Several days of rain and thunderstorms have drenched Oklahoma with southern portions of the state expected to receive some of the highest amounts by the weekend shovels and a mountain of sand sit outside the fire department "I've got a creek that runs in my backyard and I was just putting sandbags along my fence just in case the water comes up that far," said Buckly Pringle who found relief by fishing from a flooded road on Thursday "Just trying to keep up with where the water is going to be and how to maneuver around it and stuff like that and trying to make sure the roads are safe." who recently returned to Oklahoma after a stint in other states like Florida said a brush with Hurricanes has prepared him for keeping water out of his house Charlie Brock dropped a line in the water down the road from Pringle we got up around 5:30 yesterday morning and the water was about probably almost a foot deep and on the main roads and had a car stalled out and stuff," he said we tried to drive around town to see how bad it was in some spots." Gauge readings of the Washita River near Pauls Valley indicated the river has fallen back down after swelling slightly during the heavy rains according to online information from the National Weather Service Matt McCabe is an award-winning journalist who has worked in Rockford Matt joined the News 9 team in May of 2023 as a multimedia journalist \"I've got a creek that runs in my backyard just in case the water comes up that far,\" said Buckly Pringle \"Just trying to keep up with where the water is going to be and how to maneuver around it and stuff like that and trying to make sure the roads are safe.\" we got up around 5:30 yesterday morning and the water was about probably almost a foot deep and on the main roads and had a car stalled out and stuff,\" he said we tried to drive around town to see how bad it was in some spots.\" and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox Rush Creek in Pauls Valley was also nearing the top if its banks Wednesday morning following record rainfall in the area over the last two weeks Officials are warning county residents to prepare for possible flooding from the Washita River over the next 24 hours.  The National Weather Service issued a flood warning around 8:45 a.m Wednesday morning for the Washita River near Pauls Valley affecting Garvin and Murray Counties A similar warning was issued for the Lindsay area The National Weather Service is predicting the Washita River near Pauls Valley will crest at 31 feet The river is expected to fall below flood stage According to information from the National Water Prediction Service shallow flooding could occur across much of Pauls Valley’s “old central business district” and buildings not flooded could be cut off by water in streets Flooding of rural land upstream in western Garvin County could also occur in the hours before the river crests at Pauls Valley Low lying areas in Lindsay could also experience flooding as the river is expected to crest there at 21 feet which is moderate flood stage for that area The city of Pauls Valley has made sand and sandbags available at the Pauls Valley Fire Department Residents are being limited to about 10 sandbags each The city of Lindsay also has sand and sandbags available for residents at 801 Industrial Residents who need are not able to fill their own bags are asked to call the police station at 405-756-4481.  Garvin County Emergency Management Director David Johnson said Wednesday residents are encouraged to stay aware be prepared and have a plan in place in the event they need to evacuate a flooded area Flood precautions and preparations recommended by the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management include: Read Garvin County (KOKH) — The Washita River near Pauls Valley is expected to crest at 31 feet around midnight Thursday Moderate flooding in parts of Garvin County near the river are expected Sandbags are available at the Pauls Valley Fire Department and the Lindsay Police Department Several roads in Garvin County are closed due to flooding or washouts: Ranked among the top 10 friendliest states last year, Oklahoma is full of welcoming residents and caring communities As travelers venture into the state’s rural areas they are likely to encounter some of the friendliest towns of all Whether you will be visiting a sunny vineyard these nine towns offer some of the warmest hospitality you can find As a stop along the Amtrak Heartland Flyer route Pauls Valley often enchants visitors who spend the day there the Red Brick Road Film Festival is a community highlight The Toy & Action Figure Museum is another beloved attraction featuring more than 13,000 classic pop figures alongside interactive exhibits Travelers with a sweet tooth should make sure to grab a pie at Field's Pies factory a hospitable pie business in town that specializes in homestyle pecan Travelers will find that the small health resort town of Medicine Park provides a recharge for both the body and mind residents and visitors often gather along the shores of Bath Lake where they can float on the water or enjoy a picnic The town’s locally owned shops are also worth a visit which offers soy candles and other scented products in more than two dozen fragrances Be sure to check the town’s annual event schedule before planning your trip Events like The Blues Ball bring plenty of energy Idabel’s blooming dogwood trees bring the town to life in the spring the Idabel community celebrates this special time during the Dogwood Days Festival which commemorates the annual bloom with live entertainment and prehistoric artifacts at the Museum of the Red River which features a roughly 40-foot-long dinosaur skeleton Broken Bow provides the quintessential Oklahoma hospitality making it the perfect spot for a relaxing weekend getaway Travelers can enjoy a glass of wine at Fish Tales Winery & Bistro which produces semi-sweet white and sweet red wines locals often head to Cedar Creek Golf Course for a round on its 18-hole course make sure to attend the Beavers Bend Folk Festival & Craft Show a two-day craft exposition that attracts nearly 70 vendors that specialize in basket weaving Wagoner puts on several notable community events throughout the year The Wagoner Summerfest is one of the most well-known Attendees can bring their lawn chairs and umbrellas and enjoy the tractors as they pass in Dunbar Park visitors can unwind year-round at the Canebrake Resort a 300-acre resort and spa that offers lake views Sallisaw is rich in Native American history and was once home to Sequoyah, the Cherokee man who developed the written Cherokee alphabet. Travelers can further explore this history by visiting Sequoyah’s Cabin, which dates back to 1829 and is now listed as a National Historic Landmark Make sure to visit the 14 Flags Museum as well which honors the 14 nations that have shaped Oklahoma’s history is another great way to experience the town’s culture This annual outdoor festival features a carnival While you may not expect to see a blue whale in the landlocked state of Oklahoma has welcomed visitors since its completion in 1972 Built with a metal framework and hand-mixed cement it remains one of the town’s most iconic landmarks After grabbing a photo with the friendly whale travelers can head over to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa consider attending the annual Catoosa LibertyFest Carnival which features fireworks and a carnival to kick off the area’s Fourth of July celebrations family-friendly community with plenty of activities for families with children Travelers can spend an afternoon at the Skiatook Central Park Families can also relax and spend time together at Skiatook Lake a 10,000-acre lake with plenty of spots to boat One of the town’s most beloved annual events is the Pioneer Day Festival which celebrates Skiatook’s Founders Day with a carnival Oklahoma has plenty of scenic destinations but few things are as rejuvenating as a genuinely welcoming community residents have a way of making you feel right at home From Fourth of July celebrations to blues festivals and folk art fairs So take a moment to unwind and connect with the friendly spirit of these nine towns photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com Your access to this service has been limited If you think you have been blocked in error contact the owner of this site for assistance If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send" You will then receive an email that helps you regain access Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 5 million WordPress sites The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence Click here to learn more: Documentation 6 May 2025 2:33:11 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); (KOKH) — Flooding causing safety concerns for Oklahomans in Pauls Valley City officials are stepping in to help however they can The Pauls Valley Fire Department is giving away sandbags to protect people and their property Fox 25 spoke with a man who says he's not taking any chances tonight after seeing how bad the damage was from last night's storm "This is dangerous for us," Keaton Eastep said you can see where [the floodwaters are] in the electrical box like it’s touching my electrical box right now.” Eastep says he expected Tuesday night's storms to cause flooding by his trailer park off State Highway 19 I'd rather deal with tornadoes." Floodwaters caused damage to two of his cars He says he wants city or state leaders to help Eastep says he’s thinking about his family's safety tonight "We’re actually thinking about probably leaving tonight just in case if it does [rain] Going to go stay with family probably just in case.” The Oklahoma Department of Transportation provided Fox 25 with the following statement: For more local news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter by clicking here. Local residents filled sandbags at the PV Fire Station Wednesday afternoon as they prepared to protect their homes and businesses against potential flooding as rivers and creeks in the area were forecast to reach flood stage following heavy rainfall this week The Washita River was expected to reach moderate flood stage near Lindsay and Pauls Valley late Wednesday night into Thursday morning according to the National Water Predication Service Pauls Valley has three City Council positions that will be up for election April 1.  The election for Pauls Valley City Council Place 1 is to fill the remaining two-years of an unexpired term The position will be up for election again in 2027 Candidates for Place 1 are Amy Richey and April Brown and I am honored to serve as your City Council member As a fourth-generation resident and business owner I understand both the challenges and potential of our community I served on the Tourism Board for two years I’m seeking re-election to continue advocating for our city’s future I’ve focused on understanding the issues that came before my time in office and finding solutions to move us forward aging infrastructure presents clear opportunities for improvement highly involved city manager and so many dedicated citizens working on other boards and committees to make a difference I’m passionate about supporting local businesses which is why I’m working to create the Pauls Valley Entrepreneurs Network This group will provide local business owners a space to support one another including some of our larger local enterprises to gain their support and build momentum for this initiative Whether it’s improving infrastructure or boosting local businesses I’m committed to decisions that help our city thrive I’m running for re-election because I believe there’s still untapped potential in our city continue supporting our citizens and enhance the quality of life for everyone A key priority for me is ensuring transparency and fostering a deeper connection with our citizens I’m committed to listening to your concerns and keeping you informed I look forward to continuing this journey with you and making our city even better and I’m running for Pauls Valley City Council He’s currently a teacher at Mid-America Technology Center and serves as an ordained pastor here in Pauls Valley I serve the Lord and prayerfully seek his guidance in my life I have served in the Oklahoma National Guard and the United States Army before transitioning into the Department of Defense Currently I am the in-school restriction teacher at Pauls Valley Junior/ High School trying to make a positive impact with our next generation My interest in government started with the loss of my highly decorated Vietnam veteran father over the dangerous COVID restrictions that ultimately led to his death I questioned our elected officials who were to represent “We the People” and follow our Constitution I will stand and fight to protect and secure ALL of your God-given I will stand and fight to protect and secure ALL of your Constitutional freedoms and liberties I envision a thriving community with reliable infrastructure a strong environment for local businesses while incorporating President Trump and Robert F Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again agenda to include preventing fluoride from being injected into the city water supply No one should be forced to ingest these chemicals To those that are concerned where I am from I grew up in Elmore City before joining the military My great-grandmother lived here in Pauls Valley and is buried in our cemetery my husband and I chose to live in Pauls Valley in 2020 if you want a true leader representing your conservative values Pauls Valley City Council Place 4 will be elected for a full four-year term that will run from 2025 to 2029 Candidates for Place 4 are Bonnie Meisel and Matthew Huggans I am running for Pauls Valley City Council With my background in education and public service I have spent my life listening and working to improve the lives of others I do that through my work at the Samaritans of Pauls Valley food pantry where we help 250-270 families each month with essential food for their family I work with local churches and businesses to organize “Keep Oklahoma Beautiful” activities in Pauls Valley each April Christmas in the Valley and Chamber of Commerce activities I also support the local school system and library by providing snacks for children My mission is to strengthen our community by continuing to support the improvements in progress at the water treatment plant that are 90% completed We are developing a plan of action to address repairs to the waste water system and the old City Lake dam I participated in the development of the master plan for the Pauls Valley Parks and am working with TSET and the Pauls Valley Park Board to develop the needs identified by our citizens including walking trails improvements to our lakes and to our playgrounds I was one of the founders of the Pauls Valley Parks Foundation and helped secure the funding that paid for the Phase 1 improvements to the Wacker Park tennis courts I am committed to smart economic development that supports the businesses that are the backbone of our city and creates new jobs and opportunities I support new housing like the addition in progress in southeast Pauls Valley they spend their money in the community helping local businesses thrive My experience in education has taught me that change starts with listening and working with others I believe in building a community where every voice is heard and every family has the resources they need to thrive I would be honored to be your voice on the City Council and work with you to build a stronger more connected Pauls Valley I love Pauls Valley; it is a beautiful place with wonderful people The community atmosphere is what I appreciate the most I have many friends here who all love this city and would not live anywhere else I want to help make it better because they It seems to me that the government as a whole is a big mess Its initial priority is to secure our rights Our town has become a place to “spend more than you make” with no accountability I think we owe our city a government that is run like a business A place that is profitable and where everyone wants to raise their family and bring more jobs I think we can make this happen in Pauls Valley but it's going to take making hard decisions that might cause us to suffer for a season Or we will suffer later; the problems are real and we have to change now in order to save our city The change starts and ends with leadership with the right people willing to make sound decisions our duty should always be about “we the people” not “we the council.” Transparency needs to take place in our city council meetings Which is why so many are voicing their concerns Infrastructure and city debt need to be the first priority for any city council member I understand how to eliminate waste and abuse along with hiring the qualified individual for the job Together we can “Make Pauls Valley Great Again.” Pauls Valley City Council Place 5 will be elected for a full four-year term that will run from 2025 to 2029 I have lived in Pauls Valley my whole life minus one semester I lived in Ada to attend East Central University I was born in Pauls Valley in the old hospital I feel my background and experience make me a perfect candidate for the Pauls Valley City Council I am putting together a plan to help bring the community together and encourage unity and inclusion Growing up he owned and operated a sign shop I learned the sign business and art at his knee Field Brothers Service Station and my dad's sign shop I also played football and wrestled in high school You can still see some of my art in the halls of the high school on the murals After high school I attended East Central majoring in psychology but did not officially graduate from college until 2021 Lisa and I have been happily married over 15 years and you can find us at the dog park when the weather is nice We work hard to shop local and encourage others to do the same I have been part of the Arts Council as an artist and in past leadership roles We own property in the county and in the city limits and moved from east of town into town in early 2024 I have supported the city by volunteering on the Planning and Zoning Committee for over 20 years I believe in lifelong learning and read approximately 100 books a year I am also learning Spanish and practice with those who speak Spanish at work and I am announcing my candidacy for Pauls Valley City Council Seat 5 and we have chosen to raise our children in this community as we feel that Pauls Valley is an ideal place to raise a family My candidacy for City Council stems from my desire to see my children and future generations of families have the same opportunity to raise their families here too Pauls Valley has so many wonderful amenities to offer a family from a strong education system wonderful outdoor opportunities for recreation businesses that have a wonderful history in the community and an active community that desires to promote and grow Pauls Valley as a community that is Not Your Ordinary Small Town with citizens who care and look out for each other with our city approaching 168 years of existence it faces challenges that we all see daily in our infrastructure that include water treatment sewer management and roadways to cite a few key examples this has created challenges to the budgetary process of managing the sales tax revenues that help address our infrastructure and essential services that the city government is tasked with providing Budget shortfalls have been challenging for our city I have opened and operated physical therapy clinics across the state of Oklahoma opening my first clinic here in Pauls Valley in 2005 This has afforded me the opportunity to gain a keen understanding of the economics of budget creation and development of strategic plans to foster growth and an ability to expand services I am transparent in my communication and feel that this openness creates an understanding of critical issues that affect our business as well as how and why we make decisions I feel that this level of experience would be valuable to the City Council in addressing the challenges that currently face the city and I am running for seat five on the Pauls Valley City Council and my wife's family has been here since the early 1900s I started out working for the city of Pauls Valley in the water department While working there I met Bill Beck and started to help him in the heating and air business and after a few years I was able to get my license and strike out on my own I've been in business in Pauls Valley for over 20 years now and have worked for many of you Besides being in the heat and air business I also buy and sell old neon signs and help my wife I would appreciate the opportunity to be able to do something for the entire community and ask for your vote on April 1 Communities across Garvin County will hold city council town board and school board elections April 1 The Garvin County News Star will continue to feature candidates for those offices in our next two issues Pauls Valley’s hospital is closing down nearly four years after it reopened amid reported financial challenges Valley Community Hospital is closing its doors this week after an announcement Wednesday evening from its owner and CEO, Madhukar Sharma, according to the Pauls Valley Democrat Sharma told the Democrat monthly shortfalls well into the six-figure range fueled his decision to close the facility Signs posted at the entrance reportedly pointed visitors to the Purcell Municipal Hospital and Arbuckle Memorial Hospital in Sulphur told the Garvin County News Star the closure will “hopefully” be temporary I don’t have any other information I can share at this time,” Wallace told The Star Pauls Valley first lost its hospital in 2018 after officials said it had “run out of options for securing additional funds to keep the hospital going.” He said it spent a little over $8 million on rebuilding the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic Sharma acquired the hospital about one year later Lacefield said he found out the hospital had closed again on Wednesday night “It is the, quite frankly, epitome of the rural health crisis in the United States,” Lacefield said According to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform 79% of Oklahoma’s rural hospitals operated with losses on services as of December 2024 and 32% are at an immediate risk of closing “I think what we're going to see here in 2025 is a bonfire effect of rural hospitals across the country,” Lacefield said As this year’s legislative session approaches Lacefield said he hopes lawmakers will consider policies that would have a more immediate impact on rural facilities such as further incentives for providers to move and work in rural communities or a tax credit for rural hospitals when they successfully recruit a physician Pauls Valley is in Garvin County and has a population of about 6,000 people. The Pauls Valley Police Department said in a Facebook post Mercy EMS will still be available to service the community StateImpact reached out to Valley Community Hospital for a statement This story will be updated if the facility responds StateImpact Oklahoma is a partnership of Oklahoma’s public radio stations which relies on contributions from readers and listeners to fulfill its mission of public service to Oklahoma and beyond. Donate online. President Donald Trump makes a major sports announcement. The announcement comes amid reports Washington, D.C. will host the 2027 NFL Draft. WATCH'Good riddance': Pauls Valley residents frustrated as hospital closes once againby David Chasanov PAULS VALLEY, Okla. (KOKH) — People in Pauls Valley are starting the New Year with no hospital in their community. The Pauls Valley Police Department announced Wednesday that the Valley Community Hospital is closing there are signs on the doors telling people they're temporarily closed residents tell Fox 25 they're not buying that because this isn't the first time they've shut operations down It happened in 2018 do not take me to Pauls Valley," Lacey Powers said and she was very adamant with EMS to not take her to that hospital she was transferred to Purcell instead." After 14 years of living close to the hospital Powers says she's not the only person who's had enough 'Good riddance.' There's a lack of empathy Another person,' which is astonishing to me because they already don't have enough business to keep the doors open." She adds that having very few healthcare options in town is a major problem "I just got diagnosed with an autoimmune disease so I am having to drive an hour to Oklahoma City That's just what we have to push through We have to recognize that we're going to have to make the drive what are we to do if we can't get 30 minutes The EMS is then left with that on their shoulders when there's only so much they can do." the closest option for potentially life-saving care is 30 minutes away in Purcell "It is unfortunate for the people of Pauls Valley losing their hospital," Oklahoma Hospital Association President and CEO Rich Rasmussen said "It will create a little bit of a challenge for them to access and receive their care The medical evidence shows when you can receive your care closest to home you have better outcomes and you recover much better." While there's questions about why the facility closed "Many of our rural hospitals have experienced some financial pressures He says he believes the hospital tried qualifying for several programs but were unable to because they had previously closed before I don't believe they were eligible for participating in our directed payment program That's designed to support hospitals through the Medicaid program I don't think they were eligible for the rural emergency hospital program that the federal government put together I think that created some challenges for them financially." Rasmussen claims people tend to forget the economic impact that small hospitals have "If you look at rural hospitals here in Oklahoma and for that matter the rest of the country they really are the heartbeat of that local community We know that typically for every dollar that is spent it is spent 3.1 times more in the community and you lose the services that you're purchasing from local vendors That has a ripple effect all throughout the local economy he says Oklahomans are lucky to have 157 hospitals across the state "Folks should be able to find reasonably accessible care across our state We're just hopeful that there will be an opportunity to potentially reopen Pauls Valley in the future." Fox 25 reached out to the Valley Community Hospital for comment (KOKH) — The Oklahoma Corporation Commission said water-contaminated fuel was found at a Pauls Valley gas station on Wednesday The OCC said they received three complaints about water-contaminated fuel at the Love's at 309 W An OCC inspector found the water was contained to an 87 Ethanol Product (E-10) tank The OCC said the inspector tagged the affected hoses and issued a violation requiring the store to remove the water from the tank and conduct a test to ensure the tank was tight and not leaking The Oklahoma Corporation Commission said Love's has consistently been a "responsive corporate citizen" and told FOX 25 a crew is already on site addressing the issue and pumping water from the tank The OCC added a worker in the store had already bagged affected hoses after receiving complaints before the OCC investigator showed up Water inside a car's gas tank can cause costly malfunctions including problems with acceleration and stalling If your car was affected by the contaminated fuel the Oklahoma Corporation Commission recommends contacting the gas station for reimbursement for the cost of repairs You should have a receipt or some other way to verify the fuel purchase to help the process The Gatlin Brothers will be performing a concert on October 28 in Pauls Valley The concert is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. at the Pauls Valley High School Auditorium The concert will include the group performing their music with accompaniment by the Garvin County Sinfonietta Tickets will be going on sale soon and will range from $50-$250 For more information, click here For more information, click here While Kingfisher High School prepares for its home game hosting Pauls Valley on Friday the Panthers are getting ready to travel across counties to face them are looking to extend their winning streak against the Yellowjackets of Kingfisher The Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages Porch met with players and students at Pauls Valley High School to get a feel for their upcoming matchup ran in the relay and the team was runner up was part of the 3200M relay team and they took first Solid individual performances propelled the Madill girls track and field team to a fourth place team finish and the boys to sixth in the Pauls Valley Invitational held last week While each squad had several high finishes the lone gold medal winner was junior Yadira Barbosa on the girls’ side as she posted a time of 11 minutes 53.99 seconds to capture the 3,200 meters title The long-distance stalwart also placed third in the 1,600 meters at 5:31.58 freshman Hadon Stuckey narrowly missed gold in the 200 meters Nene Stumblingbear added a fourthplace mark of 1:05.29 in the 400 meters and Zeplyn Thomas sprinted to a time of 13.55 seconds while ending fifth in the 100 meters Madill’s sprint relay tandem regularly composed of Thomas Joshlynn Clayburn and Luci Douglas was a close runnerup finisher by breaking the tape in 52.59 seconds The same unit was third in the 800 relay at 1:54.99 while Madill also wrapped up fifth in the 1600 relay in a time of 4:31.17 Tristan Barnes was the top point producer on the boys’ side with a second place leap of 11-feet even in the pole vault Ryder Douglas checked in third in the 800 meters in 2:04.16 with teammate Jose Campos checking in sixth at 2:08.17 Gilberto Grimaldo also posted a third-place mark of 128 feet 11 inches in the discus while fellow Wildcat Aroddy Camacho ended sixth at 120-4 6 inch heave for fifth in the shot put as Jagger Rogers cleared five feet eight inches in taking fifth in the high jump James Valadez added a fourth in the 3,200 meters as he clocked in at 4:45.61 and was also fifth in the 1,600 meters at 4:45.61 Jaxon Diaz and Douglas managed a fifth place effort of 3:35.89 in the mile relay whileValadezcombinedwith Campos,DouglasandRogers to tally a third in the 3,200 relay with a time of 8:26.52 The Wildcats were slated to compete at the Durant Invitational this week Read Madill Record