Local News
UDC highlights Cherokee soldiers of the Confederacy
The Dixie Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, held their monthly meeting at the McAlester Library in October. President Marjorie Hass opened the meeting with the flag salute and opening ritual. Two prospective members, Debbie Post and Diane Hawthorne from Valliant attended.
Wanda Tucker was the hostess and gave the program. She told of William Holland Thomas, the only white man ever named chief of the Cherokee tribe. He played a minor role in the Confederate army but the Cherokee soldiers were a strong and loyal force who served with honor.
While clerking at a North Carolina trading post as a teenager, Thomas met the Cherokee chief Yonaguska, who helped him learn the native language.
This developed into an unusually close relationship with the Cherokee. When the trading post closed in 1820, Thomas studied law and began to represent his Cherokee friends as legal council. Yonaguska adopted him as his own son.
Thomas worked tirelessly for the Cherokee people and was so well accepted that when Yonaguska died in 1839, he named Thomas his successor as chief. Therefore, it put him in the position to lead the Cherokee soldiers and eventually commanded 2,000 Native Americans fighting on the side of the Confederacy.
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MPD officer named in assault complaint
Pittsburg County sheriff’s deputies say they are getting closer to wrapping up a probe into an altercation involving two groups of people that occurred on the shores of Lake Eufaula at Bedford Beach, located at Sooner Haven in the Longtown area.
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More than 1,300 expected for Saturday concert festival
This year Jared Hauff and his family, along with numerous other helpers, have chosen to put on “In the Field” for the second year.
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Miss McAlester pageant set for Saturday
The ladies of Beta Iota of Epsilon Sigma Alpha International are excited that Miss Oklahoma 2010 Emoly West will be the emcee for the Miss McAlester Pageant.
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McAlester councilman readies to take city job at Healdton
Ward 6 McAlester City Councilor Louis Smitherman says he’s working out the final details to become the new city manager at Healdton.
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City pool blamed for damage to home
Summer fun at the Komar wading pool could dry up early if a suspected leak causing damage to a neighborhood residence can’t be fixed without draining the pool, though city officials are reluctant to explore that option, hoping to keep the pool open through the remainder of the summer season.
- Immigration ruling could send message to states
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Suspect in Dibble deaths appears in court
Prosecutors say they plan to file formal charges within 10 days against a Blanchard man accused in the deaths of a Dibble woman and her two young children.
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Last park concert of summer set for Thursday
Members of a local band which calls itself Anacrusis may be young — but they couple a love for roots music with modern rock to create their sound.
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Tearing it down, one brick at a time
Have you ever attempted to tear down a structure with just your bare hands? It’s not easy, to some it is downright impossible; but to Tom Joyce, 73, it’s all in a day’s work.
- MPS offers school supplies
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MPD officer named in assault complaint
