The passing year was a pivot of change, challenge, and intriguing developments for McAlester. A review of the happenings during the last 12 months presents a panoramic view of McAlester’s journey through time. In the first month of the year, the citizens of Pittsburg County used their voting power effectively. They unanimously denied the propositions for a quarter-cent county sales tax hike and a grainy 5% county hotel/motel charge.
Justice prevailed in January, where a male resident of Krebs was declared guilty on the stern count of manslaughter and child abuse in a tragic 2016 case involving the death of his young daughter. The consequence of his criminal actions was a severe punishment of 15-years in the unfreedom of a federal prison. Following this, in February, an intense case of a missing woman from 2023 unfolded as remains discovered near a local recreational park were sadly confirmed to be hers.
Among the significant happenings of February, serious apprehension for the future of cancer treatment in McAlester was voiced in front of the city councils. In March, the city council’s decision well reflected the democratic setup of McAlester. Despite a contested 4-to-3 vote, the city council decided in favor of repealing the one-eighth cent sales tax. This decision directly impacted the financial aid for the expansion of the McAlester Cancer Center.
March was a grim month for the citizens of McAlester. A horrific fatal shooting at a local apartment complex led to the arrest of a McAlester man on murder charges. Further, the due process of law efficiently worked its course in the murder trial of Holly Cantrell. After more than six hours of staunch deliberation, a McAlester man was rightfully found guilty for the heinous crime by the Pittsburg County jury.
As the April showers washed over McAlester, shocking news emerged of Oklahoma’s first execution of 2024. Natural elements also stole the limelight when an early morning storm led to significant disturbances in McAlester. As confirmed by The National Weather Service, the cause of the damages was, indeed, an unnerving tornado.
The onset of summer in May brought no respite from the series of disturbing events. The former Pittsburg County Sheriff found himself on the wrong side of the law. Accused of embezzlement and accepting bribes as a public servant, the erstwhile Sheriff faced the music. As May bled into June, the authorities took swift action and appointed Frankie McClendon as the temporary Sheriff for Pittsburg County.
July exhibited a victorious moment for a local resident. Twine Palmer penned his name in the annals of sporting history by getting picked up in the 19th round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft by the renowned Houston Astros. A firestorm of opposition from members of the community could not prevent the Indianola Rural Water District 18 Board from approving a request for a water meter installation at a proposed poultry farm near Indianola.
August witnessed a refreshing political development. McAlester citizens elected Justin Few as their mayor in a democratic exercise. But the autumn month of October fell under the shadow of a shocking incident. A school employee from the very heart of McAlester found himself in police custody for displaying a sexually explicit video involving a minor that was discovered on a school-issued laptop.
The month of celebrations, November, saw an unfortunate incident involving the McAlester Football Coach. He was charged over an incident related to a handgun during a coach’s retreat that had occurred in July. Subsequently, the McAlester School Board had to confront a difficult decision and eventually they accepted a resignation agreement from the implicated coach.
However, in December, the spirit of McAlester was lifted. A notable event was when McAlester resident Marty Donaldson achieved significant personal success with a record-holding Rainbow Trout catch at Lake Carlton at Wilburton’s Robbers Cave State Park. The community demonstrated a further noble spirit by coming together to ensure a Hartshorne family would not be without running water during the festive period of Christmas.
It was not all joy in December, though. A McAlester man faced a federal indictment. He was investigated and charged after he was found to have removed multiple items from the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant improperly. Not all such stories had less than happy endings. The announcement of the e-commerce giant, Amazon, partnering with the City of McAlester to construct a new delivery station gave the locals a cause for celebration and economic optimism.
The year was fraught with intense trials and thriving victories for McAlester. The diverse events that unfolded over the past 12 months undoubtedly left a lasting impact on the community. It was a year that truly reflected the spirit of the McAlester community, its resilience in the face of adversity, and its unyielding faith in justice and democracy, and bodes well for a promising future.