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Daily Bible verse
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
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News
19-year-old dead after Old Indian Highway crash
A 19-year-old Broken Bow man died Thursday morning after the vehicle he was riding in left the road and struck a tree on Old Indian Highway, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The crash happened at approximately 9:15 a.m. Thursday north of OK-144 in LeFlore County. According to OHP's preliminary report, the vehicle was traveling northbound on Old Indian Highway when it drifted off the right side of the road and struck a tree.
The driver, a 17-year-old juvenile from Broken Bow whose name is being withheld, was injured in the crash. Nakota S. Ludlow, 19, of Broken Bow, was a passenger in the vehicle and was pronounced deceased. OHP reports seatbelts were not in use by the vehicle's occupants.
Next of kin have been notified.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol cautions that information reported during the preliminary stages of an investigation is subject to change. Trooper Tim Baker is investigating.
Honduran national sentenced to 27 months in bank fraud case
An illegal alien from Honduras has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for his role in a bank fraud conspiracy that involved the Poteau Police Department, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced.
Carlos Banegas-Contreras, 47, was sentenced on one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He pleaded guilty to the charge on Oct. 6, 2025, in federal district court.
According to investigators, Banegas-Contreras and others conspired in June 2023 to use fake identification cards to cash 178 fraudulent paychecks totaling $299,474 at three check-cashing businesses and five branches of a local bank. The fraudulent paychecks were designed to look like they had been issued by a building materials supply company in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service, the Indiana State Police, the Benton County, Indiana Sheriff's Department, the Benton County, Indiana Prosecutor's Office, the Poteau Police Department, and the Houston Police Department.
The Honorable John F. Heil III, chief judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Banegas-Contreras remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transport to a Bureau of Prisons facility to serve his sentence, which is not eligible for parole.
Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Brecheen: Budget resolution, birthright citizenship, SAVE America Act
The following is a column from U.S. Rep. Josh Brecheen. Heavener.news does not necessarily agree or disagree with this column. It is published as a service to our readers.
Brecheen advances budget resolution through House Budget Committee
On Thursday, I voted to advance the budget resolution for fiscal year 2027 as the best option to ensure the SAVE America Act will be passed in full, not just in part.
While there were elements in the package many of us sought spending offsets for — still seeking to be accomplished in another measure — this package is designed with the U.S. Senate in mind.
The SAVE America Act is essential, and I have concluded this measure puts maximum pressure on the Senate to finally take up the SAVE America Act after declining to do so for months.
If the SAVE America Act comes back to the House watered down by the Senate, the American people will become rightfully disillusioned.
All eyes are on the Senate to ensure President Trump is able to deliver on what he has rightfully signaled as policy priority number one.
My vote was one of hope — a hope that the Senate and its leaders will not squander this opportunity to deliver for the American people by saying it can't pass this crucial election integrity legislation. The Senate must follow the House's momentum and pass the SAVE America Act immediately and in full.
The following is a column from U.S. Rep. Josh Brecheen. Heavener.news does not necessarily agree or disagree with this column. It is published as a service to our readers.
Brecheen advances budget resolution through House Budget Committee
On Thursday, I voted to advance the budget resolution for fiscal year 2027 as the best option to ensure the SAVE America Act will be passed in full, not just in part.
While there were elements in the package many of us sought spending offsets for — still seeking to be accomplished in another measure — this package is designed with the U.S. Senate in mind.
The SAVE America Act is essential, and I have concluded this measure puts maximum pressure on the Senate to finally take up the SAVE America Act after declining to do so for months.
If the SAVE America Act comes back to the House watered down by the Senate, the American people will become rightfully disillusioned.
All eyes are on the Senate to ensure President Trump is able to deliver on what he has rightfully signaled as policy priority number one.
My vote was one of hope — a hope that the Senate and its leaders will not squander this opportunity to deliver for the American people by saying it can't pass this crucial election integrity legislation. The Senate must follow the House's momentum and pass the SAVE America Act immediately and in full.
Brecheen condemns birthright citizenship ruling
The Supreme Court's recent birthright citizenship ruling was, as Justice Alito said in his dissent, a "serious mistake." This ruling will now be an incentive for even more illegal aliens to come to America once a more lenient administration is in power. We cannot let radical Democrats flood our borders.
We must also find ways to counter the Supreme Court legislating from the bench and opening our borders to birth tourism and anchor babies. Congress must codify President Trump's border security policies into law immediately.
Tune into a conversation I recently had with Tony Perkins on this topic here.
Brecheen champions SAVE America Act
We must pass the SAVE America Act to ensure election integrity. The Senate should not confuse "tradition" for constitutionality. Our founders were purposeful and did not govern by accident. The Senate should not stand in the way of delivering election integrity reform for the American people.
News briefs
Hartshorne man sentenced for illegal explosives and firearms
A Hartshorne man, Kelly Von Morck, 36, was sentenced to 46 months in prison on federal charges of unlawfully possessing a firearm, ammunition and explosives while using controlled substances. The case stemmed from an October 2024 explosion at Morck's residence that left him with third-degree burns; investigators later found a homemade explosives lab, improvised explosive devices, multiple firearms, and various narcotics at the property. The case was investigated by the Hartshorne Police Department, Pittsburg County Sheriff's Office, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Bomb Squad, U.S. Secret Service and ATF.
Hugo resident pleads guilty to firearms charge
A Hugo man, Calvin Ray Westfield, 68, pleaded guilty to a federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced. Westfield was charged after investigators found a .22 caliber pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun, and ammunition at his residence on Aug. 28, 2025, following a prior felony conviction. He faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine at sentencing. The case was investigated by the ATF and Hugo Police Department.
State Election Board Secretary Highlights Oklahoma’s Robust Election Procedures
Oklahoma takes election security very seriously, and the state has laws and procedures in place to help ensure the integrity of elections in our state.
State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said Oklahoma’s election system is designed to ensure that Oklahoma voters feel confident each time they cast a ballot. “We value election security and have worked with both state and federal partners for many years to ensure fair and secure elections here in our state. Additionally, our legislature has enacted laws specifically intended to proactively protect the integrity of our elections.”
Oklahoma employs many procedures and security features to ensure the safety of paper ballots, optical scan voting devices, and the validity of vote counts, including:
Under state law, Oklahoma’s uniform statewide voting system relies on paper ballots that are hand marked by voters and tabulated by accurate optical scan voting devices. This type of voting system has worked exceptionally well in our state for more than three decades.
Oklahoma’s voting devices do not have the capability to be networked or connected to the internet.
Oklahoma conducts extensive testing of databases, voting devices, and ballots prior to each election.
Voting devices and ballots are protected through a strict chain of custody, and it is a felony for any unauthorized person to access them.
Voting devices are predefined for use in each precinct and are designed to reject counterfeit ballots.
An anti-tampering digital signature is required at every step of the election process.
Voting devices and election software are designed to detect and refuse tampering attempts. (It is a felony to tamper with any device, software, hardware, or other equipment used to conduct elections.)
Each paper ballot has a unique identifier that can only be read once by a voting device.
Each precinct has built-in bipartisan oversight with at least one precinct official from each of the state’s two largest recognized parties.
County election board members or staff regularly canvass election results to ensure that printed vote totals from voting devices match the tabulated results.
Following each statewide election, county election boards conduct random post-election audits as directed by the State Election Board Secretary.
Since 2025, access to Oklahoma’s publicly available voter registration list has been restricted under state law to U.S. citizens who are Oklahoma residents, reducing the risk of foreigners and out-of-state bad actors obtaining it.
Oklahoma law allows for the comparison of our state’s voter registration data with a state or federal database that maintains information regarding the citizenship of persons residing in this state. Oklahoma is authorized to use the SAVE system and driver license and state identification records to compare with voter registration records.
In addition to the many security procedures in place, candidate-requested recounts and post-election audits have consistently shown that Oklahoma’s voting devices accurately count ballots.
More information can be found on the State Election Board’s website under Security & Integrity.
Sports
2026 Cameron fast pitch softball schedule
Sports briefs
UFC returns to Oklahoma City tonight
UFC Fight Night is set for tonight at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City — the promotion's first visit to the city in nearly 20 years.
Thunder's Aday Mara bounces back in Summer League
Rookie big man Aday Mara had a strong showing in OKC's Summer League matchup after a tough outing earlier in the week, though the Thunder remain winless in Summer League play so far, most recently falling to Golden State.
Big 12 Media Days wrap with confidence for Oklahoma State
Big 12 Football Media Days wrapped up this week in Frisco, Texas, with Oklahoma State leaving the event optimistic under new head coach Eric Morris, who's overseen one of the conference's largest roster overhauls following back-to-back losing seasons.
Misc.
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Weather
Triple-digit heat coming to LeFlore County
Today (Saturday) brings a high near 94 degrees for Heavener and LeFlore County, with a 15 percent chance of rain — a step up from Friday's high near 91.
Sunday climbs further, with a high near 96 degrees and a 20 percent chance of rain.
Monday brings a high near 99 degrees with rain chances dropping to zero.
By Tuesday, temperatures push past the century mark to a high near 102 degrees — the hottest day in the forecast, with no rain expected.
Friday’s high was 93 with a low of 75. Average temperatures for today are a high of 94 and low of 66. Records for July 18 were a high of 109 in 1980 and a low of 59 in 1984.
No rain was recorded Friday, leaving the monthly total at 1.82 inches. Average rainfall for July is 3.10 inches, according to weather.com.
LeFlore County calendar of events
Here's what's happening in Heavener and LeFlore County for July including meetings and more.
Monday
LeFlore County commissioners meet 9 a.m.
Tuesday
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.
Add your event to the LeFlore County calendar
Got something happening in LeFlore County? Let us know and we'll add it to the Heavener.news community calendar — free of charge.
We list events from across the county, including Heavener, Poteau, Spiro, Talihina, Panama, Wister, Arkoma, Bokoshe and every community in between. If it's open to the public, we want to help get the word out.
What we list:
Community events, church events, school events, government meetings, fundraisers, festivals, sports events, business grand openings, blood drives and more.
What we need from you:
Event name
Date and time
Location (address or venue name)
Brief description
Contact information or website for more details
A flyer or photo if you have one (attach to email)
Two ways to submit:
Use our online form below, or email the details directly to [email protected].
We do our best to add events as quickly as possible, but please submit at least two days before the event to ensure it makes the calendar.
Heavener.news reserves the right to decline events that are not open to the public or are outside our coverage area.
7-24-2026 (Friday)
7-25-2026 (Saturday)
Poteau basketball fundraiser
Night golf at Choctaw Country Club
7-26-2026 (Sunday)
7-27-2026 (Monday)
LeFlore County commissioners meet 9 a.m.
7-28-2026 (Tuesday)
Poteau Evening Lions Club meets 6 p.m. CASC
7-29-2026 (Wednesday)
Poteau Rotary Club meets noon EOMC
Rep. Rick West meeting with OTC Executive Director Doug Linehan
7-30-2026 (Thursday)
Fort Coffee voter registration and civic engagement event
Poteau Kiwanis Club meets noon EOMC
Heavener VFW bingo 6 p.m.
7-31-2026 (Friday)
Poteau rodeo
Today in history: July 18
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July 18 is the 199th day of 2026, with 166 days remaining in the year.
Notable events:
A.D. 64: The Great Fire of Rome began, destroying large portions of the city over the following days.
1792: American naval hero John Paul Jones died in Paris at age 45.
1863: Union Col. Robert Gould Shaw and 272 of his troops were killed in an assault on Fort Wagner near Charleston, South Carolina. Shaw commanded the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, one of the most famous regiments of Black soldiers to serve in the Civil War.
1925: The first volume of Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf" was published.
1932: The United States and Canada signed a treaty to develop the St. Lawrence Seaway.
1947: President Harry Truman signed the Presidential Succession Act, placing the speaker of the House and the Senate president pro tempore in the line of succession after the vice president.
1969: A car driven by Sen. Edward Kennedy plunged off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island near Martha's Vineyard, killing passenger Mary Jo Kopechne.
1976: Nadia Comaneci scored the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics history at the Montreal Games.
1989: Actress Rebecca Schaeffer was murdered at her Los Angeles home by a stalker, a case that helped lead to California's first anti-stalking legislation.
2013: The city of Detroit filed for the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.
Born on this day: Nelson Mandela (1918), astronaut and U.S. Sen. John Glenn (1921), businessman Richard Branson (1950), actor Vin Diesel (1967), actor Kristen Bell (1980), and actress Priyanka Chopra (1982).
Notable deaths: Author Jane Austen (1817), Mexican President Benito Juárez (1872), and singer-model Nico (1988).
Support local journalism
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Heavener.news has served LeFlore County since 2009.
