A McAlester man, 27 year old Isaias Ortiz, died Sunday in a Tulsa hospital from injuries he sustained in a fiery three vehicle accident five days earlier on State Highway 31 in Pittsburg County. The accident occurred on Tuesday about seven miles east of Krebs.

18 year old Fabian Aguilar was arrested by Sgt Steve Young of the Tahlequah Police and jailed this past week on a new burglary charge and outstanding warrants. Officer Young found Aguilar hiding under a porch in the 600 block of Ward Street. The boy allegedly broke into a nearby house and ran from the scene as Tahlequah police arrived on the scene. The owner of the home came to the police department later to report the break-in. Officers recovered a gold necklace from Aguilar. He was booked for first-degree burglary and knowingly concealing stolen property.

An area man, 37 year old Vincent Sarren, was arrested recently on a domestic abuse count after allegedly assaulting his wife. According to the Sheriff's office report, Sarren was arrested after deputies responded to a report that he had thrown a can of beer at Nova Sarren and hit her in the head with it. Also reported by the Sheriff's office Lance Anthony Meyers, 28, was arrested on Nov 10th after allegedly slamming Pamela Meyers' head into the kitchen cabinets and threatening to kill her. Charges are expected to be filed in district court against both men.

Sen. Jim Wilson, a Tahlequah Democrat, was formally sworn in for another Senate term and another four years in the Oklahoma Legislature on Tuesday in Oklahoma City. Wilson ran unopposed this year. Wilson said he was extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished in his first four years in the Senate. Wilson said the Legislature has worked to improve our schools, and put more resources into replacing and building new roads and bridges. The Senate will meet for an organizational day in January, with the 2009 session officially beginning Feb 2nd.

At the recent meeting of the Tahlequah Airport Advisory Board, members discussed future plans for the facility with Kevin Reeder of LBR Inc the airport consultant. Reeder discussed some previous projects and also some things the Board could consider in the future. The Advisory board is expected to have a preliminary list of possible projects at the December meeting. Possible projects listed for the airport: Lighting for hold position signs, moving hangers on the west side of the airport to the east and taxiway lights. Greg Blish, the airport manager, said fuel sales have remained fairly steady for the past few months. The next regular meeting of the Tahlequah Airport Advisory Board is set for Tuesday Dec 16th at 5:30pm in the Terminal Building at the airport.

20 year old James Calvin Bookout, a former Lowe’s employee, was charged by Cherokee County prosecutors with taking money from the store in Tahlequah. Bookout allegedly took $1,700 from Lowe’s when he worked there on Oct 17. Bookout is currently free on a $10,000 bond and his formal arraignment is now set for Nov 25th at 1pm before Associate District Judge Mark Dobbins.

The cost of gas in Oklahoma is about half what it was two months ago and is second lowest in the nation. AAA Oklahoma says the average price of a gallon of self serve regular is down from an average of $3.65 on Sept 18th to $1.85 today. The price is second only to Missouri’s average of $1.77.

Wall Street hit levels not seen since 2003 on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones industrial average plunging below the 8,000 mark amid a sour economic outlook form the Federal Reserve and worries over the fate of Detroits three automakers. A cascade of selling occurred in the final minutes of the session as investors yanked money out of the market. The Standard & Poors 500, widely considered the broadest snapshot of corporate America slipped 52.54 points or 6.12 percent to 806 and the Dow gave up 427 points. Consumer prices plunged by the largest amount in the past 61 years in October as gasoline pump prices dropped by a record amount. The Labor Department said Wednesday that consumer prices fell by 1 percent last month, the biggest one month decline on records that go back to February 1947.

Chief District Judge Bruce Sewell has granted a motion by attorney Tim Baker and Christine Rupel for a judgment against Brian Suto, who had sued Rupel and Baker back in August alleging a wrongful taking of property. Suto and Rupel were involved in a divorce case in 2007 and attorney Baker represented Rupel. The judgement order states the divorce was filed March 8th 2007 with a settlement agreement on Dec 13th 2007 that made an equitable distribution of the property. An order that finalized the agreement was made by the court Jan 25th 2008. The judgment also states the case by Suto against Baker and Rupel is legally improper. Rupel and Baker filed a motion for the judgment last month.

Formal charges were filed this week against 42 year old Marty Lynn Blair, a Cherokee County man who was involved in a standoff last month with sheriff’s deputies and also the Cherokee Nation marshals. Blair was charged with two counts of pointing a firearm and single counts of reckless conduct with a firearm, obstructing an officer and resisting an officer. The charges were filed after an incident in the Etta Bend Area that ended after several hours with Blair being shot after all attempts to get him to come out of his home. Deputies were summoned to Blairs house after he allegedly fired at people in the area.

At the Tahlequah City Council meeting this week, councilors voted 3-0 to adopt an ordinance increasing the city’s trash collection rates and also change service to once a week. Mayor Ken Purdy also announced that the new rates will go into effect in 30 days. The residential and commercial rates will increase up $2.25 a month. The ordinance also called for a senior freeze on rates. Also at the council meeting councilors approved the proposed right of way parking along Cherokee Avenue at 225 W. Shawnee.

47 year old William Potts, 68 year old Truman Burgess and 48 year old Jack Sonny James three of the seven people arrested in Cherokee County last week by federal , local and state authorities have now been indicted by a federal grand jury meeting in Muskogee. The Potts, Burgess and James cases are the result of an ATF investigation, according to US Attorney Sheld Sperlings office in Muskogee. A fourth man, 53 year old Floyd DeGase was also charged by the panel.

Wall Street rebounded Tuesday in another turbulent session as investors rushed back into the market after the Standard & Poors 500 index tested a 2003 low. The market, which had been down four of the past five sessions, has been volatile amid worries about how long a recession might be. That’s driven many retail investors to the sidelines, while big institutional traders like hedge funds keep major stock indexes vacillating. The Dow ended up 151 or 1.83 percent to 8,424.

Oil prices continued to fall Tuesday as a government report showed that gasoline prices in October plunged further than they ever have and home heating oil, natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas fell substantially. Light, sweet crude for December delivery fell 56 cents to settle at $54.39 a barrel.

Deb Corn, who has served as Tahlequah city clerk for the past eight years, has announced that she will seek re-election to the office. During her time in office she has completed over 340 hours of training and has been certified yearly in accordance with state statutes. She is a member of Soroptimist International of Tahlequah and Cherokee County Democratic Women. Corn worked for Tahlequah Public Schools for 21 years.

Chief District Judge Bruce Sewell on Thursday made a decision to shave two years off the sentence of Jerry Wayne Morrision Jr 28, a Tahlequah man’s prison sentence on a shooting with intent to kill charge. The judge said he was going to give Morrision some relief because it appears the inmate is taking advantage of the program’s offered at the Department of Corrections. Judge Sewell reduced Morrison’s 9-year sentence to seven years in prison and said that Morrison will be on probation after his release from prison. At the hearing held Thursday neither defense attorney Donn Baker or Assistant District Attorney David Pierce offered any further evidence or oral argument in the case. Morrison told the judge that he has grown up a lot and knows he needs to change his ways.

46 year old Watie B Zal, a Tahlequah man, was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and this past Friday a $40,000 bond was set for Zal. Zal allegedly threatened Vicki Cornsilk back on Sept 19th with a red-handled knife and said he was going to kill her. Assault with a dangerous weapon is punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years or a year in the county jail. Officials say Zal has two previous convictions for which he has served prison sentences. He was released form the Department of Corrections on June 13, 2007.

17 year old Freddy Castillo, a Park Hill teenager, was charged this past week by Cherokee County prosecutors as a youthful offender with two felonies and a misdemeanor stemming from a Oct 27th shooting incident. Castillo was formally charged with shooting with intent to kill, use of a vehicle in discharge of a weapon and violation of a protective order. Castillo is now in the Cherokee County Detention Center after his arrest in Houston, Texas for allegedly shooting Amanda Goins in the face with a shotgun. It was reported that the birdshot pellets cause serious damage to the victims face and eyes. The shooting took place near the Grandview School. Castillo allegedly fled to Houston after the shooting. Associate District Judge Mark Dobbins has set Castillo bond at $100,000.

Cherokee County Undersheriff Jason Chennault reported that State, Federal and Local authorities arrested seven residents of Cherokee County last Thursday morning in the Peggs and Briggs area. Officials would not say what the nature of the charges the seven were being held on after the arrest. The charges will be filed in federal court. Channault said searches were conducted at locations in the Briggs and Peggs communities. Chennault said three of the seven have murder convictions in state court. The arrests were the result of an investigation by the Cherokee County sheriff’s office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and the Tahlequah Police Department. Sheriff Norman Fisher said the effort from all the agencies involved to make the seven arrests shows a spirit of cooperation and working together. Chennault also said we took three convicted murderers off the streets. The three arrested with murder charges were Truman Burgess, Jack Sonny James and William Pat Potts.

Voters in Cherokee County who want to have absentee ballots mailed to them for the Dec 9th Fort Gibson I-3 Special School Election should apply now according to County Election Board Secretary Connie Parnell. Although the County Election Board can acdept applications for absentee ballots until 5pm on Wednesday Dec 3rd Parnell urged voters who want to vote by absentee ballot to apply early. Absentee ballot application forms are available at the County Election Board office located at 914 College Ave.

Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions among Native Americans and complications from diabetes are major causes of death and health problems in most Native American populations. Because of this, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith has declared November as Diabetes Awareness Month in the Cherokee Nation. Cherokees are at high risk for the development of diabetes and it affects not only the individual but the whole family, Smith said. The Cherokee Nation is committed to the well being and health of Cherokee citizens and helping improve their quality and years of life. We hope that teaching our people about how to prevent and manage diabetes will lead to healthier families across the Cherokee Nation.

Wall Street finished sharply lower Monday as investors pored over more signs of economic weakness, including a huge round of layoff’s in the financial sector. After a turbulent week that sent the Dow Jones industrials down nearly 340 points, investors found little solace in the latest news. Stocks zigzagged throughout the session, finally giving way to a steam of late-day selling that left the Dow Jones industrials lower by 223 points. The Standard & Poor’s index fell 22.54 or 2.58 percent to 850.

Another round of massive layoffs at Citigroup and more bad financial news Monday led investors to shrug off the lengthy action plan from world leaders designed to address a sagging global economy. Citigroup said It will cut about 53,000 more jobs in coming quarters as the banking giant struggles to deal with massive losses from deteriorating debt.

34 year old Paul David Sellers, a Cherokee County man, died Wednesday at his home and now the State medical examiner’s office will determine the cause of his death. According to the the report from the sheriff’s office a friend found Sellers with his legs and feet hanging off the bed at his home. Sellers at the time looked yellow and was not breathing when a friend arrived, then started CPR and called 911. According to the report, Sellers had been in a crash earlier this year and still had scars from the accident. The investigation continues.

Local law enforcement agencies and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troop C headquarters in Muskogee want to reverse a negative trend in Cherokee County. The OHP reports that Cherokee county and other counties have recorded 30 traffic fatalities in the past three months. Those crashes can be blamed on a number of factors including drunken driving. The OHP said drivers ages range from 16-67 in the fatalities. Authorities are asking for the public’s help to get the message out that the main cause of crashes is inattentive driving. People are talking on there cell phones or changing the channel on the car radio or talking to someone else in the car. The OHP also reminded local residents that seat belts do save lives. Cherokee Undersheriff Jason Chennault said that sheriff’s deputies will be starting up overtime patrols later this month to help alleviate drunken driving, speeding and seat belt violations.

44 year old Billy Wayne Worl and 27 year old Kenneth Walter Vopnford, a pair of burglary suspects, were surprised Tuesday by a homeowner and were booked by Cherokee County sheriff’s deputies into the Cherokee County Detention Center of charges of trespassing and second-degree burglary. According the the sheriff’s report the homeowner, Elona Borne, returned to her home Tuesday afternoon and noticed that her home has been burglarized. Borne then heard dogs barking at the rear of her home and she saw two men, later identified as Worl and Vopnford leaving the area driving a 1981 Ford Courier. The homeowner followed the suspects until sheriffs deputies could arrive and stop the car and arrest the two men. Reports show that the two men have extensive criminal histories. Formal charges are expected to be filed in district court against the men.

Two Sallisaw residents, 41 year old Kevin McGrew and 53 year old Meri McGrew, were jailed this past week on marijuana cultivation and other charges which was part of an ongoing narcotics investigation by the District 27 Drug Task Force. The couple were booked into the Sequoyah County Jail for cultivation of marijuana and possession of a controlled drug. Kevin McGrew was also charged with felon in possession of a firearm. His bond was set at $106,000 and Meri’s was set at $48,000.

The first degree murder trial of Robert Lee Smallen of Muskogee in Cherokee County is still on hold while the prosecutors appeal a court ruling on the admissibility of a statement made by Smallen. Smallen was in Cherokee county court on Monday for a jury sounding docket but the district court proceedings have been put on hold by the Court of Criminal Appeals. Smallen is charged with the July 2007 shooting death of Ronny Hall from Muskogee. David Pierce the Assistant District Attorney appealed a ruling made by Chief District Judge Bruce Sewell at a pre trial hearing that prohibited Pierce from using a statement Smallen made while talking with investigators. Judge Sewell has scheduled the local hearing for Dec 4th at 1:30pm.

Superintendent of Tahlequah Schools Shannon Goodsell said this past week that Tahlequah Public Schools are preparing to present a second combination city sales tax/school bond issue to the voters in the coming year. Goodsell told the school board that he is meeting with Mayor Ken Purdy to outline a preliminary set of projects, including new buses: renovations to the Tahlequah High School and Greenwood Elementary cafeterias and parking lot repairs and also a number of additional repairs across the school district. Goodsell also wants to discuss a timeline for putting the sales tax before voters in March and the bond issue in May. Goodsell reported that the districts facilities improvement committee have put together a proposal for $4 million to come form a half-penny sales tax and a $4.6 million school bond issue.

The Untied Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma will begin taking applications for the December 2008 Elder Assistance Program. The UKB Elder Assistance Program provides all tribal elders over 55 years of age semi-annual financial assistance in the amount of $200 for each period. This is to assist Keetoowah Cherokee elders with funding they can utilize at their discretion. The tribe will be taking applications from November 4 through noon on November 25th. The applications will also be accepted for two weeks in December. The last day for accepting applications is by noon on December 12th. Checks will be issued on December 3rd, 10th and the 17th. Applications may be picked up at any tribal or satellite office. Completed applications must be turned in by fax, mail, or direct delivery to the Tribal Enrollment Office located at 2450 S Muskogee Ave in Tahlequah.

Chief District Judge Bruce Sewell on Thursday made a decision to shave two years off the sentence of Jerry Wayne Morrision Jr, 28, a Tahlequah man’s prison sentence on a shooting with intent to kill charge. The judge said he was going to give Morrision some relief because it appears the inmate is taking advantage of the program’s offered at the Department of Corrections. Judge Sewell reduced Morrison’s 9-year sentence to 7 years in prison and said that Morrison will be on probation after his release from prison. At the hearing held Thursday neither defense attorney Donn Baker or Assistant District Attorney David Pierce offered any further evidence or oral argument in the case. Morrison told the judge that he has grown up a lot and knows he needs to change his ways.

A preliminary hearing has been set for a Stilwell High School teacher charged with sexually assaulting two female students. Sean Lee Catron will appear before Special District Judge Doug Kirkley on Dec 9th to determine whether he’ll be tried on three counts of second-degree rape and one count of sexual battery. Prosecutors contend the alleged acts occurred earlier in the year at the school and at Catron’s residence. Catron’s attorney Tim Baker maintains his clients innocence and says the girls fabricated the allegations in retaliation for giving one of the girls a failing grade. The 38 year old Catron has been suspended and a hearing regarding his employment is set for next week.

A program that teaches the Cherokee language to Cherokee children will be featured in a PSS documentary. A film crew and producer for "We Shall Remain" were in Tahlequah last week to visit the Cherokee Language Immesion School and interview Principal Chief Chad Smith and others. "We Shall Remain" will be a five-part documentary beginning in April. The series will cover major turning points in relations between American Indians from the 1600’s through early 1970’s. The Cherokee language program has 58 students ranging from 3 to 8 years old.