agenda had incorrectly listed the computer purchase dates as Oct. 30, 2026, and the board acknowledged the correction prior to the vote.

Commissioners approved disposal of a 2019 Ford truck, purchased Sept. 12, 2019 for $28,234 and sold to Williams Chevrolet through a bid process June 1 for $10,000.

The board awarded the bid for publication of commissioners proceedings and paid claims for fiscal year 2026-2027 to the Poteau Daily News at 22 cents per word for the first insertion and 20 cents per word for each subsequent insertion, in accordance with Oklahoma Statute Title 28 O.S. Section 121A.

A bid for six-month highway materials from July 1 through Dec. 31, 2026 was tabled pending further review of submitted bids.

Two floodplain development permits were approved — one submitted by Summit Utilities/AOG for construction within county right of way on Old Highway 112 in Commissioner District 1, and another submitted by CoxCom LLC for construction on Nobles Road in Commissioner District 3. A clerk's note indicated the Summit Utilities item had been incorrectly listed as District 2 on the agenda, and the board acknowledged the correction.

The board also heard from James Chaplin and Randy Duncan regarding installation of an additional culvert on a low-water crossing on the road leading to Maxey Cemetery, which experiences washout on the west end. The matter was discussion only with no action taken.

LeFlore County legals this week.

MORTGAGES

Legals

By: John Rohde for SoonerSports.com

In the most dramatic ending imaginable, Jackson came to the plate with two on and two out in the ninth against Cleveland. On a 2-1 count, Jackson popped out to center field on a hanging curveball.

The Bulldogs entered with 10 comeback wins when trailing by 3+ runs.

Cleveland earned his ninth save this season, allowing two hits, with two strikeouts, one walk and one hit-by-pitch in 1.2 innings of relief.

"All I have to do is take it all in, man," Mercurius said. "It's honestly surreal. I got to do it in front of all these people. I'm just so happy that my team was able to do it, to pull it off. For Cleveland to come out of the pen and finish it off for us is great."

Jason Walk led off the contest with double off the wall in right-center, reaching base for the 19 straight game and later scored on a Lachance groundout to short.

Willits promptly followed with his two-run blast off the top of the wall in right-center to give OU a 3-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, Sooners leftfielder Brendan Brock hit his 13th homer of the season with a 393-foot blast to right-center to give the Sooners a 4-1 advantage.

"I'm really proud of our team for getting some big hits at some times at the right time, and Xander really throwing, and Cleveland coming in and just trusting the process and taking it one pitch at a time," Johnson said. "Really proud of these guys."

Georgia righthander Caden Aoki (9-2) went the distance and suffered just his second loss, allowing eight hits and striking out six with no walks in 115 pitches.. 

Pitchers of Record
Win:Xander Mercurius(1-2)
Loss: Caden Aoki (9-2)
Save:Jackson Cleveland(9)

Statistical Snapshot
Xander Mercurius| W, 7.1 IP, 6H, 3ER, 2BB, 9Ks, 104 pitches
Jackson Cleveland| SV, 1.2 IP, 2H, BB, 2K
Jaxon Willits| 3-for-4, 2RBIs, HR
Jason Walk| 2-for-4, R, 2B

Notes

Here's what's happening in LeFlore County this week..

Event submission form

Tuesday

City of Heavener public notice

Poteau Evening Lions Club meets 6 p.m. CASC

Wednesday

Poteau Rotary Club meets noon EOMC

Thursday

Poteau Kiwanis Club meets noon EOMC

Heavener VFW bingo 6 p.m.

HUA, City Council meet 6 p.m.

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

Saturday

Night golf at Choctaw Country ClubSee the upcoming calendar

See the upcoming calendar

Sunday

Happy Father’s Day

Father’s Day cookout at Heavener First Assembly of God

Monday

LeFlore County commissioners meet 9 a.m.

June 16 has been marked by landmark legal decisions, political milestones and moments that shaped American and world history.

On this date

In 1858, Abraham Lincoln accepted the Illinois Republican Party's nomination for U.S. Senate and delivered his famous "House Divided" speech, warning that the nation could not survive permanently half slave and half free.

In 1897, the United States formally annexed Hawaii by treaty, paving the way for the islands to eventually become the 50th state in 1959.

In 1903, Henry Ford incorporated the Ford Motor Company with $28,000 in cash from a dozen investors. The company would go on to revolutionize American manufacturing and transportation.

In 1904, James Joyce's story "Ulysses" is set on this date, which is now celebrated worldwide as "Bloomsday" in honor of the novel's protagonist Leopold Bloom.

In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the National Industrial Recovery Act and the Glass-Steagall Banking Act into law as part of his New Deal response to the Great Depression. The Glass-Steagall Act separated commercial and investment banking for decades.

In 1944, George Junius Stinney Jr., a 14-year-old Black boy in South Carolina, was executed for the murders of two white girls in a case widely regarded as a grave miscarriage of justice. He was exonerated 70 years later, in 2014.

In 1955, Argentine President Juan Perón survived a coup attempt when navy aircraft bombed Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires, killing more than 300 civilians.

In 1963, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space, orbiting Earth 48 times over nearly three days aboard Vostok 6.

In 1976, student protests in Soweto, South Africa, against apartheid-mandated education erupted into violence when police opened fire on demonstrators. The Soweto Uprising became a turning point in the fight against apartheid.

In 2015, a gunman opened fire at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, killing nine people during a Bible study session in one of the deadliest attacks on a Black church in U.S. history.

Notable births

1801 — Julius Plücker, German mathematician and physicist who made early contributions to cathode ray research.

1890 — Stan Laurel, British-born comedian and the bumbling half of the Laurel and Hardy comedy duo.

1902 — Barbara McClintock, American scientist who won the 1983 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her discovery of genetic transposition — the first woman to win that prize unshared.

1917 — Katharine Graham, publisher of The Washington Post who oversaw coverage of both the Pentagon Papers and the Watergate scandal.

1937 — Erich Segal, American author best known for writing "Love Story."

1952 — Gino Vannelli, Canadian singer-songwriter known for his 1970s and 1980s pop hits.

Notable deaths

1858 — James Buchanan Henry, nephew of President James Buchanan.

1977 — Wernher von Braun, German-American rocket scientist and aerospace engineer who played a pivotal role in developing the Saturn V rocket that carried American astronauts to the moon, died at age 65.

1997 — Jacques-Yves Cousteau, French naval officer, explorer and filmmaker who brought the ocean to living rooms around the world through his television documentaries, died at age 87.

Funeral services for Aris "Al" Loranze Conrad, 90, of Marlow, are 1 p.m. on Friday at Mallory-Martin Funeral Home Chapel in Spiro. Burial will follow at Macedonia Cemetery in Pocola, under the direction of Mallory-Martin Funeral Home of Spiro.

He was born on Feb. 5, 1936, in Spiro to Syble Arizona (Burrow) Conrad and Theodore Gerald Conrad. He passed away on June 13, 2026, in Duncan.

Al married Bellinda (Laneer) Conrad on July 15, 2020, in  Oklahoma City.

A proud patriot, Al faithfully served his country in the United States Air Force and retired after a distinguished military career. Following his service, he worked for Halliburton before retiring. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and AMVETS. 

Al was known for his strong work ethic, generous spirit, and willingness to help others whenever they were in need. Gardening was one of his greatest passions, and family and friends often heard him say, "Don't let the okra die." He was a talented carpenter who enjoyed tinkering, repairing things, and finding solutions to almost any problem. A lover of classic automobiles, he proudly owned two Ford Model A cars and a Ford Model T truck. Above all, Al treasured his family and leaves behind a legacy of kindness, service, and hard work. 

Survivors include his loving wife, Bellinda Conrad of the home; his children, Hershel Wayne Conrad and wife Debbie, Diana Hood and husband Dwayne, Karen Rogers, and Gregory Conrad; grandchildren, Cassie Mondel and husband Brian, Elizabeth Snyder and husband Brandon, Amber Lauzon and husband Joe, Sheri Bray, and Augusta Keith Bray and wife Paige; step-grandchildren, Luisa Parra, Wesley Parra, Timothy Passmore and wife Tabitha, and Trenton Passmore; stepchildren, Michelle Parra and husband Manuel and Jonette Passmore and husband Tim; eight great-grandchildren; brothers, James Conrad and wife Mary, David Conrad, and Ted Conrad; along with numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends who will cherish his memory.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wives, Norma Lee (Gregory) Conrad and Elsie Conrad; and his sister, Jerry Colbert.

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

Heavener.news and our newsletter post paid obituaries, which includes all the information,
and memorials with the main information, plus pictures for both. Obituaries are
$25 each while the memorials are a free service for our readers. Obituaries and
memorials MUST come from a funeral
home. Funeral homes can email [email protected]. 

Patsy Gayle Walker, 71, of Poteau, passed away June 15, 2026, in Heavener.

She was born April 29, 1955, in Talihina, to Juanita (Berry) Donathan.

A celebration of life is 1 p.m. Wednesday, at The Cedars, 520 Dewey Ave., Poteau. Josh Drury and Sara Cagle will officiate.

Walker is survived by her daughters, Melissa Ferguson and husband James of Mena, Arkansas, and Angie Fetters and husband Arturo Cazares of Poteau; her sisters, Carolyn Cagle and husband Bob of Howe and Linda Mattox of Monroe; six grandchildren, Roderick Hornbuckle, Kyra Hornbuckle, Kjara Cazares, Anahi Cazares, Zabrena Cazares and Laura Patricia Cazares; her special friend, Jimmy Meisencheimer; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Juanita; stepparents Lester and Betty Earls; siblings Lee Earls, Bill Earls, Helen Earls and Evelyn Delene Drury; and granddaughter Sierra Hornbuckle.

Honorary pallbearers are Ed Drury, Tony Drury, Shawn Drury, Dusty Mattox, Arturo Cazares, Martin Cazares, Juan Cazares, Angel Cazares and Sergio Cazares.

Visitation with family is 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, also at The Cedars.

Online condolences may be made at holtfuneralandcremation.com.

Heavener.news and our newsletter post paid obituaries, which includes all the information, and memorials with the main information, plus pictures for both. Obituaries are $25 each while the memorials are a free service for our readers. Obituaries and memorials MUST come from a funeral home. Funeral homes can email [email protected].

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