Last January, the Rachel's Challenge program came to Pawhuska Public Schools. The program formed after Rachel Scott was killed during the Columbine High School Shooting in 1999. This is a program aimed at inspiring and equipping people to create a positive change in their life that is long-lasting. One such positive change that is being seen in the school system is the creation of, “Rachel's Closet.”
Cash says this is something that If you would like to donate or learn more about Rachel's Closet, call the high school at 918-287-1265. The Pawhuska Lady Huskies sit at 10-3 on the season. A year ago, they finished with 10 wins on the year. Pawhuska has two wins over Class 3A teams and also a six point win over Jay, a Class 4A team. Superintendent and first year head coach coach David Cash says his team goes the extra mile every time they step on the floor.
This is not Cash's first head coaching job. He knows it takes time to develop team chemistry when a new coach comes on the scene. Cash says being the girls basketball coach improves his ability to be the school superintendent. Pawhuska will next be in action on Tuesday when the Huskies travel to Woodland. The girls will tip-off at 6:30 p.m. Three defendants will be back in Osage County Court Tuesday afternoon for a pre-trial hearing.
Toby Bighorse, Daniel Keene and Maurice Kent are all being charged with first or second-degree murder in the alternative for the October 1st 2018 murder of John Adkins. The three were last back in court in November, but a member of the legal team was unable to attend and they had to reschedule for this date. The four were believed to be traveling in a car north of Pawhuska when an argument broke out and Adkins was stabbed and killed. His body was found 17 days later approximately one mile north of Pawhuska. In August, the Defense argued that the murder occurred on Native American land and the State should not be able to prosecute the case. The State of Oklahoma called investigator for the Osage County Sheriff’s Office, Bill Gee to the stand. Gee was the first one to make contact with Adkins’ body. Gee testified that he believed the murder didn’t occur on Native American land. Tyson Johnson, General Manager of Sooner Cattle Company, was also called to the stand. Johnson testified that the murder occurred on his land and Johnson said his land isn’t Native American owned. Melissa Curry, the Real Estate Manager for the Osage Nation also testified. Curry stated that Johnson’s land isn’t Native American owned and that there isn’t a Native American owned parcel of land touching Johnson’s. Keene also testified that the murder occurred on Johnson’s land. After hearing testimony, the judge deemed that there was enough evidence for the State of Oklahoma to proceed in the prosecution. The pre-trial hearing starts at 2 p.m. The Board of Osage County Commissioners will meet for a regularly scheduled meeting at the courthouse in Pawhuska this Tuesday in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.
There will be discussion regarding the enforcement of utility permit penalties against utility permit companies. There will also be possible action taken regarding hiring outside legal counsel to enforce these penalties against the companies. There will also be continued discussion regarding a new courthouse being built in Pawhuska and a new or repurposed annex in Skiatook. Executive Director of Tourism for Osage County, Kelly Bland will give a report as to how things are going across the area. Bland will also be requesting funding for advertisement of the Barnsdall Bigheart Days. Kay Kelley will give an E-911 update and there will be talk regarding quotes for electric work to be completed at the McCord shop. The meeting begins at 10 o’ clock in the morning for those interested in attending. Because of financial instability, it was recently announced that Tulsa Public Schools will have to let go 84 of its employees at the end of the school year. Pawhuska Superintendent David Cash says teacherswon't have to worry about looking for a job under his watch.
At the state level, Cash doesn't see any cuts coming. If there are, he says there is a cushion built up where it won't effect much. Cash says in 15 years he has never laid off teachers due to monetary issues. Cash says he is managing this year's budget, but he is already beginning to forecast next year's budget. Osage County District Attorney Mike Fisher spoke with KPGM Radio about the OSBI investigation regarding the Pawhuska Police Department.
Pawhuska Police Chief Nick Silva was abruptly fired in June only to get re-hired a short time later after the public came out in public support of Silva. Silva is now being suspended with pay and his department is being investigated by the OSBI at the request of the Osage County District Attorney's Office. District Attorney Mike Fisher opened the investigation in early January. City Manager Dave Neely made the decision to suspend Silva on Thursday with pay. Fisher stresses that not all of the Pawhuska Police Department is under investigation. Fisher added that the investigation should conclude sometime next week and a decision on whether or not charges should be filed will be made at that time. If charges are filed, they will be criminal in nature. After having to take cover from a tornado at Osage Nation Head Start in April of last year, it was Brittany Crawford's idea to write a children's book on what to do when a tornado warning is in effect for your warned area. Crawford gives a synopsis of the book, titled “Tilly and the Terrible Tornado.”
Crawford says the target audience for this book is elementary school students. This isn't the first children's book Crawford has written and she says it won't be her last either. Crawford gives information about ways to acquire Tilly and the Tornado. The book signing will last from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Crawford hopes that people will understand how to properly protect themselves from tornadoes after they read this book. The Osage County Sheriff’s Office is investigating what appears to be a murder-suicide near the city of Prue. Osage County Sheriff Eddie Virden explains.
Virden says he believes it was a domestic disturbance involving a husband and wife that caused the incident to occur. The male has been positively identified, but they are still waiting to get a positive identification of the female victim. This is the second year in which Pawhuska Schools will be using MAP testing to measure student achievement and growth. This is a computer simulated test covering reading, science, math and language. Superintendent David Cash sees this as a good way to measure student development.
Cash says his teachers are looking at this information and beginning to tailor it to their students needs in the classroom. Cash says his teachers have embraced the new methods of MAP testing. Osage Nation Assistant Principal Chief Raymond Redcorn started a dialogue with the Pawhuska City Council Tuesday evening regarding the possibility of the Nation re-purchasing City Hall. Redcorn said the Osage Nation built the building in 1894 before the Allotment Act of 1906 forced them to sell it. The City of Pawhuska has occupied it ever since. Redcorn says the reason for the purchase is still being solidified, but he says the Nation wants to be transparent about the entire process.
Redcorn said a few weeks ago, several members of the Osage Nation Congress took a tour of City Hall. He said the first thought is to move the Legislative Branch of the Osage Nation into City Hall. Redcorn went into the process of what it would take for all of this to occur. This June, there are six seats up for grabs in the Osage Nation Congress, meaning there could be a different view on how to handle this matter in the coming months. Councilwoman Jourdan Foran said it is important for the council to allow the citizens voice their opinion on the matter. Both parties involved felt it would be best to hold another meeting at a later date to find the best way to proceed. |
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