Archive - Dec 2012 - News Article
Poteau Chamber of Commerce, Poteau Courthouse, Walmart and Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) are starting off the new year by saving lives and inviting Poteau-area residents 16 years or older to join by donating blood at these upcoming drives on Friday, Jan. 4:
• 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Poteau Chamber of Commerce, 201 South Broadway
• 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Walmart, 3108 North Broadway
Appointments are not required but can be made by calling Chamber of Commerce at 918-647-9178, Oklahoma Blood Institute at 877-340-8777 or visiting obi.org.
Candace Martin has resigned as executive director of the Donald W. Reynolds Center in Poteau.
Poteau Mayor Jeff Shockley says that at this time, the city has no plans to replace Martin.
Shockley stated that because of the current financial climate, the city will absorb Martin’s position.
During her time as executive director, Martin oversaw many events at the Reynolds Center including the popular summer concert series.
Poteau Mayor Jeff Shockley and Poteau Chamber of Commerce CEO Karen Wages help setup and decorate for the New Year's Eve Extravaganza being held tonight.
The event will be held at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Center in Poteau beginning at 8:30 p.m. Tickets for the event are $40 per person.
December 28th
A brief blast of snow blew threw the county Friday afternoon as part of a small winter storm crossing the southern portion of the state.
According to LeFlore County Emergency Management Director Michael Davidson, the storm is expected to be out of the area by 6 p.m.
Davidson said the county is under no watches or warnings at this time and the next chance of precipitation is expected Monday. Snow is expected in the Monday storm for areas north of Interstate 40 and rain south of the interstate.
The Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security encourages Oklahomans to “Resolve to be Ready” in 2013
Each year, about this time, Oklahoman’s begin citing their New Year’s resolutions; among the most popular: lose weight, quit smoking, pay off debt, work out more, and get a new job. According to the Journal of Clinical Psychology, those who make New Year’s resolutions are 11 times more likely to report continued success in achieving a goal than individuals who have not made a resolution.
December 26th
A broken gas line left several Poteau residents without heat during the onslaught of a winter storm.
According to Bob Neissl, senior vice president of operations with Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corp. the company the outage occurred Christmas night. Neissl said the break in the gas line affected residents on Reynolds, Grady and Parker avenues, along with some homes on Witteville Road.
“Water got into the line from a leak and disrupted the service,” Neissl said. “It's a low-pressure system and water can enter the line from a leak.”
Neissl said services should be restored by Wednesday evening.
According to LeFlore County Emergency Management Director, Michael Davidson, the southern portion of LeFlore county saw the highest totals in accumulated snow after Tuesday's winter storm. Davidson said residents of Big Cedar and Heavener received the most snow after eight inches blanketed the communities. He said most of the county, including Poteau, received 5 inches of snow.
Davidson said the storm moved into the county about noon and by 1:30, snow began sticking to the roads. Travel advisories were issued asking drivers to stay off the roads unless it was an emergency.
December 24th
A Mansfield, Ark., woman received minor injuries after she lost control of her vehicle and rolled down an embankment.
According to the accident report released by the Poteau Police Department, Stephine Lee Gavelis, 26, was driving a gray 2000 Mercury Cougar north on the Cavanal Scenic Expressway approximately half a mile south of the Walmart exit when Gavelis lost control of her vehicle.
Poteau police officers arrested two fleeing suspects Monday afternoon suspected of burglarizing a Poteau residence earlier that morning.
According to Poteau Chief of Police Stephen Fruen, Detective Mark Kannady was driving on North Broadway about 1:45 p.m. when he spotted red extended-cab Ford Ranger pickup matching the description of a truck at a burglary Monday morning. When Kannady attempted to pull the vehicle over, the driver of the truck turned onto Oklahoma Avenue and sped away.
The National Weather Service in Tulsa is predicting snow for Christmas in eastern Oklahoma. The NWS lists every county in the state as either under a winter storm warning or winter storm watch.
LeFlore County is currently under a winter storm warning.
The National Weather Service expects significant snowfall in eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas.
According to the NWS, precipitation will begin as rain before mixing with sleet and transitioning to snow early Christmas morning. The snow is expected to continue to fall through Christmas night.
