WAGONER COUNTY — Residents in Wagoner County say they are fed up with people hired and elected to keep them safe A judge approved a petition to gather signatures for a grand jury investigation The mission, as stated on the website is to remove Sheriff Chris Elliott and District Attorney Jack Thorp He was traveling through Wagoner County and pulled over Body camera footage shows a struggle between Krueger and Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office deputies The body camera footage begins after Krueger is already on the ground; the camera was allegedly not activated during the time of the initial stop You struggle to breathe,” said the Kruegers' attorney “He wasn’t being combative to fight the police officers; he was struggling to breathe and live.” two of the deputies at the scene were awarded Medals of Valor for “bravely” keeping Wagoner County safe from an “impaired driver.” Toxicology reports would later show Krueger was not on drugs or alcohol said he was promised by District Attorney Jack Thorp that he would revisit investigating the officers “It was clear and we knew it was going to be,” he said “I called their office three times and no response That’s all we want is them [officers] in prison where they belong for what they did to a human being.” The story caught the attention of 25-year Wagoner County resident Brent Watson as well as a death at the jail that resulted in a multi-million dollar settlement prompted Watson and others to form the group “Wagoner County Against Corruption.” They have 43 days to gather 4,300 signatures for a potential grand jury investigation into claims of misconduct “For us to sit by and let these things happen in our community is morally wrong,” said Watson believes the citizens of Wagoner County are owed a deeper look into the county The Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office sent this statement from Sheriff Chris Elliott on May 2 District Attorney Jack Thorp says he categorically denies the claims made in the filing. Here is his entire statement. “We will fully cooperate with any lawful investigation and are confident that a thorough and objective review of the facts will confirm that our practices are sound and in accordance with our responsibilities to the community as jail administrators and law enforcement officers when all the facts are known.” Email notifications are only sent once a day A grassroots group of Wagoner County citizens is seeking signatures to impanel a grand jury to legally remove Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliott and long-time District Attorney Jack Thorp from office Wagoner County Citizens Against Corruption LLC is behind the grand jury petition District Judge Michael Hogan approved the 14-page petition that alleges mismanagement maladministration and corruption in office The group must collect 4,300 signatures from registered voters and certify them to secure a grand jury An email message left for Brent Watson with the group was not returned The petition wants an investigation into the wrongful deaths of Angela Liggans and Jeffrey Krueger; an assault and battery incident against Elizabeth Rodriguez; and the former Emergency 911 Office director Thorp said on Sunday that he expects to respond in court to the allegations in the coming days He also posted a statement on social media: “In the strongest possible terms I want to state that I categorically deny the claims made in the filing.” Thorp said the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation investigated the Liggans and Kreuger cases Thorp wrote “OSBI investigations are confidential and in those cases with corresponding civil lawsuits criminal charges were declined years ago.” Thorp said he is “confident that these investigations should they be disclosed or utilized at a grand jury will support the decisions made by District 27.” Thorp said in the statement that she “never filed a police report I will ultimately present significant proof of political and evil motive in presenting these allegations (against myself) and will ultimately seek any potential remedy.” Elliot acknowledged the grand jury petition and respected the public’s right to seek “transparency and oversight” as an elected official but “categorically denies any allegations of mismanagement or misconduct.” Wagoner County Commissioners approved a $13.5 million civil rights lawsuit judgment Wagoner County residents approved a sales tax increase effective July 1 to pay off the judgment Liggans’ attorneys claimed she had gone without insulin injections for two days before she was found unresponsive in her jail cell Liggans was observed “throwing herself on the ground and purposely trying to hurt herself” while “also slamming herself onto her bunk.” She later became unresponsive When jail staff brought an Automated External Defibrillator into the cell they discovered the AED machine was inoperable of “excited delirium,” according to a 2019 Tulsa World story Krueger was stopped by law enforcement for driving erratically on U.S Krueger did not respond to verbal commands and reportedly attempted to attack the deputy and take his gun Krueger continued to resist arrest and physically fought both deputies before they deployed their stun guns Krueger was able to gain possession of a stun gun prompting one deputy to punch him to get the device back Krueger was placed in handcuffs and secured and when law enforcement discovered that he was not breathing normally where he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving “The medical examiner noted that Krueger didn’t show evidence of any injury that could be considered life threatening,” according to an OSBI report is incarcerated and serving a 32-year sentence on four counts of reduced charges of second-degree murder She was charged after three teens were fatally shot during a burglary near Broken Arrow where she admitted to being the get-a-way driver Judy Elliott visited Rodriguez in the common area of the Wagoner County jail This visit evolved into a heated argument between the two women Chris Elliott approached the women and intervened “violently grabbed Elizabeth Rodriguez by the hair on her head and dragged her across the common area of the jail to a jail cell,” the petition states the Wagoner County Commission began an investigation of the Wagoner County Emergency 911 Office and its coordinator the Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to place her on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of their investigation wagonercountyat.com Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. He was selected as one of 750 scholars chosen from a pool of over 48,000 applicants across the nation as a recipient of a Gates Scholarship. The Wagoner County Commission is expected to vote on June 9 on whether to approve the Persica Solar Farm. A win for the nation’s first-ever religious charter school in Oklahoma would represent “the most radical change to religious freedom under the… Coweta city leaders passed a resolution allowing them to enter into an agreement with an Oklahoma City-based law firm in a class action suit d… In a statement sent to Tulsa World, Chris Elliott said, “We will fully cooperate with any lawful investigation and are confident that a thorough and objective review of the facts will confirm that our practices are sound and in accordance with our responsibilities to the community as jail administrators and law enforcement officers when all the facts are known.” Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account. © 2025 BVM Sports. Best Version Media, LLC. The team's resilience has been a defining feature throughout their playoff run showcasing their ability to perform in clutch situations The Bulldogs will prepare for the area round aiming to maintain their momentum and secure a spot in the next phase of the tournament Continued focus on teamwork and overcoming adversity will be key factors in their future matches Wagoner’s ability to overcome adversity is impressive and sets a powerful tone as they advance Their determination and skill in high-pressure situations are vital as they pursue their championship goals The summary of the linked article was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence technology from OpenAI We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it OK Privacy policy Celina ISD voters will decide the Place 1 and Place 2 positions on CISD's board of trustees during the May election She joined Community Impact in June 2022 as the reporter for Grapevine Hannah holds a degree in journalism from the University of North Texas and began her journalism career at the North Texas Daily Judith spent her life as both a shepherd and a guiding light to those around her to Royal Melvin Laird and Phyllis Letitia Thomas Laird she was raised alongside her younger sister where her family of sheepmen and cowboys shaped her early years and the simple joys of ranch life and love of her family and guide—a role she would embrace not only among the flocks of lamb rural community centered around ranching and the railroad serving as a key stop along the Union Pacific line The town’s tight-knit population included many relatives and guidance were deeply intertwined in daily life she cherished summer adventures visiting her grandmother in Portland often reminiscing fondly about those times with her mother and sister. She also shared a special bond with her father Judy was a true shepherdess on the ranch and lovingly referred to herself as "Bo Peep." She did it all—fencing she perfected her famous sourdough pancakes a recipe beloved by all who had the privilege of tasting them Judy loved reminiscing about the days of dancing in Dubois would drive her and her cousins to the community dances where entire families came together to celebrate These gatherings were a reflection of what Judy cherished most—being with family "Judy loves a picnic!" as any occasion to gather and share laughter over a meal was something she treasured Judy’s life was forever changed by a visit to Birch Creek never realizing she would meet her future husband among the rolling hills and clear mountain streams and formed a bond that would last a lifetime “I love you.” That childhood encounter blossomed into a real-life love Wendell later pinned her with his SAE pin in that exact spot at Birch Creek to ask her to marry him Judy was not only devoted to her family and faith she was one of the only girls from her graduating class of 15 who went on to college she attended Brigham Young University in Utah as a freshman before transferring to the University of Utah she was a proud member of Pi Beta Phi sorority These years solidified her love for learning and leadership—traits she carried with her throughout her life Melvin Arnold came next while the family was living in Utah Nora Elizabeth Anne “Annie,” in Utah before the family returned to Idaho in 1967 to be closer to the ranch and family.  They built a life together in Idaho raising children with Judy teaching at Bonneville High School and Wendell working at INL and as a sales rep for multiple companies They spent weekends and summers on the ranch working the cows and sheep in Dubois and on the range in Island Park on various forest service and BLM leases throughout Clark and Fremont Counties. Through joy and struggles they stayed devoted to each other and she loved and supported Wendell until his death in 2006 A devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Judy found great joy in serving others and cherished her time doing temple work at the Idaho Falls LDS Temple One of her favorite roles was helping brides get ready—a testament to her love of family She had a special gift for offering guidance Her testimony of unwavering faith left an indelible mark on all who knew her her children and grandchildren were the heart of her world She was a devoted mother to her three children—Phillip Wagoner (married to Connie Slagle Wagoner) and Anne Wagoner Brown (married to Matt Brown) Judy’s love for her children was unconditional and each of them brought her immense pride in their own unique way gave her a deep sense of purpose—she admired his strong work ethic and shared his love for the ranch a passion that connected them both. Melvin is an accomplished aviator like his father and she took great pride in his adventurous spirit and dedication. Anne shared a special mother-daughter bond with Judy and carried on the legacy of her mother and grandmother as a driven educator Each relationship filled with love that defined her life Judy’s joy grew even greater when she became a grandmother and then Melvin and Teresa blessed her with Garrett Wagoner and Maddie Wagoner Each time she learned a new grandchild was on the way she was overwhelmed with pure joy and excitement her grandchildren remained incredibly close to her carrying her influence into adulthood and crediting her with making a profound impact on their lives her grandchildren not only shared a deep connection with her but also with one another—a legacy of education hard work and accomplishment helping them each with the gift of being a trusted advisor as they grew into adulthood.  Judy’s role as a mother and grandmother went far beyond just raising her children—it was a lifelong friendship built on love they always knew they could count on her warmth and she remained deeply connected not only to her immediate family but also to her extended relatives Just as she poured her heart into her family and ranch life Judy also dedicated herself to her career in education shaping young minds with the same love and encouragement she gave to her own children Teaching was more than just a profession for Judy—it was a calling one that allowed her to touch countless lives over her 33-year career Annie recalls feeling like her mom was a celebrity because she would be stopped all over town with a student telling her she was their favorite teacher and what a difference she made in their life That is probably the biggest factor in Annie’s choice to be an educator when getting up from a family dinner at Texas Roadhouse the waitress informed her that the meal was paid for by a former student who just wanted to do something nice for his favorite teacher some of her greatest joy came from the friendships she built with her fellow teachers Her colleagues at Bonneville High School in Idaho Falls became her steadfast front row supporting each other through every season of life they kept their friendship alive through their beloved Birthday Club celebrating each other through the decades always looking forward to the laughter and lifelong friendships she held so dear. They were a source of endless joy and support her mind remained sharp until the very end and she lived independently until suffering an aortic aneurysm the Monday prior to her passing But what truly spoke to who she was - the outpouring of support from at least 50 visitors in just one week—family and even doctors and nurses from EIRMC who had grown to love her and unwavering devotion to family and friends Her legacy lives on in her children and grandchildren Judy is lovingly remembered by her children and Nora Elizabeth Anne "Annie" Wagoner Brown (Matt) She was a proud and devoted grandmother to Grace Elizabeth Anne Brown and Madeline "Maddie" Anne Wagoner; Aunt to her niece Letitia “Tish” Jane Maxwell Dahmen Laird James Maxwell and William Ted Maxwell She is now reunited in peace with her beloved husband Royal Melvin Laird and Phyllis Letitia Thomas Laird; and her sister and warmth will remain in the hearts of those who knew and cherished her Judy’s family will hold a graveside memorial service at Rose Hill Cemetery in Idaho Falls followed by a picnic at her home where loved ones can gather to celebrate her beautiful life Voters in Wagoner County have agreed to pay more in sales tax to fund a settlement after someone died in the county jail 🔗Election Results 92.9 % of voters said “yes” to the quarter-of-a-penny increase which will fund the $13.5 million settlement county commissioners said they would have voted to increase property taxes More coverage: ‘There’s no way around it:’ Wagoner County voters ask questions and raise concerns over tax increase people who live in the county and would be impacted by the tax asked what was being done to prevent another lawsuit from happening Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliott told the crowd the jail has hired more than a dozen medical professionals as a response to the lawsuit Those healthcare workers are available 24/7 to respond to emergencies in the jail 🔗Election Results More coverage: ‘There’s no way around it:’ Wagoner County voters ask questions and raise concerns over tax increase Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliott told the crowd the jail has hired more than a dozen medical professionals as a response to the lawsuit and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application 2024 at his home surrounded by his loved ones Oscar made his living working in construction Always ending every day on the front porch spending time with family and friends He made a difference in so many young lives he was a mentor to many with such a big heart A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday 2024 at the Broad Creek Church of God with Pastor Robbie Strickland officiating The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Friday Kenneth of Newport; son Oscar Wayne Wagoner Jr Crystal Glass of Newport; six grandchildren and two great grandchildren; brother Johnny of North Wilkesboro; Bonnie Brown and husband Dickie of North Wilkesboro; Geneva Wagoner and husband Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noebrooks.net Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Wagoner senior Eedrick Johnson’s passion for academic achievement community service and commitment all worked together to lay the foundation for earning one of the country’s top scholarship awards Johnson was selected as one of 750 scholars chosen from a pool of over 48,000 applicants across the nation as a recipient of a Gates Scholarship The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation launched the Gates Scholarship Program in 2017 earmarked to help outstanding students realize their maximum potential Johnson is the first Wagoner student to receive such a prestigious honor Being the first Wagoner student to win a Gates Scholarship “is crazy,” he said Johnson said he hopes winning such an important scholarship will encourage other students to work hard and apply “I had a feeling in my bones that I was going to get the scholarship so it was more of a feeling of relief when I learned I had won,” Johnson said who played small forward on the Wagoner High School basketball team said his confidence grew because of the support and preparation he had received from school pushed her son to apply for the scholarship “I didn’t have a lot of confidence in the beginning when I realized it was a national scholarship I became more and more comfortable,” Johnson said Johnson said talking about his accomplishments was a challenge “I have learned how important it is to sell yourself in the scholarship process,” Johnson said His 3.8 GPA and community work earned him acceptance by all five universities he applied to Those five universities also awarded him an academic and leadership scholarship I see myself being a successful businessman with a great loving family and tons of financial freedom,” Johnson said Those plans will get a jump start in the fall when he attends Oklahoma State University where he plans to study business with an emphasis on digital marketing “I think they (the Gates Scholarship committee) were blown away with how involved I was with my school and the community,” Johnson said “I am a well-rounded student athlete with a powerful sense of community.” Johnson is so community-minded that one of the projects he and some of his classmates were involved with was the birth of a daycare center Johnson said he has so many wonderful high school memories “Being involved in sports has always provided memories,” Johnson said “We have done so many things together — the overall atmosphere of my high school years has been great.” Johnson said the high school had taught him to enjoy the little things I try to find something to look forward to news@wagonercountyat.com The Wagoner County Commission is expected to vote on June 9 on whether to approve the Persica Solar Farm The quick-thinking actions of a police officer who pulled a Webbers Fall woman with a broken leg from an overturned vehicle that plunged down … Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account he went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday Norman was born in Burlington and never lived more than 5 miles from where he was born worked over 45 years in the linen services starting as a routeman at Rental Towel and Uniform He also worked part-time at Bur-Gra packing and Mann’s Consumer Wholesale so he started working as a carrier for a company in Burlington and would travel to different towns to pickup water samples to be tested Then he joined a great group at Westcott Automotive picking up and delivering parts  When official retirement finally came He also started going to Biscuitville every morning to join a great group of men for breakfast and then Sharkey’s for lunch he would go to Sharkey’s as he looked forward to the food and interactions with friends that became like family.  Norman is survived by his wife Velma Koonce Lutterloh Wagoner; children Edvardo and Jose Arredondo; great grandchildren Dyana and Alexander Toledo and numerous nieces and nephews Robert “Bobby D” Wagoner and Joe Wagoner; sisters Dolly “Dot” Leonard and Jeanne Long and grandchildren Kaleb Curtis and Elianna “Ellie” Lutterloh family will be available Wednesday evening 6:00pm - 8:00pm at the home of Adam and Kimberly Lutterloh They will receive friends and family at Lowe Funeral Home Thursday followed by a celebration of life at 2:00pm in the chapel by Reverend Darrell Cox  Interment to follow in Alamance Memorial Park  The family will also receive friends at the home of Adam and Kimberly The family would like to say a special “Thank you” to Norman’s physicians at Cone Heart Care and his caregivers at AuthoraCare Click to watch Wagoner County voters had the chance to ask questions about a tax increase on the ballot a week from Tuesday The county commission is asking voters to approve a quarter of a penny sales tax increase over a 15 years to pay a $13.5 million settlement after someone died in jail The proposal has prompted a lot of questions from the people in the community What are questions and concerns Wagoner County Voters have Many of the concerns Tuesday were about preventing another lawsuit like this from happening again in Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliot told the crowd the jail has hired more than a dozen medical professionals as a response to the lawsuit People were also concerned that a property tax increase would hurt small businesses One county commissioner says small businesses could be impacted Others were frustrated to pay for something they believed wasn't their fault even if it was out of their control "I'm leaning more towards the sale tax it's going to be tough no matter what I think as one lady brought up I can see it unfair for property and business," said Andrea Lyngar said "We're going to get hit with the tax unfortunately Early voting is on Thursday and Friday at First Baptist Church in Wagoner \"I'm leaning more towards the sale tax it's going to be tough no matter what I think as one lady brought up I can see it unfair for property and business,\" said Andrea Lyngar said \"We're going to get hit with the tax unfortunately and general news updates from News on 6 delivered right to your inbox Mary was the daughter of Henry and Iola (Rhinehart) Middaugh Mary devoted over 30 years of her life to United Technologies as an assembly worker until her retirement in 1995 Her commitment to her family and community was equally profound; she was a faithful member of New Song Church where her spirit and kindness touched the lives of many She taught her family countless life lessons through the years and instilled the values of caring for others and helping those in need She had a remarkable ability to prepare delicious meals with the simplest of ingredients and her family will fondly remember her round steak and famous rolls alongside her delectable Black Walnut Cookies and apple dumplings especially the pies she baked with a homemade crust—her secret ingredient being Crisco Sundays were a cherished tradition in the Wagoner household bringing the family together to enjoy card games like Skip-Bo while also sharing her green thumb in her garden Mary's warmth and vibrant personality made her a joy to be around outgoing nature created a light that will be sorely missed by all who knew her Mary's legacy will be carried on by her beloved family She also leaves behind her fourteen grandchildren and twenty-six great-grandchildren 2025 from 11AM-12PM at Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home Funeral Services will be immediately following at 12PM Mary will be laid to rest at Maple Grove Cemetery in Argos memorial contributions can be directed to Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home towards Mary’s funeral expenses Add to Calendar Complete the form below to RSVP for the Visitation for Mary L Complete the form below to get directions for the Visitation for Mary L Add to Calendar Complete the form below to RSVP for the Funeral Service for Mary L Complete the form below to get directions for the Funeral Service for Mary L The Owensboro Times He worked as a UMWA coal miner for 20 years and retired in 1990 from Peabody Coal Company He was a member of New Paradise Baptist Church and he enjoyed hunting and fishing April 10 at 3:00 PM at Gary’s Funeral Home in Greenville with Rev Friends may call from 12:00 PM until time of funeral at 3:00 PM at Gary’s Funeral Home Online condolences to the family may be made at Gary’s Funeral Home in Greenville Privacy Policy Site by Tanner+West — Wagoner has not had much new development to discuss in its downtown in recent years but that's finally expected to change this year "I believe Wagoner is a worthy investment for business," accountant and entrepreneur Rebecca Olson told 2 News Feb Olson is spearheading the Tower Business Complex Wagoner's first commercial construction project in more than two decades It will hold ten office spaces and a conference room inside 4150 square feet WATCH: Business building plans in Wagoner: "It's not only just going to be for new starts We will have the opportunity for people that are a little more established and looking for space," Olson added "But the whole heart is to be able to curate and develop and grow business and give people a chance to really get ahead." Wagoner City Council voted to cover $15,000 in extra infrastructure costs for Olson's venture on Feb Mayor Dalton Self said to help spur jobs in his town development like the tower complex at 111 State Street and the Junction beautification & entertainment project at 111 Church Street are dire needs."This could literally rejuvenize(sic) our downtown," the mayor said before the council approved a surveying project for the Junction While no official construction date is set for the Junction the Tower Business Complex building breaks ground in April."This is a vision that I've had since I first started on my own," Olson said "And I feel that God gave me a unique opportunity to have a chance to make something different." OKLA (KTUL) — Wagoner County residents are expressing concern over a vote to raise taxes to pay restitution from a lawsuit after a Wagoner County inmate died while in custody in 2021 It's going to cost residents $13.5 million "People have told me I don't think we should have to pay for this and I'm going to agree with that," Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliot said.Frustrations from Wagoner County residents are becoming more intense because of a special election to raise sales taxes by a quarter of a penny over 15 years "It sucks you don't want to see taxes go up where you're from and where you live but at the same time it is justified," Glory Bales (Woolley) said The $13 million for the restitution needs to come from somewhere just not from the $3 million annual budget for the sheriff's office "It's fallen squarely on my desk and I'll carry that load for the county it is my responsibility to make sure that jail is running accordingly Those people no longer work here," Sheriff Elliot said.Sheriff Elliot said in 2021 a female inmate was having a medical emergency "He clearly failed to follow the medical protocols followed by medical staff He clearly failed to follow my 'fit for confinement protocols,'" Sheriff Elliot said "I had in this facility when this death occurred a medical doctor who was treating this patient and prescribing medication to that patient she never came in and laid eyes on that patient and I had no idea that was going on," Sheriff Elliot said.This death resulted in the county having to foot the bill so county commissioners went before a mediation court to come to an agreed settlement Sheriff's Elliot said the only way to pay this is to vote on a penny sales tax Bales is upset residents have to bear the cost of the lawsuit "It's unfortunate that the people have to pay for something that they didn't do that the sheriff did," Bales said.Bales also has a lawsuit of her own against county entities including the Sheriff's Office for Civil Rights violations It's 2025 and I filed a civil rights violation case against the sheriff that many years ago in 2021 and it's never been heard," Bales said.Since the inmate's death Sheriff Elliot said jail operations have changed is done by a licensed medical professional out of the state so we have LBNs down there that do all of that so my detention officers don't ever are stuck in a situation where they're trying to go how sick this person is," Sheriff Elliot said.The new jail operations are going so well that in 2024 and we had zero infractions in our jail and that's unheard of in a county jail," Sheriff Elliot said NewsChannel 8 reached out to county commissioners for a comment but did not hear back.The Special Election is on Feb SIGN UP FOR THE CHANNEL 8 NEWSLETTER we celebrate the beautiful life of Norma Dean Carter Lowe as she returned to the Father's presence on April 17 always putting others before herself and sharing her light with everyone she met Norma dedicated much of her life to her church serving in many roles but always finding her greatest joy in working with the youth with her family being the heart of her life She is survived by four of her five children She is joyfully reunited in heaven with her husband and countless generations that preceded her we invite you to celebrate her incredible time on Earth at a special Celebration of Life gathering including a viewing from 9:45 am to 10:45 am The viewing will be followed by a memorial service from 11:00 am to 12:00pm (noon) as we share stories and memories encompassed in love in her honor located at 300 North 300 East in Washington we encourage everyone to wear bright colors—a reflection of the joy and warmth she brought to all of us and example will live on in all of us who have known her The Coweta girls set the bar high as a softball team this year and the Tigers surpassed their ambitions during the regular season the Tigers claimed the district crown and carried a No “The season is going well for us,” Coweta coach Kris Chilcoat said “The team set some high goals for themselves and have responded with some good play and success.” Coweta entered the playoffs with a seven-game winning streak — all in district play — and that includes a 1-0 overtime victory over Bishop Kelley on April 14 Coweta allowed one goal through district play — a 3-1 victory over Edison “Sophomore midfielder Paisley Collins brings speed and ball control to every game and she has 11 goals and five assists,” Chilcoat said “Senior defensive midfielder Kaleigh Winkle is playing really well for us and senior midfielder Olivia Keeler is doing a great job controlling the midfield and distributing the ball to her teammates.” Wagoner entered the baseball playoffs as the 4A-7 champion “Just really proud of my players,” Wagoner coach Johnny Hutchens said so it’s just really cool to see them grow up.” Wagoner extended its winning streak to six overall with a three-game sweep in a regional last weekend Wagoner sophomore forward/midfielder Emma Mangrum was a recent Bill Knight Automotive girls soccer player of the week Mangrum has been on a scoring binge for the Bulldogs recently with six goals in the last three regular-season games Mangrum accounted for all five goals in Wagoner’s win over Sallisaw Wagoner finished the regular season 11-4 overall and 5-2 in District 4A-4 play sports@tulsaworld.com Highlights from high school soccer in the Tulsa area during the past week Submit soccer athlete of the week nominations to Barry Lewis at barry.lewis@tulsaworld.com Highlights from Tulsa area high school soccer during the past week OK (KTUL) — The Wagoner County Clerk has shared images of a collapsed road serving as a reminder of the dangers of driving through water Taxes are going up because a woman died in the Wagoner County jail prompting a lawsuit that ended up in a $13.5-million settlement The county approved the historic settlement last year voters have to decide which taxes will rise to pay for the settlement Previous Coverage: Wagoner Co. Commissioners Approve Multi-Million Dollar Settlement To Woman's Family After Her Death In Jail Previous Coverage: Wagoner Co. Commissioners Approve Multi-Million Dollar Settlement To Woman's Family After Her Death In Jail — Multiple agencies responded to a major fire in downtown Wagoner Monday afternoon Wagoner County officials told 2 News Oklahoma that the Old Fire Station caught fire and the flames quickly spread to other buildings City officials closed Main Street due to the fire and people should avoid the area Many onlookers did gather to see the damage for themselves Amy Matthews owns Smokin' Sisters on Main Street She said seeing the fire reminded her of the fire that struck just across the street in 2017 it’s very sad to see that building burn that’s over there right now," she said She had to evacuate her business after she noticed the smoke after the fire started at around 2:00 P.M “We actually kind of got a few valuables out of the building just to make sure," she said Broken Arrow Fire Department confirmed that the wind made it even more difficult for firefighters to keep the fire under control the teams have successfully controlled the fire Amy is hopeful for the future and was overwhelmed to see all the support from outside crews “I have faith that we’re gonna make it through this and looking at it it looks like it’s gonna happen," she said The city also urged people to conserve water as crews fight the fire Broken Arrow Fire and 13 other agencies assisted Wagoner Fire in preventing the fire from spreading to other buildings a fire destroyed five buildings dating back to the 1800s on Wagoner's Main Street Wagoner County residents voice frustration and anger over how a $13.5 million dollar judgment against the County gets paid "In a nutshell," said Wagoner County Clerk "we have a judgment against the County that is a result of a death that we had in the jail in 2021 and the family of that individual filed suit against and it was settled out of court and the total amount of the settlement was $13.5 million dollars." Read the full settlement here Crystal Hayner works two jobs in Wagoner and lives in Wagoner County She doesn't believe County residents should shoulder the settlement's cost "There some people that are struggling in this town already and now they're gonna have to pay more taxes for someone else's responsibility," she said Hendricks explains the County's insurance only covers one million dollars of any one settlement so County Commissioners are giving residents a choice to fund the rest by voting to approve a quarter penny sales tax increase for 15 years the money would come from an increase in property taxes Amy Matthews owns a business in the City of Wagoner and lives in the County "I feel like it would be spread out more evenly among all the voters in the county versus only property owners." The County provided 2 News with a breakdown of how much property taxes would likely go up in the first year if the sales tax proposal fails: a family spending $200 a week on taxable items would pay an additional $26 a year in County sales taxes Okla — Wagoner County homeowners contacted our newsroom and said they disapproved of an industrial solar panel project that could be feet away from them They expressed concerns in a commissioner meeting on February 3 at the Wagner County Courthouse Staff with the company behind the project NextEra said they're trying to generate up to 200 megawatts of clean Julian Davis is one of many homeowners who voiced their concerns about a giant solar panel project that could be built just feet from their homes "Everything from just the enjoyment of our properties with the visuals of a huge solar installation There is noise pollution that they acknowledged," said Davis NextEra calls it the Persica solar project Staff with the company presented it to county commissioners at their meeting They said the $336 million project will bring the county $31 million in tax revenue The project will be spread throughout Wagner County negative effects to our livestock," said Davis 2 News planned on speaking with NextEra staff 2 News spoke with County Commissioner of District One James Hanning "I think all of those things are valid issues I think there's going to be a lot to look into to make sure that everybody's concerns are addressed," said Hanning Hanning said because of the feedback they pushed the vote back "For this to be properly vetted for all of those affected We were just given one week and is discouraging," said Davis The vote will be at the Wagner County courthouse on Feb 10 at 9 am Fire marshals are investigating the cause of a blaze that engulfed two buildings Monday afternoon in downtown Wagoner to the blaze in the old firehouse on Main Street The fire spread to a land surveying office next door according to Wagoner Fire Chief Terry Grooms Grooms said they have one possibility for the source of the fire but we’re trying to verify all that,” he said Grooms said how the buildings were built contributed to the spread of the fire “The thing about with these older buildings is they build them and they put windows in them and then they build a building next to them if the windows wouldn’t have been there in that building next to it then it would have slowed the spread of it,” he said Fire marshals do not yet know the full damage cost to the two buildings — A home in a Wagoner County neighborhood could soon become a temporary crisis care center which is on it's way to the Oklahoma Senate The legislation could allow for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to override zoning to locate 90-day crisis home in any neighborhood in any city statewide A non-profit out of California - 'People First Communities LLC' - purchased a home in a Broken Arrow neighborhood to open one of these facilities has her reservations about the process and why they chose to put a facility in the middle of an rural residential area "I understand the importance of it but they need a certain level of care that is not appropriate for the neighborhood setting," said Renae "We need places that families can go and be safe and we need settings that are appropriate for the people that need the appropriate care.” one is there are no nearby hospitals or local resources to aid in these residents care if they need it it states that law enforcement can make transfers to the facility at any time day or night of people afflicted with drugs the amount of people in 90 days you’re going to be in a constant rotation of people in and out," she said “When you can bring in anybody night or day and drop them off and the police can do that You know what are we bringing into our neighborhood here?” Renae said many of her neighbors feel the same way and are advocating for law makers to vote against the bill Benchmark tells us up to four individuals will be served in the home at a time While the length of time will vary from resident to resident their spokesperson tells us the goal is for this to be temporary stay for individuals with disabilities seeking long-term placement A lack of transparency from county and city leaders still has Renae's guard up about what this could open up in her neighborhood "It feels like they’re trying to keep it pretty hidden," said Renae "There’s already two properties purchased for this reason by these out of state entities So my question is what are they doing here in Oklahoma with out tax payer dollars.”  The bill has passed the house and now heads to the Oklahoma Senate for final approval Brayden Thomas | Southwest Ledger Wagoner County commissioners have agreed to a $13.5 million out-of-court settlement of a civil rights lawsuit against Sheriff Chris Elliott over the June 2 was incarcerated in the county jail from the time of her May 17 Wagoner County commissioners agreed to an out-ofcourt settlement of a civil rights lawsuit against Sheriff Chris Elliott over the death of a Type 1 diabetic woman in the county jail The Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma Self-Insured Group paid $483,156 leaving county taxpayers on the hook for $13,016,843 which will have to be paid off with a sales tax or with higher – much higher – property taxes Wagoner County voters will make their decision on Feb That day they will vote on a proposed one-fourth of 1 percent county sales tax that would go into effect July 1 “or until the debt has been satisfied in full Reportedly the county will borrow the money from a bank and repay the loan with proceeds from the sales tax if the voters approve the proposal Feb the federal court judgment will be paid off with a property tax increase that would be imposed for 10 years According to the Wagoner County Assessor’s Office 2 the ad valorem tax bill inYear 1 on a $200,000 home would be $40.77 per month In Year 2 the ad valorem tax bill would decline by $1.15 In Years 3 through 10 the tax rate would vary depending on how much principal and interest were paid down The lawsuit settlement provides that the post-judgment interest rate will be 4.96% for the first three years and increase to 6% annually for the next seven years Wagoner County levies a sales tax of 0.013% (1.3 cents per dollar) which produced $855,469 in November and $1,009,998 in December and Tullahassee all levy city sales taxes of 0.04% (4 cents per dollar) and the state sales tax is 0.045% (4.5 cents per dollar) The debt will be paid in 10 “equal annual installments plus post-judgment interest compounded annually” on “the first day of January each year,” the settlement provides None of the three county commissioners could be reached for comment Friday because their offices closed at 3:30 p.m A mediator presided over a session between the plaintiff and a settlement conference in the lawsuit was held Aug A resolution approving “the primary terms” of the $13.5 million lawsuit settlement agreement was approved unanimously by County Commissioners James Hanning Chris Edwards and Tim Kelley at their Sept according to minutes of that session posted on the county’s website 18 meeting all three Wagoner County commissioners approved a Journal Entry of Judgment confirming the agreement and the document was filed in Muskogee’s Eastern District federal court the next day Chris Elliott narrowly won reelection to a third term edging former deputy Tyler Cooper by 35 votes: 4,327-4,292 Wagoner was the only town in the county that didn’t support Elliott in the race 11 election on the sales tax proposal to pay off the lawsuit debt Butler told Southwest Ledger she owns residential and agricultural property that would be affected by a property tax increase if the sales tax proposal fails In a document filed in Tulsa County District Court on May 17 claimed that when her daughter died in theWagoner County Jail she was intestate; was not married; and had one surviving child About six weeks later the court appointed Dalton “personal representative” of her daughter’s estate Helen Alice Burnett and Robert Vaughn Burnett petitioned the Eastern District federal court for permission to intervene as “co-guardians” for “Mitchell Blake Liggens (cq) the sole natural child of Angela Liggans.” The Burnetts said they were appointed guardians of the boy inWashington County (Oklahoma) District Court earlier in the year in order to “assert the appropriate action to obtain and secure assets” of the teenager in which he “may be an interested party.” Jackson denied the Burnetts’ request to intervene on Nov Michael McCoy petitioned the Tulsa County District Court to revoke its “award letter of administration” to Sharon Dalton and to “amend determination of heirs.” married to Michael Mc-Coy in accordance with the Oklahoma law of common law marriage,” he claimed McCoy identified Liggans’ teenaged son as Mitchell Blake Mathews in the Probate Division of Tulsa County’s district court 20 on McCoy’s petition to revoke Dalton’s letter of administration and amend the determination of heirs a beloved member of her community and a cherished family matriarch passed away peacefully at her home on January 29 Sadie was a proud graduate of West Yadkin High School Her life's journey was marked by her commitment to family Sadie showcased her work ethic and dedication throughout her career as an inspector of textiles for Jantzen where she contributed many years of service she took great joy in gardening and nurturing flowers reflecting her vibrant personality and love for the natural world She babysat for numerous community children and loved caring for her own grandchildren.  Sadie's legacy is enriched by the memories of her deceased family members She is also preceded in death by her sisters Visitation and funeral services will be held on February 3 at Mountain View Baptist Church located at 1232 Mountain View Church Road followed by the funeral service at 1:00 PM Burial will follow in the church cemetery.  Sadie Lois Wagoner Holleman will be remembered fondly for her loving nature and the warmth she shared with all who knew her Her contributions to her family and community will leave a lasting impact and her memory will forever remain in their hearts  Please consider donations in Sadie's honor to St. Jude Children's Hospital.  Click here Nicholson Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Holleman family SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- While the San Francisco 49ers didn't draft a safety until Saturday's fifth round, that pick -- Kansas State's Marques Sigle -- could have a chance at a bigger than anticipated role right away Mustapha's injury is actually related to the ACL tear he suffered in the same knee while playing at Wake Forest in January 2022 Mustapha returned from that injury in time to play 10 games during the following season Although Mustapha departed the Arizona game with a knee injury and did not return he was thought to be OK and in the locker room with the team the day after the game an MRI revealed that the graft that had been placed in the knee was torn Mustapha had surgery to repair the knee after the issue was discovered Mustapha has been at the team facility rehabbing the knee and is "doing really well." There is no definitive timeline on Mustapha's return but given how late in the year the injury occurred it's unlikely he will be ready at the start of the season with a midseason return more likely recover quickly from his previous ACL injury and there was no meniscus or cartilage damage in Arizona After fellow safety Talanoa Hufanga was unable to start last season as recovered from his own knee injury Mustapha emerged quickly in a starting role He fared well enough that he held the job for most of the season five passes defended and 72 tackles after the Niners used a fourth-round selection on him in 2024 Sigle was a two-year starter for the Wildcats often playing a hybrid nickel cornerback/safety role four interceptions and 16 pass breakups over those two years Sigle ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds the fastest time among players projected to play safety in the NFL "He's a guy who can really run," general manager John Lynch said "He's got a lot of versatility to his game A term we use is taking the grass and this is a guy who takes the grass to the receiver and I think he's going to be a really good fit for us." Brown is the most experienced starter among the 49ers' safety group having started 18 games over the past two seasons or encouraging a minor to commit a drug-related crime Rhoden also faces charges of outraging public decency Mayor Dalton Self commented on the situation "He's no longer affiliated with the city of Wagoner He resigned a while back and I absolutely hate this for the children Attempts to reach Rhoden for comment have been unsuccessful News Channel 8 has also contacted the Public Information Officer for the Sheriff's office seeking more information regarding the arrest and charges This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available